One of our members received the item in the photos, which was described to her as a conductors ticket hook. The conductor supposedly used the hook for tickets. I checked on the internet but failed to see anything like this. Can anyone advise if the item is, in fact, an old railroad artifact?

Thanks!

Les Beckman (Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum/North Judson, Indiana)

It's a common store receipt / guest check hook, used the same way as the spindles they used to stand on the counter except this one hangs out of the way on the wall. My Dad got one out of a closed candy store years ago, near as I recall it looked exactly the same. Not particularly a railroad item.

While it is indeed a receipt or bill hook, or spike as it is sometimes called, the Pennsylvania Railroad used these with a “PRR” cast in for their station offices. I have one in my collection.

Here is an example:

Dennis and James -

Thanks for the information. And James, thanks for the photo. I will pass this info along.


Les