Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID # |
2016.063.001 |
Object Name |
Press, Seal |
Other Name |
Embosser |
Title |
City of Owen Sound Seal (pre-1967) |
Date |
post-1927 |
Year Range from |
1927 |
Year Range to |
1967 |
Artist |
Underwood Elliott Fisher Co. |
Made |
Underwood Elliott Fisher Co. |
Place of Origin |
Toronto, Ontario |
Description |
Hand-levered embossing seal manufactured by Underwood Elliott Fisher Limited of Toronto for the City of Owen Sound. The cast metal had a shiny black finish, as well a dull gold stripe outlining the top of the base. A black and gold decal is present at the front. The item embosses the seal design that had two men (one First Nations, one settler) with a bent tree branch above them and "CITY OF OWEN SOUND INCORPORATED 1920". "MADE IN CANADA" is printed along the base on the proper left side. |
Makers mark |
Rectangular gold and black maker's mark at the front of the device: "UNDERWOOD ELLIOTT FISHER / LIMITED / TORONTO - CANADA" |
Provenance |
Manufactured in Toronto by the Underwood Elliott Fisher Ltd. company, which started using this name in 1927. Used at 808 2nd Ave. East, Owen Sound at the City Hall building. This building caught fire in February, 1961, so the item must have been salvaged at that time. A new structure on the same site began to be constructed in 1965. Owen Sound's seal design changed in 1967. This one pre-dates 1967. The item was found by the Clerks Department at City Hall in 2016 as they prepared to move temporarily for renovations being made to City Hall. |
Collection |
Organizational/Government Collection |
Material |
Metal/Steel/Jappaning/Lead/Brass/Ink |
Dimensions |
H-19.4 W-5 L-13 cm |
Found |
Owen Sound, Grey County |
Subjects |
Embossed works Documents Seals Municipal government |
Search Terms |
Owen Sound Owen Sound Town Seal (and later City Crest) Owen Sound City Hall |
Function |
An item of office equipment used by the City of Owen Sound to emboss the City Seal onto documents. Its seal design was replaced in 1967. The hand lever was pushed down in order to emboss a circular impression onto a sheet of paper. |