THE COMPLETE MID 19TH CENTURY BRASS FOUNDRY OF WILLIAM H. WEBB OF WARREN, MAINE.

THE COMPLETE MID 19TH CENTURY BRASS FOUNDRY OF WILLIAM H. WEBB OF WARREN, MAINE. This extraordinary intact foundry is considered one of a kind and includes three hand written day books from 1853 to 1857. The day books are a daily journal of Webb’s activities which revolved around his brass foundry. The foundry is comprised of the majority of items as inventoried in the Estate of William H. Webb, dated February 8th, 1869. It includes two treadle lathes; a fly press; a rolling mill; various leg vices, dye plates, anvil, tongs, punches, drills, and shears; all which are listed in the inventory. Remarkably, it also includes hundreds of items including patterns for andirons, tool, candlesticks, burner parts, rough castings & other castings, etc. There is also a small book which is hand written having children’s names & ages and also a day book entry for the year 1828. Work in progress includes buckles for harnesses in all states of completion, burners for whale oil lamps, brass pattern for andiron parts, candlesticks, and harness hardware. The collection includes two pair of signed Webb andirons, a pair of candlesticks, and two whale oil lamps. There are crucibles, a bench, the punch set used to sign his name, and much more. The punch press is presently set up with a die that cuts the tubes for whale oil burners. William Webb started his career in Boston, MA and was the son of Barnabas Webb, a Boston Silversmith and grandson of William Homes, Sr., a Boston Silversmith and nephew of Benjamin Franklin. He worked for three years as an apprentice to Thomas Leach, a Boston brass founder. He completed his six-year apprenticeship under Sam Austin, another Boston brass founder. He left Boston and moved to Warren, Maine in October of 1799. The brass foundry was established at that time and continued until 1856. The 1857 map of Lincoln County shows the Webb brass foundry near the family farm.This may be the only intact brass foundry with detailed inventory and history in the country. This is truly a time capsule of historic significance! NOTE: In 1966 William Buckminster, an antique dealer from Owls Head, Maine, discovered an extraordinary find. In the hay loft of the William H. Webb Estate farm he found the remains of the Webb Foundry which was located nearby in Warren, Maine. Mr. Buckminster gathered and moved everything he could find to his building where, upstairs, he set the foundry as if it were still being used. He continued to gather items of Webb’s from neighbors and townspeople. Included in these additions are the finish andirons & candlesticks. REFERENCE: Maine Antique Digest, April 1983, Extensive 4-page article on William Homes Webb, Brassfounder, Warren, Maine by Paul Ackerman. SIZE: All pieces and inventory will fit in a commercial van. The largest item (the rolling mill), when set up is 69″ h x 59″ w. PROVENANCE: The William Buckminster Estate of Owls Head, Maine. CONDITION: As found. 9-20675 (75,000-125,000)

Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - Winter 2011

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2193	$0.00	THE COMPLETE MID 19TH CENTURY BRASS FOUNDRY OF WILLIAM H. WEBB OF WARREN, MAINE. This extraordinary intact foundry is considered one of a kind and includes three hand written day books from 1853 to 1857. The day books are a daily journal of Webb’s activities which revolved around his brass foundry. The foundry is comprised of the majority of items as inventoried in the Estate of William H. Webb, dated February 8th, 1869. It includes two treadle lathes; a fly press; a rolling mill; various leg vices, dye plates, anvil, tongs, punches, drills, and shears; all which are listed in the inventory. Remarkably, it also includes hundreds of items including patterns for andirons, tool, candlesticks, burner parts, rough castings & other castings, etc. There is also a small book which is hand written having children’s names & ages and also a day book entry for the year 1828. Work in progress includes buckles for harnesses in all states of completion, burners for whale oil lamps, brass pattern for andiron parts, candlesticks, and harness hardware. The collection includes two pair of signed Webb andirons, a pair of candlesticks, and two whale oil lamps. There are crucibles, a bench, the punch set used to sign his name, and much more. The punch press is presently set up with a die that cuts the tubes for whale oil burners. William Webb started his career in Boston, MA and was the son of Barnabas Webb, a Boston Silversmith and grandson of William Homes, Sr., a Boston Silversmith and nephew of Benjamin Franklin. He worked for three years as an apprentice to Thomas Leach, a Boston brass founder. He completed his six-year apprenticeship under Sam Austin, another Boston brass founder. He left Boston and moved to Warren, Maine in October of 1799. The brass foundry was established at that time and continued until 1856. The 1857 map of Lincoln County shows the Webb brass foundry near the family farm.This may be the only intact brass foundry with detailed inventory and history in the country. This is truly a time capsule of historic significance! NOTE: In 1966 William Buckminster, an antique dealer from Owls Head, Maine, discovered an extraordinary find. In the hay loft of the William H. Webb Estate farm he found the remains of the Webb Foundry which was located nearby in Warren, Maine. Mr. Buckminster gathered and moved everything he could find to his building where, upstairs, he set the foundry as if it were still being used. He continued to gather items of Webb’s from neighbors and townspeople. Included in these additions are the finish andirons & candlesticks. REFERENCE: Maine Antique Digest, April 1983, Extensive 4-page article on William Homes Webb, Brassfounder, Warren, Maine by Paul Ackerman. SIZE: All pieces and inventory will fit in a commercial van. The largest item (the rolling mill), when set up is 69″ h x 59″ w. PROVENANCE: The William Buckminster Estate of Owls Head, Maine. CONDITION: As found. 9-20675 (75,000-125,000) Auction: Fine Art, Antiques & Asian - Winter 2011 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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