I was browsing ebay recently and came across an item that rang some bells with me. It was a vintage thermal (thermos) pitcher that had an inscription on its side. The inscription read Good Samaritan Hospital / Phoenix, Arizona.
Well, that was the hospital where I was born in 1939. I purchased it. Here's the inscription,
Here's another picture I found on the internet depicting two of these pitchers, showing their flip-up lids.
It was not until I received it that I noticed the stamping on the bottom of the pitcher.
The stamping revealed that it was made by Landers, Frary and Clark, a household goods manufacturer that was established in 1865 and survived until 1965 when it was acquired by General Electric. Through research, I discovered that they started making these pitchers for restaurants and hospitals in the late 1930s and early 1940s - so this type may have been in use at Good Sam hospital when I was born! A sharp-eyed forum member shows that this one was probably manufactured in July of 1954, however.
But here is something very interesting to me as a collector of U.S. militaria. I already had a couple of other LF&C artifacts in my collection! Landers, Frary and Clark made most of the 1917 and 1918 trench knives during WWI. I have examples of both of them!
Amazing to me how some things come together strictly through accident - I thought I'd share my discovery with you.
John
Well, that was the hospital where I was born in 1939. I purchased it. Here's the inscription,
Here's another picture I found on the internet depicting two of these pitchers, showing their flip-up lids.
It was not until I received it that I noticed the stamping on the bottom of the pitcher.
The stamping revealed that it was made by Landers, Frary and Clark, a household goods manufacturer that was established in 1865 and survived until 1965 when it was acquired by General Electric. Through research, I discovered that they started making these pitchers for restaurants and hospitals in the late 1930s and early 1940s - so this type may have been in use at Good Sam hospital when I was born! A sharp-eyed forum member shows that this one was probably manufactured in July of 1954, however.
But here is something very interesting to me as a collector of U.S. militaria. I already had a couple of other LF&C artifacts in my collection! Landers, Frary and Clark made most of the 1917 and 1918 trench knives during WWI. I have examples of both of them!
Amazing to me how some things come together strictly through accident - I thought I'd share my discovery with you.
John
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