Padlock made by Slaymaker Lock Company for Conestoga Traction Company. Brass with key, attached by a chain. Ring and screw attaching chain to lock and key are steel or aluminum and probably replaced. Rivet construction. "Slaymaker Lancaster PA" is stamped in hasp. Spring hinge cover of keyhole. On reverse, raised portion that mimicks keyhole cover is stamped "C.T.Co."
overall oxidation that darkens the brass -- greenish cast in a few places. dents along edges of lock and on keyhole cover. bolt and keyring attaching chain to lock and key is likely a replacement.
Bicycle lock; Super Slaymaker Minute Man Combination Padlock; long shackle attached to U-Shaped outer case; combination dial on front of case; "SLAYMAKER" on center of dial; "Slaymaker MADE IN / U.S.A." on back of case;
Note: Accompanying tag includes lock and combination information.
Slaymaker Minute Man Combination Padlock Tag, No. 5220
Description
Combination lock tag for Super Slaymaker Minute Man Combination Padlock; yellow and black label folded in half; combination No. 5220; piece of string attached to tag through hole, upper left corner; bent and creased.
Note: Tag accompanied Slaymaker Minute Man Combination Padlock, No. 5220
Individual sepia-colored photos, in ovals, of 43 men, members of the "Union Steam Fire Engine Forcing Hose Company, No.1, Lancaster, Pennsylvania." These photos surround a central cut-out window that frames a certificate with a resolution, a seal and signatures at the bottom. Most of the print is too small to read, but "Trenton, N J" appears.
Wood frame, 1.25 " wide, with mitered corners. Hand-carved on to top is UNION, down on right is FIRE, down on left CO NO 1, and along bottom 1760. Part of a sticker is on top right corner. The opening has an arched top but the piece on the right top corner is missing (parts of the carved letters O and N). This reveals what appear to be another mat/outline surround the framed photo.
On the back is a waxed stiff browned paper with some pieces missing: top left corner, and midway on both sides.
Written in pencil: "Geo H Oster 136 N Mary"
In smaller pencil handwriting: "Presented to Geo. H. Schenk by Mrs. Geo. Oster at the time of the sale of the effects of Geo.Oster. Union Fire Company."
Written at top in ink: "Photos of/ Union Company ? Lancaster Pa sent/to Union Company members"
Sheet brass sign, "The Slaymaker Lock Co." and "The Makers of Padlocks, Cabinet Locks, Hardware, Brass Castings, Plating, and Polishing" Marked, "TUCKER"
White ribbon, made by "ERISMAN, Lancaster, PA, is printed with gold lettering: "Shiffler/ FIRE/ Association / No. 7 / Lancaster, /Pa"
Bow: Hand made of white fabric. Hemmed length, folded with a 1 3/8-inch band in center, stitched in back with small elastic loop in center. both ends are edged in green floss buttonhole stitches.
Parade Belt presented to Union Fire Company by the "Lady Friends" of the fire company. Leather strap with buckle and holder for flag. Sterling silver sheild attached to leather by to copper rivets. Engraved on shield: "Aug. 14th 1860/Presented by the Lady Friends/ of the Union Fire Co./No. 1/ at their centennial anniversary/ Aug. 14th 1760
Star-patterned, pieced-wool bed cover, created by Martha Lutz Walter from her husband William Walter's Reading Railroad uniforms. Alternate black wool blocks are decorated with multicolored wool plushwork stars w/ raised, sculpted appearance. Remaining alternate wool blocks are secured with wool yarn ties. Seams of pieced blocks have green and red feather stitching. Binding stitch secures edges. Backing is blue and orange, striped, pilled cotton flannel.
Provenance
Made by donor's mother. William Walter was a station agent for the Reading Railroad in Denver, PA.
Plushwork decoration was popular in the early 20th century.
See Trish Herr's Amish Arts of Lancaster Co.1998 for other examples of plushwork and a description of this decoration on page 44. See page 45 for photos demonstrating this technique. See also pp. 90-91 for another example of a plushwork bed cover.
