Mystery item

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downeastrailfan
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Location: Dartmouth, NS

Mystery item

Post by downeastrailfan »

I finally uploaded my photos from the Musquodoboit Railway Museum, taken back in 2010. I requested that the display cases be unlocked for photos, but the staff could not locate the keys. That explains why my reflection is in many of the images.

Anyway, one item is a mystery: http://www.dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?tit ... 10_086.jpg

Fortunately, there is a ticket punch to give a sense of scale. I wonder if it is an "extra" flag for unscheduled special trains, such as a royal visit, or government official.
Matthew Keoughan
Dartmouth, NS

Keeping the memory alive of the famous "Land of Evangeline Route".
downeastrailfan
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Re: Mystery item

Post by downeastrailfan »

Also, it might have been a promotional flag for the launch of the DAR, an opening of a station, etc. We'll likely never know unless one shows up in a very detailed photo.
Matthew Keoughan
Dartmouth, NS

Keeping the memory alive of the famous "Land of Evangeline Route".
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stem
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Re: Mystery item

Post by stem »

Quite on the contrary, this is the original D.A.R. herald.

The Royal crown is distinctly Victorian which differs from the St. Edward style that publications, food service items and engine numberplates used. The coat of arms is the 1867-1929 coat of arms of Nova Scotia.

We have another item on the wiki which displays the same herald. It is a steamship line broach donated to the museum by a Scottish gentleman.
http://www.dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?tit ... _Front.jpg

Mystery solved, but what a great flag!! I knew not of the existance of flags like this. Could have very well been flown on the steam ship lines. Was there any evidence of a lanyards or a lengthwise pocket for mounting on a flagstaff?

For those reading this who are not aware, these items Matt photographed in the Musquodoboit museum came from George Warden, a D.A.R. employee who was given the combine coach upon his retirement which is also at the Musquodoboit museum and which he turned into a D.A.R. museum in Kentville. Upon his death nobody in the town wanted it so the Musquodoboit museum took it to preserve it.
http://www.dardpi.ca/wiki/index.php?tit ... en,_George
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Dan Conlin
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Re: Mystery item

Post by Dan Conlin »

How interesting. Looks like there was at least one other such flag. I took this attached picture at the Kentville Station in the Humphreys Club for railway pensioners on June 1987. I always wondered why it was painted silk. I wonder what happened to it?
Did you guys ever see the Humphreys Club, it was like a little grassroots museum on the east end of the station with amazing vintage photos on the wall and od chairs from observation cars. I guess when they shut down the station prior to demolition, all the families were told to come get Grandfather's photos - or else.

Dan
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stem
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Re: Mystery item

Post by stem »

Wow. The one in the club was really well done. The one at the Musquodoboit museum isn't quite as nice. Different artist must be. Both have the teal border though.

I noticed the one in the club has the artist's name painted in the upper left hand corner. Can't quite make it out but it looks like P. B??ains?
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