General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

10

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Green painted cast iron stand

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

28.5 cm

Width

28.5 cm

Height

18.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Agriculture

Category

Miscellaneous

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Canada Foundries

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

City

Brockville

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Ontario

Period

1931-

Canada

La fonderie James Smart Manufacturing Co., Ltd, établie à Brockville était une industrie canadienne importante. Elle fabriquait des objets en métal de toutes sortes, pour usage domestique, pour le transport, la quincaillerie, des outils et pour l'entretien extérieur. Vers 1910, la firme fur achetée par la Canadian Foundries and Forgings de Montréal qui continua les opérations dans l'usine de Brockville sous le nom James Smart Plant. L'usine a fermé en 1967. Ce support a été utilisé par une famille canadienne, à l'example de plusieurs autres, pour préparer l'arbre de Noël. Plusiers examples de ce support existent encore sure le marché. Son ancien propriétaire l'avait acheté à une vente de succession (estate auction) d'une dame âgée habitant Peterborough. (From Artifact Worksheet, in Supp. Info.)

Function

Tree stands are designed to temporarily hold and support an evergreen tree for indoor display during Christmas.

Technical

Could hold a tree up to 3 inches of diameter. Christmas tree stands varied in design over the years. Their evolution story is not easy to track down but it seems that the first US Patent for a Christmas tree stand was in 1874. The search to find the best tree stand design, particularly for fresh trees which need water, seems to be an ongoing quest when we look at the products being patented and offered on the market since then. Before the 4-leg model, it seems most tree stands were designed as a patterned cast iron base, heavier than the 4-leg model and with a cylindrical opening in the center to hold the tree and screws to tighten it. (From Artifact Worksheet, in Supp. Info.)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

On upper portion, proper front: "A/ MERRY/ CHRISTMAS/ [LOGO]"/ Stamped into metal of proper right leg: "SMART/ BROCKVILLE"/ Stamped into metal of proper left leg: "PAT. 1931/ No. 1"/ On proper back, stamped into metal of upper portion: "A A"

Missing

Appears complete

Finish

Stand consists of two cast iron halves bolted together, and has a green painted finish with areas of gold/yellow. Paint is worn and has rubbed off in areas.

Decoration

N/A