1920's - 1930's Tool Check Fob for Bethlehem Steel's Wholly Owned Railroad the P.B. & N.E.

1920's – 1930's tool check fob for Bethlehem Steel's wholly owned railroad, the PB & NE RR. As the manufacturing market changed from iron to steel, Bethlehem Co. became the only company to survive the transition. As the market continued to change, the success of the company grew and they expanded by buying mills that were not prospering. During this time of growth, the company began to appreciate the savings that owning their own railway could bring and therefore the company purchased roads and land to eventually establish the Philadelphia, Bethlehem & New England name as the railway for the plant. The railway enjoyed a short-lived success as the government built new roadways and cheapened the price of oil, which in turn increased the ownership of personal automobiles and the fall of the railroad began. The front of the tool check fob reads: "PHILA BETHLEHEM RR 328 A NEW ENG RR CO." and the reverse reads: "LOSS OF THIS CHECK SHOULD BE REPORTED IMMEDIATELY TO THE EMPLOYMENT BUREAU A CHARGE OF $1.00 WILL BE MADE IF LOST OR NOT RETURNED UPON LEAVING THE SERVICE OF THE COMPANY".

Circa 1920's - 1930's

Approximately 1 ½" x 1 ½"

Gilt brass

Hole for ring attachment

"PHILA BETHLEHEM RR 328 A NEW ENG RR CO." and the reverse reads: "LOSS OF THIS CHECK SHOULD BE REPORTED IMMEDIATELY TO THE EMPLOYMENT BUREAU A CHARGE OF $1.00 WILL BE MADE IF LOST OR NOT RETURNED UPON LEAVING THE SERVICE OF THE COMPANY".

This is from a railroad collection which we will be listing more of over the next few months. VFX15 LFJX8/15 SEJX6/17

7 (Very Fine): The tool check fob shows minor to moderate wear, some of the brass plating remains intact.

As with all my artifacts, this piece is guaranteed to be original, as described.