My interest in encased mirrors began six or seven years ago when I ran across the Johnstown PA mirror (listed below) in an antique / collectible shop. I was aware of all different types of encased, but my interest was mainly in reselling them on ebay. For some reason, I just couldn't part with this beautiful mirror.

A year or two later, I came across a table manned by Bill Aquilino at the local Lancaster PA coin show. As I sorted through his PA tokens and medals, he called my attention to five different encased mirrors he had for sale. It didn't take long to convince myself to raid the ATM machine, and my Pennsylvania encased mirror collection had begun!

As you are all aware, these are not common items, and my collection has not grown significantly since then. Finding encased mirrors, let alone PA encased mirrors, is difficult and there is stiff competition. Speaking of the competition, Tom Cain, Jr. and Cecil Starcher have convinced me to display my items, and I appreciate their help in putting this together. Some of these items are not the prettiest, but they are prized possessions nonetheless. Thanks again for the opportunity to display these, and I hope you enjoy the pictures!

CONNELLSVILLE (Fayette County)
LUCK IS ALWAYS WITH YOU IF YOU STOP AT / HOTEL HAAS / ANDREW HAAS, PROPR. / 107-109 WATER ST. / CONNELLSVILLE, PA.
1907 US INDIAN CENT
(Andrew Haas appears in the 1910 US Census in Connellsville. It estimates that he was born in 1866. The 1880 US Census shows the occupation of young Andrew as Coal Miner, the same as his father.)

ERIE (Erie County)
THE PEOPLES BANK / LET’S SEE OURSELVES / LUCK PLUCK / AS OTHERS SEE US / OF ERIE, PA.
1907 US INDIAN CENT

JOHNSTOWN (Cambria County)
J. T. KELLY’S CAFÉ / JOHNSTOWN, PA. / KEEP ME AND ALWAYS HAVE MONEY
1913 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT
(Joseph T. Kelly appears in the 1910 US Census in Johnstown. It estimates that he was born in 1867. The 1920 US Census, however, shows his age to be 48, and occupation as “proprietor”.)

LEWISTOWN (Mifflin County)
DIETRICH’S COZY / ICE CREAM PARLOR / C. P. MCCLURE, PROP. / 106 EAST MARKET STREET, LEWISTOWN, PA.
1910 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT
(Charles P. McClure appears in the 1920 US Census in Lewistown. It shows his age at the time as 54, and his occupation as jeweler! The 1930 US Census also shows him as being the proprietor of a jewelry store, though it lists his age as 66.)

PHILADELPHIA (Philadelphia County)
THE EASTERN WOOLEN MILLS CO. / OF PHILADELPHIA, PA / GOOD LUCK TO YOU IN 1913 / AND ALL THE YEARS TO FOLLOW / FROM FACTORY TO YOU / WE SAVE YOU MIDDLEMAN’S PROFIT / H. M. VOGEL, MGR. / MUNCIE, IND. / BRANCH NO. 37
1912 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT
(Ok, so this is probably more appropriately an Indiana encased, but the mere mention of PA earns a spot in my book!)

PITTSBURGH (Allegheny County)
IRON CITY PRODUCE CO. INC. / DISTRIBUTORS / LUCK TO YOU THIS YEAR / AND ALL THE YEARS TO FOLLOW / FRUITS, VEGETABLES, BERRIES, POULTRY / PITTSBURGH, PA.
1927 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT

STICK / TO OUR / SCENT / SAVES / $5.00 TO $8.00 / SUITS AND OVERCOATS / $9.99 AND $14.99 ONLY / SATISFACTION / SYSTEM / STORES / PITTSBURGH STORES / 203 SMITHFIELD ST. / 703 SMITHFIELD ST. / AND 932 LIBERTY AVE.
1910 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN (Schuylkill County)
COMPLIMENTS OF / W. G. BROWN / GOOD LUCK TO YOU IN 1910 / AND ALL THE YEARS TO FOLLOW / PROP. OF KEYSTONE HOUSE / COR. DOCK & WILLOW STS., SCHUYLKILL HAVEN, PA.
1909 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT
(Warren G. Brown appears in the 1910 US Census in Schuylkill Haven. It estimates that he was born in 1876. The 1920 US Census shows his occupation as “laborer” and the 1930 US Census shows his occupation as “superintendent of a brick plant”. The 1880 US Census does show young Warren at age 4 in Schuylkill Haven.)

SCRANTON (Lackawanna County)
GOOD FOR 25c / ALLOWANCE ON / HAIR CURLING / MME. FENWICK - / PENN GIFT SHOP / 516 LACKAWANNA AVE. / SCRANTON
1920 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT

SLATINGTON (Lehigh County)
DID YOU EVER STOP TO THINK / 10 / OF THESE SAVED / EACH DAY / WILL MAKE $36.50 PER / YEAR, OR $182.50 IN FIVE / YEARS? / YOU CAN ALSO ADD 3% / SEMI-ANNUAL INTEREST TO YOUR SAVINGS / BY DEPOSITING THEM AT / THE NATIONAL BANK / OF SLATINGTON / SLATINGTON, PA.
1910 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT


OTHER ENCASED CENTS


RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA
UNIVERSITY NUMISMATIC CLUB – 1974-D US LINCOLN MEMORIAL CENT

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
BERNARD P. BARASA BOARD OF REVIEW – 1927 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT
(The Illinois State Bar website recognizes Barasa as being the first Italian American to be elected to the Cook County Circuit Court.  AmericanMafia.com has this interesting tid-bit regarding a connection between this mirror’s advertised election and Al Capone – “Capone left the warmth and comfort of Florida to return to Chicago to oversee the mayhem that became part of the April 1928 primary election. Dubbed the "Pineapple Primary," due to the number of bombs that exploded during it, one of the more important battles in the election was for a seat on the Board of Review. Said to be a "tax-setting plum," the Capone forces were backing Unione Sicilian figurehead Bernard Barasa. Despite the number of explosions connected with his campaign, Barasa lost to the incumbent by over 100,000 votes”.)

THOMAS J. COURTNEY MAYOR – 1937 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT
(The website politicalgraveyard.com lists Courtney, Thomas James (1892-1971) -- also known as Thomas J. Courtney -- of Chicago, Cook County, Ill. Born December 21, 1892. Democrat. Lawyer; member of Illinois state senate 11th District, 1927-33; delegate to Democratic National Convention from Illinois, 1936, 1944; candidate in primary for mayor of Chicago, Ill., 1939; candidate for Governor of Illinois, 1944 (Democratic), 1948; circuit judge in Illinois, 1949-70. Catholic. Member, American Legion; Forty and Eight; Knights of Columbus. Died December 3, 1971. Interment at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Chicago, Ill.

WILLIAM V. PACELLI ALDERMAN – 1930 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT
(The website politicalgraveyard.com lists Pacelli as being a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1932, 1936, and 1940 {out of the 8th district}. Some internet links suggest Pacelli was a croney of Al Capone.)

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA
HAUGERS SUITS – 1904 US INDIAN CENT
(Charles C. Hauger appears in the 1900 US Census with occupation listed as Clothing Business. The 1920 US Census shows Hauger in Pasadena California. The non town specific listing below boasts 40 stores.)

KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN
HOLLY’S HOME BAKING – 1937 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI
999 STORE – 1907 US INDIAN CENT

BUFFALO, NEW YORK
SHULMAN SUITS / OVERCOATS – 1919 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT
(A Sydney J. Shulman does appear in Buffalo in the 1910, 1920, and 1930 US Census, however their online condition did not lend further clues.)

COLUMBUS, OHIO
KIBLER’S SUITS – 1910 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT

KIBLER’S SUITS – 1911 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT (2 VARIETIES)
(George E. Kibler appears in the 1920 US Census in Columbus Ohio at age 42. It lists his occupation as Retail Merchant.)

NON CITY SPECIFIC
CHAS. C. HAUGER CO. SUITS – 1926 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT
(See Indianapolis, Indiana)

MASONITE ALL WOOD BOARDS – 1925 US LINCOLN WHEAT CENT
(Company formed by William H. Mason around 1924. An interesting article about Mason and his product can be viewed at http://www.southbear.com/Laurel_History/Masonite.html)