American Brewing Co.
Pekin, IL
City Brewing Co.
Toledo, OH
Hagerstown Brewing Co.
Hagerstown, MD
Idaho Brewing Co.
Boise, ID
Lock City Brewing Co.
Lockport, NY
Mendota Brewing Co.
Mendota, IL
Ortlieb Brewing Co.
Mauch Chunk, PA
Anton Reck Brewing Co.
Alton, IL
John Walter Brewing Co.
Eau Claire, WI
J. Widman Brewing Co.
Bethlehem, PA
Columbine Brewing Co.
Columbine, CO
Hagerstown Brewing Co.
Hagerstown, MD
Port Washington Brewing Co.
Port Washington, WI
Interstate Brewing Co.
Sioux City, IA
Peru Beer Co.
Peru, IL
Spokane Brewing Co.
Spokane, WA
Windisch Muhlhauser Brewing co.
Cincinnati, OH
Stock
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Baker & Confectionary Workers International Union of America
Goenner & Co.
Johnstown, PA
Great Eastern Clothing Co.
Johnstown, PA
Diederich Kennedy & Co
St Paul, MN
Robert McCarter Bottling Co.
Unknown
O. & P. Milk Co.
Pittsburgh, PA
Pepsin Punch
Dallas, TX
Pointer Supply Co.
Clinton, IA
Van Hoesen Bros.
Newcomerstown, OH
Stock
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Joseph Hess Bottler
Unknown
Humphrey & Martin Whiskey
Unknown
Iowa Assement Mutal Ins.
Unkown, IA
Montana Liquor Co.
Butte, MT
Albert Lea Bottling Co.
Albert Lea, MN
Hollenbach Dietrich & Co.
Reading, PA
C. Koehring & Bro.
Unknown
C. Koehring & Bro.
Unknown - Back
La Crosse Bottling Works
La Crosse, WI
Lemonella Soda
Unknown
Regalo del Ciornale L'Italia
San Francisco, CA
St. Cloud Cold Storage Produce Co.
St Cloud, MN
Stock
--
Frank Birchhof Lumber Co.
Denver, CO
Kaufman Clothier
Unknown
Carnation Gum
Unknown
Jacob Kiewel Brewing Co., Inc.
Little Falls, MN
The 'Stock' Exchange
American Art Works No. 91 & 105 "Carnation Girl"
American Art Works No. 91 & 105 "Carnation Girl"
Date: 1908 -1914
Size: 13" Pie
13" Square Pie
13.5" x 16.5" Oval Pie
Scarcity: Common
Value: $$ to $$$$
Condition & Brewer Dependent
Size: 13" Pie
13" Square Pie
13.5" x 16.5" Oval Pie
Scarcity: Common
Value: $$ to $$$$
Condition & Brewer Dependent
General
No. 105 “Carnation Girl” is the second pair of stock design “twins” like “Sierra” which appears with two different stock numbers depending on tray size/shape. Unfortunately with “Carnation Girl” we realized this after encountering many examples without noticing the two different stock numbers and we are not clear which size/shapes correspond with which.
It likely was in the catalog for quite a span given the two stock numbers and examples appearing with both Meek and American Art Works “signatures.”
This design also shared another unusual “twin” characteristic; like “Bertha” there is a Carnation Girl like design by another manufacturer, Passaic Metal Ware. Passaic’s version lacks the actual carnations but sports a similar heavy embroidered velvet-type outfit, along with a cap. Passaic’s version carries a 1912 copyright date.
No. 105 “Carnation Girl” is the second pair of stock design “twins” like “Sierra” which appears with two different stock numbers depending on tray size/shape. Unfortunately with “Carnation Girl” we realized this after encountering many examples without noticing the two different stock numbers and we are not clear which size/shapes correspond with which.
It likely was in the catalog for quite a span given the two stock numbers and examples appearing with both Meek and American Art Works “signatures.”
This design also shared another unusual “twin” characteristic; like “Bertha” there is a Carnation Girl like design by another manufacturer, Passaic Metal Ware. Passaic’s version lacks the actual carnations but sports a similar heavy embroidered velvet-type outfit, along with a cap. Passaic’s version carries a 1912 copyright date.
Symbolically, carnations mean fascination, distinction, and love. Red carnations in particular symbolizes love and affection. Theories on the origins of the name carnation include corruption of the word coronation because they were used in Greek ceremonial crowns. Some believe it originated with the myth of the goddess Diana who stumbled upon a shepherd playing a flute which she blamed for ruining her hunt. In a fit of rage, she plucked his eyes out. Once she cooled down, she regretted her actions; where the eyes fell, red carnations grew as signs of innocent blood. Carnations are sometimes referred to as flower of the gods.
Like a few other designs, we have encountered paper labels for “Carnation Girl” with the following text:
Painting by Wm H. McEntee, reproduced and copyrighted by The Meek Co, Coshocton, O. This beautiful picture is a reproduction of a study in oils by Wm. H McEntee of New York. Mr. McEntee has for many years had a reputation as a painter of ideal heads and “Carnation Girl” is one of the best of his achievements. Nothing finer in color than the carnations could well be imagined. Of the Meek Company’s reproduction Mr. McEntee wrote December 3, 1908: “The proof ‘Carnation Girl’ came in good order and say!! it’s a ‘corker’. This does not refer to my end of the work, but I want to say that straight lithography cannot be carried much further and it is a great pleasure to see one’s work reproduced with such fidelity.” The original painting is the property of the The Meek Company, who also own the exclusive copyright.
Like a few other designs, we have encountered paper labels for “Carnation Girl” with the following text:
Painting by Wm H. McEntee, reproduced and copyrighted by The Meek Co, Coshocton, O. This beautiful picture is a reproduction of a study in oils by Wm. H McEntee of New York. Mr. McEntee has for many years had a reputation as a painter of ideal heads and “Carnation Girl” is one of the best of his achievements. Nothing finer in color than the carnations could well be imagined. Of the Meek Company’s reproduction Mr. McEntee wrote December 3, 1908: “The proof ‘Carnation Girl’ came in good order and say!! it’s a ‘corker’. This does not refer to my end of the work, but I want to say that straight lithography cannot be carried much further and it is a great pleasure to see one’s work reproduced with such fidelity.” The original painting is the property of the The Meek Company, who also own the exclusive copyright.
Sahling has an entry in his workbook for “Stock oval tray No. 91 Carnation Girl, also 4 1/2 tray.” It is referenced twice; once in May 1908 and again in July 1908. There is also an entry in January 1910 for “Stock tray No. 105” with no further description and again in August of 1911 for “Stock round tray, Carnation Girl.” This makes it the most referenced design in Sahling’s workbook.
Size & Shape and Advertising Placement
As a tray, No. 91/105 comes in concave pie, oval, and square shapes. We suspect No. 91 corresponds to the oval shape since that was one of the prevalent size/shape Meek was producing at the time and the pie and square shapes correspond to No. 105 (Hager’s listing for No. 105 is square). This incredibly popular design came in various sign types too, including curled corner, tin-over-cardboard and self-framed-tin varieties. And it also appears frequently as a tip tray (with its own number scheme; it is tip tray design No. 26)
Hager & Price
Hager does not discuss this design; but he does include the No. 105 version (a square by the way) in his catalog. In his date table he lists the No. 105 version as introduced in 1910 but does not include the No. 91. While prices for brewery version typically command more, prices are relatively modest across the board for all examples, including breweries given how common this design is. The odd obscure brewery does command stronger prices.
Size & Shape and Advertising Placement
As a tray, No. 91/105 comes in concave pie, oval, and square shapes. We suspect No. 91 corresponds to the oval shape since that was one of the prevalent size/shape Meek was producing at the time and the pie and square shapes correspond to No. 105 (Hager’s listing for No. 105 is square). This incredibly popular design came in various sign types too, including curled corner, tin-over-cardboard and self-framed-tin varieties. And it also appears frequently as a tip tray (with its own number scheme; it is tip tray design No. 26)
Hager & Price
Hager does not discuss this design; but he does include the No. 105 version (a square by the way) in his catalog. In his date table he lists the No. 105 version as introduced in 1910 but does not include the No. 91. While prices for brewery version typically command more, prices are relatively modest across the board for all examples, including breweries given how common this design is. The odd obscure brewery does command stronger prices.
Confirmed Brewer used Stock Trays
Non-Beer Related & Non-Tray Uses
Click the Picture to Return to Meek & Beach Stock Catalog Page
