Postmark: Vintages of Los Gatos

Friday, June 7, 2013

How Sweet is This?

We found this note attached to this incredible crochet piece. WOW!

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Collection: String Holders

Isn't this flirty couple the cutest thing ever?

Before there was cellophane tape. Before styrofoam containers. There was string. Your produce or meat was tied in a bundle of paper held together by string. Boxes that went through the mail were tied with string. At the bakery or the Chinese take-out the goodies were placed in a box (most often pink!) that was tied up with string. In the kitchen the chef holds together a rolled roast or turkey using string.

Cast iron industrial string holders.

String has been a household and office necessity for a long time. It needed to be readily available and easily dispensed. Tinkerers through the years have devised cast-iron string holders and string bobbins in an attempt to keep and dispense string. The classic 19th-century string holder shape was a beehive. Other cast-iron string holders were more like egg-shaped cages, hanging globes or spools with a handy gallows. Often these string holders were mounted to the tops of racks designed to hold paper sacks or rolls. That way, goods could be packaged and wrapped tight for customers.

Ceramic string holders with unusual shapes.

In the 20th century, string holders became more decorative. Enterprising folks made novelty items which were sold at fairs and as souvenirs of small towns across America. Designs ranged from fruit and flowers, to pets, birds and animals, to interesting faces like chefs, Dutch girls, cute kids and cartoon characters. Some would have a place for scissors, often with the scissors handle doubling as the eyeglasses for the critter. Today collectors love the cartoon characters, chefs and other images of people.

Disney's Cinderella characters.

Olive Oyl and Popeye.

Cats and an owl, all with scissors holders.

Chalkware string holder fruit.

The material of choice for the novelty string holders was primarily chalk, a plaster-like material that was cheap, but fragile. It chipped easily and the paint would often scratch off. Other string holders were made of paper-mache, ceramics and wood. A whole folk art tradition developed making string holders from recycled household materials, like oatmeal boxtops, fabric covered wood, coconut shells and used biscuit tins.

String holders made of coconut shells and fabric and wood.

It seems that novelty and souvenir string holders are mostly an American phenomenon, and most of them were made in the USA in the first half of the 20th century. String holders are a great collectible. They are useful as some can hang on the wall in the kitchen or craft room, others make delightful desk accessories and cast iron designs are great for the workshop. Susan has a wonderful collection of string holders and displays them as a border surrounding her studio.

Here's a string holder nestled among beads and other crafty stuff.

This beauty is a handcrafted wooden desktop string holder from Germany

Chefs are always popular. The bottom right one is a souvenir chef made of paper mache.

Another view of the border.

These string holders are all part of Susan's personal collection. At this time we do not have any for sale, but we do look for ones that might end up in the shop someday!

Remember Dads and Grads

Fathers' Day is Sunday, June 16th

Friday, May 31, 2013

Brides, Grooms and June Weddings

Something old, something new

Something borrowed, something blue

A silver sixpence in her shoe

This old good luck rhyme always comes to mind at this time of the year. Back in Victorian times everything had a "meaning" ... flowers, gems, calling cards and desserts. In this case, something old connects the bride to her family's past. Something new forecasts the bride's future happiness. Something borrowed conveys the hope of someone else's happiness being transferred to the newly married couple. Something blue represents purity. And in the last verse, usually forgotten, the sixpence represents financial security and future wealth.

Old Marriage Certificate dated 1858

Well, here at Vintages we can help you with some of these. OLD we've got! Vintage jewelry with sparkling crystals, lustrous pearls, brilliant diamonds and fine gemstones, even solitaire rings and wedding bands. Old hankies to wipe those tears of joy. Bride and groom cake toppers from a bygone era.

Vintage Bride & Groom Wedding Cake Toppers

Sparkling Vintage Crystal Jewelry

Vintage Pearls ...

Estate Diamonds ...

Vintage Pearl Necklaces and Gold Chains

Vintage Rosaries and Prayer Books

We have a nice selection of NEW gifts and accessories for the couple's new home, frames and journals to help capture their memories and crafting supplies to help you make that "special something just for them."

Beautiful Hand Decorated Handbags and Clutch Purses

Limoges Porcelain Boxes from France

Home ... Nest ... Beautiful

Vintage Ribbons and Trim plus Crafting Treasures

Handcrafted Paper Wreath with Bird's Nest

Crafting Supplies for the DIYer

We cannot help with the borrowed, but definitely have some things in BLUE.

Blue Flowers and Sequined Clutch Purse

Jewelry in Blue ... just right for the bride

And remember, we can wrap your gift and take care of shipping if needed.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Hi! I'm Buster Brown. I live in a shoe....

Do you remember Buster Brown shoes? I do. I also remember watching the Buster Brown TV show ... Smilin' Ed's Gang and later Andy's Gang. The shoes were "special." Back in those days I went to Catholic school and the nun's required us to wear shoes ... I mean real shoes ... "oxfords" we called them. Mom bought us Buster Brown shoes 'cause they would last the whole year!

The advertising line for Buster Brown was:

Hi! I'm Buster Brown. I live in a shoe.

That's my dog Tige. He lives in there too!

The Brown Shoe Company has been around for over 130 years. Today they also market Famous Footwear and Naturalizers, and they are a contract manufacturer for other shoe brands. But they are most well-known for the Buster Brown line of shoes.

In 1902, cartoonist Richard Outcault introduced a new comic strip character, a mischievous little rich boy named Buster Brown and his dog Tige. Two years later, at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair (famous for bringing the world hamburgers and ice cream cones) Outcault licensed the character to a number of companies, including the Brown Shoe Company. (Click here for a History of Buster Brown Shoes.)

Andy Devine and Froggie

By 1953 we had TV in Hawaii and I got to watch the "Buster Brown Show." My favorite was Froggie the Gremlin ... Plunk your magic twanger Froggie! Then there was the cat that could talk ... it said Niiice. The original show, which started in 1950, was hosted by Smilin' Ed. After Ed’s death in 1953, Andy Devine became the show's host. Watching the Buster Brown Show was a Saturday morning ritual for me. In 1956, Buster Brown Shoes became a pioneering sponsor of the “Captain Kangaroo Show."

All this came to mind when I saw this advertising piece in an auction. It is a tin display sign about 12 inches tall. Wish I could bid on it, but it is estimated to sell between $900 and $1400!!! I don't want it that much, but Buster Brown memorabilia does get premium pricing in the collectors' market.

Here are a few images for your enjoyment.

Display piece with Buster Brown and his dog Tige

Postcard from 1907 advertising Buster Brown Shoes (Courtesy riptheskull on flickriver)

Buster Brown Comic Books were another piece of clever merchandising (Courtesy stwallskull)

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Advertising circa 1900

I was doing some family history research in newspapers from Hawaii circa 1900 and found these ads. I thought these were kind of interesting ... so I thought I'd pass them along.

Congo Gnat Oil? (1902)

"Swell Hats" for the well-dressed Hawaiian Victorian lady (1900)

Cannot figure who is more the dandy ... the poodle or the gent? (1894)

Seems like you can still buy these in Hawaii today (1900)

Cheap Fashion ... 1900 style

Wine ... Vintage 1902 ... the finest tonic and invigorant!

FYI: I research old newspaper on a Library of Congress website: Chronicling America. It has digitized newspapers from 1836 to 1922, and a directory of newspapers as far back as 1670. Great research resource.