- Published on
Just the other day, a thimble arrived at Grandma’s Attic. It has a small piece of extra metal attached to it, which made it a curiosity to us. The thimble also has the word “Vernon” on it. We started searching under gadget thimbles and came across the Lillian Vernon thimble. This explained the “Vernon” but now, how was it used?
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It was described as a gilded brass thimble with a needle gripper or pusher horizontally on the band. Mathis refers to it as the 'Magic Thimble'. Some brass examples have © Vernon on the band. This is not the maker's name, rather the name of the retailer - Lilian Vernon - in New York. There are diamond patterns on the gripper.
I saw little information as to how the thimble was used and what made it special, so I went on the search for more information.
One of the ads I saw had the word “grippers” in it.
When I searched for thimbles with grippers I found this patented thimble's details appear in Greif - the patent was taken out in Germany by Walter Schultz, the Patent No. is 577590. "It is a thimble with a device to pull the needle. A small spring, double barred, rough on one side, about three millimeters wide, is attached to the side of the thimble. A needle is clamped lightly between the spring and thimble. This aids in withdrawing the needle from tough material".
I saw little information as to how the thimble was used and what made it special, so I went on the search for more information.
One of the ads I saw had the word “grippers” in it.
When I searched for thimbles with grippers I found this patented thimble's details appear in Greif - the patent was taken out in Germany by Walter Schultz, the Patent No. is 577590. "It is a thimble with a device to pull the needle. A small spring, double barred, rough on one side, about three millimeters wide, is attached to the side of the thimble. A needle is clamped lightly between the spring and thimble. This aids in withdrawing the needle from tough material".
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It was patented [No. 562,730 of 23 June 1896] by Uriah A. Knauss of Pennsylvania, USA
A similar gripper was patented [no 193257], in the USA on 25 December 1962, by Henry Burbig [Burig] of New York.
A similar gripper was patented [no 193257], in the USA on 25 December 1962, by Henry Burbig [Burig] of New York.
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A third version is made in Germany but marketed in the USA by the Heddy Corporation of New Jersey as the Heddy Handy Thimble.
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courtesy photo
There appears to be several different designs of the “gadget” or “gripper” thimbles.
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After reading the “Heddy” Thimble instructions, and some help from my employee, I finally understood how the thimble was used.
Having learned to quilt with wool cloth and having patched a few pairs of jeans, I can see the genius of this item! “Tough” was the key word in the ad. You would insert the “eye end” of the needle into the “gripper” and that would give you the extra grip to pull the needle through the tough material. It’s pretty neat once you get the hang of it!
This is an example of a search on the internet producing a satisfactory find. It makes you feel as if you have achieved something. If your search is unfruitful it can be pretty frustrating. Here at GA, we have discovered that sometimes putting the item aside for a while and returning to your search on another day will help you to be more successful in your discovery.
Happy Hunting.
Having learned to quilt with wool cloth and having patched a few pairs of jeans, I can see the genius of this item! “Tough” was the key word in the ad. You would insert the “eye end” of the needle into the “gripper” and that would give you the extra grip to pull the needle through the tough material. It’s pretty neat once you get the hang of it!
This is an example of a search on the internet producing a satisfactory find. It makes you feel as if you have achieved something. If your search is unfruitful it can be pretty frustrating. Here at GA, we have discovered that sometimes putting the item aside for a while and returning to your search on another day will help you to be more successful in your discovery.
Happy Hunting.
-The GA Gang
- Published on
If an item is…
Antique – My grandmother used to have one.
Vintage – I haven’t seen one in a while.
Old – Mine’s in the attic.
Classic – popular at least one year.
Limited edition – limited to the number of buyers we can find.
Retro – covered in plastic and price marked up.
Rare – listed no more often than once a week.
Unique – only a dozen left!
Collectible – I thought it was great, but don’t want it anymore.
Scarce – I need to get this sold before I misplace it again!
Antique – My grandmother used to have one.
Vintage – I haven’t seen one in a while.
Old – Mine’s in the attic.
Classic – popular at least one year.
Limited edition – limited to the number of buyers we can find.
Retro – covered in plastic and price marked up.
Rare – listed no more often than once a week.
Unique – only a dozen left!
Collectible – I thought it was great, but don’t want it anymore.
Scarce – I need to get this sold before I misplace it again!
A customer submitted ^ these definitions to us several months ago, and we thought they were pretty funny.
Here are more accurate definitions:
Here are more accurate definitions:
Antique - Meaning the age of the items is at least 100 years old
Vintage - signifies in general something being old, old-fashioned, classical, or "from another time."
Old - Typical of an earlier style or form
Classic - Belonging to the highest rank or class, serving as a model or standard
Limited Edition - An edition that is restricted to a specific number of copies
Retro - Trends, modes, fashions or attitudes of the recent past 15-20 years
Rare - There aren’t many of its kind
Unique - Only one of its kind
Collectible - Collected by fanciers
Scarce - Insufficient amount to meet the demand
Vintage - signifies in general something being old, old-fashioned, classical, or "from another time."
Old - Typical of an earlier style or form
Classic - Belonging to the highest rank or class, serving as a model or standard
Limited Edition - An edition that is restricted to a specific number of copies
Retro - Trends, modes, fashions or attitudes of the recent past 15-20 years
Rare - There aren’t many of its kind
Unique - Only one of its kind
Collectible - Collected by fanciers
Scarce - Insufficient amount to meet the demand
I believe the age of E-bay, Etsy, Amazon, and Craigslist has changed the definitions a little, but the definitions given to us by a customer are a good way to remember how to tag items, and identify them for resale, or for collecting.
What terms do you use for "old" items?
I like this definition for vintage:
Characterized by excellence, maturity, and enduring appeal; classic.
What terms do you use for "old" items?
I like this definition for vintage:
Characterized by excellence, maturity, and enduring appeal; classic.
-The GA Gang
- Published on
I was going through some boxes of books and found this book by Zane Grey called Roping Lions in the Grand Canyon. Hoping to learn more about Zane Grey as a person, this book caught my eye because it was fact, not fiction.
The book is dedicated to the Boy Scouts of America and I was also hoping to tie it to President Roosevelt, since he was an ardent supporter of the boy scouts. This is an older book, written in 1922.
In the summer of 1998, I chose to take my physical science course as a summer hiking trip. One of the five canyons I hiked for that course was the Grand Canyon from the North rim to the South rim, nineteen point five (19.5) miles. Since, I have hiked the Grand Canyon, researched the area, and studied about the Anasazi Indians. I thought I knew a lot about the Grand Canyon. I knew about the gray squirrels, but not about it being mountain lion country. Maybe, my professors did not tell me because we were alone quite a bit as we hiked.
The book is dedicated to the Boy Scouts of America and I was also hoping to tie it to President Roosevelt, since he was an ardent supporter of the boy scouts. This is an older book, written in 1922.
In the summer of 1998, I chose to take my physical science course as a summer hiking trip. One of the five canyons I hiked for that course was the Grand Canyon from the North rim to the South rim, nineteen point five (19.5) miles. Since, I have hiked the Grand Canyon, researched the area, and studied about the Anasazi Indians. I thought I knew a lot about the Grand Canyon. I knew about the gray squirrels, but not about it being mountain lion country. Maybe, my professors did not tell me because we were alone quite a bit as we hiked.
It is reported by GrandCanyon411.com there are mountain lions in the Grand Canyon. Mountain lions will generally avoid humans. Most people will never get even a brief glimpse at a mountain lion, and lion attacks on people are extremely rare. The number of mountain lion- human interactions has been increasing in recent years, largely because more people are living and recreating in areas where lions live.
After reading the book, I began to wonder if it had been controversial in its time, especially to the Boy Scouts of America. The following is what I found out:
After reading the book, I began to wonder if it had been controversial in its time, especially to the Boy Scouts of America. The following is what I found out:
This is a true account of Zane Grey’s Adventure, at the age of 36 years, traveling in 1908 to Powell's Plateau in the Grand Canyon in order to rope mountain lions, with legendary plainsman Buffalo Jones, James Simpson Emmett (simply "Emett" in the book), Jim Owens, an unnamed Navajo man referred to only as "Navvy", and a pack of very lovable dogs (who are as much real individuals as their masters) set off on this hunting adventure with camera and lasso.
Everyone has heard of roping cattle and wild horses, but roping mountain lions on their home ground is another matter. The book never explains why they are roping mountain lions. (Perhaps, they were trying to translate catch-and-release in a hunting context or maybe they were collecting live specimens, they never make that point clear). Things go badly more often than they go well. Several lions die in unnecessary deaths. The five men survive almost unscathed.
Everyone has heard of roping cattle and wild horses, but roping mountain lions on their home ground is another matter. The book never explains why they are roping mountain lions. (Perhaps, they were trying to translate catch-and-release in a hunting context or maybe they were collecting live specimens, they never make that point clear). Things go badly more often than they go well. Several lions die in unnecessary deaths. The five men survive almost unscathed.
I don’t feel I learned much about Zane Grey, except that he was a hunter and supported the Boy Scouts of America. Later, I read another of his non-fiction books, Betty Zane. Still, I learned more about his grandmother than I did about him...I’m still curious about Zane Grey the author.
I had also read that President Roosevelt was an ardent supporter of the Boy Scouts of America. Boys Scouts of America began in 1910, which was after President Roosevelt was out of the office of President. (Dates in office; Sept. 14, 1901 – March 4, 1909) Mr. Roosevelt was associated with Troop 39 out of Oyster Bay, N. Y. He was honorary Vice President of The Boy Scouts of America and the only man designated as “Chief Scout of America”. Although, both Grey and Roosevelt were alive in the same period of time, there does not seem to be a connection between them, other than the fact that they were both supporters of Boy Scouts of America. The Boy Scout troops in Arizona are recorded to have had the Roping Lions in the Grand Canyon book as part of their reading materials and often visit the Grand Canyon. Mr. Grey was not connected to that troop though.
Troop 39 of Oyster Bay, NY
The following is quote by Zane Grey regarding his feelings on writing this book:
“Every boy has a heritage. It is outdoor America. Our open country, that is to say, our uncultivated lands, forests, preserves, feeding and nesting swamps are threatened by the march of so-called progress and commercialism. What is needed is two million Boy Scouts to save some of our green, fragrant, untrammeled land for the boys to come.”
I enjoy reading older books. I find it interesting how differently we view things now, than we did back then. Obviously, we feel differently about hunting. Contemporary nature-lovers, animal-lovers, or environmentalists will be appalled by elements of this book. (And the representation of Navvy, too, will offend readers, but that's a story for someone else to tell.)
I checked into current care of lions found in the Grand Canyon and the following is a report from Rangers of The Grand Canyon;
“R. V. Ward, Wildlife Program Manager in 2003 has research the lions of the Grand Canyon and if they are captured they are immobilized with a mixture of tranquilizer chemicals, delivered via blow dart. Immobilized lions are fitted with radio collars, weighed, and morphological measurements taken. Blood is collected for genetic analysis. All capture methods and drugs used are approved by National Park Service veterinarians.”
Sounds a lot different than roping mountain lions, huh?
If you are interested in Boy Scouts of America, the Grand Canyon, mountain lions, old books, or just enjoy Zane Grey books. Here is a controversial read for you.
This book can be found at Grandma’s Attic for $8.00.
Have you read Roping Lions? Tell us what you think!
“Every boy has a heritage. It is outdoor America. Our open country, that is to say, our uncultivated lands, forests, preserves, feeding and nesting swamps are threatened by the march of so-called progress and commercialism. What is needed is two million Boy Scouts to save some of our green, fragrant, untrammeled land for the boys to come.”
I enjoy reading older books. I find it interesting how differently we view things now, than we did back then. Obviously, we feel differently about hunting. Contemporary nature-lovers, animal-lovers, or environmentalists will be appalled by elements of this book. (And the representation of Navvy, too, will offend readers, but that's a story for someone else to tell.)
I checked into current care of lions found in the Grand Canyon and the following is a report from Rangers of The Grand Canyon;
“R. V. Ward, Wildlife Program Manager in 2003 has research the lions of the Grand Canyon and if they are captured they are immobilized with a mixture of tranquilizer chemicals, delivered via blow dart. Immobilized lions are fitted with radio collars, weighed, and morphological measurements taken. Blood is collected for genetic analysis. All capture methods and drugs used are approved by National Park Service veterinarians.”
Sounds a lot different than roping mountain lions, huh?
If you are interested in Boy Scouts of America, the Grand Canyon, mountain lions, old books, or just enjoy Zane Grey books. Here is a controversial read for you.
This book can be found at Grandma’s Attic for $8.00.
Have you read Roping Lions? Tell us what you think!
-The GA Gang
- Published on
Just a spoon.
Or so I thought.
Awhile back, I was given a vintage spoon to research, I found the spoon on the internet and in the process discovered a lot about spoons and silver in general!
Or so I thought.
Awhile back, I was given a vintage spoon to research, I found the spoon on the internet and in the process discovered a lot about spoons and silver in general!
http://www.hoardersworld.co.uk/elizabethan-tudor-spoon-c1500-in-fine-english-pewter-293-p.asp
I have never really thought about the parts of a spoon before, but this particular spoon had a makers mark on the “drop” or “neck”, so I went looking for the makers mark first and when that dead ended, I began trying to think of other ways to approach this task. While trying to find words to put into the computer to help locate this spoon, I decided to dissect the spoon into parts. The following is what I found:
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A - bowl tip or rim
B - bowl
C - drop or neck
D - shoulder or heel
E - stem or transition
F - handle or thread
G – terminal or tip
B - bowl
C - drop or neck
D - shoulder or heel
E - stem or transition
F - handle or thread
G – terminal or tip
This diagram of spoon gave me the era in which my spoon might have been made.
This is a diagram of the parts of a knife.
So, next time you start to take a bite of your cereal, remember...
Sometimes, even a spoon is more than just a spoon.
Leave us a comment and tell us what items have taught you
"There's more here than meets the eye".
Sometimes, even a spoon is more than just a spoon.
Leave us a comment and tell us what items have taught you
"There's more here than meets the eye".
Next time you want to identify a piece of silver the information will all be in one spot and your search will be shorter.
Happy Hunting.
Happy Hunting.
-The GA Gang
- Published on
The other day, the twelve year old granddaughter of one of our vendors brought an item to me at the front counter. She thought it would be a good item to blog about. At first glance, it was obvious that it was a whip.
It is in fact a Camel whip from Saudi Arabia. It is a vintage (1970’s) inlaid whip with a wood and leather wrapped handle. When camels refused to move, they would use these whips to give them a smart whip on the chest. The surprising part was what I found *inside* the handle.
Inside the handle is a prodder. Camels have thick coats that protect them from the sun, and insulate them so their bodies can absorb their sweat. Their hide is very strong, with a pulling strength 5x greater than cattle hide. This prodder is used to stimulate movement. They are poked in the rump. If you have watched “Indiana Jones” movies you will have seen a prodder used on camels when the bad guys are chasing them. Camels can keep a constant speed of 45 mph. With a little prodding they can do short bursts of 65 mph. The prodder is not easily accessible and I am sure only used when necessary. Camels are amazing animals. A full grown camel stands at 6 foot 1 inch at the shoulder and 7 foot 1 inch at the hump. They have a life span of 40 to 50 years. Camels can consume 53 gallons of water in 3 minutes. So, just how long can a camel go, before its hump starts to slump or the camel is in need of water? There are records of camels going 6 to 7 months without water.
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/21513985_vintage-egyptian-leather-and-wood-camel-saddle-stool
In the few years that Grandma’s Attic has been open, we have had a camel saddle and now a camel whip. This is pretty amazing since there aren’t too many camels in Anderson, MO!
Have you ever ridden on a camel?
Have you ever ridden on a camel?
-The GA Gang
- Published on
Yep.
You heard me right.
A ring...
to DIE for.
Cue ominous music.
Dun, dun, duh.
It sounds a little J.R.R. Tolkien, does it not?
"Don't leave me here alone! It's your Sam calling.
Don't go where I can't follow! Wake up, Mr. Frodo!"
As the story goes…
If you were next in line for the throne and you had the chance to have a lovely meal with your elder brother, the king, all you would need to do is slip some poison into the hole in your very stylish ring and you could nonchalantly tip your hand over his glass while kindly pouring him a second glass of wine. Then, poof! In goes the poison and you are the king of the land!
You heard me right.
A ring...
to DIE for.
Cue ominous music.
Dun, dun, duh.
It sounds a little J.R.R. Tolkien, does it not?
"Don't leave me here alone! It's your Sam calling.
Don't go where I can't follow! Wake up, Mr. Frodo!"
As the story goes…
If you were next in line for the throne and you had the chance to have a lovely meal with your elder brother, the king, all you would need to do is slip some poison into the hole in your very stylish ring and you could nonchalantly tip your hand over his glass while kindly pouring him a second glass of wine. Then, poof! In goes the poison and you are the king of the land!
Courtesy Photo
Courtesy Photo
This poison ring ^ was found at the site of a former medieval fortress in Cape Kaliakra, not far from the Black Sea coastal town of Kavarna in northeast Bulgaria. It was probably worn by a man on the little finger of his right hand.
It is said to date back to the 14th century and may possibly be the missing link in many unexplained deaths of royalty at the time.
It was possibly used in one era to keep the stench away, for smelling salts in another, and for Quinine and heart attacks in yet another.
The path of research that led me to this morbid piece of jewelry all started with this beautiful turquoise and silver ring. It is marked .925 but, it is unusual because the band is adjustable which is something generally found in less expensive rings. The vendor who brought it in told me that it is called a “Poison Locket Ring” and went on to show me how the ring opened.
It is said to date back to the 14th century and may possibly be the missing link in many unexplained deaths of royalty at the time.
It was possibly used in one era to keep the stench away, for smelling salts in another, and for Quinine and heart attacks in yet another.
The path of research that led me to this morbid piece of jewelry all started with this beautiful turquoise and silver ring. It is marked .925 but, it is unusual because the band is adjustable which is something generally found in less expensive rings. The vendor who brought it in told me that it is called a “Poison Locket Ring” and went on to show me how the ring opened.
A poison ring or pillbox ring is a type of ring with a container under the bezel or inside the bezel itself that could be used to hold poison, hair, teeth, bone or other substances. They became popular in Europe during the sixteenth (16th) century. The poison ring was used either to slip poison into an enemy's food or drink, or to facilitate the suicide of the wearer in order to escape capture or torture.
Rings like these have been used throughout history to carry perfume, locks of hair, devotional relics, messages and other keepsakes, and have been known by other names. Artists would paint tiny portraits of loved ones, to be carried in what was called a “locket ring,” which was popular during the Renaissance. By the seventeenth (17th) century, jewelers were creating locket rings in the shape of caskets which served as mementos for mourners. These were called “funeral rings.” Rings with compartments are also called “box” rings or “socket” rings. (Wikipedia)
This type of jewelry originated in ancient days of the Far East and India. It replaced the practice of wearing keepsakes and other items in pouches around the neck. The wearing of vessel rings was so practical that it spread to other parts of Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean before reaching Western Europe in the Middle Ages. By then the rings were part of the “holy relic trade”.
Come on down to Grandma’s Attic and check out this unique ring...No worries, there's a very slim chance that we will offer you a soda from our Pepsi machine while wearing "My Precious", err, this ring...
very slim indeed.
Dun, dun, duh.
This type of jewelry originated in ancient days of the Far East and India. It replaced the practice of wearing keepsakes and other items in pouches around the neck. The wearing of vessel rings was so practical that it spread to other parts of Asia, the Middle East and the Mediterranean before reaching Western Europe in the Middle Ages. By then the rings were part of the “holy relic trade”.
Come on down to Grandma’s Attic and check out this unique ring...No worries, there's a very slim chance that we will offer you a soda from our Pepsi machine while wearing "My Precious", err, this ring...
very slim indeed.
Dun, dun, duh.
-The GA Gang
- Published on
Three months after the opening of Grandma’s Attic in 2010 we were in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. We were going through antique shops to get ideas and find merchandise, when we came upon “the gate”! We snatched it up and brought it to its new “home”, because you don’t find a piece like that everyday!
For awhile we had it just leaning against a wall. Then we decided to put it up in the doorway between the back room and the front room of Grandma’s Attic. It is an older gate and someone had to have spent a lot of time arching the top. My thoughts were that is was a European gate because I have seen gardens in Italy and on the internet with similar gates. We didn’t know for sure where it came from or what it was used for, but we knew it was attention grabbing, we got price inquiries almost daily! It is a part of the character of Grandma's Attic.
For awhile we had it just leaning against a wall. Then we decided to put it up in the doorway between the back room and the front room of Grandma’s Attic. It is an older gate and someone had to have spent a lot of time arching the top. My thoughts were that is was a European gate because I have seen gardens in Italy and on the internet with similar gates. We didn’t know for sure where it came from or what it was used for, but we knew it was attention grabbing, we got price inquiries almost daily! It is a part of the character of Grandma's Attic.
Then in June of this year, a vendor brought in another gate set. This one had the exact same latch and was shaped the same, as well as having bars that are the same size as our gate. The person that sold the gate to our vendor said that the gate is from India.
That got me to thinking about an incident that had happened when I took a trip to India in 2009. We got up one morning and everyone was pulling clothes from the lines, closing windows and doors. Apparently, there had been a monkey alert. Roving monkeys had moved into our community and they are curious characters. The radio had announced the movement of the monkey troops around town.
It was then that I remember seeing two doors together-one was solid and one made with bars. These gates are normally placed in front of traditional wood doors, allowing air ventilation into a home, while keeping the roving animals out. This type of door/gate combinations makes perfect sense with the freedom animals have in India.
This started my internet search on gates from India. There is not a lot to find.
It was then that I remember seeing two doors together-one was solid and one made with bars. These gates are normally placed in front of traditional wood doors, allowing air ventilation into a home, while keeping the roving animals out. This type of door/gate combinations makes perfect sense with the freedom animals have in India.
This started my internet search on gates from India. There is not a lot to find.
Courtesy Photo
I found this one ^, but it was not exactly the same.
I believe maybe there was a specific era that this type of gate was built in, and the lack of finding them on the internet is because India has changed the style somewhat in current years.
Well, that’s it then, one of the novelties of Grandma’s Attic has had its secret discovered! It is a set of gates from India that they use as their front and back doors.
We’d love to have you stop in and see our “Indian screen doors”!
I believe maybe there was a specific era that this type of gate was built in, and the lack of finding them on the internet is because India has changed the style somewhat in current years.
Well, that’s it then, one of the novelties of Grandma’s Attic has had its secret discovered! It is a set of gates from India that they use as their front and back doors.
We’d love to have you stop in and see our “Indian screen doors”!
-The GA Gang
- Published on
This is a beautiful little Japanese tea cup that we have in the store right now.
At first glance, that's all it appears to be, is a beautiful little tea cup,
but sometimes, looks can be deceiving!
If you finish your tea, and glance into the bottom of your now empty cup, you will notice that the bottom surface of the cup is uneven. Nothing too exciting, really.
but sometimes, looks can be deceiving!
If you finish your tea, and glance into the bottom of your now empty cup, you will notice that the bottom surface of the cup is uneven. Nothing too exciting, really.
Then you may think, "Hey, that looks a little like a picture. A face, maybe?"
And when you pick it up to give it a closer inspection, and the light hits the bottom of the cup, you see it! A very detailed picture etched in the porcelain at the bottom of the cup.
And when you pick it up to give it a closer inspection, and the light hits the bottom of the cup, you see it! A very detailed picture etched in the porcelain at the bottom of the cup.
So, it turns out, what we really have here is a beautiful little Japanese tea cup with a LITHOPHANE in the bottom.
The word "lithophane" is said to have Greek origins, meaning "Light in stone" or "to appear in stone".
A lithophane starts out as a sheet of beeswax, then a picture is carved into the beeswax, then that sheet of wax is used to make a plaster of Paris mold, and finally Porcelain is poured into the mold and then "fired".
Where the porcelain is thinnest, more light shows through, thus allowing the artist to create a picture by thinner and thicker sections of porcelain creating a "three-dimensional like" picture, or lithophane.
I have read that the older lithophanes would start with the image in wax, then the artist would back-light the image and carve it on glass. Their work tables would be beneath a window, sometimes with a mirror underneath to bounce light up on the backside of the lithophane.
Sounds like tedious work, doesn't it?
Beautiful work though!
A lithophane starts out as a sheet of beeswax, then a picture is carved into the beeswax, then that sheet of wax is used to make a plaster of Paris mold, and finally Porcelain is poured into the mold and then "fired".
Where the porcelain is thinnest, more light shows through, thus allowing the artist to create a picture by thinner and thicker sections of porcelain creating a "three-dimensional like" picture, or lithophane.
I have read that the older lithophanes would start with the image in wax, then the artist would back-light the image and carve it on glass. Their work tables would be beneath a window, sometimes with a mirror underneath to bounce light up on the backside of the lithophane.
Sounds like tedious work, doesn't it?
Beautiful work though!
Lithophanes change in appearance, depending on the light source that you hold them up to.
A lithopane picture being lit by a window, would change throughout the day, as the light changed.
A lithopane picture being lit by a window, would change throughout the day, as the light changed.
Where did lithophanes originally come from? Well, that seems to be a subject with differing opinions. Some say they began in the "Tang Dynasty" where people said there were "bowls as thin as paper with secret decorations in them".
That sounds very mysterious, doesn't it?
"The inspiration for the Japanese "geisha girl" lithophane mark seems more than likely to have come to Japan during their early contacts with the West around the turn of the 19th century.
All kinds of decorative pieces, probably mostly lanterns were made in this technique in Europe, with its popularity reaching its peak in the 1870's after which point they gradually went out of fashion."
-http://www.gotheborg.com/qa/geisha.shtml
That sounds very mysterious, doesn't it?
"The inspiration for the Japanese "geisha girl" lithophane mark seems more than likely to have come to Japan during their early contacts with the West around the turn of the 19th century.
All kinds of decorative pieces, probably mostly lanterns were made in this technique in Europe, with its popularity reaching its peak in the 1870's after which point they gradually went out of fashion."
-http://www.gotheborg.com/qa/geisha.shtml
I guess this is just one more lesson of "Don't judge a book by its cover" or "appearances can be deceiving".
In this case, the moral of the story would be,
even a tea cup can have a secret.
In this case, the moral of the story would be,
even a tea cup can have a secret.
-The GA Gang
- Published on
A deck of cards can be used in many ways both for good and for bad. When I heard this description, it changed the way I look at cards...
Old limited airline cards $4.95
Furadan cards $1.00
Rondo round cards $12.00
Now, it doesn't matter the shape of the cards, the age of the cards, or where the cards are used, when ever I see them, here in Grandma's Attic or at home, they will always represent the Bible and the seasons to me.
Maybe, this will change the way you view a deck of cards too.
-The GA Gang
- Published on
There was a season in my life when I lived in Michigan. One summer, while I was there, I worked at Ford’s Greenfield Village and museum. I loved exploring that place! One of the things I found interesting was a letter from Clyde Barrow, of the infamous Bonnie & Clyde, telling Mr. Henry Ford how much he liked Mr. Ford’s V8 cars. The following is a copy of that letter from April 10, 1934;
You may have noticed that the letter from Clyde to Mr. Ford has the middle name Champion instead of Chestnut. And there is some question as to whether it was Bonnie who wrote the letter. It is known, however, that Clyde used the middle name “Champion” when he entered Texas State Prison.
I noticed that the letter was from Tulsa, Oklahoma. I had attended college in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Part of my family lived in Joplin, Missouri and they had mentioned that there was something attributed to Bonnie and Clyde located here. Years passed and I thought that Bonnie & Clyde would make an interesting blog post, so I decided now would be a good time to check out those leads. Sure enough, there is an apartment located at 3347 ½ Oakridge Drive in Joplin, MO, that Bonnie, Clyde, Clyde’s brother and his wife stayed in at one time. There was a police raid on that apartment. Here’s a picture of that apartment in 2014;
I noticed that the letter was from Tulsa, Oklahoma. I had attended college in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Part of my family lived in Joplin, Missouri and they had mentioned that there was something attributed to Bonnie and Clyde located here. Years passed and I thought that Bonnie & Clyde would make an interesting blog post, so I decided now would be a good time to check out those leads. Sure enough, there is an apartment located at 3347 ½ Oakridge Drive in Joplin, MO, that Bonnie, Clyde, Clyde’s brother and his wife stayed in at one time. There was a police raid on that apartment. Here’s a picture of that apartment in 2014;
The following is an article about that incident from the South Homepage;
”On April 13, 1933, two police cars arrived at the rented apartment to confront the “bootleggers.” Immediately, the gang started firing, killing one officer and fatally wounding another. Leaving most of their possessions behind, they jumped into the car and sped away, stopping only to pick up Blanche, who had been trying to catch her fleeing puppy! In the encounter, W.D. Jones had been shot in the side, Buck had been hit by a ricochet and a bullet that struck Clyde had miraculously been deflected by a suit button!
Behind them were left a small arsenal, some of Buck and Blanche’s personal papers, such as their marriage license and his parole papers. There was a poem written by Bonnie and a camera with several rolls of exposed film. Many of the famous photos seen today of Bonnie and Clyde were taken from those rolls of film, which were developed by the Joplin Globe newspaper. Among them was the picture of Bonnie with a cigar in her mouth, enough that the press could use in helping paint a picture of a demented person when describing Bonnie. The facts are, Bonnie smoked Camel cigarettes, never cigars! Following the Joplin shootout, the Barrow Gang became big news.”
This is a picture of Bonnie and Clyde in March 1933, found by police at the Joplin, Missouri, hideout, it came from a camera confiscated at that time, that belonged to Bonnie Parker.
”On April 13, 1933, two police cars arrived at the rented apartment to confront the “bootleggers.” Immediately, the gang started firing, killing one officer and fatally wounding another. Leaving most of their possessions behind, they jumped into the car and sped away, stopping only to pick up Blanche, who had been trying to catch her fleeing puppy! In the encounter, W.D. Jones had been shot in the side, Buck had been hit by a ricochet and a bullet that struck Clyde had miraculously been deflected by a suit button!
Behind them were left a small arsenal, some of Buck and Blanche’s personal papers, such as their marriage license and his parole papers. There was a poem written by Bonnie and a camera with several rolls of exposed film. Many of the famous photos seen today of Bonnie and Clyde were taken from those rolls of film, which were developed by the Joplin Globe newspaper. Among them was the picture of Bonnie with a cigar in her mouth, enough that the press could use in helping paint a picture of a demented person when describing Bonnie. The facts are, Bonnie smoked Camel cigarettes, never cigars! Following the Joplin shootout, the Barrow Gang became big news.”
This is a picture of Bonnie and Clyde in March 1933, found by police at the Joplin, Missouri, hideout, it came from a camera confiscated at that time, that belonged to Bonnie Parker.
I got out some maps and started marking the places that Bonnie and Clyde were spotted, confronted, and eventually killed. They were said to have traveled by night. It appears they traveled along Route 66 East and West (established in 1926) and Highway 71 North and South (also established in 1926). That means that they were traveling all over this area. Who knows? They could have even stopped in Anderson, Missouri where Grandma’s Attic is now located! They were killed in Bienville, Louisiana. The following is a letter authenticating the car that Bonnie & Clyde were killed in.
For two years from 1931 to 1934 during the Great Depression (1929-1941) Clyde Chestnut Barrow (March 24, 1909 to May 23, 1934) and Bonnie Elizabeth Parker (Oct 1, 1910 and May 23, 1934) roamed this area, knowing they would die violent deaths. Bonnie deeply in love with Clyde and Clyde bent on revenge toward the government, whom he believed had allowed him to be sexually abused in prison.
If you are traveling the old Route 66 or old Highway 71 you could be traveling the road Bonnie and Clyde travelled!
If come by MO Exit 10, off new Highway 71 and old Highway 71 in Anderson, Missouri, stop by and visit us! We’d love to meet you!
Enjoy your exploring!
If you are traveling the old Route 66 or old Highway 71 you could be traveling the road Bonnie and Clyde travelled!
If come by MO Exit 10, off new Highway 71 and old Highway 71 in Anderson, Missouri, stop by and visit us! We’d love to meet you!
Enjoy your exploring!
