Posts Tagged ‘history’

While it may be collectible, it’s not really ‘old’ if you find the following:

POSTAL CODE
1943:  The postal service implements postal zones for large cities.
                John Hancock
                28 Main St.
                Boston 24, Massachusetts
July 1, 1963:  Non-mandatory 5-digit ZIP codes are announced for the whole country.
                John Hancock
                28 Main St.
                Boston, Massachusetts 02124
1967: ZIP mandatory for second- and third-class bulk mailers, and soon adopted generally.
1983: USPS begins using an expanded ZIP + 4

 
TELEPHONE NUMBER
(Actual dates vary widely, as determining factors such as region, company, population, etc. could mean a delay of years before innovations were implemented.)
1878:  First commercial switchboard begins operation.  Callers request connections by name.
1879:  First numbers/letters are assigned; no particular order or number of digits.
ca. 1928:  Letter prefix and digits begin, number of characters vary with region, etc.
1947:  Three-digit area codes, called the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) including the United States and Canada, go into effect.
1958:  ANC, or all number calling begins.
(note: in old advertisements you may find a name before a number that is not an exchange. Areas with competing telephone companies did not provide interconnecting service.  Therefore a business might list two phone numbers—Bell 1234 and Atlanta 4321—so customers using either Southern Bell or Atlantic Telephone could call.)

 
BAR CODE
Late 1960’s: Two early systems are installed – one in a General Motors plant and the other in the General Trading Company’s distribution center in New Jersey. The barcodes held only 2 digits of data.
1972:  A bullseye symbol and scanner are installed and operating in a Cincinnati Kroger. Printing problems with the bulls-eye barcodes and scanning problems limited its usefulness.
June 26th, 1974:  A 10-pack of Wrigley’s chewing gum was the first product logged in a grocery store by a barcoding system using the modern UPC code.
1994:  The QR (quick response) code is created to track parts in vehicle manufacturing. Since then it has become more widely used, and is rapidly expanding.

Originally designed to promote saving among children, Mechanical Banks were produced from about 1869 until the start of World War II.  To make these banks appealing to kids, they were cleverly designed, often depicting historical, legendary or everyday events.  Each bank performed a stunt or an action.  The banks quickly caught on with children and adults alike and soon became a sought-after collector’s item.

The Mechanical Bank Collectors of America [http://www.mechanicalbanks.org/index.html] was formed in 1958 to meet the needs of collectors, by adding to the existing knowledge base and increasing availability of mechanical banks.  Members of MBCA have access to continually updated material including a thrice-a-year journal, price guide, annual convention, special reports, videos, references, and chat, among others.

But fear not, there’s a lot of great stuff for the non-member.  And after viewing these wonderful inventions, it would be very easy to get hooked!  From the simple to the unbelievably intricate, unadorned metal to eye-popping colors – MBCA’s slide show will have you entranced.  You can choose from several speeds or, as I chose to do, view one at a time.

Scrapbook is a collection covering, well, just about everything – who, what, when, where, and why.  If you’re looking for something specific a ‘search’ will check over 3000 pages in the public section.  Having been around for over 50 years, MBCA has managed to amass an impressive amount of documentation.  Since I wasn’t looking for anything in particular I spent a couple hours browsing.  (P.S. to history buffs – you’ll love this.) 

I discovered excellent images of advertisements and catalogs from as early as 1876.  Patent images and papers that will make your heart pitter-patter because there’s a good chance you’ll find your bank even if you don’t have a patent number or manufacturer or date or any information other than a mechanical bank sitting in front of you.  First time I’ve ever come across patent information listed this way and I can only wish it was this easy for other collectibles.

A section devoted to J. & E. Stevens Co., a premier manufacturer of mechanical banks includes photos, ledgers, account books, correspondence, designers, etc.  Not just the information, but almost always the original documents.  Note: throughout the website whenever a handwritten document was scanned there is an accompanying typed transcript since some handwriting can be difficult to interpret.

For those interested in the creation of mechanical banks (for the most part, anything metal), ‘The Foundry’ has it all.  How a design on paper becomes a three-dimensional object with moving parts.  A technical expose that should interest metal workers of all disciplines.

How much is your mechanical bank worth?  With MBCA’s auction results from three major auction houses, you can find out.  And once again, easy to look up since it’s listed by bank description.

There’s more to find at Mechanical Bank Collectors of America.  It’s an awesome website with a whole lot of free information.  Wouldn’t this be a great collection to start for your kids or grandkids?

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

Tired of the same old Halloween stuff?
Looking for something different?

A bit of spooky and Fort Pierce history combined . . .
http://thegrimsociety.com/2010/10/08/spend-halloween-with-the-grim-society/

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

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