The carafe frame does not have have the glass insert. It stands about 9.5" tall to the top of the finial. It has the manufacturers mark on the bottom back of handle which reads 8-47 R. Wallace 0389 T, Silver Soldered, Norfolk & Western. I wanted to let as many Railroad memorabilia collectors as possible know of this fabulous historical piece. I have been hanging on to it since March, but need the proceeds to fund Sunday Historical`s upcoming events.
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| View ebay auction |
This rare silver plated carafe frame, which was the rage on railway dining cars and hotels in the 1940`s. It is currently at auction on Ebay. The auction ends tonight, Sunday April 21, 2013 at 9:27pm EST. There are two bids at this writing.
I have included the history of the Norfolk & Western Railway`s Hotel Roanoke below.
The Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke Virginia, was built in 1882 by the Norfolk and Western Railway (now part of the Norfolk Southern), which had recently constructed its administrative offices in the city, bringing in over a thousand railroad workers. It officially opened on Christmas Day, 1882. 1882
Roanoke was a little town named Big Lick when enterprising railroad magnate Frederick J. Kimball chose it as the site of a railroad juncture and a major city. After Kimball combined two of his railroads into the Norfolk and Western Railroad, he built his vision of a comprehensive community with the Hotel Roanoke as its grand centerpiece. Travelers coming to the city or breaking a tiring rail journey made the Hotel Roanoke their haven.
In July, 1898, a fire started in the kitchen which shut down the hotel for several months. The hotel was reopened in January, 1899, restored with a few additions.
The next major renovation took place in 1938, remodeling the hotel to have a more Tudor look. Additional new wings were added in 1947 and 1955.
In 1989, deeded the Hotel Roanoke to the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) for $65,000 (USD). After the flag lowering ceremony on November 30, the hotel was closed. Sale of the contents began and continued for 17 days.
In 1992, the "Renew Roanoke" campaign was launched to raise enough money to reopen the hotel. Virginia Tech had set a deadline of December 31, 1992 to have enough money. By late fall, the campaign was still short $1,000,000. In an unprecedented Christmas-time fundraiser, the campaign succeeded, raising $5,006,000. Norfolk Southern then donated an additional $2,000,000; 30 times what it received for the hotel. The Hotel Roanoke reopened in 1995 and still operates today.
Roanoke's landmark former passenger rail station was built across the street from the hotel. In 2004, it was converted in a museum devoted to the photography of O. Winston Link as well as housing the Roanoke Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau.
This Norfolk & Western water carafe frame is in remarkably good condition as evident in the following photos
This item sold on Ebay! Check out shop.sundayhistorical.com for more railroad collectibles.
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| finial on lid |
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| side view |
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| rear view |
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| makers mark |
There is a second Hotel Roanoke item at auction on ebay right now.
Four Norfolk & Western Railway Hotel Roanoke Engraved Flatware Knives are at auction on ebay. The auctions ends at 8:45 pm EST April 21, 2013. These came from the 17 day Sale of Contents at the Hotel Roanoke in 1989 and were a part of the Hotel Roanoke collection at a Monument Ave. Richmond VA estate until March 2013. N&W Railroadiana and Hotel collectible.
They have dings and scratches. The butter knife is the only one with a stainless blade. They come in a flannel case that is not original to the pieces.
These sold on Ebay! Check shop.sundayhistorical.com for more railroad collectibles.
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| close up photos taken on microscope mode |
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| flannel case to protect them from further dings |
Sold at ebay auction 4/21/13 to a railroadiana collector in Maryland.
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