All Medals

The medal's obverse bears view of Honeywell Regulator Company's building with central tower. Around, >>> MINNEAPOLIS · HONEYWELL · REGULATOR · COMPANY >; at lower right, 1885 / 1935

The reverse bears Butz damper flapper at left and gas burner with flame at right. Across, PRESENTED TO / JULICE M. WHEALIN / IN RECOGNITION / OF OVER FIFTEEN / YEARS OF FAITHFUL / SERVICE

Honeywell's roots go back to 1885, when an inventor named Albert Butz patented the furnace regulator and alarm. He formed the Butz Thermo-Electric Regulator Co., Minneapolis, in April, 1886, and soon invented a device he called the "damper flapper," an ingenious predecessor to the modern thermostat.

The damper flapper was a relatively simple device. When a room cooled below a predetermined temperature, a thermostat closed the circuit and energized an armature. This pulled the stop from the motor gears, allowing a crank attached to the main motor shaft to turn one-half revolution. A chain connected to the crank opened the furnace's air damper to let in air. This made the fire burn hotter. When the temperature rose to the preset level, the thermostat signaled the motor to turn another half revolution, closing the damper and damping the fire. The temperature correction was automatic.

In 1927 the company merged with with the company Mark Honeywell had founded in 1904 to form the Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company.

The circular medal measures 75.8mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company.  No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1935-025

The reverse depicts Poland Exhibit bilding at World's Fair surrounded by two trees. In exergue, REPUBLIC OF POLAND / EXHIBITION / NEW YORK WORLD'S FAIR / 1940

Ignace Jan Paderewski was one of the most famous pianists of his age and an inspiration to Polish nationals. In addition to being a world-renown pianist, he was also famous for his wit. One anecdote recounts how he was introduced to a polo player with the words:

"You are both leaders in your spheres though the spheres are very different."

He replied:

"Not so very different. You are a dear soul who plays polo, and I am a poor Pole who plays solo."

Kilenyi admired Paderewski and, when he was retained to design a medal symbolizing the friendship between the United States and Poland, he picked his likeness for the obverse. Because Paderewski was unable to sit for him and photos and drawings were not sufficient Kilenyi watched Moonlight Sonata, a movie featuring the famous pianist, to capture Paderewski's essence.

The medal's obverse bears giant Colossus statue straddling harbor entrance with ship sailing underneath; view of harbor and island behind. Signed on left foundation, DAB

The reverse bears calendar panel on sail of Greek sailing vessel; birds in sky. At top, 2003

The Colossus of Rhodes calendar medal was the sixth issue in the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World series. It was probably designed by Mark Frost and certainly sculpted by Douglas A. Birdwell. The medal is drilled at the bottom to allow it to be pin-mounted on a display stand. 

The circular medal measures 76.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze and silver by the Medallic Art Company of Dayton, Nevada. No mintages are reported.  The bronze pieces originally sold for $34.95, the silver pieces for $169.

References:   Cal MA-2003

The galvano bears allegorical figure of America emerging from threatening clouds, stretching arms out protectively over children reading and playing at her feet; radiant beams of light behind figure. In exergue, · AMERICA · AIDS · THE · / · CHILDREN · OF · / · FRANCE · ; signed along left bottom, · P · MANSHIP · / © 1918

The French Heroes' Fund was established by Americans to rehabilitate wounded French soldiers, to help their families, and to aid children orphaned by the First World War. The fund purchased the childhood château of the Marquis de Lafayette–America's ally in the  Revolutionary War–and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of the French.

The allegorical figure of America wears the Phrygian cap and classical gown that also symbolizes Marianne, France's version of America's "Lady Liberty." 

This design was used as the reverse on a medal struck by the Medallic Art Company. The circular galvano relief measures 124.6mm in diameter.

Many thanks to the curators and editors of the excellent website of the Smithsonian's American Art Museum, which provided a lot of the content for this relief.

References:   SoM 69

The plaquette bears seated female figure, l., holding vase in both hands; to her left, view of Gorham factory in Providence, Rhode Island; above two cherubs flanking Gorham stamps consisting of lion, anchor and Gothic letter G. In exergue, GORHAM MFG CO. / PROVIDENCE R. I.; signed at right bottom, E. E. CODMAN Sc

This handsome little plaquette might have been a salesman's sample of the products Gorham could produce. It is struck on a very thin planchet, maybe to keep the weight down.

The rectangular plaquette mesaures 95.8mm x 46mm and was struck in bronze by the Gorham Manufacturing Company of Providence, Rhode Island.

References:   BG 41

References:   MACo 1937-008

References:   MACo 1928-032