The 'Stock' Exchange
American Art Works: No. 104 "Ice Cream & Violets"
American Art Works: No. 104 "Ice Cream & Violets"
Date: 1909 - 1911
Size: 13.5" x 13.5"
Type: Pie
Scarcity: Uncommon
Value: $$$ to $$$$
Condition & Brewer Dependent
Size: 13.5" x 13.5"
Type: Pie
Scarcity: Uncommon
Value: $$$ to $$$$
Condition & Brewer Dependent
Harding's Ice Cream
Unknown
H.L. Neuman's Ice Cream
Unknown
Click the Picture to Return to Meek & Beach Stock Catalog Page
General
No. 104, represents the second ice cream specific stock design following less than one year after the introduction of No. 96. It does not seem to have been as popular as No. 96, perhaps because ice cream and dairy concerns relied less on direct advertising pieces? Or their businesses were smaller scale and could not afford the cost, in which case tip trays would have made more sense? A few ice cream designs appeared from other tray manufacturers (most notably Shonk and Kaufmann & Strauss); one of the odd things these early ice cream designs had in common is the odd triangular mound shape of the ice cream (unlike No. 96 which is clearly a slice from a rectangular block). The ice cream scoop was patented in 1897 and one would expect it would be in wide use. This may point out that this tray was targeted at retailers with a home consumer and that ice cream was still an unusual luxury that didn’t justify the investment in an ice cream scoop.
The inclusion of the violets in the design seems unlikely for symbolic reasons. Violets are most commonly associated with love; however, they can symbolize honesty, protection, dreams, healing, remembrance, determination, and even the idea of setting goals. None of which seem particularly relevant for ice cream.
A few more ice cream designs show up toward the end of the Coshocton catalogue as the tray manufacturers tried to find a substitute for the brewers who had been the largest purchasers of not just trays, but many point of sale items. This appears to have met with limited success, although during prohibition it may have given birth to a manufacturer, Parker-Brawner of Washington, DC, who seems to have focused exclusively on ice cream and dairy advertisers.
Sahling has an entry in his workbook in August 1909 for “Ice Cream stock tray No. 104”.
Size & Shape and Advertising Placement
Like some other Meek/AAW designs from this period we have only encountered this design as a square tray; never any other size/shape nor as any type of sign. All the examples we’ve seen have a sort of faux woodgrain rim, like No. 102 that is darker than the woodgrain pattern that appears on some Meek/American Art Works trays. Advertising text is gold and only found on the rims.
Hager & Price
Like the previous ice cream design (No. 96) Hager does not discuss this design nor does he include it in his date table or his catalog. Despite being one of the scarcest designs in the whole Coshocton catalog (in 20+ years we have only seen it five times), it does not command strong prices. Obviously there are no brewery or liquor examples and demand does not seem to be high among ice cream collectors. Of the examples we’ve seen only one demand a price in the triple digits, most likely due to its excellent condition.
No. 104, represents the second ice cream specific stock design following less than one year after the introduction of No. 96. It does not seem to have been as popular as No. 96, perhaps because ice cream and dairy concerns relied less on direct advertising pieces? Or their businesses were smaller scale and could not afford the cost, in which case tip trays would have made more sense? A few ice cream designs appeared from other tray manufacturers (most notably Shonk and Kaufmann & Strauss); one of the odd things these early ice cream designs had in common is the odd triangular mound shape of the ice cream (unlike No. 96 which is clearly a slice from a rectangular block). The ice cream scoop was patented in 1897 and one would expect it would be in wide use. This may point out that this tray was targeted at retailers with a home consumer and that ice cream was still an unusual luxury that didn’t justify the investment in an ice cream scoop.
The inclusion of the violets in the design seems unlikely for symbolic reasons. Violets are most commonly associated with love; however, they can symbolize honesty, protection, dreams, healing, remembrance, determination, and even the idea of setting goals. None of which seem particularly relevant for ice cream.
A few more ice cream designs show up toward the end of the Coshocton catalogue as the tray manufacturers tried to find a substitute for the brewers who had been the largest purchasers of not just trays, but many point of sale items. This appears to have met with limited success, although during prohibition it may have given birth to a manufacturer, Parker-Brawner of Washington, DC, who seems to have focused exclusively on ice cream and dairy advertisers.
Sahling has an entry in his workbook in August 1909 for “Ice Cream stock tray No. 104”.
Size & Shape and Advertising Placement
Like some other Meek/AAW designs from this period we have only encountered this design as a square tray; never any other size/shape nor as any type of sign. All the examples we’ve seen have a sort of faux woodgrain rim, like No. 102 that is darker than the woodgrain pattern that appears on some Meek/American Art Works trays. Advertising text is gold and only found on the rims.
Hager & Price
Like the previous ice cream design (No. 96) Hager does not discuss this design nor does he include it in his date table or his catalog. Despite being one of the scarcest designs in the whole Coshocton catalog (in 20+ years we have only seen it five times), it does not command strong prices. Obviously there are no brewery or liquor examples and demand does not seem to be high among ice cream collectors. Of the examples we’ve seen only one demand a price in the triple digits, most likely due to its excellent condition.
Confirmed Brewer used Stock Trays
Non-Beer Related & Non-Tray Uses
