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NYC Buildings You've Never Noticed : The Graybar Building

Sat, 05/21/2005 - 07:56 — deadprogrammer

Graybar building is one of the bigger, yet lesser known New York City skyscrapers. Located at 420 Lexington Avenue, it leans against and over Grand Central Terminal. In fact, I walked by it many times thinking that it was a part of Grand Central.

The understated Art Deco design helps to hide the huge bulk of the building. Some of the sparse embellishments are striking and very unusual.

The cables that hold the rain canopy in place are in the shape of ship’s mooring ropes, complete with rats and anti-rat devices. I did not notice this at first, but the rosettes from which the ropes emanate are decorated with rat heads. Freaky, huh?

Bas relieves to the side of the entrances are rather conventional allegorical representations of communication - a dude holding an old-timey (but maybe slightly out of date in In 1927) phone with lightning bolts around his head and stuff and transportation - similar looking dude holding a truck. The other two relieves are of Deco-Assyrian looking Prometheus with fire.

There’s an antenna at the top of the building. I could not find any information about it.

<- Previous Post: The Invisible Bum

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Average: 3.5 (2 votes)

Comments

Sat, 01/12/2008 - 02:11 — Anonymous (not verified)

Thanks for a great site and great photographs of a wonderful New York City building landmark. Art Deco architectural style is, after all, the height of accomplishment. The detail regarding the ship mooring ropes, complete with the horn shaped rat guards and crawling rat, holding up the external sidewalk canopy, is a great touch. It reminds me of my days in Navy MSC when we were moored to the wharf or dock in port.


Thu, 07/17/2008 - 15:50 — Lori Kunkle (not verified)

My sister works at this building, and I'm sending her these pictures. It's quite interesting. Thank you


Fri, 09/12/2008 - 12:36 — Anonymous (not verified)

Thanks for this info...I've passed this building several times and never even noticed....the details....


Fri, 11/07/2008 - 03:04 — Dan (not verified)

My Aunt worked in this building 1939 to 1943 I found the name Graybar Bldg on the back of her picture working at Iron Fireman office...Thank you for the information


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