A brilliant machine age styled terrestrial globe by Crams with rare silver oceans This handsome pre WW2 artifact offers an unusual look with its silver oceans rather than the more common blue, green or even black models of its era. Only two globe makers had the courage to experiment with this unusual color of oceans, Crams and Rand McNally. But only Crams refined the technique throughout the 1930s. Eventually it was simply too costly and time consuming to produce silver oceans as the chemical mixture of print coloring had to be perfect to actually print. In conclusion, silver ocean globes including this industrial design model are rare exquisites. Silver Oceans against yellow lands and a metal base provide this artifact the perfect machine age design. One can view a specific historic moment in time, the Great Depression. Still, it is the calm before the storm (of WW2) in Europe. In Asia, the Japanese Empire had begun to advance by occupying Manchuria in China. This artifact will demand attention in any setting. If you are looking for a sophisticated conversation starter and appreciate fine design, this individual piece of history is for you. About the manufacture: What was to become the George F. Cram Company was founded in 1867 by Rufus Blanchard and George Franklin Cram (uncle and nephew) in Evanston, Illinois. The firm was known as Blanchard and Cram and was engaged in producing atlases and maps. By 1869 the business had become George F. Cram, with Cram taking full control and moved to Chicago that same year. The great Chicago fire destroyed the business, which was reestablished under the name Cram Map Depot. In 1921 Cram sold the company to E. A. Peterson. Peterson merged the Cram Company with his National Map Company, and in 1928 it became The George F. Cram Company. The year 1928 also saw the death of founder George F. Cram at the age of 86. The company began making globes in 1932-34, and in 1936 it relocated to Indianapolis. In 1966 Loren B. Douthit, an employee since 1937, became President of the company until his retirement in 1978. William and John Douthit, Loren's sons, assumed management of the company the same year. When Loren B. Douthit died in 1996, William L. Douthit was named Chairman of the Board. Herff Jones, which owns the Nystrom line of globes, purchased CRAM in 2005. Douthit family members are still involved in creating globes at the Herff Jones facility in Indianapolis. To differ itself from the other great Chicago Globe makers in the early 2oth century and to be competitive, Cram became very creative early on. The company experimented with mountings and colors. As a result, the company produced some of the most unique globes Description: The 12 inch diameter orb is mounted into a full meridian made of cast iron, which is attached to a dome styled hollow spun metal base. 12 individual paper gores are hand applied over a pasteboard sphere. The oceans of the globe are colored in silver. Base and meridian are finished in a black with silver Art Deco accents. Total height is 17 inches. Condition: Overall well preserved, there is minimal wear to the delicate silver map in form of soiling or scuffing. Details are crisp, colors rich. The finish of the base has some scuffing and minor corrosion present, no cracks, dents or any other structural damage present. The age of the globe is determined by the political borders displayed, which are as follows: Manchuria is occupied by Japan and re-named Manchukuo (1931-45). Persia is also shown in its future name : Iran, name change occurred in 1935. Italian East Africa is not yet documented (1936-41). Europe is shown at the calm before the storm of ww2. The German Reich has not yet absorbed Austria (1938). Well packed, domestic shipping via Priority Mail is $16.00 $395 — Item #: 1013CRSILV35 - SOLD