Antique Wheelock Souvenir China Pin Tray Austria Train Station Larned Kansas

Description

This is a souvenir pin tray with a color image of the Santa Fe Train Station in Larned, Kansas. The stamp on the back says "Wheelock Made in Austria for  Barber's Cash Drug Store, Larned Kansas Vienna." The Wheelock Brothers created a large business selling fine china wholesale and retail in the 1870's - they had businesses in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. In the 1890's, Charles Wheelock moved to Peoria and started a souvenir china business. He sent salesmen out in the area, and eventually all over the country. Images  or postcards of local landmarks in even the smallest of towns would be sent to Austria and transferred to plates, vases, toothpick holders, pin trays or other small porcelain items. The Wheelocks were one of the first companies to market this souvenir china and the business  thrived until the beginning of World War I, when importing from Europe was no longer possible. Larned, Kansas, founded in the 1890's had about 3000 people by 1910, and had become a trading center for surrounding farms. The 7 by 5 inch pin tray has a chip across the center scallop on the top edge, but the image of the stations is sharp and clear.