-
- Editor’s
Note:
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- This
column is a regular feature in the Wayback Times.
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- If
you have questions for The Old Guy, drop us an e-mail or a letter
and we will get it to him.
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- If
The Old Guy doesn't know the answer to your antiques and collectibles
question, he will pin down an expert who does.
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- Topics
to date:
- Stereoscopes
- Punkinhead
- Hoosier
cupboards
- Carnival
glass
- Blue
Willow china
- Buddy
L Toys
- Antique
business
- Old
photographs
- Eatons
catalogue
- Fiesta
dinnerware
- PEZ
- Royal
Doulton Toby Jugs
- Bonnet
chest care
- Postcard
collecting
- Art
Nouveau, Art Deco
- Fishing
lures
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- Dear Old Guy,
- My wife and I attended the Fort
Henry Antique Show in Kingston this summer after seeing their
ad in the Wayback Times, and I must thank you folks. It was a
great show and an amazing place to visit. I would recommend it
highly to anyone interested in our great country's history. While
we were there, we purchased a stereoscope viewer and set of six
photo cards from one of their dealers for $85. We have since
bought additional cards and it has turned into a great form of
entertainment with our friends and family. I would like to know
if I paid a reasonable price and would appreciate it if you could
give me some information on the history of these 3D viewers?
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- John C. Twiford,
- Oshawa, ON
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- Hi John;
Thank you for your e-mail. I have been to the Fort Henry Show
before and it is an incredible place to visit and a great venue
for an antique show.
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- It sounds like you got a good
deal on your purchase. Depending on condition, the hand-held
stereoscopes sell in the $75 to $125 range even without a set
of cards.
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- Many years back, long before
DVDs, Ipods and televisions, most households owned a collection
of viewing cards and stereoscope. They were tremendously popular
during the late 1800s and up until the 1920s. The original concept
of the stereoscope goes back to 1838 and is attributed to Sir
Charles Wheatstone of Gloucester England. He proved that
the human mind could perceive objects in three dimensions, creating
the illusion of depth when each eye receives a slightly different
view. His first stereo cards were hand drawn because his invention
preceded photography.
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- In 1859, Oliver Wendell Homes
developed the hand-held style viewer that you have. A camera
with two separate lenses took stereo pictures and both were mounted
on a card separated by approximately the same distance that is
between the average adult's eyes. The resulting images enabled
viewers to travel the world, view history and even enjoy comical
scenes in 3D in the comfort of their own parlours.
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- Eventually, other forms of entertainment,
like radios and movie theaters, signaled the end of the stereoscope’s
huge popularity. Lots of single viewing cards and card sets can
still be purchased at reasonable prices if you care to add to
the enjoyment of your stereoscope.
Thanks for your question.
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- The Old Guy
-
- You can reach the Old Guy
by mail: The Wayback Times, RR1 Hastings, Ontario, K0L 1Y0 or
email asktheoldguy@waybacktimes.com
and we will pass the message on to him. The Old Guy does not
find, buy or sell items on behalf of Wayback Times readers.
-
-
- Dear Old Guy;
- I have very fond Christmas memories
of a toy bear that was Santa's helper back when I was a child.
His name was "Punkinhead." I can't seem to find any
history on him. My kids keep joking that Punkinhead is a figment
of my imagination and my two granddaughters think I'm losing
it. I would appreciate any information you could give me about
this bear.
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- Susan McBain
Toronto, Ontario
Dear Susan:
Charles Thorson, an animator for the T. Eaton Company,
was the creator of "Punkinhead." This lovable bear
first appeared in the Eaton's Santa Claus Parade back in 1947
and showed up every Christmas as Santa's helper.
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- Thorson also illustrated the
first booklet, "Punkinhead The Sad Little Bear." It
was a 16-page booklet distributed free to children at the 1948
Santa Parade and throughout Eaton's stores that Christmas. Thirteen
more booklets followed in the next several years, along with
a slew of Punkinhead-related products that Eaton's marketed successfully
across Canada. There were Punkinhead watches, children's clothing,
puppets, storybooks, colouring books, records and even a line
of children's furniture decorated with Punkinhead's image. He
even appeared in television commercials for Eaton's in the 1950s.
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- The actual toy bear, with its
characteristic blonde tuft of hair, was manufactured in England
by the Merrythought Toy Company exclusively for the T. Eaton
Company. Punkinhead was produced in three sizes and soon became
a favourite at Christmas time for kids across the country. To
add to his fame, Canadian country singer Wilf Carter recorded
a song about the well-known little bear.
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- Sadly, by 1960, poor Punkinhead
was well into hibernation as far as Eaton's was concerned. He
is still quite collectable in Canada, occasionally showing up
at antique toy shows and on eBay. With a little bit of searching,
you might be able to pick up a Punkinhead for your granddaughters
as proof that he did exist.
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- Thanks for your question.
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- The Old Guy
- The Old Guy wishes all of the
Wayback Times readers and advertisers a very Merry Christmas
and a happy, healthy holiday season.
-
- (Image used with permission
of Sears Canada Inc.)
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- You can reach the Old Guy
by mail: The Wayback Times, RR1 Hastings, Ontario, K0L 1Y0 or
email asktheoldguy@waybacktimes.com
and we will pass the message on to him. The Old Guy does not
find, buy or sell items on behalf of Wayback Times readers.
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-
- Dear Old Guy;
My husband and I just
purchased an antique kitchen cupboard from a dealer near Barrie.
We both love it, and it looks great in our farmhouse kitchen.
The metal plaque on the top of the cupboard says “Knechtel
Kitchen Kabinet” but the dealer at the antique store referred
to it as a “Hoosier Cupboard”. Was he incorrect by
calling it that?
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- Pattie and Bill Harnum,
- Peterborough, ON
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- Dear Pattie,
The cupboard you purchased was made by the Knechtel Furniture
Company of Hanover, Ontario, probably in the early 1900s, and
is commonly referred to as a “Hoosier Style” cupboard.
The original Hoosier Manufacturing Co., based in New Castle,
Indiana, was the largest manufacturer of these practical, all-in-one
kitchen workstations. Thousands of these kitchen cupboards were
produced for the ultra modern kitchens of the early 1900s and
“Hoosier Cupboard” became the generic term used by
most people.
Other major manufacturers of these cupboards included McDougall,
Kitchen Maid, Sellers and Napanee. By 1930, builders started
designing houses with built-in cupboards or cabinetry and the
glory days of the Hoosier came to an end.
Most Hoosier cupboards or, as some people called them, ‘The
Woman’s Workbench,” were four feet wide by six feet
tall and comprised of three sections; the bottom, or base section,
usually on casters, contained up to three drawers on one side
and a large door on the other side, which opened to reveal ample
space for pots, pans, and bowls.
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- The biggest drawer was often
metal lined for storage of flour. The middle section contained
a metal or porcelain counter, which could be pulled forward and
used as a work surface. Under this shelf were two shallow drawers
used for utensil storage. The top section was not as deep and
had a roll up (or tambour) door, smaller double doors with shelves
and metal racks to hold recipe cards or cookbooks. There was
also a long door that hid the four sifter.
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- A whole new world of collecting
can open up to people wishing to stock their Hoosiers with original
accessories. Sugar bins, coffee and tea canisters, salt and pepper
shakers, and Hoosier spice jars are just a few. Original sets
of Hoosier glassware are very collectible.
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- In its day, the Hoosier cupboard
was a modern time and work saving device. Today, they are much
sought after by antique lovers and people restoring older homes.
Reproduction hardware like hinges and drawer handles are widely
available.
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- Enjoy your Hoosier and thanks
for writing.
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- The Old Guy
-
- You can reach the Old Guy
by mail: The Wayback Times, RR1 Hastings, Ontario, K0L 1Y0 or
email asktheoldguy@waybacktimes.com
and we will pass the message on to him. The Old Guy does not
find, buy or sell items on behalf of Wayback Times readers.
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-
- Dear Old Guy
- I have recently started collecting
carnival glass because I just love the look of it, but I don't
know much about it. How old is it and do you know how they produce
those beautiful colours? Should I worry about buying reproductions?
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- Bree Riley-Mitsu
London, Ontario
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- Dear Bree,
Carnival glass, commonly referred to as the "Poor man's
Tiffany Glass," is probably the most collected type of glass
in today's marketplace. The Fenton Art Glass Co. was one of the
first manufacturers of carnival glass back in 1905. The name
carnival glass is derived from the fact that thousands of pieces
were given out as prizes at fairs and carnivals. It quickly became
very collectable due to its beautiful appearance and reasonable
cost. Many pieces, depending on their colour and patterns, can
still be purchased for under $100, but the more rare and harder-
to-find pieces can fetch thousands of dollars.
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- The process of making carnival
glass involves applying metallic salts to the still- hot pressed
glass as it cools. This results in the beautiful iridescent sheen
that first attracted you as a collector. Fenton produced over
100 different patterns but other prominent manufacturers include
Northwood, Westmoreland, Imperial, Millersburg, Dugan & Diamond
and U.S. Glass. There are over 2,000 identified patterns in circulation.
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- Most manufacturers had ceased
production by 1930, but new carnival glass has been reintroduced
to the market for the past 25 years. It is usually quite easy
to tell the difference between an original piece and a reproduction,
but having said that, there are also some excellent reproductions
that can fool even a seasoned collector. Fenton itself has reissued
many patterns.
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- If you have access to a computer,
there is an excellent web site by David Doty that enables
you to look up pieces of carnival glass by pattern, shape, or
manufacturer. The site is http://www.ddoty.com
and it contains over 4,000 photos and 16,000 pages dedicated
to carnival glass. It also includes information on fakes and
reproductions as well as current values.
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- There are also many books available
and several carnival glass collector clubs in Canada. The Canadian
Carnival Glass Association is holding its 25th convention out
your way in Brantford Ontario in September. They will have carnival
glass for sale, a free ID clinic and an auction. The dates are
September 18, 19, and 20. If you need more information on the
convention or would like to become a member, you can contact
Ginny at 905 686-1885 or Pauline at 519 752-3057.
Books are an important resource for any collector. One book that
comes highly recommended is The Standard Encyclopedia of Carnival
Glass, 11th Edition by Mike Carwile. This new publication
is discussed in the Wayback Times Book Review (this issue). It
just might be the perfect way to start your library on carnival
glass.
Thanks for your question and enjoy your collection.
-
- The Old Guy
-
- You can reach the Old Guy
by mail: The Wayback Times, RR1 Hastings, Ontario, K0L 1Y0 or
email asktheoldguy@waybacktimes.com
and we will pass the message on to him. The Old Guy does not
find, buy or sell items on behalf of Wayback Times readers.
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-
-
-
- Dear Old Guy
- My husband's parents are in
the process of downsizing and moving into a condo. They have
given us their beautiful set of Blue Willow china that originally
belonged to their parents. It has 12 complete place settings
and in total, there are almost 100 pieces. I have always loved
this set and would like to keep it in great condition so we can
pass it on down to our daughter when the time comes. Since it
is probably about 70 years old, does it require any special treatment
when being cleaned and stored? My mother-in-law has always hand
washed the set but I wondered if I could use the dishwasher.
Also, could you explain the story behind the Blue Willow pattern?
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- Denise Cooper
- Markham ON
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- Dear Denise,
- The blue willow pattern, produced
since 1780, is still being manufactured.Your set was made by
the Buffalo Pottery Co. and could be at least 70 years old since
they started making this version of the blue willow transfer
ware pattern in 1905. As far as caring for this lovely set, just
remember a few simple things:
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- - Do not use a dishwasher to
clean any of these pieces. (Your mother-in-law had the right
idea.) Although being fairly sturdily made, the dishwasher can
cause crazed pieces to break off or lose portions of their glaze;
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- - Hand wash with a mild detergent
and soft cloth. A fellow antique dealer suggests
placing a large folded towel at the bottom of the sink when washing
each piece to act as a cushion, should any items accidentally
slip from your grasp;
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- - Avoid sudden changes in temperature.
Moving a dish from the fridge into a sink of hot water can cause
cracking or breakage;
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- - You can use a solution of
baking soda and water to remove any coffee or tea stains. More
stubborn stains may require soaking over night;
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- - Do not hide this set away
in box. Store it in your china cabinet so it can be viewed and
enjoyed by your family. To prevent scratches when stacking plates
on top of each other, place a piece of cloth or tissue paper
between each plate or go to a dollar store and purchase some
cheap paper doilies and use them to separate the plates.
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- There are several versions of
the Blue Willow legend to coincide with the different
patterns. The most common and preferred version (obviously condensed)
is as follows:
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- Once upon a time, hundreds of
years ago, there was a rich old Mandarin who had an only daughter
named Li-Chi. They lived in a large two-storey home, which was
a rare thing in China in those days. The beautiful young daughter
fell in love with her father's employee, Chiang. The father disapproved
because he wanted her to marry a rich man and Chiang was very
poor. The daughter was sent to live in the garden house by the
willow tree so she would not be able to see Chiang again. Chiang,
however, was not ready to give up and he sent a letter to Li-Chi
asking her to run away with him. She agreed, but they had to
cross the bridge to escape. Her father, the Mandarin, saw them
escaping and he chased them. Just as the young lovers were about
to be caught, the gods took pity on them and turned them into
doves so they could fly away safely and live happily ever after.
Pictured on the bridge in the Blue Willow pattern, you can see
the three main figures. First is Li-Chi holding her distaff,
followed by Chiang holding a jewel box,
and chasing them is the father holding a whip.
Other versions of this same legend involve jealousy, betrayal,
revenge, arson and murder. In fact, you could make a TV mini
series from the story behind the Blue Willow design.
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- Thanks for your question and
enjoy your new-to-you old set of dishes.
The Old Guy
-
- You can reach the Old Guy
by mail: The Wayback Times, RR1 Hastings, Ontario, K0L 1Y0 or
email asktheoldguy@waybacktimes.com
and we will pass the message on to him. The Old Guy does not
find, buy or sell items on behalf of Wayback Times readers.
-
-
- Dear Old Guy,
- We recently picked up a copy
of the Wayback Times at Southworks Antiques in Cambridge and
were happy to find your column. For quite some time, we have
wanted to get information on Buddy L Toys, as my father has a
large Buddy L train engine that he remembers getting for Christmas
some time in the 1940s. It is still in very good condition and
has been greatly enjoyed by several generations. I know that
you do not do individual appraisals in your column but could
you please give me some information on this toy? Thank you.
-
- Karen Parker-Smith
- London, ON
-
- Dear Karen;
Buddy L Toys have become
very desirable with collectors and their prices have steadily
increased over the years. The company was started in 1910 by
Fred Lundahl and was originally operated as the Moline
Pressed Steel Company, which manufactured steel parts for trucks
and farm machinery. Fred eventually began making heavy gauge
steel toys for his son Arthur (nicknamed Buddy). The sturdy toys
were a hit with his son and the neighbourhood kids. Word spread
and by 1921 Fred turned his company into a full time toy manufacturer
which he named after his son.
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- The company built heavy gauge
steel model toy trucks, cars, construction equipment, emergency
vehicles, and, yes, trains. These were big, (20 to 26 inches
in length) solidly built toys that were large enough for children
to ride on and made to last. All had moving parts and some even
had working hydraulics.
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- Buddy L became a trusted name
and one of the most successful metal toy manufacturers in the
world. The advent of World War II created a shortage of steel
and the company started making wooden toys. After the war, they
returned to producing steel toys but in a lighter gauge and smaller
size.
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- They continued to manufacture
quality toys until the company was sold to the Japanese in the
1970s. Today, Buddy L Toys are manufactured in China and are
made almost entirely of plastic.
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- Toys manufactured before the
1960s are the most collectable, with the pre-war
models commanding the highest prices. The heavier gauge Buddy
L Toys made from the 1920s to the early 1940s, like your father's,
can reach values into the thousands of dollars, depending on
condition. There are several good price guides available in book
stores, but you might be wise to have a look on eBay for a more
recent valuation. (A quick look there recently showed there were
535 Buddy L items listed for sale.)
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- There are also several excellent
toy and nostalgia shows that advertise regularly in the Wayback
Times that would be well worth a visit just to check out their
prices on Buddy L toys. Many of these shows feature appraisal
clinics and if that’s not the case, most dealers at these
shows are more than happy to share their knowledge with interested
collectors.
-
- Due to the quality that Buddy
L was known for, that old toy train engine will probably be around
for a very long time with the proper care.
-
- Thanks again.
The Old Guy
-
- You can reach the Old Guy
by mail: The Wayback Times, RR1 Hastings, Ontario, K0L 1Y0 or
email asktheoldguy@waybacktimes.com
and we will pass the message on to him. The Old Guy does not
find, buy or sell items on behalf of Wayback Times readers.
-
-
- Dear Old Guy
- My husband will be reaching
retirement age in three years and we are thinking
of getting into the antiques business.We have both been avid
collectors over the years and we absolutely love antiques. Any
advice would be greatly appreciated.
Beth and Sandy Robertson,
Hamilton, ON
Dear Beth & Sandy,
Loving antiques is probably the worst reason to get into the
antiques business. You might end up sitting in a shop not wanting
to sell your favorite pieces. The key is being able to get your
customer to love what you are selling. That’s marketing.
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- Before jumping into the business
with both feet, or all four feet in your case, here are a few
things to consider. Renting and advertising, or purchasing a
shop is expensive.You might want to start out by setting up shop
in an antique mall.You will be required to pay a monthly rent
and probably a percentage of your total sales to management,
but it will be much less than funding your own shop and, just
as important, leaves you free to search for more product.
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- This business is not like working
for Wal-Mart, where you can just pick up the phone and order
more size eight shoes when you sell out. You must cultivate and
develop a relationship with different sources for finding antiques
and this takes time.
-
- Many established dealers rely
on regular pickers to supply them with inventory,
or they attend auctions and estate sales. These sources require
an investment
of both time and money and you should have sufficient knowledge
to ensure you are purchasing well.
-
- You might also consider selling
your antiques at one of the many antique shows. Most advertisements
for these shows will have a number you can call or an email address
for information and many organizers are looking for new vendors.
You will be charged a rental fee for your area and there is a
lot of hard work involved in setting up and taking down your
booth, but your product will be exposed to a large number of
potential buyers over a short period of time.
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- Make sure you pricing is comparable
to those of the other dealers. The first show I did many years
ago was an eye opener for me. I had sold over a thousand dollars
worth of stock before the show even opened. Obviously my prices
were much too low and several knowledgeable dealers jumped at
the chance to relieve me of my most saleable pieces.
The internet is also a viable option for both selling and buying.
eBay is one of the best known auction sites, or you could opt
to create your own website and buy and sell from it.
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- There are many books and price
guides available to help you in valuing your
antiques. Visit as many shops as you can and learn from other
dealers. Watch
what they do and learn from their good habits as well as their
bad. Many existing
antique shops take the same approach to marketing year after
year. If you want to stand out in this business then you have
to come up with something new.
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- It is also important that you
know your product.
- It can be an exciting journey
into the world of antiques and you will meet a
lot of interesting and knowledgeable people along the way.You
will also meet
a few real characters as well. Good luck to both of you and thanks
for the letter.
The Old Guy.
-
- You can reach the Old Guy
by mail: The Wayback Times, RR1 Hastings, Ontario, K0L 1Y0 or
email asktheoldguy@waybacktimes.com
and we will pass the message on to him. The Old Guy does not
find, buy or sell items on behalf of Wayback Times readers.
-
-
- Dear Old Guy:
This summer at the Odessa
Antique Show, I purchased an old photograph encased in glass
in a small metal hinged frame that opens like a tiny book. The
dealer that I bought it from told me it was a Daguerreotype,
but my husband thinks it could be a tintype photograph. How can
we tell the difference?
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- Jan & Walter Jamieson,
- Belleville, ON
-
- Dear Jan and Walter, thanks for the question folks. Without
seeing the photograph myself it is hard to tell for sure, but
the fact that it is framed and under glass suggests that it probably
is a daguerreotype. I will try and explain the differences and
give you a bit of the history of photography so you can decide
for yourselves.
Up until 1839, when Louis Mande Daguerre introduced his picture
taking process, anyone wishing for a picture of a loved one or
favourite scene would have to pay for a portrait or landscape
artist to paint one. Daguerreotypes were the earliest form of
photographic images and although quite costly to purchase in
their time, they were much less expensive than hiring an artist
to paint. It's no wonder Daguerreotypes became so popular. It
is estimated that in the first 20 years after their introduction,
over 30 million were produced in North America alone.
-
- Here are the differences between
Daguerreotypes, Ambrotypes, and Tintype
images:
-
- Daguerreotypes; Produced
from 1840 -1860
This image was made by light striking a polished silver plate
and since silver
will tarnish the pictures were encased behind glass and sealed
from the air at
the back with paper and tape. This process makes Daguerreotypes
very
reflective, like a mirror and most of the smaller ones were produced
in hinged
cases.
-
- Ambrotypes; Produced from
1855-1865
Many Ambrotypes were also produced in hinged cases, but these
pictures did
not require a paper seal on the back. The image was printed right
on the glass
using a photographic emulsion. If you remove an Ambrotype from
its case and
hold it up to the light you can actually see through it.
-
- Tin types
These were introduced after 1855 and were also referred to as
Ferrotypes. Instead of setting the image on glass, the picture
was reproduced on a thin piece of black enameled or japanned
tin. These images did not have to be encased to prevent tarnishing
and most are found loose or in old photo albums or cardboard
frames.
-
- The value of Daguerreotypes
depends on who or what's in the picture and also on the size.
Full or whole plate size (6 1/2 inches by 8 1/2 inches) is the
most valued, with smaller sizes commanding lower prices.
-
- Ever wonder why nobody ever
seems to smile in these old pictures? It's because the subjects
had to sit still for up to 40 minutes in some cases for the picture
taking process to be completed. My father always said they never
smiled because they worked so hard back then they didn't have
any energy left to smile.
-
- Thanks for your question.
-
- The Old Guy
-
- You can reach the Old Guy
by mail: The Wayback Times, RR1 Hastings, Ontario, K0L 1Y0 or
email asktheoldguy@waybacktimes.com
and we will pass the message on to him. The Old Guy does not
find, buy or sell items on behalf of Wayback Times readers.
-
-
- Dear Old Guy,
- I have a 1976 Eatons Spring
and Summer Catalogue that I have had since new. I was wondering
if it is worth anything. If not, I’ll just keep it because
I enjoy looking at the old fashions and comparing the prices
with today’s. Thank you,
-
- Susan Cook
- Stratford
-
- Dear Susan,
The 1976 Eatons Spring and Summer catalogue you have was actually
the last one produced by the T. Eaton Company. Despite this,
it has very little monetary value due to the large number of
catalogues circulated at the time. The value that it does retain,
however, is in the nostalgia offered on each and every page.
-
- The Eaton Company history started
when Timothy Eaton, a hard working Irish immigrant, sold
his interest in a small dry goods store in St. Marys, Ontario
and opened the T. Eaton Company in Toronto in 1869 at 178 Yonge
Street. In 1883, he moved the store to 190 Yonge Street. The
new store boasted the first electric lights of any store in Canada
and it also had the largest plate glass windows in Toronto. In
1886, Eaton installed the city’s first retail store elevator,
but it only took customers up. They were required to take the
flights of stairs down the three existing floors, thus being
exposed to the displays of Eatons merchandise and advertising.
-
- The Eatons catalogue started
in 1884 and quickly became a valuable tool in rural Canada. It
was commonly referred to as the “Homesteader’s Bible."
Rural families could finally purchase the same products as city
folks. By 1912, you could order a house from the catalogue for
$895 and have it delivered to your property free of charge. Communities
could also order school houses from Eatons.
-
- A classic children’s story
was written by Roch Carrier about a Quebec mother who
had ordered a Montreal Canadiens hockey sweater from the Eatons
catalogue for her son. When the package arrived her son was horrified
to find that “Mr. Eaton” had substituted a Toronto
Maple Leaf sweater instead. Eatons, at one time, had over 70,000
employees and was one of Canada’s largest employers.
-
- The Eatons catalogue was published
for 92 years until 1976. Six years later, the renowned Eatons
Santa Claus Parade was cancelled and, sadly, in 1999 the Eatons
empire turned its last page. One of my fondest childhood memories
of Eatons was the frequent visits to the downtown Toronto store
with my randmother (an Irish immigrant herself) and watching
her touch the left toe of the bronze Timothy Eaton statue every
time she entered the building. Shoppers and employees alike would
rub Timothy’s left shoe for good luck, eventually leaving
him with one very shiny toe. His statue now resides at the Royal
Ontario Museum in Toronto, where his toe likely still shines.
Thanks for your question.
-
- The Old Guy
-
- You can reach the Old Guy
by mail: The Wayback Times, RR1 Hastings, Ontario, K0L 1Y0 or
email asktheoldguy@waybacktimes.com
and we will pass the message on to him. The Old Guy does not
find, buy or sell items on behalf of Wayback Times readers.
-
-
- Dear Old Guy:
- I want to start a collection
Fiesta dinnerware and I need your help.I love the bright colours
and style of Fiesta ceramics, but I'm not sure how to tell the
difference between the original Fiesta and the reproductions
now available. When I go to auctions I'm afraid to bid without
knowing how to tell the difference. Could you give me some information
on this, please?
Laura Maxwell
- Ajax, Ontario
Dear Laura;
Fiestaware is very popular with collectors today. The Homer Laughlin
China Company originally started manufacturing this colourful
dinnerware in 1936 and continued production until 1972. The reproduction
Fiesta you refer to is still made by Homer Laughlin. They reintroduced
the line in 1986.
Back in 1936, the original Fiesta came in five colours; Red,
Yellow, Light Green, Ivory and Cobalt Blue. Turquoise was added
in 1937. In 1951, Rose, Chartreuse, Gray and Dark Green were
introduced. Colours were dropped and reintroduced, but yellow
was the only colour continuously manufactured for Fiesta’s
36 year
run.
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- Other than identifying the age
of a Fiesta piece by colour, you can also determine its age by
examining the glaze. The newer Fiesta has a shinier finish and
is smooth to the touch. If your piece is stamped on the back
or bottom in lower case letters, it is old. If upper case letters
(capitals) are used, it is new. The newer pieces are also slightly
smaller due to the use of fully vitrified clay. Some of the
newer pieces will be stamped "60th anniversary" or
"lead free". These are obviously new.
-
- At its peak, the Fiesta line
was comprised of 64 different items, so don't limit your collection
to just plates or cups and saucers. The art deco design and durable
construction have made the Fiesta line very collectable.
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