We accidentally came across this bit of New Year’s history: the Times Square ball drop is 110 years old this year. According to the “official” Times Square website (if it is print and on the internet, it must be true) the first “drop” occurred in 1907 and the ball was a 700-pound wood and iron sphere with 100 25-watt light bulbs.
The Times Square party tradition began a few years before the first drop. The New York Times commemorated the opening of its new office with the street party and fireworks and the rest, as they say, is history. And that history included a ban on fireworks in the city, which prompted the Times to create “the ball” to take the place of the pyrotechnics.
Times Square circa 1908. (Courtesy of the Library of Congress Photo Archives)
That first ball was created by Jacob Starr, who worked for Strauss Signs. He later left the Strauss company but returned and merged his company with Strauss to form Artkraft Strauss, the company that was responsible for giant “smoking” Camel cigarette sign in Times Square and many other “spectaculars” that have been landmarks of sorts in New York City. Some items from the company collection were sold in 2006 at Freeman’s auction gallery.
The first ball was replaced in 1920, which got us wondering if the original was preserved somewhere or might we run across it at a Manhattan street sale? We’ve sent an inquiry off to the New York Historical Society, and we’ll update you if they have any information. In the meantime, if it turns up somewhere, let us know. Though it would violate our “small or on the wall” collecting rule.
New Year’s resolutions, of course, go back to ancient times, though they’ve become more self-centered in the modern era. Along with the usual “lose 10 pounds” or “exercise more,” may we suggest a few for antiques collectors? How about “support a local museum,” or “volunteer as a chaperon on a school trip to a historic site or museum,” or “speak to a local club about my collection.”
Oh, and by the way, your antiques just got a year older. Happy New Year!
By Grant Hamilton, Publisher of NYPA-Collector
