Champion Agate envelope and bag for sending samples
This incredible item from Champion Agate is a mailing envelope and cloth bag. The paper envelope measures 7.75" x 3.75" . According to the book American Machine Made Marbles by Dean Six, Susie Metzler, & Micheal Johnson, Champion Agate began operates in 1938. It does not give a cease production date but they are no longer in business. I believe they went out of business in the 1990's. I brought this item and showed it to Dave McCullough, the former plant manager and he said he had never seen one like this during his time there. I believe he started in the 1980's. I am pending requests to verify that. I should have asked. So this dates after 1938 but before 1980's. I am leaning towards the 1940's. Doing a little detective work, I found that ZIP (Zone Improvement Plan) codes were implemented in 1963. Back in 1943, they used a 16 zone system to divide the country for mail. However neither of these were mandatory. Without more information to make an educated guess on then I am going to guess 1938-1943, which includes my original guess on the date when it was made and used. I did Google the manufacturer of the bag and envelope. Golden Belt Mfg started in the early 1900s and is still in business so no help there. I doubt they have records on this. There is a photo on page 66 of a similar bag in the American Machine Made Marbles book referenced above. If anyone has further information on this I would enjoy it.
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