Collectible Character Glasses

Pepsi Warner Brothers

Many people enjoy collecting glasses featuring various cartoon, movie, and TV characters. Many of the older and/or rarer ones can bring $50 or more. Some can even be worth upwards of $500!

A very popular and collectible line of Pepsi glasses feature Warner Brothers characters. First produced in 1974, they released them in three promotional sets of six. A restaurant would sign on to participate in the first promotion set and then would sign up for the two subsequent promotions separately.  Significantly less restaurants signed up for the second and third promotions; which is why the glasses from the first set of six are much easier to find than the second or third.
Due to the popularity of this line of eighteen glasses, Pepsi decided to produce more.

Pepsi Warner Brothers

On the second line of glasses, the characters are doing something aka “interactive” rather than standing still aka “static” as in the first line. For example, Porky the Pig is fishing. This second line consists of two sets of twelve glasses. The interactive glasses are usually valued higher than the static glasses.
In addition to the Loony Tunes characters, Pepsi has also released glass sets featuring Caterpillar tractors, The Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Circus, sports teams, comic book characters, movies characters,  seasonal promotions, Normal Rockwell art, and more.

1977 Mighty Mouse

Welch’s produced another very popular line of collectible glasses. It all began with Howdy Doody in 1953 and since then has expanded into twenty-six different sets. Some popular lines have included: the Flintstones, Archie, Dr. Seuss, Peanuts, Davy Crockett, and Warner Brothers. Over the years they have also released lines of glasses featuring dinosaurs, endangered species, and AFC and NFC football teams.

While Pepsi and Welch’s are two of the most well known producers of cartoon glasses, many other companies made collectible glasses as well. Some of the more collectible include: Coca-Cola’s Holly Hobbie, Warner Brothers, NASCAR, and Olympics glasses; Pizza Hut’s Happy Days,

Cowboy Tweety

NFL, and TV characters glasses; and Hard Rock Café’s location specific glasses.

While a lots of collectors collect purely for nostalgia, some of the glasses can be worth quite a bit. Keep an eye out for:

Chas Addams

• Mighty Mouse by Terrytoons - sold only in California Pizza Hut chains in 1977 and can bring over $500.
• Hopalong Cassidy
• Lone Ranger
• “Chas Addams” - an Addams Family glass featuring a baby carriage in the park
• Little Lulu
• Wizard of Oz by Duncan Donuts
• Gulliver’s Travels
• Dick Tracy
• Dennis the Menace
• Tweety Bird wearing a cowboy hat and boots playing a guitar - extremely rare
• Dr. Seuss by Welch’s
• Flintstones  by Hanna Barbera Productions
• Yogi Bear  by Hanna Barbera Productions
• Sourpuss and Gandy Goose by Terrytoons
• Bullwinkle and Rocky by P.A.T. Ward Productions
• Marvel Superheroes

  

  1957 Kentucky Derby

• Casper the Friendly Ghost and Friends by Harvey Famous Cartoons

Derby Glasses are another highly collectible category of glassware. At the first Kentucky Derby, in 1938, they gave out commemorative water glasses. Two years later, they were the mint julep glasses we are familiar with today. An early Kentucky Derby glass in excellent condition can bring thousands of dollars.

We always have an abundance of character glasses at the store. Come down and see what favorite characters from your childhood you can find!

Presidential Ephemera: Find or Fake?

Ephemera is not some dreaded disease found in equatorial Africa.  Ephemera refers to items of collectible memorabilia, typically written or printed ones, that were originally expected to have only short-term usefulness or popularity. Collectors really covet documents with a U.S. Presidential signature. Good examples are greeting cards, photographs, military appointments, deeds, and land grants.

The Grover Cleveland Caper

       Recently a couple came into Appalachian Antique Mall with a wood box filled with ephemera.  They said they thought the lot was worth around $1500.  Among the papers were some old land grant documents, some of which they stated had the Presidential signatures of Grover Cleveland and James Buchanan.  One land grant in very good condition was an 1893 Oregon Land Grant signed by Grover Cleveland. As a quick check to determine what something like that might be worth, we went on eBay.

      To our surprise, we found that an identical 1893 Oregon Land Grant signed by Cleveland had just sold!!!  For $15.  Upon closer inspection, we noticed that it was the same land grant the couple brought into our store, right down to the folds in the paper and document numbers. How could this be?  The one that sold on eBay went to a buyer in a different part of the country.

     The simple answer is one or both were fakes.  With computers, copiers, digital cameras etc., the copying of old documents is easy and rampant.  In some cases, people are getting old blank paper or pages out of old books and copying onto it.  Land grants are one of the most popular documents to counterfeit.  Those with authentic Presidential signatures can have real value, BUT the trick is determining if they are forgeries or not.  Here is a good way to start.

Presidential Writer’s Cramp

 Is the signature from a U.S. President on a land grant dated after 1833?  If so, he probably didn’t sign it.  His secretary did.  And this is why:

      In the early days of our country, the President was relatively accessible. Any citizen could shake the President’s hand if he were willing to stand in line long   And one of the President’s more mundane duties in those days was to sign routine documents himself to make them legal.  Early Presidents signed everything from photos to military commissions to ships’ papers to patents for land grants.  The latter, when the federal government was selling the entire frontier in small parcels to individual settlers, became a monumental chore. 

     By the early 1830s, signing land grants had finally gotten out of hand.  In June 1832, the commissioner of the general land office wrote to Congress that there were more than 10,500 completed land patents waiting the signature of President Andrew Jackson.  Congress passed a law in March 1833 to relieve this burden, authorizing the President to appoint a special secretary to sign land patents–in essence to legally forge the President’s signature.  Jackson therefore became the last president to personally sign land grants.  If you see one on eBay from a later president, offered as an “authentic signature,” you now know better.

     Meanwhile, back at our antique mall.  When we started to research another land grant signed by President James Buchanan, our ephemera-peddling couple, they gathered up their documents and quickly exited the mall.  Grover and out!

Which Presidential Autographs are the Real McKinley?

     One last tip on buying anything with an “original” Presidential autograph.  Everyone in the Presidential ephemera collecting circle agrees on one indisputable piece of advice for interested buyers – always buy from a reputable source. This will increase the odds that you are indeed buying an authentic autograph.

Structo, Tonka, and Buddy L

Nostalgia is often the inspiration for a collection. Most toy collectors have fond memories of hours of playtime spent with their Structo, Tonka, or Buddy L trucks. Here are some time lines to help you figure out when your toys may have been made:

STRUCTO

• 1908: Structo Toy Company was formed in Freeport, Illinois



Early Structo

• 1915: Model Building Sets (the original Erector Sets) - These extremely successful engineering kits were designed as an educational toy. Kids could start out making simple structures and work their way up to complicated, intricate bridges and buildings.
• 1918: The Ready Built Line was introduced; it included steel cars, trucks, tractors, and other vehicles.
• 1923: We first see model-kit toy vehicles such as the Model T, which came with shifting gears and a real hand crank.
• 1932: The mechanized toy line was changed over to a stamped steel push toy line - these were more affordable during the hard times of the 30’s.
• 1942: Structo converted to war production and made shells, armor, and storage tanks.
• 1945: Structo built a new production line that produced toys with rubber wheels, opening hoods, and headlight details. These post-WWII toys were usually painted bright, cheerful colors.
• 1975: Structo was purchased by the Ertl Company, best known for their plastic model kits of tractors, plows, and other farm equipment.

Tonka

TONKA

• 1946: Mound Metalcraft started in Mound, Minnesota with the intention of producing garden tools. The former inhabitant of their building had attempted to make miniature metal toy vehicles but had failed and closed. The founders decided to make a little money on the side and started producing a steam shovel and a crane. The first year they sold 37,000 units.
• 1949: The Tonka dump truck is introduced.
• 1955: Mound Metalcraft changed their name to Tonka Toys, Inc. (Tonka is a Dakota-Sioux word meaning “big” or “great”) and moved into a new manufacturing facility to accommodate the increasing demand for their product.
• 1963: The Mini Tonka series was launched.
• 1964: We first see the Mighty Tonka dump truck which launched the very successful Mighty Tonka series. These are extremely collectible - especially the 1964-1972 lines. The original 1964 Mighty Tonka dump (which weighed 11 lbs) has a decal on the nose of the cab that says “Tonka” - this is the only year this decal appeared in this location. 
• 1991: Tonka was purchased by Hasboro.
• 2001: Tonka trucks were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.

Early Buddy L

BUDDY L

• 1921: The owner of Moline Pressed Steel Company (which primarily manufactured automobile fenders and other metal auto body parts) decided to make a durable toy truck for his son, Buddy L. He made an all-steel miniature truck made from 18 and 20 gauge steel scavenged from the company’s scrap pile.
• 1927: There were almost fifty toys in the Buddy L line including: trucks, dump trucks, trains, fire apparatus, concrete mixers. cranes, dredges, etc.

  

  Wooden Buddy L
  

• WWII: Due to the demand for steel, Buddy L started producing wood toys.
• Post-WWII: Buddy L experimented with plastics but returned to metal, although in a lighter gauge.

The most valuable Buddy L collectibles are the heavy pre-war models. The right piece in the right condition can be worth thousands of dollars.

Come down and check out our dealers’ assortment of Structo, Tonka, and Buddy L toys, you never know what sort of bargains you may find!

Carnival Glass 101

Carnival glass was first produced on a large scale by Fenton Art Glass Company of Willamstown, West Virginia in 1908. They called it “Iridill” glass. Over the years Fenton produced over 150 patterns and a wide variety of colors of carnival glass.

The majority of carnival glass was produced between 1908 and 1925. However, companies continued to successfully sell carnival glass into the 1940’s. Other companies that produced it include: Imperial, Cambridge, Westmoreland, Dugan, Millersbug, and Northwood. At the height of carnival glass popularity competition was fierce and companies were constantly coming up with new patterns, hence the over 2,000 patterns available today.

Carnival glass has been known by many other names throughout the years such as: aurura glass, dope glass, taffeta glass, and rainbow glass. It acquired its current and most common name because in the 1950’s it was sometimes given as prizes at fairs and carnivals.

The array of carnival glass pieces produced is extraordinary. They range from basic utilitarian items such as butter dishes to purely decorative statuettes. Carnival glass identification can be extremely challenging, even for the experienced collector. Most pieces are not marked and many manufacturers closely copied their competitors pieces.

Shawnee Pottery Corn Collectibles

Corn King

Shawnee corn pieces are a familiar sight to most collectors of antiques. Whimsical and fun, they add a vintage touch to any kitchen.

Shawnee Pottery Company opened in 1937 in Zanesville, Ohio. The Shawnee name and mark were inspired by an Indian head found on the ground during construction of the factory. At its peak, Shawnee produced over ten thousand pieces a day.

Shawnee’s corn pieces were first produced as a promotional item

White Corn

for Proctor & Gamble and were given away in boxes of Oxydol. The first corn line was called “White Corn.” In 1946, the corn color changed from white to yellow and was dubbed “Corn King.” This line was produced until 1954 when the colors were again changed. The corn was a lighter yellow and the shucks a darker green; this line is known as “Corn Queen.” Corn King is generally more valuable than Corn Queen.

Dating your Shawnee corn pieces:
Colors:

• White Corn: 1941-1946

  

  Corn Queen

• Corn King: 1946-1954
• Corn Queen: 1954-1961

The marks are not as easily dated. However, generally:

• "USA": pre-WWII
• "USA" with a number: 1945-1961
• "Shawnee, USA" with a number: 1946-1961

Corn King

Tips for identifying genuine Shawnee corn pieces:

• Most pieces left the factory with paper labels which are now long gone . Most pieces are unmarked or just have “USA” marked on the bottom.
• Lots of other companies made corn lines of their own. Their molds and glazes were not exactly the same so an experienced collector can immediately spot the differences.
• Most Shawnee pieces are glazed completely inside and out except for a raised rim on the bottom. The larger pieces can be completely unglazed on the bottom.

Beware: Many inexperienced collectors (or dishonest experienced collectors) will label any Shawnee corn piece as “Corn King” despite the three distinctly different lines. Be sure to do your own research before making any big purchases!

Caring for your vintage Shawnee Pottery pieces:

• Hand wash with warm water and a mild dishwashing soap. NEVER put in your dishwasher.
• Don’t be afraid to use them! Many collectors use their pieces regularly.

We have a variety of Shawnee corn pieces in the store right now. Stop by and take a look!

How To: Remove Water Marks from Wood

Your kid set a water glass down on your grandmother’s antique wooden table and now there’s a huge water mark right in the middle! Disaster! Or not…

We scoured the web for easy ways to fix those pesky white rings. Here are some of our favorite methods:

The Mayo Method:

Spoon a generous amount of mayonnaise onto the water stain and rub it in with a paper towel. Allow the mayonnaise to remain on the stain for several hours or overnight. In the morning, wipe off the excess mayonnaise. Use a paper towel and rub the remaining mayonnaise into the wood.

Heat:
Place a towel over the stain. Set your iron to medium and carefully put it on top of the cloth for a few seconds only and remove. Repeat until the water stain is removed from the wood.
You can also use a hair dryer. Just use the low setting and aim at the stain.

Steel Wool and Lemon Oil:
Use a pad of very fine steel wool and drench it with lemon oil. The lemon oil won’t remove the stain, but it lubricates the steel wool so that it doesn’t scratch the wood.
Very gently buff out the white ring with the fine steel wool.

Cigarette Ash:
Make a paste out of olive oil and cigarette ash. Work this slowly into the mark. You'll see the stain coming out as you rub in the paste. This works best if your wood is dark and polished, like mahogany.

Petroleum Jelly:
Apply the petroleum jelly over the affected area and allow it to sit there for eight hours. The trapped moisture under the wood's finish will be replaced by the jelly. Check the progress. If there's still a faint sign of the water mark, leave it for a few more hours. Check again, and if no more mark remains, wipe clean with a cloth.

The Confederate States of America Dollar

With the beginning of the Civil War, the south began issuing its own currency. The first Confederate States of America (CSA) note was printed in April of 1861. If the South won, the notes would be redeemable for face value. If the North won, the notes would be worthless; but it was a gamble southerners were willing to take. Printed across the top of most confederate notes was the phrase, “Two years after the ratification of a treaty of peace between the Confederate States and the United States of America” then across the middle, the "Confederate States of America will pay" [amount of bill] "to bearer.”

At the beginning, the southern printers had to make do with whatever designs they had access to. Many of the first notes included scenes of slaves, ships, and gods and goddesses. Many later notes feature prominent southern figures such as Stonewall Jackson, Alexander Stephens, and Jefferson Davis.

The CSA notes were painstakingly hand numbered and signed. Most have rough, uneven edges since each note was cut by hand with scissors or shears. They were available in the following denominations: 10¢, 50¢, $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, $1000.

As the war progressed, counterfeiting became rampant throughout the south. Inflation became a huge problem and by the end of the war CSA notes were almost worthless.

Today, these notes can be worth tens of thousands of dollars. Even the counterfeit notes can bring quite a bit.