This refrigerator car model was made by employees of the car-building and car-repair shops of the Merchant Despatch Transportation Corporation (MDT) around 1905. The Merchant Despatch Corporation operated express freight cars carrying meat and perishable foods for approximately 128 years between the Northeast, Chicago, and other western states including California. The use of refrigerator cars with blocks of ice to preserve food began in the 1860s. From the late 1880s fast rail distribution of perishable food radically changed the American diet by allowing fresh produce to be delivered nationwide at any time of the year.
This .51 caliber smoothbore flintlock holster pistol was made in New England around 1815. It has brass furniture including a brass barrel. It is pin fastened with a Ketland lock. The lock has floral engraving and a gooseneck hammer. It is a “sleigh” design lockplate. The iron tang has a spear point filial. The stock is cherry wood with a beaver tail carving around the tang and brass nose cap.
It is stamped “KETLAND” and “L” on the inside of the lockplate.
History:
It is impossible to identify a maker. The engravings and bluing were used by lockmakers in England in the 18th and 19th centuries. However, these engravings also can be found on some American pistols.
References:
Flayderman, Norm. Flayderman’s Guide to Antique American Firearms…and their Values, Gun Digest Books, Iola, 2007. 9th edition.
Smith, Samuel E. and Edwin W. Bitter. Historic Pistols: The American Martial Flintlock 1760-1845, Scalamandre Publications, New York: 1986, p. 250.
Straight tapered pint mug with molded rim and base having a large, deep U-shape spout attached perpendicular to a hollow, flattened oval-section, ear-shaped handle with cusp or spur thumbrest; body cut out at spout. Struck "G.RICHARDSON" in raised serif letters in a finely serrated rectangle on underside of flat inset bottom.
Plain-rim circular plate with flat well; no foot ring. Cast in underside of rim with raised shaded serif letters "H.S" in a quatrefoil cartouche. No other marks apparent. Collector's label on underside of well.
Basin-bowl porringer with single-reeded or incised rim and flat bottom; cast flowered-type handle with ballpoint tip and rounded triangular bracket is pierced with 13 voids and struck once on top with oval touchmark of a fleur-de-lis between the raised serif letters "RL" for Richard Lee Sr. or Jr. Diamond or lozenge linen mark.
The first coins made in what would later become the United States were plain silver discs, hand-stamped with the letters NE (New England) on the obverse, and a Roman numeral value on the reverse. The coinage was produced in Massachusetts in 1652, during the Commonwealth period. Previously, only the English monarch could authorize coinage, but with the English throne vacant, this law was not upheld.
Diminutive basin-bowl porringer with square rim and shallow bossed bottom; cast, modified crown-type handle with tongued or linguiform bracket is pierced with 3 voids and struck once on top with partial oval touchmark of a fleur-de-lis between the raised serif letters "RL" for Richard Lee Sr. or Jr. Oval linen mark. Turning marks on underside of boss.
Small, basin-bowl porringer with square rim and shallow bossed bottom; cast flowered-type handle with tongued or linguiform bracket is pierced with 10 voids and struck once on top with "RICHARD•L[EE]" in raised serif letters inside a serrated rectangle for Richard Lee Sr. or Jr. Sharp oval linen mark. Faint turning marks on underside of boss.
