Medals relating to Engineering

The medal's obverse bears two allegorical female figures representing Europe and America, flanking a giant globe spanned by a cable; angel above, Eagle and Lion at the feet of their figures; three small panels below, bearing American Eagle and shield, native with trade goods and ocean in background, and British coat of arms. At bottom, TIFFANY & CO. N.Y.

The reverse bears two ships at sea with others in background. Above, FROM THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE / AND CITIZENS OF NEW YORK,; in exergue, COMMEMORATIVE OF THE PART TAKEN / BY HIM / IN LAYING THE FIRST / TELEGRAPHIC CABLE / BETWEEN / EUROPE AND AMERICA IN AUGUST, A.D. 1858

Cyrus West Field (1819-1892) was born in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and rose to world-wide fame for being one of the backers of the first transatlantic telegraph cable.  The first trans-atlantic cable was laid from Telegraph Field, Foilhommerum Bay, Valentia Island in western Ireland to Heart's Content in eastern Newfoundland and heralded a new era of communications.  While the cable failed after a brief period of service, it proved the feasibility of the concept of instantaneous trans-atlantic communications. Its significance can be compared to the first trans-atlantic flight or the first Moon landing. 

The medal bears some similarity to the gold medals that were awarded to Field and his partner, but the reverse is different.  Struck by Tiffany and Company, New York, the circular medal measures 69mm in diameter.  Only few large-size bronze peices are known to exist.

Images courtesy of Stack's Bowers Galleries, www.StacksBowers.com.

References:   Marqusee 377

The medal's obverse bears cotton gin surrounded by wreath of cotton branches within border of twisted cotton lengths and beaded rim. Around, THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF COTTON MANUFACTURERS; above gin, FOUNDED / · 1854 · ; under gin, INCORPORATED / DEC. 1894

The reverse bears spread eagle at bottom with laurel and oak forming wreath behind. In center field, engraved dedication: TO / ROBERT MARTIN GREGG / A GRADUATE OF / BRADFORD DURFEE / TEXTILE SCHOOL / FOR HIGHEST / EXCELLENCE / JUNE · 8 · 1933; on streamer under eagle's wings, A - 18 - 99 - D

This medal harkens back to the days when the south coast of New England was a powerhouse of textile manufacturing. The National Textile Association traces its history to 1854, the founding date of the Hampden County (Massachusetts) Cotton Spinners' Association, subsequently renamed the New England Cotton Manufacturers' Association (1865). The organization was incorporated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on December 1, 1894 and became the National Association of Cotton Manufacturers in April, 1906.

Bradford Durfee Textile School was a college in Fall River, Massachusetts. It was chartered in 1895, incorporated in 1899 and opened its doors in 1904.

The circular medal measures 63.7mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Gorham Manufacturing Company of Providence, Rhode Island. No mintage is reported.

The medal bears portrait of Rowland Gibson Hazard, facing right. Around left, ROWLAND HAZARD - MCMVI / MDCCCXXIX - AVGVST - XVI - MDCCCXCVIII - SYRACVSE; around right, SOLVAY PROCESS Co FOVNDED / MDCCCLXXXI; signed over shoulder, R E·BROOKS / FECIT

Rowland Gibson Hazard was the brother of Solvay Process Company co-founder Roland Hazard II and was the company's vice president for many years. The Solvay Process Company built a giant chemical plant in up-state New York that gave the surrounding town its name. The plant closed in 1986 due to competition from cheaper sources of baking soda.

R. E. Brooks was one of the first artists to use Henri Weil's Janvier machine in New York City, however there are no documents to prove or disprove that the medal was manufactured by the young Medallic Art Company.

The circular uniface medal measures 64.1mm in diameter.  No mintage is reported.

The plaquette's obverse bears portrait of Hunt, facing left, on circular field, ROBERT WOOLSTON HVNT around top. Two femal figures flank medal on both sides.  Signed at bottom right, EMIL FUCHS

The reverse bears steel worker in front of steel works, a Bessemer vessel at left, a steel rolling machine at right. Signed at lower right, EMIL FUCHS

Robert Woolston Hunt (1838-1923) was a metallurgical engineer, inventor, and superintendent in the American steel industry. He was elected President of the American Institute of Mining Engineers as well as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, which shows the high esteem in which his peers held him. During the Civil War he served as commander of Camp Harrisburg in Pennslvania and as a mustering officer for the state of Pennsylvania, undoubtedly putting his administrative talents to good use.

The piece in fine silver that is depicted was awarded to Edwin Chester Wright for a paper titled "The Manufacture and Properties of Killed Bessemer Steel."  By 1945 the medal had only been awarded nine times, so this is probably a very rare medal.

The rectangular plaquette measures 100.9mm x 69.3mm and was struck in silver-plated bronze or fine silver by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported. I assume that it was also struck in bronze but I have not encountered that variant yet.

References:   Baxter 294, MACo 1921-021, Marqusee 189, 53

The medal's obverse bears female figure and Hermes with caduceus gazing at building; laurels and open scroll at their feet. In exergue, NEW CENTRE MARKET / NEWARK, N.J. / 1923; signed at left edge, KILENYI

The medal's reverse bears city view with cranes and steam shovel in foreground. In exergue, CLIFFORD F. MACEVOY CO. / BUILDERS / NEWARK, N.J.; signed just indside raised rim at 8 o'clock, J. Hansen

The revere was sculpted by V. Joan Hansen, an in-house designer for Newman, and was later reused for the 1925 Chicago Union Station Construction Insurance Medal.

The circular medal measures 63.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the J. F. Newman Company of New York. While no mintage is reported, Harry Waterson estimates it to be around 500 because the medal was a present at a dinner with 500 invited guests.  A bronze uniface variant with a diameter of 62.9mm exists in unknown mintage.

The medal's obverse bears the original telephone in its wooden frame. Around, THE ORIGINAL TELEPHONE OF / ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL

The reverse bears inscription, IN / COMMEMORATION / OF THE GOLDEN / ANNIVERSARY OF / THE INVENTION OF / THE TELEPHONE BY / ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL / IN 1876 / WHACH WAS THE / BEGINNING OF THE / BELL SYSTEM

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876 and the company resulting from his invention ruled the telephone market as a monopolist until its breakujp was mandated in 1982.  Since then innovations like VOIP (voice over IP) have started posing existential threats to the remaining phone companies.

The circular medal measures 63.7mm in diameter and was struck in bronze.

This medal is woefully scarcely documented. Neither designer nor mint are known and I could not find any additional information.  Please contact me if you know anything about this medal.

This medal's obverse bears portrait of Smith facing left.

The reverse bears text. Around, MERRIT · HAVILAND · SMITH ·; in center, ENGINEER · FOR / 40 · YEARS · OF · THE / WATER · SUPPLY · OF / THE · CITY · OF · NEW · YORK / 1862 (shell) 1926 / · COLONEL · OF · / ARTRILLERY · IN / THE · GREAT · WAR

Merrit Haviland Smith was born on May 21, 1862 in New York City. After an education in public schools and additional private tutors he graduated from the Pennsylvania Military College with a degree in civil engineering in 1880. After three years with the Pittsburgh and Western Railroad he joined the New York City Department of Public Works where he worked for the rest of his civilian life. In addition to his service as an Artillery Colonel in World War I, he also served with the New York National Guard in Puerto Rico from 1898 to 1899. He died in 1926.

This medal appears to be a copy of the bronze plaque erected in his memory at Kensico Dam shortly after his death in 1926.

The circular medal measures 50.4mm in diameter and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1928-033

References:   MACo 1929-003

The plaquette's obverse bears lovingly detailed, massive turbo generator before city skyline. Around cupola top, WORLD POWER CONFERENCE / 1936; across exergue, TURBO-GENERATOR-CAPACITY 160.000 K·W· 1936 / CONSOLIDATED EDISON COMPANY OF NEW YORK, INC·; signed above exergue at right, R. P. Chambellan Sc.

The reverse bears street view of Edison's first generator central station with laurel wreath at top left and tree at right. Across bottom, FIRST EDISON CENTRAL STATION - 1882 / 6 GENERATORS-TOTAL CAPACITY 1200 H·P·

The World Power Conference was conceived by the Scotsman Daniel Dunlop in 1923.  He organized the first meeting which took place in London in 1924 and attracted 1,700 attendees from 40 nations. It was deemed so successful that the conference was established as a recurring event.

In the beginning, the World Power Conference convened on a regular schedule every six years. The Third World Power Conference of 1936 met from September 7th to 12th in Washington, DC.  President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed the conference on September 11th and used a golden key to activate a small generator at the Builder Dam in Colorado.

In 1968 the name was changed to World Energy Conference and the conferences were scheduled every three years. In 1992 the group changed its name again and became known as the World Energy Council.

The year of 1936 also marked the rebranding of the New York Edison Company to Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. This is probably the reason that this handsome plaquette was issued on the occasion of the conference. From the humble beginnings of the first power plant on Pearl Street in 1882, the company would eventually grow into a behemoth with approximately $13 billion in annual revenue and $47 billion in assets by 2016.

This is a beautiful Machine Age gem by Chambellan. I admit that I am partial to detailed renditions of technology, but Chambellan masterfully combined the machinery in the foreground with a city skyline and subtle sun rays in the background.  The overall effect is pleasing and powerful at the same time.

The plaquette measures 114.4mm x 84.2mm and was struck in bronze by the Medallic Art Company of New York. No mintage is reported.

References:   MACo 1936-042

References:   MACo 1939-011