Saturday, July 29, 2006

Collector of Scovill Co. items

From: "Bill Michal" banjos@pc-net.com
Subject: Scovill Manufacturing Co. CPRR Uniform Buttons and Cameras

Surfing the web for Scovill, I found this site. Would like to e-correspond with someone about CPRR buttons, etc. ...

I have an eclectic collection of items made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company. Searching the www led me to your listing where I found pictured 2 attractive CPRR uniform buttons made by Scovill. My questions would include their availability and their approximate cost.

More than simply asking questions I would like to be put in touch with a collector or group of collectors of these items to be able to correspond with them. Thank you for trying to facilitate that.

—Bill Michal

3 Comments:

Blogger CPRR Discussion Group said...

From: JMDEHAY@aol.com

Thanks for your inquiry. I assume you are referring to the Central Pacific RR which used a superimposed CP on a staff type button. I deal in uniform buttons of various kinds from all over the world and do have a lot of Scovill buttons as used by military and many, many other organizations.

The National Button Society will be having its annual convention and show (including over 50 button dealers) with around 500 button collectors in attendance at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, Michigan from August 7 through 12. If you want to make contact with lots of folks with Scovill buttons and a great deal of knowledge about buttons, you can have them all together at one time next week. We are always pleased to find someone else who has an interest in buttons for any reason and the show is open to visitors. It would be a great opportunity to make a lot of contacts very quickly and get some great networking started that would include others that are not at the show.

My wife and I are dealers at the show and will be there. I would love to meet you and introduce you to several people that I think you would find valuable for your quest.

If I don't see you there, please follow up with me after Aug. 15 and I will try to get you the buttons you want. If I don't have them, I can help you find someone who does. ...

I hope you can arrange to come to Michigan, If not, please contact me again after the 15th.

—Jerry DeHay

7/30/2006 10:00 PM  
Blogger CPRR Discussion Group said...

From: "Mallory Smith" mallory.smith@verizon.net

... I believe George Mallory invented the plateholders that allow for production of the buttons. If I remember correctly, Wheeler later manufactured a sewing machine and was bought out by Singer.

George Mallory's sons Marshall and brother George Scovill Mallory built Madison Square Theatre in NY.

"I saw your posting here. My GGGG Uncle Nathaniel Wheeler owned a factory called Wheeler & Wilson sewing Machine in Bridgeport, CT. He had that factory for many years until his death in 1893 & my4G Aunt sold it in 1905 befrore she died in 1910. They made Sewing machines & Wilson was the inventory & Wheeler was a very wealthy man & provided the money. I know they had some other interests & factory for other things such as a press, but NO Nelson involved unless he was a supervisor or something like that. Factory was from around 1855 to 1905 as Wheeler & Wilson. Do you know what was sold in this place you are asking about? Sincerely, Patricia Correction for you......Singer BOUGHT The Wheeler & Wilson Sewing plant in 1905 from my GGGG Aunt "Mary E(Crissy)Wheeler" & widow of my GGGG Uncle Nathaniel Wheeler. Just to clear up that remark that I see so often!! I have done the genealogy on my ancestors including Wheelers. Sincerely, Patricia"

NOTE: G Mallory resident of NY issued a patent #7655 for daguerrotype plate holder 1850, possibly the same Mallory reported as employed as a salesman for Scovill Manufacturing NYC 1851. The Scovill Manufacturing Company, of Waterbury, Connecticut, were the first to manufacture Daguerreotype plates in this country.

(8) George B Mallory 1810/11 Ct inventor, co- founder of Wheeler and Wilson Manufacturing parents Ct = 28 Sep 1835 by Rev Frederick Holcomb Lucilla Goodrich (Scovill) 1815/7 NY parents Ct (Note: George Mallory ae 30 Manufacturer 1850 Census Watertown Ct = Leuella 34, George 12, William H 10 Ct, Marshall 16 Ct, Sarah Tuerney 28 Ct, Horatio H Ried 27 NY clergyman) (1860 census Watertown Litchfield Ct George and family living in household of curtiss Atwood Dayton 1818 =8 dec 1858 Laura or Hanora White 1 May 1831 IRE (chauncey Dayton 8 Mar 1783 = laura Atwood 27 Jul 1793), maria Dalliber 1847 Vt, Michael Dalliber 1849 Vt, Allen J Dalliber 1851 Vt, Ruth Caroline Dayton 22 May 1859 Ct: Nancy Dayton 1792 Ct living next door with Nancy Eliza Dayton 1832, Martha M Dayton 1826 ) (1880 Census Bridgeport Fairfield Ct 69 Ct retired manufacturer mother and father Ct; Lucilla Mallory wife 63 Ct mother and father Ct; William M Mallory son 40 Ct; Helen W Mallory dau 41 NY, Maud W Mallory gdau 14 Ct, William W Mallory gson 12 Ct, Roland H Mallory gson 10 Ct at school) (Note: Wheeler and Wilson Co was founded in 1851 Watertown NY but moved 1856 to Bridgeport Ct with new name Wheeler and Wilson Manufacturing Co. It's models sewing machines were the most popular in 1850 and 1860. The company was co-founded by Allen B Wilson (and Nathaniel Wheeler) who invented several important including the 4 motion feed mechanism and rotary hook and bobbin combination still in use today. In 1905 the company was bought out by Singer Co. which continued to produce the model 9, renaming it the Singer 9W. (1880 census Bridgeport Ct George Mallory 69 retired manufacturer, Lucilla 63 NY parents CT, William H Mallory 40 Ct = Helen W Mallory 41 NY father MA mother NY, Maude W Mallory Gdua 14, William W Mallory Gson 12 Ct, Roland H gson 10 Ct) (1870 census Bridgeport: George Mallory 1810 Ct, Fanny Mallory 1863; George Mallory 1821; Helen W 1839; John Mallory 1870, Josephine 1868; Lucilla 1815; Mary 1837; Maude W 1865; William 1856; William H 1839; William W 1866)

Mallory Marshall H. publisher, 47 Lafayette pl. & theatre, 4 W. 24th 1890 NYC Directory Mallory M. H. & Co. publishers, 47 Lafayette pl. The theater was owned by the Reverend Dr. George Mallory and his brother, Marshall Mallory, the sponsors and editors of a publication called "The Churchman" which was released from their printing plant at 47 Lafayette Place. The had become interested in the views of the brilliant and erratic Steele Mackaye who was then acting, lecturing, writing plays, and teaching the art of acting. They regarded him as a man with a distinct mission and so that he might better express his views they built the Madison Square Theater, on 24th Street near Broadway, on the site where Augustin Daly's Fifth Avenue Theater had burned down. G. F. arranged with A. L. Barney, a dramatic critic in Cleveland, to write to the owners of halls and local newspapers in over one thousand towns all over the country, to spread word of the standards set up at the Madison Square Theater by the devout Mallorys. This was to prevent any opposition from the churches. To all those sources were sent the Madison Square Theater's handsome programs, which consisted of a double folder card with a beautiful front cover in colors depicting the unique interior of the theater, -- elevated orchestra, etc. No advertising appears in the programs; the devout Mallorys felt that that would be "contamination." At the theater we would tie roses to the programs with ribbons and present then to our lady patrons. It was one of my duties before each performance to get the roses, fresh from Beban's Florist Shop at 23rd Street and Broadway. (9) Rev George Scovill Mallory, DD 5 Jun 1838 Watertown, Litchfield d 1 Mar 1897 NYC cert 6460(father was George Mallory Inventor and co-founder of Wheeler and Wilson Manufacturing of Bridgeport, Ct = Lucilla Goodrich) He was a Deacon in Episcopal Church, prof of Latin at Trinity College from which he had graduated, and later owned the Churchman. Since 1866 edited the Churchman a weekly regious journal published in NYCGeorge Scovill Mallory Mallory Geo. S. (Rev.) publisher, 47 Lafayette pl. 1890 Directory of NYC MALLORY, GEORGE SCOVILL, educator, journalist, was born June 5, 1838, in Watertown, Conn. He was assistant professor of ancient languages in Trinity in 1862-64, and then held the professorship of literature and oratory till 1872. Since 1866 he has edited the Churchman, a weekly religious journal published in New York city. MALLORY, George Scovill, educator and editor, was born in Watertown, Conn., June 5, 1838; son of George and --- (Scovill) Mallory. His father was an inventor and one of the founders of the Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing company of Bridgeport, Conn. George [p.232] Scovill Mallory was graduated at Trinity college, Conn., in 1858, and at the Berkeley Divinity school, Middletown, Conn., in 1862, and was ordered deacon in the Protestant Episcopal church, June 4, 1862. He was adjunct professor of the Latin language and literature at Trinity college, 1862-64, and Brownell professor of literature and oratory there, 1864-72. He purchased a half-ownership in the Churchman, a weekly religious journal published in New York city in 1866, subsequently becoming sole owner, and was its editor, 1866-97. He was treasurer of Trinity college, 1867-76, and a trustee of that institution, 1872-97. He received the degrees D.D. from Hobart, 1874, and LL.D. from the University of the South, 1891. With his brother Marshall H. Mallory, he built the Madison Square theatre in 1880, and directed the character of the plays presented during his ownership. He died in New York city, March 2, 1897.

8/10/2006 11:42 AM  
Blogger CPRR Discussion Group said...

From: "Bill Michal" banjos@pc-net.com

Jerry,

I returned from a trip to find your very welcome message. Thanks for the nice invitation to meet you in Mich. but that was impossible right now. I realize you will return a few days from now but I'll have this waiting for you.

Some possible repetition but let me tell you about my interest in buttons and Scovill. My major collecting interest is vintage banjos made in Boston, 1875-1915. Even if you have no interest, you might still enjoy a brief visit to my web site.

Banjos led to vintage photos of banjo players which led to early cased images for which the brass liners were made by Scovill. As I learned a bit about the co. I learned they also made many other things I casually collect. Eventually I began collecting eclectic items made by Scovill and plan to pass this collection down to my daughter. Those interests led to an internet search which led to the Central Pacific RR and Scovill buttons. Those I saw caught my eye.

When you return and have the time, I would appreciate your sending me info., pictures, prices, etc. of Scovill-made buttons with a special bent toward (but def. not limited to) ones that carry the Scovill name and those that are lovely to look at. In addition, it is obvious that buttons that portray banjos would be of interest as well. I also collect celluloid objects and am aware that many buttons were made of it.

I look forward to hearing from you. In case you want or need them here are other avenues by which to reach me: Phone 336-883-2156 (up til 10 PM EST) Mail 1016 Wellington St. High Point, NC 27262

—Bill

8/11/2006 5:48 PM  

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