Women Fencing Photo Dated 1903 Two The Apollo Chocolates Candy Advertising Tins

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PLEASE NOTE : Our mantra is that " The Customer is Always Right " and we truly believe this. All one needs do is contact us and we will make things right, Plain and Simple. We offer a Full Money Back Guarantee if not completely satisfied. Up for auction and fresh to the market is are two vintage, antique, the one photo tin is dated 1903, advertising tins . Each tin is very light weight and is presumed to be made of aluminum? The piece without the photograph is embossed on the lid " The Apollo Chocolates-Boston Apollo (marked again under the embossed bust of Apollo) " and measures just under 2.5" across. The other, slightly smaller tin, has an actual photograph insert of a turn of the century temptress posing with her foil fencing attire. Just before the turn of the last century, novelty photographs depicting attractive women in fencing attire, all with the heart embroidered upon their bosom, became quite a fad. These novelty photographs, in all shapes and sizes, found their way into many forms of advertising, as well as being hung in bars, saloons, honkytonks, speakeasys and gentlemen's clubs all across the country. The individual fencer photographs were a bit less common, especially in circular form. The base of this one is embossed "The Apollos Chocolates Bostom-Mass." with a sticker that reads "Violettes". For your proper inspection, I have provided pics, both with and without, my camera's flash. The tin with the embossed bust of Apollo appears to have a slight bit of grime on the cover, however, this is in fact a slight factory defect from where the mold was not perfectly smooth to the left of "The Apollo", the lower portion of the bust and the "hoc" of "Chocolates" (see pics), there is also a small dent to the lid. The other tin could use a cleaning and shows a good bit of use, though not abuse, overs the last century. FOLLOWING IS A SHORT HISTORY OF THE F. H. ROBERTS COMPANY, Makers of The Apollo Chocolates: WILMINGTON - Fred Roberts first appeared in Wilmington in 1899. Born in Berwick, Maine in 1856 to an old Yankee family, he was raised in Boston. Shortly after his arrival, his brother Herbert also moved to Wilmington. Both men were candy manufacturers, Herbert making a well-known brand of caramels and Fred being the man who made chocolates.Fred bought a home on the northerly side of Burlington Avenue, a few hundred feet westerly of the present Deming Way. Westerly of the home, the road ran slightly uphill. On that hill, there were three homes. Beyond the crest of the hill was a larger home with a barn behind it.He demolished one of the homes, and the other two were moved across the street. The larger home on the property had been owned by the Kirkpatrick family. Today, that house is on Burlington Avenue, opposite Boutwell Street.Fred’s wife, Althera Clendennin, was a very kindly lady, five years older than her husband. There were three daughters, Helen, Althera and another, whose name has been lost. Althera married Harry Fletcher, the coachman, and they moved to Melrose.The F. H. Roberts Co. manufactured Apollo Chocolates in Boston. The treasurer of his company was a German woman named Alice Albrink. She was also the source of many ideas that helped to market those chocolates. In those days, chocolates were sold largely in bulk. Alice suggested a nice covered box, one that would be attractive to a young man about to go a-courting.She further suggested a slogan, “For those who discriminate,” printed on the boxes in a nice script.The company in 1908 had sales of a half million dollars a year.Althera Clendennin Roberts died in 1906. The couple had no children. Two years later, Fred Roberts married Alice Albrink, the treasurer of his firm. She was one of the most gracious ladies ever to live in Wilmington.Fred and Alice had four children. There is no name listed for the oldest daughter, born in 1910. Fred Jr. was born June 25, 1911, Phoebe on Feb. 13, 1914 and Nancy on Nov. 10, 1917.Business was good. Fred began t... read more

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