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  WOOL HORSE BLANKET IN CHOCOLATE BROWN, MUSTARD, GREEN, AND SALMON, MADE BY NORTHERN OHIO BLANKET MILLS (CLEVELAND), LATE 19TH CENTURY
Dimensions (inches): 80.5" x 74"
Description:
Loom-woven horse blanket, made by Northern Ohio Blanket Mills, ca 1880-1890’s. The traditional, plaid pattern consists of salmon, green, and mustard yellow against a ground of chocolate brown. Made of wool and cotton, the long edges are finished, while the shorts are bound with twill cotton tape, applied by treadle machine. Two large maker’s labels, with herringbone twill and plain weave construction, woven with fanciful designs, bear the company’s name, followed by “Cleveland, O.”

Northern Ohio Blanket Mills was founded by Herman Beckman, Sr. in 1880. Located on Pleasant Street (now West 33rd street) in Cleveland, the original structure was destroyed by fire in February of 1888. Four years later the factory was rebuilt, only to shut down once again in 1893 during the economic downturn of 1893. On December 5th of that year, the New York Times reported that the firm would "resume operations on Jan. 2, 1894 in all its departments, giving employment to 250 men."

Production commenced as planned and Northern Ohio Blanket Mills soon became the nation's largest maker of wool horse blankets and carriage robes. In the face of a steady decline in the number of horse-drawn carriages, its product line was diversified to include woolen items for use in automobiles, homes, tents, steam ships, and yachts, as well as for bedding in institutional settings. The firm remained the largest of its kind in the U.S. until into the 1920’s, when the passing of the company president in 1927, and the onset of the Great Depression, led to its closing in 1928.

Condition: Gently worn from use, with limited areas of very minor loss along the edges of the warp.
   
Primary Color: brown, salmon, mustard, green
Earliest Date: 1880
Latest Date: 1890's
For Sale Status: Sold
Price SOLD
E-mail: info@jeffbridgman.com
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