TagTown "Makers" Page

Railroadiana: Baggage Checks

43 confirmed makers and counting!

Makers
The following table illustrates different maker hallmarks that are known to exist, or believed to exist. A hallmark is the makers way of identifying their work. These exist for a couple of reasons. The most important reason was advertising. If you make a quality product, why not show it off. It is also likely that when a new supply of something is needed, a purchasing agent could get feedback on specific lots that had been previously purchased. Some of the makers below are hyperlinks to further detailed company information. Click on a name in the first column to get more information.

There exists an old hand written list of additional makers that I would like to get more information on. This list (from an old Key, Lock and Lantern Albany convention) is becoming hobby folklore! The list was once incorporated here, but now removed because of the size of confirmed makers. Please take a look and see if there are any makers that you can confirm. Click here for the list of unconfirmed makers.
 
 Maker
 Markings
Scarcity
Image
 Abbott, Thomas  ABBOTT'S PATENT, DEC. 5th, 1882
5
 Adams  ADAMS & CO. MPLS
5
 American Banknote  AMERICAN BANKNOTE CO.    
 American Ry. Supply  many exist - see maker page
1
  
 Arnold, J.H.  J.H. ARNOLD N.Y.
3
 Ansonia  A.B.&C.CO.  ANSONIA. CT
4
 Brooks, E.J.  E.J. BROOKS & CO. NY
3
 Cushing Bardua  CUSHING BARDUA & CO NJ
5
  
 Day & Halsey  DAY & HALSEY NY
5
  
 Denver Novelty  DENVER NOVELTY WORKS?
4 (1)
 Doorman, J.F.W.  J. F. W. DOORMAN CO. BALTIMORE
5
  
 Fleharty, J.H.  J. H. FLEHARTY CLEVELAND/CHICAGO
5
  
 Farr & Foster  FARR & FOSTER CO.  CHICAGO
5
 Foster, F.T.  F. T. FOSTER PHILADELPHIA
5
  
 George, Thomas   THOS GEORGE & CO CHICAGO
5
 Goodwin, A.M.  A.M GOODWIN MFG.CO SACO, MAINE,  U.S.A.
2
 Gregg  GREGG
4
 Hamilton Stamp  HAM STAMP & STENCIL, HAMILTON, ON
4
  
 Hanson, C.H.  C.H. HANSON, CHICAGO
4
 Hoole, Edmond  many exist - see maker page
1 - 4
  
 Jones, J.M.W.  J.M.W. JONES CO., CHICAGO
3
 International Co.  INTERNATIONAL CO. NY
5
  
 Klinkner  KLINKNER & CO.  320 SANSOM ST. SAN FRANCISCO
4
  
 Law & Burgess  LAW & BURGESS, NEW YORK
5
 LA Rubber Stamp  LA RUBBER STAMP CO
5
  
 Mayer  G.J. MAYER INDPL'S
4
 Moise, L.H.  L.H. MOISE S.F.
3
 Morehouse  T.W. MOREHOUSE J. CITY N.J.
4
 Murdock  JAS. MURDOCK JR.
2
 Murdock & Spencer  MURDOCK & SPENCER
4
  
 Otto  JOHN OTTO & CO. BUFFALO
5
 Poole Bros.  POOLE BROS. CHICAGO
3
 Quint  QUINT PHILADELPHIA?
 5
  
 Rand Avery  many exist - see maker page
1
  
 Robbins, J.  many exist - see maker page
1
  
 Robbins, J.C.  J.C.ROBBINS, BOSTON
5
 Sachs Lawlor  SACHS LAWLOR M.&M.CO.
5
 Seeger, J.  J. SEEGER BALTI
5
 Sherburne & Co  SHERBURNE & CO. BOSTON
2
 Smith, J.H  J.H. SMITH, Cleveland O.
 5
 S.L. Stamp  S. L. STAMP (Salt Lake Stamp?)
 Stafford, N.  N. STAFFORD NEW YORK
4
  
 Strange, J. W.  J.W. STRANGE
4
  
 Taulman  dug at Civil War encampment 
 Thomas  THOMAS PATENT FEB 19, 1867
3
 Tilitson  TILITSON, NY, NY
5
  
 Woodman  many exist - see maker page
4
  
 Wilcox, W. W.  many exist - see maker page
1
  
 Williamson, E. R.  E.R. WILLIAMSON, MINNEAPOLIS
5
  

The "scarcity rating" has been suggested by several people. It is probably the mistake of a lifetime, however, if nothing else it will stir the pot. The ultimate purpose is to gather and share as much information as possible. If you have a differing opinion from those I have stated, please email me with suggestions. A hyperlink is available below for that purpose.

1 = common
2 = less common
3 = pretty scarce
4 = few exist
5 = only one known.
Please don't confuse scarcity with value. For example a Goodwin is not real common, but they tend to be shell tags from the Maine Central RR and sometimes from the Boston & Maine. Although these are nice finds, they rarely fetch more than $60.00. Arnold is another maker where there seems to be a lot of  Seaborad "Local" tags and nothing else. So, the Seaboard tags don't fetch more than $80.00 - $120.00, however any other Arnold tag would be a nice find. On the other hand any Morehouse tag is a great find. They seldom sell for under $150.00 - $200.00.

Some tips on valuation:

"who" was made for?
"who" made it?
"how old" is it?
"condition, condition, condition"
combination of factors above
geography demand factor (Colorado and California do better than New Hampshire)
(1) Note that the Denver Novelty Works tag has a rating of "4" meaning that a few examples are know to exist. These tags are very desireable to Colorado collectors and often sell in excess of $600.00 each. The rating is realtive to known examples and not valuation.
.

email: suggestions and corrections

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