Button from the 1941 Lancaster County Firemen's Day. White button with photo reproduction of fire truck in front of "Christiana Fire Co." building. Below the fire: "built 1857." Above photo in back letters: "Lancaster County Firemen's Day." Below: "June 7, 1941 Christiana, PA." Half inch of half inch wide red ribbon holds a 1.375in long god colored metal fireman's helmet.
Button from the 1943 Lancaster County Firemen's Association Convention. White button with red, white & clue US flag with 48 stars in center. Above: "Welcome Firemen" Below: "June 5, 1943 Columbia, PA." Half inch wide red ribbon hangs .625 in below, holding a 1.375 in long gold colored metal fireman's helmet.
Delegate badge for the Lancaster County FIremen's Convention. Red heavy paper badge (1.24in x 2.375in) with safety pin on back and white insert card typed "Christ Koehler Delegate -- State Assoc." 1943" written in blue ink. On 1.5in wide purple ribbon in gold letters: "23rd Annual Convention Lancaster County Firemen's Association Delegate June 1943 Columbia, PA.
Delegate badge of the Lancaster County Firemen's Convention, 1942. Gold colored metal badge (2.25in x .75in) with white insert card with typed "Christ Koehler." On purple ribbon in gold letters: "22nd Annual Convention Lancaster County Firemen's Association Delegate June6, 1942 East Petersburg, PA."
Delegate badge for the Lancaster County Firemen's Association Convention. Gold colored metal badge (2.25in x .75in) with white insert card, typed "Christ Koehler Lititz, Pa." On 1.625in wide purple ribbon in gold letters:"Lancaster County Firemen's Association 21st Annual Convention Delegate Christiana, PA. June 7, 1941"
Eden Fire Co. 20th Anniversayr button. White button with red lettering: "Eden Fire Co. No. 1 20th Anniversary 1920 -1941" Maker name and location on paper insert. .25in red ribbon loop clamped to button hangs 1 in below button and holds a red metal fireman's hat (.938in wide x 1.25in L x .5in h)
Dovetail construction, wire nails used on interior. Inside is a till and a sliding drawer; shoe molding on all bottom inside corners. Below mid-line molding are two thumbnail-molded, side-by-side drawers with nailed joints and fitted with locks, escutcheons and bail-type brasses in batwing style.
Lid is two joined boards with ends tenoned into end boards and pegged, cutting board fashion. Edge molding is intrinsic, not applied, except for light molding attached to underside to create lip. Lid has strap hinges with fishtail terminals and is fitted with a lock and brass batwing-type escutcheon. Medallion is relief-carved into center of lid top with "18 SF 40." The meaning of this 1840 date is a mystery.
Molding at the base of chest; four ogee bracket feet.
Provenance
Provenance: One of twelve pieces of furniture transferred to this museum from the Lancaster County Historical Society. These pieces were part of the estate of Sarah Ann Stauffer (1913-1996) whose property, Lime Kiln Farm, was bequeathed to LCHS upon her death in 1996.
Clarke Hess had suggested the chest may have been made for Sarah Ann Frantz and the 1840 date may be her birth year. Often, he says, pieces of furniture were made for a child or heir at the time of the settling of an estate.
Research: Sarah Ann Frantz (sister of Sarah A. Stauffer's gr-grandfather Henry L. Frantz) was born 1835, Grandfather Samuel O. Frantz was born 1861, so this theory is incorrect. (The East Hempfield Twp. farm of Sarah A. Frantz is located on both the 1875 and 1899 Atlases, SW of Rohrerstown and S.O. Frantz is shown nearby on 1899 Atlas.)
Top has large crack through center and many dents, scratches and score marks. Loss at right end of mid--line molding of front. Multiple cracks in sides. Repairs done to feet. Refinished with heavy stain and varnish on lid and all interior surfaces. Original finish on front is heavily alligatored; finish on sides is crackled. Interior surfaces have had paper and textiles adhere to wet varnish. Sliding drawer has crack in bottom.
Object ID
G.99.41.9
Place of Origin
Lancaster
Credit
Transferred from Lancaster Co. Historical Soc., Heritage Center Collection
Self-made tool box, tinned sheet metal, rectangular form with hinged coffin lid (domed), copper hasp, hollow, shallow compartment in the bottom of box with opening at one end. Bail wire handle at top with wood grip. Box holds 20 metal worker's tools.
Made by metal sheet worker William J. Eppley of Lancaster City for his own use.
Provenance
Maker to daughter Ruth Eppley Ganse (1910-1949, Mrs. Charles N. Ganse) to son Robert ? Ganse to wife, the donor.
Well used with tin worn; has discoloration, dents, abrasions, deformed areas, corrosion especially inside, copper hasp deformed and bent with wear. Some solder repairs have been made to failing joints/seams.
Lignum vitae lead-dressing stick. odd shaped heavy wooden tool has flat bottom, flat front end and long round handle on opposite end. Dark lignum vitae wood, natural finish with white paint at various places on handle.
Lead dressing stick is used to "dress" or shape, flatten, and smooth sheet lead.
Provenance
Maker to daughter Ruth Eppley Ganse and spouse Robert N. Ganse to son
Large iron box lock from Conestoga Cotton Mill #3 gate. Very long rectangular box has four screw holes for securing to gate and two very small butt hinges attached with screws to back edge. A projecting hollow key escutcheon is riveted to front of box about 5" from one end. Key would be inserted into lock through escutcheon.
In addition, there is an iron latch plate with L-shaped projection mounted onto face of plate, for receiving a lift latch bar. It has five screw holes for mounting on gate.
Depth or thickness is box lock only. Overall thickness including projecting handle holder is 3".
Condition
Fair
Condition Date
2014-10-07
Condition Notes
Expected strong weathering, resulting in surface pitting, rust, white paint residue and 3 significant cracks branching out from one screw hole near latch holder. Latch plate is extremely worn with apparent missing sections. L-shaped projection has lost its original surface due to grinding. Interior of box lock also ground away in sections.
Spring loaded metal frame for parachute made by Pennsylvania Scale Company and Eagle Parachute Company, Lancaster, PA . "This mechanism released a small chute which in turn released the mechanism in the main 'chute.
During WW II, The PA. Scale Company in Bareville, under a subcontract employed about 5 men to solder small pieces on the ends of this parachute opener. Eagle supplied the pieces and PA Scale Company did only the soldering. After this work was done, the openers were sent back to the North Queen factory for further assembly." (Written by George H. Harsh, Lititz, PA,)
Cast iron ashtray in rectangular form, sloping sides, sunken top with raised sides having a textured surface with two corner indentations for cigarettes. Opposite end of indentation is a grouping of four geese, fully formed, attached to top surface with screws. Entire surface is bronzed with a pattern of oblique stripes on sides.
Marked "144" on bottom. The Hubley catalog "Metal Art Goods" lists this ashtray as #144 and named "Goosie Goosie Gander." The description notes it has "an unusual bronze finish".
Provenance
Owned by J. Roland Gilbert (1888-1940) and inherited by his daughter the donor (1916-1992). Donor writes: "acquired in the late '20s or early '30s and 'possibly' a gift from Mr. Joseph Breneman, a Hubley Exec." J. Roland Gilbert was president of Lancaster Press Inc. and general manager of the New Era Publishing Co.
Christmas card. Front features PA German design--two angels and doves on either side of a heart in which is printed "1946 An Old Fashioned Pennsylvania Dutch Christmas." Printed with had watercoloring. Inside is written "Merry Christmas from Henry and Zoe Kauffman/" Printed on front "Zoe T. Kauffman."
Christmas card. Green paper. On front reindeer in PA German style wreath. Printed "Anno 1949." Printed with hand watercoloring. Inside written "Merry Christmas from Zoe and Henry Kauffman." Printed on front "Z. Kauffman." Printed on back "Motif from Pennsylvania chalk figure."
Small hardened steel padlock with set of 2 keys. Keys are marked, "Reese Padlock Co. Lancaster, PA USA" Body of padlock marked "REESE" and "U" arm marked "HARDENED" and "AMERICAN MADE".
Hamilton Watch, 18k gold body with brown leather strap. "Allison" model. See object file for more details. A silver dial and gold numbers and hands, with a second hand clock at the bottom. Case is ivory with gold designs and Hamilton on front and Hamilton on the inside with blue velvet holder.
Match stick dome top jewelry chest made by inmates of Lancaster County Prison, purportedly in the1950's, for Helen, the wife of guard Harry J. Shaub (1899-1980).
Constructed of 1/4" plywood, with some solid wood & cardboard. Exterior covered with a layer of matchsticks glued on in geometrical patterns similar to marquetry. Dark brown-stained matchsticks create a diamond on the hinged lift lid and all four sides. Inside top diamond is "HELEN" with letters conforming to diamond shape.
Glued-up matchstick form a handle at lid front as well as 3/4-length drawer front below. Built out at base with matchsticks to create a skirting as well as 4 protruding feet. Interiors of both the drawer and th top compartment under lid have padded upholstery done with a yellow satin-woven fabric.
Provenance
Harry J. Shaub was a Lancaster Co. Prison Guard according to City Directories through 1950. The 1952 Directory, and henceforth, lists him as a maintenance man or mechanic (at the US Naval Base Bainbridge, Md). Thus, this chest would NOT have been made later than c. 1950, perhaps as a departing gift for Harry's wife Helen.
Repairs needed. Overall soil, especially interior upholstery; fabric torn at left front on top compartment; broken retaining ribbon; missing cover on underside of lid. Missing matchstick base and rear proper right foot.
Handmade stocking Christmas ornament of two pieces of cut-out red felt with pinked edges machine-stitched together with open top. Thin strip of felt creates hanging loop at top corner. Front is decorated with glued-on green felt Christmas tree shapes. Trees and red stocking decorated with gold glitter. Staple affixed to top front.
Light cardboard gift tag inside stocking is printed "HOLIDAY GREETING" at top with handwriting in red ink: "to / Hattie / from / Rose & Charles Shaub."
Provenance
Charles E. Shaub (1899-1972) and wife Rosemary Kuhns Shaub (1902-1969) were apparent makers based on inscription. Charles Shaub lived on North Plum St. in Lancaster and was a long-time machinist and owner of C.E. Shaub's Machine, Tool & Die.
Undiscovered relationship between Charles E. Shaub and Harry J. Shaub. They lived side by side at 8 & 10 North Plum St., Lancaster. They were possibly cousins.
Cast Iron Hubley Motorcycle with driver. Red "Indian" motorcycle with sidecar has a removable policeman with uniform, goggles, badge, sidearm, cap, boots and gloves. Cycle is painted red with silver handlebars, engine and highlights; sidecar seat is black. Decal on left side of gas tank has "Indian" on gold ground. Policeman is painted black with silver goggles, badge and buckle; face is pink. Three tires are marked "HUBLEY MFG CO. BALLOON" w/ size and "CORD". Metal "clicker" underneath. Sidecar policeman missing.
Moderate overall wear with soiling and significant scattered rusting and corrosion. All tires are flattened with some additional deformation.
Object ID
2010.023.2
Notes
Hubley Toy Company produced many different models, sizes and compositions of motorcycles during the years they were in production. Most of the motorcycles were based on Harley Davidson and Indian in the earlier years and then expanding to the BMW and perhaps others. Indian models are the most sought-after and have the highest value.
