Disc-shaped "pancake" padlock, all bronze with a spring sliding shackle. Reverse is undecorated; obverse has lock name "ECLIPSE / 4LEVER" set in relief against a punched or stippled ground. (tumblers are 4 levers) Machined chamfers on edges of body. Slotted keyhole bottom edge. Rolled steel key missing.
An "18" is stamped onto corner of obverse side of shackle. This lock is pictured in the 1900 catalog of the Slaymaker-Barry Co. as either #432 or #71. See Notes
Soil and tarnish overall with expected abrasions and dents on shackle and back.
Object ID
2002.143.4
Notes
This lock with almost identical design and features (including the "4LEVER" name with same lettering design) was made by at least three other companies. Often only the name above the 4LEVER design was different.
The Slaymaker Lock Co. of Lancaster, PA was known successively as S.R. Slaymaker, Slaymaker-Barry Co., Slaymaker Lock Co., Fraim-Slaymaker Hardware Co. and Slaymaker Lock Co., Inc. opening in 1888 and producing high quality padlocks. They went out-of-business in 1986 after nearly a century of service.
The Slaymaker-Barry Co. was reputed to be the largest lock factory in the world and was established at South Connellsville in the 1890s and operated steadily and successfully until the fall of 1898 when it was almost completely destroyed by fire.
Place of Origin
Connellsville, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Balance-type scale, body of cast iron, flat pan of bronze and large scoop-shaped pan of copper. Two large weights of bronze and six smaller weights of cast iron housed in pine box.
Scale (A) has heavy cast iron base supporting a pivoting/balancing armature. One end of armature has flat, round, brass pan while opposite end has four fingers of iron supporting a detachable copper pan shaped like a large oval scoop with a rolled edge. Base has remnants of original red paint and gold striping. "Fairbanks" is embossed on top of both sides of central base section. Brass plate near center of armature reads: "Pat'd. Dec. 18, 1877."
Eight weights are as follows:
(B & C) Two circular disks marked "2" at top center, signifying 2 lbs.
(D) One cast iron weight, pie-shaped, with embossed "1" at top center, signifying 1 lb. Lead infill stamped "S" on bottom.
(E) One cast iron weight, pie-shaped, with impressed "8" at top center, signifying 8 oz. Bottom has small lead infill, unmarked.
(F) One cast iron weight, pie-shaped, with embossed "4" at top center, signifying 4 oz.
(G) One cast iron weight, pie-shped, with embossed "2" at top center, signifying 2 oz.
(H) One cast iron weight, pie-shaped, with embossed "1" at top center, signifying 1 oz.
(I) One cast iron weight, pie-shaped, with embossed "1/2" at top center, signifying a half oz.
(J) Square, finger-jointed pine box, used for housing the eight weights.
Provenance
Donor states scale was used in the candy department at Woolworth's store on North Queen Street. It was later acquired by the family. Donor recalls that her mother Florence E. Werner Cohen (1895-1994) used the scales extensively for baking in her home since she sold baked goods at her Central Market stand.
Width includes large pan length. Length is pan to pan.
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2014-12-19
Condition Notes
Considerable wear, esp. to copper pan which is tarnished and dented. Food residues in crevices. Red-painted body is worn w/ light corrosion over some parts. Weights are well worn, esp. the two 2# weights which are covered in small gashes and have dark stains. Box is strongly deteriorated and held together with nails. Heavy soil with accretions.
Object ID
G.01.19.3a-j
Notes
This scale has a removable pan for scooping merchandise such as candy. Disc weights determined the weight of goods by counterbalanceing on the opposing flat pan. This balance scale was used in the candy department of Woolworth's and then at home for measuring backing ingredients.
Place of Origin
St. Johnsbury, Caledonia County, Vermont
Credit
Gift of Rheta e. cohen Stacy in memory of Florence E. Werner Cohen
Wooden ruler of 5-inch length, natural finish, printed both sides. On front side, at left, above the inches scale is "CORKS / OF ALL KINDS"; at middle is "M.W. WARREN & CO., / LANCASTER, PA."; at right is "TRY OUR XXX QUALITY. / THE BEST." Reverse side is divided roughly in half, left side is printed "U. S. STANDARD / "DIAMETER" / CORK MEASURE" and at right is "M W. Warren & Co. / CORKS. / Manufacturers. LANCASTER, PA."
Marshall W. Warren ran a cork business at 617-19 N. Lime St., Lancaster.
Portfolio of medium brown leather, book form opening to inside with two expandable side pouches for holding papers. Interior is lined with a very dark brown leather. Front and back covers decorated with foliate designs witin lined borders created with wire stitching over a filler of heavy paper or leather. Designs are further embellished with tooled lines throughout. Top and bottom edges of folio are stitched.
Porfolio was owned and used by Blanche Nevin (1841-1925), Lancaster poet and sculptor.
Generally sound condition with considerable wear with some losses of decoration, ink stains scattered mostly on back and leather worn with some breaking at edges and fold. Darkened areas from handling.
Object ID
2014.020
Credit
Gift of Sarah Nevin Schindler, Collection of LancasterHistory.org
Miniature cruet set of four bottles and caddy, clear glass and non-ferrous base metal.
Four tall vial-like, clear glass bottles, one with its metal cap. Bottles appear to be mold-blown, cylindrical and have a pronounced ring extending outward at mid point, a long narrowing neck and flared lip. Bottles fit into a rotating metal carrying ring at midpoint of caddy, suspended by their glass protruding ring. An oval ring handle on stem with threaded end fits into female-threaded pedestal base which flares out toward bottom.
A raised letter "W" appears twice underneath base.
Provenance
Descent to Sarah Muench from family, perhaps her Aunt Alice Potter Fordney, an antiques dealer.
Child's thimble of non-ferrous metal classic form with domed top. Dimpled exterior with plain and textured bands above base. Marked "2" on plain band near base.
Note inside reads: "Used by 3 yr old Alice Reynolds Ehler deceased child of Charles and Laura Ehler Lancaster Penna."
Charles Leland Ehler (3-6-1858 to 3-5-1904) is buried in Woodward Hill Cemetery and his wife is "calculated" to be Laura B. Trout Ehler, born 1859, according to Findagrave.com. Charles is listed as a bookkeeper in various City Directories. Found no evidence of progeny.
Tatting shuttle of mother of pearl, loaded with white thread. End of thread has two tatted rings. Tatting shuttle is torpedo shape with two thin plates of mother of pearl shell positioned 1/8" apart and held in place with two iron rivets. Exterior of both plates have engraved checkerboard pattern except for sprig of flower within a central circle and two bordering bands at perimeter, one a chain of dots and alongside is a running cable pattern. Two drilled holes at each end of each plate with unknown purpose.
Paper label accompanies shuttle with "TATTING SHUTTLE" written in ink in a caligraphic hand.
Some soil on mother of pearl. Several small nicks on edge. LIght scratches on engraved surfaces, some created at time of manufacture when rivets were smoothed.
Pair of knitting needles (A & B) made of hand-carved hardwood, perhaps hickory. Both are gently curved throughout length, with B having a stronger curve. Pointed at one end and a crudely and abruptly carved enlargement at other end. No apparent finish, although slight polish from use.
Handmade wooden clothespin, flattened torpedo shape with one solid end with blunt top and the other end having twin carved arms extending outward with an inside bulge on both arms just before attenuated ends.
