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."
Pair of metal cap guns (A & B) with holsters on belt (C) by Hubley Manufacturing. Identical plated metal handguns with molded brown & white plastic grips. Raised foliate decoration on barrel, 6-cylinder and cocking hammer. "MARSHAL" molded on each side under cylinder; cleaning rod has "HUBLEY" and "MADE IN USA" on opposing sides. Left side of cylinder swivels open to chamber for mounting roll of caps.
Leather holsters mounted on adjustable two-piece leather belt with stamped metal buckle at front decorated with longhorn steer, horse-and-horseshoe, six-gun and Indian chief. Series of double holes at back of belt with metal "clasp" or keeper fitted into holes at back for size adjustment. Additional part missing for this closure. Elaborate oak-and-leaf stamped decoration overall of light brown leather against a dark brown ground. Highlighted with bold palomino colored horses, one on each side of belt and each holster front. Constructed with stitching and metal fasteners having "H" on each fastener head. Holster ends fitted with looped leather thong hanging down in double strands for tying to legs.
Height excludes thong; length is the measure of fully extended belt halves.
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2014-04-22
Condition Notes
Leather shows wear, especially the front belt parts and holsters are distorted, creased and abraded. Overall decoration has moderate wear. Reverse of leather has sections with strong wear that are shedding or delaminating. Guns have corrosion on and around hammers. Gun (B) has small loss of plastic at bottom corner of grip. Sizing holes in back odstretched, most grommets appear to be missing and one hole torn through to edge.
Object ID
2014.003.3a-c
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Gift of Barbara Breneman. In Memory of Robert Posey Breneman.
