Albert Lea Bottling Works
Albert Lea, MN
Barnhart & Klein Co.
Council Bluffs , IA
- Gunds Beers -
- Gunds Beers -
I.P. Draper & Son - Komo Steam Bottling Works
Kokomo, IN
Enterprise Brewing Co.
Fall River, MA
Enterprise Brewing Co.
Fall River, MA
M.K. Goetz Brewing Co.
St Joseph, MO
Casper Heil Brewing Co.
Burlington, IA
Kiewel Brewing Co
Crookston, MN
Jos. Lieberman's Sons Brewers & Bottlers
Allentown, PA
Port Washington Brewing Co.
Port Washington, WI
Ruff Brewing Co.
Quincy, IL
Schmich Bros.
Freeport, IL
Phil. Schneider Brewing Co.
Trinidad, CO
Travers City Brewing Co.
Travers City, MI
Val Blatz
Milwaukee, WI
Walkerville Brewing Co., Limited
Walkerville, Ontario, Canada
Walter Brewing Co.
Menasha, WI
Stock
--
Cone Bros.
New Ulm, MN
Goldman Liquor Co.
St. Paul, MN
Jenney See Mineral Water
Genesee, PA
E.D. Keyes & Co. Coffee
Rutland, VT
E.D. Keyes & Co. Coffee
Tutland, VT
S. M. Nelson
Unknown
Thurston & Kingsbury
Bangor, ME
- Coffee -
- Coffee -
Thurston & Kingsbury
Bangor, ME
- Coffee -
- Coffee -
Stock
--
Aurora Brewing Co.
Aurora, IL
Dr. Drakes German Croup Remedy
Unknown
Hamilton Watch Co.
Landcaster, PA
R. L. Frome Mfg. Co.
Howards Grove, WI
Henry & Johnsons
Unknown
Home Tea Co.
Beaver Falls, PA
Home Tea Co.
Beaver Falls, PA
Math. Pitzl
New Munich, MN
Quincy Belle Whiskey
Quincy, IL
Russell Chocolates
Cambridge, MA
Schwarzenbach Brewing Co.
Hornell, NY
A.D. Weinstein Footware
Stubenville, OH
The 'Stock' Exchange
The Meek Co.: No. 57 "A Lady of Quality"
The Meek Co.: No. 57 "A Lady of Quality"
Date: 1905 - 1908
Size: 13.5" x 16.5"
Type: Inverted Pie
Scarcity: Fairly Common
Value: $$$ to $$$$
Condition & Brewer Dependent
Size: 13.5" x 16.5"
Type: Inverted Pie
Scarcity: Fairly Common
Value: $$$ to $$$$
Condition & Brewer Dependent
General
This design, featuring a young girl playing dress-up in fancy clothes, was surprisingly popular with brewers and associated trades, like bottlers and distributors. That it was popular with non-brewers such as small retailers, specialty food companies, banks, and equipment dealers is no great surprise, especially coming after so many more adult-themed trays in the 40s range. This design is titled “A Lady of Quality” on the tray itself.
Although there are artworks through the years with this title, we have not been able to find one that this might have been based on as all the examples we have found have been of adult women. It is possible that it is meant to represent a young Clorinda, the main character, from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Lady of Quality, a very popular novel published in 1896 (#2 of the best seller list that year), which was the first of a series of successful adult historical novels, a departure from her more well known children’s novels. The plot of the novel explores virtues in human character, such as transformation in becoming a lady of quality over the course of a young lifetime, loyalty to friends and loved ones, discretion in personal action, self-control of emotions, speech and behavior, personal sacrifice and giving selflessly to others. The characters in the story and plot also delineate clear distinction between right and wrong. One can understand advertisers wanting to associate themselves with these qualities, especially in the pre-regulatory era in which caveat emptor prevailed. It was made into a movie in 1913 and again in 1924.
This design, featuring a young girl playing dress-up in fancy clothes, was surprisingly popular with brewers and associated trades, like bottlers and distributors. That it was popular with non-brewers such as small retailers, specialty food companies, banks, and equipment dealers is no great surprise, especially coming after so many more adult-themed trays in the 40s range. This design is titled “A Lady of Quality” on the tray itself.
Although there are artworks through the years with this title, we have not been able to find one that this might have been based on as all the examples we have found have been of adult women. It is possible that it is meant to represent a young Clorinda, the main character, from Frances Hodgson Burnett’s A Lady of Quality, a very popular novel published in 1896 (#2 of the best seller list that year), which was the first of a series of successful adult historical novels, a departure from her more well known children’s novels. The plot of the novel explores virtues in human character, such as transformation in becoming a lady of quality over the course of a young lifetime, loyalty to friends and loved ones, discretion in personal action, self-control of emotions, speech and behavior, personal sacrifice and giving selflessly to others. The characters in the story and plot also delineate clear distinction between right and wrong. One can understand advertisers wanting to associate themselves with these qualities, especially in the pre-regulatory era in which caveat emptor prevailed. It was made into a movie in 1913 and again in 1924.
Confirmed Brewer used Stock Trays
Non-Beer Related & Non-Tray Uses
Click the Picture to Return to Meek & Beach Stock Catalog Page
Burnett best known for her children’s novels, particularly The Secret Garden, The Little Princess, and Little Lord Fauntleroy. Born in Manchester England in 1849, Hodgson’s family moved to Knoxville, TN in 1865 and by 1868 was writing stories to earn money which she did for the rest of her life. Her first story was published in Godey’s Lady’s Book and soon she was regularly published in Scribner’s Monthly, Peterson’s Magazine and Harper’s Bazaar as well.
Francis Hodgson Burnett
& her book "The Secret Garden"
& her book "The Secret Garden"
Size, Shape and Advertising Placement
Like No. 56, known tray examples are all oval with the low pie shaped rim and rolled edge and sport a plain red rim without any additional embellishments beyond advertising text; however, unlike No. 56 there are examples with gold print, in addition to the more typical black print. Also like No. 56 there are almost as many examples of TOC sign versions of this design, all of which feature an oval image surrounded by faux woodgrain usually with gold advertising text, although we’ve seen at least one example with red print.
Hager & Price
Hager includes this design in his catalog, but like No. 56 it is not discussed in his article. Unlike No. 56 there are a fair number of brewery examples for which prices are stronger than non-breweries generally speaking (low to mid-triple figures), but not as strong compared with other designs of the period featuring brewery advertising. There are a few exceptions where near mint trays have reach low four figures.
Like No. 56, known tray examples are all oval with the low pie shaped rim and rolled edge and sport a plain red rim without any additional embellishments beyond advertising text; however, unlike No. 56 there are examples with gold print, in addition to the more typical black print. Also like No. 56 there are almost as many examples of TOC sign versions of this design, all of which feature an oval image surrounded by faux woodgrain usually with gold advertising text, although we’ve seen at least one example with red print.
Hager & Price
Hager includes this design in his catalog, but like No. 56 it is not discussed in his article. Unlike No. 56 there are a fair number of brewery examples for which prices are stronger than non-breweries generally speaking (low to mid-triple figures), but not as strong compared with other designs of the period featuring brewery advertising. There are a few exceptions where near mint trays have reach low four figures.
