Cocktail Shaker Archives - Driving for Deco

Vintage postcard of Detroit, Michigan. Image from amazon.com.

Detroit, Michigan day three and we explore some more antique stores, one is new to us and another a revisit from a trip to the Detroit area ten years before.

Livingston Antique Outlet, Howell, MI

The day after our visit to the National Shrine of the Little Flower we decide to take a leisurely day of antiquing. Stop one was the Livingston Antique Outlet, Howell, MI, and just over an hour from downtown Detroit. This is a deceptive store, larger than it appear from the outside. Neatly laid out and easy to maneuver, it holds an eclectic mix of vintage merchandise. But more on that later.

: Aisles….

: and aisles…

: of goodness!

Who doesn’t like cute chalkware?

: With a nice selection…

: down every aisle…

: there’s something for everyone.

Down the first aisle, I found a Wells Art Glaze platter.

Wells Art Glaze Platter in Rust

Wells Art was a division of Homer Laughlin and produced beginning in the early 1930s. The line was discontinued in late 1941 or early 1942. The Wells Art Glaze backstamp was used on any solid color glaze in the standard colors of Leaf Green, French Rose, Melon-Yellow, Burnt Sienna (Rust). Other colors available are Sea Green, Depression Green, Appletree green (more blue than green) and Red.

Wells Art Glaze Backstamp

All the glazes are matte with an irregular (blobby) coverage by design.

This collection was somewhat accidental as I found pieces here and there that were stylish and reasonably priced. Next thing you know, we’re collecting Wells Art Glaze!

Our next find was a vintage Revere Bottle opener. Sometimes spotting Revere can be tricky if you are not familiar with their lines or styling. This piece, not so much.

Circa 1935 Revere bottle opener. Photo by the authors.

This is a heavy and substantial piece. Made of chrome plated brass, it is about 4 5/8 inches long 5/8 inch high and 3/8 inch thick. Probably produced sometime in the 1930s or 1940s it could be a promotional piece.

A well know silversmith (and known for something else that I just can’t put my finger on), Paul Revere started the first North America’s copper mill south of Boston in 1801. The company is still active and headquartered in Rome, NY as Revere Copper Products, Inc. It has the distinction of being one of America’s oldest manufacturing companies.

The next piece is a bit trickier to talk about. Here we have an unmarked cocktail shaker; possibly MCM. Being unmarked, we can’t give you any details other than it is well designed and made.

: Unmarked chrome cocktail shaker with Bakelite lid. Photo by the authors.

: The shaker showing the pouring lid off. Photo by the authors.

: The shaker with the pour lid and Bakelite top off. Photo by the authors.

Now, I call this section when bad things happen to good furniture. We realize this could be controversial and only reflects our opinion. Neither of us is a fan of painted furniture unless the piece is damaged beyond redemption. I want to know what these pieces did to deserve this treatment, or at least these colors.

Why? Just why? What they do to you?

Not my favorite color.

The worst offended is this piece, painted then distressed to show the nice wood veneer underneath. WHY?

And then you distress it to show the wood you just covered up?

Another items of interest is this 1930s Chase hot/cold food server designed by Howard F. Reichenbach. We’ve seen this often and own a couple of them. To use it, add water to the base. Then depending on the direction of the plug, it is either set to “high” to cook foods, or reversed to “low” to keep things warm for serving. Or you can fill the base with ice to keep food cold. A word of caution. When you find one, the heating element may not function and whether filled with water or melting ice, they frequently leak. This is a heavy piece weighing in at just over 10 pound!

: Chase Buffet Server keeps food cold or hot.

: The chrome covers help keep the food in the PYREX containers at the perfect temperature.

This Manning Bowman version of the buffet server works on the same principle as the Chase food server. This item has ceramic inserts for the food rather than glass. Although we don’t own one, I suspect it has the same issues.

Manning Bowman Buffet Server

This 1930s pull match ashtray combo is interesting but as we already have 2, it didn’t make sense to get another. And the match insert is nearly impossible to find.

Match Pull

The matches are bundled together with the strike strip just below the head and nestle up inside the cap. And as the name implies, you pull the match down quickly. It crosses the strike strip and ignites.

However, the highlight of this trip to Detroit had to be “Conchristador”. Conquering new antique stores, it’s self-explanatory.

Meet “Conchristador”. Photo by the authors.

Our next stop was The Mega Mall. This establishment is about a half hour from the Livingston Antique Outlet. And about an hour and a half from Detroit. We had fond memories of this place from 10 years before.

The Mega Mall in Lansing, Michigan. Photo by the authors.

Unfortunately, it has far less antiques now. As Thomas Wolff said, “You can’t go home again.” It is now more a mix of home crafts, chalk paint supplies, shabby chic (is that still in style?) furniture, and collectible items from the 60s onward. And not us at all.

After the Mega Mall, we had lunch before heading back to our hotel to get a good night’s rest. Tomorrow was a leisurely day as we headed out to Cranbrook and a tour of the Saarinen House.

Chris & Anthony (the Freakin’ ‘tiquen Guys)

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 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.

: A Wednesday Vendor

: A bought enough but wanted more!

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,

Vintage letter holder by Revere

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

: Art Deco Egg Cooker

: An interior view

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 Car 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.

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 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.

: Whiting & Davis evening bag with compact

: Plenty of room for necessaries,

: Always needing to look her best.

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

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 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.

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 – 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

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

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.

: 1930’s Cocktail shaker

: Unusual cork stopper

: And a good polish later…

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

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!

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

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 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

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

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!

…