MC LILLEY Antique Late 19th Century KNIGHTS PYTHIAS BELT BUCKLE Foundry Pattern

Description

EXQUISITE M.C. LILLEY COMPANY ANTIQUE CIRCA LATE 19th CENTURY KNIGHTS PYTHIAS - BELT BUCKLE CASTING MASTER FOUNDRY PATTERN
This piece came out of the holdings of the now defunct M.C. LILLEY CO. Fraternal & Military goods manufacturing plant machine shops.  It was used to make multiple castings of BELT BUCKLES in this form from this master foundry pattern, in this case for the KNIGHTS of PYTHIAS fraternal organization.
The M. C. Lilley & Co. factory was located at Columbus, Ohio. It was founded in the mid-1860s by four veterans of the American Civil War. They also were I.O.O.F. members (a fraternal society), and since there was a demand for fraternal organization regalia, they decided to manufacture it in Columbus.
They made military uniforms, Masonic items (e.g. Masonic swords), and various regalia items for societies and clubs. They shipped some of their products to Canada.
In 1933, during the Great Depression, the company was bought out by a Michigan company, Henderson-Ames, and the name changed to Lilley-Ames. The company finally went out of business in 1965.
MADE OF A HEAVY METAL ALLOY.  UNFINISHED without belt buckle sections that attach to a belt, which were pieces added to the cast finished buckle body to finish them off so they could be attached and used on a belt.   A very beautifully made rare master foundry pattern
for making belt buckles for the KNIGHTS PYTHIAS fraternal organization of days gone by.
Measures 3" x 2 1/2" in size
As shown above. Sold "AS-IS."
Wear, tarnish, scratches and sometimes rust consistent with age and use.  Please see all photos, as they are part of the description.
ASK ALL QUESTIONS BEFORE ENACTING A "BUY IT NOW."
PLEASE BE SURE TO SEE ALL OF OUR UNIQUE EBAY OFFERINGS OF BELT BUCKLE MASTERS AND ALSO BELT BUCKLES AS WELL THAT CAME OUT OF THE VAST ARTIFACT REMNANTS OF THE M. C. LILLEY COMPANY - AMERICA'S PREMIER MAKER OF FRATERNAL AND MILITARY GOODS THAT FLOURISHED IN THE 19TH CENTURY AND INTO THE 20TH
CENTURY.
NO RETURNS
.  SOLD "AS - IS."
.
STANDARD SHIPPING &
HANDLING
w/ INSURANCE is FREE
for
US sales.   Includes
15% EBAY/
PAYPAL SELLER'S SHIPPING
SURCHARGE FEE.
WE DO NOT SHIP BY UPS as they rip
open boxes insured at 0 or more
seeking to deny shipments containing
antiques. ALL SHIPMENTS NORMALLY
MADE THROUGH USPS - BUT WE
RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SEND
BY FEDERAL EXPRESS GROUND
INSURED.  OVERSEAS  pay .00
on this for REGISTERED or
MINIMALLY INSURED air post
with safe signatured delivery
for easy foreign CUSTOMS
CLEARANCE.  GA STATE
residents must pay 8%
STATE SALES TAX.