{"product_id":"westfield-massachusetts-1889-lay-whip-company-billhead-8-x-5","title":"Westfield Massachusetts 1889 Lay Whip Company Billhead 8 x 5","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"62\" data-end=\"264\"\u003eThis 1889 Lay Whip Company billhead reflects late nineteenth-century American manufacturing and trade correspondence, when specialized producers supplied everyday goods to regional and national markets.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"266\" data-end=\"858\"\u003eWhip manufacturers occupied an important niche within the horse-powered transportation economy, producing carriage, buggy, and riding whips used by individuals, livery stables, and commercial transport operators. Firms based in New England towns like Westfield, Massachusetts benefited from established craft traditions, access to materials, and rail distribution networks that allowed relatively small manufacturers to operate at scale. Business correspondence from this sector documents both routine financial settlement and the professional tone expected in inter-firm trade relationships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"860\" data-end=\"1377\"\u003eThe billhead is printed with Office of Lay Whip Company branding and a Westfield dateline dated 1889, with typed text acknowledging receipt of payment and handwritten annotations confirming account settlement. Flourished penmanship appears in the body and closing, reinforcing its use as an active transactional document rather than a blank form. The compact 8 x 5 format and formal language make this a clear primary-source example of late nineteenth-century manufacturing correspondence tied to the horse-drawn era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1379\" data-end=\"1666\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eThe item shown in the listing is the exact item the collector will receive. We have tens of thousands of items to choose from. Shipping will always be combined or refunded to save you as much money as possible. Please contact us with any questions, or visit our store page for specifics.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Everything Ephemera","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52978818318520,"sku":"20250825","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0939\/8740\/6008\/files\/57_17eeb180-b00e-4e6e-9bed-d67350b74ce0.jpg?v=1773000782","url":"https:\/\/everythingephemera.com\/products\/westfield-massachusetts-1889-lay-whip-company-billhead-8-x-5","provider":"Everything Ephemera","version":"1.0","type":"link"}