Original February 1889 paid billhead from E. O. Hawkes, “Pattern Maker and Jobber,” at 504 Fore Street, Portland, Maine. Addressed to “Messrs. Knight Bro’s,” this document connects a specialist pattern-making shop with Portland’s brass-founding and maritime supply trades.
The bill features bold Victorian shaded lettering, red and blue accounting rules, handwritten charges, and a penciled “Paid” endorsement bearing the Hawkes name. The handwritten day appears to be February 1.
January entries dated the 19th and 28th record two charges of 75 cents each, totaling $1.50. The first appears to read “To pat. for shive”—a pattern for a sheave, or pulley wheel. The second records additional work on a pattern. These details give the receipt specific industrial interest beyond its decorative typography.
ABOUT E. O. HAWKES:
The 1891 Maine register independently lists E. O. Hawkes among Portland’s “Pattern and Model Makers,” then at 32 Cross Street. Research points to Edgar Osborn Hawkes, born December 7, 1860, as the likely proprietor. An 1898 family genealogy identifies Edgar as the son of James R. Hawkes and Mary Elizabeth Woodside and names his wife as Elizabeth D. Sawyer. A published Portland house history associates Edgar Hawkes with a foundry pattern-making shop on Cross Street and the family home at 371 Cumberland Avenue. Because this billhead gives only initials, the full-name identification remains probable.
ABOUT KNIGHT BROTHERS:
A Maine industrial report published in 1899 describes Knight Brothers as Portland brass founders and plumbers on Fore Street, employing seven men. The 1912 Portland directory identifies the partners as Algernon and William H. Knight and lists brass founding, plumbing, machining, and coppersmithing. Their advertising offered ships’ fittings, pumps, and ship and steamboat plumbing, providing useful maritime context for this earlier transaction.
CONDITION:
Age toning, old storage folds and creasing, scattered light marks, and edge wear. Pencil writing is lighter than the printed lettering. Reverse has handwritten docketing and visible fold lines. Please examine all photographs; ruler photographs show approximate size.
An appealing original for collectors of Portland and Maine history, foundries, pattern making, maritime suppliers, Victorian typography, and nineteenth-century business ephemera.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS LISTING IS FOR ONE ORIGINAL PAPER ONLY. Collage images show the front, reverse, and enlarged details of the same document. Ruler and display background are not included.
Type: Billhead / Paid Receipt
Date: February 1889
Business: E. O. Hawkes
Trade: Pattern Maker and Jobber
Customer: Knight Bros.
Business Address: 504 Fore Street
City: Portland
State: Maine
Country of Origin: United States
Era: Victorian / 1880s
Original/Reproduction: Original
Material: Paper
Printing: Decorative black typography with red and blue ruling
Handwritten: Yes
Paid Endorsement: Yes
Number of Original Documents: 1
Size: See ruler photographs
Themes: Foundry, Pattern Making, Industrial History, Maritime Trade, Advertising
Condition: Used; age toning, folds, creasing, light marks and edge wear