Lot 62

Lot 62

Stunning occupational cabinet card of a young horologist who also dabbled as a silversmith. This is one of the best advertising display tables you will ever find! The hanging pocket watches set the background but the table has the most impressive arrangement in this scene. From his lathe to the gorgeous staking set we see a myriad of parts and other essential tools meticulously arranged so the intricate work of a horologist could be studied. On the top shelf we see some large, patterned silver serving spoons and a fork along with a silver engraved cup. A pickle caster is seen on the far right. Henry stares at the fruits of his labor in proud fashion. 
Information on Henry is available on the historic Patterson, New Jersey website, as Henry had many careers over his lifetime. “In 1901, Ballard owned a shop in the Murty building, and sold merchandise on a cash basis. His offerings included the Fuller Warren line of ranges. In October, 1902, Ballard purchased a wooded lot and announced that he was going into the wood business if he could find laborers to do the work. Ballard also advertised himself as a plumber. In approximately 1919, Ballard purchased Stahl’s Hall on Main Street (NYS Route 311) from the estate of Jacob Stahl, best known as the owner of the Putnam Cigar Factory and several buildings in the Patterson village. Ballard rented the building for use as a cigar factory and a clothing factory. Ballard also allowed the town of Patterson to use the building for town meetings. In April, 1922, Ballard sold the building to the Town for $3,500, and it became the Patterson Town Hall. In the late 1920s, Ballard was part owner of a company that ran a bus service from Patterson to Poughkeepsie, New York, that competed with the passenger service of the Central New England Railroad’s Maybrook Line.” Henry’s brother Ernest Ballard was the photographer of this particular image, so we understand why such attention to detail was used for this particular advertisement. 
The image is in very good condition with nice tones and contrast. There is some spotting as seen with the ones on the margins in the original negative. A great piece of Patterson history from an active family of the area!