Trouble Starts with What's That!
It is interesting what items get passed down from generation to generation. One would think that it would be the things of greatest financial value. I have come to realize that most often a person holds onto things of the greatest personal significance which is in no way related to monetary value. Case in point, this handmade rolling ping was one of the few possessions passed down by my grandmother Edna May Hill Abbott to…
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When talking to folks about my beloved piles of junk, I will inevitably mention some piece of silver I have collected that I am particularly fond of. Usually after mentioning the word silver, the friend (or foe) will say “Wow. That must be worth a lot.” I like to play a little game at this point and ask why they think it is so valuable. “Because it is silver!” I would caution those who think…
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OMG. So many dolls…. This is going to take me a while to get the information organized. My wife has been collecting Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls from the 1930s and 1940s for 15 years. It’s a lot. Seriously. A LOT!
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My wife and I have a particular affinity for the 1920s. In part, the art deco style of the period is particularly appealing and pieces from this time period are still plentiful. Over the years we have collected quite a few interesting items that were used in a person’s personal life and have expanded to collect items from the mid 1800’s to present day. Eventually I will divide this area into better defined categories. Until…
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There is something fascinating about old business equipment. Many of my favorite pieces show an industry’s attempt to solve a problem by taking what they currently know and building on it. If this is your first visit, I recommend starting with the Yost typewriter post. I find the process of going from the printing press to the first manual typewriter particularly interesting. View Yost typewriter post View all business equipment posts
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I have been fortunate enough to acquire many family pieces that were never intended to be art. These pieces are either handmade utilitarian pieces or whimsical pieces intended to entertain. While rich in family, the “artists” were by all accounts meager in means. Antique Folk Art
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I have come to realize that my favorite pieces are the ones I have repaired. The act of restoring something to a working condition creates a bond that goes beyond the simple act of purchasing it. This rocking (moving) eye clock is a prime example of how investing time and care makes an object dearer. I found this rocking eye “Mammy” clock in a junk shop in San Antonio, Texas. The clock hands were broken…
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Few things give me joy like acquiring a piece that has a hallmark, patent number, serial number or model number. For me collecting is getting to understand the past, and having these time markers usually means with a little research I can put the item into a larger historical context. This IBM Master Program Clock; Metal Disc Type circa 1933 is a great example of research paradise. Business equipment is one of those really fun…
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The following is a Lloyd’s of London, Check Fraud Prevention Device (1920).
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German Inscription English Translation Gluck aut zum ersten Guss 12.9.13 Luck for the first pouring September 12, 1913 DEN MITCLIEDERN DES V.D.E. ZUR FRDL. ERINNERUNG. EISENACH, 12.9.1913 ALFRED GUTMANN A.G. OTTENSEN-HAMBURG For the Members of the V.D.E. For a Friendly Memory (Reminder) Eisenach 12 September 1913 (Town in Germany oven was delivered to) Alfred Gutmann A.G. (Name of the designing company and German industrialist) Ottensen-Hamburg (Name of the Suburb in the City of Hamburg) Craftsmanship…
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