History of Coffin Plates

img src="http://olivetreegenealogy.com/blogphotos/ada-l-baker.jpg" align="right" alt="Free Genealogy Death Record on the Coffin Plate of Ada L Baker 1842~1865" /> The history of Coffin Plates or casket plates is a long but not very well documented one. Generally made of a soft metal like lead, pewter, silver, brass, copper or tin, coffin plates are decorative adornments attached to the coffin that contain free genealogical information like the name and death date of the deceased. The oldest ones that I have seen date from the 17th century (1600~1699) and were reserved for people of some stature, in other words people who had money. As time went on more people were able to afford the luxury of a Coffin Plate and with the coming of the industrial revolution the cost of the plates went down so much that by the middle of the 19th century almost every family could afford to have one put on the coffin of there loved one.

At the same time that coffin plates were increasing in popularity the practice of removing the plates from the coffin before burial increased. The coffin plates were often removed to be kept as mementos by the loved ones of the deceased. This practice peaked in the late 19th century (1880~1899).

In some more rare cases the plates are removed when the grave is disturbed for some reason like cemetery relocation. This is more common in Europe were space for graves is at a premium.

These plates are an overlooked free genealogical resource. They often contain the Birth Record and Death Record and can be used as a substitute for vital records. In some rare cases the plates can contain even more information like place of birth or the occupation of the deceased.

There has not been a single repository for this valuable free genealogy resource until now. Brian has createed a coffin plate database and a home for the unwanted plates themselves on his site AncestorsAtRest.

© copyright AncestorsAtRest.com published with permission. See the coffin plates on this site.

1927 Certificate Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons Canada

14"x18" ceritificate in excellent condition, no stains or tears. It has been rolled up in its original mailing tube for who-knows-how-long but it hasn't creased and can be flattened. The lucky winner of the auction will get the certificate and the original cardboard tube with postage stamps and mailer label

This certificate has the capital letters "ITNOTGAOTU" at the top. I did a bit of research and found that those letters stand for "In The Name Of The Great Architect Of The Universe"

The top of the certificate has the heading

The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Canada

Excerpts from the certificate read:

"...Companion Ernest Hastings Jordan .... exalted to the Supreme Mysteries of the Holy Royal Arch in Tuscan Chapter No. 95 in Sudbury ... 25 Oct .. Year of Discovery 2457"

No. 51/192

Dated 2 November Year of Discovery 2457 A.D. 1927
Signed Henry G. Smith GSD


It comes with its original cardboard tube mailer complete with postage stamps. Postage is one green 2-cent stamp and two 1-cent yellow stamps labelled Canada and bearing the pictures of King George V

Mailer label:
From PO Box 1135
Sudbury

To
Mr. Ernest Hastings Jordan
Coniston
Ont

The Madrid Conference of the Universal Postal Union, held in 1920, adopted new international postage rates effective from the 1st October, 1921. The new rate necessitated certain changes in the colors of Canadian postage stamps. The 1-cent stamp was yellow instead of green; the 2-cent green instead of red.

The Portrait is of His Majesty King George V in an oval framework. The King is wearing the uniform of an admiral. The portrait is a composite from photographs by Walter Barnett and Messers. W. and D. Downey of London, England.

I describe my goods as accurately as I can. They are antiques or vintage and are not perfect, but have wear and tear as any old item has. This item would be perfect for anyone collecting Mason memorabilia or for postage stamp collectors.

Vintage Oiler Oil Can Turquoise

7 1/2" x 3" vintage oiler oil can. Nice turquoise blue color on bottom. In good shape, with a few dings and dents, no more than you'd expect from an item like this.

Great addition to any oil can collection. E Bay Item number: 7161081326

O'Keefe's Stone Ginger Beer Bottle Caps - Cork liner

Great piece of Beer History!

Eugene O'Keefe, founder of O'Keefe Brewing Company, grew up in muddy York (present day Toronto), to which his family had emigrated from Ireland in 1832 when he was five. O'Keefe learned the art of brewing from Hannath & Hart Brewery, and in 1862 he bought the business. Within two years it was O'Keefe and Company. He was the first to produce lager beer in Canada along with the traditional ale and porter.

1891 the company was incorporated as O'Keefe Brewing Company Limited. O'Keefe was one of the first brewers to use motor trucks for beer delivery, the first to build a mechanically refrigerated store-house for beer and one of the first to advertise extensively. Eugene O'Keefe died in 1913 but the company continued to brew beer.

With Prohibition's advent in 1916 O'Keefes began making stone ginger beer, but with repeal in 1926 brewing was resumed

You are bidding on two O'Keefe's Stone Ginger bottle caps in good condition. One has a bit of the cork liner missing. The other is in pretty good shape.

These caps are for sale on E Bay, Item number: 6184265916
SOLD!

Antique & Vintage Picture Frames with Ancestors

Here's how you can combine a love of collecting (in this case, antique Victorian era picture frames) with a passion for genealogy.


Antique Picture Frames,
originally uploaded by Lorine.

Haunt junk stores and antique stores and flea markets for old picture frames. Fix them up a bit, clean them, paint them with an air-brush if needed, even put a bit of plaster on the old plaster ones that are missing bits and pieces.

Next find photos of your ancestors, you know, great-grandma in a beautiful dress. Take the photo to a photographer and have it enlarged to fit the antique frame. Choose a mat and you're set.

Then hang the pictures on your walls. Here's an example.

I have lots of old picture frames for sale. contact me if interested.

Purina Cow Chow Milk Scale

Brass face has the following lettering:


COW CHOW
Makes More Milk
At Less Cost

Farmer's Milk Scale
Not Legal For Trade

Spring Balanced
to 30 lbs.
Warranted

Don't Guess - Use This
Purina Milk Scale

The number 7908 is stamped above "Cow Chow", The needle moves easily, presumably this still works!

SOLD!

The company behind the famous checkerboard symbol, Purina Mills, was founded by William H. Danforth in 1894. The Purina Company (originally called the Robinson-Danforth Commission Company) was the result of a partnership which was formed to produce animal feed, and operate a retail feed store.

Purina commissioned numerous products which were given to salesmen, customers and owners of these feed companies, in return for new or enlarged accounts. This was part of the massive advertising technique to develop wholesale and retail accounts from feed stores, feed lots, farms and dairies.

Among the many products produced as incentives were: brass scales for weighing milk, baby chickens, rings, clothespin bags, posters and signs, brass animals, fine art animal paintings, ties, and well-made pocketknives with the famous Purina name and red and white checkerboard overlaid with clear celluloid on the sides of the handles.

This scale has some rust and is dirty. I didn't want to clean it, I'll leave it to the lucky high bidder to decide how much of that wonderful old patina to keep.

Scale is approximately 10" x 4 1/2", not counting the hook at bottom and ring at top. What a great addition to any scale or Purina advertising collection!

This is Item number: 6184385149 on EBay

Vintage Oiler Oil Can with Screw Cap

SOLD! Old oiler with screw cap! 3 1/4" tall x 1" x 1/2" oil can. "Made in USA" stamped on bottom. Original screw cap. In good shape. No dents or dings

I describe my goods as accurately as I can. They are antiques or vintage and are not perfect, but have wear and tear as any old item has.

Vintage Medical WW1 Red Cross Invalid Cup

This invalid feeder cup has a red cross on the top, gold edging on spout and around rim and down handle. I believe it is WW 1 era, circa 1914-1919.These cups where used during the war to feed tea or broth to wounded or sick soldiers.



There is one small hairline crack on the rim opposite the handle. It does not extend to the 'side' of the cup. There is a chip on the underneath part of the spout. The gold edging is lightly worn, possibly from so much washing up! No maker's mark that I can see. Would make a nice addition to any medical or red cross or porcelain collection

Cup is 4 1/2" in length and approximately 2" high and 3 1/4" across the top, not counting the handle

I describe my goods as accurately as I can. They are antiques or vintage and are not perfect, but have wear and tear as any old item has.

See more pictures of Red Cross Invalid Cup

Please note that what I thought was a hairline crack is probably a manufacturing defect according to my spouse. It's very tiny. This item is for sale on E Bay, Item number: 7327815559 SOLD!

Bluebird Marshmallow Advertising Tin

Advertising containers and products sold in the old country store are now collectibles. Advertising tin cans or canisters were first used commercially in the United States in 1819 and were called tins.

This triangular Vintage Bluebird Brand Marshmallow advertising tin is by the Harry Horne Co. Ltd. Toronto Canada. It is in decent condition. There are no dents, just some rust and wear as common for a tin of this age. It is still very attractive and displays well. Would make a nice addition to any antique collection.

The lid has more rust and wear than the actual tin. Graphics on the container are clear. Graphics on the lid are less visible due to rust/staining. There are small rust spots on the tin itself.

Size Triangular tin 7 1/2" x 7 1/2" x 7 1/2" Tin is for auction on E-Bay, Item number: 7161075197 SOLD!

Christie Antique show

Brian & I missed the Christie Antique show in May, so we plan to go to the next one in September.

More than 300 booths, each with display space of 20 feet by 30 feet translates into 180,000 square feet of antiques. It's too good to miss! Opens 8 am closes 5 pm

May 28, 2005 & September 10, 2005 at Christie Conservation Area,Dundas, Ontario Highway 5, nine km west of Highway 6. More info and directions at http://www.antiqueshowscanada.com/christie.htm

Victorian Match Holder

Victorian Match Holder,
originally uploaded by Lorine.

Brian and I also collect match holders. In the 1800s and 1900s these were used by the stove or by oil lamps. The single pocket ones are usually (as far as I know) for stove use -- you know, take a match, light it, light the stove or fireplace and toss the used match inside.

The double pocket ones were, I think, used for lamps. Take the match from one pocket, light it, light the lamp, put the used match in the second pocket.

We don't know much about match holders, but we like them for their lines and different styles. I have them all on the wall over our woodstove as a display.

The fancier ones like this were probably used in Victorian times.