Another great Hendryx cage to identify

Richard wrote to me asking for information about this cage.  Let's see what we can figure out by examining the cage.

Looking at the cage, we can see that it is really reinforced.  It has the heavy rails that arch up and over the top, 4 in all.  Then there is the reinforcement where you can see the concentric arches at the top third of the sides. Richard wrote that it has cast iron feeders.  From this picture, it looks like the feeders are porcelain on the inside.  I don't see a tray in the bottom, but there would have been one originally.  The cage is 18 in. X 16 in. and 21 in. tall.

It has the Hendryx tag

Wires are fairly far apart.  From the size of the cage and the width of the wire spacing, this cage belongs to a larger type bird

Close-up view of the reinforced arches on the ends

Feeders are secured with the posts on either side and a latch on the back.  Must have a pretty vigorous bird inside this cage.

I knew I'd seen it before, while going through my Hendryx trade catalogs, so I started searching.

What did I find out?  

This is called the "Osborn Parrot Cage" in the 1926 and 1930 catalogs, and goes by the number OS84 in the 1932 catalog.  I have no proof but by conjecture and a few cages labeled "Osborn", but I believe that the great cage manufacturer, Osborn, worked with Hendryx for a while.  I believe that is why it carries the name "Osborn".  I don't have a copy of the patent, but it is probably co-patented by both manufacturers.  It is advertised: "This design ranks first among Parrot Cages, having no equal in construction and finish."  The OS84 is described as "Specifically designed for Cockatoos with extra arch on each end to give added strength."  The size for the OS84 was 21.25 in. X 15 in. with a height of 27.25 inches.

It is described like this in the 1932 catalog:  "Solid brass throughout.  Drilled rails.  Moulding type drawer base.  Grating over drawer.  Cast iron porcelain enameled cups.  Perch and swing."

What a great cage!!  This cage is quite different from the other parrot cages we've seen previously on this blog.  As of this writing, it is for sale on ebay.

Thanks to the welcomed information from one of my cage buddies, I am including a link to North Fork Pets and Antiques web site.  The link will take you to the cage like this that they have for sale.  It is a Victorian version that is labeled Osborn and Son, New York, NY.  Very close to this one.  It looks like the cage was modified a bit and the Hendryx name was put on it.  Take a look:

http://www.tias.com/large-victorian-bird-cage-osborn-birdcage-new-york-361209.html

I enjoy doing the research and passing on the information to you.  If you have any mystery cages you'd like me to check out, please feel free to write to me at my email address tweetthings53@gmail.com and include several pictures. You can't add pictures under comments here in the blog.  I will feature the pictures as a guest contributor.

It's getting warm and the garage sale signs are out already.  Keep your eyes open for great Hendryx cages as they get dusted off and see the light of day for the first time in ages.

Happy Hunting.

Barbara

The Chrome Hendryx

The Andrew B.  Hendryx Co. is known for its top-quality cages and state-of-the-art manufacturing techniques.  It is known for its brass cage riveted technology.  It is known for its painted Japanned and enameled cages.  The middle of the 20th century brought forth the "lustrous" chromium cages. The late 1930s & 1940s saw the end of the Japanned painted cages and the delicate brass cages. Popular brass cages still had the riveted construction along with chromium accents or baked enamel colors.  Chrome cages became popular for their rust resistance, larger sizes, and sturdy construction.

Let's get some pictures in here for reference.

 Baked red enamel with chrome accents

 

 This cage has unique perches that were patented in 1929.  They attach to small frames on the inside of the cage.

4-rail brass cage with white enameled paint.

Stunning chrome and black with matching black feeders

This cage was offered in the 1938 catalog.  

"The Pagoda"

Offered in red or green as well as black.

Stand was offered with matching shape and colors.

Discounting the store, breeding, and parrot cages, this cage is one of only 10 different varieties of cages offered in the 1938 catalog.  Such a difference from the late 1800s and early 1900s when there were over 150 pages in the catalogs.

Popular scalloped-top chrome cage with "modern black and white 'fired on' design" on glass seed guards.  This was in the 1949 catalog.  

 The same cage with plain arched roof and etched seed guards was called "The Palace" and was offered in the 1938 catalog.  It again shows up in the 1949 catalog with the same "fired on design" of the seed guards.

Popular economical cage with "fired on" designs on glass seed guard and porcelain feeders was manufactured somewhere after the 1938 catalog.  

By the 1949 catalog, the seed guards have morphed from glass to solid plastic to soft plastic rimmed with metal to soft plastic with snaps to hold in place.  The feeders were porcelain but now are plastic.

Economical cage that began with wire seed guards which were replaced with plastic seed guards snapped in place.  This cage isn't in either catalog but has same door design as chrome and black cage in the 1938 catalog. 

Chrome beauty with the cathedral look

Etched windows on front and back, chrome-framed windows on the sides,

and small glass inserts on either side of the large front and back 

glass pieces

This is a Hendryx cage currently offered on ebay as well as listed on the 

Chicago Craigslist.

Guest Photo

It has a unique shape, and I really like the screening and decor of the door.

The bottom is imprinted "HENDRYX" and PATENT APPLIED FOR

Guest Photo

My Hendryx catalogs end with 1949.  These last two cages are not in the 1949 catalog.  I have a gap in my catalogs between 1938 and 1949.  I believe these last two cages were manufactured within this date range.  These are heavy-duty, high quality cages of superior and creative chrome design and craftsmanship.  

The 1949 catalog reveals plastic feeders and plastic seed guards.  I believe that the lighter weight cages that, eventually, were made of plastic and thin metal wires, were made in the last two decades of the company's existence. 

As a side note, I have a 1938 Hendryx ad from "House and Garden" magazine which offers stylish wood and wire cages in two designs.  They must have been recently added to the stock as these cages weren't offered in the 1938 catalog.

I hope you've enjoyed this walk down memory lane with the Hendryx cages of the '30s and '40s.  If anyone has other chrome cages that are not featured here and have a few photographs to share, please write to me at tweetthings53@gmail.com.   I will post them as a guest contributor.  If anyone has Hendryx catalogs after 1949 or within the 1938-1949 gap and are willing to share a copy of your catalog(s), I would appreciate it very much.

As the snow thaws and the days warm, the spring cleaning itch arrives.  Closet and storage treasures may be found.  Keep your eyes open for the classic and unusual Hendryx cages as retailers change their displays from winter to spring and summer and the "Garage Sale" signs come out.   This is a popular time of year for cages to surface.  Remember, Andrew B. Hendryx started his cage creativity in 1869.  There are some real gems still waiting to be discovered.

Happy hunting.

Barbara