1899 LAMSON AIR LINE WIRE TROLLEY SHOOTER FROM GENERAL COUNTRY STORE
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:1313259 |
EXTREAMLY RARE COMPLETE SET OF A LAMSON 1899 COUNTRY STORE GENERAL STORE DEPARTMENT STORE WIRE TROLLEY CASHIER MESSENGER SYSTEM.
If you collect Country/General/Department Store items, THIS can be your central display piece if you have the room. This is a complete set of the hardware for the back-and-forth shuttle car that would be shot down the wire from a department in a store to a centrally located cashier. The department clerk would write-up an order for a customer, take the cust...omer's money and put it into the cup and then attach the sales bill under the cup on the spring loaded clip. Then the clerk would yank down on the leather cord which would tighten up the ropes and shoot the car down the wire to the cashier. At the cashier's station, the zipping car would be caught and arrested by the rope and pully system at that station, thereby re-setting the shooter. After opening the cup, registering the sale and putting any change due to the customer into the cup and attaching it to the car, the cashier would yank the leather cord on his end and send the car back to the sending clerk, who would then complete the transaction and hand over the merchandise.
Why such a complicated system? Simple: cash registers for each department would be a HUGE cash out-lay. Some big stores had up to 10 of these. These systems were more economical than separate cash registers AND there was only ONE register and Cashier for management to watch. 10 separate registers opens up the store to 10 points of theft or other chicanery by the sales staff.
I haven't seen a complete set for sale ANYWHERE. Sure, a trolley (mostly always missing parts) shows up once in a while, or some wheels, etc. Now is your chance to get a whole system.
There is one extra ratcheted wire tensioner included with a pipe flange wall mount bracket. Also included are samples of the wire-in-a-tube upon which the car rides. There is a separate wire between the two shooters that they rest upon, which is exactly the same as the inner tension wire in the tube the car rides on. The overall photo shows how the parts are put together. The car is installed on the riding wire after the system is set up. The wheels are designed to be easily removeable without tools. You'll see how simple it is. This can be set-up to run from a few yards to over 100 feet when properly installed and cleaned.
The longer shooter is missing the leather pull cord, but the short one has a length attached so you can see what you need to get. The finish plating is still VERY respectable considering the age. As stated earlier, there is no wire included: only the samples that were salvaged when this was found. No mounting screws/bolts included except the bolt on the bumper bracket for the short shooter (It's there to show the hole is threaded. All other holes are non-threaded.)
Please review the photos for complete description as the photos are to be considered as part of the item description. All attached dirt, grime, filth, dust and other sundry detritus affixed to it are included FREE OF CHARGE! (That dirt is VINTAGE!)
Shipping is high due to weight (it's all cast-iron and steel). But, local pick-up is FREE! Although I don't sell or ship internationally, I will ship to anyone that you might have in the Continental United States (only) that can re-ship to you at your own additional expense.
Please ask any and all questions before bidding. Only PayPal is accepted. Please settle your account within three days of the close of auction. Please again take note that THERE IS NO INTERNATIONAL BIDDING, WINNING OR SHIPPING ON THIS ITEM. I always leave positive feedback for Buyers that leave positive feedback. If there are any questions, please ask as I want satisfied customers. Item will be properly packed, wrapped for protection from water/moisture during shipping and insured for full amount of sale and the shipping costs. I always leave positive Feedback for Buyers who do the same. For Buyers that do not leave Feedback, I will return the favor by also not doing so. Thanks for looking and good luck bidding!
If you collect Country/General/Department Store items, THIS can be your central display piece if you have the room. This is a complete set of the hardware for the back-and-forth shuttle car that would be shot down the wire from a department in a store to a centrally located cashier. The department clerk would write-up an order for a customer, take the cust...omer's money and put it into the cup and then attach the sales bill under the cup on the spring loaded clip. Then the clerk would yank down on the leather cord which would tighten up the ropes and shoot the car down the wire to the cashier. At the cashier's station, the zipping car would be caught and arrested by the rope and pully system at that station, thereby re-setting the shooter. After opening the cup, registering the sale and putting any change due to the customer into the cup and attaching it to the car, the cashier would yank the leather cord on his end and send the car back to the sending clerk, who would then complete the transaction and hand over the merchandise.
Why such a complicated system? Simple: cash registers for each department would be a HUGE cash out-lay. Some big stores had up to 10 of these. These systems were more economical than separate cash registers AND there was only ONE register and Cashier for management to watch. 10 separate registers opens up the store to 10 points of theft or other chicanery by the sales staff.
I haven't seen a complete set for sale ANYWHERE. Sure, a trolley (mostly always missing parts) shows up once in a while, or some wheels, etc. Now is your chance to get a whole system.
There is one extra ratcheted wire tensioner included with a pipe flange wall mount bracket. Also included are samples of the wire-in-a-tube upon which the car rides. There is a separate wire between the two shooters that they rest upon, which is exactly the same as the inner tension wire in the tube the car rides on. The overall photo shows how the parts are put together. The car is installed on the riding wire after the system is set up. The wheels are designed to be easily removeable without tools. You'll see how simple it is. This can be set-up to run from a few yards to over 100 feet when properly installed and cleaned.
The longer shooter is missing the leather pull cord, but the short one has a length attached so you can see what you need to get. The finish plating is still VERY respectable considering the age. As stated earlier, there is no wire included: only the samples that were salvaged when this was found. No mounting screws/bolts included except the bolt on the bumper bracket for the short shooter (It's there to show the hole is threaded. All other holes are non-threaded.)
Please review the photos for complete description as the photos are to be considered as part of the item description. All attached dirt, grime, filth, dust and other sundry detritus affixed to it are included FREE OF CHARGE! (That dirt is VINTAGE!)
Shipping is high due to weight (it's all cast-iron and steel). But, local pick-up is FREE! Although I don't sell or ship internationally, I will ship to anyone that you might have in the Continental United States (only) that can re-ship to you at your own additional expense.
Please ask any and all questions before bidding. Only PayPal is accepted. Please settle your account within three days of the close of auction. Please again take note that THERE IS NO INTERNATIONAL BIDDING, WINNING OR SHIPPING ON THIS ITEM. I always leave positive feedback for Buyers that leave positive feedback. If there are any questions, please ask as I want satisfied customers. Item will be properly packed, wrapped for protection from water/moisture during shipping and insured for full amount of sale and the shipping costs. I always leave positive Feedback for Buyers who do the same. For Buyers that do not leave Feedback, I will return the favor by also not doing so. Thanks for looking and good luck bidding!
