Topic starter
25/04/2013 3:26 pm
Just got an e-mail from Jerry Canavit who seeks support in identifying what appears to be some kind of old brass key attached to some kind of wooden paddle. The paddle appears to be stamped or stenciled with information. One side of the paddle clearly states "Str. Natchez." It also shows what appears to be a room number (like maybe a cabin number). The other side contains (in large lettering) "B.M.C. KNOCKERS." The brass key itself appears to be about 3-inches long and is attached to the paddle through a hole near one of the ends. Stamped on the key is the date 1859.
Now, Jerry asks that if this is a genuine item, this key may have come from the Fourth NATCHEZ (1854-1860) belonging to Capt. Thomas P. Leathers. The key might be a cabin key.
I thought it might be interesting to post the photos and invite opinion and commentary from dot-orgers.
Topic starter
25/04/2013 3:27 pm
... and two more pictures ...
25/04/2013 4:58 pm
At the Howard Steamboat Museum we have three similar stateroom keys and wooden tags from the Str. FLEETWOOD.
It is said that the wooden tags were to keep passengers from pocketing and walking off the boat with the keys!
26/04/2013 12:32 am
Keith: are there room numbers on the Fleetwood keys? Cap'n Walnut
26/04/2013 12:11 pm
*RE: Steamboat cabin keys*
Interesting pictures and comments above RE: stateroom keys, wood key paddles etc. The wood 'paddles' on keys also employed on land-based buildings and hotels. The paddles were for carrying and making a nice 'knocker' on the door before entering. Later steamboat keys had paddles made of leather, brass and now plastic. Now and then cabin keys from the old L&C LINE [Strs. CITY OF LOUISVILLE, CITY OF CINCINNATI, CINCINNATI, QUEEN CITY] turn up in Cincinnati antique stores/emporiums along with cabin china, cutlery.
The then new MISSISSIPPI QUEEN had cabin keys--not the new plastic 'slip cards' for doors we have today that often do double duty as an onboard credit card. The MQ 'paddles' were heavy black plastic embossed with fine gold lettering. Something wasn't done right and within the first day on her, hands were smudged with black and gold until all the lettering and cabin numbers were rapidly worn off. One clever wag now long deceased had a premonition: "Mmmmmm, hope these keys aren't a sign of more trouble to come." Boy, was she right. Cheers!
R. Dale Flick
Coal Haven Landing, Ohio River, Cincinnati
26/04/2013 1:56 pm
Stateroom Keys
Tom Schiffer;31643 wrote: Keith: are there room numbers on the Fleetwood keys? Cap'n Walnut
Cap'n Walnut: Yes! They have "7", "17" and the third one has the letter "B" on it.
Curator Keith
27/04/2013 12:37 pm
Legally obtained keys in my collection...
1) GORDON C. GREENE a large 8 is painted in white on back
2) the black plastic is the type I remember from my trips in the 70s-80s.
3) MQ from later years?
Until two years ago, LeRichelieu Hotel had the key attached to a huge rectangular piece of plastic, which made it easy to honor their request to turn the key in each time you left the building. Now there is a smaller brass room number attachment, but they still use keys, not credit card-type keys.
28/04/2013 5:05 pm
The two key tags you show are exactly like the key tags used at my family's resort from the 1940s to the 1970s. "Drop in any box, postage guaranteed"--the keys cost more than the tags & was one (hopeful) way of getting them back. The security of daily changeable locks was not thought about back then!