Punch

Object Name:

Punch

Object ID:

1948.009.05

Creator:

Crocker, Luther O. (1829-1895)Manufacturer

Place of Origin:

East Braintree, MA

Date:

1882

Description:

Railroad Ticket Punch. Manufactured by Luther O. Crocker (1829-1895), East Braintree, MA; c. 1882. Used on Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad. Nickel-plated steel. Two curved handles, slightly larger near back end. Slightly convex top and bottom surfaces. Ends rounded. Bottom handle has finger loop in it. Loop attached at extreme end of handle, curves up then back down toward handle where it makes more than right angle curve, then extends upward to top handle near box joint. Spring wrapped around finger-loop wire between loop and its forward junction. Bottom handle passes through front portion of top handle in an enclosed joint. At front of lower handle arm is male cutter with two cutting prongs shaped like rounded "B" and "C". Above cutting portion, flat plate screwed with round-head slotted screws onto top surface. Plate has rounded ends. Front end extends beyond end of cutting die. Shaft extends through hole in top of plate, then goes downward to pivoted platen. Platen is rectangular with upturned front end. Spring wrapped around shaft that connects platen and strap above it. Oval hole in platen, larger than cutting die that passes through it. Platen pivoted with steel shaft at its back end, attached to upper handle body. Upper handle body extends forward below platen, with rounded tip. Bottom surface of this extension is rounded. Top surface of extension has female cutting shape of "B" and "C" letters. On bottom of extension is oval recessed area. Bottom surface of male "B" and "C" letters flush with surface of this area when punch fully depressed. Narrow slot that passes behind extension and below platen pivot area. Outside surfaces are all smooth and rounded. Many surfaces polished. On strap on top of punch, four lines of text stamped in box with flat top and bottom edge, and concave lines at end that go between fastening screws: "L. O. CROCKER. / E. BRAINTREE MASS. / PAT. APR. 30. 67 / SEP. 21. 69. JUL 18. 82". On right side of male cutting die, "A" and "F". On inside of top handle near end: "REPAIRED." Maltese cross tamped near finger-ring spring that goes into top handle. On lower handle near box joint: "471". Near ring wire spring junction with handle: "1" stamped just adjacent to spring and box joint hole. On front is little stamp or depression on platen that also looks like Maltese cross.

Material:

Metal
Nickel-plated steel

Dimensions:

H-2.6 L-4.2 D-0.6 inches

Provenance:

Seth Greenleaf (1812-1880) was a conductor on the Boston, Concord & Montreal Railroad from 1848 to 1865. He was the great-grandfather of the donor, Seth Greenleaf Smith (1893-1970).

Credit Line:

Gift of Seth Greenleaf Smith

People:

Crocker, Luther O. (1829-1895), Greenleaf, Seth (1812-1880), Smith, Seth Greenleaf (1893-1970)

Subjects:

Tickets, Ticket offices, Railroad ticket counters, Railroads