Railroad Code of Whistle Signals Antique Original Sign studio pottery pitcher Part of what I think

Part of what I think makes it great is its utter impracticality--this thing weighs about 10 pounds

with detailed carving on eyes and mouth

These were awarded to a young "Master Charley Geoppinger" in the late 1870s or so by a couple of different teachers - two of them for a hundred merits

Represented through photographic portraits

Railroad Code of Whistle Signals Antique Original Sign studio pottery pitcher Part of what I thinkAs I tried to do some research into the history of railroad signals in order to date and to fully understand! this sign, I've realized it is a vast and complicated history I don't have enough knowledge, or patience, to dive deep into! I did learn that the use of train whistles seems to have originated in England in 1832, when a stationmaster suggested that the trains should have an audible signaling device, and thus a local musical instrument builder