highly desirable c. 1930's antique american made industrial portable "dayton" safety ladder comprised of largely of "airplane spruce" wood with original heavy gauge steel fittings intact. the fully adjustable factory machine shop ladder was designed and patented by willett e. benedict of daytn, oh. the folding safety ladder was fabricated by the dayton safety ladder company, dayton, oh. the treads or rungs are reinforced with steel rods affixed (i.e., bolted) to the undersides and along the stringers. contains all-rivet construction with the exception of the step joints. the strong and rigid ladder contains a multitude of wrought steel cross-bracing (e.g., back leg stringers) configurations for supporting the ladder when fully extended. the original bassick hardened rubber casters are intact. manufacturer markings are lightly incised along the vertical stringers. exceptional display piece for a variety of settings. nicely weathered and worn patina lightly cleaned.