in this issue - Antique Back Roads Collector`s Magazine

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
4
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!
5
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 [email protected]
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 - [email protected]
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
[email protected].
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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Antique Back Roads
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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