Let's start out with a few pictures of the cages I want to discuss. You'll notice that all the cages are Japanned or enameled. Brass cages are difficult to date by the feeders so I am not going to address them in this entry.
Here is a 19th century display cage c. 1880.
This is known as a cottage cage.
I believe this one is called "blue boy".
This is a rotating wheel cage. The wheel attached to the front of the cage rotates as the bird hops from perch to perch. This was co-patented by Anson E. Mook and Andrew B. Hendryx.
This one is enameled.
Now let's start breaking them down and discuss different feeder options for the cages.
These feeders are the earliest variety. Note the two cross bars on the cage above and below the feeder opening. The hook of the tin-top rests on the lower bar in the first picture, and the top one supports the hanging bars of the feeder in the second picture.
As a review from a previous posting, these feeders were offered from the very inception of the A.B. Hendryx Co. up until the 1891 catalog which stated that they would be only available upon buyer request.
Tin top
I call this one the triangle feeder. The base is shaped like a triangle and it has a nub on the top. The nub slides down through the wires of the cage and rests on the cross bar (rail).
This feeder was offered in the 1891 catalog and sent on all Japanned cages unless the buyer requested to have the previously offered tin-top or round top hanging feeders. [I do not have any earlier trade catalogs to verify if the triangle feeder was introduced previously to the 1891 catalog.]
This feeder is the only one displayed on the Japanned cages in the 1904 and 1910 catalogs.
This is the oval feeder.
It comes in either opal glass (commonly called milk glass) or flint glass which is the clear glass.
The 1910 catalog is the first catalog I have that offered the oval feeder one time on an enameled cage. By the 1926 catalog, all the Japanned and enameled cages sported the oval flint glass feeders. The opal or milk glass feeders were on the brass cages. Due to the 16-year gap in my catalogs, I can't tell you more specifically when the oval feeders began being offered on the Japanned cages.
You may be asking me "So what?"
My goal is for you to have the information so you can put the correct feeders on your cages. I want my cages to be equipped like they were when they left production. I don't put just "any" feeder on the cage so it can have a feeder.
I want the correct feeder on the cage.
I am also awed to know that I have 100 year-old cages. The Andrew B. Hendryx Co. built the cages to last a long time though I don't know if they had any idea they'd be around this long.
Take a look at this early cage. I believe this is a display cage made by Andrew B. Hendryx before he started labeling the cages with his name. It has many characteristics of the early Hendryx cages. The 1904 catalog is the first time I see the Hendryx name on a cage. This cage is late 19th century as far as I can tell.
This feeder opening has the two bars that are needed for the very early feeders.
The tin-top feeder works for this opening. The hook goes over the bottom bar to secure the feeder. The hanging feeder would work on this one too.
This is a very early cage that isn't even in the 1891 catalog. The feeders date it to be prior to 1891.
Take a look at the Hendryx Co. trade books that offer the draped cage.
Hanging feeder 1891 & 1895
Triangle feeder 1904 & 1910
Oval feeder 1926
Determining the correct feeder will give me a ballpark idea of when the cage was made. Look at the opening below. It has a cross rail at the top so the triangle feeder could possibly fit. But notice the narrowing of the bars at the base of the feeder opening. See how far below the feeder opening it is?
If the triangle feeder was correct, the crimped wires would be higher up near the base of the feeder opening as in this picture.
This draped cage uses the oval feeders. It was made some time after 1910 and prior to 1930 as it is not offered in the 1930 catalog.
What about this wonderful cottage cage? Don't you just love the shape of the roof? It even has a chimney!
Look what happens when I put on the triangle feeder.
The feeder openings don't line up.
This cage needs the oval feeders so was made after 1910.
Next, let's consider "blue boy".
This cage needs the triangle feeder. Check out the alignment of the feeder openings on the following pictures.
This cage was made somewhere in the ball park of 1891 to some time after 1910 according to the use of the triangle feeder.
This wheel cage is an interesting cage. Originally it was Japanned.
It was painted by the previous owner. The bottom tray was missing so he had one manufactured. You can see the cage with the original trays in the following pictures.
There are three options for feeders offered in the trade catalogs.
Round top 1891 & 1895
Triangle feeders 1904 & 1910
Oval feeders 1926 & 1930
Check out the feeder opening. It is way too far down from the cross rail to hold the triangle feeder.
This cage is a later cage and needs the oval feeders. It was manufactured some time after 1910 and before 1932 as it is not offered in the 1932 catalog.
This blue cage is of the earlier variety and requires the triangle feeder. Once again, manufactured some time between 1891 and the 1910s.
I hope you have enjoyed this journey through cages and feeders. I really like the Japanned cages. The earliest patent I've seen on Japanned cages is Oct. 31, 1871. There is such a variety offered from the earliest of my trade catalogs (1891) up to the 1938 catalog. They aren't offered in the 1938 catalog or any after.
Unless I get some questions to date or identify cages from some of you readers, my next entry will consider the Hendryx Co. "least appreciated" cages [in my opinion] from the Arts and Crafts movement between 1880 and 1910.
Please feel free to leave comments. I enjoy reading them and appreciate them. If you have questions that you wish to have me attempt to answer, please write to tweetthings53@gmail.com. I will answer your questions personally and on the blog.
Thank you, again, for taking this journey with me as we explore more mysteries of the cages and feeders of The Andrew B. Hendryx Co.
Happy hunting.
Barbara
14 comments:
That was a terrifiic blog, so full of information. I have several painted cages and I am trying to find the right feeders for them. This information will be so useful. I have seen some of the feeders but weren't sure about them. I now have a better understanding of the feeders I might need to find. Thanks Barbara!!!
Discovered your blog by accident, while i was looking for photos of feeders on google image, i subscribed to it immidiatly!
i collect cages and feeders, what pleases me. i have several Hendryx cages, a mystery cage, and different feeders. hoping you can help me id my mystery cage.. my father is likley the last surviving employee of the Happiness bird cage company, he worked there as a teen in the 1950s. i have one of 'his' cages, it resembels a popular ranch house painted pink from the 50s.
Where do you find plastic seed guards for Hendryx? I have looked for them everywhere and sometimes you find a cage and one is broken. How do you replace them?
Snooks, thanks for your question. Unfortunately, it's not a question with an easy answer. It is very hard to find replacements for the plastic seed guards. They were used in the 50s and 60s so are brittle and easily cracked. I've heard of people getting plexiglass ones made; but then that's not original to the cage.
If you want me to, I can post that question and say you are looking for them on my blog. Write to me again at the email address that is at the end of the entry so we can communicate easier. Send me a picture or two of your cage with the measurements of the seed guards that you are looking for. Even a picture of the one that you have. I will check with my contacts and see if there are any "out there" that I can find.
Barbara
Barbara, my cage is listed under North Fork Pets and Antiques. It is listed under (Hendrix MODERNE (key word moderne in small print) style bird cage) to be able to pull it up. I do not think the slide in sides are the ones that belong to it. I have the cage just like yours with the glass sides with black print on them and they are showing those in the picture. The original that I already have Moderne style has heavy vinyl slide in sides and ends. I believe they are the original and I can not find any. I have found flimsy ones new which you can not do that any longer even that go to Hendryx #95 cage and they break just trying to cut for my cage. I think you must have one of these moderne style cages so you can get measurements of the sides. Appreciate your help on this.
Snooks, I typed in Hendryx moderne on North Fork Pets and got 134 options. Granted they were not all cages, but I can't tell specifically which cage you are talking about. Are you talking about the chrome, scalloped Art Deco cage with the black and white designs on the front and back? It's the 6th picture in my last entry of my blog on the chrome Hendryx cages. If not, will you cut and paste the URL so I can see it? I'm sorry you're having such trouble finding the seed guards. Let's see if we can work this out.
Barbara
I am not good at cutting and paste. It is item A100. All you do is pull up North Fork Pets and Antiques and then key in A100 and it will come up without any problem. Sorry so much trouble.
I am not good at cutting and paste. It is item A100. All you do is pull up North Fork Pets and Antiques and then key in A100 and it will come up without any problem. Sorry so much trouble.
Looked at your 6th picture. No, mine is the rolled top without the dents on top and it is a little larger. Just look up A100 under North Fork and it will come right up. I do have the 6th one but it is smaller. You have a picture right after the 6th one and I wondered if it is one I am searching for the sides but does not show the chrome top. Mine runs straight up and then right back down to the edge whole top is like a half full moon circle top to be exact without the two indentions (no 2 dips inward) such as number 6 cage has on top.
Thank you!!! Thanks for providing the number for the cage. It was very easy to pull up your cage. It has the round top to it. It is called "The Canarycote" in the 1938 catalog. The catalog shows one with glass sides with etched glass, and another with sides that aren't specified what they are. The 1949 catalog shows the cage with "removable bound plastic guard". These are a thick vinyl/plastic kind of material that has the edges bound with something like heavy cloth or something like that. I think I've seen that kind of guard on another type of cage. I have to say that I've never seen the round top cage with anything other than glass seed guards. You must have one of the newer ones. Is this the type of guard you are looking for?
Barbara
Snooks, On June 6th, I made a posting of your request for the seed guards. I have a picture from my 1949 catalog that shows your cage with the seed guards. I'm hoping to get a hit for you. Barbara
Thanks, I certainly appreciate this, Barbara. I had to buy some today that belong to another Hendryx #95 I believe. They have to be cut and are so brittle as so old. I am hoping for a pair of the heavier non ridged ones that are thicker plastic. I was lucky to get them with one Hendryx cage only and I believe they are originals and very heavy and fit the entire side of the cage insert which keeps water off those inside metals at the ends when CT takes his bath. I do not honestly know what I will do if they ever get broken. I look forward to someone maybe having a pair somewhere in a closet even, ha. Thanks for all.
Thank you for your note. I never imagined that the seed guards went clear to the inside of the chrome corners. No wonder there is usually rust on the insides of the corners. The glass seed guards don't go that far on my scalloped one.
One thing you can consider doing is going to a glass company and having glass or Plexiglas pieces cut to match the ones you have that fit perfectly. It would be a good idea for "Plan B" if you can't find any others and yours ages and cracks. That way you can continue to use the cage.
Would you consider sending me a picture of CT in your cage and maybe one of him taking a bath? I would add it to the blog. I think it would be cute. You'd have to send them to tweetthings53@gmail.com.
Hoping to find something to help. Thanks for your comments.
Barbara
Post a Comment