Brimfield Antique Show – Day One

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Today was the first day that Chris and I attended the Brimfield Antique Show. The alarm went off at 5:00 A.M. and shortly after 6:00 we were on our way. Getting there before 7:00 and leaving around 12:30 we managed to go to 4 fields (out of 21) and one building. On the way back to the hotel we stopped at the Quaboag Valley Antique Center, a two-floor  multi dealer antique store where we found a couple of Deco items.

Here are some videos of the day –

 

 

 

This was our first day’s haul. Can’t hardly wait to see what tomorrow brings.

 

Chris and Anthony (the Freakin’ ‘Tiquen’ Guys)

Checking out the Brimfield Antique Show

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Chris and I decided to make an exploratory run from the hotel where we’re staying in Ludlow to Brimfield, just so we would be comfortable making the trip tomorrow morning at 5:30.

Below is a short video of us driving down the main street of the show, with fields being set up on both sides.

More to follow,
Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’ Tiquen’ Guys)

Freakin’ Tiquen’ Summer 2015 – Off to Brimfield and Beyond!

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This is the tenth anniversary of what Chris and I call a “Freakin’ Tiquen” summer antiquing excursion. Our first one was back in 2005 when we hit the road to Kentucky and Ohio. Since then, we have explored Indiana, Canada, Michigan and Texas. Now we are off to New England and for the first time the Brimfield Antique Show in Brimfield, Massachusetts. For this trip, we are hoping to give daily updates of our “Freakin’ Tiquen'” adventures and  Art Deco finds.

 

An aerial photo of the Brimfield Antique Show and Flea Market.

An aerial photo of the Brimfield Antique Show and Flea Market.

 

To get in the Art Deco frame of mind and get some inspiration for the trip, Chris and I went to see a screening of Ernst Lubitsch’s 1932 sparkling comedy Trouble in Paradise, starring Miriam Hopkins, Kay Francis and Herbert Marshall. The fantastic art direction was by Hans Dreier (1885-1966), the set that he created for Madam Colet’s (Kay Francis) is one of the best examples of the Moderne style of the early 1930’s, seen in any film. Here are some frame grabs of that set.

 

The staircase of the main set, with a wonderful glass and chrome chandelier and a copy of panel 2 of the Jean Dupas (1882-1964) paint "La vigne et le vin".

The staircase of the main set, with a wonderful glass and chrome chandelier and a copy of panel 2 of the Jean Dupas (1882-1964) painting “La vigne et le vin”.

 

Madame Colet's home office featuring a great Art Deco desk and a Kem Weber (1889 -1963) chair.

Madame Colet’s home office featuring a great Art Deco desk and a KEM Weber (1889 -1963) chair.

 

Here are the some of the clocks that are featured in the film:

 

Chic table clock.

Chic table clock.

 

Quintessential Art Deco Clock.

Quintessential Art Deco Clock.

 

A wonderful grandfather clock in the Moderne style.

A wonderful grandfather clock in the Moderne style.

 

Gaston Monescu's (Herbert Marshall) office in the Colet home. Great Art Deco telephone and ceramic table sculpture.

Gaston Monescu’s (Herbert Marshall) office in the Colet home. Great Art Deco telephone and ceramic table sculpture.

 

With this as a kick off we can’t wait to see what we find at Brimfield and beyond on our “Freakin’ Tiquen'” road trip.

 

Chris and Anthony (The Freakin’ Tiquen’ Guys).

 

The Hotpoint 129-T31 “Gazelle” Toaster

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Gazelle motif on the Edison General Electric 129-T31

Gazelle motif on the Edison General Electric 129-T31

I’m sorry to be doing another post on a toaster just a few months after the one on my Toastmaster 1A1, but I didn’t think I would be adding to the collection what I considered the “Holy Grail” of vintage toasters so soon. When Chris was visiting his family in Florida earlier this month he stopped in at the Wildwood Antique Mall in Ocala and stumbled across a toaster. He took a chance and picked it, hoping that it was the one that I have been searching for.


Designed by Raymond E. Patten in 1932 for the Hotpoint appliance division of the Edison General Electric Company, it was the most exuberant Art Deco design for toasters much in the same way that the Chrysler Building was in design for a skyscraper. After this, toasters became more streamlined and utilitarian. Because of its striking design, this toaster is a highly desirable addition to any toaster collection.

 

Introduced in 1932, it retailed for $7.95 the equivalent of $145.00 today. Chris purchased it for $62.00, which I feel is a good price. These toasters usually sell for around $150.00, before 2008 they sometimes sold for $500.00.

 

Here is a demonstration of the toaster in use –

 

Here are some detail photos of the toaster, including the original cloth cord and plug. Today many people are afraid of using this type of cord, but in my experience, I have not had any trouble using cords and plugs of this kind, as long as they are in excellent condition and they are not kept plugged in when the appliance is not in use.

 

 

This was one of the items to look for on my Brimfield list, now I’ll have more time and money to look for my chrome tube Art Deco chair.

 

Anthony and Chris (The “Freakin’, Tiquen’ Guys)