1501 Harrison Street
J. H. Fitzmaurice, founded in 1922 and still going strong as a general contractor, was the first sidewalk maker in Oakland to use the barrel-shaped stamp format, which it introduced in 1926 and used into the 1950s at least. Only a handful of this stamp’s first configuration — with “OAKLAND” placed above the center — have stamped dates inside the mark. So I had to capture this one even though I have another example from the Grand Lake neighborhood.
1721 Tenth Street, Berkeley
I’ve documented this year before, but those marks had hand-drawn dates.
92nd Avenue at San Leandro Street
This is an odd one, but here it is.
8327 Plymouth Street
This bizarre backwards mark appears to be from 1926. Let me share my thinking here. First, we’re very close to Banchero & Co.’s home location on 86th Avenue. Second, all my other Banchero marks used a racetrack format whereas this is an oval. Third, unless I’m badly mistaken, there’s no possible way to create a reversed mark with a properly made bronze stamp. Fourth, the numeral 6 next to the (backwards) date “192_” suggests to me that it’s meant as 1926. Fifth, all other Banchero marks date from 1927 and later.
The scenario I envision is this: When it went into business in 1926, the Banchero & Co. firm ordered a stamp, but it was defective thanks to a boneheaded foundry error. They went ahead and used it until a new one was made. I’ll have my eye closely peeled as I explore the next few avenues.
7428 Arthur Street
Much of this block was done by H. C. Orth. Here’s a superior impression to my previous example, including the association oval.
Seminary Avenue at Walnut Street
There are two of these at this address, both of them cracked, but they’re far less cracked than the example I showed before.
5733 Fleming Avenue
Cracked, but I’ll take it.
Oakland Underfoot 