Intro and a Latin translation on an old German toy

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Rick
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Intro and a Latin translation on an old German toy

Post by Rick »

Hello , My name is Rick, father of three children who also is an avid antique lover and I also restore old automobiles as a hobby.
I live in cold Ohio near the great lakes and long for a warm 70 degree spring day.
I came across an old antique toy said to be from a German Separatist society who formed a small village in Ohio called Zoar. This item is an a childs washstand with mirror and has marking on the back that appear to be Latin. I was wondering if anyone here might be able to direct me in its translation. The markings read ..."mecca Sepreco"
Heres a pic of the stand and the mark. Thanks !

Heres the Back
Image

heres the mark

Image
Heres the front
Image

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Jeff Tirey
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Post by Jeff Tirey »

Hi Rick, I'm from the Cleveland area - Strongsville in fact.

Thanks for joining us,
jeff
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benissimus
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Post by benissimus »

Hi Rick.

I can't read the image very well, but if it says meccas epreco then it is not any Latin that I know of or can find in any of my dictionaries.
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae

Rick
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Post by Rick »

Benissmiss, No the markings actually read ..."mecca Sepreco"
I believe maybe Sepreco was or is a French or Italian city at one time. Maybe an Art school. I have seen reference to it on google but only as a location relating to a school. ?????

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benissimus
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Post by benissimus »

Whoops, sorry about the typo. It still doesn't make any sense to me and neither of those words can be found in the Oxford Latin Dictionary or Cassel's or an online dictionary. I am not sure if it might be Medieval Latin... preco looks like an active form of precor (to pray), but it would classically be only in the passive voice. "Mecca" is obviously a city, but I am skeptical of whether this is actually Latin (or correct Latin).
flebile nescio quid queritur lyra, flebile lingua murmurat exanimis, respondent flebile ripae

mingshey
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Post by mingshey »

Well, I'm not sure, but I think I can see an "i(or I)" in front of "mecca". I hope this gives a clue.

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