Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2013.001.001 |
Object Name |
Sign, Informational |
Title |
Pennsylvania Railroad Company Fair Switching Tower Sign |
Description |
The object is a Tuscan red rectangular railroad sign. The front of the sign features a gold inscription with a black outline that reads, "FAIR." On the right and left sides, there are two small circular holes, presumably for screws. The front of the sign is framed with an elevated gold rim. The top, bottom, right, and left sides of the sign are all Tuscan red, while the back is light brown. On the back, there are two indented rectangular areas. This sign was originally located at the intersection of Chestnut Street and the Pennsylvania Railroad in Trenton, New Jersey. According to the editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, the Pennsylvania Railroad Company was chartered by the Pennsylvania State Legislature in 1846 to build a railroad line between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. Through a series of expansions and acquisitions, the company eventually covered much of the Northeast and Midwest. The Pennsylvania Railroad was highly successful throughout most of the 19th and early 20th centuries, experiencing its first financial loss only in 1946. In 1968, the railroad merged with one of its chief competitors, New York Central, to form Penn Central Transportation Company. However, the merger proved unsuccessful, and the company declared bankruptcy in 1970. Its railways were subsequently taken over by the newly established Amtrak in 1971. Citations: Pennsylvania Railroad Company . Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). https://www.britannica.com/money/Pennsylvania-Railroad-Company |
Date |
Mid 19th to Mid 20th Century |
Material |
Wood |
Artist |
Pennsylvania Railroad Company |
Height (in) |
14.000 |
Length (in) |
30.000 |
Width (in) |
1.125 |
Condition |
Okay |
Condition Notes |
Overall: Scratches, accretions, abrasions, and paint fading throughout. Front: There is a hole on the center near the right side. There are scratches throughout. There are white accretions throughout. The paint around the inscription is faded. And finally, there are black accretions along the edges. Right Side: There is slight paint fading along the edges. Also, there are black accretions throughout. Back: There are black accretions throughout. There are white accretions throughout. There is a hole on the center near the right side. There are large abrasions on the wood all over the left side. There are dark brown discolorations around the edges of the indented rectangles. And finally, there are scratches throughout. Left Side: There are white accretions all along the left side. There are large abrasions on the center near the left side. And finally, there is paint fading on top near the right side. Top: There are white accretions throughout. There are black accretions throughout. There is paint fading on the bottom near the left side. And finally, there is a black discolorations on top near the right side. Bottom: There are white accretions all over the bottom. There is an abrasion on the bottom near the left side. There is a little bit of paint chipping throughout. And finally, there are black accretions throughout. |
Inscription Type |
Inscription |
Inscription Location |
Front, Top to Bottom, Left to Right |
Inscription Technique |
Stamped |
Inscription Text |
"FAIR" Line 1 |
Classification |
Transportation |
Subjects |
Streets Roads Transportation Transportation industry Woodwork Woodworking Railroad companies Railroad construction & maintenance Railroad employees Railroad stations Railroad switches Railroad tracks Railroad trains Railroads Railroad travel |
Search Terms |
Wood Red Gold Brown Tuscan 1969 Fair Trenton Pennsylvania Railroad Company Railroad 1846 19th Century 20th Century Signs Chestnut Street Pennsylvania Railroad Company Fair Switching Tower Sign Switching Tower Informational Sign Moreland Houck |
Provenance |
This item was donated to the Trenton Free Public Library by Moreland Houck. It became apart of the Museum Collection in 2013. |