UNKNOWN RAILROAD "S.O. & Co. New York"

wow..this is the first time google has ever failed me!

There are a few on-line references to a similar button as yours.
a reference to a ship sunk in Lake Erie named "CLEVECO" that was once owned by "S.O. & Co"
a reference to a small gold antique clock made by "S.O. & Co"..
and a dead link to an antique wrench marked "S.O. & Co"

I suspect those are not all the same company!

but I cant find the actual name of what any of it stands for!

mysterious!
the quest continues..

Scot

The Southern New York Railway was an interurban that ran through central New York- Oneonta region mostly.

http://www.rosshorwood.com/RailSiteLink ... ernNY.html

There's also SoCoNY- Standard Oil Co. of New York, which later became Mobil... but that would not account for the train.

-otto-

Here are all the AAR railroad reporting marks that begin with "SO"

SO SOUTH ORIENT RAILROAD COMPANY, LTD.
SOCX *SOUTHERN OIL CORP.
SOCX *SEATEX OIL CO., INC.
SOCX *BP AMOCO CHEMICAL CO. [BP OIL COMPANY; SOHIO OIL COMPANY]
SOCZ SOUTHERN COTTON OIL
SOEM SOUTHEASTERN MARITIME
SOEX SHELL OIL COMPANY
SOFU SOFREDI
SOFX STERLING OIL & REFINING CO.
SOGX (DAX) DIAMOND SHAMROCK CHEMICALS COMPANY [SHAMROCK OIL & GAS CORP.]
SOIX *STANDARD OIL CO. (INDIANA)
SOIX *SAND SEED SERVICE, INC.
SOK STANDARD OIL OF KENTUCKY
SOLX *SUPERIOR OIL LINE (H. M. MILLER)
SOLX *SOLANO RAIL CAR CO.
SOLX *SOLITE CORP.
SOM SOMERSET RAILROAD CORPORATION
SOMX STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
SONX *SONFORD PRODUCTS CORP.
SONX *AGTRANS CORP.
SONX *SONECO SERVICES, INC.
SOO CANADIAN PACIFIC RWY. [SOO LINE RAILROAD; MINNEAPOLIS,
ST. PAUL & SAULT STE. MARIE RR]
SOOZ CANADIAN PACIFIC RWY. [SOO LINE RAILROAD; MINNEAPOLIS,
ST. PAUL & SAULT STE. MARIE RR]
SOPR RETIRED 05-15-92 ATP (0736) [SOUTH PIERCE RR.]
SOPZ SORG PAPER COMPANY
SOR SOUTHWESTERN OKLAHOMA RAILROAD
SORA SOUTHERN RAILS COOPERATIVE LIMITED
SORX *SINCLAIR REFINING CO. [DEEP ROCK OIL CO.; SHAFFER OIL & REFINING CO.}
SORX *SORRELLS FARM SUPPLY, INC.
SOSX SOUTHERN OIL SERVICE, INC.
SOT SOUTH OMAHA TERMINAL RAILWAY COMPANY
SOTX *STOLL OIL REFINING CO.
SOTX *SOUTHERN CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
SOU NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY [SOUTHERN RY.]
SOUU NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY [SOUTHERN RY.]
SOUZ NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY [SOUTHERN RY.]
SOWX SENECA OIL WORKS

From: http://www.pwrr.org/rrm/rrms.html

a few could fit..
such as "STERLING OIL & REFINING CO."
that could fit with both a railroad and great lakes shipping..
many oil companys had their own railroads for working in refineries.

Scot

I'm fairly certain that the button came from Southern New York Railway. The order of words might not match up because of the button design...

http://www.ginosrailpage.com/SNY/index.html

http://www.trains-n-planes.com/row/sny/index.htm

The line shut down in the early 1970s.

-otto-

The name SNY dates back only to 1916, so perhaps this is not the company your button is associated with.

-otto-

I'll check for a match when I get home. I don't have my database at work.

Charles

eric wrote:I wanted to thank all of you who have replied to my post.
So far there still is not a definitive answer to who wore this uniform button but I also wanted to add that it dates to around the turn of the last century c.1890's-1910 era.
thanks again to all of you have replied to my inquiry and if you want to see a photo of this railroad uniform button let me know and I will send you an internet .jpg photo: [email protected] - Eric

I checked RRs and trolley/interurbans and there was no match. These were all-time listings. Sorry.

Charles

A general comment. Just because the button shows a train, that does not mean it originated from a RR. Stock artwork of popular subjects were often cataloged and offered to the general public. Trains were some of the most modern and exciting subjects around at the time. Back in that time period, anyone that had a uniform from bell hops, elevator operators and doormen might have had embossed brass buttons with RR artwork.

Very true! And a steam train didn't always mean a steam railroad, etc etc.

-otto-

Are you sure they are uniform buttons, and not maybe from overalls. I'm going to take a shot and say they are from "Sweet, Orr & Co.", a New York firm that made overalls.

I think we have a winner!

jarubel wrote:Are you sure they are uniform buttons, and not maybe from overalls. I'm going to take a shot and say they are from "Sweet, Orr & Co.", a New York firm that made overalls.

yep, thats probably it!
good call!

Sweet Orr & Co. , NY
makers of overalls.

they were located in New York City.
(also found a reference to Newburgh NY and South Africa!
they may have had several locations..)

Scot