Ohio Finds! Kenton Hardware Co. Nite Coach
Above: This piece was produced during the 1920s, as the Kenton-based company began making toys alongside its functional cast iron products
In the 19th century, cast iron became a type of wonder material. The raw ingredients were cheap, and molds could be used to readily produce objects in nearly any shape imaginable. It was used to create items as simple as hinges, as complex as bridges and as conventional as skillets. During the late 19th century and into the mid-20th century, cast-iron toys became commonplace as well.
In Ohio, Kenton Hardware Co. grew to be a major manufacturer of cast-iron items.
Check out this month's column featuring Fascinating Objects from Our Past.
Originally published in the May 2021 issue of Ohio Magazine.