By H.C. Evans & Co.
Located in York County, PA
EXCEPTIONALLY GRAPHIC AND COLORFUL RACE HORSE GAME WHEEL, MADE BY H.C. EVANS, CHICAGO, CA 1920-50
Elaborately embellished race horse gaming wheel, made by Evans & Company in Chicago. Each of the wheel's 10 panels are brightly colored lithographs behind glass, framed by lengths of decorative metal trim, cast from an alloy that appears to be comprised of copper mixed with zinc or aluminum. This may have at one time been nickel plated. The four crown-shaped center panels are fancifully paint-stenciled mirror, framed with the same trim and tipped with whimsical stars. Numbers that run around the outer edge of the wheel, which functioned like a ball-in-cage lottery, with payouts that alternated based on the changing number in the cylindrical tower. This is spring-driven and interesting to witness when in operation.
The wooden post that supports the wheel is polychrome-painted wood, has a cast steel, tripod base and breaks down for transport. The frame of the wheel is heavy laminate wood, 1 3/4" thick, with metal spokes cast from an alloy similar the trim.
The wheel is signed on the giant cast and nickel-plated washer in the center. This reads "H.C. Evans & Co.; Chicago, Ill." Established in 1892, the firm was incorporated in 1907. By 1909 it was located at 125 Clark Street. By the 1920s, it had moved to 1528 West Adams Street. In 1929 it claimed to be the oldest firm of its kind in existence and, at 52,000 square feet, maintained the largest factory in the world engaged in the exclusive manufacture of the types of products for which it was known.
When an Evans wheel...
Category
Early 20th Century American H.C. Evans & Co. Furniture