148 North Second Street, Philadelphia
April 23, 2010
The ad above comes from The City of Philadelphia as it appears in 1894
Along with wondering what was so special about Aunt Becky’s Coffee Pots, I was curious about what now stood at the 148 North Second Street address. The Philadelphia Scoop Company is long gone (along with Aunt Becky’s Coffee Pots), but the site has carried on the theme as home to the Swift Food Equipment Company. As I walked to the spot today, a car out front was being loaded with party supply materials. And I’ll bet you can still buy scoops there!
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Nostalgic for the original Wayback Machine?
My Own Time Machine: Buildings, Places, People & Things 
As a result of reading this, you ‘made’ me go to Google Books and download my own copy of City of Philadelphia – 1894. THNX
That’s the “mind control” app here at the Time Machine….
I love coffee, so naturally I love this post!
Also: nice email image on the sidebar! As I’m looking at your sidebar I also have to remember to read The Big House this summer.
And, I refer to you as my blogging soul mate in my Voices of the Past interview – hope you don’t find that strange! Obviously I meant it in a good way because I love your blog and I think we strive for similar goals with our blogs.
Anyway, I hope all is well. =) Spring is finally here in full force in VT, so I imagine it’s lovely in Philadelphia.
Kaitlin, I’m your blogging soul mate? I’m so flattered — Let me buy you a cup of Aunt Betty’s coffee! Is it mud season up there in VT? Pick up a copy of The Big House and stay home reading until the roads dry out. It’s one of my favorite books ever; such a masterful blending of history, family story, architecture and memoir.
Scooting over to your VOP interview now.
Hello! I just found a wooden scoop at a garage sale here in Ohio that was made by the Philadelphia Scoop Company. When did the company go out of business??
Jean: What a wonderful find! Thanks for letting me know those scoops are still in existence. I confess that since I’ve finished school and am back at work full-time I have less opportunity to poke through various archives where I could look up fun facts like when the Philadelphia Scoop Company went out of business.
If you want to give it a shot via the internet, you might try searching Philadelphia city directories — that would give you an idea how long it was in business and whether it remained at that location. Good luck! (And if I discover any additional info, I’ll certainly post it.)
Interesting. I have a Philadelphia Scoop as well, guessing it probably belonged to my great grandparents. It is metal with a round wooden back and handle. The wood is stamped “PHILA. SCOOP CO.” and below that “0000” which might be a model number or size.
I too have a Philadelphia Scoop (just like the one featured in the ad drawing). Mine has the same design as the TOP scoop in the ad and is stamped “PHILA. SCOOP CO. EXTRA GALV.” Underneath that is “3” indicating a #3 size scoop. I use mine for scooping corn kernels and corn meal flour that I grind in an old mill. THANKS for your information and your research !