M&B Stock No. 16 "Baby's Head"

General
No. 16 first appears in M&B catalog No. 12 (1901), where it is described as "No. 16 Tea Tray, a perfect gem of art and beauty., Baby's head reproduced in nine colors--every feature perfect. Your name, business and address placed in circle around head. A cheap Opening or Annual Souvenir as well as a most successful premium." They were priced at 250 (apparently the minimum order) for $20. It also appears in M&B catalog No. 14 (1902) and M&B catalog No. 16 (1903), where it is described the same way. In addition it is listed in the 1903 M&B price list as "No. 16, Round 6-inch tray, Child's Head" instead of "Baby's head" in the catalogs.

This small tray features the shallower flat shape, with flat edge that seems to have predominated at this time. Given it's small size and detailed design on both the rim and the edge, the only viable place to print advertising text was on the band surrounding the image of the girl's head. Like #2, these would have served as change trays only and did not offer the eye-catching display potential of a full size tray. This is one of the few stock trays where there is an example with the advertising text in cursive (A.H. Fieldhouse).

Interestingly there is a self-advertising piece M&B signs featuring this stock image on a small piece of tin. Although M&B (as well as Tuscarora, Meek and AAW) produced self-advertising pieces, this is the only that occurs with a stock image.

This tray is included in Hager's listing of trays, but he doesn't discuss it at all in the article. Given how consistently it was included in all 3 catalogs we have in our possession and the 1903 price list, few of these turn up. Limited price data for the few examples we've seen is inconsistent. The Porter Weiner Beer performed very well for an example and was merely in good condition.