Vintage Thingie Thursday

Since it is back to school time I thought I would share a few school related items for today's Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you would like to join in or just look at the other vintage offerings be sure and go to Suzanne's blog by clicking on the VTT button on my sidebar.

The 12" ruler above received its patent number in September of 1930. The center section of it is marked off and shows the degrees of angles. The small 7" ruler was made by the American Pencil Co. and includes a timeline of important dates and illustrations. It shows the Norsemen for the year 1000, Columbus-1492, Magellan (?)-1520, I can't decipher the picture for 1541, St. Augustine-1565, and Jamestown-1607.

The reverse of the 12" ruler is called The Eyesaver and as you can see it is marked off in quarter inch segments making the measurements very easy to see.

This American History text book has a copyright of 1937 and belonged to my mother.

And no text book would be complete without a little bit of doodling. The flowers were cut into the book board with a sharp instrument before someone colored over them. I am not sure of the story behind that and the letters above the doodle make no sense...just another doodle I guess!

Vintage Thingie Thursday

For this week's VTT I thought I would share with you a little bit of the artistic side of old Las Vegas. I was there last week and came across the Neon Museum while taking in the sights of Fremont Street. The Neon Museum's mission is to collect, preserve, study and exhibit neon signs and associated artifacts to inspire educational and cultural enrichment for diverse members of our international community.
The following slide show contains only 4 of the more than 150 signs in the collection. You will notice that the signs are interesting in the daylight but really come alive after dark as does the whole city.

If you would like to read more about what is being done to preserve the magical neon architecture of Las Vegas, go to The Neon Museum Las Vegas.

If you would like to see more vintage items, click on the VTT button on the sidebar to go directly to Suzanne's blog, Colorado Lady.

Vintage Thingie Thursday

It's Vintage Thingie Thursday time again and I have some old advertising giveaways to share with you. Years ago retailers would offer items to their customers in appreciation of their patronage. Here are a few from my collection.

This tin cup with moveable handle still has its original box.

It comes from Woody's Drug Store in Duquesne, PA where you can get Pure Drugs-Fair Prices-and Good Service.

These little Esso pumps are salt and pepper shakers.

They were a freebie from West End Esso Station in Hopewell, VA.

This lovely lady came from Carver's Bakery in Boyertown, PA.

This is one of my favorites. I love the colors and the beautiful poppy on this plate. It comes from Bryant's Shoes in Petersburg, VA. It says "Bryant's Shoes are better. Once used, always used."

For more vintage collectibles go visit Suzanne's blog, ColoradoLady, by clicking on the VTT button on my sidebar. There you will find a list and links to other like-minded collectors.

Vintage Thingie Thursday

This is one of my favorite collectibles that I am sharing with you today. It is a stereoscope and stereo cards from the turn of the century.

A tidbit of history for you: At one time the stereoscope and view cards were found in every American home. From 1850 until World War I, the stereoscope allowed our forefathers to visit every corner of America and the world. It provides us with a three dimensional historical record of those 70 years.
The first stereoscope viewer was created in 1833 by Sir Charles Wheatstone a British inventor. In 1859, Oliver Wendell Holmes developed a compact, hand-held viewer and Joseph L. Bates of Boston made improvements and manufactured them. With advances in photography a new industry and form of entertainment was created. Del Phillips-National Stereoscopic Association Member

Stereo pictures are taken by means of a camera with two lenses. This provides two separate pictures 2.5 inches apart, about the distance between the eyes. Although the pictures appear the same, they are not. When looked at in a viewer, which has prismatic lenses, your eyes will blend the two views into one and the brain perceives it in three dimensions the same as normal vision. Del Phillips

This is my absolute favorite stereo card and quite a piece of Black Americana. The caption under the picture reads: "Dars ben tree two times, two tree times, and one Lawd kno how ma' times."
I count 18 children in the picture! What a family!!

Hope you have enjoyed my vintage selection today. If you would like to see more vintage offerings, just click on the VTT button on the sidebar to go to Suzanne's blog to see who is participating today.

Vintage Thingie Thursday

The glowing bride wore a vintage gown of crepe paper with a striped ribbon overlay. She carried a bouquet of exquisite crepe paper lilies. The groom was dapper in his suit of black crepe paper. They both lovingly adorned the top of my parents' wedding cake in the early 4o's.

If you would like to see more of Vintage Thingie Thursday just click on the button on my sidebar and it will take you directly to Suzanne's (coloradolady) blog with all of the listings.

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Welcome to Vintage Thingie Thursday the Red, White and Blue edition. After visiting with me, be sure to hop on over to Suzanne's blog for more vintage viewing. If you click on the VTT button on my sidebar it will take you there.

I had to look real hard to come up with something vintage that was red, white and blue and this is what I found. I'm sure a few of you will remember these stamp albums. This one is mine from my childhood and was never filled but makes a nice addition to my ephemera collection.
I found this info on the Protect America blog. It explains it nicely:

The Defense Postal Savings Stamp Albums were distributed by the U.S. Treasury, mostly through the Post Office Department. It was a way for the government to have the public help finance the war effort. War savings stamps were first issued in 1917, during World War I. In May, 1941, the America on Guard series appeared, consisting of 10, 25, 50 cents, $1 and $5 denominations. Use was encouraged as a way for the public to save money and at the same time contribute to the war effort.

School children would fill an "album" with $18.75 of low denomination stamps, 10-cents or 25-cents, and hand it in to the post office in exchange for a War Savings Bond, which would mature in 10 years to $25.00. Adults could buy larger denomination stamps, place them in correspondingly higher value "albums" and trade them in upon completion for $50.00, $100.00 or higher denomination War Savings Bonds. The program continued after the Second World War, ending in June 1970.

This particular album was printed in 1942.
Thanks for visiting and have a fun and safe Fourth.

Vintage Thingie Thursday

It's Vintage Thingie Thursday and time to share those things that make us happy, that make us smile, that make our husbands wonder why.....
My VTs today are butter molds. These wooden molds were both useful as well as decorative. The molds were soaked in water before adding the butter to them. This helped to keep the butter from sticking and made it easier to unmold. The earliest presses were hand carved and can be found in various motifs from cows to geometric designs. This round variety of molds came in 2 lb, 1 lb, 1/2 lb, and pat sizes.
The 1897 Sears Roebuck catalogue shows similar molds selling for 12-22 cents for the 1/2 lb size with the 1 lb size listed for 13-25 cents.

You can check out other fabulous finds by clicking on the VTT button on the sidebar. It will take you to Suzanne's blog-Colorado Lady.

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Check out Suzanne's blog for other VTT offerings.
Colorado Lady

Today I have an interesting treasure to share with you.

It is a collection of hymns for use of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was printed in Cincinnati by R.P. Thompson, Printer in 1847.

This is different than the hymnals that we are used to as it only contains the words to the hymns. The most worn section is the few pages of Christmas songs. I just wonder if a young child didn't grab and tear this in frustration of having to sit still during a service!

What amazes me about this book, even more than the date, is the fact that it only measures 2 1/2 inches by 3 1/4 inches and has 623 pages. Definitely purse or pocket size.

Vintage Thingie Thursday

It is time again to share our addictions and collections...it's Vintage Thingie Thursday! You can see lots of fun and interesting things by going over to Suzanne's blog, Colorado Lady, and visiting the blogs listed at the end of the VTT post.

This Belding Heminway sewing silks chest has been in my family as long as I can remember (and longer). I spent many hours playing with the spools of thread in the top drawer. It dates to pre-1930 as the company went out of business around the time of the depression.

The top drawer is full of those old wooden spools of colorful thread. The second drawer houses needle folders, buttons, rick rack and some seam binding. The lower drawer is home to more spools as well as buttons, lace and odds and ends.

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Is it Thursday again? Seems like just yesterday...
Update on the scale scoop: Thanks for all of your suggestions for ways to repurpose it. Unfortunately there is no place in my house that it can be used comfortably and outside in the yard is a definite "no". I have decided to talk Suzanne into buying it at my garage sale!! Think she'll go for it?
Be sure to check out all of the other vintage thingies by visiting Colorado Lady.

Today I have a fun and entertaining booklet to share with you. As the cover says, it contains reliable hints and suggestions for the household.

It was published in the early 1900's by the Rumford Chemical Works of Providence, RI.

This section gives you suggestions for proper and systematic methods of doing housework by offering a general outline to follow when cleaning your house. On Tuesday it suggests that the mistress must on this day undertake the care of the bedrooms, and also wash the breakfast dishes, so that the maid can devote all her time and attention to the washing. MAID???

Here's a tip for cleaning your rusty and blackened knives: use half a raw potato dipped in brickdust.

Did you know: Footstools placed under the table will prove a source of great comfort to short people at meal times.

Rubbing lamp chimneys with salt after washing gives them a surprising brilliancy.

Here is one of my favorites: To clean soiled wall paper, take half a loaf of bread and gently rub the soiled portions, working always in a downward direction. As soon as the bread is soiled cut off a thin slice. If you try this one, let me know how it works!!

And always remember that proper and systematic methods of doing housework would eliminate nearly one-half the labor from the home; but it is too often the case that the work is done whenever most convenient, and in some cases only when it is impossible to leave the task longer undone.

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Suzanne at Colorado Lady has chosen a theme for this week's Vintage Thingie Thursday. Her fun but difficult theme is What Was I Thinking?
If there was a prize for this, Suzanne would win hands down. You gotta check out her purchase. It is nothing like you have ever seen before! Way to go Suzanne!!!

Here is my What Was I Thinking? item. Thank goodness I didn't pay anything for this...I heisted it from my mom and dad's a long time ago. It is a galvanized scoop thingie (technical term) that attaches to a hanging scale. I believe that it is from an old store in my hometown.

My initial thought was to use it in the kitchen for veggies or something but after getting it home I decided it was way too big...sooo it has been sitting idle in storage and will be included in a garage sale in the near future. Can anyone think of a good repurpose for it?

Vintage Thingie Thursday

This week we take a peek into the laundry room but don't worry, I won't put you to work!









Every laundry room contained some clothespins, soap, some Dutch cleanser, and a clothes sprinkler. The little sprinkler was put on a bottle (ie Coke or Pepsi) full of water and used to dampen clean clothes and linens. The damp items were then rolled up and placed in a pile or laundry basket next to your ironing board. When that was done, the ironing could begin!

This is a close-up of the Old Dutch cleanser logo on the decorative cover for a can. It dates from the 50's.

The back of the clothespin box shows a date in the lower right hand corner of 1953. These have never been used.

The Octagon soap wrapper has an offer for a birthstone ring for only 35 cents! The fine print reads: Choose the sparkling imitation stone representing the month of your birth...beautiful setting of 14 karat, 1/40 rolled gold plate! Yours for only 35¢, including Government tax, and three wrappers from Octagon Laundry Soap. What a deal!

Be sure to visit Suzanne at ColoradoLady for the list of VTT offerings!

Vintage Thingie Thursday

I am so glad that it is time for Vintage Thingie Thursday again. It is the one thing that I really look forward to each week. It makes me feel so much better to know that I am not the only one who loves to be surrounded by good old-fashioned stuff! It does hurt a little when items that were my wedding presents are now considered vintage! Ouch!!
Check out more VTT by going to Suzanne's blog (Colorado Lady).

I pulled out a couple of fluting or ruffle irons to share with you today. These were popular during the mid to late 1800's and were used to press pleats into starched materials.

This is a rather common Geneva hand fluter made in Geneva, IL. It is considered a rocker style fluter for obvious reasons.

The underneath side of the base shows that it was patented in 1866. Can you imagine actually using these to iron ruffles....I don't even like to use an electric iron!

This is a machine style fluter.

To use it you would turn the handle as you quided the starched material through the double rollers...a lot faster than the rocker style!

This particular fluter was manufactured by H. Sauerbier and Sons of Newark, NJ.