Name/Title
Odometer. Manufactured by Keuffel & Esser Co., N.Y. N.d., ca. 1885-1900.Entry/Object ID
2014.013.0014Description
Odometer. Manufactured by Keuffel & Esser Company, New York. No date, circa 1885-1900.
Brass with silver dial. 2-1/4" wide x 3/4" deep x 4-1/2" high; overall 5-5/8" high including 1" diameter hanging ring.
Dial carries a three digit product model number, 805, which indicates earlier date than later. As seen on page 465 of 32nd edition catalog of 1906, it has a four digit stock number, 6910. Depiction of the dial in that catalog is different than the object here.
See notes for description of one held by Smithsonian Institution, National Postal Museum Collection. (Note: in 2014, it was seen on display at the Smithsonian Castle, Washington, D.C.) This text discusses the use of the object.
Keuffel & Esser had their factories in Hoboken during this era. New York was the parent house (office.)Acquisition
Accession
2014.013Source or Donor
Lukacs, ClaireAcquisition Method
GiftCredit Line
Museum Collections. Gift of a friend of the Museum.Made/Created
Date made
1890 - 1900Notes
Date: 1890-1900General Notes
Note
Notes: Description of a similar one found at the Smithsonian Institution:
http://collections.si.edu/search/record/npm_0.234863.127?q=set_name:"National+Postal+Museum+Collection"
National Postal Museum Collection, object number 0.234863.127
Description:
The odometer manufactured by Keuffel and Esser Company measured distance traveled. The metal frame holds two dials. The top dial consists of units marked in single digits from 0 to 100. A window in the top dial reveals a second dial below with similar marks. The unit of measurement is not specified. The device attached to a vehicle by the ring at one end.
The Post Office Department equipped route agents with odometers to establish rural free delivery routes at the turn of the twentieth century. Using odometer readings and maps, officials worked to optimize the routes in new areas. They sought to use the minimum number of carriers and to portion the routes into equal distances. Some carriers used odometers to argue for changes to their routes, recording their miles covered and hoping to prove that an alternate road could save time.
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Status: OK
Status By: dw
Status Date: 2014-07-02
