Searching for company info.

[hosman321]

I purchased the mate to this photo a few weeks ago but left this one behind because I think it's just priced a bit too high. Anyways, I have been searching for this company info and cannot find anything. I figure the research wizards around here might have better luck. I bought it because I thought it was a local company, I hope it is. Thanks everyone! By the way, if I have asked this question before, I'm sorry for the repost. I forget sometimes.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Northern-Novelty-Co-Sign-Photograph-Tacoma-Washington_W0QQitemZ110585600401QQcategoryZ14279QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m263QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%252BC%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D10%26pmod%3D110585599944%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D8260801503801888288#ht_632wt_98

[wendy177]

I have found very little on your company but found some little tid bits that may lead you to some answers.  In November of 1920, Alice Moorefield was photographed working at the Northern Novelty Manufacturing Co., located at 2909-13 So. Wilkeson St. She was sharpening a wood chisel and was surrounded by the wood used by the eight month old company in their manufacture of wooden products. Miss Moorefield was rated as a "helper" and was able to handle any of the big machines used in finishing timber for the plant. The company, already successful in the construction of tables, was branching out into toy construction. They held patents on a hubless and spokeless wheel for mechanical toys and tea wagons and a toy called the "shimmy dog." They also held a contract to produce all the toys for the annual Tacoma Elks Christmas tree. I have searched "shimmy dog" , hubless and spokeless wheel for mechanical toys and tea wagons , tried a patents search all with no luck...... but maybe you could contact the Tacoma Elks as Northern Novelty Manufacturing Co  held a contract to produce all the toys for the annual Tacoma Elks Christmas tree in 1920. Please let me know what you find !!!!  good luck

[waywardangler]

There appears to be a partial address on the sign...424. This is not matching what sapphire found so my guess is the photo is from a different location (maybe not Tacoma) or earlier. Sapphire's info said the company was 8 months old in November of 1920. That building with the weathered siding looks like it has been around for more than 8 months and so does the sign.

I have found a Northern Novelty Manufacturing Company in Duluth MN earlier than 1920. It was also a corporation of South Dakota. This ebay pic may not be from Tacoma.

It appears the company in Tacoma was making furniture and toys and the Duluth one was making at least a safety razor cleaner. Not much info on either company.

[waywardangler]

I have looked at the ebay photo and info and something does not add up...the company name. How does the seller know the name is "Northern Novelty Manufacturing Company" when all that is showing is "Home of the/Northern Novelty/American Made Toys 424"?  There is a BIG difference between "Northern Novelty Manufacturing Company" and "Northern Novelty Company". JMO. We may be searching for the wrong company. I do not think there is room on the sign for "Northern Novelty Manufacturing Company unless it is abbreviated and we are really assuming a lot if that is the case.

It is odd that an old wood toy made by Northern Novelty or even furniture so labeled cannot be found on the net.

A search for a "shimmy dog" toy turned up this "shimmy" pup sold on liveauctioneers. Was this the "shimmy dog" from the Tacoma company? The Northern Novelty manufacturing Co. "held patents on a hubless and spokeless wheel for mechanical toys and tea wagons and a toy called the "shimmy dog." I cannot find any such patents although a Jesse C. Welch of Tacoma did have a patent for toy vehicle wheels that may be what this company used.

I would think that a company making toys and supposedly holding patents on such, would have marked their toys and they would be found on the internet. This is a mystery.

[KC]

Just a thought...but the 424 could be the start of the phone number!!!  Prior to 50's/60's you didn't need to dial area codes with a number.  (FYI currently area code 424 is Los Angeles, CA area).  Very common to post phone numbers for business and even in 1900's.

[hosman321]

Wow, you guys found more than I did! Thank you. All I could find info on was the Northern Novelty Company. I wish my scanner was working, I'd show you mine. The sign in the photo I bought reads,
HOME OF THE
NORTHERN NOVELTY MFG. CO.
AMERICAN MADE TOYS 424 REALTY BLDG

[waywardangler]

Was there a 424 Realty Bldg in Tacoma during this time frame, hosman? I am thinking it is somewhere else but where I don't know. Google has nothing for "424 Realty Building".

[sapphire]

From the Tacoma Public Library....

http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/images/dt6n.asp?un=1&pg=1&drequest=36327&stemming=&phonic=&fuzzy=&maxfiles=

"An example of tables built by the Northern Novelty Manufacturing Co. was displayed outdoors in early November of 1920. The fold-down table was compact enough to fit in small places. Northern Novelty had opened for business in January of 1920 and by October of that year, had expanded their plant on South Wilkeson in order to manufacture wooden toys."

[sapphire]

http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/images/dt6n.asp?un=1&pg=1&krequest=subjects+contains+Toy+industry+Tacoma+1920%2D1930&stemming=&phonic=&fuzzy=&maxfiles=

"An unidentified worker was photographed in November of 1920 in the corner of the Northern Novelty Manufacturing Co., 2909-13 So. Wilkeson,............"

Check out the double sets of windows on the far right wall........they appear similar to those shown in your pic of the outside.

[waywardangler]

I did find a "424 Realty Bldg." in the Georgia State University archives but the pdf file is damaged and I cannot tell from the info given what city/state it was in.

Tacoma archives turned up nothing for 424 Realty Bldg.

The windows in the postcard building appear to be double hung while in the shop photo at least one has a tilt-out top. Very hard to tell if this is the same place.

[sapphire]

There appears to be another number directly after the 424 and very close....no space like you would find in an address, possibly '5' ? Phone number perhaps??

[hosman321]

I have never heard of a 424 realty building and I don't think the building remains on Wilkeson. I will be in Tacoma Friday and Saturday so maybe I'll drive by. The boys in my picture do have a bunch of wooden toys. A boat, a car, an airplane and a cart. Another one I can't see, too. That's why I liked it so much.

[sapphire]

hosman, I googled the old address given on S. Wilkenson and went to Street View.....it appears to be a commercial district with 'newer' warehouse type buildings (that is if the street numbers have stayed relatively the same  )

[waywardangler]

There is a Realty Bldg in Spokane, WA with address numbers in this range.

[Oceans64]

As an uneducated guess...  The little boy clothing looks right for c1920.  

I always wonder where sellers get their info when there is no clear cut clue in their pics.  You have to wonder if the seller googled and is assuming the company in Tacoma is the same as the pic....  Or maybe there is writing on the back? He received the pic from a Tacoma estate etc...

Also, I have researched a few houses in the Tacoma area and in several parts of the city it appears street names (and home addresses) were changed in the early 1900's.  The fact that Wilkeson remains indicates this may not have happened but it's something to keep in mind...