Hooge Huys Building Replica Bank & Clock

David W. contacted me and shared the recently discovered identity of a Dutch Wekker alarm clock and bank. The flat metal front represents the Hooge Huys building. The clock has a silvered dial, with a box in back for the clock works and coin slot. It measures 6" wide x 6-3/4" high. The Hooge Huys, in the city of Alkmaar in Holland, is a former office building of the insurance company Hooge Huys, now called REAAL. The building was designed by Alexander Kropholler, in the style of Dutch traditionalism. The building was constructed of red Roman bricks. In the six steps story gable to the Langestraat is a medallion affixed. At this medallion is a pelican feeding her young with her ​​own blood, as a symbol of charity.

Georgia Railroad Bank Replica with Clock and Inkwell

Collector Howie G. sent me the following information about how he tracked down an unusual replica of the Georgia Railroad Bank.

“During a recent business trip to Orlando I called upon fellow building collector Marty G.  I had never seen his collection, and Marty and Jakob graciously invited me to their beautiful home to see their most impressive assemblage of souvenir buildings.  When I arrived, Marty had thoughtfully placed some of his most prized possessions on a separate table for my viewing pleasure. My eye immediately focused on the large Georgia Railroad Bank building, which I had never seen before.  An impressive 7 or so inches tall on a 5 by 7 inch base, this lead replica includes a clock and an inkwell.  It’s very similar to some Art Metal Works pieces such as the Maryland Casualty Company, Vanadium, and US Fidelity & Guaranty buildings. Try as I might, I could not cajole Marty into even considering an offer to let it go.  Indeed, he told me it was one of his favorite souvenir buildings, and I could certainly understand why. An optimist by nature, I left his home with dreams of one day finding a Georgia Railroad Bank building.  Once back in New York, I commenced a full court press, first researching the building to determine its location (Augusta), then followed up with every local antique dealer, collector, newspaper, museum, and historical society I could find. Unsuccessful but undaunted, I began researching the names of people that had worked at the bank.  One replied to me that most of the souvenirs were destined to remain in Augusta where they belonged, and not sold to a Yankee building collector up north. I eventually heard back from a gentleman whose father had been a director of the bank, had recently passed away, and sure enough, had the object of my desires, for which he would consider a fair offer.  Long story short, it’s now safely ensconced in my collection, but will be heading west soon for a professional paint stripping and restoration. “ – Howie.

The souvenir building replica may be from the early 1900’s and made from lead by the Art Metal Works company. The real Georgia Railroad Bank and Trust Co.’s Main Office building was located on Broad and 7^th Streets in Augusta, Georgia. Constructed in 1902, the building was renovated and became part of the C&S Bank around 1968-1969. I could not find much information about the building’s current status, but checked on Google maps and it does not appear that the structure still exists. 

Big Ben’s 150th anniversary

Did you know this year marks the 150th anniversary of Big Ben? Construction of the Clock Tower began in September 1843 and was completed in 1859. Throughout 2009, England’s Parliament celebrates the 150th anniversary of its world-famous Clock Tower, Great Clock and Great Bell with celebrations and events. Most people call the tower Big Ben; however, this name actually refers to the large bell inside. Officially, the Clock Tower's bell is called the Great Bell though it is better known by the name 'Big Ben.’ There are two theories for this name's origin. Mostl likely, it was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, First Commissioner for Works 1855-1858, whose name is inscribed on the bell. In another theory, its named after Ben Caunt, a champion heavyweight boxer of the 1850s. 1859 was the beginning for all three elements when the Clock Tower was completed. The Great Clock began to run on 31 May, the Great Bell’s strikes were heard for the first time on 11 July and the quarter bells first chimed on 7 September. You can hear the chimes here. Construction of the Clock Tower began in September 1843 and was completed in 1859. It stands over 96 metres and 12 metres square. There are 11 floors with 334 steps to belfry and 393 steps to lantern (the Ayrton Light). Check out a virtual tour of the clock tower. To celebrate the anniversary in their own way, two businessmen in Cheshire, England created a 72-foot sculpture to mark 150 years of the London landmark. They built a straw replica of London's 'Big Ben.’ It’s made with 450 bales of straw and features a working clock with two faces that are illuminated at night. Other replicas of the clock tower which houses Big Ben and Houses of Parliament are souvenir buildings. An antique Parliament building is made of cast iron and stands 9 inch tall. A modern replica is an 8.5-inch metal replica of the clock tower with working miniature clock. Most collectors know about the small, copper-colored metal pencil sharpener of Big Ben’s Clock Tower which stands 4 inches tall. Do you know of other miniature replicas of the 150-year-old London landmark?

Lincoln Tunnel NYC

Scott D. wrote this post to share with everyone about New York City’s Lincoln Tunnel and a souvenir replica of it:

“With the recent news about pumping up the economy and giving people jobs in “shovel ready” projects we should think back to the time of the depression and the government’s response to rebuilding the nation. The New Deal’s Public Works Administration did just that. One such project was building the Midtown Tunnel, later renamed the Lincoln Tunnel. New York City Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and powerful political leader Robert Moses identified the project as part of a regional development plan and as a depression-era source of employment. By allowing for more car and bus traffic, the Lincoln Tunnel (along with the Holland Tunnel which opened in 1927 and the George Washington Bridge which opening in 1931) reduced residents' dependency on commuter railroads and ferries and promoted the automobile as a central factor in the region's growth. The tunnel was designed by Ole Singstad. The project was funded by the New Deal's Public Works Administration. Construction began on the first tube on May 17, 1934. Workers confronted claustrophobic and dangerous conditions, including floods and high pressures in a work zone as deep as ninety-seven feet below the river's surface. It opened to traffic in December 1937, charging $0.50 per passenger car. The cost of construction was $75,000,000. Omero C. Catan, a salesman from Manhattan, drove the first car through the tunnel. The original design called for two tubes. The first tube opened on 22 December 1937. Work on the second was halted in 1938 but resumed in 1941. Due to war material shortages of metal, completion was delayed for two years. It opened on February 1, 1945 at a cost of $80 million with Michael Catan, brother of Omero, selected to be the first to lead the public through the tube. The project employed 1,300 WPA workers at an average $1 per hour.A third tube was proposed by the Port Authority due to increased traffic demand, but initially opposed by the City of New York, which was trying to get the Port Authority to help pay for the road improvements that the City would need to handle the additional traffic. Eventually, a compromise was worked out and the third tube opened in May 1957 to the south of the original two tunnels. Although the 3 portals are side by side in New Jersey, in New York City the north tube portal is some two blocks away from the other 2, which are side by side. Lincoln tunnel is the world’s first 3-tube underwater tunnel. The tunnel carries almost 120,000 vehicles per day, making it one of the busiest vehicular tunnels in the world.The miniature Mid-Town Hudson Tunnel Clock is believed to be carved from the same concrete used in the tunnels construction. It also has a working New Haven 8 day clock. The miniature version is 8” high and 6” wide and 3”thick and whole piece is 5lbs! It is thought that this miniature might have been given out to VPs at the ground breaking ceremony as it says the start date of construction and the first name of the tunnel (before it was later changed to the Lincoln Tunnel) Another idea is that it was made by one of the tunnel construction workers. In any case, it’s a fine Art Deco building miniature of a time when America was coming out of the Great Depression. Here is a video which shows why the tunnel was built and how the construction process was very labor intensive and dangerous.” –Scott.