Archive for the ‘Wandering the Web’ Category

That is the question, and after visiting Richard Binder’s website (http://www.richardspens.com) I have an overwhelming urge to send snail mail on real paper with real ink, and really wish I had better handwriting.  Where to start?

I could begin with all the great info that’s available or the photos or the blog.  But since I have such fond memories of traveling the roads in the passenger seat of a semi with my father, I’m gonna start at Richard’s “Pen Writings” where he gives a new slant to the old Burma Shave road signs.  And read the rest of them.  Poignant is not a word I use often (obviously, since I had to run it through spell-checker), but some of his writings are gonna stay with you for a while.

Where next?  Richard offers pens, nibs, accessories, tools, repair and restoration services and if you’re already a pen collector, I’d recommend him.  Not because I actually own a pen that doesn’t have a slogan on the side, but because his enthusiasm is boundless, and I’ve discovered over the years that people who love their work want to spread the joy.

Now to the nitty gritty.  Reference pages are a cornucopia for anyone involved in, interested in, or just curious about pens (and mechanical pencils too, since they often came in a set).  He’s covered everything from anatomy of a pen, glossary, history, care of, how to fill, and English/French/Japanese lexicons to design features, and my favorite ‘the pen detective’.  Read that and you’ll never walk past a pen again without whipping out a magnifying glass.  There’s a whole section on Inks, how they rate, which ones to avoid, etc.  Click on any of the reference headings and you’ll find a whole list of articles, how-to’s, specific and general information.  If you have a question, the answer is probably here.

Richard’s own collection of pens features exquisite descriptions and really first rate photos, all of which can be enlarged in great detail.  His ‘Reader’s Corner’ recommends books that he’s read and gives a brief summary and these aren’t just collector-type books.  You can subscribe to Nib Noise, a monthly newsletter, and there’s plenty of links for you to explore.

Go forth and discover, dear reader (my apologies to Mr. King), and you won’t be disappointed.  Visit Richard Binder’s website (http://www.richardspens.com) and

Tell ‘em I sent ya’
Victoria

Wondering what the heck that means, aren’t you?

Well, now I know it means matchbook collecting, thanks to Mike Prero’s website The Matchbook Vault (http://matchpro.org/index.html).  I also know why he calls this the ‘Vault.’  It’s solid gold.  Wit and wisdom are combined to take the reader on a trip through American history by way of the matchbook.  Practically unknown by those under 25, the rest of us have ‘closed cover before striking’ to light cigarettes, campfires, gas stoves, candles, and sometimes just to light the way.

While matchboxes originated in Europe, the matchbook is a uniquely American invention.  You’d be hard pressed to find a better chronicle of America . . . its people, places, values . . . than these seemingly insignificant pieces of colored cardboard.  Politics, sports, restaurants, wars, tobacco, dogs, movie stars, world fairs, cover girls, railroads.  If it existed – it was immortalized on a matchbook cover.  Although basically unchanged since 1894, a dazzling variety of types and sizes, fine artwork, unique advertising, and cross-over collecting make this a life-long and limitless hobby.

And what does The Matchbook Vault have to offer?  Everything.  Since I’m recommending the website you know it has tons of information, it’s easy to navigate, etc., etc.  From the Overview to Treasure Hunting.  Mike’s enthusiasm for phillumeny is boundless and his reality check is a refreshing approach to collecting as a whole every collector should read.  Click on any of a multitude of clearly marked buttons and you’ll discover facts, tips, lists, how-to’s and much more.

And if you’re like me, you’re looking through the junk drawer to find matchbooks that may have been there forever.  Maybe you’ll find a treasure, maybe not.  But you’ll have a little bit of history in your hand.  Visit http://matchpro.org/index.html and
Tell ‘em I sent ya’
Victoria

When I stumbled into this website a while back, my first reaction was “huh?  barbed wire?.”  Of course I had to check this out.  Officially chartered in 1991 as The Historical Museum Of Barbed Wire and Fencing Tools, is a non-profit entity dedicated to preserving the history and artifacts of barbed wire.  The complex, located on Route 66 in McLean, Texas, houses The Devil’s Rope Museum, The Texas Old Route 66 Museum, The Western Heritage Community Room, The Hagemeier Library, and the Museum Mercantile, a large souvenir store.

Even if you don’t give a hoot about barbed wire, their website (http://www.barbwiremuseum.com/index.htm) is a good read, encompassing almost 150 years of American history and the barbed wire woven through it.  Who invented barbed wire, making the wire, how it affected the West, the Fence Cutter Wars, use in warfare, how it attained the moniker “Devil’s Rope”, etc.  Thoroughly enjoyable and informative – students, teachers and historians will find this particularly helpful.

Seen one, seen them all?  Not quite.  There are over 570 patented wires with over 2,000 variations.  Two patents became the most practical and successful, leaving the rest to become part of history and varying from common to very scarce.  Wonderful drawings including clear descriptions take some of the mystery out of the different types of barbs.

Other sections of this website include a special library with recommended reading list, how to identify barbed wire, where it can be purchased, and what is going on today in the barbed wire collecting hobby.  A new wire collection Appraisal Service is now offered for tax, estate, or insurance purposes.

There’s a lot more here:  cattle brands and history, McLean POW camp, Texas Route 66 information.  Artist Al Martin Napoletano is featured with some of his works.  Closely associated with the barbed wire collecting hobby since the early 1970s, Napoletano is a rodeo circuit artist and has illustrated many books.

If you’re planning to travel in Texas, the museum has information about Texas Route 66, The City of McLean, Texas and other nearby areas.  You can see the first restored Phillips Service Station in Texas, learn all about the McLean Prisoner of War Camp built during WWII, stay in a vintage Route 66 Motel, and eat at the world famous Red River Steak House.

Take a look at the museum dedicated to barbed wire – “whose existence is both absolutely beneficial to progress, at times cruel beyond comprehension, caused drastic changes in world-wide warfare, and yet protects our lives twenty-four hours each day.  What more intrigue could you ask of any subject presented to you?”

Tell ‘em I sent ya ~ Victoria

The TJS Labs Gallery of Graphic Design (http://gogd.tjs-labs.com/) is amazing.  Whether you’re trying to date a specific product, or just taking a stroll down memory lane – with 10,414 advertisement images – you’ll want to visit for a while.

No commentary to wade through – zip, zilch – just the image and the essential facts.  For instance the Geo. A. Hormel & Co. ad shown here is one of 37 ads for Spam.  It appeared on the back cover of the November 1, 1939 issue of Woman’s Day.

5,187 products advertised in 17 magazines from 3,127 different advertisers from 1930 through 1969.  Awesome, huh?  But that’s not the best part.  You’re going to love how this is set up.  There’s a simple search and an advanced search, but you hardly need them.  Completely cross-referenced; if it’s in this collection, you can find it with a few clicks.

Want to find ads by Norman Rockwell?  Select him from the 251 illustrators listed and ads on file are available to view with publication information.  Want to see all the ads from 1941?  Click on the year.  Looking for a product, can’t remember the exact name, but sure it had the word ‘zoom’?  1032 keywords are at your disposal.

The ability to search by Magazine, Advertiser, Product, Illustrator, Keyword, Year, or Issue makes this site a joy to navigate and downright fun to explore.  Continually updated with new images (as I write this, the newest batch was added just two hours ago!).

The Gallery of Graphic Design is also on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Gallery-of-Graphic-Design/108023629232681#!/pages/The-Gallery-of-Graphic-Design/108023629232681?v=wall) where you can view images and share your comments.  Also keeps you up-to-date on new additions.

Go to http://gogd.tjs-labs.com/ and then visit the facebook page.

Tell ‘em I sent ya’ ~ Victoria

Jim Sneed’s website — All About Old Toys (http://www.oldwoodtoys.com/) — is constantly growing and evolving.  Originally Judy’s Old Wood Toys, the name change came about to reflect the inclusion of metal toys.  400 pages of articles, more than 4200 photos, over 50 toy company histories — most contributed by researchers, collectors and family members of old toy companies.  You’d think that would be enough, but a planned merger with Richard Mueller of Antique Toy Collections (http://www.antiquetoycollections.info) later this year will more than double the scope of information.

New information is added daily to what is already the largest collection of Schoenhut circus photographs on the Web and the best Humpty Dumpty circus identification guide.  Collectors have contributed photos of some amazing collections that are a feast for the eyes.  Several museum collections are included.

Well-written and informative articles are categorized by subject and include photos, catalogs and advertisements, original and current estimated prices, dates produced, measurements, and more.  A vast storehouse of information on the companies and their toys.  ‘Dating your wooden toys’  along with a guide for researching your toy is invaluable.

Want to sell your collection?  Need repair or restoration service?  Need professional photos taken?  Jim covers all these subjects and offers several services.  You can sell your toys through his website or set up your own toy shop.  He also buys toys and has a ‘toys wanted’ list.  Many, many links with a summary of each, saving you a lot of time.

Visit All About Old Toys (http://www.oldwoodtoys.com/), you’ll find it very user friendly and easy to navigate.  Be sure to bookmark it — always something new — you’ll want to go back again and again.

Tell ‘em I sent ya’. ~ Victoria

For those of you who collect carnival glass (or wish you did), the go-to website for information is David Doty’s Carnival Glass Website at http://www.ddoty.com/index.html.  No registration or membership required, David graciously shares his information with all.

Over 1600 pages and 4000 photographs covers more than 1100 patterns including estimated prices.  Indexed by name, shape, motif, and maker, the chances are you can identify your piece even if you start out clueless.  Using the Google site search, you can quickly narrow down specifics from even the vaguest beginning.

Overlapping categories make navigating this site a breeze.  Besides the indexes mentioned, a comprehensive list of categories can take you right to information you need; back patterns, maker marks, edge treatments, colors, tumblers, vase identification, lighting, ashtrays, common geometric patterns, novelties,  rarities, whimsies, oddities, and a whole lot more.

What’s a swung vase?  The Illustrated Glossary can answer that and more.  New to Carnival Glass?  There’s a special section just for you.  History of carnival glass, how it’s made, contemporary carnival glass, fakes, price trends, upcoming events, and even helpful information on buying a digital camera.

The photos are excellent – close-up with all the detail.  A great deal of the information within this site can be used as reference for any type of glass.  Visit http://www.ddoty.com/index.html and consider making a donation.  For less than the cost of a carnival glass book, you can help keep this website going strong, continually providing more and updated information.

Visit, see and learn.  Tell ‘em I sent ya.  ~ Victoria

“Yes, please,” I respond to the waiter holding a gargantuan pepper mill.  Like a rite of passage, everyone at the table stops momentarily to watch this pungent spice make its way to my ceasar salad.  While dried ground pepper has been around since antiquity, the peppermill we’re familiar with was created in 1842 by Peugeot of France.  Available now as manual or electric, made of ceramic, wood, acrylic, metal, etc. they all have the same basic inner workings.

Wood peppermills, specifically those designed by Jens Harald Quistgaard and made by Dansk Designs is the focus of Todd Pederzani’s website (http://www.tpederzani.com/pepper/Main_Page), although some other companies are covered.  The 1997 movie Peppermills starred Kate Walsh as a compulsive thief – but only of peppermills.  After viewing Todd’s site, can’t say as I blame her.

One would think a piece of wood made into a peppermill would have limitations, but the endless variety of unique and stunning designs defies that theory.  A separate section for variations of the grinding mechanisms and pepper fills is included.  Each mill shown has a load of information: description, maker, designer, mechanism, material, pepper fill, production dates, dimensions, and type.

More photos can be seen at GargoyleMT’s Flickr Set ‘Peppermills’.  There’s several salt and pepper shaker collector organizations, but none solely for peppermill collectors, that I could find.  Perhaps it’s time for these wood beauties to have their own cheerleading squad.

Do you collect insulators?  Interested in starting a collection?  Do you know what an insulator IS?  Those knobby things you’ve encountered are as varied and unique, as the part they played in our history. 

With the invention of the telegraph, it became apparent that something was needed to keep the wires from grounding out.  The first insulator consisted of a rag soaked in beeswax and, as you might imagine, wasn’t very reliable.

Next came glass, then porcelain, and later rubber, plastic and composite materials.  Hundreds of designs were created, along with all the accompanying paraphernalia, that gradually connected an entire country.

Rick Soller has done an admirable job of pulling all this information together in a no-nonsense, ‘just the facts, ma’am’ website at http://www.collectinginsulators.com/.

Hundreds of photos in over a dozen categories; patents from all over the world; classification systems; advertisements; commemorative, private issue, and novelty insulators (don’t miss Finland’s).  Books and display ideas for the collector.  A very long list of companies that made, bought, sold, etc. can be a potent source for identifying markings on insulators and related items.

“Hunting Insulators in the Wild” gives advice on what equipment to take, supplies you’ll need, and advice on everything from navigation to treating snakebite. For those of you who prefer not to take snakebite into consideration, Rick has insulators and related items available for trade, and links to other sources.  For the beginning or experienced collector, there’s a listing of collecting clubs (many with photos of their respective patches).

 If you’re not already familar with insulators, the related items will prove surprising – you may have seen some of them and had no idea what they were.  Flat, long, skinny, flared, wall tubes, suspensions, and radio strains. 

If you’re a collector, visit http://www.collectinginsulators.com/index.html. Or if you’re just curious.  Or if you found something really strange looking in Uncle Harry’s garage. 

Tell ‘em I sent ya’ ~ Victoria

You might not collect railroadiana, but you’ve probably stumbled across it several times.  Restaurantware, locks, holloware, lanterns, badges, buttons, keys, marbles, etc.  Marbles?  Yep – and I’m not even going to explain that one.  Visit www.railroadiana.org and find out for yourself.  A vast storehouse of information, each collectible has its own page with history, uses, materials, photos, tips for collecting, and more.  You’ve seen wax sealers used to secure papers, did you know the railroads used lead sealers for security?
        While you’re there, check out RR names.  With three different ways to search the database, it just doesn’t get any easier than this.  If you always wondered why great-grandma’s silver pitcher was engraved with AR when her name was Prudence Merriweather, may be it stands for Ashley River Railroad.
        Railroadiana does not give appraisals, but has a comprehensive section on how to find out what it’s worth, along with advice on breaking up a collection, and selling online.  A Q&A board, along with general FAQs and a separate FAQs about fakes, can go a long way to identifying and dating your piece, be it a dinner plate, key or postcard. 
        Restoration and preservation tips (with a huge section specifically for lanterns), including sources for parts and supplies, is just as valuable for the non-railroad item.  Speaking of which, there’s a NOT railroad page for some frequently misidentified items.  Many, many photos, articles, calendar, links and a lot more – continuously updated. 
        A must-bookmark for the railroadiana collector, a great reference for collections that may intersect, and downright interesting for everyone.  The basic idea behind this non-commercial, all-volunteer website is collectors sharing their knowledge to better preserve railroad history – and it’s working exceedingly well.  Visit www.railroadiana.org and I’m sure you’ll agree.

Tell ‘em I sent ya’ ~ Victoria

We’ve all seen a piece – that rich brown color, little flowers, wavy lines, dots.  Western Stoneware produced this old fashioned stoneware with a Pennsylvania Dutch design known as Daisy and Dot in the 50s and 60s.

A few years ago, while browsing in an antique shop, Rita Pence spotted a cookie jar identical to the one she remembered from her childhood.  That cookie jar turned into a collection which resulted in www.mar-crest.com – her website devoted to this vintage stoneware. 

A herculean gathering of photos from her personal collection and contributors, combined with history, vintage ads, photos, reminiscences, an index of pieces, photos, original boxes, marks, and more.  Did I mention photos?  Very good ones.  And you can enlarge them, which my aging eyesight really appreciates.

An absolute must for the newbie, while the seasoned collector is sure to find unexpected surprises.  “Was there ever a ‘covered Marcrest butter dish?  Can I use it in the microwave?  Where can I get a grease pot to match my salt and pepper shakers?”  A separate section has six different style cookie jars with detailed descriptions.  The index (once again – with photos), the result of a great deal of time and effort, is the answer to the Mar-crest collector’s prayer.

Visit Rita’s website at www.mar-crest.com, leave a message, ask a question, contribute a photo.

Tell ‘em I sent ‘ya ~ Victoria