Stourbridge Lion, I have this old plaque (2.5" x 5") from my (late) father. He gave it to me as a momento from when he was working with his dad at Mac's Hardware (long time gone) in Oswego, NY. He told me that Mac's had purchased D&H coal for their supply to heat houses(IIRC). I don't remember much else of the history. Maybe you can help. Questions: How many of these were "issued" and for what? Because they were customers of the D&H? Is this a "collector's item" or is it just a piece of tarnished metal? As you can see, it is to commemorate 1829-1929, so does this add any "value to it? Any help is appreciated.
Yes, these are very much real and I own one myself that I got off of eBay a few years ago. I just trying to locate the details behind it to help with the above questions.
How much is this thing worth? I googled the heck out of it and found that a commemorative plaque was struck, but nothing else. Anyone?
Probably would be a supply and demand scenario. No firmly set value. I have watched many RR items actually fall in netted prices, on eBay the last few years. Possibly econimics. Possibly because people have brought things out of their attic, and filled needs of prospective buyers. Boxcab E50
Bump. Not to say I am asking the price, but I presume the plaque is valuable. How many were made? [ August 27, 2005, 09:27 AM: Message edited by: sapacif ]
As for worth, I have seen these sold on eBay for anywhere from about $30 to $90 but I would say about $50 is the current value. Don't see any on eBay right now... D&H 100th Anniversary Medallion
Thanks for the update. If you could still find some of the details for me, that would be appreciated.
I'm not so much a fan of the D&H as I am a fan of history. The Stourbridge Lion is operating 30 years before the US Civil War. Wow! And it is celebrating the 100 years about 75 years ago. It just seems that the plaque is so unique and yet it only goes for 50 US$ or so. Just interesting to see how people value things that are a part of history. Harry Truman..."The only thing new is the history you don't know." That may be like saying, "If you live long enough, you will eventually get to a hospital." How true. Thanks for following this up.
Keep in my too that the D&H started in 1823. The Stourbridge Lion and the Birthplace of America's Commercial Railroad In 1827 the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company began to investigate the use of the steam engine for traction and locomotive use on its gravity railroad to haul coal from its mines to Honesdale, Pennsylvania, and then by canal to New York City. The gravity railroad operated on a system of inclined planes over which the cars were moved by gravity. This system of connecting differences of elevation by means of a series of inclined planes was little known and understood in America at that time, though similar systems were in use in Europe. In order to evaluate the use and power of the steam engines and the rails on which they were run, the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company sent a deputy engineer, Horatio Allen, to England in 1828. If he decided they would be suitable for the company’s use, he was instructed to place orders for four engines and rails. Horatio Allen’s inquiries led him first to Newcastle, where the Stephenson family was producing an engine for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway. Allen was impressed and ordered one engine from them. He then went to the Town of Stourbridge where he met a brilliant engineer, John Urpeth Rastrick. Rastrick had taken out a patent for the steam engine in 1814 and formed the firm of Foster Rastrick and Company to produce them. He was considered an authoritative witness in support of railroads when opposition from the canal companies threatened their growth and development . It was from Foster Rastrick and Company that Allen ordered the other three locomotives. Among them was the Stourbridge Lion, so named because a Lion’s head had been painted on the front of the boiler. It weighed eight tons and cost $2,915.00. When the Stourbridge Lion arrived in Honesdale in July 1829, about three miles of wooden track had been laid which crossed the Lackawaxen River on a trestle bridge some thirty feet in height. The rails were of wooden construction, the running surface of which was faced with wrought iron strips secured to the rails with stout wood screws. The trial run was to take place on the 8th of August 1829. When this became known, crowds of people assembled to witness the event, convinced that the iron Lion would never work. Afraid that the curious contraption would kill any who rode it, no one would take the trial run with Horatio Allen. So, amidst jeers and laughter, he mounted the hissing Lion. The jeers quickly turned to cheers as the Stourbridge Lion crossed the bridge and disappeared from sight. Many thought it would not return; but soon, with Allen at the throttle, and riding backwards, the fierce Lion screeched back into Honesdale. The crowd was jubilant. A new era in commercial transportation had begun. After another trial, it was decided by the company that the light wooden rails would not stand up to the continued use of the locomotive and the haulage of coal, so it was put into storage in a shed at Honesdale. There it remained until 1849 when the company removed it to their workshops at Carbondale, Pennsylvania. The boiler was removed and put to use, and other parts were removed and separated, some being irretrievably lost. In 1889 another firm acquired the boiler and deposited it with as many of the other parts of the engine as they could find at the Smithsonian Institution. There it was partially reconstructed and stood in this form for many years in the Hall of Transport. The Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company has built a full scale replica of the Stourbridge Lion from the original plans. It is on exhibit at the Wayne County Historical Society’s, 810 Main Street, Honesdale museum, (570)-253-3240. *** From the DHVM Website Wayne County Historical Society - The Lion (Replica) is in the Window Stourbridge Lion (From the inside) 1933 (Fair) in Chicago, IL - Lion (Replica) by Cecil Wickham
Flash- It's a matter of supply, and demand. Do we know how many were made? And also, how many D&H fans are out there, who actually collect railroadiana? If there are a lot of these items surviving, or few accumulators, then there's just not enough pressure to drive prices upward. Boxcab E50
Plus eBay makes it easier to find things which in turn drive down the price; godd for me, bad for sellers...
Sorry to say I have failed to find any more information on this. Even the Yahoo! dandh RailFan group could not offer any details. Seems this piece of history has been lost. I'm going to try to reach someone at either the D & H Canal Historical Society or Wayne County Historical Society & Museum to see if they might know something since this is more from there time then the BRIDGE LINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY membership.
SL- Thanks for the background info on all of this. I fully understand all of the issues involved with supply and demand, so I am not expecting much. It's good to know some of the history. Thanks again
Yes, thanks for the info. It was significant enough in 1929 to have the plaque made. Maybe there was a local celebration or something?
