Gun Collectors Dream Auction #86 Collector Auction
Lot 1193:
Description
This vintage advertising key rack was manufactured for DeMert and Dougherty, Inc., a company with listed offices in Chicago, St. Louis, and Milwaukee. The rectangular rack is constructed from painted sheet metal, featuring a light blue field and a rounded red-orange top section with a single hanging hole. The central graphic consists of a circular emblem bordered by wheat sprigs with the text KEEP YOUR KEYS HANDY and KEYS in red lettering over a keyhole silhouette. The bottom third of the rack displays a yellow stepped graphic listing various industrial products, including PAINT, WOOD FILLER, PAINT and VARNISH REMOVERS, and both ALCOHOL TYPE and PERMANENT TYPE ANTI-FREEZE. Corporate addresses and vintage telephone exchanges for the three office locations are printed across the bottom. The rack is fitted with ten integrated metal hooks. The accompanying collection of keys includes a nickel-plated key embossed with JOHN DEERE, a brass-finished key bearing the CORBIN CABINET LOCK DIV. logo, and several skeleton, barrel, and flat-type keys. Several original white adhesive labels remain on the rack with handwritten identifications including Ford, Luggage, SKAT, Desk-Box IMPORTANT Papers, Skeleton, and WORK door. Two additional skeleton keys are included loose with the collection.
Condition report:
The metal rack exhibits significant authentic wear consistent with industrial use, including surface oxidation and rust, particularly along the bottom edge and near the hanging hole. There are various scratches and areas of paint loss throughout the light blue and yellow sections. The paper adhesive labels are aged, yellowed, and brittle. The keys show a wide range of patinas, from relatively bright nickel plating to heavy surface rust and deep oxidation on the iron and steel examples. One hook on the rack is currently empty.
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