New Orleans and Northeastern Railroad Slaymaker (straight) – Slaymaker Lock Co. Brass Switch NO&NE

Notes

This is a combined switch lock for the New Orleans and Northeastern, Vicksburg, Shreveport and Pacific, and Alabama and Vickburg Railway. Railroads would share switches, where this triple marked lock would be used.
This style lock is very distinctive and is marked with “Slaymaker” on the shackle. This style of lock originated with Post & Co. in the 1870’s. There is a historic connection between Post & Co, Dayton Mfg. and Slaymaker. In 1875, Mr. John Kirby Jr. became the Superintendent of Post & Co. Kirby took a struggling company with a poor reputation among the railroads with only 25 employees when he started. By 1883, Post & Co. enjoyed an elevated reputation and had 300 employees. Kirby went on to join the Dayton Mfg. Co. in 1883 and became their general manager in 1889. Dayton Mfg. was incorporated by the Barney and Smith Company to manufacture streetcar hardware for their business in 1882. In 1891, Dayton formed the Car Lamp Manufacturers Association with the likes of Adams & Westlake, James L. Howard and Company, and Post & Co. They pooled their patents, allowing them to share designs. In 1892, Dayton acquired Post & Co. In 1916, Slaymaker acquired Dayton and this lock design continued on their catalog with the “Slaymaker” name stamped on the shackle.