James D. Julia - Salesman Samples

Friday, April 20, 2013

James D. Julia

Salesman Samples

   I mentioned the other day that I should keep a log or "idea book" so I can look for new sources of images or keep track of my posts. I should!  I had not visited the James D. Julia site for a while, and I got 2 great surprises. 

    First, all of the images below were from 1 auction (November 30, 2012) are of 1 of my favourite "items". They're not really toys, but what are called salesman samples. Salesman would travel on trains  (early 1900's) with these exceptional models to show farmers what the "real machine" would look like. The reason for this is that this was the early 20th century. The truly only way to get across America was by train. Roads were "scarce", except for the large cities, and asphalt was not used too much. And Henry Ford would only start up his company about this time.

    My second surprise was that this auction now presented large-sized images. I didn't have to do anything to the images but change their sizes from let's say 22 inches wide @ 72 DPI to 11 inches @ 144 DPI.  Also, I just added the usual copyright notice at the bottom, and made the shadows show more detail in Photoshop (Image>> Adjust >> Highlights/Shadows).

     Of course, if you want to see more of these items and the rest of the auction, you can go to the  web address below and click on it. As you then click on each image, you can further enlarge it!

Please click on this sentence to be redirected to this excellent auction

 Salesman Sample Disc Harrow

 (L x W  x H):  14" x 13 1/2" x 6 1/4"     355mm  343mm x  165mm

 A harrow is a farming machine for digging up the soil and cutting weeds and remnants of crops from the season before.

Salesman Sample Hay Tedder 

Manufacturer: Dr. J.H. Goodell & Son, Model Makers, Marseilles, Illinois (USA)

Gear Driven as it's pulled along, and having a lever at the wheels for height adjustment.

A tedder was a machine that would "fluff up" or aerate the hay after it was cut.

Doing this allowed the hay to dry faster, lose moisture, and not rot in the field.

L x W:  17" x 15"  .432M x .381M

Salesman Sample Seeder with Original Box

Manufacturer: E.A. Havens, Peoria, Illinois (USA)

Nickel-plated machine that would cut trough the soil, and drop seeds at the same time. 

L x W x H:  18" x 11 1/2" x 11 1/2"    .457M x .292M x .292M

Salesman Sample Gale Chilled Plow
Manufacturer: Gale Manufacturing Company, Albion Michigan, (USA)
Written patent dates on the item from 1874-1876
L x H:  26" x 11"    .660M x .280M 
This item would be pulled by a team of horses and dig up the soil for planting.

Salesman Sample Hay Bale or Grain Elevator

Marked as Blue Barrow Bantam Seed Burrow

Has a miniature electric motor, so this particular machine 

must have been made later than the 1900's

L x W:  66" x 11"    1.677M x .280M

Salesman Sample Hay Loader

Wood Frame with Cast Iron Wheels.

The tines (prongs at the bottom) would rake the cut hay on the ground, and the chain-drive mechanism would move the hay to a waiting wagon.

W x H x Depth: 11" x 12" x 12"    .280M x .305M x .305M   

Salesman Sample Seeder

Nickel (Plated) and Wood. 

This item would break the soil, and then have seeds drop through funnelled tubes.

The 2 handles adjust the height of the 4 spikes used for digging.

H x W:  12" x 12"    .305M x .305M 

Salesman Sample Hopper Car

Wood and brass construction which is described as "unusual".

A hopper is a wagon for loading and unloading produce (e.g. corn). Underneath the hopper is a 

mechanism that allows the bottom to open and close (like the bomb bay doors of a WWII airplane).

The wagon would go above a storage area with an opening and then drop its load there.

L x W x H:  16" x  9" x 6"    .403M x .229M x .153M

A Salesman Sample Ladder Wagon
Described as "Unusual" (Probably meant rarer) wagon described as being used by firemen or  farmers for reaching extra-tall areas. The ladders are affixed (Attached) to turntables, allowing the ladders to rotate and angle for a full range of movements.
The front and rear wheels are different as 1 set was most likely replaced.
Length:  16"    .405M

It's interesting how most of us will never see such machines, or don't even know what these words mean. Of course, if you're an avid reader or even plays Scrabble, you'd most likely know many of these words!

     Don't forget that you can also view these images enlarged or as a slide show. 

If you really want to see exceptional and intricate detail, that's the way!

Thanks for dropping by,

and as always,

have a great part of the day, 

and enjoy the weekend, wherever you may be. 

Stacey

The Salesman Sample

Thursday, November 29, 2012
    (Cloudy, Cold, and Slippery Sidewalks & Roads)Veering off Topic - but Ingteresting

The Salesman's Sample

Background

   This is my second blog post for today. My other one was about a "super" toy. That one was manufactured by Ruehl, and it is called the Cedar Rapids Stone Crusher. I've often seen tat one, and recently I've even mistaken it for a "Salesman's sample". A salesman's sample was an authentic and real working model of a a working item. Examples were cast-iron stoves, and for today - farm machinery, circa late 1890's-1920's. 

  When I think of toys, I like to place them in their historical timeframe and perspective to the progress of man. What's interesting about the "samples" is that they were carried by salesmen on trains at the time period that I previously mentioned. In North America ( Canada and the  U.S.A.), major historical events had passed. I'll speak mostly about the U.SA.,but Canada had it's  moments.

   1869 saw the completion of the USA's transcontinental Railroad, 4 years after the civil war had ended, and the Native American Wars were soon to be over. With the completion of the RR system, the west was opened up to new immigrants both in Canada (Prairie Provinces) and the USA (the Great West). Both countries were eager to settle and expand the territory, so farmers were offered huge tracts of land to settle. Of course, with the land, machinery was needed to grow crops and grains, and raise cattle.

   The only means of communication for the most part was the telegraph and mail. All merchandise travelling a great distance was shipped by freight on board a train. To sell large-sized merchandise such as farm machinery that was operated by oxen or horses, you needed to have salesmen to carry small authentic models orr samples with them to sell to farmers out west.

A "Slight" Veering Off-Topic, but Very Interesting

   There's an interesting Canadian TV series called the Murdoch Mysteries on our national television network - the CBC. I'm not usually a fan of Canadian TV, but this program I like a lot!

The series is about a detective in the Toronto Police Force at the end of the 1890's and I assume into the early 1900's. 

  What's interesting are the  props, clothing and hairstyles of that time period. What's also more interesting is that for some reason famous people of the time are  on the program, being involved in intrique and murders, although they never are the "culprits". One week Tesla, the brilliant inventor was on,and a few weeks later, Henry Ford , the inventor of the Model T and the assembly line) was on.

    One more point also is noteworthy. I always think of large-siezed Canadian and American cites of the time (late 1890's) having paved roads and concrete sidewalks.However, in most movies that I've seen, the roads are of dirt, and the sidewalks are wooden. In the Toronto period for the Murdoch Mysteries, there are lots of telegraph wires all over, and the roads are dirt. I can't remember what kind of sidewalks there are as the people are always seen walking on the road!

 http://www.jamesdjulia.com

(please press on the address above to be redirected to the James D. Julia website).

     I've intentionally left the information and dimensions  out of today's blog, as I'd you you, the reader, to go to the Julia site. You can look for their toy division, and then "past auctions", then migrate down on that page to the June 26, 2009 auction.

There are many other fine toy photos and toys that were part of this auction, so take your time to look at a great part of history.

And to the Julia company and family, I would again like to thank them for being privileged to be able to use their fine toy photos.

Thanks for dropping by,

and have a great morning, afternoon, or evening 

wherever you may be.

Stacey