Letterheads and Billheads

"Harrisburg Carriage Repository, Edward Boyer, proprietor, 1017 Market St., Harrisburg, Pa. Manufacturer of and dealer in carriages, surreys, runabouts, Stanhope phaetons, buggies, and business wagons. Repairing and remodeling of carriages a specialty." The Hub , a trade magazine for carriage, wagon, and automobile manufacturers, provided this laudatory description of the Harrisburg Carriage Repository and its proprietor in its August 1901 issue, p. 256: "Harrisburg, Pa., has no better, more strongly established or more popular house in any branch of business than the Harrisburg Carriage Repository, of which Edward Boyer, good man, expert mechanic, and energetic business man, is proprietor. Everyone in the capital, yes, every carriage man in the State, we might say in the trade throughout the entire land, knows Boyer, the man whose word is as good as a United States bond. He handles only the best and carries a stock to meet all demands. Mr. Boyer is general agent for the Richland Vehicle Co. and numerous other manufacturers of twentieth-century vehicles of every description."

"Camp Geo. G. Meade, Middletown, Pa. ________ 1898. Horse Shoe Plug Tobacco is the best." Top portion of a letterhead or billhead sheet--with a flag illustration and an advertisement for Horse Shoe plug tobacco--that was evidently printed for use at Camp Meade in Middletown, Pa., during the military camp's existence between August 24 and November 17, 1898. The 45-star version of the United States flag as seen here was in use from 1896 to 1908 (see the Historical Progression of Designs section in Wikipedia's Flag of the United States entry). As Wikipedia explains, " Camp George G. Meade near Middletown, Pennsylvania was a camp established and subsequently abandoned by the U.S. Volunteers during the Spanish American War. . . . Camp Meade was established August 24, 1898, and soon thereafter was occupied by the Second Army Corps of about 22,000 men, under command of Maj. Gen. William M. Graham, which had been moved from Camp Alger in an attempt to outrun the typhoid fever epidemic. Camp Meade was visited by President William McKinley on August 27, 1898. . . . Camp Meade was abandoned about November 17, 1898."

"Punxsutawny Beef and Provision Company, Punxsutawny, Penna., packers-manufacturers, beef, pork, veal, lambs, and provisions. H. A. Philliber, general manager. John F. Philliber, business manager. Groundhog Brand hams, bacon, and lard. Weather for today. Date: 11/4/29. Forwarded by: Truck." Punxsutawney , Pennsylvania, is home to Punxsutawney Phil , the famous rodent who predicts the weather each year on Groundhog Day , which is celebrated on February 2. The Punxsutawney Beef and Provision Company used an illustration of its hometown groundhog--complete with an umbrella and "Weather for Today" newspaper report--as the logo on this 1929 billhead. For an example of the company's logo on a matchbook cover, see Groundhog Brand Pure Kettle-Rendered Lard .

"Groundhog Window Glass, Bell Phone 147-J, Summerville Phone 268, 310 E. Mahoning Street, Punxsutawney, Pa., Aug. 28, 1918. Sold to Mr. J. A. Boyer, Rural Valley, Pa. L. G. Bastin & Sons, window glass distributors and glaziers. Circle cutting, glazing, plate glass, window glass, bent glass, and bevel glass. 3-16 glass for windshields, colored glass, chipped glass, mirror and picture frames." L. G. Bastin & Sons, a company that was located in Punxsutawney , Pennsylvania, used "Groundhog Window Glass" as a brand name and also included an illustration of a groundhog on this 1918 billhead. The town of Punxsutawney, of course, is home to Punxsutawney Phil , the famous rodent whose annual weather predictions are celebrated on February 2, Groundhog Day .

Correspondence from "Marion" to "Charles" that 's constructed using words and illustrations cut out from one or more New York City newspapers in the manner of a stereotypical ransom letter. Charles was evidently a soldier in 1917 as World War I raged in Europe, and there are references to "the captain," "pass time," the Quartermaster Corps , and Madison Barracks that may provide clues to where he was stationed (300 miles away at Madison Barracks in Sackets Harbor , N.Y., perhaps?). The letter also mentions popular entertainments of the time--Ward's Jazz Band performing at dances, silent film actress Theda Bara appearing in Cleopatra at the Lyric Theatre on 42nd Street, and music playing on the Victrola . -------- Oct. 30, 1917 Dear Soldier, Latest news from New York. Friends and fellow citizens, hear us. Special gossip of a day. Prepare now. Advice free. Every time is pass time--nit. And the captain answered, this way out! The land of joy. Dance awhile, no charge for dancing. Splendid dance floor, Ward's Jazz Band, windows and light on all sides. Business before pleasure. See mummies come to life again when they see Theda Bara in Cleopatra, the William Fox production, Lyric Theatre, 42d St., W. of B'way . . . . Charles, now is the high cost of living so save rice. Don't marry. Oh, boy, take me to motion pictures at Madison Barracks and have lively music on Victrola. Have you fancy groceries and table luxuries at the Quartermaster Corps kamp? The very idea! We specialize in all kinds of sea food. I have a nice can of jam for you, big friend. Yours very truly, Marion

"Edward A. Hollis, Hardware. Contractors', upholsterers', builders'. No. 1904 Market Street, Philadelphia, March 31, 1890. Sold to E. W. Lapp. 1 Fleetwood scroll saw 3, 12.90." Rubberstamped: "Paid, Edward A. Hollis, per EAH, 5/2/91." Hammer head: "D. Maydole, cast steel."

"To Mount Joy Broom Co. Dr. Manufacturers of brooms. Mount Joy, Pa., ________ 19__. Terms: ________."

An 1890 billhead for the Type-Writer's Exchange, a used office equipment store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. See also an enlargement of the World Type Writer logo that appears in the upper left-hand corner of the billhead. The Type-Writer's Exchange . Second-hand type-writers and office equipment bought, sold, or exchanged. 46 South Fourth Street 1212 Market Street, Philadelphia, Jan. 16/90. Sold to E. W. Lapp, 1 letter press & stand, $4.00. Terms cash. Received payment. Typewriter Exchange per S. A. Smith. Logo: World Type Writer, $8.00. Rapid. Durable. Practical. Simple.

The World Type Writer logo from The Type-Writer's Exchange Billhead, Philadelphia, Pa., 1890 . World Type Writer, $8.00 Rapid. Durable. Practical. Simple.

Dr. Andrew Aikens Wasson (1844-1918) used this billhead in his dental practice in York, Pennsylvania, in the 1890s. I can't quite decipher the handwriting to determine what service he provided for Lewis Shriver on April 22, 1893, but it's notable, I suppose, that it only cost $10.00. A unique part of the billhead is the star-shaped logo that includes Wasson's portrait, a heart, a pair of pointing hands (manicules), and—yikes!—two extracted teeth (see a cropped version for a better view of the design). "Dr. A. A. Wasson, Dr. Dental Surgeon, 214 W. Market Street. Terms cash. York, Pa., April 22, 1893. Mr. Lewis Shriver. [????], $10.00. Rec'd payment, A. A. Wasson, D.D.S."

A portrait of Dr. Andrew Aikens Wasson (1844-1918), a dentist from York, Pennsylvania, is the main feature of this star-shaped logo from the billhead he used in the 1890s. The design also includes a heart, a pair of pointing hands (manicules), and—holy molar!—two extracted teeth. For the full billhead, see Dr. A. A. Wasson Billhead, Dental Surgeon, York, Pa., April 22, 1893 .

John K. Trewetz (1864-1938), a well-known musician who lived in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, advertised a patented "bellophone" on his billhead, but I haven't been able to uncover any information about it. David Bachman Landis of Pluck Art Printery created this billhead for Trewetz. M ________ To John K. Trewetz, Dr. Musical Novelties, 350 West Orange St. Lancaster, Pa., ________ 188__ Bellophone. Patented.