Searching for Collectibles
Cloverine Salve tins
Cloverine Salve is a patent remedy for chapped and dry skin. The product is of interest to many depression glass collector's because depression glass was one of the premiums you could receive for selling Cloverine Salve door-to-door.
Mammy string holder with confusing date
This mammy string holder is another case of a reproduction carrying a mark that confuses the age. When the mold for the reproduction was taken from the original, the original copyright date of 1941 was either delibeerately or unintentionally included. Now the date is part of the new mold. Every new piece made in the new mold will have this old appearing date as a permanent mark.
Popeye and Felix Character Tin Wind-up Toy Boats
Two comic character toys may be mistaken for 1930s era vintage collectibles. The toys feature Popeye and Felix the Cat in colorfully lithographed metal speed boats with wind up mechanisms. Each is 7" long and comes in its own box. No matching old toys exist; both are new designs; retailed, $14 each.
Fake reverse painted glass depot signs
Several versions of faked reverse painted on glass railroad depot signs have appeared in large numbers from the Midwest to New England. All the signs are 34 3/4″ long by 4 3/8″ high. Some of the versions seen include: "Southern R.R.", "Baltimore & Ohio R.R.", "Baltimore & Ohio R.R.-Tickets", "Pennsylvania R.R." and "Illinois Central R.R.-Whites Only". All of the signs have black backgrounds with gold lettering. The majority of the signs have been sold by a white female using the name Laurie Gifford and a New Hampshire drivers license number. Most of the new signs were sold at $60-$100 each.
$700+ original or $35 fake? Get your head examined
Phrenology was a popular 19th century theory that intelligence and personality and character traits are revealed by the location of contours, or bumps, in the skull. Three dimensional models of phrenology heads showing these locations or personality traits are a highly sought after collectors' items. Depending on the material they are made of, original heads can sell from several hundred to several thousand dollars. A recent ceramic reproduction of an 11″ phrenology head, shown in (Fig. 1), is being seen extensively in malls around the nation.
Black Memorabilia Country Store Collectible Copied
Some of the most popular pieces of Black memorabilia were made for and used by the 19th century firm of Masons Blacking. The colorful lithographs on many products and packaging feature Victorian images of Blacks shining shoes. A wooden box that copies an original counter top display is now reproduced including the full color paper labels.
Cleverly Forged Advertising Prints
Beware of forged advertising with "Winchester" superimposed over various Currier and Ives images. Placed under glass and framed with brass chain borders, these fakes were first reported by ACRN in September, 2000.
Confusing Art Deco Figural Perfumes
New flapper girl figural ceramic perfumes are being made in original ca. 1920s molds. At least two different styles of 3 bottles are being offered.
New Shaker Seed Boxes
Most collectors associate the Shakers with products such as furniture, quilts, household gadgets, farming tools and implements. Many may not realize Shakers were responsible for many firstssuch as condensed milk, flat brooms and offering seeds for sale in paper packages. The wooden boxes Shakers crafted to display their seeds in 19th and early 20th century country stores are very collectible. Those Shaker seed boxes are now being reproduced.
Old Doorknobs Etched with Collectible Names and Trademarks
Genuinely old door knobs in porcelain and glass are being etched with trademarks and logos of highly collectible companies. The etching is about one-sixteenth of an inch deep below the surrounding surface. After etching, the artwork and lettering are inked in matching colors: Coca-Cola is red, Ford is blue, etc. No old doorknobs are known that resemble these new products. Harley-Davidson, Chevrolet