Davis O.K. Baking Powder Cookbook, published by R.B. Davis Co., 90 & 92 West Broadway, N.Y. N.d., ca. 1895-1905.

Archive

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Hoboken Historical Museum

front cover

front cover

Name/Title

Davis O.K. Baking Powder Cookbook, published by R.B. Davis Co., 90 & 92 West Broadway, N.Y. N.d., ca. 1895-1905.

Entry/Object ID

2010.007.0038

Scope and Content

Cook Book, Useful Information and Interesting Data. Published by the R.B. Davis Company, 90 & 92 West Broadway, N.Y. No date, circa late 1895-1905 (see notes for discussion of dating.) Booklet, 4-1/2" wide x 6-3/4" high, 64 pp. plus color lithographed cover (credited to Rode & Brand, Lithographers, 200 William St., N.Y.) Cover title: Davis' O.K. Cook Book. Useful Information and Budget of Fun. The company's factory (offices were in New York City at this time) was in Hoboken as depicted inside front cover: an artist's bird's-eye view of the company's factory at Ferry, Jackson and Harrison Streets in Hoboken. Curiously it gives the street names, but not the city. It is a fantasy view looking southwest with most other buildings not shown, but it does acknowledge its proximity to the railroad lines. Text below image states: Daily Capacity 15 Tons. A slightly later version, archives 2010.007.0160, states "20 Tons." Front cover depicts a can of O.K. Baking Powder and the back cover, a box of Davis' High Grade Corn Starch. The Baking Powder can uses the 90 West Broadway address and the Corn Starch box uses 90 & 92 Broadway address.

Acquisition

Accession

2010.007

Source or Donor

Lukacs, Claire

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Museum Collections. Gift of a friend of the Museum.

Archive Details

Date(s) of Creation

1895 - 1905

Archive Notes

Date(s) Created: 1895-1900 Date(s): 1895-1905

General Notes

Note

Notes: See archives 2010.007.0160 for another copy of this cookbook with a different cover and dated about 1910. Pages 4-5 discusses the "Baking Powder Trust" (which was incorporated in New Jersey, March 1, 1899, although references have been found to such a name from 1895) and brands sold by it. Davis argues that their product is superior and costs less than the trust; emphasizing that they have no "Potash Salt" (cream of tartar and soda) in their product while their competitors do have it. Page 32 has a facsimile of letter endorsing the baking powder by Professor Robert Odgen Doremus, Belleview Hospital Medical College. Doremus died in 1906. While somewhat useful in dating the item, neither are definitive. Status: OK Status By: dw Status Date: 2010-05-28