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

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

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

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&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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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