Planes, Sleighs and Automobiles (Sorry, No Trains)

Well, the last time I posted, Summer was just about to begin, now it's already in its final 1/3.  Time gets away from me these days.  I thought I'd try to make up for the lack of posts with a deluge of photos from the same lot as my last post.  First up is this 1930s American Airlines DC-3 "Flagship".

Beaten to a Pulp

You might think I'm crazy for paying $10 at an estate sale for this beaten pulp Jack O' Lantern, but that was actually a good price.

 

Mondays are to Die Cut For - Detour

This odd Beistle die cut dates to the 1930s and has similar coloring to the singing cat die cut shown in last Monday's post and in fact was part of the same set.  The full 12-piece set is featured on page 151 of Mark Ledenbach's 3rd Edition of "Vintage Halloween Collectibles".

It features 2 "scratch cats" seemingly stuck in traffic. I know how they feel.

Happy Friday the 13th

 It's always fun when you get a Friday the 13th in October.  It's like an extra day of Halloween:  13, 31? A coincidence?

For this Friday the 13th, I give you a couple black cats to add to your luck (or misfortune).  These particular cats are salt and pepper shakers and they were made in Japan, likely pre-war.

Coffee and Toast

This past weekend I attended a rummage sale at a local church, St. John's Evangelical in Mehlville, Missouri.  Rummage sales seem the last bastion of bargains.  Unfortunately, their primary way of advertising is by signs in front of the church, so I rarely know of them.  I just happened to be driving the route past this church last week and saw the sign.

Empire State Toaster

I have a disease for which there is no known cure.  If you saw me walking on the street, you wouldn't even be able to tell I was sick.  The disease? My name is Tom and I'm a toaster hoarder. I have an urge to buy any toaster I see at garage sales, estate sales, antique malls, thrift stores, you name it.  Maybe someday there will be a cure, but for now, I just keep buying.

My latest infection is this 1930's Electrahot Style 500 toaster featuring a stylized Empire State building design. I found it at a private estate sale for $6.  It was pretty grimy when I got it.

Mary with Santa

 This past summer, I came across this vintage Real Photo Postcard of a young girl with Santa Claus.

That's What You Get From Cracker Jack...Checkers

A few years back, I posted some students' Valentines sent to a teacher named Peter Blank in the 30's and 40's. Included in the box were some sheets of paper with little poems and illustrations.  They appeared to have been tied to Cracker Jack, possibly as prizes.  Only one is Valentine appropriate, but I've included the rest below.

The first is a criticism of "spooning" in public. 

Are you too stupid and senseless to know

That this sort of thing makes a sickening show?

About spooning in private I've nothing to say,

But to do it in public proclaims you a jay.

Leftovers Day 25 -- Men in Hats

I found this photo booth photo strip at an estate sale among some other items that appeared to have come from a wallet.

Leftovers Day 10 -- What's the Combination?

Combination locks date back to the Romans when multi-dial locks were used. The first commercially-viable single-dial lock was invented in 1910 by American Lock Company.

I found this Elgin lock with it's original instructions at a garage sale some time ago.

Leftovers Day 7 -- Queen Mary

Kellogg's offered this cardboard Queen Mary (some assembly required, okay, a lot of assembly required) as a premium from Cornflakes cereal in the 1930's.  It doesn't appear to be made from the packaging itself, so it was probably a mail-away premium.

Between the Covers

I recently wrote about judging a book by its cover. But I've learned over the years, you can't always trust the cover to reveal the true contents of a book.  And I'm not talking about the story inside.

Over the years, I've found many things hidden among the pages of books I've bought, from cash to four-leaf clovers to store receipts to hidden school tardy slips.  On rarer occasions, you might even find a story within the story.

For the Love of Pete - Day 8

To Mr. Blank From Ronald Paule

For the Love of Pete - Day 7

This Valentine appears to have come from the same company as this one.

For the Love of Pete - Day 6

As we near Valentine's Day (I know, it's only Day 6), I will need to start blowing some of these out in groups. I have more than 14 Valentines to showcase. STOP SIGHING!

For the Love of Pete - Day 5

Again, it might seem a little creepy today sending your teacher a Valentine suggesting a little "neckin'", but it's done in a humorous way. 

For the Love of Pete - Day 4

In case you're just joining (ah, who am I kidding. Hello? Anyone out there?), I've been showcasing Valentine's sent to Peter Blank, a teacher from Freeburg, Illinois in the 1930's and '40's.

For the Love of Pete - Day 3

For the Love of Pete - Day 1

This past year I bought a box of vintage Christmas cards and Valentine's. I previously posted the Christmas cards here.  These Valentine's were all sent to a teacher named Peter Blank who lived in Freeburg, Illinois. From the look of the cards, they all date from the 1930's or 40's. I have a pretty good supply of them, so I thought I'd drag them out enjoy them one at a time over the days leading up to Valentine's Day.  A few have articulation, so I've included a gif showing them in action.  It's a look back on an innocent time when "love" was used much more freely, even among students and teacher.

The Putz House of Bremen

I found this unusual "putz" house at a sale this past summer. I initially didn't pay too much attention to the scene on the front, but when I got it home and took a closer look, clearly something very peculiar was taking place.