Cast Iron Hubley Motorcycle with driver. Red "Indian" motorcycle with sidecar has a removable policeman with uniform, goggles, badge, sidearm, cap, boots and gloves. Cycle is painted red with silver handlebars, engine and highlights; sidecar seat is black. Decal on left side of gas tank has "Indian" on gold ground. Policeman is painted black with silver goggles, badge and buckle; face is pink. Three tires are marked "HUBLEY MFG CO. BALLOON" w/ size and "CORD". Metal "clicker" underneath. Sidecar policeman missing.
Moderate overall wear with soiling and significant scattered rusting and corrosion. All tires are flattened with some additional deformation.
Object ID
2010.023.2
Notes
Hubley Toy Company produced many different models, sizes and compositions of motorcycles during the years they were in production. Most of the motorcycles were based on Harley Davidson and Indian in the earlier years and then expanding to the BMW and perhaps others. Indian models are the most sought-after and have the highest value.
Hubley cast iron toy road roller based on actual roller made by Huber Mfg. Co. of Marion, Ohio. Tractor-like vehicle is green with red wheels. Long, thin body has single set of roller wheels at front and large roller wheels at back. At rear are a detachable cylinder tank and attached rake with wheels.
Gold-colored tank is embossed "HUBER" on both sides. Name is repeated within small molded ovals at both sides of front and on front grill body. Underside marked "HUBLEY" in raised letters. Various number on underside of various components.
Losses of paint, esp. on wheels and upper surface of vehicle. Rust and corrosion on unpainted surface. Break at one arm of rake attachment, underneath. Driver apparently missing.
Object ID
2010.023.3
Notes
The Smithsonian writes: "The Hubley Manufacturing Company of Lancaster Pennsylvania, became one of the nation's premier toy making companies. Incorporated in 1894, the company made eletric train related equipment before moving into the toy business in 1909. The toys were made of cast iron, and were often modeled on actual vehicles or machinery. The Huber mark refers to the Huber Manufacturing Company. Inventor and industrialist Edward Huber's Huber Manufacturing Company made farm machinery in Marion, Ohio. The company is credited with inventing the first workable gasoline tractor. It als manufactured road-building equipment."
Button from the 1941 Lancaster County Firemen's Day. White button with photo reproduction of fire truck in front of "Christiana Fire Co." building. Below the fire: "built 1857." Above photo in back letters: "Lancaster County Firemen's Day." Below: "June 7, 1941 Christiana, PA." Half inch of half inch wide red ribbon holds a 1.375in long god colored metal fireman's helmet.
Button from the 1943 Lancaster County Firemen's Association Convention. White button with red, white & clue US flag with 48 stars in center. Above: "Welcome Firemen" Below: "June 5, 1943 Columbia, PA." Half inch wide red ribbon hangs .625 in below, holding a 1.375 in long gold colored metal fireman's helmet.
Delegate badge for the Lancaster County FIremen's Convention. Red heavy paper badge (1.24in x 2.375in) with safety pin on back and white insert card typed "Christ Koehler Delegate -- State Assoc." 1943" written in blue ink. On 1.5in wide purple ribbon in gold letters: "23rd Annual Convention Lancaster County Firemen's Association Delegate June 1943 Columbia, PA.
Delegate badge of the Lancaster County Firemen's Convention, 1942. Gold colored metal badge (2.25in x .75in) with white insert card with typed "Christ Koehler." On purple ribbon in gold letters: "22nd Annual Convention Lancaster County Firemen's Association Delegate June6, 1942 East Petersburg, PA."
Delegate badge for the Lancaster County Firemen's Association Convention. Gold colored metal badge (2.25in x .75in) with white insert card, typed "Christ Koehler Lititz, Pa." On 1.625in wide purple ribbon in gold letters:"Lancaster County Firemen's Association 21st Annual Convention Delegate Christiana, PA. June 7, 1941"
Eden Fire Co. 20th Anniversayr button. White button with red lettering: "Eden Fire Co. No. 1 20th Anniversary 1920 -1941" Maker name and location on paper insert. .25in red ribbon loop clamped to button hangs 1 in below button and holds a red metal fireman's hat (.938in wide x 1.25in L x .5in h)
Dovetail construction, wire nails used on interior. Inside is a till and a sliding drawer; shoe molding on all bottom inside corners. Below mid-line molding are two thumbnail-molded, side-by-side drawers with nailed joints and fitted with locks, escutcheons and bail-type brasses in batwing style.
Lid is two joined boards with ends tenoned into end boards and pegged, cutting board fashion. Edge molding is intrinsic, not applied, except for light molding attached to underside to create lip. Lid has strap hinges with fishtail terminals and is fitted with a lock and brass batwing-type escutcheon. Medallion is relief-carved into center of lid top with "18 SF 40." The meaning of this 1840 date is a mystery.
Molding at the base of chest; four ogee bracket feet.
Provenance
Provenance: One of twelve pieces of furniture transferred to this museum from the Lancaster County Historical Society. These pieces were part of the estate of Sarah Ann Stauffer (1913-1996) whose property, Lime Kiln Farm, was bequeathed to LCHS upon her death in 1996.
Clarke Hess had suggested the chest may have been made for Sarah Ann Frantz and the 1840 date may be her birth year. Often, he says, pieces of furniture were made for a child or heir at the time of the settling of an estate.
Research: Sarah Ann Frantz (sister of Sarah A. Stauffer's gr-grandfather Henry L. Frantz) was born 1835, Grandfather Samuel O. Frantz was born 1861, so this theory is incorrect. (The East Hempfield Twp. farm of Sarah A. Frantz is located on both the 1875 and 1899 Atlases, SW of Rohrerstown and S.O. Frantz is shown nearby on 1899 Atlas.)
Top has large crack through center and many dents, scratches and score marks. Loss at right end of mid--line molding of front. Multiple cracks in sides. Repairs done to feet. Refinished with heavy stain and varnish on lid and all interior surfaces. Original finish on front is heavily alligatored; finish on sides is crackled. Interior surfaces have had paper and textiles adhere to wet varnish. Sliding drawer has crack in bottom.
Object ID
G.99.41.9
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Transferred from Lancaster Co. Historical Soc., Heritage Center Collection
Self-made tool box, tinned sheet metal, rectangular form with hinged coffin lid (domed), copper hasp, hollow, shallow compartment in the bottom of box with opening at one end. Bail wire handle at top with wood grip. Box holds 20 metal worker's tools.
Made by metal sheet worker William J. Eppley of Lancaster City for his own use.
Provenance
Maker to daughter Ruth Eppley Ganse (1910-1949, Mrs. Charles N. Ganse) to son Robert ? Ganse to wife, the donor.
Well used with tin worn; has discoloration, dents, abrasions, deformed areas, corrosion especially inside, copper hasp deformed and bent with wear. Some solder repairs have been made to failing joints/seams.