David Good told me that he found the object, which he called a "nodder," placed atop a fence post at a country home in Indiana. He said he did not know where the object was definitely made; although, he was confident that it was surely a twentieth-century Midwestern-made product.
What he meant by the word "nodder" is the head acted as a scarecrow when it sat on top of a fence post. The head would move when the wind blew in a similar movement that is seen on a modern bobblehead doll today. Unfortunately, I do not have a photograph, but I assume you can envision how this object appeared on a rural estate in the Midwest. It was entirely hand-modeled similar to many of the American-made sewer tile products that exist today. Surprisingly, there was also no damage, either.
Earlier, this week, I was attempting to research this subject when I came across a similar formed man's head with a hat, which was listed on the website of (Jim & Randi) Williams American Art & Antiques in Nashville, Tennessee. According to their website, "This twentieth-century Ohio sewer pipe object is in the form of a railroad conductor. It was pictured in a book written in 1973 by Jack Adamson, 'Illustrated Handbook of Ohio Sewer Pipe Folk Art."
The manufacture of both of these objects seems to coincide with when Ohio saw a major increase in its railroad system during the early-to-mid-twentieth-century (circa 1900-1940). According to the website, 'Ohio History Central,' "While railroad supporters first appeared in Ohio during the mid-1820's, little construction occurred until the 1840's. As of 1840, railroad companies had constructed only forty-miles of track in the state, although several companies were currently in existence.
Following the American Civil War (after 1865), Ohio experienced tremendous growth in railroad mileage. Larger railroad companies also began to purchase shorter lines in Ohio and connected them together, making a more integrated railroad system.
By 1900, most of Ohio's smaller railroads now belonged to one of four major railroad companies, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the Erie Railroad, the Pennsylvania Railroad, or the New York Central Railroad.
By 1910, more than 9,500 miles of railroad track was used in Ohio, up from 8,900 miles just ten-years prior. Railroad companies built most of the new track in northeastern Ohio to help facilitate the major industries in cities like Akron, Canton, Cleveland, and Youngstown.
Railroads dominated Ohio's transportation infrastructure until after World War II, when the trucking industry experienced tremendous growth and took away much of the railroad's business."
Overall, it appears that Ohio's fascination with the railroad boom occurred after 1865; however, its popularity seemed to peak during the 1900-1940 period - and, accordingly, it was during the 1900-1940 period that I believe both of the aforementioned sewer tile railroad conductor figures were produced. Undoubtedly, they were made at one of the many sewer tile companies, which operated in the Midwest during the late-nineteenth and twentieth-centuries. I am also very-doubtful that they were made at the same business.
I should also mention that whimsical objects were a common 'end-of-the-day' theme at sewer tiles factories across America during the late-1800's and the 1900's. These type of objects were produced from Portland, Maine to Pennsylvania and across the Midwestern states.
Curiously, I wonder if the objects of discussion were drawn from real-life subjects or whether they were made up from a sewer tile factory worker's imagination? This is probably an idea that can be debated back-and-forth with no-real proof, either way.
20th Century Sewer Tile Head of a Railroad Conductor
Circa 1900-1940
Stands 7 1/2" Tall
Pictured in the 1973 Book, 'Illustrated Handbook of Ohio Sewer Pipe Folk Art'
Photo Courtesy: Williams American Art & Antiques - Nashville, TN
Another View of the Conductor's Head
Photo Courtesy: Williams American Art & Antiques - Nashville, TN
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
No comments:
Post a Comment