Let's Spoon Shall We

I'm talking about spooning more sugar into your tea.

Geesh!

Well I found the cutest little spoon stand at an estate shoppe in town called Lolly's Estate R Us about a year or so ago.
While I'll Never put the names out there for my fave thrift shoppes because I don't want locals to beat me to the goods as they have limited stock I will occasionally drop  names of antique and estate shops because they can be pricey and usually have a surplus of items.
Lolly's is Packed and I mean Packed with items so go look around.
 There's plenty of deals for you and I.

I can't remember what I paid for her.
Safe guess would be $8
She's a cute little gal,
 but I'm a thrifty gal so I know it wasn't much.

She is absolutely unique and precious with her little prayer apron.

It reads:
The Kitchen Prayer
Lord of all pots and
 pans and things,
 since I've not time to be
 A saint by doing lovely things
or watching late with Thee
Or dreaming in the dawn light
or storming heaven's gates
Make me a saint by yelling meals
and washing up the plates.
Amen

I know!
Not the greatest poetry.

I am not a "spoon collector"

or should I say never intended to be

(I do have quite a little collection going here).

I can easily pass on a spoon that has no sentimental value.

You see this gal only has room to hold four so the day I bought her I also bought 4 spoons.
But along the way 2 more have snuck in so they have to be displayed elsewhere.

For instance there's no room on the stand for this little guy here.

No, not the little guy in the picture.

That's my hubby's immigration picture when he arrived in America at the ripe old age of 6.

He was the same age as my students and he didn't speak a word of English.
 Bless his heart.
So Cute!! I Know!!
He looks like a little immigrant, doesn't he?
I Love this picture of him!

It's on a shelf in my kitchen next to an old mason jar full of pieces of brick that I collected at a little beach in Punta Gorda.
The pieces of brick wash up there from time to time. 
They are (I believe) from the old Barron Collier bridge that was collapsed to make an artificial reef in Charlotte Harbor.
If you are a nerd like me you can go here to read more about the local bridges history.
My husband was a brick layer in Michigan for 15 years,
 thus the reason the jar of bricks sits on the shelf too.

I would love to know how old this spoon is.

The enamel picture of the country, flag colors and wording ITALIA  looks very old.

There is no markings or wording on the back side.

I purchased it for $5 (I think) at Lolly's Estates R Us.

I picked up this spoon which represents the great state of Michigan for a buck at an outside Antique Fair in Arcadia. It was in rougher condition than one I had seen earlier that day for $5, so I swiped her up.

It has the wording Michigan and a deer in enamel at the top.

The white-tailed deer is the official game animal of the state.

Below that is a dangle of the Mackinac Bridge.

This enormous bridge connects the Lower Peninsula from the Upper Peninsula

 (or the U. P. as Michiganders refer to it).

Again the nerd in you can read more about the third longest suspension bridge in the world right here. 

On the bowl part of the spoon there is a map of Michigan with the word MICHIGAN above it. 

Mackinac bridge is connecting the two peninsulas with the words Mackinac Bridge next to it.

Lake Michigan on the left and Lake Huron on the right.

A car and the words Auto Industry below it.

Forestry and a game animal with the word Hunting above it.

A fly fisherman  with the word Fishing below it.

The word Lansing with a picture of the Capitol's building.

And summing it all up at the bottom it says Winter Wonderland.

There is nothing on the back side.

I put this little guy in front for the picture . . .

but he just usually lays on the shelf at her feet.

For just 50c at a local church's small thrift shoppe.

I was thrilled when I picked it up to see a familiar place,
Greenfield Village in Dearborn Mich.
Dear to my heart as our two oldest children LOVED Thomas the Tank Engine and we took them to see him there twice when we lived in Michigan briefly (2 years).

Dreams come true.

Greenfield Village is where President Lincoln's chair that he was shot in is on display
 (with his blood stain still on it).
The bus that Rosa Parks refused to go to the back on is there and SOOOO much more.
Go here to check it out!

The Greenfield Village spoon is much smaller than the other spoons,
as you can see. 
It has the words Greenfield Village above a Model -T, a train, and a building.
 All of which make it famous.
It's almost impossible to see it all in one day when you visit.
And the words Dearborn, Mich. below the picture. 
 It is not enamel but instead looks like a print covered in epoxy.
The bowl has an etched map of Michigan with the words MICHIGAN, Lake Michigan, Lansing, Grand Rapids, and Detroit. 

Another spoon with some memories tied to it is this Kennedy Space Center spoon.

I bought it for $5? at Lolly's Estates R Us

You see, Mr. Spouse and I took the kids to see the final shuttle launch on July 8, 2011.

 It was AMAZING!
We were there to witness history!

Of course this picture below is more accurate of our view of history in the making.

Millions of people gathered!
We did Not go on this bridge I was afraid it would collapse. We had a Great view in someone's backyard. While others were charging $20 to watch from their yard we were kindly invited into someone's backyard for Free.

The moment of lift off was Amazing!
Sorry I can't think of a better word, but Amazing is what it was!
The thrill of witnessing the final launch . . .
Knowing that at any moment before "Blast Off' it could be delayed . . .
having Never been RIGHT THERE to watch ! ! !

We watched  and cheered it onward and upward til it was out of sight!
"Go!
 Keep Going! 
Keep Going!
 Yeah!
 (whistle) 
Go!
 Go! 
Go!"

I had witnessed the Challenger explosion when I was in the First Grade, live from the classroom window as we were only a few hours south of Cape Canaveral on the East Coast of Florida.
 The memory haunted me as I anxiously began to cry tears of happiness for this crew and this mission.
"Go Baby, Go!"

The backside of this spoon has  the words

Made by Perfection Plate P/L,

 Australia, 

Silverplated

and Galaxy.

 It also has a Fleur De Leaf above the bowl.

And last but certainly Not the least are two of my faves that I got that day at Lolly's.
Both have the same Coat of Arms and the word LONDON engrave on the bowl.
The heads on the stems are different though.
This one has the London Bridge.
(with its draw bridges up)

The second one has a carriage, representing the carriage used by the Royals.

On the back of both are the initials W.A.P.W.
The words Gt. Britain and silver plated.
Again I think I paid $5 a piece at Lolly's Estates R Us.

I will keep my eye out for more over the years and let you know what others I find.
How about you, do you have a spoon or two to share?


Tip for next week:
School's back in session so you might need these.
(Teacher's are back in class at my school in one week! EEK!!)

Web Star

I could have titled this post "Tea Time II".

But alas I settled on "Web - Star"
 after discovering these two beauties at a Salvation Army for just $8 a piece.

 A Steal!
 

 

The marking on their bottoms really caught my attention.

They have a spider web, a star and the letter "W" on them.

They also have the words QUADRUPLE PLATE and the number 677 on both of them
(more on that in a minute).
 

Initially I noticed their beauty and weight.

They were much heavier than the other cheapy mismatched creamers and sugar bowls sitting on the same shelf.

And having the same curious markings with exactly the same production number on them I knew they were a pair.

I figured I was on to something, so home with me they went.

But not before I snatched up this tea pot for just $10.

After all, I was actually in the market for a vintage tea pot,
 as "Oh-yea-right" as that sounds I really was.

 You see I had been stocking stumbled across a blog with a beautiful vintage tea pot sitting on some books in a bookcase with a dingy piece of ribbon tied around its handle.
 Love at first sight!
Notice I took a piece of white seam binding ribbon and stained it with coffee from the mornings leftover coffee.
I know "leftover coffee" sounds like a sin.
 

And this serving plate for $3 came home with me, too.

 

 

As soon as I got home I jumped on my laptop to begin my search.
 First up was the heavily weighted duo with their peculiar mark.

And this is what I found:

Sugar Bowl & Creamer

QUADRUPLE PLATE aka "quadruple silverplate":

Quadruple silverplated pieces are NOT plated four times.

And they do NOT have four times the pure silver (known as .925).
 Bummer!

A common misconception is that silver plate is an inferior product.
 It may never have the same silver content as sterling,
 but dealers and silversmiths say these pieces were made of high-quality silver.

Tiffany made silver plated.
 So it must be good!

So what does quadruple plate mean?

It means that it is some of the highest quality holloware made in the later part of the 19th century!

If items are simply marked Standard silverplate it indicates that if 2 troy ounces of pure silver were used for an item, than Quadruple silverplate used 8 troy ounces of pure silver (4x the standard).

So naturally they are also four times as heavy.
 Nice!
 

By 1850's many metal craftsman changed from crafting wares of pewter,
 "poor man's silver" to electroplated silver.
 This occurred during the height of the Victorian Era,
 so many pieces are elaborate  in design and the details of their embellishments and intricate engraved decorations are unparalleled by both the former pewter pieces or the pieces of today.

Unfortunately, many of these Victorian electroplated quadruple silver pieces have become damaged beyond repair, destroyed, or "gasp"---tossed out!
  The scarcity of these pieces makes them valuable to collectors who are quickly purchasing them and keeping them for themselves.
 Fewer and fewer fine pieces are available on the open market!

Score!!

Spider Web - Star - "W" Hallmark:

 

My search finally yielded these results.
 I discovered the hallmark was from E.G. Webster & Son out of New York and Brooklyn.

Founded in 1860 by Elizur G. Webster.

Formed E.G. Webster & Brothers in 1865.

Incorporated in1867 as Webster Manufacturing Co.

Sold to the International Silver Co. in 1928.

Hallmarks vary on Webster items as they were produced through out the years.
Subsequently that did not help me narrow down the exact time frame.
There is just such little information on the world wide web regarding it.
 Believe me I searched!!!
I like the play on words with this particular hallmark,
 regarding Elizur's last name.

At the end of the day,
 I think it's safe to say that they were electroplated sometime between 1860 & 1900.
And I am very happy to be their owner.
I think they have a wonderful patina, which I never intend to polish away.
 

 

Tea Pot Coffee Pot
 

Silver on Copper:
This is pretty straight forward.

Crown over X - H.S. - Dragon Hallmarks:

Hartford Sterling Company - Philadelphia, PA.

Succeeded to Tennant Co., New York

Active 1900/1935 c.

Again there were many hallmarks used by this manufacturer.

And even less information about it.

It's safe to say this little charmer came from the turn of the century.

  

Serving Tray

No indication of what its plating is:

It's incredibly heavy and very beautiful!
The pictures don't do it justice!
 

Wilcox - I S -Brandon Hall:

The International Silver Company was organized under the laws of the State of New Jersey on November 19, 1898. Within that first year the company bought the total capital stock of seventeen Companies. Immediately upon organization the company bought 12 other companies.

Wilcox Silver Plate in the city of Meriden, Connecticut was one of those initial 12.

Within the first 6 months another 4 companies were purchased.

By the early 1900s it had become a large corporation.

Its operations centered there in Meriden, would prove to be the major producer of silver products in America.

 

I found MANY of these serving trays listed on Ebay.
A one of a kind he is not . . .
except that the middle of the tray is personalized with a fancy Calligraphy letter.

At first I was thinking the letter "I".
  But there are not many last names that begin with that letter.
 So then I started thinking the letter "F" or "L".
 More common.
I was still uncertain so I began yet another search.
And I came across these Old English Calligraphy letters.

It's the letter "L", no?

Next Sunday's post is already in the works.
Here is tip #1

It is (they are) used with tea

Old Skool Listen to Reading

Oh, the school teacher in me just about burst coming across some vintage Listen to Reading a couple of months ago.

We're talkin' Old Skool!

Who remembers these?

I Do! I Do!

And I remember my Fisher Price record player, too!

It looked like this, with the retro orange and brown.
 

And I also had this one!

 

This stash of  nostalgic Disney fun was a great little find on an overstuffed bookcase of unloved and  forgotten books in a storage room.

So I rescued them.
 

Love the picture of the kids on the back.

 

I have come across a book or two before but the record was always missing.
Not this time.
This time each book has it's original record (I almost said CD) accompanying it.

Alice in Wonderland
1979
 

It just so happens that today is my unbirthday!

Is today your unbirthday, too?
 It is!?!

Uh - Oh, I feel a song coming on!

"A very merry unbirthday to you, to you.

A very merry unbirthday to you, to you.

It's great to drink to someone, and I guess that you will do.

A very merry unbirthday to you-u-u-u-u!"

Peter Pan
(1977)

 

I always wanted to be one of the sassy stuck-up mermaids at Mermaid Lagoon.

Don't ask me why.

 

Three Little Pigs
(1978)

 

I have read different versions of this story over and over and over and over.
Literally!
 In small reading groups, I have 4, we read two different variations of the Three Little Pigs in our curriculum during the school year.
And No. One. words it better than Disney!
You know what I mean.
When you grow up on a certain version of a classic book, like the Three Little Pigs and then someone comes along and rewrites it leaving out certain Important elements and adding their own twist to the ending. You're like; "Oh no you didn't!" {simultaneously snap your fingers and neck roll}

The wolf never dresses up in sheep's wool in these other books.

HE'S SUPPOSE TO DRESS IN SHEEP'S WOOL!

You can't end it by throwing a lid over the pot.
He is suppose to jump out of the pot of boiling water and run off howling.
 He still has an appearance to make in the Little Red Riding Hood.
 

Bambi
(1977)

 

Thumper is my favorite.
 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
1977

I never had a favorite.

 I don't discriminate between little nuggets, I love them all the same.

 Okay, maybe Dopey.

But that's only because I'm partial to big ears and droopy purple caps.

Mother Goose Rhymes
1977

 

I have never heard this Disney version and am quite curious of how it sounds.

Does anyone have a record player I can borrow?
Maybe an orange and brown one from the attic.

I will say that the pictures are done in pure Disney fashion with all our beloved characters from Mickey and Minnie to Goofy and Donald representing the clan.

I was brought up reading Richard Scarry's Best Mother Goose Ever.
 The pictures are the BEST.
 No one, not even Disney, does it better.
 (Just my opinion).
Each year I read it to my class.
They love it!
 

 

I would definitely like to add to this little collection of Disney record books over time.

 

Here's a few other fun Disney items:
 

When I came across this puppet book,

Mickey Mouse Takes a Vacation

copyright 1976

It took me immediately back to when I was just a young girl.

I remember my dad reading it to me before bed. And I could still to this day tell you what was coming on the next page before I even turned it.

 

I don't know if mine is in the attic of my parents old home but I was so happy to have this copy to share with my own children.

I'm going to have to look around for some of my old childhood favorites I know my mother saved a few.

Do you have any old favorites?

I just recently, as in this past week, found this Disneyland record from 1968 titled

Walt Disney's Merriest Songs.

And wasn't I singing a merry little tune when I paid only 20c for it!!
It's a full size record.

I really need a record player now!

Can you guess what items will be featured in next Sunday's Vintage Finds post?!
Here's tip #1:
Web Star

Check in on Tuesday for tip #2


 

Vintage Finds

Vintage Finds will be a recurring theme of posts where we will look inside the cabinet my husband built for me to hold all my old treasures.

 

 

Actually he made the cabinet for himself when we were dating.

It used to house all his car collectibles.

He used two mirrors that his buddy was going to toss to the curb for the back of the cabinet.

Bought a light, some wood and black paint from the hardware store. Ordered 5 glass shelves cut to his specific measurements from a window manufacturer. And when he was done he had a great sturdy cabinet that he could proudly display his collectibles in.

I was so impressed with his skills that I married him a few months later.

 

 

I began collecting Precious Moments, as I had always admired my mother's and grand-mother's collections and wanted to start one of my own.

It's fun to have a hobby and collect things.

But as my collection grew over the years I ran out of dresser tops to put them on and with toddlers now in our house,  my hubby decided I needed a safe place to keep them from little hands. So one day he surprised me by painting the cabinet a beautiful off-white almost flesh color which went perfect with the pastels and light hues of the figurines themselves. He also made a door with plexi-glass to keep them dust free.

 

A couple of years ago I decided to start filling it with little bits and baubles.

Today it's nearly full!

Although I do manage to squeeze a little more in here and there.

It houses everything from the pillow I hand-stitched for our ring bearer to carry on our wedding day to some unknown persons letter for their letterman jacket that was being thrown out. Literally rescued it from some boxes in a driveway the day after a garage sale wrapped in Arcadia (which is an area know for it's antiques).

Each shelf is its own vignette.

Each piece has a story.

No matter how big or how small.

 

 

Items come from everywhere...

some are from the attic memory boxes,

 garage sale finds,

 estate sale purchases,

most come from antique and thrift stores

and a few were given to us as gifts.

 

Each piece is special, treasured and loved.

 

Hope you will check back periodically to see what I have found.