This week’s edition of Tombstone Tuesday covers those tombstones
that aren’t stone — they’re metal. Specifically, we’re going to
discuss zinc or “white bronze” markers. Zinc markers have a
characteristic blue/gray color and feature raised lettering. If
you’re in doubt as to whether a marker is zinc, tap on it. If it
sounds hollow, it’s zinc. These markers were made by only one
company — the Monumental Bronze Company of Bridgeport,
Connecticut. Monumental Bronze had subsidiaries/distributors in
Detroit, Chicago, and Des Moines and their work can be found
across the United States. However, their years of production
were very short — 1875 to 1912. Customers could chose a variety
of motifs (such as the anchor shown above). Panels on the sides
of the marker could bear words or motifs (and sometimes both).
Customization, such as the inscription, was cast in separate
plates that would be screwed into a standard base. The monument
itself is hollow. Although the markers remain extremely legible,
they are not immune fr