This 65-Year-Old Four Pack of Guinness Won’t Quench Reader’s Beer Thirst

Question: I have an original four-pack of Guinness Stout from 1969, unopened and in perfect condition, brewed in Dublin. Can you tell me the value of my Guinness? Answer: The year 1969 was a landmark year for Guinness Stout and a year that resulted in a great deal of criticism from Guinness aficionados in Ireland; it was the […]

Mystery Tea Set Identified

Q: I have several pieces that all belong to the same set: a coffee pot, a small plate, a regular cup and saucer, and a demitasse cup and saucer, but at the moment, I’m particularly interested in the coffee pot.  Regarding provenance, these items belonged to the family of my wife’s former in-laws, who immigrated […]

Reader Wonders if Their Schuco Monkey Perfume Bottle Will Evolve into a Financial Score

Q: Can you please tell me what my Schuco perfume bottle monkey is worth? He is red mohair with a leather face, glass eyes, and felt paws, all in excellent condition. A: The company was founded in 1921 under the name Spielzeugfirma Schreyer & Co. In 1921, it changed to the shorter Schuco, which is […]

Six Gallon Crock Leaves Collector Puzzled

Question: This six-gallon crock was made in Fort Edward, N.Y. It is in good condition and measures 13 inches high and 13 inches in diameter. Under the rim, Fort Edward, NY, and the number 6 are readable. There are ten or more letters in the company name but only &co show. There are no cracks […]

Massillon Bottle & Glass Co., Iridescent Bottles

Q: I found a box of these bottles in an attic. I didn’t count them, but I would say there are about a dozen of them. I’ve looked all over the Internet and haven’t seen anything that looks like them. When wet, they are brown, but when they dry, they become very colorful. They stand […]

Collector’s Gallery – 1953 Playboy Magazine

The first issue of Playboy magazine, 1953. Q: I have a 1953 Playboy first Issue with Marilyn Monroe on the cover I would like to sell. Do you have any idea of its value? A: Hugh Hefner was working as a promotion copywriter at Esquire magazine in Chicago when the magazine decided to move its […]

The “Godey Ladies” of Florence Ceramics

Q: Does this Florence Ceramics “Meg” have any value?

Florence Ceramics “Meg” 1952 – Blue dress

A: Florence of California, also known as Florence Ceramics, had its headquarters in Pasadena, California. The founder, Florence Ward, lost one of her children to a blood disease in 1939. To help cope with her loss, she took a class at the Franklin School for Pottery.

Florence was already a skilled sketch artist. After taking the ceramics class, she began producing semi-porcelain figurines in her garage. She proved to be a talented ceramicist, offering her pieces through a local studio. When the studio manager saw her work, he offered her an assistant position. She used the experience to learn all she could about the craft.

In 1942, her husband went to Utah for government service, and her other son was given a Marine posting. To stave off her loneliness, she dedicated her time to honing her craft, and Florence Ceramics was born. She was determined to ensure that every aspect of her work was historically correct. She studied works of art and periods of history—creating details such as lace accents, accessories, and historically accurate hairstyles—even painting copies of great works of art in museums to ensure that the costumes she created for her figurines were meticulously faithful to the period.

Florence Ceramics Meg MarkCeramic mark: Meg – Florence Ceramics

The company moved to a modern 10,000-square-foot factory in Pasadena in 1949. Florence Ceramics had very high standards for quality, and soon, Western European companies sent representatives to learn Florence’s techniques. Along with the Victorian “Godey Ladies,” a nickname given to the 19th-century female figurines, Florence Ceramics created boxes, candle holders, various figurines, and other items for the gift shop trade. Unfortunately, the popular pieces were soon copied by mass producers, and an influx of substandard items flooded the market. The inability to compete and the loss of her husband led to the sale of the production plant (but not the Florence figurine copyrights) to Scripto in 1964. That company closed in 1977.

Many rarer Florence Ceramic figurines, such as this Lee Ann figurine (recently sold on eBay after what appears to be a spirited auction), can fetch over $1,000. This particular piece sold for $1,791,85.

This figurine by Florence Ward, entitled “Lee Ann,” sold on eBay at auction for $1,791.85. With her
intricately detailed lace top, auburn curls, white dress, and gold detailed purse, she is a rare find.

A review of recent eBay and WorthPoint sold listings for the “Meg” figurine reveals average prices of $50 – $100. The pricing likely depends on the rarity of the dress color. Listings over the past year seem to point to the coral dress as being one of the most popular versions.

Still, your Meg is a lovely example of the finely detailed work of Florence Ward. Her artware has been called a “labor of love” by her family and former employees, and Meg is a fine testament to the skill and talent of Florence Ceramics.

If you’d like to learn more about Florence Ceramics, there are two very good resource books available: The Complete Book of Florence Ceramics and Florence Collectibles: An Era of Elegance.

By Kele Johnson

Kele Johnson is the Digital Content Editor for Kovels Antique Trader. She has just enough domain knowledge about a wide variety of antiques to be dangerous. She teeters precariously between collector and hoarder of swung vases, Tiki mugs, and MCM everything. She can be reached at kelejohnson@aimmedia.com.

Dick Clark Autograph Doll

Q: “I found this Dick Clark doll at a neighborhood yard sale and love it. Can you tell me anything about it? I paid $10, which I thought was fair. Do you think so?”

Dick Clark Autograph Doll

A: Legendary television performer Dick Clark died on April 18, 2012, at the age of 82. Just about any American over 25 probably has some memory of him, whether it be as the forever hip and cool face of “American Bandstand,” host of “The $10,000 Pyramid/$100,000 Pyramid,” or the host of the perennial New Year’s Eve favorite, “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.”

The Dick Clark Autograph Doll was produced by Juro in 1958. Its face is a remarkable likeness of Dick Clark, and the attention to the smallest of details is impressive. The doll is dressed in a cotton poplin jacket, pants, vest, sewed-on shirt with cuffs (clothing colors vary), cuff links, and a ballpoint pen protruding from the vest for autographs. That the Dick Clark doll has been around for 65 years is a testament to the enduring popularity of the cultural icon.

I would say that $10 was indeed a good deal. A review of recently sold dolls through eBay and WorthPoint is wildly variable—but the fluctuations seem to be based on condition, completeness, and whether the doll came with its original box.

Your doll is complete, including the pen and box. Although the box is not in the greatest shape, it still increases the value of your doll. It can be reasonably valued at $100 to $150, based on recent sold results.

By Kele Johnson

Kele Johnson is the Digital Content Editor for Kovels Antique Trader. She has just enough domain knowledge about a wide variety of antiques to be dangerous. She teeters precariously between collector and hoarder of swung vases, Tiki mugs, and MCM everything. She can be reached at kelejohnson@aimmedia.com.

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Pyrex “Silver Streak” Iron

Postwar Silver Streak Iron made out of Pyrex.

Q: Helping our mother downsize her home, we came across this iron. We love the look but don’t know anything about it. Can you help?

A: You have a Silver Streak Iron, manufactured by Saunders Machine & Tool Corp., New York, and Corning Glass Works, Corning, N.Y., in 1946. It’s a wonderful example of postwar design. The Silver Streak’s aerodynamic form is immediately recognizable because of streamlining, a style that dominated the 1930s and focused on smooth lines, clean forms, and the impression of speed and efficiency. The addition of heat and fabric settings also streamlined the ironing process itself, as it removed the guesswork from the chore and allowed the user to determine how much power would be required for individual laundry items.

What is most indicative of the Silver Streak’s place in postwar design, however, is what it is made of–Pyrex. Developed by Corning Glass Works as a heat-resistant glass alternative to metal cookware, Pyrex made its debut in 1915. Its market expanded during World War II due to the demanding nature of wartime manufacturing, which restricted the use of metal for all other products. This metal shortage led to innovative design substitutions, as seen here: where metal would normally have been used, the Silver Streak iron employs Pyrex. The heat-resistant glass that worked well in ovens could now prevent burnt hands while ironing, and its moldable nature allowed for a more ergonomic handle. Although this new use for Pyrex was successful, the colored emulsion under the glass body couldn’t stand the heat. As a result, the colorful Silver Streak—which came in red, green, and silver, among other hues—was only produced for a short time. Silver Streak Irons are popular postwar design collectibles. Depending on condition and color, values can range from $400 to $2,000. We’ve seen a similar iron to yours sell at auction for $650.

Harold Gale Company Santas Bring a Sleighful of Nostalgic Christmas Joy

 

1960s Harold Gale Santa with “gold glitter belly.”
Photo: Ben Strobel, owner.

Q: My grandmother has had this Santa figure for years, at least since the 1950s. I am looking for some information on its age and maker if possible. It stands just over 16” tall.

A: Your Santa is one of the many designed and manufactured by the Harold Gale Santa Company. Harold Gale began making department store display Santas in his Kansas City home, assisted by his wife, Viola, in 1946. The Gales invested their savings of about $3,000 to start the Harold Gale Santa Company. In their at-home workshop, they worked tirelessly, bending wireframes and hand-sewing Santa suits.

As their sales volume increased, they invested their earnings into the business, building a small Santa factory and developing a line of Santas over the next decade. They were able to keep costs down, retaining their original Santa pricing while building their business significantly. They built a 3,000-square-foot factory, employing 35-49 people, who used the finest velvet and DuPont’s neoprene rubber to create a colorful and varied line of highly sought-after Santas. By 1960, the Harold Gale Company had produced over 100,000 Santas—from the department store display size to the smaller consumer doll variety.

Originally available at Sears and Roebuck, the smaller Santas were also given out as prizes or bonuses and featured promotional themes, such as Stanley Home Products, Parker Pens, 7 Up, Teleflora, and Knox Hats. However, by 1963, they were difficult to keep on the shelf and were stocked by the majority of department and gift stores in their Christmas sections throughout the holidays.

Promotional Teems Soda Harold Gale Santa
Photo: Holidappy.com

The Gales eventually sold the family business, but Harold remained general manager. The company changed hands again in 1970. Not long after, the Gales retired to California. The factory closed in 1988.

For collectors, Harold Gale Santa Claus displays and dolls are the heart of Christmas nostalgia. The gold lamé vest—sometimes referred to as a “gold glitter belly”—on your Santa dates his manufacture to the 1960s. The gold vest is quite desirable and sets your Santa apart from his plain red/white outfitted brothers. While Harold Gale large mechanical Santa displays can sell for well over $1,000, these smaller doll-style Santas vary in price, depending upon the clothing style, color, and theme. A review of recent auction prices and eBay sold listings shows prices of $45-$100 for your particular Santa.

The Holidappy website features an in-depth article with photos of nearly all of the Santas manufactured by the Harold Gale Company. It is a great resource for those looking to date their HGC Santa Claus figures.