A. C. Rehberger Co., est. 1912

Rehberger history

Museum Artifact: Novelty Lion Paperweight / Statuette, 1919

Made By: Rehberger Manufacturing Company / A. C. Rehberger Co., 1217 W. Webster Ave., Chicago, IL [Lincoln Park]

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

12 thoughts on “A. C. Rehberger Co., est. 1912

  1. I just bought a very cool bust of Theodore Roosevelt that is marked with his name on the front. On the back it says”Roosevelt Hotel Hollywood” and in very small font “REHERBERGER MFG CO CHICAGO”.
    I am curious how old it is and when the manufacturer went out of business. – Thank you! John Hoxie

    1. The statue as a souvenir from the Roosevelt Hotel given to visitors. The hotel appeared in many Golden Era movies and hosted the very first Academy Awards. Rehberger also manufactured the very first Academy Awards.

  2. I have a Piggy Bank made up to look like an old refrigerator. It is 4 inches tall and 1 1/2 In by 2 Inches. It say Frigadare on the front, and has a slot on the back to insert coins. On the bottom is stamped A. C. Rehberger Co, Chicago. If anyone can tell anything about this bank I would greatly appreciate it.
    Ben Phillips

  3. Hello, I have what looks like a salesman’s sample of a piano made by Rehberger Mfg. Co., Chicago. It’s in very good condition. If anyone knows anything about this item, please let me.

  4. A. C. Rehberger also made a wide variety of railroad rolling stock as well as locomotives. Examples are freight cars of different types such as log cars and tank cars and steam, diesel and electric locomotives. The tooling for these remained in producton for decades, with early versions on diecast spelter or zinc bases, and later versions plated in bronze or weathered brass tone and mounted on a wood base. One example of creative tooling reuse is the highly collectible A. C. Rehberger mixed freight train, a ‘Prairie’-style steam locomotive leading 3 assorted ACR freight cars. Interestingly there’s no crew car or caboose at the end- the “train” consisted of components made from existing tooling applied to a long rail roadbed base, and ACR had never tooled up a separate caboose. Customers for the freight cars appeared to be the producers or shippers themselves, based on the script typically debossed on the metal base. By contrast, the locomotives appeared to be intended as handouts for major railroad industry executives, since there was often a descriptive legend indicating the specific engine type, its railroad and sometimes its use. ACR’s main competitor in the early years of this market was Van Gytenbeek, a New York diecasting company. Van Gytenbeek also made an extensive line of railroad subjects, primarily locomotives, as promotional gifts for the same intended customers; In the later years, it would appear that ACR actually copied tooling, with minor modifications, from some of the Van Gytenbeek models; this is apparent in side-by-side comparison of each company’s version of the ‘DeWitt Clinton’. Where Van Gytenbeek also manufactured an extensive catalog of architectural subjects for promotional use, ACR produced a variety of figural subjects, apparent intended for use as awards or ceremonial mementos.

  5. I have a metal (brass plated possibly) with plastic base trophy my father won for horse jumping dated Dec.12, 1955. IT says his name and FIRST PLACE JUMPING- PARKWAYS ANNUAL FALL HORSE SHOW that took place in Chicago, Ill .
    It’s portrays a horse jumping over a hedge.Pretty cool!

    The trophy is made by REH CRAFT: A.C.Rehberger Co. Chicago 14, ILL

    Charley Barranco
    cebarranco@cox.net

  6. I bought a A.C. Rehberger Company lamp, a decal on the inside of the base says REH CRAFT. It has 3 vintage looking cast football player around the base of the lamp. Just looking for any information about the company or the lamp

  7. I have an Iron Foreman “ink pen” desk set. No names anywhere. It is a very crisp molded piece. I’m trying to find out something about it. My thoughts are that some higher up in a cole company had one made and reproductions of it started showing up on ashtrays. That is only a WAG, but a well reasoned out one.

  8. Hi, did you know Rehberger also made detailed cast airplane models, notably the Boeing 314 Clipper and Boeing 247 transport. They are highly sought after by airplane ashtray collectors. I am trying to find out more about them.

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