Posted 9 years ago
JSmed
(124 items)
Was thinking this is a Railroad related antique but can find no record of a Kansas and Oklahoma railway line other than in recent modern rail freight transport times. This nickel plated brass collapsible pocket cup is clearly a piece from the early 20th century. The Keystone( R) in center trademark symbol is very similar to the Pennsylvania Railroad logo. Have seen the very same patent inscription that is around the logo on other such cups of the period.
There was also the Kansas, Oklahoma, and Gulf railway which was formed in 1919 -- "Originally chartered on March 28, 1910, as the Missouri, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway Company of Texas, the name was changed to the Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railway Company of Texas on April 2, 1921."
Here is a previously posted collapsible cup with the same mark which was solved in comment #3 of the post;
http://www.collectorsweekly.com/stories/118969-travel-folding-cup-with-case
Thanks for the look-ups. This cup is designed just like the Scovill patent. Rumpp may have been just stamping his firms mark on Scovill made cups he was distributing. May have decided to just shorten the Railroads name on the top inscription. Can't think of a reason the 2 states names would be combined like that for any other souvenir or advertising item reason.
As far as I know patents are only good for 20 years - if Scovill patented the cup in 1897, then by 1917 the patent would have been clear for use by others.