Auctions, Antiques & Collectibles

1920's Valet Auto Strop Safety Razor - Blue Ribbon Malt Extract - Pabst Brewing Co.

2006-01-07T17:59:00.000-05:00

On the metal case it reads: "Dot's Vot Looie Uses Blue Ribbon Malt Extract". This is a rare vintage advertsing item - two reasons:

1) As an advertisement or premium for Blue Ribbon Malt Extract - owned by the Pabst Brewing Company. During prohibition (1920-1933), the Pabst Brewing Co. was offically dissolved and the company shifted all efforts to other manufacturing (soft drinks, non-alcoholic beer called Pablo, cheese, malt extract, etc.).

2) Endorsement from a long ago ... "Dot's Vot Looie Uses" is a Columbia Viva tonal 10 inch popular series record produced between 1923-1925 (#470D) by artist Art Linick

The razor reads: "Patented April 9, 1912" (underside, left) (I think that this razor was made in the 1920's) "Other Patents Pending" (underside, right) "Valet Auto Strop Razor"(front) " Auto Strop Safety Razor Co New York, U.S.A." (underside of flap)

Interestingly enough, the Auto Strop Safety Razor Co. filed suit for patent infringement against Gillette - they resolved it eventually by merging the two companies (1930).

Value: unknown
Sold: not yet - wanna buy it?
Category: Vintage

1876 Victorian Brass Door Bell w/ Eastlake Pull

2006-01-07T17:38:00.000-05:00

Brass ornate face with cast iron mount. There are three patent dates on the back of the mount. The last patent date is July 4, 1876. Bell is about 5 inches wide.

I'm not sure what the T-pull is made out of. A refrigerator magnet does NOT stick or pull to the front handle or to the plate. The T-pull was made at what looks like a crooked angle which you see in the photos - some pulls were made that way. T-pull is 3 x5 inches.

The iron mount was broken. I can advise though that there are 2 ways to fix it. 1) There is a ferris bonding product called FASTSTEEL. I came across it in Van Dykes Restorers website/catalog. There is also welding. This type of welding requires an experience cast iron welder. There are great references online for welders who specialize in antique cast iron welding. I would go with someone who has done work on antique cast iron not just cast iron that is made today.
Value: unknown Sold: eBay $133.50
Category: Vintage

Rare Vintage Rudolph Projector Toy Circa: 1939 w/box and Reels

2006-01-07T17:34:00.000-05:00

How exciting!

A rare toy from c1939 the year Montgomery Wards introduced Rudolph (book) as a promotional advertisement for their chain. Probably sold through the 1940's. This is a red plastic toy projector that's electric, with a standard light bulb and lens. Uses reels that are not quite the same as Viewmaster reels. The box converts to theater stage w/projection screen. Marked on the back:

"National Plastic Corp.
New York
Pat.Pend
Rudolph, C RLM"

It's a A Max Fleischer Creation,115volts 7 watts,No 303 Televue Film Projector, National Plastic Corp, New York 18, NY The reels come in black & white and color. I didn't have the whole set but some titles include: #2) Snow White [b&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;w]; #3) The Owl and the Pussy Cat [b&w]; #4) Jingle Bells [b&w]; #10) Rip Van Winkle [b&w]; #11) Tom Thumb [b&w]; #12) Ko Ko's Trip to the Moon [b&w]; #14) Robinson Carusoe[b&w]; #15) House That Jack Built[b&w]; #16) Winkin Willie [b&w]; #17) Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer [color]; #22) Pinocchio [color]; #23) THree Little Kittens [b&w]; #24) Old MacDonald Had a Farm [b&w]; #25) Old Mother Hubbard [b&w];

Value: unknown
Sold: eBay $64.55
Category: Vintage

Vintage Plastic Stagecoach / Wagon Toy

2006-01-07T16:25:00.000-05:00

Most likely the "Wells Fargo" About 11.5" long. Doors open and close. Wheels spin freely. Front end turns freely. Marked only with a "1" on the bottom. This coach is dusty/dirty just like the ol'west. Age is unknown.

Value: unknown
Sold: eBay $27.01
Category: Vintage

Vintage 50's 2-Tier Bowling Pin Lamps / Sconces

2006-01-07T15:48:00.000-05:00

Perfectly delightful decorative mid-century -Eames Era- lamps! Made by Modern. Sporting collapsible red and white metal tiered shades, they are approximately 20" tall and scream 1950's !

Value: unknown
Sold: eBay $71.00
Category: Vintage

Favorite Resources Sites

2005-10-22T19:47:00.000-04:00

Here's some of my favorite general sites I like to visit in dealing with antiques / collectibles. I'll be probably be adding to this list because these are the only ones that quickly come to mind.

General Research
- Google
- Tias
- Ruby Lane

For Auction News and Resources try:
- AuctionBytes

I'll post some really cool sites on specific antique topics at another time.

Vintage Garden Brass Water Sprinkler

2005-10-22T19:17:00.000-04:00

This old water sprinkler is marked with the manufacturer: "W.D. Allen Mfg. Co, Chicago USA" and name The "Ring". Top half looks like brass and the bottom some kind of regular metal. It measures 8-1/4 inches wide and 1-1/2 inches tall.

Value: unknown
Sold: eBay $8.50
Category: Vintage

Chalice - Jackson China, Paul McCobb Design

2005-10-22T18:44:00.000-04:00

This chalice or grail, I'm assuming, is a sugar bowl. Exquisitely designed by mid-century designer Paul McCobb (1918-1969) for Jackson China, Inc (1917 to 1987). Although I can't find the patterns exact name, it's very close to "Spindle" or "Eclipse". It's heavy - like restaurant ware. The mark has a date code but I can't quite make out the first letter. Looks like O2 which is the early 60's? Has a very modern (mod) feel! Groovy!

Value: unknown
Sold: eBay $6.95
Category: Vintage Collectible

U.S.S. West Virginia Photos 1910 to 1916

2005-02-07T13:59:00.000-05:00

These are original, vintage, large real hand-tinted photos - not reproductions. The original fore mast was replaced with a cage mast in 1910 which dates the photos from between 1910 to 1916 (when she was renamed Huntington). Each board has a stamp on the back that identifies the ship as the "U.S.S. West Virginia". The original USS West Virginia (ACR-5), a coal powered armored cruiser, was launched April 18, 1903. In 1916 she was renamed "Huntington" (CA-5), Pennsylvania class, to permit the assignment of her old name to a newly-authorized battleship, the West Virginia BB-48 launched 1921.

Value: unknown
Sold: eBay $12.51
Category: Vintage Collectible

Nambe Porringer (Bowl) and Serving Tray

2005-02-01T20:56:00.000-05:00

This filigree design Nambe Porringer (Bowl) and Serving Tray are discontinued, but Nambe still produces fine handcrafted items in metal, crystal, and porcelain for the home . These pieces are solid and very heavy. Nambe's heat-retentive properties distribute heat evenly, and can go from oven to table to keep your dishes warm. When they are in used condition, you can use Nambe polish (or Wilton) to bring back the shine. The bowl is stamp marked Nambe #212, the tray is Nambe #210.

Nambé (pronounced nom-BAY) was named after a village near Santa Fe in Northern New Mexico where the company was founded in 1951. You can visit their website http://www.nambe.com

Value: unknown
Sold: eBay Bowl-$23.00; Tray-$45.00
Category: Contemporary

Deep Cobalt Blue Ashtray marked 1935

2005-02-01T14:13:00.000-05:00

An absolutely gorgeous deep rich blue ashtray that measures 2-3/4 inches round, 3/4 inches deep and a 1 inch cigarette lip. It's marked "XMAS 1935". Also there is a capital M inside a circle. The mark is either for: Mosser Glass Company or Maryland Glass Corp, Baltimore, MD. who is known for their specialty in cobalt blue glass bottles and jars, and I have seen a glass cigarette box listed. Here are links to wonderful websites about Glass Factory Marks on Bottles and Heather's Nostalgic Antiques and Collectibles: Glass Marks Indentification Guide

Value:unknown
Sold: eBay $7.00
Category: Vintage Collectible

1940's Unity Lamp / Light for Fire Trucks

2005-01-31T13:51:00.000-05:00

This old time unity lamp made by the Unity Manufacturing Company comes from an estate of a long-time fireman. It looks very similar to the unity flood lights that were mounted on the fire trucks. It's a handheld light and fits over a large battery. After researching this item, I'm estimating circa 1940's for age . The front metal piece looks like brass under the paint. Click here to visit the Unity Mfg. Co. Historical Archives. The company was founded in 1918

Value: unknown
Sold: eBay $11.50
Category: Vintage Collectible

Rare Beetle Bailey U-Haul Comic Book

2005-01-25T16:59:00.000-05:00

1966 Rare Beetle Bailey U-Haul Advertising C-Book
8 pages of Beetle Bailey that exclusively advertise the use of U-Haul. A great collecting piece from Mori Walker. Copyright: 27-100 Copyright 5-66 Arcoa, Inc Printed in USA. Size is landscape: 5-1/4 x 8 inches

Sold: ebay $40.00+
Category: Vintage Collectible

William Hogarth (1697 - 1764)

2005-01-25T16:49:00.000-05:00

To Nature and Your Self Appeal Nor Learn of Others What to Feel

Hogarth was one of the great 18th century painters. His 1761 engraving "Time Smoking a Picture" is the artist’s commentary on the monetary value many in his time placed on items that showed evidence of age and decay. It reads within the image: As Statues moulder into Worth. PW

Underneath the image:
To Nature and Your Self Appeal
Nor Learn of Others What to Feel ANON

bottom left: WH Hogarth pinx
bottom right: J Moore Sculp
bottom: The London Printing and Publishing Company

Antique Embalming Table

2005-01-24T20:20:00.000-05:00

I don't know the exact age, but my research would lead me to believe between late 1800s to early 1930s. Door to Door embalming stopped and funeral homes became common around the 1930's. It appears to not be marked with any manufacturer. Constructed of wood, caining, leather and metal. Has tenon joinings. Metal pieces include extensions to the legs to give one end a lift to help fluids drain. These are height adjustable: Two Arm cuffs and one head piece. There is also at both ends metal frames my guess is to drape something on. I'm not sure of the metal types.

Value: unknown
Sold: eBay $163.52
Category: Vintage, Antique

Jennings Brothers Art Nouveau Candlesticks

2005-01-24T19:59:00.000-05:00

Old Jennings Brothers Art Nouveau candlesticks with a the JB mark under the base - J.B. 539. They are 4-1/4 inches at its highest point and the base is 3-5/8 inches wide. I'm unsure of the metal type. It's plated with something but the base metal may be pewter (it is "soft"). There is a small cup on the inside of one. Jennings Brothers Mfg Co of Bridgeport, CT were makers of items including table hollowware, lamps, clocks, toiletry items. J.B. is there trademark circa 1900.

Value: unknown
Sold: ebay $9.95
Category: Antique

Welcome Adventurer!

2005-01-21T20:03:00.000-05:00

Ever been frustrated trying to find out information about a antique or collectible? I figured my countless hours of research and experience should be shared, not wasted, in an effort to confront those frustrating times when I could not find any information on an item I had just purchased. Feel free to browse, comment, and email to the posts on this blog. I'll provide resources and photos when I can.