Lot of 8, including 6 printed items, one sixth plate daguerreotype, and a copy of John D. Hamilton's book entitled The Ames Sword Company: 1829-1935, 1983. The printed items include an advertising lithograph of Chicopee Falls Works, Massachusetts, ca 1840. Below the view of the factory, it notes: Chicopee Falls Co., Manufacturers in General of Machinery, Saws, Fire-arms & Hardware. Plate size 4.75 x 9.25 in. Framed with a lithograph of Plan of Chicopee Falls Village from about the same time, showing shops, forges, furnaces, foundries, worker's houses. Vignettes along side of the Congregational Church, Mills No. 1 & 2, and Mills No. 3 & 4, with the "Entrance to the Mills" in upper left. Plate size 5.5 x 7.25 in. This printed material is illustrated in the book The Ames Sword Company, by John D. Hamilton (1983: 64, 172). In another frame are three calling cards of James T. Ames. The first has just his name, the second with Chicopee, Massachusetts below, and third with Jas. T. Ames as facsimile signature. Fourth item framed with these is an advertising card of the Ames Manufacturing Co., 3.25 x 4.5 in. listing their products: Manufacturers of Cotton Machinery of every description,...lathes, turning & milling engines, planing machines and machinery tools generally. Brass & iron castings of every variety. The subhead Swords notes that they manufacture All descriptions used in the U. States Army. Rich Presentation & every variety of fancy swords and belts. Bronze cannon of any size or kind made to order. Signed in print Jas. T. Ames. Agent. The last item is a daguerreotype with a label identifying her as Emily North Ames (Mrs. Cheney Ames). The Ames Company had its origins in Chelmsford, MA as a blacksmithy. Sons Nathan P., Jr. and James T. Ames brought the business to a manufacturing village on the Chicopee River in 1829, having been offered the space rent free for 4 years by Edmund Dwight, owner of a textile mill. The sons expanded the business to include cotton machinery and other machine tools, as well as edged weapons. As the advertising notes, they were one of the most important suppliers of swords to the Army, and by the Mexican War, arms were their primary focus, although they would still cast bronze statuary if called upon. Besides the Federal government, they also contracted to state militias, including many southern ones, and foreign countries (including Mexico into the 1840s). And although producing cannon and smaller arms, Ames remained best known for their swords. They had to diversify again after the war. James died in the 1880s and by the turn of the century, no family members were involved in the business. The Great Depression finished off Ames. The sword division was sold to an Ohio regalia manufacturer, and is still in operation today. Condition: Light toning. Advertising cards with minor water stains. Plate in half case, no seal, fine ("wipe" in photo was on the glass).
Lot of 8, including 6 printed items, one sixth plate daguerreotype, and a copy of John D. Hamilton's book entitled The Ames Sword Company: 1829-1935, 1983. The printed items include an advertising lithograph of Chicopee Falls Works, Massachusetts, ca 1840. Below the view of the factory, it notes: Chicopee Falls Co., Manufacturers in General of Machinery, Saws, Fire-arms & Hardware. Plate size 4.75 x 9.25 in. Framed with a lithograph of Plan of Chicopee Falls Village from about the same time, showing shops, forges, furnaces, foundries, worker's houses. Vignettes along side of the Congregational Church, Mills No. 1 & 2, and Mills No. 3 & 4, with the "Entrance to the Mills" in upper left. Plate size 5.5 x 7.25 in. This printed material is illustrated in the book The Ames Sword Company, by John D. Hamilton (1983: 64, 172). In another frame are three calling cards of James T. Ames. The first has just his name, the second with Chicopee, Massachusetts below, and third with Jas. T. Ames as facsimile signature. Fourth item framed with these is an advertising card of the Ames Manufacturing Co., 3.25 x 4.5 in. listing their products: Manufacturers of Cotton Machinery of every description,...lathes, turning & milling engines, planing machines and machinery tools generally. Brass & iron castings of every variety. The subhead Swords notes that they manufacture All descriptions used in the U. States Army. Rich Presentation & every variety of fancy swords and belts. Bronze cannon of any size or kind made to order. Signed in print Jas. T. Ames. Agent. The last item is a daguerreotype with a label identifying her as Emily North Ames (Mrs. Cheney Ames). The Ames Company had its origins in Chelmsford, MA as a blacksmithy. Sons Nathan P., Jr. and James T. Ames brought the business to a manufacturing village on the Chicopee River in 1829, having been offered the space rent free for 4 years by Edmund Dwight, owner of a textile mill. The sons expanded the business to include cotton machinery and other machine tools, as well as edged weapons. As the advertising notes, they were one of the most important suppliers of swords to the Army, and by the Mexican War, arms were their primary focus, although they would still cast bronze statuary if called upon. Besides the Federal government, they also contracted to state militias, including many southern ones, and foreign countries (including Mexico into the 1840s). And although producing cannon and smaller arms, Ames remained best known for their swords. They had to diversify again after the war. James died in the 1880s and by the turn of the century, no family members were involved in the business. The Great Depression finished off Ames. The sword division was sold to an Ohio regalia manufacturer, and is still in operation today. Condition: Light toning. Advertising cards with minor water stains. Plate in half case, no seal, fine ("wipe" in photo was on the glass).
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
