Ashland Brewing Co.
Ashland, WI
The 'Stock' Exchange
The Meek Co.: No. 83
The Meek Co.: No. 83
Date: 1907
Size: 17.25" x 12.25"
Type: Plate
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Value: $$$$ to $$$$$
Condition & Brewer Dependent
Size: 17.25" x 12.25"
Type: Plate
Scarcity: Extremely Rare
Value: $$$$ to $$$$$
Condition & Brewer Dependent
General Comments
No. 83 continues the “japaned” faux lacquerware look introduced with No. 59 (Japanese Storks), although it is less elaborate in terms of design with a simple group of cranes taking flight. The individual cranes are simply rendered (shapes almost) and lack the multi-colored iridescence of the storks on No. 59. It is the second of four “japaned” designs in the catalog from Meek/American Art Works. This may be the simplest design in the Tuscarora/M&B/Meek/American Art Works catalog and one wonders how few printings were required to produce it. It is not a design that Sahling lists in his workbook.
Perhaps this simplicity explains it scarcity—since it looked so basic, it didn’t appeal to advertisers because it seemed “cheap” compared to previous designs. For the most part, stock designs were targeted to smaller concerns (both brewers and non-brewers) who couldn’t afford the cost of a custom design, but still wanted something eye-catching and impressive.
This design actually surprised us; we had never encountered one in over 20 years of observing stock trays until one appeared on eBay in 2021. And then a collector revealed another example, also by the same brewery (Ashland) shortly after the auction closed.
Size & Shape
To date we’ve only seen two examples of this design, both trays for the same brewery, so we cannot say with confidence that it does not come in any other size/shape or as a sign. We can only confirm that the two we’ve seen are oblongs of the size and dimensions that all oblongs are from Tuscarora through Meek.
Hager & Price
Hager neither discusses this design nor includes it in his catalog; most likely because he never encountered an example. We only captured pricing for the one instance of the tray which was fairly robust given the fair to good condition it was in.
No. 83 continues the “japaned” faux lacquerware look introduced with No. 59 (Japanese Storks), although it is less elaborate in terms of design with a simple group of cranes taking flight. The individual cranes are simply rendered (shapes almost) and lack the multi-colored iridescence of the storks on No. 59. It is the second of four “japaned” designs in the catalog from Meek/American Art Works. This may be the simplest design in the Tuscarora/M&B/Meek/American Art Works catalog and one wonders how few printings were required to produce it. It is not a design that Sahling lists in his workbook.
Perhaps this simplicity explains it scarcity—since it looked so basic, it didn’t appeal to advertisers because it seemed “cheap” compared to previous designs. For the most part, stock designs were targeted to smaller concerns (both brewers and non-brewers) who couldn’t afford the cost of a custom design, but still wanted something eye-catching and impressive.
This design actually surprised us; we had never encountered one in over 20 years of observing stock trays until one appeared on eBay in 2021. And then a collector revealed another example, also by the same brewery (Ashland) shortly after the auction closed.
Size & Shape
To date we’ve only seen two examples of this design, both trays for the same brewery, so we cannot say with confidence that it does not come in any other size/shape or as a sign. We can only confirm that the two we’ve seen are oblongs of the size and dimensions that all oblongs are from Tuscarora through Meek.
Hager & Price
Hager neither discusses this design nor includes it in his catalog; most likely because he never encountered an example. We only captured pricing for the one instance of the tray which was fairly robust given the fair to good condition it was in.
Confirmed Brewer used Stock Trays
Non-Beer Related & Non-Tray Uses
Click the Picture to Return to Meek & Beach Stock Catalog Page
