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https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/7213d098-eb37-4900-8c93-603236978820
Collection
Andrew B. Rote Collection
Title
Andrew B. Rote Collection
Object ID
MG0363
Date Range
1806-1950
: Architectural ironwork Awnings Business records Decorative cast-ironwork Deeds Ironwork Patents Stocks Search Terms: A. B. Rote & Company Account books Awnings Bonds Business records C. V. Rote & Company Deeds Farmers Trust Company Finding aids Highway Emergency Service Ironwork Ironwork, Architectural Ironwork
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  1 document  
Collection
Andrew B. Rote Collection
Title
Andrew B. Rote Collection
Description
The Andrew B. Rote Collection contains the business records of C. V. Rote & Co., which later became A. B. Rote & Co., and some family records. The Lancaster company specialized in awnings and ironwork. Deeds, mortgages, and other property records are for property owned by the Rotes and used for their business. The record books of the company, 1881-1942, show accounting, clients, cash flow, bids, and inventory. A catalog of architectural bronze and iron works illustrates their products. There are also stock certificates for a number of local and regional businesses such as Farmers Trust Company, Union Trust Company, and Meadia Heights Golf Club.
Admin/Biographical History
C. V. Rote & Company was founded by Charles V. Rote, Jacob F. Bender, and John W. Holman on 3 March 1881, specifically for the manufacture of awnings. Bender and Holman provided the financing, space for the shop, the time they could commit, and the use of their horse and buggy. Rote committed his labor and time in manufacturing the awnings. Their initial success continued when they added architectural bronze and iron work. Andrew B. Rote took over the business in 1894, which was then located at 111-117 E. Chestnut Street, Lancaster.
Date Range
1806-1950
Year Range From
1806
Year Range To
1950
Date of Accumulation
1806-1950
Creator
Rote, Andrew B., 1928-2015
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 09
People
Bender, Jacob F.
Holman, John W.
Rote, Andrew B. "Andy"
Rote, Andrew Baker
Rote, Charles Victor
Other Creators
A. B. Rote & Company
Subjects
Architectural ironwork
Awnings
Business records
Decorative cast-ironwork
Deeds
Ironwork
Patents
Stocks
Search Terms
A. B. Rote & Co.
Account books
Awnings
Bonds
Business records
C. V. Rote and Company
Deeds
Farmers Trust Company
Finding aids
Highway Emergency Service
Ironwork, Architectural
Ironwork, Decorative
Lancaster Concrete Tile Company
Manuscript groups
Meadia Heights Golf Club
Mortgages
National Building Units Corporation
Patents
Penn-Mont Mining and Milling Company
Pennsylvania Chautauqua Society
Stocks
Union Trust Company of Lancaster
Extent
3 boxes, 27 folders, 1.5 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0363
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Related Item Notes
See also the Photograph Collection
Notes
Preferred Citation: Title or description of item, date (day, month, year), Andrew B. Rote Collection (MG0363), Folder #, LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Accession Number
2003.MG0363
Other Numbers
MG-363
Classification
MG0363
Description Level
Fonds
Custodial History
Added to database 3 January 2022.
Documents
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Archive

https://collections.lancasterhistory.org/en/permalink/abe9bc5a-6dbc-45c8-b2cf-079939212745
Collection
Hubley Manufacturing Company Catalogs and Newsletters
Title
Hubley Manufacturing Company Catalogs and Newsletters
Object ID
MG0565
Date Range
1922-1965
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  1 document  
Collection
Hubley Manufacturing Company Catalogs and Newsletters
Title
Hubley Manufacturing Company Catalogs and Newsletters
Description
This collection contains catalogs and price lists of the items made by the Hubley Manufacturing Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The primary products were toys and decorated repeating cap guns, rifles and holsters. The first miniature toys were made of cast iron; later, plastic became the prominent material. In its earlier years, the company made a line of "metal art goods," which included lamps, tables, bookends, doorstops and knockers.
Admin/Biographical History
"The Hubley Manufacturing Company of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, one of the oldest and largest makers of toys in the United States, was founded in 1894 by John E. Hubley to manufacture equipment and accessories for electric trains. Financial difficulties forced Mr. Hubley to sell the entire stock in 1909. At this time the electric train business was discontinued and the cast iron toy business started. Among the first toys produced were a coal range, circus wagons and mechanical banks, all collector's items today.
Included in the 68,000 square feet of floor space in the Hubley plant were a die-cast room, warehouse, tool room, paint room and all the special assembly machinery. Besides making their cast iron toys, the company made castings for other companies in Lancaster which were without foundry equipment.
By 1940 increased freight costs and foreign competition forced the company to look for other materials. During World War II scarcity of metal forced the company out of the toy business and into war-related items. After the Korean conflict ended and regulations on metal were suspended, cast iron toy production resumed.
Following common manufacturing methods of the time, Hubley toys of the 1890s, and for a time thereafter, were cast in sand molds in two parts which were then riveted together to form the toy. All toys were designed by John Hubley, who had remained deeply interested in children's playthings since the time he first made his own children's wooden toys.
In 1936 Hubley started casting in multiple cavity steel dies. Die castings were broken off, trimmed, and tumbled in revolving cylindrical machines. They were then taken to the paint department where they were given baked enamel or lacquer, air-dried paint finishes in various colors. At one time, a dozen girls were employed in the paint department. Portions of the earlier toys were handpainted and some were dipped.
Each different toy was started on its own moving assembly line where parts were added, details sprayed on, oiling and inspection took place and the assembly completed. For example, a fire engine took shape on one line. It started as a red chassis. The rubber-tired wheels were added, followed by the spraying on of the radiator, bumpers and headlights. The driver was added, and the ladder, fire axes and other accessories followed. Near the end of the line, the toy was individually boxed and packed in a corrugated container. In 1949, due to union disputes, the foundry was closed. This was a difficult decision for the firm, since Hubley was one of the first companies to devote their entire factory to die casting.
The Hubley Company maintained a designing department where ideas were conceived and developed for model forms. Design engineers kept up-to-date on the models and style changes by attending automobile shows and studying advertisements. Their designs changed when the larger counterparts changed. After items were conceived and models developed, the toys were analyzed for pricing. The more play features a model had, the more expensive it was.
Hubley is now a division of Gabriel Industries, Inc. of New York City and is still making die-cast metal vehicles." 1
1 Bland, Ann S. "Automotive Cast Iron Toys." Old And Sold Antiques Auction & Marketplace. http://www.oldandsold.com/articles/article184.shtml (accessed October 21, 2011)
Date Range
1922-1965
Year Range From
1922
Year Range To
1965
Date of Accumulation
1922-1965
Creator
Hubley Manufacturing Company
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
Archives South
Storage Wall
Side 12
People
Bannan, William Henry
Booth, Herbert M.
Booth, John E.
Breneman, Joseph T., II
Brenner, Elmer
Burket, Laura Hartranft
Ervin, Lynn
Gardner, Joseph L.
Gardner, Mary Ellen
Gigi, William A.
Glackin, John
Harper, Forrest
Harrison, Edna
Hartman, Howard Henry
Hobday, Richard
Holden, John E.
Hostetter, Jacob Weaver
Houghton, Lee Roy
Johnson, Errel
Kane, George
Keller, Horace
Lefever, Doris M.
Linkletter, Art
Long, Philip Adam
Murray, Kermit
Murray, Ralph
Nauman, Samuel William
Phenegar, Frank
Schick, Leland W.
Shelley, Loretta B.
Singer, Victor Rutter
Souders, Elmer Lloyd
Spangler, Eugene M.
Stauffer, Howard E.
Watson, John Herman
Weaver, Ben
Work, Clarence
Subjects
Hubley Manufacturing Company
Toys
Manufacturing industries
Art metal-work
Search Terms
Art metal-work
Business records
Catalogs
Employees
Hubley Manufacturing Company
Manufacturing industries
Newsletters
Price lists
Toys
Finding aids
Manuscript groups
Extent
2 boxes, 42 folders, 75 cubic ft.
Object Name
Archive
Language
English
Object ID
MG0565
Location of Originals
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania (Lancaster, Pa.)
Related Item Notes
MG-565 Hubley Manufacturing Company Catalogs and Newsletters
Access Conditions / Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright
Collection may not be photocopied. Please direct questions to Research Center Staff at research@lancasterhistory.org.
Permission for reproduction and/or publication must be obtained in writing from LancasterHistory.
Credit
Courtesy of LancasterHistory, Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Other Numbers
MG-565
Other Number
MG-565
Classification
MG0565
Description Level
Fonds
Documents
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