Collections Item Detail

Dial table thermometer - relative humidity indicator; promotional item issued by O.O. Lauckner, Insurance, Hoboken, n.d., ca. 1936-1956.

Object/Artifact

DescriptionTable hygrothermometer (dial thermometer - relative humidity indicator); imprinted advertising on face for O.O. Lauckner, Inc., Insurance Specialist, Hoboken, N.J. An advertising promotional item, no date, circa late 1930s to 1956. Black plastic case with domed clear plastic face; chrome bezel; wire easel back support; overall 3" wide x 3-7/8" high. An inexpensive mass market novelty and typical of the genre of a promotional gift or present for clients (or for a salesman to give to a prospective customer.) Case detail at the foot suggests the earlier date than later. Maker's mark at lower edge of dial face: Made in U.S.A. by Fee and Stemwedel, Chicago. (Company changed name to Airguide in 1956; see notes.) Also known as a thermo-hygrometer; relative humidity: aneroid barometer.

Entry/Object ID

2011.005.0088

Acquisition

Accession

2011.005

Source or Donor

Lukacs, Claire

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Museum Collections. Gift of a friend of the Museum.

Made/Created

Date made

1936 - 1956

Notes

Date: 1936-1956

General Notes

Note

Notes: The following information about Fee & Stemwedel was found in 2011 at: http://www.compassmuseum.com/diverstext/profiles.htm#FEE Former US company located 2210 Wabansia Ave. Chicago, Illinois. Richard Fee founded Fee & Stemwedel in 1930 with Al Stemwedel and Howard Taylor (not related to the famous TAYLOR company). Beginning with barometers, they made weather instruments for home and office. With the advent of WWII they contracted with the US Navy to produce various ship instruments and spyglasses. By the time of the Korean War (1953) the company landed a defense contract to provide hand-held lensatic and wrist compasses to the U.S. Military. Production and sales of a variety of barometers and thermometers for the consumer market continued. Because of the quality of the consumer products they were able to sell exclusively through Marshall Fields (see note below) in Chicago. There was a dispute between Mr. Stemwedel and Mr. Fee over quality vs. mass marketing which led to Mr. Fee selling his interest to Mr. Stemwedel and retiring in 1952 (year indicated by Mr. Fee's grandson). Mr. Stemwedel lowered quality to expand production and lost the Marshall Fields account. In 1956 (year indicated by Mr. Stemwedel's grandson), Dick Fee sold his interest in Fee & Stemwedel to Al Stemwedel, who subsequently changed the firm's name to Airguide Instrument Co. "Airguide" had been the company's primary trade name almost from the beginning. Status: OK Status By: dw Status Date: 2011-07-29