A Field Guide to New York City Manhole Covers


EXCELSION ST. WASHER

PATENT APRIL 23 1878 & MAY 27 1878

cover image


This little curiosity sits on a Brooklyn Heights sidewalk and could be the home port of a 19th century sidewalk Roomba, or maybe it's the cover for a patented water faucet underneath. Alas it almost certainly is a rabbit hole into hours of April 23'rd 1878 patent searching.

DESIGN:

The type used is a nice mixture of sizes and all appear to be from hand carved dies. Notice the very slight sarif on the big P and T, and the gentle curve on some of the straight letters.

UTILITY:

There were no "pooper scooper" laws for horses in the 19th century.

RANGE:

This is the only one of its type I have seen, its on Pierrepont St. between Willow and Pierrepont Place.

Related Images Follow


Don Burmeister -- Photographs