Wednesday, January 30, 2008

WORLD BEAT KIDS TAMBOURINE Black Nylon, Silvery Zils!

WORLD BEAT KIDS TAMBOURINE Black Nylon, Silvery Zils! - eBay (item 310019189520 end time Feb-06-08 19:54:30 PST)

This tambourine or marine is marked, "World Beat Kids, Made in China" with a small circle containing the letters "LP." It's well made out of black plastic or nylon with silvery metal jingles (zils). The sound can range from a delicate jingle to a hiss to a crash, as you please.

For an advanced technique in playing the tambourine, and to hear how good one can sound played by an expert, visit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tambourine

This tambourine is in excellent condition, very sturdy and the handle is comfortable.

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Tuesday, January 29, 2008

3 STAR TREK CUPS 1991 25th Anniversary 7-11 Slurpees!

3 STAR TREK CUPS 1991 25th Anniversary 7-11 Slurpees! - eBay (item 310018925132 end time Feb-05-08 20:13:06 PST)

These three plastic Super Slurpee cups from 7-11 came out in 1991 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Star Trek. There are pictures of characters and Paramount, 7-11, Star Trek and 25th anniversary logos.

See Spock, Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy, Uhura, Scotty, Captain Picard, Riker, Deanna Troi, Data, Worf and assorted creatures.

The cups are in excellent condition with no cracks or damaged rims. There's an area above Worf's head where the black color is chafed and a mark through Spock's eye.

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Round Domed VICTORIAN GILDED BIRD CAGE 13-Inch Metal!

Round Domed VICTORIAN GILDED BIRD CAGE 13-Inch Metal! - eBay (item 310018923808 end time Feb-05-08 20:05:21 PST)

This decorative Victorian thirteen-inch high gold-painted round and domed metal bird cage is not for housing any real live bird. There's a bar perch for a mechanical bird to grace your home. Perhaps you could put a plant inside, like ivy that could trail its leaves out through the bars.

I see no maker's mark anywhere. The domed lid opens when you undo a metal latch. At the top of the cage is a very strong metal hook to hang the cage. The front door has a latch that looks like it works, but it seemed reluctant to move, so I didn't force it.

It's entirely metal except for a wooden part between the lid and hook. The wire is twisted on the sides, straight on the bottom. There is fine mesh around the bottom band, top band and lining the lid. The perch is a thin flat bar. The gold isn't bright, but rather aged and muted.

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Monday, January 28, 2008

Vintage SUSY GOOSE SWEEPER Tin Litho Musical Toy '50s!

Vintage SUSY GOOSE SWEEPER Tin Litho Musical Toy '50s! - eBay (item 310018631396 end time Feb-04-08 19:13:47 PST)

This vintage toy carpet sweeper is marked on the top, "Susy Goose Musical Tone Sweeper. 'it really works!'" Under one dump tray it's marked, "Mfg. by Kiddie Brush & Toy Co., Jonesville, Mich., U.S.A." The tin litho graphics have a fifties look to us.

The back panel says, "Guarantee. This Susy Goose toy is guaranteed to please. If it isn't completely satisfactory please return and we'll repair or replace and pay transportation both ways. 'The Simple Tasks Mold Character.'"

The music is the sound of a jingling bell. I can hear it above the squeak of the wheels that could use some grease. I can't see the bell.

The body of the sweeper is tin with colorful vintage graphics in very good condition nailed to wooden sides. The handle is wood painted red. The black wheels are plastic and marked, "Susy Goose." The red wheels touch the black ones and rotate the brush with soft bristles. The two green dirt catchers turn to dump just like a real sweeper.

The handle is 18 inches long. The body is 7 inches wide and 2 inches thick. Total length is 23 1/2 inches. There's some minor patina beside Susy's face and a couple dents in the back panel, and rust spots on the bottom.

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Sunday, January 27, 2008

Vintage Saalfield 22 ACTIVITY BOOKS in Orig Box 1953!

Vintage Saalfield 22 ACTIVITY BOOKS in Orig Box 1953! - eBay (item 310018339884 end time Feb-03-08 18:42:38 PST)

This vintage box of Saalfield Activity Books holds a complete set of twenty books plus two duplicates. The art is utterly charming and each book is marked, "Copyright MCMLIII, The Saalfield Pub. Co., Akron Ohio, Made in U.S.A." and "Mager" who was likely the artist. So this box of books was produced in 1953.

The lid says, "20 Activity Books, 6 to 10 Years, Coloring, Games, Dots, Mazes, Things to Make, Hidden Pictures, Quizzes, Stencils, Cut-outs. Saalfield." And there's a seal: "Commended by the Consumer Service Bureau of Parents' Magazine as Advertised Therein."

I thought the books were new and untouched, but as I opened pages at random for photographing, I hit a page with handwriting. Close examination reveals twelve are untouched, ten have been worked in. Nine are fully worked. One is half worked. Most of it is pencil, some is crayon.

A few pages in one of the two "Connect the Lines" books may have been ironed to make a transfer, as the ink bleeds through the page, showing the art of both sides at once.

12 Untouched Titles:
  • Little Zebra and His Pals, Pictures to Color (2 copies, one minty, one with indentations in the cover)
  • Connect the Lines
  • How to Draw
  • Flower Book, Connect the Lines
  • Cut and Color on the Farm
  • Let's Draw
  • Things to Make
  • Stencil Play
  • Crayon Fun
  • Let's Color
  • Easy Things to Do
10 Marked Titles:
  • Connect the Lines (all pages lightly penciled, several ironed pages)
  • Find the Hidden Pictures (blue colored pencil check marks)
  • Easy Dot to Dot Pictures (all pages lightly penciled)
  • The Dot to Dot Zoo (all pages lightly penciled)
  • Dots (all pages have crayon line)
  • Mazes (all pages have crayon line)
  • Games and Puzzles (half the pages have colored pencil or crayon marks)
  • Follow the Dots (all pages lightly penciled)
  • Big Quiz (all pages have crayon marks)
  • Lots to Do (most pages have crayon marks)
The box is solid. The books are all very nice, even the ones worked in. None of them have been done in ink, just pencil and some crayon. My artist husband recently discovered that crayon can be erased with care. He makes it look easy. I never tried.

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Old MULTIPOST STAMP AFFIXER Pat. 1911 w/ Key, Counter!

Old MULTIPOST STAMP AFFIXER Pat. 1911 w/ Key, Counter! - eBay (item 310018326097 end time Feb-03-08 17:49:48 PST)

This vintage stamp affixer is marked, "Multipost, Commercial Controls, Rochester 2, N.Y." The knob is marked, "Don't Strike, Push" and it's fun to push the knob down. The counter advances one click each time. Down by the keyhole is a list of six patent numbers with more pending.

Stamp affixers were invented to serve two purposes. First, they mechanized the process of affixing stamps to letters. Second, they made it more difficult for employees to steal stamps. This model was patented in 1911 and advertised from 1910 to 1940 according to the site listed below.

According to a vintage advertisement for a similar device, a Postamper, "One stroke of the plunger affixes the stamp and also counts it. A measured drop of water moistens the envelope and a rubber cushion presses the stamp to the moistened surface. Double lock safeguards your stamps. One for the cashier who puts in the stamps--the other for the operator, so that no stamps can be taken without his knowledge."

This affixer has one key which opens it to allow reloading. I don't see how to reset the counter. The black knob on the front turns, but doesn't do anything I can see.

The key is a bit fiddley to work, then springs the thing open like magic. Inside you can pull a spool out to insert a roll of stamps. There's another small piece that comes out. It might be a guide you slide the stamps behind. The counter device is out of sight and I don't see how the stamps were moistened.

For more information and other photos of vintage stamp affixers, visit http://www.earlyofficemuseum.com/mail_machines.htm

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Vintage SINGER MANUAL Model 1022, 1021 Sewing Machine

Vintage SINGER MANUAL Model 1022, 1021 Sewing Machine - eBay (item 310018200379 end time Feb-26-08 10:06:26 PST)

This vintage manual is marked, "Instruction Manual and Accessories, Full Zig-Zag Sewing Machine, Free-arm Model 1022 or Flat-bed Model 1021 Singer." It was a good model machine I used for years as a professional tailor. There are likely more of them out there ready to give you good service.

Contents
  • Getting to Know Your Sewing Machine
    • Principal Parts--And What They Do
    • Accessories--And When to Use Them
  • Getting Ready to Sew
    • Preliminary Steps
    • Choosing Needle and Thread
    • Threading Your Sewing Machine
  • Straight Stitching
    • Adjusting Selectors
    • Sewing a Seam
  • Zick-Zack Stitching
    • Satin Stitching
  • Twin-Needle Stitching
    • Preparation
    • Threading the Needle
  • Buttons and Buttonholes
    • Buttons
    • Buttonholes
  • Sewing the Professional way
    • Lingerie, Seam finishes
    • Hints on Sewing Special Fabrics
    • Construction Details
    • Applique, Attaching elastic
    • Free Arm Sewing
    • Keeping Up Appearances
  • Caring for Your Machine
    • Cleaning the Machine
    • Removing Bobbin Case, Face Plate and Bulb
    • Performance Checklist
The booklet has minor crinkles and age discoloration after all these years. The machine may have been new in the seventies or eighties. I'm guessing the age from the fashion illustrations on a couple pages. (Yes, I had the machine myself, but when I can't say. I got it used. I can sew quite well, but track time? Forget it.)

Do you have this Singer sewing machine? Here's the book for it.

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