Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2024.FIC.008 |
Object Name |
Wheel |
Title |
John A. Roebling's Sons Company Large Wire Wheel |
Description |
This brown, cylindrical wooden wheel is wrapped with silver metal wire. The top and bottom of the wheel each consist of two wide circular discs. While the middle portion of the wheel is not visible, it is presumably a thinner cylinder than the discs, completely covered by the wire, which obscures what lies beneath. At the top of the wheel, there is a circular hole that extends all the way through to the bottom. Centered above this hole is a yellow, circular sticker from John A. Roebling's Sons Company, which occupies most of the space. The sticker features a red inscription that reads: "JOHN A. ROEBLING'S SONS COMPANY 300 FATHOMS. GALVANIZED. EA SOUNDING WIRE. TRADEMARKED. For Sale By TRENTON, NEW JERSEY." The word "TRADEMARK" is colored yellow and appears on top of a red half-circle. The inscription is encircled by a red border. Several portions of the inscription are obscured due to tears in the sticker, making parts of the text illegible. According to the Trenton City Museum, John A. Roebling founded the John A. Roebling's Sons Company in 1841. Initially based in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, the company moved to Trenton, New Jersey, in 1848 and later opened an additional factory in Roebling, New Jersey, in 1905. The company became widely known for its manufacturing of wire rope, which was used in suspension bridges, elevators, cable cars, tramways, airplanes, shipping, mining, construction, ski lifts, electrical lines, telegraphs and telephones, wire cloth and screens, and pre-stressed concrete. Roebling's wire rope was integral to the construction of famous bridges such as the Brooklyn Bridge, the George Washington Bridge, and the Golden Gate Bridge. For many years, the Roebling family business was one of the largest employers in the city of Trenton. In 1953, the family sold the plants to the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company. The Trenton plant closed in 1973, and the Roebling plant followed shortly after in 1974. John Roebling, born June 12, 1806, in Muehlhausen, Prussia, immigrated to America in 1831. He initially joined a farming colony in Saxonburg, Pennsylvania, but, realizing he was ill-suited for farming, he transitioned to part-time surveying and construction work. By the late 1840s, Roebling had achieved considerable success, allowing him to move his operation to Trenton. His international reputation grew with the construction of the Niagara Bridge in 1855. After the American Civil War, Roebling expanded his operations and brought his sons into the business. Towards the end of his life, he began drafting plans for the Brooklyn Bridge, though he passed away in 1869 before its completion. The Brooklyn Bridge would go on to become the longest suspension bridge of its time. Citations: John A. Roebling’s Sons Company - Trenton City Museum. Trenton City Museum . (2016, May 6). https://ellarslie.org/john-a-roebling-sons-company/ John Augustus Roebling. American Society of Civil Engineers. (n.d.). https://www.asce.org/about-civil-engineering/history-and-heritage/notable-civil-engineers/john-augustus-roebling |
Year Range from |
1841 |
Year Range to |
1973 |
Material |
Wood, Metal |
Artist |
John A. Roebling's Sons Company |
Height (in) |
5.500 |
Width (in) |
7.750 |
Condition |
Okay |
Condition Notes |
Overall: Abrasions and scratches throughout. The sticker is heavily torn. Front: There are scratches and abrasions all over the wood. Right Side: There are scratches and abrasions all over the wood. Also, there is a crack on the wooden circle on the bottom near the right side. Back: There are scratches and abrasions all over the wood. Also, there are white accretions on the wooden circle on the bottom near the middle. Left Side: There are scratches and abrasions all over the wood. Top: There are scratches and abrasions all over the wood. The sticker has multiple different tears all over. Bottom: There are scratches and abrasions all over the wood. There is wear around the hole. There is a large crack on the bottom near the middle. There are black accretions on top near the middle. And finally, there are larges abrasions on the center near the left side. |
Inscription Type |
Manufacturer's Mark |
Inscription Location |
Top, Top to Bottom, Left to Right |
Inscription Technique |
Stamped |
Inscription Text |
"JOHN A ROEBLING NS COMPANY" Line 1 "300 FATHOMS" Line 2 "GALVANIZED" Line 3 "EA SOUNDING WIRE" Line 4 "TRADEMARK" Line 5 "For Sale By" Line 6 "TRENTON, NEW JERSEY" Line 7 |
People |
John Roebling Ferdinand Roebling |
Classification |
Business & Commerce |
Subjects |
Bridge construction Brides Metals Metalwork Metalworkers Metalworking |
Search Terms |
Wood John Roebling Roebling Roeblings John A. Roebling's Sons Company 300 Fathoms Galvanized Sounding Wire Trenton New Jersey NJ Wheel Metal Wire 1841 1973 19th Century 20th Century Brown Silver John A. Roebling's Sons Company Large Wire Wheel Large Wheel |
Provenance |
Found in collection |