IMPORTANT BENCH-CRAFTED ALUMINUM COLLECTOR'S BOX
by
WENDELL AUGUST FORGE (GROVE CITY, PA)
A remarkable achievement in Arts & Crafts metalworking incorporating heavy gauge planished aluminum sheet stock, cast and tooled strapwork and hinge mounts, and a decorative escutcheon plate. Removable inserts create six 3 1/8" x 2 3/8" x 1 1/8" deep wells with central crossbar.
For an informative history of Wendell August and forge operations, view Benjamin Liebling's article "Doing Things the Old-Fashioned Way: Wendell August Forge" published on the Pennsylvania Center for the Book site.
Throughout the 1930s Wendell August Forge business focused on commissioned architectural installations. Quoting from the article:
In 1930, even though the Great Depression had driven August and his
blacksmiths out of the coal industry, Wendell August Forge was
commissioned by the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) to create
decorative gates for ALCOA’s Aluminum Research Laboratory, according to
the Forge’s website. After doing work for ALCOA, August realized
aluminum was much easier to work with than iron was and shifted the
focus of his forge from iron to aluminum. This was the first big break
for a company that so desperately needed one.
I've not located a related August Wendell Forge box appearing on the market during the last 15 years. Doubtless, few of the model 277 planished aluminum "collector's" boxes were produced.
Please review my descriptive information and study the photographs for details.
generous 1 11/16" high, 7 7/8" wide, 7 1/4" deep (escutcheon plate to hinges)