SOLVED: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with whats on it

[Jaichim24]

SOLVED: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

Reward 1 dollar!! How cool is that? I wonder how old this is when 1 dollar was incentive to return an item.

I was wondering if someone with a keener eye could perhaps review the pictures I took of this and try and figure out all of the writing on this tag? I think if I could get all of it I may have a better time researching the manufacturer and dating it. If you have an idea as to its age that would be great as well.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Jai

 

[ivan salis]

Re: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

the national identifying co. (company) -will indenify the owner by their number -8337- home offiice - albany ny (new york)

for the protecting of these keys if lost -- one dollar reward for the prompt return offered

that what I think it says

by using numbers rather than having their names on their key rings (using your name on a key ring makes it easy for crooks to know exactly whos shop and house keys they have--making you easy pickings ) -- using this service shop keepers and others with "valuible" keys -- keys that crooks would just "love" to get ahold of ---could have "lost" keys returned via a lost key service --since the key finder could not know who 's keys he found there was no chance to be dishonest with them --they had to be returned "promptly " to get the reward ----this was to prevent crooks from just trying every lock & shop in town with the keys till they found a match -- so if they were not returned in few weeks--- often the shop / home owner owner changed all his locks --a rather costly thing to do.

in those old days (say 1880 to 1920 era ) - the victorian era was till 1901 when queen victoria of england died -- a dollar was a days wages for many common workmen --- not a bad pay off for spending a few cents to return a set of keys ---it would be like getting say $75 to $100 bucks these days .-- but the $1 reward prevented the key loser from having to redo all his locks which would cost him much much more than $1

 

[creskol]

Re: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

the national identifying co. (company) -will indenify the owner by their number -8337- home offiice - albany ny (new york)

Nicely done Ivan

 

[ivan salis]

Re: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

thanks -- I try to help.

 

[River Rat]

Re: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

A very nice assortment of finds, Jai! I love the "sailing ship" brooch and the "glass flower mosaic". Excellent identification, Ivan!

RR

 

[Jaichim24]

Re: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

Yes, thank you Ivan, for the help on both sides of the tag, you have a keen set of eyes.

I do know that underneith 1 Dollar reward it says,

OR
DROP IN ANY XXXXX BOX

I can't tell if it's mail, post, or postal box. I believe it is postal though.

Thanks again all, I do believe this is solved!!

Jai

 

[ivan salis]

Re: SOLVED: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

its looks to me like "letter" box

 

[Mackaydon]

Re: SOLVED: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

Letter box; I agree; like here (top right is identical to yours):
http://www.timepassagesnostalgia.co...ages89/8911idtag2x5a.jpg&width=500&height=352

Don.....

 

[deepskyal]

Re: SOLVED: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

Back in the days when there were phone booths, a friend an I "found" (actually hidden above the light fixture) a set of keys used to open the coin boxes and remove the pay phones. There was a return tag on it similar to yours. I'm not tellin that story...but just letting you know that in the early 70's, there was still rewards for lost key sets.

Al

 

[Jaichim24]

Re: SOLVED: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

Letter box; I agree; like here (top right):
http://www.timepassagesnostalgia.co...5a.jpg&width=500&height=352

Don.....

wow, pretty cool pictures, and yes, it has to be letter as one of these pics is identical to mine. I wonder if that site has an age associated with it?

That's pretty funny about the key to the phone booth, though I'd be a bit sad if this turned out to be from the 70's, I can't imagine $1 being much of an inticement back then.

 

[ivan salis]

Re: SOLVED: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

your tag would date from about the 1880 to 1920 era --i would think --yes the wording and design of it is a exact match to the top right key return reward tag.

 

[Mackaydon]

Re: SOLVED: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

......."by rental number...." versus ........"by their number"

 

[ivan salis]

Re: SOLVED: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

it is a bit tough to see my eyes are not quite as good as the old days . rental is correct

 

[Jaichim24]

Re: SOLVED: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

......."by rental number...." versus ........"by their number"

Thanks for the update Mackayon, and to everyone else who helped. Your eyes are much much better than mine!

Jai

 

[celtex]

Re: SOLVED: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

......."by rental number...." versus ........"by their number"

Thanks for the update Mackayon, and to everyone else who helped. Your eyes are much much better than mine!

Jai

I found a "Return for one Dollar" tag yesterday. With a Chicago Il on the bottomof it.Yours is in a little worse shape than mine. Where I found it all the finds are older than 1927.

 

[High Plains Digger]

Re: SOLVED: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

I have one from our "small" town. House is still there. I have often had the small wiggle in the back of my brain about how many dishonest people there would be be. Probably less than now. Now I understand the theory well. It was after this period, but I am not sure when, that the DAV or American Legion or someone would have mini license plates made with "postage guaranteed". That would seem to work as well as the "account number". Learned something new today. Thanks!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Re: SOLVED: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

I remember those mini liscense plates. I thought they were cool.
Good Reward Check Key ID Ivan and Mack.

 

[High Plains Digger]

Re: SOLVED: 1 Dollar reward! - very old key return tag - help with what's on it

BCH: The one I have is just exactly like the first of the row of three in your picture. Fantastic.

And from a comment earlier, I can tell you that replacing the large old locks that use the skeleton key is not easy, getting to almost impossible. The modern locks certainly are an improvement.

I have the mini plates for our Calif. tagged 57 Chev. Nomad stationwagon (bronze, if anyone cares) NGK 651 from the early 1960s. I also have some Colorado ones, these and Calif. being "trimmed" with a metal band around them. I also have some newer Colo. tags that are just plastic. Can't remember the years on those.