tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53153681067361770852024-03-14T03:18:33.882-04:00Tracy's Toys (and Some Other Stuff)Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.comBlogger688125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-79091457617461760472016-07-14T13:53:00.001-04:002016-07-14T13:53:10.853-04:00No, I'm Not DeadSorry, it's been ages since I posted, as some of you have pointed out to me! I've been busy getting married, buying a house, and moving...the last of which has been quite overwhelming. The movers have just finished hauling my 250+ boxes of toys and books, along with my coin op horse ride, the playground spring animals, and a vintage carnival duck pond (Sigh: I haven't even gotten to show you that yet! Or all the stuff I found on our antique toy hunting honeymoon! Or the most recent Christmas haul! Or my first ever attic pick, where I got dibs on an attic in an old house full of 110 years worth of one family's treasures...oh, it was incredible!) Anyway....we bought a condo, and some downsizing will sadly be necessary....I may have a virtual yard sale of sorts here soon! Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-24420336068822765542015-10-28T00:00:00.000-04:002015-10-28T00:00:02.784-04:00Pumpkin Man PostcardThis jolly pumpkin man and I wish you a Happy Halloween!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ3LEGHTf0CIMbM_q3IZ8drkW-0WbwTp9uBI5N9cgd3FiifdPOSWwpFU3ywW8pVXF9C7DN2qvh2NRJdJ38zRiqSz_6gmrEwSVfDjRs2qz_agg58Or3hKUCw_jZU_pzzDF9K0fk7Dm4lSD/s1600/pumpkin+man+31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglJ3LEGHTf0CIMbM_q3IZ8drkW-0WbwTp9uBI5N9cgd3FiifdPOSWwpFU3ywW8pVXF9C7DN2qvh2NRJdJ38zRiqSz_6gmrEwSVfDjRs2qz_agg58Or3hKUCw_jZU_pzzDF9K0fk7Dm4lSD/s400/pumpkin+man+31.jpg" width="271" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Printed in Germany, 1908.</td></tr>
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-76101444192824836022015-10-26T00:00:00.000-04:002015-10-26T00:00:04.514-04:00John Winsch Halloween Postcard, 1914Photos don't really do this antique Halloween postcard justice: it's one of the best in my collection, and my very favorite. Published by John Winsch of New York in 1914, it features fantastic, tiny illustrations of a witch and ghost in a hot air balloon, fending off veggie people clinging to the anchor rope, while a bemused gnome watches the excitement from his airborne bat.<br />
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Some close-ups reveal the detail of these imaginative illustrations.<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-47694414119573545472015-10-24T00:00:00.000-04:002015-10-24T00:00:04.158-04:00Witch and Owl PostcardThis antique postcard features a witch and a rather unusual owl taking a break from their Halloween festivities while resting on a sliver of moon. The caption reads, "When the owl & witch together are seen, there's mischief brewing on Hallowe'en." Dated 1911.<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-14588814874331659642015-10-22T00:00:00.000-04:002015-10-22T00:00:06.098-04:00Pumpkin Man PostcardThe dapper pumpkin man on this antique Halloween postcard bears a bouquet of smiling veggies with the caption, "Hearty Hallowe'en Greetings." Printed in Saxony, early 1900s.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqV-jtJHPQ8X4L_WuggcmF0040XMLHKopNTj73g4QYlk8troP5wHgOOttezc6Wc2f9YQ_SRF4jgSkM64-bHYvcKHdSSxi8ZovRgHwkYkVCgl3WKx85pQ1NXc8ruhf1Hac1ID21F2wHH14y/s1600/pumpkin+man+with+bouquet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqV-jtJHPQ8X4L_WuggcmF0040XMLHKopNTj73g4QYlk8troP5wHgOOttezc6Wc2f9YQ_SRF4jgSkM64-bHYvcKHdSSxi8ZovRgHwkYkVCgl3WKx85pQ1NXc8ruhf1Hac1ID21F2wHH14y/s400/pumpkin+man+with+bouquet.jpg" width="255" /></a></div>
<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-68618816391739514282015-10-20T00:00:00.000-04:002015-10-20T00:00:00.406-04:00Ellen Clapsaddle Halloween Postcards, 1909These are two antique Halloween postcards by iconic illustrator Ellen Clapsaddle. They were copyrighted and mailed in 1909, and have a delightful, whimsical charm.<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-21496464990979166982015-10-19T14:56:00.001-04:002015-10-19T14:57:27.125-04:00Antique Halloween Postcards ComingThis October I'll highlight some favorites from my antique Halloween postcard collection.<br />
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Not too long ago, Halloween postcards commanded high prices that were truly scary (heh!) But their prices, like those of many other collectibles, have fallen considerably in recent years, particularly for less than mint examples. If you thought antique Halloween postcards were beyond your reach, you might be pleasantly surprised if you browse again. Happy hunting (and haunting!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFcOk_6TfXsdd1Fm_z5RtRtb7QNAYUJmHAa5sLsGqmcPV5JNr7QbDFlsXJR9z1MQ7aFVK9nDjkdzUVsimw7ACWxK5kiEei0yW__s0g0PmA0w0Ueix5onIMcwDIgjYNUk8wvKd3m6oWZBJ/s1600/Halloween+veggie+auto.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcFcOk_6TfXsdd1Fm_z5RtRtb7QNAYUJmHAa5sLsGqmcPV5JNr7QbDFlsXJR9z1MQ7aFVK9nDjkdzUVsimw7ACWxK5kiEei0yW__s0g0PmA0w0Ueix5onIMcwDIgjYNUk8wvKd3m6oWZBJ/s400/Halloween+veggie+auto.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Circa 1908</td></tr>
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-12482113525642199902015-09-07T12:04:00.001-04:002015-09-07T12:07:03.075-04:00Chiquita Banana Ride-On ToyIt's been a busy summer here, with not much time left for posting my latest finds. In fact, today is really the last day of summer for most people, as schools reopen tomorrow. But today is all about lounging outside and enjoying the sunshine, as Americans flock to beaches and parks for the Labor Day holiday.<br />
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And what better way to do that than by banana car? This fabulous 2 foot long ride-on banana was made in the late 1960s - early 70s and sold in grocery stores as a promotional item, along with its partner, the <span id="goog_575107853"></span><a href="http://tracystoys.blogspot.com/2015/04/heinz-pickle-ride-on-toy.html">Heinz Pickle</a><span id="goog_575107854"></span> car, featured in the previous post.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7R7uPR8g9-0XZjTmksqT1lmZ3iHnL4PgpIL7gI6CGQx93mEidSsh0-feOUoZ_TRcl9n3UEv1mjRZXaoDCRNIf4XBvPkklYNp12ZhdeFWNzSjSkINU_gVzPwyk7TqwxM3Sfh1zRqt_jP-S/s1600/banana+car.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7R7uPR8g9-0XZjTmksqT1lmZ3iHnL4PgpIL7gI6CGQx93mEidSsh0-feOUoZ_TRcl9n3UEv1mjRZXaoDCRNIf4XBvPkklYNp12ZhdeFWNzSjSkINU_gVzPwyk7TqwxM3Sfh1zRqt_jP-S/s400/banana+car.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For another unusual vintage ride-on toy, check out the <a href="http://tracystoys.blogspot.com/2013/12/mr-potato-head-ride-on-toy.html">Mr. Potato Head car</a>.Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-54383473345483806052015-04-10T11:10:00.000-04:002015-04-10T11:10:34.590-04:00Heinz Pickle Ride-On ToyThe winter weather has finally begun to lift here in the north, and that means it's time to get back outside. Let's head out with one of my favorite vintage ride-on toys: the Heinz pickle car. <div>
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Made in the late 1960s-early 1970s, the pickle ride-on was apparently a promotional item featured in grocery store displays. Measuring 2 feet long, the sturdy plastic pickle had a companion piece, a ride-on Heinz ketchup bottle, which is even more elusive than this scarcely seen toy.</div>
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For another odd vintage toy vehicle, take a look at my <a href="http://tracystoys.blogspot.com/2013/12/mr-potato-head-ride-on-toy.html">Mr. Potato Head</a> ride-on.</div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-62921666342246519862015-01-31T13:05:00.000-05:002015-02-02T16:04:50.486-05:00Antique Tin Toy Kitchens<span style="font-size: large;">T</span>in toy kitchens, also known as doll kitchens, were made in Germany and America through the 1800s in a wide range of styles and price points. All were based on an open, three sided room box model. Large deluxe versions often featured working water tanks, functional sink taps, and a vast array of accessories, while tiny, simply made varieties offered only the merest suggestion of an oven, and relied heavily on children's imagination to make up for their lack of amenities.<br />
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I received these two tin kitchens for Christmas this past year. The first was made in Germany in the 1870s, and although small, measuring a mere 6 inches wide by 4 inches tall, features some fine details. There is a functioning tank on the right side which delivers water through a spout on the inner wall. The stove has a hood, a door that opens, and a rarely seen heat regulator (the tiny tab above the door: it slides to reveal an opening which would allow heat to escape from the oven.)<br />
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The kitchen still retains its unusually bright color scheme of yellow walls, salmon floor, and turquoise shelves.<br />
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This second kitchen is the tiniest and crudest I've ever seen, and yet it has a primitive charm. Measuring just 4 inches wide, it's almost pocket sized, and its stove is just a piece of folded tin, creating the merest suggestion of an oven. It retains traces of its original green paint on the side walls, and was clearly much loved and played with by its original owner. It dates from the late 1800s.<br />
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To learn more about the history of these playsets and to see a larger, more deluxe model, click <a href="http://tracystoys.blogspot.com/2012/11/antique-tin-toy-kitchen.html">here</a>.<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-51241469313055870252015-01-10T22:05:00.003-05:002015-01-10T22:14:16.079-05:00Tin Toy Grocery Stores by Wolverine: the Corner Grocer and the General GroceryThis tin grocery store playset was one of a variety of such miniature shops made by the Wolverine Supply and Mfg. Co. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1903, Wolverine began as a tool and die manufacturer before transitioning to toy making. From the 1930s - 1970s, the company made a huge range of toy stoves, refrigerators, kitchen cupboards, tea sets, and many more domestic playthings, all crafted from lithographed metal.<br />
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This store, known as the Corner Grocer, was made by Wolverine in the 1930s - 40s. The two wings of shelves fold in for storage. When extended, the entire shop measures 31 inches wide by 14 inches tall.<br />
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The highly detailed main panel features an historic grocery store interior. Visible in the lower left are glass fronted cracker or biscuit bins, and a variety of carefully arranged dry goods line the shelves.<br />
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The store's actual shelves came filled with miniature packages, and the original child owner added a few additional pieces, including some salesman samples she probably got while shopping for real groceries with her mother.<br />
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The free standing counters and accessory pieces that came with these stores are usually missing today, since they couldn't be stored inside the closed shop as the groceries themselves were. We were very lucky to find this one intact, along with its original shop phone. The scale and cash register were added, but fit the playset perfectly.<br />
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The front of the counter is illustrated to look like a deli case, complete with cold cuts and cheeses.</div>
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The miniature tin cash register actually works: as the levers are moved, numbers ring up on the other side, and the drawer springs open to take in tiny coins. </div>
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The Corner Grocer was one of this year's best Christmas gifts. A few years ago, I received another Wolverine tin shop, the General Grocery, which also dates from the 1930s - 40s. This one is smaller, measuring 20 inches wide by 12 inches tall. It is structured differently from the Corner Grocer, with its shelves in the center panel. The side wings still fold in for storage, but they feature beautifully lithographed images of children shopping. Although this set is missing its counter, it still has its original shop phone, along with a feature unique to this particular grocery, a fold out awning. </div>
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These shelves are better stocked than my own cupboards....I'd better stop blogging and head off to the real grocery store!Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-16451994398198375452015-01-04T11:22:00.002-05:002015-01-04T11:24:55.603-05:00Early American Tin Pull ToysThe latter half of the nineteenth century was positively awash with these little tin pull toys, made by companies like Althof, Bergmann of New York, George Brown of Connecticut, and James Fallows of Philadelphia.<br />
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The painted, pressed tin toys came in an incredible variety of designs and sizes, and they have a folk art quality that is very appealing. Their fragility, combined with their function as pull toys, makes them scarce today. I was very fortunate to receive two this Christmas. Each measures about 5 1/2 inches long.<br />
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This stalwart looking dog carrying a basket is accompanied by a young child with a stick.<br />
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One of the more common themes in these pull toys is the horse and rider, as seen in this example.<br />
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If you'd like to see more of these wonderful toys, a quick Google image search for "early American tin toys" will bring up loads. One of the finest books I know on the subject is "American Antique Toys," by Bernard Barenholtz and Inez McClintock. Mr. Barenholtz was a founder of the educational toy company, Constructive Playthings, and one of the most prominent of early American toy collectors. It's a gorgeous book, filled with personal stories of his toy collecting adventures.Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-36511031169625645772015-01-03T11:01:00.002-05:002015-01-03T11:21:33.092-05:001890s German Dollhouse Room BoxMy favorite Christmas present this year was a German folding dollhouse room box, circa the late 1880s - 1890s. It was clearly a favorite of its original owner as well, as she carefully treasured the fragile toy over many years.<br />
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At first glance, you would never even realize this <i>is</i> a dollhouse. It starts out as a lithographed cardboard box, just 8 by 5 by 2 inches, about the size of a small candy box. The top features a beautiful lithograph of Victorian ladies in their parlor (and that is a hint of what's inside!)<br />
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When you lift the lid, the box falls open as the sides drop away, revealing within a gorgeously illustrated Victorian room.<br />
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What had appeared to be just a pattern on the outside of the box reveals itself to be brickwork, and the two side panels that fold out are illustrated with windows.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uOsaO-BvfBnJ9Ml6S8MfSeelv5_kM8L6yJgJn1WpQO3cCu_c3v-EsRuqJ85ksCMlPNd1upc5sJW-XIfrFJlLZgEmjhKqQwN_emBu0at6VVho7pzDHcfSi7TTorWEk_n4Oek3f1Cmwj14/s1600/2015-01-02+10.46.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9uOsaO-BvfBnJ9Ml6S8MfSeelv5_kM8L6yJgJn1WpQO3cCu_c3v-EsRuqJ85ksCMlPNd1upc5sJW-XIfrFJlLZgEmjhKqQwN_emBu0at6VVho7pzDHcfSi7TTorWEk_n4Oek3f1Cmwj14/s1600/2015-01-02+10.46.04.jpg" height="256" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: left;">The original owner pencilled her name alongside this window. It appears to read "Hortie B." Perhaps short for Hortense? "Made in Germany" is visible below.</span></td></tr>
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Inside, the lithographed walls are rich with detail and color.<br />
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The little room box also contained what appears to be its original furniture, in a small scale and narrow depth made necessary by the shallowness of the closed box. There is an upholstered sofa and two chairs, along with a table that features its own lithographed scene on top.<br />
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The outside of the box still retains its original store label and price (25 cents, no small amount back in the late 1800s!) It was sold by Henry Moll in St. Peter, Minnesota, whose shop, interestingly, specialized not in toys, but in books, stationery, wall paper, and window dressings. You can imagine a Victorian mother carefully examining wall paper samples at Mr. Moll's shop while her daughter was kept occupied with this little dollhouse.<br />
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I don't know which tiny dolls Hortie kept in her room box as they were sadly missing, but I found a few in my collection that seemed perfectly at home.</div>
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-72734216967941986362014-12-28T12:29:00.001-05:002014-12-28T12:29:34.923-05:00What Did Santa Bring?This year, Santa brought an assortment of toys from the 1890s-1900s, including:<br />
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-an unusual, beautifully lithographed, folding dollhouse room box with its original furniture, made in Germany<br />
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-two early American tin pull toys<br />
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-Bradley's Toy Town Post Office playset<br />
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-two miniature tin toy kitchens<br />
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-two lithographed tabletop games<br />
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Also under the tree were a miniature tin toy grocery shop, the Corner Grocer, made by Wolverine in the 1930s, and a bunch of old Halloween decorations from the 1920s - 40s.<br />
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Pics coming soon (except the Halloween, which I'll save until next October, of course!)<br />
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What did Santa bring you? Tell us in the comments!<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-78969259035927056832014-12-17T06:00:00.000-05:002014-12-17T06:00:03.484-05:00Antique Christmas Board Game<span style="font-size: large;"><b>W</b></span>hat better way could there be for a Victorian child to while away the days until Christmas than by playing this board game? <b>The Game of Merry Christmas</b>, <b>or, What Will Santa Claus Bring</b>, was produced by the J.H. Singer Company of New York in 1890.<br />
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The beautifully lithographed box cover depicts Santa, clad in a fur trimmed suit and with the stump of a clay pipe clenched in his teeth, about to head down a chimney with a sack full of toys.<br />
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Inside, the board features an illustration of Santa about to deliver his gifts below the Christmas tree. A rocking horse is already in place.<br />
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The game itself is a simple numbered track. Players roll the die and then move along the board. If they land on a space that is labelled with a gift, that's what they'll be getting for Christmas.<br />
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There are some wonderful items listed: a Punch and Judy show, a hobby horse, a doll, and a box of tin soldiers are just a few of the options.<br />
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But lest we assume materialism is an exclusive feature of our modern Christmas, note that "a pocket full of money" is one of the gift possibilities.<br />
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There are also some present pitfalls to be avoided: I can imagine no one wanted to land on "a box of corn salve," or "some good advice."<br />
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I hope Santa brings you just what you want, and no corn salve! May you have space number 114 this year and always. <span style="text-align: center;">M</span><span style="text-align: center;">erry Christmas everyone!</span><br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-39099147663685516142014-12-14T06:00:00.000-05:002014-12-14T06:00:02.932-05:00Antique Diecut & Cotton Batting Santa<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">M</span>ade in Germany circa the 1890s, this large diecut Santa is 18 inches tall and features a cotton batting cloak with gilt paper embellishment.</div>
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He has an exceptionally soulful expression on his face:</div>
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The Santa came from an elderly woman whose family had hung it each Christmas in their house from the 1890s all the way to 2010. It's incredible that this fragile piece survived so well for so long, and intriguing to imagine all the family Christmases it witnessed over those 120 years!<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-20496555542711487712014-12-10T06:00:00.000-05:002014-12-10T06:00:07.746-05:00Vintage Chenille SantasThese little chenille Santas were made by the millions in Japan and sold in American dime stores from the 1930s to '50s. Averaging 2.5 inches tall, their little faces are usually made of molded clay, and they each have their own unique character.<br />
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Closely related to the chenille Santa is the cotton batting Santa. These are harder to find than the chenilles, probably because of their greater fragility.<br />
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When new, these little Santas decorated Christmas trees and gift packages. Now they are highly sought by collectors and their prices have risen accordingly, typically $10-13 each, but occasionally as high as $28 for an early or unusual example. The lucky hunter can sometimes still find them for a few cents at garage sales, so it pays to dig through boxes of vintage Christmas decorations whenever you can.<br />
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I keep my stash in this old glass candy container, where they are safely lodged in the chimney.<br />
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-39953697338340016062014-12-06T08:09:00.000-05:002014-12-06T10:39:43.847-05:00Christmas Candy Containers<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">N</span>inety years ago, children were delighted to find candy in their Christmas stockings, just as they are today. But while modern children might see plastic PEZ dispensers peeking out of their stocking tops, children of the 1920s would have found these beautiful glass candy containers nestled within. Once the candy inside was gone, children often saved the containers to use as toys, and so they have been preserved through the years for lucky collectors to discover.</div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">This 4.5 inch container depicts a belsnickel-like Santa in a long coat and hood. It still has its original metal lid capping the bottom opening. When new, it would have been colorfully painted (remnants are visible on the face) but even bare, it's a beautiful thing, full of character. </span></div>
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This container featuring Santa and a chimney is just under 4 inches tall. Originally the chimney would have been filled with colorful round, pellet-like candies, and capped with a thin metal lid.</div>
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They just don't make candy packaging like this anymore!</div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-90215932429788540992014-12-01T06:00:00.000-05:002014-12-01T06:00:13.594-05:00Antique Santa Claus Postcard<span style="font-size: large;">D</span>ecember is here at last, the toy collectors' favorite time of year. This month I'll be featuring a variety of Santa Claus themed items from my collection, including candy containers, decorations, and a rare board game from 1890.<br />
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First up is this fabulous postcard, circa 1906. The colorful card depicts a busy Santa listening on the wireless station at the North Pole. Looks like he's receiving lots of orders (I got mine in early.) Note the Northern Lights flickering overhead.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UbQnxJ-CFTKFrp_TFo8vLBOb8HNVk6XgfaLgg6MeUu-fz1alU2AUqDyZFgK2JLDBJBgi_JYP6ZEDvJ9r3cdLXnDxHoGfKcl4zv9hVv9_2x6lwuU7hZCxbucbIEO3FI8ZjMfgbGKs8MmE/s1600/Santa+postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9UbQnxJ-CFTKFrp_TFo8vLBOb8HNVk6XgfaLgg6MeUu-fz1alU2AUqDyZFgK2JLDBJBgi_JYP6ZEDvJ9r3cdLXnDxHoGfKcl4zv9hVv9_2x6lwuU7hZCxbucbIEO3FI8ZjMfgbGKs8MmE/s1600/Santa+postcard.jpg" height="640" width="424" /></a></div>
<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-90760091984595808662014-10-31T11:03:00.002-04:002014-10-31T11:05:44.711-04:00German Antique Die Cut SkeletonFound in a local antique shop just in time for Halloween, this heavily embossed, die cut skeleton was made in Germany circa 1920, and measures 19 inches tall.<br />
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It had long been on my Halloween wish list; I'd only ever seen it in books before. Known as the "waving skeleton," it's much more unusual, and uncommon, than the typical jointed model with posable limbs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUiRI3v4qeBTilRaGGtBjrlR56wbh5NL73mLwUzgSqQquKBBr2VBHC0azDnvTODIE8syBDZ84hnVCSAQq241Qm-Nj3Yyk6UC5AECbw5-x34YNTJTI4m_mUTj1YxWAA7oPgSMlX-nHXCXC/s1600/skeleton+closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVUiRI3v4qeBTilRaGGtBjrlR56wbh5NL73mLwUzgSqQquKBBr2VBHC0azDnvTODIE8syBDZ84hnVCSAQq241Qm-Nj3Yyk6UC5AECbw5-x34YNTJTI4m_mUTj1YxWAA7oPgSMlX-nHXCXC/s1600/skeleton+closeup.jpg" height="400" width="260" /></a></div>
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Have a happy Halloween!</div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-6017561539812886432014-10-19T11:50:00.000-04:002014-10-19T23:49:14.320-04:00Hugo, Man of a Thousand FacesPresenting one of the creepiest and most unsettling toys ever made: <b>Hugo, Man of a Thousand Faces</b>, released by Kenner in 1975.<br />
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Hugo was a 12 inch vinyl puppet/mannequin head who came wearing an artist's smock and with a set of facial disguise accessories. A tube of special glue allowed kids to attach the disguise pieces in a seemingly endless array of combinations, creating a huge variety of characters. A thousand, allegedly.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xyl-mVQtox38FJgl6dkRIyhErvt6YsBL54LUzqR3dmCMZViBjq_8GXUhVOU74t3argLzMW5GaKDVFj-VGFWzOsc9mx-xjhdJaupWbWqDQJ143red3BR5d-YmC_tFDhRILMmC5uX5bZ-w/s1600/2014-10-12+11.08.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xyl-mVQtox38FJgl6dkRIyhErvt6YsBL54LUzqR3dmCMZViBjq_8GXUhVOU74t3argLzMW5GaKDVFj-VGFWzOsc9mx-xjhdJaupWbWqDQJ143red3BR5d-YmC_tFDhRILMmC5uX5bZ-w/s1600/2014-10-12+11.08.28.jpg" height="400" width="250" /></a></div>
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Children were encouraged to use the disguise pieces on themselves as well as on Hugo, and Kenner suggested Hugo could even serve as a special "friend."<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarBIjf5WW-GOSYPve41qEBr_kxv1l0qN2PGRO7thTd1eUix1RSC7Vbtyj13KrvGjtnpJ6nlo8_xNrZ6-3WnSHRPfqmOM55hVdaRgn54ZJrrdnPvztqE-oqZLG2496KB5YYK-61G4-cfBa/s1600/2014-10-12+11.01.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgarBIjf5WW-GOSYPve41qEBr_kxv1l0qN2PGRO7thTd1eUix1RSC7Vbtyj13KrvGjtnpJ6nlo8_xNrZ6-3WnSHRPfqmOM55hVdaRgn54ZJrrdnPvztqE-oqZLG2496KB5YYK-61G4-cfBa/s1600/2014-10-12+11.01.35.jpg" height="163" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are not the sort of puppet friends you'd find in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. </td></tr>
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I'm sure Kenner's intentions were good. After all, Mattel's Barbie styling heads had been best-sellers for several years by this point, and little girls across the country were thrilled with the opportunity offered by these playsets to do hair and makeup.<br />
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It must have seemed reasonable to Kenner toy company executives to make a similar product for boys, a mannequin head with accessories boys could use to change the character's appearance. And a spy character with disguises made perfect sense, as it also tied into the popularity of espionage related toys and TV shows of the time. The result, however, was incredibly off-putting, and the finished product now holds a place in toy history as one of the most creepy and disturbing playthings of all time. Take a look:</div>
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There's just something unsettling about Hugo: his dead stare; the way he appears to be sizing the viewer up, waiting for just the right moment to begin creeping across the floor towards you; his stare; and again, his stare. Oh, the stare is so unnerving. Just look at it! I can't bear to. As I type this, I have to make sure I can't see that part of the above picture. Let's move on. </div>
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Adding the accessories (which include hairpieces, false chins and teeth, fake noses, glasses, scars, warts, an eyepatch, a bandage, and more) doesn't really help. In most cases, it only makes him even creepier.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3DrPrFI1JoM-FIr31GByA94_2jfMxOfIisUPqfzZQk1IrqwMVvIPp3HfTQneA2Vp9udlaDqXlgcdfekl4aG9fVG3nUKm5hZNwFfFFve-We7teB8845dI2EHxCh-frbjL6oh8d6xyDLLG/s1600/2014-10-12+10.35.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3DrPrFI1JoM-FIr31GByA94_2jfMxOfIisUPqfzZQk1IrqwMVvIPp3HfTQneA2Vp9udlaDqXlgcdfekl4aG9fVG3nUKm5hZNwFfFFve-We7teB8845dI2EHxCh-frbjL6oh8d6xyDLLG/s1600/2014-10-12+10.35.41.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-y7GNgeCiWjhCuCSeU5SJphQxXWcNW36iETnFgitST_OlFR6T0zH1Kycxlpy8BBFqAvUxpJRZqXNPolwHxVx7WQ0V30yUFs2hdCrDEczXIaK6BTWdY9cjhdbz6PFK9LMsf5PD7gxHdKg/s1600/2014-10-12+10.46.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-y7GNgeCiWjhCuCSeU5SJphQxXWcNW36iETnFgitST_OlFR6T0zH1Kycxlpy8BBFqAvUxpJRZqXNPolwHxVx7WQ0V30yUFs2hdCrDEczXIaK6BTWdY9cjhdbz6PFK9LMsf5PD7gxHdKg/s1600/2014-10-12+10.46.20.jpg" height="400" width="246" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I can still see you," says Hugo.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtqa-gWX17xT4sLp9ydSrCGAwBw-JWTLbMdZmmnk-BP-1TXlSxzzZQaisi6pR2wmB_vT3VJhdiGewDioekVsgJMUHHn6xzCwxhWdjaFrNVr91YQT9-Dwz74s1wrM_Z7NIqyny7xZ4Vfs4/s1600/2014-10-12+11.00.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihtqa-gWX17xT4sLp9ydSrCGAwBw-JWTLbMdZmmnk-BP-1TXlSxzzZQaisi6pR2wmB_vT3VJhdiGewDioekVsgJMUHHn6xzCwxhWdjaFrNVr91YQT9-Dwz74s1wrM_Z7NIqyny7xZ4Vfs4/s1600/2014-10-12+11.00.23.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suggestions from the box. Shudder.</td></tr>
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The least unnerving version of Hugo I've come up with is this one, which I call Disco Hugo. His crazy 70's sideburns make him somewhat more comical and easier to bear, as long as he's not looking at you directly.</div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-51293396853292473492014-10-15T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-15T08:00:02.195-04:001960s Addams Family PuppetsIt's nearly Halloween, and so time for a visit with the Addams Family.<br />
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These hand puppets were made in 1964 by the Ideal Toy Corporation, and feature molded vinyl heads in the likenesses of the television actors, attached to printed cloth puppet sleeves.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPbZ23_Knjzs12B7ySwbalb2QAa5G69LrzhuF9Z9KhNfSMKLrOPwEqFTjrJJM5zmt66S4YPHthvRigKhydjJrQj2bE25shYuo9bIvkMwb_4I4WBBJ_Lgxg8noUgvX-_VfFMUUD1JIdtgV/s1600/Addams+Family+Hand+Puppets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPbZ23_Knjzs12B7ySwbalb2QAa5G69LrzhuF9Z9KhNfSMKLrOPwEqFTjrJJM5zmt66S4YPHthvRigKhydjJrQj2bE25shYuo9bIvkMwb_4I4WBBJ_Lgxg8noUgvX-_VfFMUUD1JIdtgV/s1600/Addams+Family+Hand+Puppets.jpg" height="281" width="400" /></a></div>
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These three characters, Gomez, Morticia, and Uncle Fester, were apparently the only ones produced for this line. Similar puppets were made of characters from the Munsters (but everyone knows the Munsters weren't as cool as the Addamses.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQQ-MvZaRGl0yELKIKgb8GqFcQsBV9lP0yYwrtGz0DRQlfAtIjURU4O0wjutCpcp3VWVQIShGwRYgOO9UCm2Bg9-_HDFApAIx6oAolDw5oTRrkQuS40IxTT-yZZzbuWEKvo2b1Vkn_LRV/s1600/Uncle+Fester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQQ-MvZaRGl0yELKIKgb8GqFcQsBV9lP0yYwrtGz0DRQlfAtIjURU4O0wjutCpcp3VWVQIShGwRYgOO9UCm2Bg9-_HDFApAIx6oAolDw5oTRrkQuS40IxTT-yZZzbuWEKvo2b1Vkn_LRV/s1600/Uncle+Fester.jpg" height="400" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone's favorite Uncle. </td></tr>
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<br />Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-89248208517720991872014-10-12T08:00:00.000-04:002014-10-12T08:00:06.976-04:001960s Monster ColorformsClassic movie monsters were all the rage in the 1960s, thanks in large part to the showing of Universal's 1930s-40s horror films on television.<br />
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At the height of the monster craze, the Colorforms line of playsets, which feature removable vinyl pieces and cardboard backdrop scenes, came out with this fabulous item, the "Glow in the Dark Create a Monster Cartoon Kit."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYGWqBfIq6wAOVOKar5nzVkfmC_tjML-GnbPX4zdnPAcJBKdt0Uk9jtS1etFhI_vd85i1f-GMk2WAfJ51oF6W73dBn9sUWFIcSYchtyyb8VuAYjTuQiBxett-d_77wg-VIkWX842ZifnF/s1600/monster+colorforms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYGWqBfIq6wAOVOKar5nzVkfmC_tjML-GnbPX4zdnPAcJBKdt0Uk9jtS1etFhI_vd85i1f-GMk2WAfJ51oF6W73dBn9sUWFIcSYchtyyb8VuAYjTuQiBxett-d_77wg-VIkWX842ZifnF/s1600/monster+colorforms.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Inside the colorful box are a playboard, two sheets of vinyl character pieces, and an instruction booklet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhis49YZND6gt8Pdwom4Oojc6Ci-A33u4qrtmBa_ug_4gOXh4vtxbbB6cC-D25xmGyCEnx6eLCK0p0xPyoCm5Nyn7CIJfTSWObx02XF7RS66jtewJgHb3TqxY1YomTinhivNNHprDVDwm0f/s1600/contents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhis49YZND6gt8Pdwom4Oojc6Ci-A33u4qrtmBa_ug_4gOXh4vtxbbB6cC-D25xmGyCEnx6eLCK0p0xPyoCm5Nyn7CIJfTSWObx02XF7RS66jtewJgHb3TqxY1YomTinhivNNHprDVDwm0f/s1600/contents.jpg" height="243" width="400" /></a></div>
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The playboard is a cartoony scene of a mad scientist's laboratory, complete with electrical equipment, beakers and vials, and a slab for the Monster:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99pQRD_8ORoW9kMAZKq35mRyAsaCZSSOeAoOMo5l_UbBt4jUR1L4cig8QlhASQkfediq8Zd9PdQ-HvzzRHF3DHA-6cZOipie5eaS-rPs-G1KkixWIRKwtD7CN4K-STefu9r6O5_5gk8BE/s1600/board.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99pQRD_8ORoW9kMAZKq35mRyAsaCZSSOeAoOMo5l_UbBt4jUR1L4cig8QlhASQkfediq8Zd9PdQ-HvzzRHF3DHA-6cZOipie5eaS-rPs-G1KkixWIRKwtD7CN4K-STefu9r6O5_5gk8BE/s1600/board.jpg" height="245" width="400" /></a></div>
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The instruction booklet offers suggestions on setting the scene, and advice for parents on the wholesomeness of the activity set. Colorforms can teach children such skills as finger dexterity, sense of spatial relationships, and size matching, according to the booklet. I expect children could have cared less about those things, and were largely interested in the glow in the dark features.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkUKnjjcP-kSEui1BVm9cAG5zosSlMElvd-Nl69lyZeu4umOE0XGaMrlSNGXwzcY_L_aCA_gnA4VU0-3RUFSjtc5bPi8nYNVYeb-BLIbn9cy78doYyEDc2OyEia08E3YYbjhEJBY76plO/s1600/booklet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfkUKnjjcP-kSEui1BVm9cAG5zosSlMElvd-Nl69lyZeu4umOE0XGaMrlSNGXwzcY_L_aCA_gnA4VU0-3RUFSjtc5bPi8nYNVYeb-BLIbn9cy78doYyEDc2OyEia08E3YYbjhEJBY76plO/s1600/booklet.jpg" height="175" width="400" /></a></div>
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My set, purchased last year from the collection of a comic book artist, had never been opened, but that is no longer the case. How could anyone resist playing with this fabulous toy?!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqxFUVoEMpurCEKpaYkhZSRvdQRJdONL33w1CAiUjrRhlr5lURa1uXqo-c-Z3klAx35JamJOFvHCZgc4xWP0sTE4_HNSeeR1pWjrKGm5GMx1EBZXiaVNitXtc4GnafMxY1mzSjb7gXjoo/s1600/scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTqxFUVoEMpurCEKpaYkhZSRvdQRJdONL33w1CAiUjrRhlr5lURa1uXqo-c-Z3klAx35JamJOFvHCZgc4xWP0sTE4_HNSeeR1pWjrKGm5GMx1EBZXiaVNitXtc4GnafMxY1mzSjb7gXjoo/s1600/scene.jpg" height="246" width="400" /></a></div>
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Click <a href="http://tracystoys.blogspot.com/2009/10/colorforms-castle-dracula-fun-house.html">here </a>to see another vintage Colorforms monster-themed set, the Castle Dracula Fun House, and <a href="http://tracystoys.blogspot.com/2009/10/vintage-addams-family-colorforms.html">here</a> for an Addams Family set.Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-6878045251031454502014-10-09T09:44:00.001-04:002014-10-09T09:44:47.519-04:00Halloween Witch Candy ContainerEvery fall I hope to add a piece or two, if I'm lucky on the hunt, to my collection of antique Halloween stuff. This year, I found a wonderful old candy container.<br />
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Measuring just under 6 inches tall, this container dates circa the 1930-40s, and features a black robed witch atop a pumpkin. It's made of a pulpy composition type material, like so many of the jack o' lanterns from this time period. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEChqAoNedBhXdaBIYvaa-05eEgEsHunONGtkNt4qjXddY6UYRjjulL6xoJmn-_Sv6aJEkr_C7gNPfAxfuiCm-hdpcMOX98sXpZc1bRld_fywJvAL9jv5XS1uCiMo9WiN44CcGAxPCiAzv/s1600/candy+container.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEChqAoNedBhXdaBIYvaa-05eEgEsHunONGtkNt4qjXddY6UYRjjulL6xoJmn-_Sv6aJEkr_C7gNPfAxfuiCm-hdpcMOX98sXpZc1bRld_fywJvAL9jv5XS1uCiMo9WiN44CcGAxPCiAzv/s1600/candy+container.jpg" height="640" width="336" /></a></div>
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Originally it would have been filled with candy or nuts, and the young owner would have retrieved them by removing this wooden plug on the underside.</div>
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Click <a href="http://tracystoys.blogspot.com/2011/10/antique-halloween-witch-candy-container.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tracystoys.blogspot.com/2012/10/pumpkin-candy-container.html">here </a>to see my other Halloween candy containers. </div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5315368106736177085.post-59673931686149505732014-10-06T09:29:00.000-04:002014-10-09T09:30:54.817-04:00Antique Postcard: Halloween PranksHappy October! My favorite holiday will be here soon, so it's time to start posting Halloween stuff.<br />
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I'll begin with an antique postcard I found recently. Even though the card is in rough shape, the illustration was an unusual one I hadn't seen before, so it was still worth snapping up, especially as it was only a couple of bucks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMsqOmRFXXlW54G7jlPbTKtxX-py3tdUTz-5JO2R_lUIdxHMzfYKG3QSZwhuevVQ7Yo9GStgHTc_E8A-Q7gUfALv78lxL-311GWKcKfaUVlY5Ey0pPN_ueYntD3D7ZO4AWGSd59eaKKYC/s1600/halloween+postcard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMsqOmRFXXlW54G7jlPbTKtxX-py3tdUTz-5JO2R_lUIdxHMzfYKG3QSZwhuevVQ7Yo9GStgHTc_E8A-Q7gUfALv78lxL-311GWKcKfaUVlY5Ey0pPN_ueYntD3D7ZO4AWGSd59eaKKYC/s1600/halloween+postcard.jpg" height="640" width="411" /></a></div>
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In this little scene, three mischievous boys are engaged in a classic Halloween prank: switching store signs. Here they are replacing a dressmaker's sign with that of a sausage and sauerkraut shop. Imagine the confusion the next morning.<br />
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This card also features a wonderful, cartoony witch, and a bizarre, vivid green cat.<br />
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Watch out for pranksters this month! More Halloween and spooky stuff to come.Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17093220429913265429noreply@blogger.com0