VM Collectibles

Grand Ledge Turnbull Chairs 1900

The Grand Ledge Chair Company was founded in 1883, when three young carpenters from Grand Rapids named Thomas Garrett, Harry Jordan, and Edward Crawford opened a shop at South Bridge and River Streets to produce chairs. In 1893, after having established a successful business in Grand Ledge, Garrett, Jordan, and Crawford decided to sell out and returned to Grand Rapids to open a furniture factory there. The factory produced high-quality furniture, primarily chairs, although at various times tables have been made there as well.

Back in Grand Ledge, a local businessman named Edward Turnbull decided to take advantage of the opportunity and with a partner, George W. Fletcher, he bought the factory and some of the machinery in 1893. They kept the name Grand Ledge Chair Company. Shortly after acquiring the business, Turnbull bought out Fletcher’s share of the business and became the sole owner.

The original factory building was located on the Grand River, on South Bridge St., adjacent to the Opera House. It was a large three-story building. The company did well, eventually outgrowing the old factory on Bridge Street. In 1906, Mr. Turnbull built a new three-story factory on Perry Street and moved his operations to that site.

The Grand Ledge Chair Company was a success and Turnbull turned his attention to other ventures, such as the Grand Ledge Clay Products Company and the Reo Motor Company in Lansing. He died in 1916, leaving the Chair Company in the hands of his wife, Emma. She headed up the company, with assistance from manager C.M. Maris, through the Depression years and unionization in 1941.

Stone Ginger Bottle

Stone Ginger Bottle

Stoneware, hand thrown bottle

Date: c. early 1900s

Dimensions: 8” x 2” diameter

Location: Wally Turnbull Collection, Durham, NC, USA

Notes: The bottle bears the stamp "Ducham, Portobello, Edinburgh." The bottom of the bottle is stenciled Ducham 1787.

Ginger Beer originated in Scotland and England, in the mid 1700's and was brewed regionally for the local market. It was one of the most popular and longest surviving beverages from the early colonial days.

Naturally fermented Ginger Beer has an exquisite taste which could never be achieved by the carbonation process. Fermented ginger beer included fresh ginger root, fresh lemons and a special brewer's yeast. It was the favorite drink of England for over 150 years.

Ginger Beer was stored in stoneware bottles which were hand thrown by potters to each bottler's individualistic standards. The stoneware bottles were made with little more than the bottler's name, perhaps a city and sometimes a date hand stamped or stenciled into the glaze.

Stone ginger beer bottles faded in the 1920's, as buyers started questioning the natural sediments at the bottoms of the bottles and wanted their wares in glassware, and wanted it to look fresh and clean, not just to feel that way when they drank it! As well, refrigeration was becoming more the norm, and the benefit of stoneware for keeping liquids cool just wasn't so necessary anymore. And thus came the modern glass pop bottle.

Stone ginger bottle detail 1 Stone ginger bottle detai 2

Turnbull Family Scale

Turnbull Family Scale

Cast iron upright household scale weighing in ounces. Weighs up to 16 lbs.

Date: Patented July 24, 1877

Dimensions: 8” x 7 ½” x 7 ½”

Notes: Turnbull Family Scales was a New York company in the 1800s. In addition to the above patent, they also held the patent for a hanging graduated scale.

Scale 2B Scale 2C

Turnbull's Dining Rooms Mug

Turnbull's Dining Rooms Mug

Origin unknown. Currently located in the private collection of Neil Turnbull.

Date: Unknown

Turnbull Silver Parade Saddle

Turnbull Silver Parade Saddle

Hand made leather and silver saddle. A silver plate bearing the name Mary Irene appears on the back of the saddle. Added later is a gold plate with the name Turnbull.

Date: c. 1930s

Location: George Pitman Private Museum, Rancho Santa Fe, California, USA

Notes: Judge Rupert Turnbull commissioned the saddle to be made by Eddie Bohlin for his wife Mary Irene.

Turnbull Platter

Turnbull Platter

Rare Staffordshire Blue and White Transfer Well and Tree Platter "Albion" Pattern, G. R. Turnbull.

Date: c. 1845-1885

Dimensions: 2 3/4" H x 16 7/8" W x 22" L

Notes: This is one of the rare forms of platters called a “Well & Tree” or “Meat” platter. It is very large and very impressive and attractive with a deep well and a crisp, clear and beautiful transfer scene of fruit and flowers. The platter has two very rare marks on the underside. First the impressed mark reads, “TURNBULL – STEPNEY.” The blue printed crown and floral mark reads, “ALBION - G.R.”

G. R. Turnbull is a rare manufacturer who worked out of Stepney Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, Northumberland, during the middle of the 19th century.

Turnbull Platter 2 Turnbull Platter 3 Turnbull Platter 4

J. Turnbull Green Glass Bottle

J. Turnbull Green Glass Bottle

½ pint green glass bottle, made in Saltburn, UK

Dimensions: 7 ½” x 2 ½” diameter

Location: Wally Turnbull Collection, Durham, North Carolina, USA

Turnbull and Co. Furniture Removers Horse Drawn Van

Turnbull and Co. Furniture Removers Horse Drawn Van

Lledo Days Gone Series, Model No. DG11, die cast, 1/50 life size model of horse drawn van. Turnbull & Co Furniture Removers of Prittlewell, Essex

Date: 1983 based on the original van, c. 1870

Dimensions: 4” long, 2” high, 2” wide

Location: Wally Turnbull Collection, Durham, NC, USA

Notes: Jack Odell, who once worked for Matchbox Toys, left the company to form his own company. He gave the company his last name, spelled backwards. His first six models appeared in 1983. Five of these were horse drawn models. Days Gone is Lledo’s line of collectible vintage vehicles.