HUBLEY HORSE BOOT SCRAPER - CLOSER TO THE REAL STORY

-


This horse boot scraper can be found on the internet with conflicting identifications. Some say it's from the 19th c....some say it was manufactured by Hubley. There is one example that is marked "Hart" inside a heart on the bottom of the base. 


The horse does indeed to appear to be the Hubley Show Horse Doorstop. Other examples are also clones of Hubley doorstops...a    nother horse, the Boxer, Mammy, Setter and Cocker Spaniel. All of these examples are marked 5700 or 5800 on the bottom of the base, just like the B.B. Butt examples.

Here is an example of the Mammy



I have some information that gets closer to the real story as to the origin of these boot scrapers. 

The patent for the base was obtained in 1938 by Savannah Barrett Butt. She ran a little business out of her basement in Baltimore, Maryland and had a couple employees. There are multiple examples of twin figural scrapers that are marked "BB" on the top corner of the base and 5700 or 5800 with "B.B. Butt" on the bottom of the base. These scrapers do not have the bridge/single figural. The twin figurals are attached to each side of the base. Here is the patent:


Below is a B.B. Butt example

Here is an advertisement from 1949 from Hoops which was a store located in Chicago, Ill. Hoops advertises what appears to be the exact Show Horse Scraper shown in the first picture and says it can be chosen from a Dog and Mammy scraper too !!!
Who ultimately made the unmarked scrapers? That is still unknown. But, it appears that Hubley Doorstop molds were used for the motifs. Hubley did not start making doorstops until the 1920's in their "Metal Art Goods" line. They sold their doorstop molds in 1948 to John Wright. Did Hubley sell their doorstops to Butt to use on her scrapers? Did John Wright have an agreement with Butt? Did Hart (Whoever they were) gain rights to Butt's patent and use Hubley doorstops? 

Whatever the answer as to the manufacturer, this much appears true....these boot scrapers were made in the 1940's not the 19th century. 

Comments

Unknown said…
Thanks for doing all this research! Even though it’s not the English antique I thought it was, this story makes it much more dear to me.
Tuesday, July 14, 2020 6:24:00 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Denkert Signature Model Baseball Gloves - Ultimate Resource

-
Image
Denkert Sporting Goods Company made signature model baseball gloves from the 1920's thru the 1960's out of Johnstown and Gloversville, NY. I have compiled a listing of over 533 player-endorsed glove models manufactured by Denkert. Their Pro Master, Pro Maker and Sure Trap models were also made for private brands  It would only make sense that being located in New York, Denkert would have a Mickey Mantle endorsement. In fact, 24 different Mantle models have been discovered, including exclusive store models. Denkert did not get a lot of endorsements from other major stars, but, seemed to sign contracts with minor stars such as Pee Wee Reese, Al Rosen, Phil Rizzuto, Bill Skowron (18 known models), Bobby Richardson and Red Schoendienst. Reese was a favorite, having no less than 25 different model numbers over the years. They also got endorsements from more common players than most other glove makers such as Vic Wertz, Danny O'Connell, Del Rice, Jim Landis, Chet La
Read more

STARKIE'S JOLLY NIGGER BANK - ORIGINAL IDENTIFIED v. OLD REPRODUCTION

-
In the process of liquidating a living estate, we came upon a rare and original Starkie's Jolly Nigger (Moves Ears) Mechanical Bank. The bank was patented in 1920 by Robert Eastwood Starkie of Burnley, England (British Pat No 152,588). All known banks were made of Aluminum. In 1945, a patent was issued to Robert Patterson Starkie for a similar bank. This is the bank that is most often seen in Antique and Collectible circles and is often mistaken for the original from 1920, even by major auction houses. At first glance from the front, the banks look identical. However, there are at least 8 differences: 1) Original: Ears are located closer to the eyes. A "V" shaped section from the back half of the casting fits into a "V" groove in the front half. Later Version: Ears are located in the middle of the castings. 2) Original: Back has the inscription: "Starkie's Pat No 152,588" Later Version: Blank back. 3) Original: Base plate has circular holes and is
Read more