Images(6)

Plate, Charge

Object number2019.152.9 a,b

Manufacturer Farrington Manufacturing Company

MediumLeather; Aluminium; Paper; Ink

Credit LineGift of David Argent

DescriptionBurgundy leather charge plate with an aluminum holder and paper card. Burgundy leather case is rectangular with rounded corners. Both sides of the case are embossed with retailer text, and one side of the case is open to slide the holder in and out; rounded cut out on side to partially expose end of holder. Aluminum holder has stamped manufacturing information along the top and bottom edges of one side and raised stamped personal information on the other side. Side with personal information has two engraved arrows with fletchings pointing up on either side of the text. One edge of holder has a square notch and other edge has a circular notch. Holder has a brown paper card with black retailer text and a signature in black ink.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (a,b): 1.563 x 2.625 x 0.25 in. (4 x 6.7 x 0.6 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (a): 1.563 x 2.638 x 0.25 in. (4 x 6.7 x 0.6 cm)
Height x Width x Depth (b): 1.188 x 2.5 x 0.125 in. (3 x 6.4 x 0.3 cm)
Inscriptions(a)
Embossed retailer text on leather case: "CHARGA-PLATE ® / PITTSBURGH".

(b)
Raised personal information on one side of aluminium holder: "MR A DEMCHECK / 411 9TH ST / MONONGAHELA PA / 0451-177 B 89".

Retailer text on paper card: "GIMBEL BROTHERS / PITTSBURGH / [signed] Mr A. Demcheck / PLEASE SIGN NAME HERE IN INK".

Marks(b)
Stamped manufacturing information on edges of aluminium holder: "FARRINGTON MFG. CO. / TRADE CHARGA-PLATE MARK".
Historical NotesThe idea of the charge plate comes from merchants providing credit to certain customers, and to streamline the process, Farrington Manufacturing created the Charga-Plate in 1928. The raised personal information on the back of the card could be imprinted on a charge slip instead of the store clerk having to write the information out by hand every time. Charga-Plate was used by specific stores and retailers, and it eventually lost popularity when general-use credit cards became more available, allowing credit to be issued by a third party instead of one specific retailer. This specific Charga-Plate was used at the Gimbel Brothers department store in Pittsburgh. Gimbel Brothers began with German immigrant Adam Gimbel after he settled in Vincennes, Indiana, and opened a dry goods store in 1842. As the store continued to grow in popularity, Gimbel's sons sold the Indiana store and moved north to open a large department store in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and from there, subsequent generations of the family continued to expand the business with stores in Philadelphia, New York, and Pittsburgh.

Related institution Gimbel Brothers

Related person Adam Gimbel

Previous owner A. Demcheck

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