Phillips & Buttorff Mfg. Co. , Nashville, Tenn
H..W. Buttorff was indentured at the age of 15 as a sheet metal apprentice in Carlisle, PA. He made his way to Nashville in 1858 at 21 years old. Brothers W.P Phillips and J.R. Phillips learned coopersmithing and tinsmithing and started their own place about 1865. J.R. left after 6 months and sold his interests to a W.C. Ashley. In 1869 Buttorff purchased Ashley’s interest and Phillips, Buttorff & Company was formed. In 1881 they incorporated into Phillips & Buttorff Mfg Co. Back into the picture came J.R. Phillips by being the first superintendent of the plant. Enterprise stoves began rolling from the foundry in 1881. By 1895 the foundry produced stoves & tinware and was the largest of its kind in the South. During WW2 it designed and manufactured a “repair shop on wheels” for the Army, mounting it on a military truck chassis. Not only did they have a foundry, but also a retail storefront which had large windows to show off Lionel trains, metal doll tea sets, iron soldiers, iron cookware of all kinds, wood and coal stoves, tools of all kinds, and hunting equipment. The store was moved to a new location in 1959 after which crystal, china, and gifts were added to the sales floor. The manufacturing foundry was closed in 1977 due to the age of the plant and stiffer federal regulations.
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, unless it happens to cast iron, then it comes home with me. I found this cool tin plate at Main Street Peddlers Antique Mall. Most advertising pie tins have more vertical sides so I’m not sure if this was so well used that the sides became flattened, or if it was designed as a plate. It’s likely over 100 years old so anything is possible.
I also met Charlie at the antique mall. Cutest little thing with boots to protect his feet from the scorching pavement when he needed to go take care of business.