Tag Archives: Chrome

Weekend Finds – A Close to 2022

Every year, there is a point where outdoor flea-marketing for our weekend finds is just not comfortable. So as a close to 2022 antiquing, at least outside, I present our collection of recent treasures. Outside and in.

The Golden Nugget Flea-market Finds:

The first of our first weekend finds? A Rebajes Ubangi Woman pin at the Golden Nugget Flea Market. It needs to have the pin replaced, but it was a bargain at $3.00.

Rebajes

Rebajes African Woman Pin – circa 1940

On an unusual outing to the Golden Nugget on a Wednesday, (ok, not the weekend but…) this dealer sure had a bunch of pretty items. I would have bought up the lot of it. But through prudence, and discussion with Anthony, I managed to relieve the vendor of only a few items.

One of our finds? This is a copper letter holder made by Revere. We haven’t found anything about it – yet!  And no, I didn’t pay $25.00,

Revere copper

Vintage letter holder by Revere

Here’s a chrome Art Deco Samson Egg cooker. Ironically, it was made in Rochester, NY – where Anthony lives.

This unusual weekend find is a car flashlight. It plugs into a car’s cigarette lighter. I did try it but the plug is just a tad big for the modern plug. And I didn’t want to force it in.

Art Deco Plug-in Flashlight

Art Deco Plug-in Car Flashlight

Art Deco Flashlight

An inside look – the cord is about 3′ long.

A nice little glass and chrome powder box.  It’s unmarked but in mint condition.

Deco powder / trinket box

Chrome glass and bakelite powder / trinket box

A different vendor had a section dedicated to 1939-1940’s World’s Fair memorabilia.  I sent Anthony this picture. And, while there were pieces he liked, he decided to pass.

1939-1940's World's Fair memorabilia

1939-1940’s World’s Fair collection

I also passed on this lovely Whiting & Davis handbag.  Our friend Nancy liked it, but it was not the right time for her. I should have gotten it. But at $100.00, I wasn’t sure it was worth the money. It is, and more.  I kick myself over this one.

I wish we had a place for this beauty. But we don’t. And so it stayed.

Art Deco lighting

Brass and polychrome chandelier I wish we had room for it

This collection of Chase is a real and reasonably priced find.  The Sparta pitcher, designed by Walter Von Nessen and a sugar & creamer set with matching tray was originally priced at over $95.00. The dealer didn’t want to take it home and offered it all to me for $30.00. Cha-ching!

Chase Copper and Brass

Chase chrome collection

This Manning Bowman Thermos and Tray has issues.  We always caution you NOT to purchase a rattling thermos unless it is just for display. This thermos rattled.  And the stopper is badly chipped. However, the tray is an extremely difficult piece to find so after a little bargaining, both home it came for $25.00.

Manning Bowman thermos and tray

1930’s Manning Bowman thermos and tray

A bit of déjà vu and another of our finds? This is another Manning Bowman thermos, sans tray.  It doesn’t rattle and is in good condition.  This was from another dealer who just wanted everything gone. And for $10.00 I was happy to take it off her hands.

Manning Bowman thermos

Manning Bowman thermos – this one doesn’t rattle!

I loved these ceramic puppy extension cords. But at $125.00 each, with damaged cords imbedded into the ceramic bodies, I couldn’t justify the price. Had the cords not been imbedded or at least accessible for repair, I may have been persuaded.

Art Deco extension cord

Art Deco extension cord

Can you guess what it is? The dealer didn’t know. I didn’t know either. But with some intuitive thinking, I figured it out. I think.

Deco Optical instrument

Deco Optical instrument

See how well you do with these clues:

            Bakelite handle

            Non-prescription glass

            Total length about 8 inches long by 4 inches wide

            Marked Bausch and Lomb on the handle

Good Stuff Thrift Store Finds:

We’ve had good luck at the Good Stuff Thrift Store.  No brand silver-plate cocktail shaker purchased for $4.50.  This unusual item dates to the 1930s. The cork stopper both in the lid and also in the pour spout cap are more common features at that time.  It’s amazing what a little elbow grease (and a good polish compound) can do.

Although missing the chrome lid, I picked up this cute divided dish for $3.99. It is by Farber Brothers / Krome Kraft.

Deco divided dish

Farber Bros. divided dish – circa 1930

This 1930s Hall ball jug in the Crocus pattern is in mint condition. It is also the only time I got into an argument with another customer.  The short version; I put it down in front of me to look at another pitcher. A woman walks up, asks me if I was buying it to which I responded, “Yes”. She proceeds to pick it up and walk away!??? I again told her I was buying it and she responded, “Well, you didn’t have your hand on it. It’s mine now.” Details are so messy.  Let’s just say – I won!

1930's Hall ball jug - crocus

1930s Hall ball jug – Crocus

2nd Avenue Thrift Store:

This pair of silver-plate candle holders is designed by Carl Deffner, They could be anywhere from the 1930 to the 1960s. And they have a no-polish finish. The pair cost $2.50.

Carl Deffner candle holders

Carl Deffner candle holders

Savers:

Here is a Chase bon-bon / nut dish. Chase appears to be getting harder to find in the wild. Anthony picked this up  at Savers for $3.99.

Chase chrome dish

Chase dish – perfect for serving afterdinner mints or nuts

GoodWill Finds:

I love the GoodWill! This little fellow is an example of ceramics Made in Occupied Japan. While we don’t know a great deal about this category, I do know items like this were massed produced between 1945 through 1951.  Though difficult to find, these are not generally worth a great deal. This would be a good collection for someone on a budget.

I wasn’t able to find an exact match to this in my research. I did find that the more and better the details, the better quality. And therefore more desirable. Compared to the one found online, this is a better-quality piece.  Why? The hand by the hat is separated from the hat and is well defined.  Cost – $3.99.

Occupied Japan Statue

Occupied Japan Statue

This little lady is another example of Made in Occupied Japan. She’s a cutie and cost 2.99.

Occupied Japan Statue

Miniature Occupied Japan Statue

It’s time to say goodbye 2022 and our weekend finds. But I can hardly wait to see what we’ll find in 2023!

So, did you figure out the mystery item? It’s a Pince-nez sizer. It is used to measure the width of the bridge of the nose to assure your armless glasses stayed put! I think!

You just never know what you’ll find when Driving for Deco!

Chris & Anthony (The Freakin’, Tiquen Guys)

How About a Chaser? Chase Gaiety Cocktail Set

 

The Chase, Brass & Copper Co. met the end of Prohibition with a number of stylish cocktail accessories. For this post Driving For Deco will take a look at the first of the Chase cocktail set that helped  lift spirits (figuratively & literally) during the Depression.

 

The Gaiety Cocktail Set

1933 – 1942

Cocktail Shaker

Entirely modern in its appearance, it retains the usefulness of old fashioned shakers.The top is fitted with a sleeve which fits snuggly into the pouring lip when shaking to prevent the leaking or spilling of contents. A strainer is also provided to hold back the mint, lemon or other solids. Finished in bright chromium with black enamel rings at the top and bottom. – 1934 Chase Catalog.

 

The typical Chase Gaiety Cocktail set, featuring the shaker with black painted bands.

Chase Gaiety Cocktail Set. Shaker, tray and cocktail cups. Image from ebay.

By far, this has to be the easiest of all the Chase cocktail sets to find. The cocktail shaker and cups are readily available in the collector’s market. The tray can be found with a bit of hunting.

 

The patent application drawing for the Chase Gaiety Cocktail Shaker.

Patent for the Reichenbach’s Chase Gaiety Cocktail Shaker. Image from Google Patents.

The shaker, designed by Howard F. Reichenbach (1902 – 1959) in 1933, is classic moderne. Its most notable decorative feature is impressed, painted bands, on the body and lid. On the lid, two raised concentric circles lead to the finial. A Bakelite ring is at the base of the chrome finial.

The lid of the shaker sits snuggly on the neck of the body. Inside the neck is a removable strainer. The Chase centaur trademark is on the bottom of the shaker.

 

he Gaiety Shaker patent drawing showing the interior of the lid, the neck and the strainer.

Chase Gaiety Cocktail Shaker patent drawing illustrating the interior of the lid, the neck and the strainer. Image from Google Patents.

Cocktail Cups

Simplicity is an outstanding feature in the design of this distinctive cocktail cup, but it is the simplicity of line and decoration that suggests sophistication and good taste. – 1934 Chase Catalog.

 

Harry Laylon's cocktail cups for the Chase Specialty Line.

Chase Cocktail Cups designed by Harry Laylon. From the collection of the author.

Retailing at only $0.50 each ($10.75 in 2022), these simple cups, a Harry Laylon (1911 – 1997) design,  must have been very popular.  One can easily find these cocktail cups on the collector’s market today.

 

Cocktail Tray

This simple tray is ideal for use with cocktail cups, but may be used equally as well with other cocktail service pieces. It comes individually packed in either polished chromium or polished copper finish. – 1934 Chase Catalog.

 

The tray for the Chase Gaiety cocktail set.

Chase Gaiety Cocktail Tray. Image from thehourshop.com.

In the mid-1930s one of Kool Cigarettes offered premium coupons to its smokers. And the Chase Gaiety Cocktail Set complete or in individual pieces was a premium. 200 coupons for the shaker, 125 coupons for four cocktail cups and 125 coupons for the tray. 400 coupons would get one the entire set, not to mention a chance at smoking related diseases.

Mid-1930s Kool Cigarette advertisement.

Mid-1930s Kool Cigarette magazine advertisement, offering the Chase Gaiety Cocktail set as a premium. Image from ebay.

When purchasing any of the pieces of the Gaiety set there are a few things to keep an eye out for. Let’s start with the shaker. The Gaiety Cocktail shaker is so readily available, at flea markets, antique malls and online, there is no reason to buy one in less than good condition. Often the strainer that sits in the neck of the shaker is missing.

 

Strainer and lid detail of the Chase Gaiety Cocktail Shaker.

Detail of the strainer and the lid finial of the Gaiety Cocktail Shaker. Image from 1stDibs.com.

Make sure the Bakelite ring on the finial is not chipped or missing altogether. The paint in the impressed bands should be not be flaking off. And because of the shaker’s shape and lack of handles it must have been slippery when filled with ice and liquid, which means that a good number of the shakers have dents and surface scratches.

 

Dent on a Gaiety Cocktail Shaker.

Dent in a Gaiety Cocktail Shaker. Image from Ebay.

Detail of damage on a Gaiety Cocktail Shaker.

Detail of the dent and surface scratches on a Chase Gaiety Cocktail Shaker. Image from Ebay.

 

Things to watch for with the cups are dents and splits in them along the sides. Issues with the tray can include bends and dents. Sometimes the chrome plating has worn away exposing the brass base metal. All these issues will affect the value of the pieces.

 

Split in the side of the Chase Gaiety cocktail cup.

Split common to the Chase Gaiety cocktail cup. Image from federalcoinexchange.com

 

And speaking of values, the prices for the Gaiety pieces are all over the place. The Shaker, alone, sells anywhere on the collector’s market from, $25.00 (sometimes even lower) – $450.00. In our opinion any price over $45.00 is too much for a shaker this common. But there is one exception to this rule, but more about that later. The cocktail cups can run in the $7.00 – $15.00 a piece range. The tray is so hard to find, that as of the writing of this article, we have not found one as a stand alone. And complete sets fall into the $150.00 – $450.00 price range, in online stores. Although sometimes they can go higher, one dealer, selling through 1stdibs.com is selling the shaker and four cups for $895.00. This seems high, but the pieces are in mint condition and come with their original packaging.

 

Gaiety Cocktail Shaker and Cups with their original boxes.

Chase Gaiety Cocktail Shaker and Cocktail Cups with their original boxes. Image from 1stdibs.com.

What is really rare regarding the Gaiety Cocktail set are shakers with colored stripes and Bakelite ring on the finial. They were only produced between 1939 and the discontinuation of the line in 1942. The available colors were red, green, blue and white. These are so rare that we have never come across one “in the wild”, only online. A set of three sold at 1stdibs for $3,900.00.

Gaiety Cocktail Shakers in green, red and blue.

Gaiety Cocktail Shakers in green, red and blue. Image from 1stdibs.com.

 

Gaiety in the Movies

The Gaiety Cocktail Shaker, to the best of my knowledge, made its movie debut in the 1934 film, Change of Heart (Directed by John G. Blystone for the Fox Film Corporation). Though the shaker is not one of the stars of the film, that goes to Janet Gaynor, Charles Farrell, James Dunn and Ginger Rogers. It is used by Ginger Rogers trying to woo Charles Farrell from Janet Gaynor. Below are some frame grabs showing the shaker in action.

 

So if you are into Chase items or into cocktail collectibles, the Gaiety Cocktail Shaker or set is a good way to begin. It is classic in streamline Deco looks and it is often affordable.

Cheers till next time.

Anthony & Chris (The Freakin’, Tiquen Guys).

SOURCES

The Complete Chase – Donald-Brian Johnson & Leslie Piña

The Chase Era 1933 and 1942 Catalogs of the Chase Brass & Copper Co. – Donald-Brian Johnson & Leslie Piña

Chase Catalogs 1934 and 1935 Catalogs – Donald-Brian Johnson & Leslie Piña

Art Deco Chrome Book 2: A Collector’s Guide Industrial Design in the Chase Era – Richard J. Kilbride