Home and Family Archives - Filling the House and the Internet with Junk

Vintage Prom Picture and the Upside-Down Flower (1900)

Posted on July 1, 2017 by hiramk

While perusing a pile of photos at a local antique store, my wife came upon a vintage picture of a woman wearing a flower upside down. It was striking due to the large size of the flower backed by an equally large fern leaf. There are few things more exciting than finding something you can’t explain. Why would someone wear a large flower upside down and look so happy doing it? As it turns out,…

Poor Man’s Clock Cleaning, Ingraham – 1918

Posted on November 21, 2016November 22, 2016 by hiramk

Having a pendulum kitchen clock puts you into an exclusive club. It’s like having your name in a phone book or having a Facebook account. There are literally tens of thousands of these out there, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t fun to clean and get into top notch working condition. They are particularly interesting since they not only chime the hour and half hour, but actually have an independent alarm with a separate winding mechanism….

Is Antique Silver a Good Investment?

Posted on February 7, 2015March 12, 2015 by hiramk

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…

Rocking / Moving Eye Mammy Clock (1970?)

Posted on February 5, 2015March 12, 2015 by hiramk

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…

Singer “New Family” Sewing Machine (1885)

Posted on February 2, 2015February 7, 2015 by hiramk

This 1885 “New Home” Singer Sewing Machine was our first significant antique. When we first found it, we could not bring ourselves to pay the $100 asking price. Looking back I can’t believe we got it. I Love Mid-19th Century Technology The Singer Manufacturing Company was one of the first to make a practical sewing machine. They were not the first. They were the first to get it right. But as an early piece you…