It’s hot-hot-hot in a lot of the U.S.A. and the beach is the place to be. Heading to the seashore in August offers a last blast of summer fun and adventure before schooldays begin. Kovels found 5 vintage beachy collectibles to enjoy at the shore and later, at home.

1.  Sand pails with bright color images are treasured by collectors. They were first made in the U.S. about 1920. This pail pictures Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs along with forest animals. It was made by the Ohio Art Co. of Bryan, Ohio, about 1938. It’s lithographed tin, 6 inches tall (9 inches to the top of the handle) and sold for $418 at a Hake’s auction in Pennsylvania. Most vintage sand pails sell for $25 to $50.   Photo: Hake’s.

 

 

2.  Sand-powered toys are entertaining collectibles. Early sand toys were imported from Europe in the 1870s and’80s. This vintage “Busy Mike” seesaw toy was made in the U.S.A. by toymaker J. Chein & Co. in the 1940s. Pour sand in the funnel and as it falls, the seesaw with the boy and the girl dips back and forth. The toy is lithographed and painted tin, 8 inches tall, and sold for $30 online.   Photo: eBay.

 

3.   Vintage bathing costumes were, heavy, water absorbing and made swimming hard. But they are collectible today. Swimsuits from all eras – from the body covering costumes of the late 19th century to itsy bitsy bikinis of the 1960s – are desirable. Some collectors like to showcase them in frames. This chic outfit is a women’s swimsuit, overdress and shoes from about 1900. It’s made of cotton and silk. The swimsuit is one-piece, with a blousy, V-necked top over bloomers. The cover-up has a wide, striped collar and sleeves and mother-of-pearl buttons. The high-topped bathing shoes are linen and cotton. The outfit sold for $607 at a Jeffrey S. Evans auction in Virginia.   Photo: Jeffrey S. Evans

 

 

4.   A trip to the beach wouldn’t be complete without a souvenir. This beach towel is from Florida in the 1960s. It pictures a map with the locations of its many beaches and lots of iconic beachy images. It’s a sunny memento and useful anywhere. It sold for $15 online.

 

 

5.   Make the beach day perfect with lunch in a vintage picnic basket. Fill it with some colorful Melmac dishes, cups from the 1950s or ‘60s, add a red and white checkered tablecloth and you’re all set! This vintage picnic basket was made by the W.C. Redmon Sons & Co. of Peru, Indiana. It’s woven wicker, 14 by 19 inches. It includes plastic snack trays, cups and utensils. All that’s missing are sandwiches and salty snacks. It is offered online for $50.