PENN CENTRAL RAILROAD PCRR 1968-76 ADLAKE ADAMS&WESTLAKE Switch Padlock RR Lock

Description: WANT IT NOW? WHY WAIT?? BUY IT NOW!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST IN MY AUCTION! THIS AUCTION IS FOR 55 YEAR OLD PENN CENTRAL RAILROAD "A TWO YEAR RAILROAD!!" PATENT NUMBER 2040482 ADLAKE LOGO PADLOCK "P.C.R.R."PENN CENTRAL RAILROADUNLOCKED The Pennsylvania Railroad Company was one of the most dominant companies in the nation’s railroad industry and was known as the “Standard Railroad of the World". The PRR was the largest railroad by traffic and revenue in the U.S. throughout the first two-thirds of the twentieth century and was at one time the largest publicly traded corporation in the world. Over the years, it acquired, merged with or owned part of at least 800 other rail lines and companies. Besides actual railroad operating properties, the Pennsylvania Railroad owned many non-railroad properties including hotels, office buildings, and coal mines. The company also owned a large amount of real estate in New York and Philadelphia. There were also amusement parks that were owned by Pennsylvania Railroad Company such as Idlewild and Soak Zone and Kennywood. All those properties were sold off to save the Penn Central RR. EMBOSSED "ADLAKE"BLOCK PRINTforADAMS & WESTLAKE The New York Central Railroad (reporting mark NYC) was a railroad primarily operating in the Great Lakes and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The railroad primarily connected greater New York and Boston in the east with Chicago and St. Louis in the Midwest, along with the intermediate cities of Albany, Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Detroit, Rochester and Syracuse. The generally level topography of the NYC system had a character distinctively different than the mountainous terrain of its archrival, the Pennsylvania Railroad. Most of its major routes, including New York to Chicago, followed rivers and had no significant grades other than West Albany Hill and the Berkshire Hills on the Boston and Albany. The New York Central, like many U.S. railroads, declined after the Second World War. Problems resurfaced that had plagued the railroad industry before the war, such as over-regulation by the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC), which severely regulated the rates charged by the railroad, along with continuing competition from automobiles and trucks. One problem that many of the Northeastern railroads faced was the fact that the railroad market was saturated for the dwindling rail traffic that remained. The NYC had to compete with its two biggest rivals: the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), in addition to more moderate-size railroads such as the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad (DLW), the Erie Railroad, the Reading Company, the Central Railroad of New Jersey and the Lehigh Valley Railroad. It soon became apparent that the only other railroad with enough capital to allow for a potentially-successful merger was the NYC's chief rival, the PRR: itself a railroad that still had a large passenger trade. Two major points of contention centered on which railroad should have the majority controlling-interest going into the merger. The ICC, with urging by PRR President Stuart T. Saunders, wanted the PRR to absorb the NYC. On February 1, 1968, the New York Central was absorbed by the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad was renamed Pennsylvania New York Central Transportation Company and then eventually renamed the Penn Central Transportation Company. On merger day, Saunders became chairman of Penn Central while Perlman became the railroad’s president, reporting to Saunders. Penn Central boasted more than 20,000 route miles, contained assets of more than $5 billion, and offered a projected operating revenue of more than $1.7 billion annually. Its astronomical payroll held more than 180,000 employees. As operations continued to melt down, the company continued a PRR practice of investing in non-rail assets like pipelines, real estate, amusement parks, and an airline, diverting much-needed funds away from the railroad. After a last-ditch attempt to secure a government-guaranteed loan failed, Penn Central filed for bankruptcy protection under Section 77 of the Bankruptcy Act on June 21, 1970. One incident devastated the Bangor & Aroostook, a small railroad serving northern Maine. For the BAR, potatoes had long been a primary source of freight; its entire business was lost forever when Penn Central's horrid service lost an entire season's crop at Selkirk Yard in 1969. Penn Central languished until 1976, operating on government loans until the courts finally ended the line with the creation of Conrail, which took over the Penn Central and other faltering railroads. It was the largest bailout in US history. R.I.P!! PENN CENTRAL RAILROAD, Feb. 1, 1968 TO JUNE 21, 1970, A total of just 29 months!! With that short lifespan one can understand why Penn Central items are so scarce and highly sought after, priced accordingly................................................................. REGARDING "ADLAKE":In order to maintain smooth operations railroads took security very seriously as a miscreant moving a switch on the tracks could result in huge damage or loss of life. Additionally, railroads used locks to secure their own facilities, supplies, cars, tools, and other valuables, not to mention the valuable freight being shipped by the express companies, or others moving goods around the country. Adams & Westlake was founded in 1857 in Chicago, Illinois. In the beginning, the company manufactured and sold railroad supplies and hardware. With the opening of the American West and expansion of the railroads, the company prospered and diversified. “Adlake” became one of the largest suppliers of equipment to the transportation industry in the world. Since 1857, the company has produced railroad and hardware supplies. By the early 1900s, Adlake was hailed as one of the largest suppliers of transportation equipment. In 1908, Adams & Westlake patented a stamped & riveted switch lock that was so economical that many railroads stopped using the popular cast hearts and went with this new stamped shell lock body design. Many lock manufacturers made this very popular style of lock. The company manufactured transportation related hardware such as lamps, lanterns, lights, locks, keyys, sashes, luggage racks, lavatories and much more. They were successful enough to absorb at least portions of the operations of other prominent railway suppliers. They continue to operate there through the current day manufacturing products for the transportation industry. The company’s Web site currently lists over 15 different types of transportation related products, including but not limited to lamps, locks, latches window accessories, door holders, and handles/pulls, many of which they have been producing in one form or another for years. STAMPED "P.C.R.R."PAT. 2040482 This model lock dates to 1935+. It is stamped steel construction with a steel shackle. It has exposed rivet heads that would disappear in later models. The lock has a patent number 2040482. When the patent was researched, I found "US2040482A 1935-03-11 Application filed by Adlake Co., 1953-05-12 Anticipated expiration." The lock is currently obsolete. This lock was most likely a switch lock. One which secures the throw arm of a hand operated switch. This type was also used to secure way-side call boxes, signal controls, interlocking maintenance buildings, storage sheds and supply lockers among other uses. (Ebay note: railroad locks without the keyys are allowed on the site) Condition: This lock is about 55 years old. The lock is in excellent condition for its age, LIKE NEW, UNLOCKED. The dust cover still has spring to it. The only blemish, no keyy. The lock would most likely function as intended if a proper keyy was used. If you collect RAILROAD STUFF, PENN CENTRAL RAILROAD EQUIPMENT OR LITERATURE you might want to place me in your "FAVORITES" list for the next few months to keep track of these auctions. I have just begun to list similar sets from a collector's hoard dating from the 1920's. I will be listing new lots weekly in the coming months. Due to the quantity available, the item pictured may not be the actual item you will receive, but similar. See Pics Now..if YOU have any other information or data on this piece and would like to share it, I'd be more than willing to pass it on to any possible NEW OWNER. Please feel free to contact me. That's about all I can tell you about this UNIQUE RAILROAD collectible. If you collect PENN CENTRAL RAILROAD, ADLAKE LOCKS, or just want a good 55+ YEAR RAILROAD LOCK for YOURSELF... You could add this unique piece to your collection. READ the description/policies, STUDY the pictures, ASK questions!! IF YOU WANT IT, DON'T HESITATE SOMEWHERE, SOMEONE ELSE MAY BE LOOKING AT THIS AUCTION AND MAY ALREADY HAVE HIS ARROW ON THE BID BUTTON. SO, BEAT HIM TO IT AND IT'S YOURS!!! All you have to do is...BID!! I TRY MY VERY BEST TO PACK YOUR ITEM FOR A SAFE TRANSPORT. DUE TO EBAY'S RESTRICTIONS ON SHIPPING INSURANCE, I AM FORCED TO INCLUDE INSURANCE AS PART OF MY S & H FEES TO PROTECT ALL BREAKABLES AND ITEMS SOLD FOR $19.99 OR MORE. I WILL ATTEMPT TO KEEP YOUR COSTS DOWN BY NOT INCLUDING SHIPPING INSURANCE IN MOST OTHER CASES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING. THEREFORE, FOR THIS ITEM... SHIPPING INS. IS NOT INCLUDED UNLESS REQUESTED AT ADDITIONAL COST FOR SAFER FASTER HANDLING... CHOOSE PRIORITY MAIL ANY CLAIM FOR DAMAGE WILL REQUIRE PICTURE PROOF OF LOSS Please take a moment to check out my other exciting auctions for this week, Just click on the link to view. See other items AND See other items PAYMENT IS DUE WITHIN 7 DAYS AFTER THE AUCTION CLOSES OR IMMEDIATELY IF "BUY IT NOW" (WITH PAYPAL) IS USED. FEEDBACK POLICY WE ARE STRIVING FOR 5'S!! We are committed to providing you a 5-star experience when you deal with us. If we miss the mark, please let us know before you leave any feedback. Please Note: Under the new Ebay seller standards policies, leaving less than 5 stars on the detailed seller rating now has an overall negative impact on the seller's account. Ebay does have ways of affecting a seller's account because of the ratings. Even Neutral feedback has a negative effect on a seller's ratings. I will promptly submit my feedback as soon as yours has been posted. Thank you! RETURNS / REFUND POLICY No returns allowed unless item is not as described, unless otherwise specified. I will accept returns with a valid reason. (This doesn't include change of mind!) Item must be returned in original condition (within 7 days of receipt), un-damaged. Buyer to pay return postage. (Recorded Advisable) Refund will not include postage paid to deliver the item. Refund will be made once item is received back. Mechanical device disclaimer: Every mechanical device has a certain life span. The day it leaves the factory, it becomes one day closer to its end date. When I find these devices, I plug them in, wind them up or put in a battery. If they buzz, whirr or seem like they're doing what they are supposed to be doing, I keep them for auction. At that point in time, I have NO IDEA of how old or how much use they have incurred. They may last a lifetime or fail the next time they are turned on. Therefore, I sell these as "Decorative or Ornamental purposes" only, not functional. Which may be referred to as "AS IS". Note: On some items, UPC symbols may have been removed for rebate purposes. International Buyers – Please Note: Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding/buying. Other information a seller may wish to include: These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight (shipping) company or when you pick the item up – do not confuse them for additional shipping charges. We do not mark merchandise values below value or mark items as "gifts" - US and International government regulations prohibit such behavior. This auction ends SUNDAY, XXX XX, 11PM EASTERN, 10PM CENTRAL, 9PM MOUNTAIN, 8PM PACIFIC.

Price: 39.99 USD

Location: Buffalo, New York

End Time: 2024-07-30T20:00:01.000Z

Shipping Cost: 9.99 USD