Description
Here is a Barbey’s Saloon Match Safe from the Barbey’s Saloon located in Reading, PA. This Barbey’s Saloon Match Safe is from the early 1900’s era and is in very good condition for it’s age. It would have been used at the tavern as a give-away item to bar patrons. The match safe’s approximately size is 1″ x 2″ x .5″ and is made of nickel plated brass. There is a small compartment on the top which would have been used to store postage stamps. The bottom compartment slides open to hold matches, while the back of the match safe has a ribbed match striking area.
The Barbey’s Saloon was a tavern back in the day that was owned by Jacob Barbey who was also the owner of the P. Barbey’s & Sons Brewing Company located in Reading, PA. In those days it wasn’t uncommon for breweries to own various bars and taverns that would distribute and serve their beers, ales, and porters. The original Barbey’s Saloon building at 435 Penn Street is still standing to this day.