What is the history of the Newark Tea Tray Company and why did they
make fire extinguishers?

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Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 13 Dec 2003 20:10 PST

I assume that you are referring to this item:

"Accurate Fire Extinguisher Advertising Tray"
eBay
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3644517718&category=4039

I have not found the specific reason why the company became involved
with fire extinguishers.  However, I have found some history (though
not a complete history) of the company, including production of other
fire-fighting equipment.  In general, what I have found indicates that
the company was fairly diverse.

Would you be interested in this information as an answer?

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Request for Question Clarification by justaskscott-ga on 13 Dec 2003 20:16 PST

Incidentally, the information I have found includes the date the
company filed its certificate of incorporation and the apparent end
date of its existence.

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Clarification of Question by darrowby-ga on 13 Dec 2003 23:33 PST

Yes, I would like that information and it would be the answer to the
question.  Thank you.  Darrowby

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Clarification of Question by darrowby-ga on 13 Dec 2003 23:36 PST

Actually, I didn't quite understand your query.  I am not interested
in the tin tray on ebay.  I have a fire extinguisher and thought the
name Tea Tray Co. of Newark NJ an interesting name for a company that
produced fire extinguishers.  So any history of the company is great. 
Thanks

Hello darrowby,

According to the following page, the incorporation certificate for the
Newark Tea Tray Company was filed on Aug. 3, 1871; and the company
existed until May 6, 1921.

"CORPORATIONS OF NEW JERSEY Page 474" [scroll to middle of page]
New Jersey State Library
http://www.njstatelib.org/plweb-dbs/corp/outputs/NJCORPn474.html

Here is additional information about the company:

"The patent for the familiar Edison morning glory horn was issued to
Charles Eichorn in 1905, who sold the rights to the Tea Tray Company
of Newark, New Jersey, a long established metal working concern.  The
Tea Tray Company manufactured Edison's horns, as well as its own line
of aftermarket amplifiers."

"Come Show Your Horn", by Lynn Bilton (April, 2002) [under "Petalled
horns", about 2/3 down the page]
intertique.com
http://www.intertique.com/ComeShowYourHorn.htm

"Also in 1909, Harvey Hubbell, Incorporated, acquired a "selling
interest" in the Tea Tray Company of Newark, New Jersey.  The name
referred not to equipment for afternoon socials, but to a particular
configuration of lamp shade which, fitted to Hubbell's electrical
components, gave the Company a new family of products and a more
diversified business base."

"Hubbell Incorporated - Corporate History - 1909" [last paragraph of section]
Hubbell Incorporated
http://www.hubbell.com/history.htm#1909

"The triple-combination pumper incorporated all of these functions
onto one motorized vehicle.  The first such vehicle was constructed by
Tea Tray Company, a small New Jersey builder in 1909, on an American
Motors chassis and delivered to Middletown, NY."

"Fire Apparatus: Past and Present", by John A. Calderone (Firehouse
Magazine September 1998) [scroll about 1/4 down the page]
Firehouse.com
http://www.firehouse.com/magazine/american/apparatus.html

This last page appears particularly relevant to the fire extinguisher you have.

- justaskscott


Search terms used on Google and Metacrawler:

"tea tray company"
"tea tray co"