Arrow Collar Man paperweight / change dish

Would you believe this guy was a male "pin-up" and the subject of affection for probably millions of women in the early 20th century?

So this seemingly common looking piece of glass has a pretty interesting story behind it. I was not familiar with the Arrow Collar Man before today but he carries some clout.

The early 20th century collar designer Arrow out of Troy, N.Y. hired J.C Leyendecker to design an ad for the company. Leyendecker used his companion Charles Beach as a model for the campaign. Between 1905 and 1931 this general archetype man became the model man. I wonder if he was the first openly gay man that the world of western women swooned over? Had tabloids existed then in the capacity that they do today it would have been a different story I suppose.

The Arrow Collar Man became a pop icon; Cole Porter even expressed interest in being an Arrow Collar Man in his song "Football King aka If I Were Only A Football Man."

Remember the company was out of Troy, N.Y.? Well apparently this fictionally available bachelor of the year inspired the Broadway musical Helen Of Troy.

How exactly the Arrow Collar Man inspired George Kaufman and Marc Connelly to write a book and two act play is unclear but the attribution is well documented. 

Very influential misunderstood man here.

On a purely surface level, this is a very handy paperweight, instead of the common bar of soap style this has a concave top which makes it functional as both a weight and a sort of change dish. 

Probably from the 1910's or 20's. 

Diamond Round Head brass fastners

So I know they don't seem too exciting, but solid brass tacks, American made, in a near N.O.S. cardboard box. Picked these up at a thrift store for a few cents and they are worlds better than anything you could buy at OfficeMax.

I am constantly disappointed with office supplies that I try to use from any modern store. They are made to be lightweight for shipping and cheap so you won't re-use them and you will have to come back for more.

R. Mars The Contract Co. ash tray

From an old contractor company, based on what seems like a single digit zip code (if anyone can clear that up please elaborate) it seems probably from the 30's or 40's.
It seems they had offices in D.C. New York, and Baltimore.
The text on the tray is painted on the bottom and reads: "Everything for home hotel institution."

I'm not sure why that wide net of advertising intention seems odd today. I mean it isn't odd for all those groups to be buying the same sort of item, what seems strange I guess is that you never see one single piece of advertising aimed at the home, hotel, AND institution.

Sears Mufflers

From the good old days when a Sears product had such a thing as a "lifetime guarantee." I love a good key chain but I think this is actually a shop chain, something they would put around a customer's key while the vehicle is in for service.

Richmond Camera Shop ruler

Small 6 inch Richmond Camera Shop Inc. promotional ruler. 

Great patina on the wood and the text is still very visible. 

According to the current president and grandson of the founder these were ordered in the 1940's for the original Richmond Camera location on grace.

Piedmont Cigarettes scenic and art cards

I came across a large set of original Piedmont Cigarette cards.
When I saw them I almost flipped, I used to collect baseball cards and to this day the holy grail of baseball cards is a Honus Wagner card from Piedmont.

These are all scenic tourist style images of famous buildings and places around the world and a number of art prints of people posing in different cute scenes.

I don't know much about them, can't find much info on the originals, anybody know anything?

Small lead oil drum lift & driver

I can't imagine a time when this was a fun toy. It seems like a lead scale model of some guy's miserable day at work, I can't help but like solid metal toys though.

Golden Skateworld in Richmond keychain

I never made the rounds at the Golden Skateworld but I can only assume somebody out there had this keychain once upon a time. "Skating is fun!"

Humanatone Nose flute

I haven't been able to nasal any noise out of this thing but it is a pretty cool instrument. They still make plastic versions but these early ones apparently are somewhat sought after for un-usable music collections. I think they may have been used in one-man-bands but I'm not really sure, I think I may have heard it on an old Smithsonian collection once too.

Here is a great blog dedicated completely to this interesting wonder of the nose.

http://nose-flute.blogspot.fr/

Nolde's Bread bookcovers

From what I hear Nolde's and Wonder bread were what people ate around Richmond for a long time, I've heard stories of the smell of bread across the city.

This is only a piece of a bookcover I picked up from an old Dictionary with some Nolde's ads on it. The clear side was on the inside of the book, the entire outer cover was covered with interesting words kids through the years had looked up and spelled correctly on the cover.

See, Speak, and Hear no evil in D.C.

It took an administration willing to laugh at itself to put this in the Capitol Hill gift shop. I've always loved those monkeys and finding an old piece of D.C. ephemera sporting our hairy cousins was too good to be true!

Drunk and Confused ash tray

Probably from the 30's or 40's when there were still operators and nickel peanut machines, this poor old drunken dude just doesn't know whats going on. 

I really like the double eye thing, I think that is how you were able to draw "drunk" once upon a time. 

Cigarette / cigar or just party purse.

As near as I can tell this is a little purse for either holding a couple cigarettes, maybe a cigar and a few dollars I suppose. I guess it is just a party purse, I would guess from the 50's but I have no way to be sure, anybody seen one before?

Candy Breaker hammer

Big candy, little hammer. I haven't had much luck using it, can't get enough momentum it seems to get through my Milky Way. 

I guess when candy came in big chunks, rock candy and apparently caramels to, you used little promotional candy tools like this one to work your candy. Maybe it would make a good ice breaker or something. 

Tin Bullet Bank

Dangerous looking little Bullet Bank, made of tin with an interesting opening method.
It says on the bottom : "When bank is full shake hard and bottom will fall out."
That seems strange just because the top opens so easily and it seems like such a vulgar habit, makin all that change.

1940's Joseph Bliley Funeral Home bingo card

I got a chance to talk to the grandson of Joseph Bliley a bit about these cards, he said his father had them made in the 40's to give out to churches for bingo night.

It seems like an odd bit of advertising but I guess it makes sense, everybody needs a funeral home.  I wonder if people who play bingo regularly think about death more than most?

Bingo cards are cool in general but I really like the plastic slides, numbered and even including directions to the multiple locations, it has it all.

Motorcycle tourist Bermuda spoon rest

I'm not really sure why spoon rests were so popular a household item once, it seems like we don't need to set spoons down nearly as much now-a-days.

I have a number of tourist-oriented ones, maybe tied to the collectible spoon market, but this one may be my favorite. I love the colors and seeing a pair of tourists on a motorcycle is nostalgic. Do people still travel to Bermuda?

1940's Agee's Wolf of Richmond headbadge

Once upon a time it was common for small-town companies to re-badge and sell fairly generic bicycles.

Here in Richmond, VA our own Agee's re-branded Colombias with this impressive looking badge. The bike this came off of had the old skip-tooth chain and crank dating it in the early to mid 40's.

County of Henrico bicycle license plates

Just a couple examples of the many types of bicycle license plates. These two both from the county of Henrico outside Richmond, VA.

These are so reminiscent of the original bicycle head badge style I think they are my favorite over those modeled after a automobile license plate.

1991 The Simpsons travel case / suitcase

From the very first year of the famous Simpsons franchise!
A day trip or children's suitcase with the Simpson family and the family station wagon repeated in the background.

1991 Cannondale Competition Series

Chameleon paint, Ritchey wheelset, updated Rockshocks fork.
Classic bike!

Antique Simonds Stock ban saw store display/container

Antique Simonds Stock ban saw store use or large quantity buying.
Unused roll, you would just pull some out and cut it to length.
Wood Case, great for display.

(Left) Reads : "Simonds Saws Are The Best" on the front and (Bottom) still has the original paper tag on side.

Walton brand RR crate shipped to Manchester, VA

Wooden railroad trunk converted to domestic trunk with casters and handles (once had wallpaper and fabric inside and out.)

Reads:

"It Will Wear- Walton - The Shoe For Boys" 

and

"It Will Wear- Walton - The Shoe For Girls"

on the opposite side.

Great trunk, sorta has a different sound to it post "Silence of the Lambs."

60's National Star Chronicle & National Insider

Some very weird, smutty, risque, and generally hilarious 1960's cheapo 15 cent magazines. 

National Star Chronicle and National Insider, maybe more. 

Max Headroom Valterra Skateboard

Max Headroom / Valterra skateboard could only be from the mid 80's.
Great graphics and bumpers, and if you are a closet Max Headroom fan maybe you even had one when you were a kid!

Set of mid-century sports car cocktail glasses

These glasses have a really cool look with the paint in really good shape.
I'm not sure if it was more common in the 50's and 60's but it seemed odd to me to see the various manufacturers all represented in one set of glasses.
They also represent a few rarer cars which I like, rather than just generic sports cars these have the make and model!

Included:
-Arnolt Bristol
-Triumph TR2
-Jaguar XK140
-Porsche Speedster
-MG TF1500

1890's era Safety Bicycle

Very cool and tall 1890's era safety bicycle.
Unknown maker but the bike was found in Richmond, Va so possibly one of these:
The Wheelmen Bicycle Brand Search

Persons saddle frame from 1911
Wooden Musselman wheelset from 1910.
Original skip-tooth crank and chain with early block links.

19th Century Banjo

My ultimate plan is to make a clock from this ancient looking banjo skeleton, as it sits it is dusty but great looking. Still has remnants of the original skin and some of the original pegs. No factory or manufacturer information, cellulose inlays.

Intro to Backstory

Welcome!

This blog is thus far going to serve as my outlet to the world so the great wide world of the internet can be aware of both my personal collections and my shop-able stock.
There will be very few borders limiting the items I post on here, my tastes range far and wide, I will eventually build a base on here to reflect that.

For the most part everything I own could be for sale one day, I re-arrange often and phase out so if you see anything you are interested in let me know, or just let me know what you think.

I hope people stumble across items posted here while searching or researching similar items, I will tell what I know and I hope all you out there will volunteer your 2 cents as well!