LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE NH BLACKSMITH SHOP Handwritten Ledger/Work Diary RARE 1845
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:3155 | Year Printed: 1845 |
| Original/Facsimile: Original | Topic: Historical |
| Special Attributes: 1st Edition, Manuscript | Subject: Americana |
EXTRAORDINARY, ORIGINAL MID-19TH CENTURY MANUSCRIPT LEDGER OF A SKILLED BLACKSMITH IN THE LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE REGION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. This phenomenal early volume dates from 1845-1877 and was kept by Stephen J. Rollins (1833-1903) of Alton, NH. Majority of entries here date from the 1850s when author was active in the blacksmith trade. He was also a principal in the "Rollins & Dicey" blacksmith shop until 1858 when the partnership was dissolved and author continued in the trade on ...his own. It appears his business partner had been the elder Stephen G. Dicey (1811-1890) who author may have learned the trade from. It is abundantly clear that Stephen J. Rollins was an extremely talented blacksmith. (Scroll down below description for more pictures).
Remarkable handwritten volume contains about 150 pages of entries pertaining almost exclusively to the blacksmith trade. No job was too complicated or challenging for author, as he engaged in a dazzling array of blacksmithing activities from his thriving Alton blacksmith shop. Among the innumerable entries found here include making back irons, bolts, chisels, drills, cutting machine springs, cutting mesh springs, grindstone cranks, hacks and swivels, head block irons, head pieces for spears, hooks, iron for lathes, jack irons, rag irons, satchel pins, shovel handles, turning machine levers, square wrenches, staples, thumb screws, wheels, etc.; mending cranks, crowbars, harness links, horse sled braces, pitchforks, scrapers, shovels, skimmer handles, sleigh braces, sleigh shoes, tung iron and nails, etc.; repairing bolts, chain links, chains, double sleighs, drills, hasps, keys plane irons, sleigh seats and old backs, sleighs, wagons, etc., sharpening chisels, drills, harrow teeth, picks, shoes, stone hammers, etc.; cutting screws on rods, steeling harrow teeth, iron bars, etc.; bracing steam pipes, hooping tubs and steam pipes, fixing screws and straps, fixing seat braces, footing andirons, setting up wagon springs, setting shoes and shoeing horses, setting wagon tires, splicing augers, turning chisels, upsetting axes, etc. Author also purchased various quantities and sizes of iron and other materials for his shop. His customers included both individuals and businesses from in and around Alton, with customer names throughout ledger making for a treasure trove of local genealogy. An absolutely fantastic early artifact from a thriving New Hampshire blacksmith shop.
Alton is located in Belknap County, New Hampshire. According to recent census figures, the town is currently home to a population of about 5, 250 year-round residents. The Alton Bay State Forest and Mount Major State Forest are also located in Alton, as is the village of Alton Bay, a long-time resort located on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee. The village is part of the "Lakes Region", a popular resort area. Originally called "New Durham Gore" because of rocky upland areas, or "gores, " the town of Alton was settled in 1770, mainly by farmers because the highland areas provided less frost. Merchants then filled the lowlands.
Early Alton history recounts stories of the merchants attempting to convince the farmers to incorporate. They would finally succeed on January 15th, 1796, when the community was named after Alton, a small market town in Hampshire, England. Alton was part of Strafford County until Belknap County was created on December 22nd, 1840. By 1840, the village of Alton existed at the town's center. In 1847, the Cochecho Railroad began bringing passengers and freight to Alton Village and Alton Bay. By 1859, the town had two gristmills, seven sawmills, and five shoe factories. Arguably the most famous business was the Rockwell Clough Company established by William Rockwell Clough, inventor of the corkscrew. By 1903, his company was producing 30 million corkscrews worldwide.
Since the mid-19th century however, tourism has been the principal business. In 1863, the Adventist Campground held their first camp meeting at Alton Bay, which was the terminus of the Dover and Winnipiseogee Railroad. In 1872, the Boston & Maine Railroad launched at Alton Bay the steamer Mount Washington, the first side-wheeler and largest vessel on Lake Winnipesaukee. When destroyed by fire in 1939, a replacement ship was found, also christened Mount Washington. Today, it continues to carry summer tourists between stops on the lake. The railway survived until 1935, and the old station at Alton Bay is now a community center. Along with the town of Alton, Belknap County today comprises the city of Laconia, the towns of Barnstead, Belmont, Center Harbor, Gilford, Gilmanton, Meredith, New Hampton, Sanbornton, and Tilton, and various villages including Alton Bay, Gilmanton Ironworks, Glendale, Lakeport, Lochmere, Weirs Beach, and Winnisquam.
The Lakes Region of New Hampshire is the mid-state region surrounding Lake Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam Lake, Squam Lake, and Newfound Lake. The area comprises all of Belknap County, the southern portion of Carroll County, the eastern portion of Grafton County, and the northern portions of Strafford County and Merrimack County. The largest municipality is the city of Laconia. The area is a popular tourist destination in the summer time, with the activity peaking during the annual Motorcycle Week and races at Loudon's New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Other tourist destinations include Funspot in Weirs Beach, the children's museum of Center Harbor, Gunstock ski resort and Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook, both in Gilford, Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, and the town of Wolfeboro, which claims to be the nation's oldest resort town. Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in the state, and is home to numerous vacation homes.
Condition: Rare book remains in good overall condition (see pictures). Early volume bound in original leather-backed marbled boards with matching leather tips; cover worn with boards loosening, mind toning, scattered minor staining and ink smudging, old recipe clippings pasted down to preliminary leaves and first page of ledger entries, back of book contains a few torn pages with some later entries and additional blank pages, generally clean internally with ink bold and legible throughout. Ledger contains about 150 pp. of manuscript entries; and measures approx 13" tall x 8" wide x .75" thick. Quite a find and a very worthy acquisition indeed.
Payment and Shipping: Please see our feedback and bid with confidence. Never a reserve and very low opening bid as always. Never a reserve and very low opening bid as always. For international shipping quote, please contact us. Bidders with no established feedback must contact us before bidding. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax or include dealer tax resale number. Payment must be received within 5 days after close of auction. Thanks for your interest!On May-23-19 at 21:32:46 PDT, seller added the following information:
Remarkable handwritten volume contains about 150 pages of entries pertaining almost exclusively to the blacksmith trade. No job was too complicated or challenging for author, as he engaged in a dazzling array of blacksmithing activities from his thriving Alton blacksmith shop. Among the innumerable entries found here include making back irons, bolts, chisels, drills, cutting machine springs, cutting mesh springs, grindstone cranks, hacks and swivels, head block irons, head pieces for spears, hooks, iron for lathes, jack irons, rag irons, satchel pins, shovel handles, turning machine levers, square wrenches, staples, thumb screws, wheels, etc.; mending cranks, crowbars, harness links, horse sled braces, pitchforks, scrapers, shovels, skimmer handles, sleigh braces, sleigh shoes, tung iron and nails, etc.; repairing bolts, chain links, chains, double sleighs, drills, hasps, keys plane irons, sleigh seats and old backs, sleighs, wagons, etc., sharpening chisels, drills, harrow teeth, picks, shoes, stone hammers, etc.; cutting screws on rods, steeling harrow teeth, iron bars, etc.; bracing steam pipes, hooping tubs and steam pipes, fixing screws and straps, fixing seat braces, footing andirons, setting up wagon springs, setting shoes and shoeing horses, setting wagon tires, splicing augers, turning chisels, upsetting axes, etc. Author also purchased various quantities and sizes of iron and other materials for his shop. His customers included both individuals and businesses from in and around Alton, with customer names throughout ledger making for a treasure trove of local genealogy. An absolutely fantastic early artifact from a thriving New Hampshire blacksmith shop.
Alton is located in Belknap County, New Hampshire. According to recent census figures, the town is currently home to a population of about 5, 250 year-round residents. The Alton Bay State Forest and Mount Major State Forest are also located in Alton, as is the village of Alton Bay, a long-time resort located on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee. The village is part of the "Lakes Region", a popular resort area. Originally called "New Durham Gore" because of rocky upland areas, or "gores, " the town of Alton was settled in 1770, mainly by farmers because the highland areas provided less frost. Merchants then filled the lowlands.
Early Alton history recounts stories of the merchants attempting to convince the farmers to incorporate. They would finally succeed on January 15th, 1796, when the community was named after Alton, a small market town in Hampshire, England. Alton was part of Strafford County until Belknap County was created on December 22nd, 1840. By 1840, the village of Alton existed at the town's center. In 1847, the Cochecho Railroad began bringing passengers and freight to Alton Village and Alton Bay. By 1859, the town had two gristmills, seven sawmills, and five shoe factories. Arguably the most famous business was the Rockwell Clough Company established by William Rockwell Clough, inventor of the corkscrew. By 1903, his company was producing 30 million corkscrews worldwide.
Since the mid-19th century however, tourism has been the principal business. In 1863, the Adventist Campground held their first camp meeting at Alton Bay, which was the terminus of the Dover and Winnipiseogee Railroad. In 1872, the Boston & Maine Railroad launched at Alton Bay the steamer Mount Washington, the first side-wheeler and largest vessel on Lake Winnipesaukee. When destroyed by fire in 1939, a replacement ship was found, also christened Mount Washington. Today, it continues to carry summer tourists between stops on the lake. The railway survived until 1935, and the old station at Alton Bay is now a community center. Along with the town of Alton, Belknap County today comprises the city of Laconia, the towns of Barnstead, Belmont, Center Harbor, Gilford, Gilmanton, Meredith, New Hampton, Sanbornton, and Tilton, and various villages including Alton Bay, Gilmanton Ironworks, Glendale, Lakeport, Lochmere, Weirs Beach, and Winnisquam.
The Lakes Region of New Hampshire is the mid-state region surrounding Lake Winnipesaukee, Winnisquam Lake, Squam Lake, and Newfound Lake. The area comprises all of Belknap County, the southern portion of Carroll County, the eastern portion of Grafton County, and the northern portions of Strafford County and Merrimack County. The largest municipality is the city of Laconia. The area is a popular tourist destination in the summer time, with the activity peaking during the annual Motorcycle Week and races at Loudon's New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Other tourist destinations include Funspot in Weirs Beach, the children's museum of Center Harbor, Gunstock ski resort and Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion at Meadowbrook, both in Gilford, Castle in the Clouds in Moultonborough, and the town of Wolfeboro, which claims to be the nation's oldest resort town. Lake Winnipesaukee is the largest lake in the state, and is home to numerous vacation homes.
Condition: Rare book remains in good overall condition (see pictures). Early volume bound in original leather-backed marbled boards with matching leather tips; cover worn with boards loosening, mind toning, scattered minor staining and ink smudging, old recipe clippings pasted down to preliminary leaves and first page of ledger entries, back of book contains a few torn pages with some later entries and additional blank pages, generally clean internally with ink bold and legible throughout. Ledger contains about 150 pp. of manuscript entries; and measures approx 13" tall x 8" wide x .75" thick. Quite a find and a very worthy acquisition indeed.
Payment and Shipping: Please see our feedback and bid with confidence. Never a reserve and very low opening bid as always. Never a reserve and very low opening bid as always. For international shipping quote, please contact us. Bidders with no established feedback must contact us before bidding. Massachusetts residents must add 6.25% sales tax or include dealer tax resale number. Payment must be received within 5 days after close of auction. Thanks for your interest!On May-23-19 at 21:32:46 PDT, seller added the following information:
