[UNDERTAKERS & FUNERAL SUPPLIES -- PHOTO ARCHIVE]. [Hardwood and Covered Caskets Salesman's Sample Photo Archive Comprised of 157 Photographs of Wooden and Metal Caskets for Burials, before and after World War II]

[Hardwood and covered caskets salesman's sample photo archive comprised of 157 photographs of wooden and metal caskets for burials, before and after World War II, including additional sample images from such manufacturers as Central Metallic Casket Co. , The Merit Co. , National Casket Co. , Northern Casket Co. , and even a price list for the Root-Matthews Casket Co. , Price List. Hardwood caskets contained in casket catalog. . . ]. [Boyertown, PA, Chicago, IL, Lynn, IN, Boston, MA, Fond du Lac, WI, Des Moines, IA: Boyertown Burial Casket Co. , Central Metallic Casket Co. , The Merit Co. , Meyer Manufacturing Corp. , National Casket Co. , Northern Casket Co. , Root-Matthews Casket Co. , ca. 1922-1950]. Archive with 157 photographs (most silver gelatin, some colour) , sized from 5 x 8 in. Up to 13.5 x 8.5 in. (landscape format) , many linen-backed, including 1 double-page folding linen-backed, some rounded corners, the majority with product & manufacturing information listed on the versos, some w/ colour-tinting, several of the Boyertown Co. Photos w/ small notches in upper fore-edges, and annotations on verso indicating discard, or discontinued caskets; other manufacturer casket photos have printed labels, text in lower fore-edge, typed captions, pen & ink annotations; [together with] 8vo. 4 pp. Self-printed softcovers (minor shelfwear, slight creasing to spine) , still VG collection preserved in folding slipcase, w/ gilt stamping on cover. $ 1750.00Rare archive of salesman sample photos for caskets, supplied by this noted Pennsylvania company during the Great Depression and after World War II, together with a number of other manufacturers. These sample photos depict caskets supplied by the Boyertown Casket Co. , including those in quarter-sawn oak, square oak, walnut, African mahogany, hazelwood, chestnut, gold and copper finishes on cypress, solid copper & leaded metal, and even quarter-cloth & wood exteriors. The linings were often in Baronet Satin, crushed Crescent, Rayon Serge, Crepe de Chine, and many other variations. The Boyertown Burial Casket Company was organized in 1893 when two local undertakers Daniel Brumbach and Henry Wagner were unable to obtain caskets easily for burials. Charles Mory (1856-1930) the local drygoods store owner enlisted some local business leaders, and craftsman to found a casket factory to manufacture caskets, and by 1906 was the largest local employer. The Company continued to grow even through the Great Depression, and by World War II was selling Boyertown Caskets across the country. After the Company was purchased by a the Houston-based funeral supply giant, Service Corporation International in 1986, a series of layoffs failed to save the company and it was closed in 1988. A number of the photos were offer samples during the Great Depression of caskets from the Central Metallic Casket Co. , founded in 1919, and which pioneered the construction of metal and iron caskets, closed due to bankruptcy in 1955. The other photographs include such companies as The Merit Co. In Chicago, IL, the National Casket Co. , Inc. , known for their Mineralite caskets, and even the Northern Casket Co. In Fond du Lac, founded by noted conservationist, William Mauthe (1911-1934) in 1905. No copies located in Worldcat; See: Heather Tassmer, Residents Hear History of Boyertown Burial Casket Co. , Berks-Mont News (2009).