Oakland Underfoot

1814 89th Avenue

Just a few weeks after putting down the mark I showed yesterday, Doyle (or one of his sons) made this one, using a different configuration for the date and somehow getting both the “D” and the “8” upside down.

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.

2221 50th Avenue

Notice that the S’s are upside down, and also that the second character of “Sons” is a zero, not an oh.

4854 Fair Avenue

C. Fischer does it again—a second misspelling from this year.

1734 Bridge Avenue

This is a new maker for me. Notice that the V in “Fruitvale” is upside-down.

6172 Baker Street

I have a 1912 mark from Jepsen Bros., but this one has the date upside-down.