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As soon as Fred Harvey arrives to the United States from Germany, he gets a job in a restaurant and starts as a dishwasher.
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He learns the business from the ground up, and in 1876 begins a partnership with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, through Charles Morris, the railroad’s superintendent.
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He receives exclusive rights to operate the lunchrooms, eating houses and hotels along the railway’s routes.
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Later, he opens eating houses along the railroad, and pays no rent to Morse.
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At their peak, there are 84 Harvey Houses, all of which cater to wealthy and middle-class visitors alike. He becomes known as “the Civilizer of the West.”
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His attention to detail, quality and customer service changes the country’s rail travel industry.
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His credits include founder of America’s first restaurant chain!
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He legacy continues by his sons and remains in the family until the death of a grandson in 1965.
Especially relevant, he is an entrepreneur who’s credits include influencing the Navajo Native American Indians. Most interestingly, he was born in 1835 and dies in 1901. Consequently, he dies well before the success of his Harvey House restaurants and other endeavor. Most importantly, he advocates for Native American Indians to produce “Indian” looking jewelry. Hence, this jewelry’s purpose is to sell as mementos to tourists who travel the railroad out to the Western United States. As a result, this jewelry receives it’s special recognition. In addition, enthusiasts reference it as railroad jewelry or Route 66 jewelry.
Most of all, this jewelry is recognized by the thinly stamped sheet silver. It often has raised accents or stamping such as Thunderbirds (a factitious bird). In addition whirling logs (swastikas), arrowheads, dogs and snakes are popular motifs. Furthermore, examples are on our jewelry catalog page.
Especially relevant, Fred Harvey, himself, does not produce this jewelry. In addition, this jewelry is widely machine manufactured and sometimes features a center stone. The stone is often turquoise, petrified wood, onyx, agate, “dragon’s breath” (actually glass), and even plastic. Wikipedia has a crash course to learn about Fred Harvey.
In conclusion, there are several Albuquerque, New Mexico based jewelry companies who produce this stamped silver tourist jewelry. As a result, some of the more well known companies include Bell Trading Company and Maisel’s Jewelry Company. Also there is the H.H. Tammen of Albuquerque, New Mexico. In addition, there is Silver Arrow Products. Hence, we sell this jewelry at our store in Tucson, Arizona.
Finally, more information is available on the Fred Harvey article page.
