Saturday, December 25, 2010
RANDOM 341 OBJECT
Antique WEIS BINDER Ohio TIN 1905 HORN or NOISY ROOTER-$39
How the maker of this old timey “ROOTER” got it to make such a loud noise, I’ll never know. Don’t slip up behind Great Aunt Emma and crank it unless you’re ready to share funeral expenses. It sounds like a miniature machine gun going off.
It is 4 ½” long, and the bottom diameter is 2 ½”. The bell is 2” across. It’s in beautiful condition – including part of the original label, which I can’t read a word of. BUT – The maker’s name is stamped into the bottom.
It is a noise-maker like you’d use on Halloween, during a wedding night chivaree, or as stated in a Weis Binder Company advertisement in 1905: “The "Rooter", a noise-maker which looks like and "ooga" horn with a hand crank. Beats the band. You turn the crank and the ‘Rooter’ does the rest. More noise than a brass band. Root for the home team and your favorite candidate."
The letter goes on to say: "Just think--every campaign marching club will want to equip each member with (a Rooter)...imitates drum corps, frogs croaking, pigs squealing, etc...wanted at every football game, baseball game, street and other fairs, carnivals, campaign rallies, ratification meetings, shivaries, etc. Folks don’t do much in the way of ‘shivaries’ any more--it’ll get you shot these days!”
You’ve seen trumpet players use a wow-wow mute, moving the mute as they play and making a doo-wah sound? Well, use you palm over the horn of this game call in the same manner as you crank it, and it sounds just like a bullfrog croaking. (I must admit though, I’ve gigged a thousand frogs, and I’ve never heard of anyone using a “frog call.)
Another bit of information I found talking about the same piece, states: “The New ‘Whoop Em Up’. Over a Million Will Be Sold Before Election".
RANDOM 341 OBJECT
REAL Antique GORDON’S PEANUT JAR w RED METAL Marked LID-$105
What a thrill to come across one of the old original Gordon’s jar quite unexpectedly in a lady’s basement over in Bartholomew County, Indiana. I hurriedly ran my fingers around the rims and held it to the light. Sure enough: No cracks or chips!
The glass jar is 10 ½” tall and 8 ¾” in diameter at the rim. Let’s take a good close look. (The old red panel truck on the side shown above has a little streak, and the “t” is missing from “Best,” but that is the only flaw on the entire glass.)
The metal lid has some scuffing around the rim as you’d expect, and guess what. I learned something new. The knob is Bakelite. I tested it.
That is the side they must have had facing out. Customers mess with things; always have – always will.
Friday, December 24, 2010
RANDOM 341 OBJECT
Antique 1918 FOLK ART Mission WALL RACK for PAPERS sgnd-$76
Ninety-two years ago next week, a man by the name of Edward H. Lee set out to make a special Christmas gift for someone special in his life. Combining the design trend of the day, Arts & Crafts, with the country skills of rural America during the period, he created something lasting, and, I’ll bet, much appreciated.
It is a folding wall pocket or wall rack used during Victorian times for papers of all sort. He wanted to make sure the recipient knew what it was for, so . . .
When full open and hanging on your wall, it measures 25 ½” long, with a top opening of 9”. The bottom is 5” deep. This would make a great piece to use in a country kitchen for all sorts of things; everything from dish towels to “you-name-it.”
When he finished his work, he stood back and decided it was good – so he signed and dated it on the bottom: “Edward H. Lee, Dec. 15, 1918.”
From the back, you can see he used what he had at hand around the farm.
