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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Here, We Answer your Emails, and offer our OPINION of your Wells Fargo items.

So, let's get started -- Contact us with your questions!
Email Westbound1849@gmail.com or Call: 951-404-3069

Baggage Cart Plate Belt Buckle Book Banks Brass Sign

Co. vs. Co.'s Coin Bag Seal Envelope Fake Sign

Guard Badge Lead and Wire Sealer Mexico Guide Book Movie Poster

Order Hoop & Fork Rate Cutter Sealing Lamp Shot Gun Stock

Telescope

Fake Sign
Q:
Does the book, "Company Property," have any FAKES?

A:
Only ONE, of which we know. On page 124,
the sign with the hand pointing to the Express Office turned out to be a FAKE.
We apologize for not catching this before we went to print!

Order Hoop & Fork
Q:
I was told that these sticks were used to pass messages
to stage drivers to allow the stage coach to proceed without stopping.
Is that true?

A:
Sometimes the story behind the relic is worth more than the relic, itself !!!
The "Order Hoop," and (later) "Order Fork," were used to pass Train Orders to the
Engineer and Conductor of the train passing thru the station.
Indeed, train orders could allow the train to proceed without stopping,
if no passengers were getting off, or waiting at the station to get on board.

Coin Bag Seal
Q:
This coin bag was tied up as shown. Is this authentic?

A:
Yes! After 1902, a commercial "Porter Bag Sealer" was used to tie and crush a "Lead and Twine Seal" on the bag. In this case, an earlier "Lead and Wire" sealer was used to impress "W. F. & Co. Ex" on one side of the lead, and the Messenger's employee number, "4762" on the other. In this case, the "To-From" tag that should be attached to the twine is missing.

Guard Badge
Q:
Real or Fake?

A:
Since company agents, messengers, and guards were not law enforcement officers,
the company did not issue chest badges. So, this badge is a fake.

Sealing Lamp
Q:
This (wax) sealing lamp came with some express wax seals and other items
that were all marked and well-used. Why wasn't this lamp marked by the express company?

A:
Most agents and messengers simply used a kitchen match to melt sealing wax,
so this lamp was probably purchased locally by the agent or messenger.
Other "housekeeping" items that were purchased locally are too
numerous to list here, but include such things as
cleaning implements, soaps, horse salves, and oils.

This Sealing Lamp is part of a Sale: Click here!

Shot Gun Stock
Q:
I was advised NOT to buy a shot gun with
"Wells Fargo Express" engraved into the stock. Why not?

A:
Shot guns were not treated with "kid gloves," so cracked stocks were easily replaced.
Marking a property item was intended to discourage theft.
Since stocks were easily replaced, the company
marked the trigger housing, or between the barrels.
However, many repairs were made whenever
possible, such as those shown below:
Brass plates with screws, twine with lacquer, and soldered wire.

Co. vs. Co.'s
Q:
I have Wells Fargo books marked "Co.'s Express,"
and some marked "Co. Express." What is the difference?

A:
In 1852, "Company" referred to a group of investors.
It was their enterprise, hence the possessive "Co.'s."
In 1898, the possessive form was dropped, and replaced with "Co."
If an item is marked "Wells Fargo & Co.,"
it was common to all services: Banking, Express, and Staging.
The company rarely used the name, "Wells Fargo & Co. Bank."

Baggage Cart Plate
Q:
I collect farm equipment, and I found these old
builder's plates. Are they from a Wells Fargo stagecoach?

A:
No, they are from a "Platform Baggage Cart." The Whitman Agricultural Co. manufactured
hundreds of baggage carts for Wells Fargo & Co. Express, to be used at all railroad depots.

Belt Buckle
Q:
This belt buckle is copyrighted 1975
by Wells Fargo. Is it a reproduction?

A: Not really. In 1975, Wells Fargo Bank ordered these sterling silver buckles,
which were then sold in their museums.
Therefore, the buckle is truly an authentic "Wells Fargo collectible."
However, since the buckle was not issued by the
company before 1919, it is considered a "Bank buckle," or a "tie-in."
The same goes for "Bank treasure boxes,"
which have been ordered by the Bank at various times.

Envelope
Q:
I found this old envelope in a trunk. Is it worth anything?

A:
Yes, it is! "Covers," or postage franks like this were sold to the public,
and were an important part of the company's Letter Express business.
This service competed successfully with the U.S. Post Office Department!
To determine the value, take the cover to a philatelist and ask for an opinion.
To view magnificent covers from the Earnest A. Wiltsee collection: Click here!
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Lead-and-Wire Sealer
Q:
This tool impresses "W F & Co Ex" and "453"
on the lead discs. What was it used for?

A:
Each messenger was issued a coin-bag sealer, and this "lead-and-wire-sealer."
The lead-and-wire sealer was used to crush the lead seal that
was threaded through the seal holes of a lock on a treasure box.
The number was the messenger's employee number, which was also on his cap badge,
his key, his (wax) seal, and other official items of "Company Property."
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Mexico Guide Book
Q:
This W F & Co Ex travel book is dated in the late 1930's.
I thought that company stopped doing business in 1918.

A:
Yes, in the United States. However, it continued to do
business in many foreign countries, including Mexico.
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Movie Poster
Q:
I have this old movie poster.
Is it valuable as a Wells Fargo collectible?

A:
Yes, it is! However, it is considered a "tie in,"
since it was not issued to the express employees before 1919.
Framed, and hung on the wall in your den,
it makes an excellent companion to a collection of authentic express items.

If you would like to watch this movie, Click here!

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Telescope
Q:
I saw a brass telescope at a show. It was
stamped, "W F Co Ex". Did they have telescopes?
A:
No, the company did not issue telescopes. The company issued
only the items that were needed to get the "job" done.
Their "job" was the same as that of UPS and Fed Ex employees today:
To move valuable items safely, from origin to destination.
No Fed Ex driver needs a telescope to move valuable items from place to place.
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Brass Sign
Q:
I found this old brass sign.
When and where was it used?

A:
This was called a "#2 Metal Sign," and measured 4-1/2" x 8".
It was used from 1914 thru 1918 to promote sales of Travelers Checks.
It was placed in "branch offices where a larger sign would be objectionable."
Occasionally, we have signs available for sale: Click here!
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Rate Cutter
Q:
Someone told me that this is an authentic
Wells Fargo "rate cutter." What exactly is that?

A:
A "rate cutter" was used to cut away the paper-margin of a Money Order,
which could be issued in various denominations.
By cutting away the "$100," which was printed in the margin,
a dishonest person could not fraudently "raise" the amount
of a $10 Money Order to $100. Since the "going rate" for various Money Orders
was printed on the cutter, it earned the name, "rate cutter."
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Book Banks
Q:
I have some Wells Fargo
"book banks." Are they worth anything?

A:
Yes, they are, but only to "Bank" collectors. "Express"
collectors generally shy away from post-1918 Bank items,
which lack the "romance" and "action" of stagecoaches,
treasure boxes, firearms, and highway robbers.
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Call: 951-404-3069
Email: Westbound1849@gmail.com
© Copyright 2022 The Westbound Stage® - All rights reserved.

Baggage Cart Plate	Belt Buckle	Book Banks	Brass Sign
Co. vs. Co.'s	Coin Bag Seal	Envelope	Fake Sign
Guard Badge	Lead and Wire Sealer	Mexico Guide Book	Movie Poster
Order Hoop & Fork	Rate Cutter	Sealing Lamp	Shot Gun Stock
Telescope