Antique Conductors Baton

Antique Conductor’s Baton It is made by Will H. Lake in Janesville, WI and called “Lake’s Adjustable Conductor’s Baton”. As a conductor, I cannot see how this is supposed to work! It is a nice looking antique, but is probably just that, and likely not a baton that will be used in a performance! The most interesting thing on the box is a testimonial from one of the most famous circus band conductors Albert C. Sweet (1876-1945). He was the conductor for the Ringling Brothers Circus from 1906 until 1911. The box is fragile but legible and the baton looks great but is likely not going to be conducting a symphony soon.