Early Office Museum

Antique Date, Time, Number & Name Stamps

Model, Year Patented or Introduced, Maker	Click Image to Enlarge
Hand Stamps	.
Ruggles' Patent Hand Stamp Advertised 1854-60 Boston Hand Stamp Co., Boston, MA The die is metal, not rubber.
Rubber Hand Stamps The available evidence suggests that rubber hand stamps were invented around 1864-66. "The years from 1866 onward were peppered with the establishment of new [rubber] stamp companies. J. F. W. Dorman is said to have been the first to actually commercialize the making of rubber stamps. In 1866 Dorman learned the technique of manufacturing rubber stamps." (J. K. Miller & L. Thompson, The Rubber Stamp Album, 1978) The New York Rubber Stamp Co. is listed in an 1870 New York City business directory. A number of companies exhibited rubber hand stamps at the 1876 International Exhibition in Philadelphia. These firms included G. K. Cooke & Co., New York, NY; Walker, Tucker & Co., Philadelphia; John Goldsborough, Philadelphia; and D. A. Edsall, New York, NY.	. Revolving Rubber Stamp Rack, 1889 ad
Excelsior Rubber Stamp Pad Advertised 1887 W. B. Volger, Manufacturer. (Est. 1883) New York, NY	.
Mechanical Dating Stamps Dating stamps were used not only for general dating purposes but to cancel revenue and postage stamps.	.
Ames' Patent Self-Inking Stamp Advertised 1860 M. B. Bigelow & Anson Hardy Boston, MA
No. 1 Canceller Advertised 1870 Power & Wallwork New York, NY The 1870 advertisement states: "This was the first ribbon canceller ever made, and immense numbers were sold and used with great satisfaction until they were supplanted by late improvements. We have a small stock on hand which we propose to sell at greatly reduced prices." Power & Wallwork, Illustrated Catalogue and Price List, New York, NY, 1870, contains illustrated advertisements for a wide range of dating and canceling stamps similar to the next three below. (Hagley Museum and Library)	Image coming H
Brass Dater Patented 1865 ~ Advertised 1870 W. W. Secombe & Co. New York, NY This machine, which was patented in 1865, was owned by Joseph Fuller of Sufield, Connecticut, and his name and city surround the date. The device has four brass wheels, one for the month, two for the day of the month, and one for the year. The year wheel is for 1866-1875.
Hudson's Ribbon Hand Stamp (two models) Patented 1865 This is described in U.S. Patent No. 48,338 as a Machine for Cancelling Revenue Stamps. It was designed to stamp a few words, such as a person's name and address, and the month, day, and year. The machine in the lower photo stamps "G.G. HICKS, AGT., PROV., R.I.." as well as the date. Numbers (1 to 31) for the day are on an endless chain inside the vertical plunger. The operator changed the month and year dies manually. The machine in the lower photo has a die for the year 1887.
Holt's Circular Bank Stamp Sold by 1867 ~ Advertised 1870 Power & Wallwork New York, NY "This is the largest and most comprehensive ribbon stamping machine ever made. It carries twelve large dies. It has a separate ribbon for each die, giving such a variety of colors as may be desired." The machine was $100. One was used by the Bank of America during 1867-70.	Image coming H
Self-Dating and Indicating Cancelling Stamp Patented 1867 Nathaniel L. Chamberlain Boston, MA The 1867 billhead below is in the Warshaw Collection, National Museum of American History Archives, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC.
Date Stamp Patented 1868 Nathaniel L. Chamberlain Boston, MA This machine has three brass wheels, one for the month, one for the day, and one for the year. The year wheel is for 1868-1875.
Ribbon Hand Stamp Advertised 1869 W. H. H. Davis Boston, MA
American Dating Stamp Patented 1871-76 ~ Advertised 1877-1922 B. B. Hill Manufacturing Co. Springfield, MA (until 1882) Philadelphia, PA (1882 onward) The illustration on an 1877 billhead has a brass dating wheel that begins with 1871.
Patent Self-Inking Rotary Stamp Exhibited 1876 G. K. Cooke & Co. New YorK, NY	Illustration in Publishers' Weekly, Vol X, 1876, p. 107.
Centennial Dater Patented 1876-1879 ~ Advertised c.1906, 1910 B. B. Hill Manufacturing Co. Springfield, MA (until 1882) Philadelphia, PA (1882 onward)
Railroad Dater Advertised c. 1906 U.S.	Image coming Corlies, Macy & Co, p. 88
Mechanical Time-Dating Stamps	.
Automatic Time-Dating Stamp Advertised 1890-93 Accurate Time Stamp Co. New York, NY Similar machines were marketed by various companies as late as 1930. International Time Recording, New York, NY, advertised the Standard Time Stamp in 1900. The Ajax Time Stamp Co., Boston, MA, advertised the Ajax Time Stamp in 1928. Photograph to right shows a later machine, the National Time Recorder, made by the National Time Recorder Co., London, UK	Automatic Time-Dating Stamp, 1890 National Time Recorder
Automatic Time Stamp Patented 1894-97 ~ Advertised 1899-1923 The Automatic Time Stamp Co. Boston, MA The Thompson Time Stamp Co., New York, NY, advertised the similar Thompson Time Stamp Model B in 1928.
Baird Time Stamp Advertised 1905 Baird Manufacturing Co. Chicago, IL
Numbering Stamps	.
Holt's Consecutive Numbering Machine Advertised 1870 Power & Wallwork New York, NY	Image coming H
French Consecutive Numbering Stamp Advertised 1870 Power & Wallwork New York, NY	Image coming H
Bates Automatic Numbering Machine Patented 1891-93 ~ Advertised c. 1897 Bates Mfg. Co. Orange, NJ
Excelsior Numbering Machine
Name Stamps	.
Card Printer Patented 1871 ~ Exhibited at the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. William Thompson Frohock, Philadelphia, PA. This device stamps a name using printer's type. Devices of this type were also sold as linen stamps.

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