Pottery Folk Art Salesman Sample Presentation Piece Eagle National Sewer Pipe Company of Barberton, Ohio 1895

Salesman Sample Presentation Piece Eagle National Sewer Pipe Company of Barberton, Ohio.

The town of Barberton Ohio was founded by O. C. Barber, the man who owned  the Diamond Match company.  The town was created in 1891.  The National Sewer Pipe Company was founded in 1888.  Fifteen years later, the National Sewer Pipe company was up and running in the town with 325 employees.  Woked by, yes, immigants.

Barberton is shown here around the same time.  It doesn't look like a happening place, but it was.  Numerous chemical and clay operations were soon booming and the town attracted loads of hard-working folks from Europe to do the work.

The remarkable salesman sample (or more likely, a presentation piece?) can be dated circa 1895, as an advertisement they ran that year show the eagle on sewer pipe was a logo as well as a physical object.  I do not know how many of these pieces were produced, but certainly few exist today.  There is a nub on the left which would indicate the eagle's wings on both sides reached to the pipe.  Note minute detail on the claws.

At the same time, they won an award showing the strength of their product and indication pipes went to Michigan.  The ad also suggests writing for a paperweight.  This piece seems a bit more substantial than a paperweight, but quite possible.

N. S. P. also produced small sewer tile toothpick holders. Hand signed piece also seen  include a miniature ladies shoe whimsy. 

Thanks to Curley's Antiques
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