in this issue Why Are pencils yellow?
Halloween Collectibles Collecting Breweriana
Volume 4
Ghosts, Goblins & Pumpkins
With Fall almost upon us, the best time for Halloween collecting starts. As a Dealer and Collector, I’ve actively been involved in the hobby for over 30 years. I have learned the most from experts’ hints & hands-on experience which still guides me in my search. With the wide variety of catagories available, I’ll try to identify a few which might help focus your interests in one direction. Jack-o’-Lanterns have always been a favorite of new as well as advanced collectors since they embody everything we connect with the holiday & harvest time. We all remember carving our first pumpkin & adding the candle. German pressed cardboard or heavy papier mache’ from the early 1900’s seem to be the most sought after. The workmanship and details far surpassed the American & Japanese market. Although we most often think the lanterns should look like pumpkins, many more resemble melons or gourds or even more ghoulish figures like skulls, black cats, witches & devils. Each jack-o’-lantern had a screen printed tissue insert that comprised the face, a metal or cardboard ring which held a candle and were carried by children holding the bale handle while a lit candle flickered as they went “trick or treating”. Imagine!! Continued on Page 3
What Collectors Were Buying
Tin Embossed Simpson Spring Beverage Sign - $295
Early Paper Mache Jack-O-Lantern - $150
Over 80 Quality Dealers Selling Only ‘Real’ Vintage On Line.
1920’s Suffolk Planters 1 lb. Tin Pail - $950
Over 20,000 Listings No Reproductions No Limited Editions Continued on Back Page
New York Police Officer Cabinet Photograph - $70
Celebrating 40 Years The Indy Antique Advertising Show celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. In 1972 L-W Promotions (Neal Wood) of Gas City, IN and Ray Klug of Akron, OH launched the very first show on March 25-26th at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. Several of our current dealers started in the 70’s with the show and recently Myron Huffman, who set up at the very first Advertising Show, gave me a copy of the two original advertising flyers that were used by. One of the flyers read: Here for the first time ever, a mountain of Advertising Items for Sale THE ONLY SHOW OF THIS TYPE IN THE COUNTRY Don’t Miss it! These words written over 40 years ago are still true today. The name has morphed into The Indy Ad Show, yet the original vision of the Show has remained the same even through changes in ownership. This is a strong indication of how buyers and sellers feel about the integrity and quality of the show. The items offered at the show in 1972 included soda fountain, country store, drug store, tobacco, tins, brewery, ephemera and early vending machines. These items have just as strong appeal in today’s market as they did 40 years ago. While other types of vintage collectibles have seen their decline in recent years, the vintage advertising continues to be a strong market. It is being collected by a new generation.
It’s interesting that the following advertisement for the show written 40 years ago could still be used today. Here for the first time ever, a mountain of Advertising Items for sale. For those of you who say you “can’t find it,” here’s your chance. Don’t miss it. This is the only show of this type in the country. A must for those refurnishing country stores, soda fountains, old saloons and drug stores. A chance for Companies still in business to fill their Museums with their early advertising. A real education for those who have not seen or have seen very little of this type of Antique. After the show is over, I always hear, “Did you see …” and inevitably I always miss something great. The dealers at the Indy Ad Show always do such a fantastic job of bringing great vintage merchandise and it is impossible to see it all. This September was certainly no exception as both the beginner and advanced collector had lots to choose from. We are excited to announce that the Road Map Collector’s Association (RMCA) will be joining us during the September 2013 Show. This type of automotive collectible is a great addition to the show. Members of this group will have a specific designated area for their displays so that all customers will have an opportunity to visit RMCA during the show. Mark your calendars for 2013; March 15-16 and September 27-28 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis. You won’t want to miss it! Donna Weir B & D Promotions
2013 Dealer Info available on www.indyadshow.com or by calling 217.821.1294. 2
www.indyadshow.com
Buying and Selling On line As discussed in the last magazine, one option for any Collector is to buy and sell on line. Most collectors reading this article have purchased or sold an item on line. I would estimate that 95% of the transactions are successful. The following tips will help ensure a smooth transaction for the buyer and seller.
Tips for Buyers DESCRIPTIONS: Read the description carefully. Is it a complete description with approximate age, condition (such as excellent or good) and size? Don’t be afraid to ask questions or call the buyer. Some sellers on icollect247. com have their phone numbers listed at the bottom of the listing page. Other prefer to have you ask questions via the “Question for Seller” button on the left of the page. Remember it is important to the dealer that you are happy with your purchase and they are more than happy to answer questions. PICTURES: Are the pictures clear? Are there pictures of any damage? Contact the seller if you want to see more pictures. Again, just ask for any additional pictures you feel important to purchasing an item. CHECK OUT THEIR LISTINGS: Does the seller appear knowledgeable? Look at the sellers other listings to get a feel of his knowledge of antiques and collectibles. You can do this on icollect247 by clicking on the “Seller’s Other Listings” button on the left of the page. RETURN POLICY: Is there a return option (if so, how many days). You may need to verify this if it isn’t clear. SALES RECEIPT: On icollect247.com, you will receive a link when the order is placed. Once the dealer gets the order, he will update the invoice and you will receive another link. Within this link, you will see a “Invoice” button on the right. Print out any invoice and description for your inventory and insurance records. WHEN YOUR ORDER ARRIVES: Unpack the item when you receive it. Positive feedback to a dealer is always welcome. If there is a concern, contact the dealer and let him know. If you do need to return an item, be sure it is in the same box with same packing material and return insured. Let the seller know when it is shipped. Remember to be courteous. Continued on Back Page
Ghosts, Goblins & Pumpkins
Continued from Page 1
Another favorite catagory for collectors is the candy container. These came in a multitude of sizes & styles.The glass blown figures from the early 1900’s were realistically painted & had a tin screw on lid or base which opened to reveal tiny bead candy. They came in the form of harvest figures such as witches, skeletons, devils, black cats & veggie people. Next, we have figures made in a mould from papier mache’ & glued on painted or paper covered round boxes which held the treats. Some characters had bobble heads which were known as nodders which the kids could use as toys when the sweets were gone. There were also candy containers formed as a “head” with a plug insert that held the candy. Witches, devils & jack-o’-lanterns are the most common. The full figure candy container with a removeable head for storing treats probably is the favorite of collectors (myself included) since there are so many varieties. Usually hollow papier mache’ painted, they could be traditional devils, witches, black cats & skeletons or veggie people with fruits & vegetables making up their body parts. These date from the early 1900’s-1930’s & show endless creativity on the part of the German artisan. I’ve only scratched the surface with these descriptions. Hopefully, after reading this & viewing the photos it will encourage your search for the “Halloween Holy Graille”! Sharon Happle
Composition Vegetable Figurals
Collecting Breweriana What is Breweriana? Anything in advertising that is pertaining to beer. I have collected for over 35 years. My favorite, of the numerous items to collect is signs, that is the basis of this article. I love anything with great graphics such as brewery scenes, drinking scenes, animals and pretty ladies really get my attention. You could pick a particular theme for your own collecting interest. Some collectors choose strictly prepro (short for pre-prohibition.) These items are from 1929 and prior as National Prohibition was from 1929 to 1933. I collect from 1880s to 1940s but try to display the pre-pro items together rather than mixing the eras in our home. Although I also collect a lot of general advertising, I do display brewery and general advertising from the same era together. It’s simply a personal taste. Everyone loves the early lithos and one of the hottest areas today are the 1930s-40s, lighted glass signs. Record breaking prices are constantly being realized. Limited supply and very strong demand are commanding amazing prices today. With the strong values today, many collectors tend to be regional buyers, selecting items from their home town or state. I tried that for a while but found myself buying something not so graphic just because it was from the greater Cincinnati area. In the early 1990s I was really collecting heavily. Long
time Indy Ad Show dealers Dick and Carolyn Hinds kindly guided my collecting interest. Many visits to their great graphic and diverse advertising collection led me to become a nation-wide brewery collector. Soon after that, I was buying all kinds of general advertising signs and items. Their guidance was the most helpful and I would never have managed to build my collection without their help. A great way to meet people, like Dick and Carolyn Hinds, is to join collecting clubs. Please see the article on Brewery Clubs in this exciting issue. My wife and I are full time antique advertising dealers. We are proud to be dealers in the Indy Ad Show. We operate as Boofers Antique Advertising. Marvin and Cindy Gardner, Indy Ad Show Dealers ABC American Brewing Co. St. Louis Pretty Lady Litho C 1900
Washington Beer Tin Sign, Columbus, Ohio 1903
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Kaiers Sign. Really rare. Only 1 known 1930s lighted sign.
A Short History of the lead pencil Lead pencils, really do not contain lead — they are made with graphite (a form of carbon). Actually, writing instruments go back as far as the 1500s, when sticks were cut from graphite and wrapped in a wooden tube. By 1662, graphite sticks were glued between two pieces of wood to form a pencil and by the early 18th century, wood-cased pencils that did not require high quality graphite, were produced in Nuremberg. The cores of these pencils were made by mixing graphite, sulfur and various binding agents. The German pencils were inferior to English pencils, which continued to be made with sticks cut from natural graphite into the 1860s. In 1795, Nicholas Jacques Conté (a French chemist) patented the modern process of making pencil leads (powdered graphite and clay were mixed to form sticks which were hardened in a furnace). In the United States, wood-cased lead pencils were produced in the Boston area as early as 1812 by William Munroe. The cores of these pencils were made from dried graphite paste. Between the 1820s and 1850s there were several small pencil makers in the Boston area besides Munroe — John Thoreau, Joseph Dixon, and Benjamin Ball. During this time, U.S. pencils continued to be inferior to the natural graphite pencils imported from England and the Conté pencils from France and Austria. Although Dixon set up a new factory outside New York City in 1847, most lead pencils sold in the U.S. were still imported from Europe. In 1861, Eberhard
Faber established a factory in New York. In 1862 the Eagle Pencil Co. (another New York company), won a pencil award in London. Mass production of lead pencils began in the U.S. after the Civil War. During the period between 1864-67 several patents were granted for lead pencil making machines. The four principal manufacturers of lead pencils throughout the latter 19th and early 20th century — Eagle Pencil Co., Eberhard Faber, American Lead Pencil Co., and Joseph Dixon Crucible Co. — all set up or expanded pencil factories in the New York/New Jersey area. The following pages in this issue show many of these companies packaged products and display materials from the 20th century.
Dave Hirsh Article reproduced from PastTimes Newsletter with permission of the A.A.A.A.
History tells us that in the 1800s the best graphite in the world came from China. Since American pencil makers wanted people to know that their pencils contained the best Chinese graphite they began painting their pencils yellow (1890s). The color yellow is associated with royalty and respect in China. Today, 75% of the pencils sold in the U.S. are still painted yellow!
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Displaying Your collection Collectors enjoy displaying their collections anywhere there is room. Here are ideas that will bring you lots of interesting ideas of how to display your special items...or even give you an idea of something new to collect!
Country store corner is created by placing signs on wooden siding.
Gasoline Alley mixes signs and displays that were found in filling stations.
Tobacco collectibles display in “his� room.
Displaying items on the top of cabinets brings visual appeal.
Remembering family members with their photograph and uniform service badges.
Plant stands make a perfect place for displaying sand pails. 6
Breweriana Clubs By Collectors
Looking for something for your collection or a special gift for a friend? We are going to feature a special area in the next issue for you to place an ad for that item. Guidelines for your “wanted” listing: Ad to be two lines in length maximum 128 characters (includes spaces and punctuation). Ad should contain what you are looking for. Be specific as to item, date, condition. Include your email address or phone number. Include your name, if you wish. Not for Commercial Use – collectors only please.
Example of a 126 character ad: Paint cans in excellent condition with detailed graphic labels early 1920 - 1940. Send pictures to emailaddress@somewhere.com Cost: $35 per issue, send ad and check to payable to: Donna Weir, 8366 Timber Ridge Rd., Effingham, Il 62401.
Breweriana Collecting clubs are a vital importance to the Collector. I cannot stress enough the reasons why you should join any of all of these great organizations. It is a great way to meet many, in depth, knowledgeable collectors who are more than happy to help any other collectors. All four of the clubs listed below have an annual convention held in different locations throughout the US. They are a lot of fun and very informative events are at all conventions and some have auctions for members only. I have made countless friends over the past 35 years and have been a member of all the clubs. All four clubs have super magazines mailed out 4-6 times per year. They always have different articles on all aspects of Breweriana as well as an area for members to submit classified ads to sell or buy. They also have member rosters that include each collector’s area of interest and contact info. This can really help you build your personal collection as members across the US are able to contact you. I suggest joining all four groups today. This is a very nominal investment and your greatest way to meet friends and really build your collection. If you have questions about any of these organizations I will be more than happy to answer you. Marvin and Cindy Gardner - mgard@aol.com
Antique Back Roads is not responsible for any of the content of the ads or in any way responsible for the sale or purchase of the items. Antique Back Roads is not responsible and has no obligation to resolve disputes between the buyers and sellers. Any disputes or conflicts should be resolved directly between the parties involved.
Collector Tips
Each issue will include tips from collectors on cleaning, restoring, replacing parts or anything that will help other collectors enjoy their collectibles. Please send your tips to admin@antiquebackroads.com.
Breweriana Associations
ABA - American Breweriana Association www.americanbrewerina.org BCCA - Brewery Collectibles Club of America www.BCCA.com ECBA - East Coast Breweriana Association www.eastcoastbrew.com NABA - National Association Breweriana Advertising www.nababrew.com
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Buying and Selling On line
What Collectors Were Buying
Continued from Page 1
Continued from Page 3
Tips for Sellers DESCRIPTIONS: Tell the potential buyer as much as you know about the item, maker, history, date, condition, including any restoration (minor or major) and size. PICTURES: Take clear pictures as well as pictures of any flaws and document in the description. RETURN POLICY: Explain your return policy, in relation to time of return, shipping reimbursement, restocking charge.
Howdy Doody Nite Light MIB - $124.95
Baby Ruth Gum Change Tray Dispenser - $375
REMEMBER: If a buyer contacts you with concerns, listen politely avoiding defensiveness. Offer to mail a copy of the invoice, if they don’t remember all the details of your description. Resolve the buyer’s concerns in a way that the buyer will purchase from you again. Remember a satisfied customer will be a return customer. Icollect247.com is the only site on the web to offer only “real” vintage listings. For a flat $35 per month, you can list and sell as many items as you want – no additional fees. We hit a new high for August with 4.73 million hits. Icollect247 welcomes both dealers and collectors to open a store today.
Space Gun - 1960’s Japan Old Store Stock - $95
German Magic Lantern Slides Box of 12 - $40
Madame Alexander Margaret Ballerina 1950’s - $240
Master Mix Feeds Clock 1950’s - $595