BIRMINGHAM " ALABAMA STATE FAIR, VULCAN THE IRON MAN ", Crowd, Brass Band, 1900 ' S
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:3344373 | Country/Region of Manufacture: Germany |
| City/Region: Birmingham, Alabama | Era: Divided Back (c. 1907-1915) |
The Vulcan statue is the largest cast iron statue in the world, and is the city symbol of Birmingham, Alabama, reflecting its roots in the iron and steel industry. The 56-foot tall statue depicts the Roman god Vulcan, god of the fire and forge. It was created as Birmingham's entry for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition (1904 World's Fair) in St. Louis, Missouri. Commissioned by the Commercial Club of Birmingham, Italian-born sculptor Giuseppe Morettibegan desig...ning the monumental figure in 1903 The Vulcan statue consists of 29 cast-iron components with connecting flanges that are bolted together internally. The heaviest section is his whole head, which weighs 11, 000 pounds. Iron forgemen designed and executed the connection details for the statue, which originally had no internal framework and was self-supporting. The grey ironcastings were made in Birmingham entirely from locally produced iron. The completed weight of the god Vulcan's figure alone is 100, 000 pounds. When Vulcan's anvil, block, hammer, and spearpoint are added, the statue weighs a total of 120, 000 pounds and it stands on a pedestal that is 123-foot tall. After the 1904 Worlds Fair the statue was disassembled and lay in pieces in the train yard. It was eventually re-erected at the Alabama State Fairgrounds, with blue pants painted on his naked bottom, but the statue's arms were installed incorrectly, and the god was without his spear, which had been lost on the way from St. Louis. With nothing to hold in its hands, Vulcan soon became an advertising figure. During that era, Vulcan held an ice cream cone, a Coca-Cola bottle, and even Heinz pickles. In the late 1920s, the statue was disassembled for inspection. It was painted a flesh color and was reassembled in the early 1930s. It was not until 1936 that the statue found a suitable home, thanks to the Works Progress Administration, which partially funded a new park in the city at the top of Red Mountain. A pedestal was built of local sandstone, and Vulcan was hoisted into place. A new spear was fabricated to be held high in his right hand while his left hand held a hammer at his side. Vulcan was repainted in an aluminum like finish but the statue's again had no pants.
This card captures the crowd, a brass band and, it looks like, an armless Vulcan at the Alabama State Fair. It is in good condition with minor wear on the corners and edges and a clean and clear image and reverse.
If this your card, it will be mailed promptly upon receipt of payment by Pay Pal only...... Free Shipping World Wide. Thank you for your interest and I hope that I can help you with your collection.....
Life and History on a Card?, , , , Visit My eBay Store: HartsCardCart
This card captures the crowd, a brass band and, it looks like, an armless Vulcan at the Alabama State Fair. It is in good condition with minor wear on the corners and edges and a clean and clear image and reverse.
If this your card, it will be mailed promptly upon receipt of payment by Pay Pal only...... Free Shipping World Wide. Thank you for your interest and I hope that I can help you with your collection.....
Life and History on a Card?, , , , Visit My eBay Store: HartsCardCart
