Chippendale style miniature blanket chest form. Mahogany-stained softwood, dovetail contruction, Lid with brass butt hinges, four ogee bracket feet. Edge molding on lid; chest bottom extends beyond sides to create look of molding. Interior till at left. All surfaces stained and glossy-varnished. Large brass batwing lock escutcheon; silvered key. Top of lid has central relief-carved cartouche incorporating the monogram of Frances Mayer Hershey "FMH" according to Clarke E. Hess. He believes chest was commissioned by Frances' grandparents Henry M. and Frances Mayer. Pencilled in cursive on bottom is "M. Mayer Rohrerstown." Frances' parents were Harry E. Hershey and Dora E. Mayer.
Attributed to Henry Slough, Sr. workshop.
Provenance
Descent from Frances Mayer Hershey to son Henry R. Outin. Purchased by Heritage Center at estate sale of Henry Outin of 2107 Wood St., Rohrerstown, held by Shaub at Willow Street Fire Hall. According to Clarke E. Hess, Outin died just a few months before the Sept.sale. He was the only child of Frances Mayer Hershey and her French husband, (?) Outin. Clarke recalls this couple lived in Algiers and perhaps other places abroad. Frances M. H. Outin left America with her husband in 1928, putting all her belongings in storage until she returned as a widow in 1967, at wich time Hess Builders built a home for her behind the Rohrerstown Mennonite Church. Mrs. Outin died later at age 92.
Lid is strongly abraded, notably a large oblong outline. Minor wear and abrasions overall. Several small cracks at left front at dovetails and a 2 3/4" long crack at midline. Interior abraded and scarred with accretions.
Object ID
P.00.38.1
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
In memory of Anne Bausman Woodcock by Sally Slaymaker & Caroline S. Nunan
Cast-iron toy tri-motor Fokker aquaplane, painted yellow. Made of multiple castings fitted and securred with screws. Three wire spring cables are fitted to pulleys under plane, allowing the 4 rubber wheels to turn the 3 propellers and activate a noisemaker. Raised letters atop wings spell "FRIENDSHIP". "NX4202" is on tail and "Fokker" is on left side of fuselage. All letters painted blue. Inside hollow fuselage is "HUBLEY." Gold seal on left end of wing reads "It's a Hubley Toy". Profile of Earhart is cast into one of the two rear windows on left side.
The Friendship was flown across the Atlantic from Newfoundland to Wales, on June 17, 1928, with Amelia Earhart aboard. She was only a passenger, but this event won her immense fame, including a ticker tape parade in New York City, and started her career as a major celebrity. (see Notes on why this plane was made.)
Provenance
Plane was given to donor by his friend Charlie Reiger (sp?).
Moderate overal loss of paint; rust on exposed metal; cracking rubber on wheels.
Object ID
G.88.9
Notes
Hubley Mfg. Co. was commissioned by Pittsburgh industrialist Arthur E. Braun (1876-1976) to make 22 yellow aquaplanes modeled on Earhart's Friendship. Earhart signed each one and Braun gave the planes out as gifts at a reception in honor of Earhart, held at his own residence in Pittsburgh in June of 1929. This plane is unsigned, suggesting perhaps that this example may have been a factory extra.
In 1932, Earhart flew solo across the Atlantic, again achieving acclaim as the 2nd person and 1st woman to do so. She received the Distinguished Flying Cross from Congress, the gold medal of the National Geographic Society and the Cross of the Legion of Honor from France.
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Gift of Samuel S. Snyder, Heritage Center Collection
