Blogs - Canita M. Pro Writer

The "Perfect" Pineapple Tablecloth

6/11/2014

It was about 1985 when my mother decided to make this pineapple pattern tablecloth. The cost of yarn was on the rise. I remember her saying “This will cost me about $100.00.” The 18 balls of J & P Coats yarn cost approx. $3.95 each for 250 yards of yarn. Then add the cost of a size 7 crochet needle. Yep, that works out about right.

I went into Youth with a Mission (YWAM) for the DTS training (Discipleship Training Service) which took six months. It was after I returned and moved to Tulsa, OK for a couple of months, that I remember seeing the almost completed tablecloth. I found out she had ended up purchasing one extra ball of yarn, taking it over the price she had intended to pay for this project. My mother was a person who “counted the cost.” I was around for the completion of the project.

I remember the conversation about why that last pineapple would not be completed, she was not going to pay $4.00 more for another ball of yarn when she would have over half left at the end of the project! She knew then that she would NOT be doing another project with this yarn size. This pattern is labeled “for advanced crochet skills”…

My mother’s passion was quilting. ;)

  HISTORY:

     Little is known of crochet's early history. It seems likely that the earliest crochet was made using fingers, rather than the hooks used today. There are theories that crochet could have existed as early as 1500 BC, as part of a nun's work, which included needlepoint lace and bobbin lace.
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/85872

      The word crochet is derived from the French word 'croche', meaning hook. Crocheting, like knitting, consists of pulling loops of material through other loops, but additionally incorporates wrapping the working material around the hook one or more times. Crochet differs from knitting in that only one stitch is active at one time. Crochet has its own system of symbols to represent stitch types.

This crocheted pineapple pattern tablecloth is a part of my inheritance, just as it is, in its unfinished state, which makes it all the more special to me, since I know why it is unfinished. :) With my mother being the breadwinner and five children in the family, I know how tight finances were.

We seem to always want everything to be perfect, but sometimes, the best “memory items” are the ones we remember,

because of their imperfections. :)

-The GA Gang

Buckeye Force Pumps

5/28/2014

One of our Vendors brought this antique, very rare, cast iron Buckeye Force Pump into Grandma’s Attic. This pump was made by Mast, Foos and Company, of Springfield, Ohio. The number on the pump is No. 215. It appears that this was a style number and not a pump number for there were several No. 215 pumps. The patent dates were 1872 to 1881 making this an authentic antique.

The Buckeye Company was considered the greatest mechanical and manufacturing enterprise of its time. Mr. Phineas P. Mast, partner, designer and producer of these pumps, was a businessman and banker. He seems to have had the Midas touch, for everything he did turned to money. He and partner John Thomas, a lawyer, invented a Grain drill, cultivator, and cider mill. Later, Thomas passed his interest to Mast. In 1875, Mr. Mast joined forces with Foos and Company, inventions that came from this union were lawnmowers, iron fences, iron turbines, and...Buckeye Force Pumps.

There was poetry written in honor of the Mast-Foos & Company and the force iron pump. The following is a copy of a postcard from a Mr. Jonathan
Gump.

Do you have any stories about antique water pumps like this? Leave us a comment below, we'd love to hear from you!

"It's Al-man-zo, not Al-mon-zo"

5/21/2014

Our day in Mansfield, Mo.

Since we found that Dabbs’ date of death was missing from his headstone, we have been on the search for information. A few weeks ago, our search led us to Mansfield, Missouri, Southeast of Springfield, where two of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s homes are located. Laura Ingalls Wilder wrote the Little House on the Prairie books, which is what the television show “Little House on the Prairie” was based on. We really enjoyed our day at Rocky Ridge Farm.

One of the things I found interesting was that Laura’s husband’s name was pronounced Al-”man”-zo not Al-”mon”-zo. It seems creating a role for television made a change in the way the name is pronounced.

I fell in love with the rock house that Laura and Almanzo’s daughter, Rose, had built for them as a retirement home. The front opening up for air flow and overlooking a beautiful valley, the water cistern, the stone, and even the design by the stone mason when he put the rock together all show that the home was built with love.

The builder put these unique trowel marks on the entire house between the rocks.

While we were in the museum, we found out that we have a few items in Grandma’s Attic that are similar to, or exactly like, some of Laura and Rose’s favorite possessions.

There were pieces of Depression glass throughout the rock house.

All of these pieces of Depression glass are for sale at Grandma's Attic

In the museum, there was a leather postcard.

In the corner of the museum displaying Rose’s possessions, there was a set of Stangl “blueberry” pottery dishes.

There was a lovely lilac bush in the front yard of Laura and Almanzo’s original farm house. This house was a house built with love over time. The kitchen had first been attached to a log cabin then moved across the yard to be the beginning of what grew into a farm house over time, complete with a library and music room.

We ended the day with a visit to Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company’s village which is also located in Mansfield, Missouri. It is a fun village, where you learn the story of how it started with a seed finding trip, and now has hundreds of varieties of natural seeds.

Building at Baker Creek Village

With annual weekend festivals at Baker Creek and the prospect of more exploration of the Rock House....

Mansfield is one up for a second visit from me!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Baker-Creek-Heirloom-Seed-Company/155935376162?fref=photo

http://www.rareseeds.com/

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Ingalls-Wilder-Historic-Home-and-Museum/166413716755023

Patchwork Stories

5/7/2014

Those who are quilters or have been around quilters know that no one would ever be able to really pay the price that a quilt is worth, especially if it is stitched by hand.

Quilting takes lots of time and much energy, and then to top that off, quilts often have stories attached to them, for instance, the material may be clothing that was worn by a loved one, the quilt was made by someone special, or maybe the quilt was even used in connection with the “Underground railroad” as a way to communicate. Some quilts are priceless because of the story that goes along with them.

My mother was a quilter. She had callouses on her thumb and middle finger of her right hand, worn by the needle from quilting so much. She had a favorite thimble she wore on her middle finger on her right hand. She loved to quilt and also loved the finished product. It relaxed her. Of course, since she loved it, she wanted to introduce her daughters to it. I can quilt, and know how to do it right but, alas it is just not my thing.

I do have a love for a beautiful quilt though.

Below are the stories of three quilts from my house;

The first quilt that I would like to share with you, is the one my mother used to teach me to quilt. That alone is enough to make it special, but it is also important to me for several more reasons. The top was made by my grandmother, Irene Rosadena McBride – Wilson (1908 -1979), when she was about 13 years old. It is made of cotton and is in the design of airplanes on an emerald green back. My mother gave the top to me and promised to teach me to quilt. If you examine this quilt, it’s very plain who quilted where. My mother who weaved that material six times onto the needle before pulling it through and me barely getting four stitches on the needle before pulling it through. :) This quilt is really showing wear due to some of the pieces of material wearing thin quickly as well as the fact that the pieces were well worn before the quilt was ever finished. It may look ragged, but I love it.

Then there is the quilt of my teens; this quilt took on many stories before its completion. When I reached my teen years I would spend a lot of time with my Aunt Dot. We wrote often, and I would spend weekends with her in South Texas in the Big Thicket. We decided we would both do a quilt of the 50 states. We would embroider the blocks and then piece it together. For years we would account what states we had embroidered. Time passed and Aunt Dot completed her blocks. I went overseas on missions and put the squares I had completed into a donation box.

My Aunt became sick and her brothers and sisters went to South Texas to visit her. While my mother was there, my Aunt gave her the quilt, as well as some lilac material to use for backing, and asked her to finish it. My mother began to quilt it, and before it was finished my Aunt Dot passed away. The last square on the Lilac quilt is Texas. I was born in Texas and my Aunt Dot lived in Texas most of her life. For my 45th birthday my mother gave me the completed quilt. I’m crying as I write this because God is so good to me. He brought the quilt to me.

In my eyes, this is a priceless quilt.

Last, is my inherited quilt; this quilt is blue with ducks. I loved this quilt before it ever came out of the quilting frames. Momma had traced around the ducks in the squares she had bought and was stitching the outline in the blue squares that had no ducks. The back of this quilt is almost prettier than the front. She quilted the part of the block outside the outline in a triangle design. When my mother passed, I inherited this quilt, with much begging, (that’s another story). :)

My mother had created a design of her own for quilting, most of her quilts are quilted in a rainbow design, visible on the 50 states quilt above. She made quilts for all five of her children and her twelve grandchildren and then made arrangements to give them as a graduation gift when they graduated from high school.

So you may wonder why a quilt can cost so much.

Unless you know a quilter or are a quilter you may not realize
that a LOT of love, time, and stories goes into those quilts…

but when a quilter buys a quilt…

they can feel that love.

The Many Faces of Bakelite

4/30/2014

Bakelite (Bay-ka-lite) was created as a replacement for Shellac. It is an early form of plastic. It was created by Dr. Leo Baekeland. He started the Bakelite Company in 1910. Bakelite was fashionable during the Depression. It was in its glory days in the 1930’s and 40’s. Bakelite was first used on pool balls, insulators, buttons, and many other items.

Vintage Black Stromberg-Carlson Rotary Phone, For sale at Grandma's Attic. $48.50

Bakelite comes in over 100 individual solid colors and in three forms; transparent, translucent or opaque.

There is also "Marbled Bakelite"-
which is a combination of two or more solid colors in a swirled pattern,

"Apple Juice Bakelite"-
which is simply clear Bakelite that has oxidized, and

"Stardust Bakelite"-
which is Bakelite with flecks of metallic materials the size of either confetti or fine glitter throughout.

Bakelite is most commonly found in the Apple Juice color.

1920's Bakelite Dog Pencil Sharpener, for sale at GA. $50.00

There is also a color alternately called “Jazz” or “Variegated”, it is what was left over at the end of the day all muddled together, hence the more common name “End of Day”. Bakelite is easily carved by hand and machine.

Remember our blog post about using your five senses
to identify real vs. fake vintage items?

Here’s how you can use a few of those senses to identify Bakelite;

FEEL:
Rub a piece between your thumb and your hand, until it gets warm, and then smell it.
Bakelite should smell like burnt hair or formaldehyde. Immersing the item in hot water should have the same effect of bringing out the smell. Also, Bakelite should be slightly heavy.

Green Bakelite Key Chains, for sale at GA. $12.99

HEAR:
When hitting two pieces together there should be a “clunk” sound. If you hit Bakelite and say, rubber, together it will sound differently. Make sure both items are either in your hands or both sitting on the same surface. Don’t place one on the counter and one in your hand, or it won’t work (Ask me how I know this). ;)

1920's Black Dog Pencil Sharpener, for sale at GA. $45.00

SEE:
Take a q-tip and dip into “Formula 409” or “Scrubbing Bubbles” bathroom cleaner and rub the Bakelite, it should turn yellow. Bakelite colors will change with age. A turquoise will become green. Black Bakelite is harder to test.
Older pieces of Bakelite will have minor scratching and wear.

2) Bakelite Handled Cutlery Knives, for sale at GA. $3.50

When I started this post, I only knew of one item in our store that was Bakelite. Before the blog was completed we have found at least four more items made from Bakelite.

The hunt for the Bakelite,
the testing of the items, and
the correlation of the information
made for an enjoyable afternoon.

Teaching is the best form of learning.

Go for a hunt and see if you can find some
interesting way Bakelite was used!

Camp Crowder Creators

4/15/2014

About 6 months ago, we came across a picture of a carpenter crew from Camp Crowder, in Neosho, Mo. Dated 3/27/1942. (V. R. Moore, Senior Foreman and Henry V. Rogues, Foreman.)

This picture is currently for sale at Grandma's Attic. $10.00

We started talking about Camp Crowder with Earnie and Loretta of “Finders Keepers”, (Some vendors at Grandma’s Attic). They were kind enough to lend us a book they have on Camp Crowder. The book was published by Newton Country Historical Society in 2006, and is titled “From Camp Crowder to Crowder College.” It was compiled by Larry A. James.

While researching Camp Crowder, we came across some interesting information.

One fact that stood out to us was that the creator of Beetle Bailey and the creator of the Dick Van Dyke Show have a common thread with a local institution here close by Anderson, Missouri, where Grandma’s Attic is located.

The cartoonist Mort Walker, of Beetle Bailey, and writer Carl Reiner, of the Dick Van Dyke Show both drew inspiration for their creative interests from their time at Camp Crowder. Most of the humor in Beetle Bailey revolves around the inept characters stationed at “Camp Swampy” (inspired by Camp Crowder). The Dick Van Dyke show was based on Carl Reiner’s professional and personal life. Both Reiner and Walker were stationed at Camp Crowder in Neosho, Missouri while it was being used as a military training facility.

Another local personality became attached to Camp Crowder through one of these creators, Carl Reiner. Actor Robert William “Dabbs” Greer, who was raised here in town and laid to rest in a local cemetery, was the minister on the Dick Van Dyke Show who married the characters of Rob Petrie and Laura Meehan. (He was also the minister who married the characters Mike Brady and Carol Ann Taylor Martin on The Brady Bunch.) :)

{See our recent blog post on "Dabbs Greer & Anderson, MO" for more info.}

In the Dick Van Dyke Show, Dabbs played the Army chaplain of Camp Crowder, where he married Rob and Laura.

From May 15, 1941 to July 1, 1962, 10,240 acres south of Neosho in Newton County were known as "Camp Crowder" and used by the United States Military as a training compound. From April 2, 1963 to Present it has been known as "Crowder College." Many of the same buildings were used by both the military compound and the college.

Image Credit: http://shepquest.files.wordpress.com/

Crowder College is only approximately fifteen minutes’ drive Northeast of Grandma’s Attic, in Neosho, Missouri. Next time you stop in to visit us, you might want to leave some extra time to check out the local history surrounding Crowder....

The college and the camp.

Dabbs Greer & Anderson, MO

4/8/2014

Robert William “Dabbs” Greer
(April 2, 1917 – April 28, 2007)

Image from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This very familiar face has been seen in films and especially on TV for fifty years. This American actor was a sort of "everyman" in his roles and played merchants, preachers, businessmen, and other "pillars of the community" types as well as assorted villains. With his plain looking face and wavy hair he was a solid supporting actor. His distinctive, mellow, southern-accented voice fit well in shows featuring rustic characters, such as westerns. He also was portrayed on other shows as a minister, and is probably best remembered as the Reverend Robert Alden in NBC's Little House on the Prairie.

Greer in 1954//From Wikipedia

Dabbs was born in Fairview, Missouri (which is about 200 miles north and East of Anderson, Mo.), but he was reared in Anderson, Missouri. He was the only child of a pharmacist father, Randall Alexander Greer, and a speech therapist mother,
Bernice Irene. It is said that he got his stage name, "Dabbs", from his grandmother, who's maiden name was Dabbs.

http://www.riflemanconnors.com/dabbs_greer.htm

His first acting experience was on stage in a children's theatre production when he was eight years old. He made his film debut as an extra in the 1938 film Jesse James, which was filmed mainly in Pineville, Missouri. "They were paying $5 a day – a day! – to local people for being extras. That was really good money in those days, more money than we had seen in a long time," Dabbs told the Neosho Daily News in 2002.

He attended Drury College in Springfield, Missouri, where he earned a BA. He was a member of Theta Kappa Nu, and headed the drama department and Little Theatre in Mountain Grove, Missouri, from 1940-43. He then moved on to the famed Pasadena Playhouse in California as actor, instructor and administrator from 1943-50. He made his film debut in Reign of Terror (1949) (aka "The Black Book") in an uncredited bit part and went on to appear in many parts during the next 50 years. Greer's last feature film was a prominent role as the 108-year-old version of the character played by Tom Hanks in 1999's The Green Mile – 61 years after Greer was an extra in the 1938 film Jesse James. Greer's last television performance was in a 2003 episode of Lizzie McGuire.

http://www.riflemanconnors.com/dabbs_greer.htm

Dabbs played in many supporting roles, but was not a lead actor.
One quote attributed to him is

"Every character actor,
in their own little sphere,
is the lead."

And although Mr. Greer may not have played in big roles,
it's fair to say that he was pretty important.
After all, who else could have married

Rob & Laura Petrie on "The Dick Van Dyke Show"
And
Mr. & Mrs. Brady on "The Brady Bunch". :)

As a side note, in the pictures below, on the left, he is playing the role of the Army chaplain at Camp Crowder, in Neosho, Missouri, which is only approx. 15 minutes North of Anderson.

In 2007, at the age of 90, he died at Huntington Hospital after a losing battle with liver and heart disease. Greer never married and had no survivors. His resting place is Peace Valley Cemetery in Anderson, MO. Grandma’s Attic is located in Anderson, and we are proud to say that Dabbs Greer was raised here and is buried in a local cemetery.

Dabbs Greer, in the 1999 movie, The Green Mile//From Wikipedia

The cemetery is approx. 2 miles from Grandma's Attic, if you happen to be in the area and would like to visit his resting place, we'd be more than happy to give you directions! You might also enjoy a visit to "Dabbs Greer Town Hole Park" just off Main Street in Anderson.

We have enjoyed researching the life of Mr. Greer, and we hope you enjoy reading about it as well!

The Working Girl & The Railroad Diner

4/1/2014

You may wonder,
“What do the working girl and the Railroad diner have in common?”

The answer is an Englishman, Fred Harvey and the Santa Fe Railroad. Fred Harvey’s dream and partnership with the Santa Fe Railroad helped to civilize the West.

The late 1800’s to early 1900’s was a time of change for women. Women won the right to wear pants in 1868. Women’s liberation came into the picture in the late 1800’s. Women’s suffrage movement was in full swing in 1904. On August 26, 1920, women won the right to vote. During this time, women were hitting the work force looking for respectable jobs. The Harvey Girls were a big part of that movement.

Between 1890 and 1945 a girl wanting to work outside the home had only a few choices of work; store clerk, maid, secretary, or saloon girl. The higher paying jobs being a teacher or waitress. Read what the qualifications were to be met to hold these jobs.

For a teaching position:

“WANTED: Young women of good moral character, well-educated, ages 18 to 30. You will not marry during the term of your contract, you are not to keep company with men, and you must be home between the hours of 8 PM and 6 AM unless at a school function. You may not loiter downtown in any of the ice cream stores, and you may not travel beyond the city limits unless you have permission of the chairman of the school board. You may not smoke cigarettes, dress in bright colors, and under no circumstances dye your hair, you must wear at least 2 petticoats, and you may not wear a dress shorter than 2 inches above the ankles.”

And to be a waitress for Fred Harvey:

WANTED: Young women, 18 to 30 years of age, well- educated, have good manners, neat, of good moral character, attractive, and intelligent. We pay $17.50 per month with room and board. Liberal tips customary. Curfews are 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Friday and Midnight on Saturday nights. There can be special excursions with a chaperone. Experience is not necessary. No chewing gum. Uniform provided and laundered. Rail passes provided. You must sign a twelve, nine or six month agreement. If you chose to marry during this time, you will forfeit half your pay, as well as your railroad pass.

Fred Harvey had a dream to make fine dining available to the masses. Teaming up with the Santa Fe railroad his dream became a reality with “the Harvey way” of doing things. The railroad would provide the building for the restaurants; furnish free freighting of food, ice, coal, water and transportation of employees. Mr. Harvey provided the equipment, workers and of course, the food. Train crews could eat at Harvey Houses by using the coupons that Mr. Harvey provided for them. Santa Fe railroad benefited from this arrangement with Mr. Harvey because people soon discovered they could get great food when they traveled the Santa Fe rails.

The peak of Fred Harvey and the Santa Fe’s quest to civilize the West was from approx. 1877 to end of WWII (May 8, 1945). 1877 to the Great Depression (Aug. 1929 to 1933-34) business was great, but during the Great Depression they had to close several restaurants. Mr. Harvey approached the railroad about having dining cars on the trains. Many chefs and waitresses needing work began working on the dining cars.

The restaurants were beginning to recover when WWII hit and there was a boom for Fred Harvey, the Harvey girls, the restaurants, and the Santa Fe railroad. The railroads were used to transport our soldiers. “The Harvey way” and the high standards that went along with it were lost during the war because of the great demands on the girls and restaurants. The close of the war and the arrival of automobiles ended the Fred Harvey Restaurants, but the "Harvey Way" lived on in the dining car.

Grandma’s Attic recently came across a copy of the menu and a milk bottle from the Fred Harvey era.

If you’d like to read more about the Harvey Girls, check out The Harvey Girls, by Juddi Morris, copyright 1994. We have had the opportunity to read this book recently, and it’s definitely a very interesting time in our history and it is fun to go back in time to see what it would have been like to be a Harvey House employee! So, what are you waiting for? Do some research of your own and then get out there and see if you can find some “Fred Harvey” memorabilia! :)

Broom Zombies

3/18/2014

I remember the first time I saw a broom standing without a person partnering it. I was visiting my sister and noticed that she had brooms just standing around.

Image borrowed from luckypalm.com

Image borrowed from: ridgidforum.com/forum/t28529/

Of course, I asked, “What’s with the brooms?”
I was thinking maybe a science fair project or a magic trick.
She replied, “Oh, Gregg came home and started standing all the brooms up. He has discovered that for a certain time of
the year brooms will stand alone.”

Image borrowed from meanderingthoughtsabound.blogspot.com

As I write about this I think of the witch hunts. Did they see a broom standing alone and think to themselves, "Couldn't only a witch make a broom stand alone with their magic?" It would surely have added to the troubles they were having at that time. :)

So, here's how I understand this phenomenon:
There is a planetary alignment where the magnetic poles shift. In March the sun is aligned with the equator. On March the 20th, the first day of Spring, the sun is perfectly aligned.

The story goes that in 2009 a lady in Prattville, AL discovered that for a couple of weeks in March, a broom will stand alone after the initial stand,(even the slanted ones). On March 20th, it is stated that you can stand an egg on end because it perfectly balances on a surface.

Image borrowed from http://hungerhunger.blogspot.com

Well, it’s that time of year, get your brooms out! Then on the 20th gather the children and amaze them by standing an egg on its end! It may be the "First Day of Spring" that they will remember forever! :)

Shaking Quakers

3/13/2014

They are a Christian sect which are said to be an offshoot of the Quaker’s. They began in the 1780’s and were at their height in the 1840’s. They were hard working and industrious people. One of their industries was making furniture. They are known for their plain, simple, durable, innovative joinery, quality, and functionality in furniture.

Photo borrowed from Wikipedia

Their industry brought about the invention of the Shaker’s peg and ladder back chairs (Made out of pine and inexpensive woods),

Photo borrowed from the Internet

flat brooms,

Photo borrowed from http://www.flickr.com/photos/22844545@N02/2215335661/

circular saws,

Photo borrowed from http://ready4thehouse.blogspot.com/2010/08/shaker-core.html

rotary harrows,

Photo borrowed from simplicityva.com

and clothes pins.

Photo borrowed from http://deannamoyers.ecrater.com/

They used the "Shaker pegs" to hang up clothes, hats, and very light furniture, such as a chair, when not in use.

Here at Grandma's Attic we have come across a couple of Shaker pieces. One is a very functional chair, this fine craftsmanship is available for $25.00.

The other Shaker piece we currently have is this simple and functional Antique Shaker's sewing stand for $125.00. Come and check out our Shaker's items at Grandma's Attic, Exit 10, Anderson, Mo.

In the land of Abraham Lincoln, Illinois, I visited a museum and a part of that museum, was a church called the "Shakers." That is the first I had heard of them. Curious to why they were called Shakers, I started my research.

"Give me the real McCoy!"

2/25/2014

If you’re like me, you may wonder why people would say; “I want the Real McCoy.”

I found out the answer when I worked at Greenfield Village in Michigan. A Railroad buff might know.

Elijah McCoy was the man behind that phrase. He settled in Ypsilanti, MI and worked as an oiler for the Central Railroad. He invented an automatic lubricator for trains. As years passed other lubricators were invented but, railroad people would ask for Eli McCoy’s lubricators by saying; “Give me the real McCoy.”

Elijah was also the inventor of the folding ironing board and the lawn sprinkler. Now you know what we mean when we say; “The Real McCoy.” :)

Treasure Hunting Tools

2/21/2014

Two tools you might want to have on hand when hunting antiques; the Jeweler’s eye Loupe magnifier and a magnet.

Image from Amazon.com

Image from Amazon.com

The jeweler’s eye Loupe magnifier helps with finding that .925 mark on jewelry. It also helps with distinguishing those hard to read maker’s marks. A good loupe is a 10X with LED light which is approx. $5.00.

Image from Amazon.com

The magnet is used to quickly tell what type of metal you are dealing with; aluminum, brass and copper are not magnetic and steel is magnetic. You can find a magnet with an aluminum body and chain (9/16” Hex X 2 ½ “long) solid steel that pulls 4 lbs for approx. $6.25 for 5 around the internet.

We wouldn't consider this too high a price for great treasure hunting tools, how about you? :)

How we came to know, what we know….

2/21/2014

We were raised on a rural farm, in a subculture, in Oklahoma. We were poor when it came to money. We were rich in many other ways. We ate well, we butchered a cow every spring and a pig every fall, throughout the years we had goats, cows, and raised big gardens with holly hocks growing in the fence lines. Steak, potatoes, and milk were regulars at our table. There are five healthy adults running around because of the sacrifices made by parents, grandparents, and generations of family. Most importantly we were taught about Jesus, which makes us very wealthy.

It was the summer of 1970 when my mother brought the first black and white television into our home. She sold Avon and one of her customers gave the television to her when they upgraded. Television came into being July 2, 1928 and forty two (42) years later, it made it into our home.

When we were young, we did not realize that lots of the modern conveniences that made it to our home were vintage or antique before we saw or used them. Our first washing machine was an electric wringer washer and three square tubs. It was 1932 when the first electric washing machines arrived on the market in the USA. It arrived in our home thirty nine (39) years later. Oh, what a blessing, with seven people for which to do laundry, going from doing some everyday, to just being an all day Saturday chore. What a great device!

When we began, Grandma’s Attic, in 2010 we began to realize we were raised on antiques. Many of the items introduced into our home were vintage or antique when they arrived. We knew what it was and how to use it because it had been a part of our home. We have learned more about vintage items and antiques from family, friends, mentors, vendors, customers and the internet. We have asked questions and hit the internet to check if it would hold true. If the item was available we would test it. In these blogs, you will find things that we have tested and found true as we know it. We would love to add your knowledge, to what we know, if you’re sharing. Mostly, we hope you enjoy what we (the GA gang) are sharing. :)

Using the Five Senses

2/21/2014

Identifying vintage and antique items means using all five of the senses, maybe not all on all items, but all at some time or the other. You need to see, feel, smell, hear, and yes, at times taste an item to see if it holds true.

Feeling is the first thing I remember learning to use to identify items. I watched a show on TV where they released buyers into an antiques store to see who would come back with the real items. The items they had to identify were cut vs. pressed glass. The way to identify cut glass was feeling. If it was cut it would have crisp sharp edges and the pressed glass would be dull. Visual and weight have a lot to do with identifying these items also.

Smell was very interesting to me. It had to do with ivory. We had some mirrors come through that were marked ivory. Were we able to sell this item with the ivory laws? Was it really ivory or something else? The internet was helpful in this search. There is a test of warm water, twenty minutes, a quick rub, and the smell. I went to work on items that were ivory. Real ivory smells pungent like dental drilling, teeth and horns are made from the same materials. If it is not ivory it smells like resin or burning plastic. Weight and textures are factors determining authenticity also. There are other ways to determine if it is ivory, the destructive burn test, understanding cross hatch and reading the signs with black light.

Seeing is one that we rely on the most. Things like; ‘Does it have a bar code?’ is a good visual clue. Bar codes arrived in Cincinnati, OH in the grocery stores in 1972. Prior to 1972 items were not marked with those black and white 11 digit codes. Look for those bar codes. This only works on some items. What about those glass items? Glass takes you back to those Humanities course in High School or College. How well do you know your history? Black lighting or memorizing those design books seems to be the only ways to recognize those special glass items.

Hearing is one that we found out about when the guy on the Ed Sullivan show played those crystal glasses and made a recognizable tune. Crystal can be tapped and if it is the real deal it will sing for you. It’s amazing what a thump can tell. I first learned about thumping at the grocery store. Thump that watermelon. You can be pretty accurate with it over time. You have to thump a lot of melons to learn to recognize the sound. When I test an item, more often than not will thump or tap it, listening for a familiar sound.

Tasting well, maybe not really tasting, but using the mouth and yes, you taste it too. I identify pearls from rubbing the pearl against my teeth. If it’s smooth it not the real deal and if it is rough or gritty it is the real deal.

So get out there and use your God given senses to start finding those great deals!

Disclaimer:

Information on this blog is information we have gained from talking to people, research we have done on the internet, tests we have performed on items, from family, friends and mentors, and from trial and error purchasing items and learning from our mistakes. To the best of our knowledge the information is true and factual. We are human and believe that as banks teach tellers to recognize counterfeit money by seeing, hearing, smelling, and feeling the real thing. We learn the most when we have the real thing from which to learn. We have not come across all the real things yet. We are open to hearing your opinion and facts. Mostly, we hope you enjoy hearing about what we are learning.