Does anyone know if this Wallace blanket is a reproduction? It measures approx. 75 by 54 inches and looks to good to be very old. Appreciate any input that you may give. Bob
That is an original, probably early 1900's.
That is a wonderful looking blanket! Anyone should be proud to have a blanket like that in any nice pre'25 automobile. But like many parts of our antique cars, there are fewer of them every year due to reckless disposal and improper care. Pieces like that also should be somewhat protected and preserved for future generations to see how the past evolved into our future. That blanket was intended to keep people warm and comfortable in rain or snow in an open vehicle.
People now wonder how people then survived without doors and windows, let alone roofs and air conditioners. It was all about what one was used to. A blanket like that, in the back of a car, was a big improvement over a slower, longer, trip in an open carriage with a wool only blanket. Or, consider further, on the back of a horse, or walking yourself, without a blanket.
The label on that blanket is nearly priceless (unfortunately, not monetarily speaking). That blanket should be treasured.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Teresa picked up a somewhat similar large horse hide blanket at an auction last year. It is a tanned horse hide from "Edes tanning company" quilted to a fabric back. the horse hair is all there, but the mane has been trimmed short. It's very soft and warm and goes nicely in the back of the touring.
I have a chase horsehair blanket that my wife got me. Wonderful in an open car in cold weather.
Robert,
Are you buying or selling?
Rob
At that price, where is the car to go with it???
I have three Chase brand Robes - all of which together might have cost $125 - $700 is just plain nuts IMO.
Lap robes are not rare and they're typically not worth much. There is really no demand for them.
However, like Victrolas and crank telephones, the average person who has one thinks they're rare and worth a fortune.
Years ago I found that throwing a horse hide blanket over a froze up, steaming radiator will reduce that horse hide blanket to a shriveled up mess in a hurry. I don't know what my Mom did with her "horse blanket", but I never saw it again.
Hello Guys, Bob here. I put the Wallace blanket up for $700.00 and actually hope it doesn't sell (as Mark and Erik predict!). I wanted to show it in my one collector car (a 37 Austin 10) but the general public wouldn't know what they're looking at and it wouldn't be "period correct". When it doesn't sell I'll just keep it for my own enjoyment. On another topic, I came into a pile of T suspension parts that I will be listing (at more realistic prices) in the near future. Thanks for the great forum as it provides great enjoyment (some of you guys should be standup comedians!). Best, Bob
Along this line, how many of us know what this is? NO it is not a hand cuff although many kids probably used one as such!
Layden,
It looks like a padlock of sorts to me. It appears that it can be closed by just squeezing or pushing the plunger in. It would close by a ratchet action. Then the key would be required to retract the ratchet pawl to allow the plunger to be withdrawn. How did I do?
It goes around the steering wheel and locks exposed valuables so someone can't walk off with your goggles or other stuff in the open car.
Steve, You explained how it works.
Tom, Yes, Around steering wheel, robe rail or whatever else is convenient to lock goggles, hat, coat, lap robe, etc. The tip on the plunger goes into a socket with fabric pinched between and will not let it slip out.
Here is another type.
Hello there! I came across your discussion when I was researching my Wallace blanket. I posted it on Ebay so if anyone is looking for one to go with their Model T, please feel free to look at it!
Hello there! I came across your discussion of the Wallace blanket when I was researching mine. I posted it on Ebay if you are interested.
Michelle Barth:
I have a robe over the robe rail on the back of my front seat in my 16 like the wallace robe. I sure would not want to pinch it with either of the devices above. I have taken to several places to try and figure out just what kind of animal skin it was, but so far no one knows. I always thought it was horse hair but the hair may be too long.
Its a shame that someone would use one in a porch swing like above. IT WONT LAST LONG!