EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: Rare End-of-the-Day Sewer Tile Objects from the Waldo Bros. in Boston

Monday, October 17, 2016

Rare End-of-the-Day Sewer Tile Objects from the Waldo Bros. in Boston

According to Waldo Brothers' website, "In 1869, John Aiden Waldo established Waldo Bros. Company as a small masonry company in New England. A few years later, his brother, Charles Sydney Waldo joined John forming the name, Waldo Bros. The company enjoyed rapid growth and opened sixteen locations in the New England and New York areas during the first few decades of its existence. However, Charles eventually bought John out becoming the sole owner.

Over the years, the business grew steadily until the Great Depression when the economy took a turn for the worse, the family was forced to close down most of its offices throughout the region and relocated to a single location in Boston.

Today, the business still operates from the same site in Boston, although the original building burned down and was rebuilt in the early-1970's."

About a week ago, I came across a three-handled sewer tile vase at an annual Columbus Day Weekend antique event in Ashfield, Massachusetts, which is prominently stamped 'WALDO BROS.'

This was a new name to me - I had never heard of the Wald Bros. before; however, the dealer told me that he thought the vase was made in Boston in the late-nineteenth century. He also said that he found it in a local home.

Traditionally, I associate these end-of-the-day sewer tile products from the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century with workers at factories in places like western Pennsylvania, Ohio and the Midwest. Until recently, I had never seen a sewer tile object that was potentially associated with Boston - and, as a result, I felt it was a good example of whimsical sewer tile that is rarely seen from New England today.

The Waldo Brothers published a company catalog in 1905, and this information helps define how this business operated in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.

To the Trade,

WE take pleasure in presenting our revised Catalog, No. 5, which we trust will be useful in furnishing a correct illustration of the goods which we handle.

We shall continue in our agencies for all HIGH GRADE BUILDING MATERIAL and, with the largest stock in New England at our various Yards and Wharves (warehouses), our facilities for prompt shipment are unexcelled.

With thanks for favors, past and future, we are,

Yours Respectfully,

Waldo Brothers.

Note: The only other marked example of end-of-the-day sewer tile from the Waldo Brothers that I known about is a large handled mug, which was published a few years back in Collector's Weekly Magazine. Although, it has also been published that this mug may have served as an advertising piece for the company, which may be the case with the vase, as well.

Waldo Bros. Sewer Tile Vase from Boston

Late-19th or Early-20th Century End-of-the-Day Sewer Tile Vase from Boston
Stamped 'WALDO BROS'
Circa 1870-1910
Stands 8 7/8" Tall
See Article for More Information