I have been amazed at how many variations I have seen from this particular stock scene image on different tin serving trays from the 1900 era. This image has been used for clothing stores, shoe stores, coffee companies, breweries, soda manufacturers, cigar makers, and just about any other segment of businesses from the early 1900’s. Produced in Coshocton, OH by the Tuscarara Advertising Company, this image was simply one of about 120 different scenes which businesses could choose from at that time to have their companies logos and advertising silk screened onto the tray itself. Some businesses chose to put their advertising on the tray image itself, while most I have seen have the advertising on the outer rim portion of the tray as is illustrated here. For whatever reason, this particular image seems to be the most common image found of all the 100+ images which were available to choose from. Some images are very hard to find, while most are around if you look hard enough for awhile. I suspect the bright colors of this image is the reason it was so popular at that time.
The Taylor Brothers Company at 945 Liberty Street in Pittsburg, PA was the company which commissioned this particular design. Similar to many other clothing and home furnishing companies which utilized this tray, perhaps the ability to choose simple words like house furnishings, carpets and stoves made the tray a perfect fit for those words which many companies chose to use at that time. The Taylor Bros. business eventually moved to the 900 block of Penn Avenue in Pittsburgh where it remained in business for many years.