The Order of the Arrow

The items pictured are a sash (left) and a neckerchief slide (right) for the Order of the Arrow, an organization of Boy Scouts of America.

The sash is made of white felt, and is worn over the right shoulder, then snapped at the bottom. This particular sash was made in the 1950s. (1)

The neckerchief used to be bright red in color, however, it has faded over time. Assuming from the other scouting items that this was found with, it probably dates around the same time as the sash.

Order of the Arrow is a national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America. Scouts are selected by their peers as those best exemplifying the Scout Oath and Scout Law in their daily life. (2)


Sources:
1. Tracking The OA Sash Through Time., by Devang Desai, 1999. Posted on www.OASections.com
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_arrow

*Post prepared by Lynn Wineland, WCHC Volunteer

A Computer in a Museum?

IBM Personal Computer
Donated by Dr. William D. Hann
Introduced August 1981


When you think of history, computers are not likely to jump into your mind. They are relatively new in the grand scheme of things, but the personal computer has now been around for about 30 years; the Apple II computer was released in 1977. This is the original IBM Personal Computer model, released in 1981 at a baseline price of $1565. The cell phone in your pocket likely exceeds its computational limitations. The PC’s keyboard alone weighs more than some of today’s notebook computers. The small monitor displays one vibrant color. Nevertheless, this piece of machinery is astounding in its impact, and that of its descendents, on American life over the past 30 years.

Despite the fact that it seems unimpressive today, the PC’s cultural impact was so great that Time Magazine’s 1982 Man of the Year was the computer. The article by Otto Friedrich says, “The ‘information revolution’ that futurists have long predicted has arrived, bringing with it the promise of dramatic changes in the way people live and work, perhaps even in the way they think.” While this prediction proved accurate, another one did not. Friedrich dismisses video games, now a massive industry, as “a teen-age fad, doomed to go the way of Rubik’s Cube and the Hula Hoop.” The computing lifestyle was different back then, too. Time’s article cites numerous examples of people writing their own programs for word processing, language learning and other utilities. Today, programs are almost exclusively produced commercially or for common use, and individuals rarely need to write their own.

Since 1981, computers have gotten smaller, prettier and faster. The IBM PC shows the humble, yet still impressive, roots of personal computing.

http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/history/decade_1980.html
http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/personoftheyear/archive/stories/1982.html

*Post prepared by Ben Heili, WCHC Student Intern.

Editor's Note: I actually had this model of computer. It had no mouse, no hard drive, no sound (other than a beep), and the display was a lovely shade of green. And things like a CD-ROM? Not quite. It did have two floppy disk drives though!

Collecting "recent history" items is something that the WCHC has been paying closer attention to. It is much easier to collect recent history items now, when they are still readily available (and in good condition), then it would be to try and track an item like this down 50 years from now.
-Randy Brown

A Bike With Wooden Wheels?

Lucas Bicycle, 1898.

The bicycle has been around for nearly two centuries, and has been a popular form of transportation and entertainment for those seeking something different and fun. The ‘hobby horse’, the first form of bicycle, was invented in 1817 in Germany by Baron von Drais. This bicycle, however, was slightly different from the bicycles we know today. It had no pedals! The ‘hobby horse’ was a two-wheeled vehicle, but did not have the ability to be self-propelled. It wasn’t until 1866 that Pierre Lallement received the patent for a pedal driven bicycle. Another major step towards the modern bicycle was the pneumatic bicycle tire manufactured by Dunlop in 1888. Before that, bicycles had wooden wheels. No wonder one of the early bicycles was called ‘the boneshaker’!

Here at the Historical Center, we hold a ladies bicycle from 1898 in our collection. The bicycle was called the Lucas, and was manufactured by the Ott & Hemley Company, which operated out of Toledo, and who, to the best of our knowledge, only manufactured bicycles for one year. The Lucas features wooden rims, wooden fenders, curved, wooden handlebars with cork handlebar grips, and a ladies frame. The frame was specially designed with a downward sloping curve in the frame in order to accommodate the ladies’ skirt.

The Lucas is a ‘fixed gear’ bicycle, meaning that there is no freewheel that allows the bicycle to coast. There are no brakes on the bicycle because bicycles without freewheels have a built in brake system. All one needs to do is bicycle backwards to force the wheel to stop turning. Freewheels did not become widely commercialized until 1898. The wooden rims on the Lucas are also significant. Wooden rims were very popular until the invention of the caliper bicycle brake in 1876. The caliper bicycle brake mounted on the rim of the bicycle, like most modern bicycles. The friction of the caliper brake against the wooden rim was not safe, and so bicycles equipped with brakes had to use a metal rim. However, fixed gear bicycles without brakes still used wooden rims, as seen on the Lucas, and on track (racing) bicycles until the 1940’s.

From 1817 to present day, bicycles have been loved and used by those seeking entertainment, exercise, or transportation by people of all ages. The bicycle has experienced very few major changes. The form and structure are recognizably the same, and it has not been swept up by the motorized or computerized trends of the later 20th century. From the Lucas to today’s carbon fiber racing bicycles, bicycles have stayed true to form.

Resources used:

Sheldon Brown’s Bicycle Glossary, “caliper brake”. 1996, 2007. Sheldon Brown. 2 Oct 2007.

“Wooden Rims”. 1996, 2007. Sheldon Brown. 2 Oct 2007.

“Myths and Milestones in Bicycle Evolution”. 2007. Jim Langley. 2 Oct 2007.

3,140 Bicycle Brands. 2001-2007. The Wheelmen. 2 Oct 2007.

Purses Made of Metal?

In the midst of our archives are numerous Whiting and Davis "Mesh Bags" (evening purses made of metal mesh). Two of the bags pictured are Whiting and Davis soldered mesh bags. The bag in the middle is an enameled mesh bag.

While doing a bit of online research of these items we learned that Whiting and Davis was established in 1896 when Charles Whiting and Edward P. Davis bought out the Wade Davis Company. They began production of their famous metal mesh bags and changed the name of the company. In 1907 Whiting bought out Davis's interest in the company but kept the company’s original name. The Whiting & Davis application for trademark indicates they make "Metal Mesh Bags, comprised Wholly or in part of metal that is not precious, in All sizes and forms, both soldered and woven mesh." They give July 29, 1921 as the first use of their logo. The trademark was renewed 3 times, most recently in 1983. The cancellation of the trademark is dated June 21, 2003." (1)

The purses in this picture are most likely from the 1920's or 1930's. (2)

The Whiting and Davis Company still exists, producing some mesh items for fashion and home decor, such as draping mesh curtains. They also have an industrial line that produces metal mesh clothing, including protective gloves for meat cutters. For more information you can find their fascinating website at http://www.whitinganddavis.com.

(1) (Source: http://www.bagladyemporium.com)
(2) (Source: http://www.ebay.com)

*Post prepared by WCHC Volunteer Lynn Wineland.

Dictaphone

Machines like this were used to record speech for playback and transcription. In 1877, Thomas Edison invented an earlier version of this machine that could record and reproduce the human voice. His design used a tinfoil-covered cylinder. When he listed the uses for his invention, ‘letter writing and all kinds of dictation’ was at the top of the list. In 1881, Alexander Graham Bell, Chichester Bell, and Charles Sumner Tainter produced the first recording device that used a rotating wax-coated cylinder. The machine used a steel stylus (needle) to cut vertical grooves in the wax coating in order record sound. By the late 1880’s, Bell and Tainter formed the Volta Gramaphone Co. and began to manufacture sound recording machines specifically for business and office use.

In 1907, the patent was sold to American Gramaphone Co., which eventually became Columbia Gramaphone Co., who trademarked the Dictaphone. In 1923, the Dictaphone Corporation was created from the Columbia Gramaphone Co., and by 1939, the first electronic dictation machines were introduced. Wax cylinders like the one this model were used until the mid 40’s. In 1947, Dictaphone introduced the Dictabelt technology, which cut grooves into plastic belts instead of wax cylinders. This technology was eventually replaced magnetic tape and then hard drive recording, which is most common today. The Dictaphone Corporation entered the digital era in the 1980’s, and still exists today as one of America’s five oldest surviving brands.

Sources:
http://www.officemuseum.com/dictating_machines.htm
http://www.dictaphone.com/aboutus/

* Post prepared by Tyler Jones, WCHC Student Intern.

Answer to last week's question:

The solution to last week's question is 'C', a canning jar lifter.

What is it?

What is this item?


a. Salad Tossing Forks
b. Kitchen Pick-up Tool
c. Canning Jar Lifter
d. Meat-turning Grill Tool.

Answer will be in the next post!

* Post prepared by Lynn Wineland, WCHC Volunteer

The Magic Lantern

What did people do for fun before movies?

Magic lanterns were a popular form of entertainment before the advent of moving pictures in 1895. The slides were made of glass and originally pictures were painted on the slides and projected onto the wall. With the advent of photography, slide makers were able to put pictures on the slides and they would paint colors (sepia tone) onto the image to make it more visible and exciting.
The lanterns were originally illuminated by candlelight, but the candles would only project a 2’x 2’ image. Later, the invention of the Oxy-hydrogen limelight and the mineral oil lamp allowed for the images to be projected at much larger scales and Magic Lantern shows became traveling shows. Eventually, smaller Magic Lanterns were made, and the home consumer could buy a lantern and a set of slides for home entertainment use. The Magic Lantern and slides were also used as educational tools. Educators could buy readymade sets educating about morality, health, and art history, a field in which the Magic Lantern was instrumental.

Magic Lanterns were the only form of slide projection from the 1600’s until 1895, when the Lumiere brothers invented the Cinematographe (moving picture camera), changing entertainment forever.

Here at the museum, we have a Magic Lantern projector and a collection of glass slides. The collection features photos of landmarks around Northwest Ohio like Inscription Rock at Kelley’s Island, the Exchange Hotel in Perrysburg, the Administration Building at Bowling Green State University, and other Ohio landmarks. All of the slides have had color added to them. The slides were made in Bowling Green at Biery’s Quality Slides, and some date to the 1930s, which is later than most glass slides were made for the Magic Lantern.

The Magic Lantern held by the museum is a large projector that was probably used for larger audiences. The date of manufacture and manufacturer’s name are unknown, but the lantern appears to have been modified. The top has been cut off, and a light bulb has been installed on a platform of wood in order to provide more projectings power.

Resources for this post include:
The Magic Lantern Society. 18 Sept. 2007..

The Magic Lantern Caslte Museum home page. 1994. Magic Lantern Castle Museum. 18 Sept. 2007. .

* Post prepared by Erin Gentry, WCHC Graduate Student Intern.

Calf Weaner

These devices are used to wean a calf from its mother. It attaches to the calf’s nose so that when the calf tries to nurse, the mother is poked and refuses to allow the calf to nurse.

It looks like a rather cruel device, but really isn’t at all. It’s part of a “two-step process that dramatically cuts the calf's stress while still allowing it to graze and drink water.”

The device is put on the calf’s nose for a period of four-seven days, after which he/she is separated from its mother.

Even though “weaners” like the one on the left are still manufactured; it seems a more popular (and less expensive) model is an almost square, flat plastic item that fits into and covers the calf’s nose.

The “weaners” in the picture were given to the WCHS in the late 1970’s.


Sources:
-- Online advertisements for cattle suppliers.
-- On Campus, April 26. 2006, University of Saskatchewan.

*Post prepared by Lynn Wineland, WCHC Volunteer

Wind 'Em Up and Let 'Em Go

There was a time before plastic?

What did kids in Wood County (and elsewhere) do before video games and plastic playthings? Following the days of handmade wooden and cast iron toys, toys made of tin filtered into children's land of make-believe. Tin toys first appeared around 1850, as mechanical mass-production became more common in the U.S.. The earliest toys were hand-painted using stencils, but were later decorated using color lithograph printing, which decreased production time and but also the detail. After 1900, tin toy design became increasingly complex with clockwork, wind-up, and steam powered motions.Vehicles, animals, and people were among the most popular types of tin toys. Germany, France, and later Japan and China cranked out record numbers of tin toys that rivaled or surpassed the quality and style of American-made toys. Many tin toys designs were modeled after current trends in transportation or entertainment. Miniature hot-air balloons, roller-coasters, milkmen, military craft and space rockets became some of the hottest selling choices during each image's era of popularity. These nostalgic playthings were eventually replaced by plastic and die-cast toys as toy producers began addressing durability, as well as the safety of metal edges and paint chemicals used in the earlier tin toys.

How are they made?

Tin products were actually made of steel or aluminum,although many do contain a thin coating of tin to inhibit rust. Production was mechanical and created multiple numbers of the same toy simultaneously. Two pre-painted, identical halves of a tin toy design were cut from a flat sheet of metal, then pressed into a 3-dimensional shape. The two halves were fitted together with interlocking tabs along the center seam.
Birds-and-Bikes-and-Trains- Oh my!
These four toys in the Wood County Historical Center's collection were all produced in the U.S. The duck, penguin, and tricycle were donated in 1982 by one Bowling Green, OH resident and originally date back to 1910-1915. With a few turns of his mechanical key, the little guy on the trike meanders left, right, and in circles while his bike bell dings. The duckling moved on its own once too, but its wind-up key and back wheel are missing, making it immobile. The dressed-up penguin also has a wind-up key that turns to send the penguin waddling.The train engine is part of a remote control, 1934 electric train set made by Marx & Co., with cloth-covered wires, metal tracks, and a total of six shiny red train-cars. The instruction sheet warns its child-age owners to "never forget to oil all gears and wheels before using, to keep the oil off the tracks, and to never leave the transformer ON if it starts smoking." ...And parents today might think an Easy Bake Oven is a "risky" toy! These tin toys are currently in storage at the Wood County Historical Center. Each toy is wrapped in acid-free tissue and is organized with other old-time toys in the collections attic.

The World of Tin Toy Collecting

Today, tin toys are very popular collectors items and "Tin toys are now so rare that condition is sometimes not as important as it is for other more readily available toys," explains auctioneer, Rich Bertoia (2007). The bike, duck and penguin were produced by J. Chein & Co., a prominent toy company started in 1903 (which also manufactured tiny tin toys for Cracker Jack boxes!). There are a number of books and websites listing prices and and collectibility of each Chein toy. Dime-store size novelties can go from $25-80; larger, mechanical toys can be sold for as much as tens of thousands of dollars! You never know: Wood County's yard sales may just have some tin treasures worth more than a nickel....

Resources used for this post include:

Buhler, Michael. Tin Toys. Bergstrom & Boyle Books Limited: London. 1978.
Jaffe, Allen. The Chein Company: Toys, Tins, & Wastebaskets. Inside Collector. June, 1995.

Jailer-Chamberlain, Mildred. The Joy of Tin Toys. Antiques and Collecting Magazine. June 2007. p34-39.

Shiny Summer Souvenir

During Victorian times, it was considered civilized and necessary to keep a neat and tidy home, with a place for everything... even the whiskbroom. This artifact is a beaded Whiskbroom Holder and Victorian era souvenir. This Holder is a variation on the common decorative wall-pocket used to organize everything from fireplace matches to pocketwatches. The black and white example below spells out the purpose of the decoration and shows that this trend lasted more than just a couple years!




What is the Whiskbroom Holder made of?

It includes cloth, stiff backing, cloth thread, sequins, and glass beads (clear, yellow, green, black, amber). It has the date "1905" stitched in beading on the bottom panel. All beads have been hand-stitched onto the cloth backing.


Where did it come from?

This Whiskbroom Holder was likely bought as a souvenir, possibly at Niagra Falls, which drew an increasing number of tourists as the first State Park in Victorian times. Iroquois Native Americans' regularly set up craft sales tables around this tourist spot because of the large customer base wanting to comemmorate their experience with souvenirs. The Iroquois relied on basketry and beaded craft sales to support their families during the early 1900s. Their original land had been redistributed to White settlers in Canada and the Northeasten U.S., forcing them to adopt the ways of city life and a money economy. Below, Iroquois women do beadwork in their Brooklyn home. The White tourists insisted on romanticizing that the Native American beaders led "natural" lifestyles, so that their souvenirs seemed all the more exotic.






...Pretty Trinkets Put to Work...

This Whiskbroom Holder demonstrates a shift in the purpose of souvenirs from the 18 and 19th centuries' "curiosity to gaze upon" to the 20th century "useful souvenir." Because of the new trend at the turn of the century to use or wear souvenirs, many of these objects were used until the point of deterioration, leaving few behind which are in excellent condition. Besides whiskbroom holders, Native American craft tables around Saratoga Springs, Niagara Falls, and Montreal supplied the high demand for beaded pincushions, boxes, purses, sewing bags, and picture frames.



Souvenirs in Wood County

Well-to-do Wood County residents had the most opportunity to visit places like Niagara Falls; therefore, most hand-made souvenirs of this type were used in wealthy homes (unless given as a gift to a working-class acquaintence). This Whiskbroom Holder shows that families of Wood County traveled to Northeastern destinations for vacationing, and that there was direct interaction with Native American craftspersons during the first decade of the 1900s.

The Whiskbroom Holder is in storage with other historic textiles in the Collections West Storage Attic at the Wood County Historical Center. The West Storage attic is kept cool and dark to preserve all artifacts in storage.

Resources used for this post include:
Phillips, Ruth B. Trading Identities: The Souvenir in Native North American Art from the Northeast, 1700-1900. University of Washington Press: Seattle, WA. 1998.
Shuman, John A. III. Warman's Native American Collectibles: A Price Guide and Historical Reference. Krause Publications: Iola, WI. 1998.

Blog 101: What is a Blog?

You may have heard about the popularity of BLOGs on the radio or from a friend. What are BLOGs all about, anyway?

THIS IS A BLOG...

BLOG is short for "web log." BLOGs are made up of text, pictures, links to other BLOGS and websites, and sometimes have music or videos. BLOGGERS are the people who write in BLOGS; anyone with internet access can create a BLOG through a free service such as Google's Blogger or Technocrati. The use of BLOGs has exploded starting in 2004. It is estimated by one BLOG search engine that there are 71 million BLOGs in existance today.

What are BLOGS for?

BLOGs are used as personal online diaries, a way for artists to share their work, as a way for school or work teams to showcase their projects, and a number of other goals. BLOGs are an informal space for relaying ideas about a certain topic or running theme.

How can YOU get involved?

The unique thing about BLOGs is that YOU are invited to give comments and feedback about BLOG topics. After each post (section of text on a topic), there is a "comment" button. You can leave a few words, or let your fingers fly if you have more information, thoughts, or reactions about the BLOG topic!

The Wood County Historical Center BLOG is updated regularly- check back with us often!

Bottoms Up, Scotch Ridge!

At first glance, this artifact might look like a beer stein, but it was actually used for church services in Wood County... Read on for more "juicy" info!

What is this thing?

This is one of the oldest artifacts (1753 A.D.) at the Wood County Historical Center! It is the Scotch Ridge Christian Communion Tankard, part of a set with two pewter cups.

What is this object made of?

Cast Pewter, recently refurbished from tarnished black to gleaming metal. It is approximately 13in. tall. An inscription appears on one side listing the date of 1753 and dedicating the vessel to “the first Church of Christ in Lebanon” (see below for more on Lebanon).

How was the Tankard used?

The tankard was used as a wine pitcher (but likely held grape juice) during Sunday services at the first Church of Christ in Scotch Ridge (see log cabin on right). The pitcher held the juice until communion, when it was divided into the women’s and the men’s cups for the churchgoers to drink from.

Where did the pitcher come from?

According to Scottish experts, this style of vessel was produced in Germany, and then imported into Scotland. It was likely presented to a Scottish missionary bound to convert Muslims in the Mediterranean country of Lebanon. Once the tankard returned to Scotland, it was passed on to John Muir by his church for use at his Christian house of worship in America.

John-Muir-who? Why it’s important in Wood County History…

John Muir was a prominent man during the settlement of Scotch Ridge in Wood County, Ohio. He arrived in 1834 with his wife Mary, as the first Scots to settle in Wood County. (See Muir Code of Arms on left). He had been an elder in his Scotland church, and continued to officiate funerals and lead religious services in his own home before any ordained ministers settled in Scotch Ridge. His services were so well attended, he built a small log church which remained the only church in Scotch Ridge between 1842-1862. It was in this log church that the Communion Tankard was used. This pewter pitcher represents the Scottish heritage in Wood County.

Other Fascinating Facts:

+ Churchgoers who wanted to participate in communion on Sunday had to earn a token by attending service on Saturday as well. As the Scottish tradition dictated, the token was presented on Sunday in exchange for communion.

+ Mary Muir, John’s wife always baked the communion bread, which is said to have been “cake-like,” and prepared the grape juice for church services.

+ The women would carry their shoes and stockings while walking barefoot to the log church. Once outside the church, they would lean against trees to cover their feet and legs for the service. The men usually attended church services with bare feet.

+ The Communion Tankard is currently on display in "the Dining Room" at the Wood County Historical Center- Check it out!


Resources used for this entry include:
Shaw, Charlotte Dunipace. Geneology of the Muir Family 1777-1977. Muir Graphics: Toledo, OH. 1977.
Shaw, Charlotte Dunipace. The Scotch and Scotch Ridge. Closson Press: Apollo, PA. 1999.