Kovels - Antiques & Collecting: Week of Sept. 10, 2012

Put some fun into your collections and start hunting for old or new figurines, plates and drinking mugs that were meant to be jokes. Puzzle mugs date back to the 1700s. They were popular in taverns. When a patron was tipsy, the bartender poured ale into a mug that hid a realistic pottery frog at the bottom. Empty the mug and the frog appeared while other patrons laughed.

In the early 1800s, Chinese export porcelains were sometimes decorated with humorous or off-color subjects. One famous design is a scene of a young woman wearing a full skirt and sitting on a swing. The man next to her appears to be pushing the swing. But on the back of the plate you can see the back of the woman. Her skirt is pushed up to show her bare backside. The design was so popular that the same scene was made into a molded iron ashtray 100 years later.

Many of these jokes were connected to drinking and bars. In the 1920s, when Prohibition was the law, dozens of small bottles and flasks were made by Schafer and Vater, a German company. They were satirical, funny and risque. A disheveled drunk labeled "Prohibition," an Uncle Sam figure holding a martini glass, a decanter shaped like a monk pouring a drink with the inscription "Spiritually Uplifting" and many other figural bottles that held whiskey were given as gifts for birthdays and holidays.

Twentieth-century joke ceramics range from dime-store "potty figures" of children sitting on potties to George Tinworth's Royal Doulton figurines of animals acting like humans and English Martinware fantasy birds with removable heads.

Twenty-first-century jokes are easy to find and include Disney and comic-book characters. Many of the fun pieces made before 2000 now sell for high prices. But don't ignore joke ceramics of today. They may turn out to be valuable in 50 years.

Q: I own a 24-inch-high tiger maple dresser I found in my parents' attic. In a drawer I found a stamped mark that says, "Widdicomb Company." On the back of the drawer someone wrote: "Trimmed July 8, 1911, Inspected August 14, 1911, Varnished August 23, 1911, Polished February 2, 1912, and Inspected February 29, 1912." Any information would be appreciated.

A: John Widdicomb founded his company in Grand Rapids, Mich., in 1897. The company's early work focused on interior woodwork and fireplace mantels, but it soon switched to mid-priced bedroom suites and kitchen cabinets. During the 1910s and '20s, Widdicomb Co. made bedroom suites with matching and contrasting veneers. It continued to make furniture until 2002, when the factory in Grand Rapids closed. L. & J.G. Stickley Co. purchased the company's remaining assets, and it continues to make Widdicomb reproductions at its factory in Manlius, N.Y. The writing on your dresser shows the steps and dates of its construction. Your dresser is a part of a bedroom suite sold in 1912. A seven-piece Widdicomb tiger maple bedroom suite recently sold for $750 at auction.

Q: We own a royal commemorative creamer and sugar that my grandparents brought to this country from Scotland in the early 1900s. We think it's from the wedding of King Edward VII to Queen Alexandra. Both pieces are cream-colored with multicolor portraits of the king and queen. The rims are gold and wavy. Neither piece is marked. What is the set worth?

A: Queen Victoria's oldest son, Albert "Bertie" Edward (1841-1910), was married to Denmark's Princess Alexandra in 1863. But he didn't become King Edward VII until Queen Victoria died in 1901. Your creamer and sugar commemorate the king's 1901 coronation, not his 1863 wedding. If your set is in excellent condition, it could sell for about $125 to $150. It would sell for more in England than in the United States.

Q: My wife and I own a 20-inch-high kerosene lamp. The globe and mantle are made of glass, and the base is brass, copper and pewter. The handles are pewter dragons, and the base is decorated with fanciful pewter birds. The lamp is stamped, "Consolidated, Pat. Sept. 990 Apr 30 05 April 11 93." Value?

A: The stamp indicates that your lamp was made by Consolidated Lamp and Glass Co. of Fostoria, Ohio. The company resulted from a merger of Wallace and McAfee Co. of Pittsburgh and Fostoria Shade and Lamp Co. of Fostoria. Consolidated had a reputation for making fine lamps and other lighting products. The company moved its operations to Coraopolis, Pa., after a fire badly damaged the Ohio factory. Collectors are particularly interested in Consolidated glass made after 1925, when its designers moved toward Art Deco and Lalique-inspired designs. The company temporarily closed during the Depression and closed for good in 1964. A matching pair of old Consolidated molded glass kerosene lamps recently sold for $110 at auction.

Q: Your April Fool's Day column stated that Prince Albert tobacco, introduced in the United States in 1907, was named for the "future king of England." But Prince Albert became King Edward VII when his mother, Queen Victoria, died in 1901.

A: Prince Albert was indeed already king when the tobacco brand was introduced here. But some tins have an added design on the front that says "Now King."

Tip: Most ceramics can be washed with soap or detergent and water but a few things should not be. Any pieces that are repaired, damaged or have painted decorations should not be soaked in water. Wipe them with a damp cloth after testing a small area. Unglazed pieces should be dusted.

Terry Kovel answers as many questions as possible through the column. By sending a letter with a question, you give full permission for use in the column or any other Kovel forum. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We cannot guarantee the return of any photograph, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. The volume of mail makes personal answers or appraisals impossible. Write to Kovels, Auction Central News, King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.

CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

• Walt Disney School Bus dome lunch box, metal, Mickey, Jiminy, Pluto, Donald's nephews and more peer from windows, vacuum bottle, Disney Productions, 1960s, $40.
• Wheaties premium cereal bowl, milk glass, red silhouettes of Joe DiMaggio batting, Bob Feller pitching, other sports stars golfing and playing tennis, 1930s, $45.
• Brass gasoline-pump nozzle, working lever, made by Buckeye, dated 1926, 7 x 15 inches, $175.
• Old Soldier Tobacco pail, paper label over tin, Union Civil War soldier holding rifle, tan ground, Goodrich & Co., Milwaukee, 6 x 5 1/2 inches, $185.
• Phoenix Glass Co. vase, Wild Rose pattern, blooms and buds, coral pink wash over satin glass, 1933-36, 10 1/2 inches, $250.
• "Honey" baby doll, composition, molded blond hair, gray sleep eyes, chubby arms and legs, sheer pink dotted Swiss dress, bonnet, Acme Toy Co., circa 1928, 26 inches, $295.
• Cowan Pottery Sunbonnet Girl bookends, ivory glaze, impressed logo, 7 1/4 inches, pair, $485.
• Beatles "New Sound" toy guitar, plastic, cream and orange with four original strings, butterfly pegs, silkscreen image four Beatles, Selcol Industries, England, 1964, 23 inches, $495.
• World War II poster, "Defend Your Country, Enlist Now," Uncle Sam has thrown down his coat and top hat, rolling up his sleeves, 38 x 25 inches, $510.
• Victorian worktable, walnut, locking drawer, sliding sewing basket, porcelain casters, signed G.E. Fuller, circa 1870, 24 x 16 x 24 inches, $1,495.

New! Contemporary, modern and mid-century ceramics made since 1950 are among the hottest collectibles today. Our special report, "Kovels' Buyers' Guide to Modern Ceramics: Mid-Century to Contemporary" identifies important pottery by American and European makers. Includes more than 65 factories and 70 studio artists, each with a mark and dates. Works by major makers including Claude Conover, Guido Gambone, Lucie Rie, as well as potteries like Gustavsberg, Metlox and Sascha Brastoff, are shown in color photos. Find the "sleepers" at house sales and flea markets. Special Report, 2010, 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches, 64 pp. Available only from Kovels. Order by phone at 800-303-1996; online at Kovels.com; or send $19.95 plus $4.95 postage and handling to Kovels, P.O. Box 22900, Beachwood, OH 44122.

3012 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

Kovels - Antiques & Collecting: Week of Sept. 3, 2012

For the past few years, auctions of Chinese antiques have attracted many bidders and high bids. The auctions have included many items that were not recognized by American bidders. A recent auction sold a "Chinese polychrome-decorated inkcake" for more than $1,000. I had to do some research.

An inkstick or inkcake is a piece of solid ink that might be a mixture of soot and animal glue made from egg whites, fish skin or animal hides. Its scent was enhanced with cloves or sandalwood or other natural products. Other types of inkcakes were made of burnt material, plant dyes or minerals. The mixture was kneaded and pressed into a carved mold to dry. The inkcake had to be ground on an inkstone with some water. The ink could be mixed to be thick or thin. An ink brush was dipped into the ink and then used to write or draw on paper. Early examples date back to the 12th century B.C. New ones are in stores now.

The auction's inkcake dated from the mid 1700s. The colored raised decoration on one side pictured a landscape with a temple, table, sculpture and candle. The other side was decorated with a colored dragon in the sea, a mark and an inscription. The inkcake was stored in a carved wooden box that was 4 7/8 inches high, 3 1/8 inches wide and 7/8 inch deep.

Inkcakes, as well as inkstones, inkbrushes and paper, are highly regarded as symbols of culture.

Q: I have an unusual chest that I would like to sell. It has many small drawers. On the inside of one it reads, "The Practical Glove Holder, Patented October 7, 1897, A.N. Russell & Sons, Canadian Patent August 7, 1897.''

A: A.N. Russell & Sons was founded in Ilion, N.Y., in about 1883 by Albert N. Russell. The company made cabinets for gloves, ribbons and thread, as well as umbrella holders. The ribbon and glove cabinets were its most popular items. It later made bronze- and aluminum-framed museum cases until the business closed down in 1932. In 2007 an A.N. Russell & Sons ribbon cabinet in very good condition sold for $1,300 at auction.

Q: I have a cookie jar that looks just like the Shawnee Smiley pig cookie jars, but it's not marked "Shawnee" or "Smiley." The only mark on the bottom is "USA." It has red flowers and a red kerchief. Is it real or a reproduction?

A: Shawnee Pottery Co. of Zanesville, Ohio, began making these cookie jars in 1942. At first they were called "Smiling Pig." There were many versions. The earliest ones were cold-painted or plain and had a triangular rim. Later jars had round openings and were hand-painted or decorated with decals. Decorations included apples, clover, flowers, plums, shamrocks or strawberries and different-colored kerchiefs. Some were marked "Pat. Smiley USA" or "Shawnee Smiley 60," but many are just marked "USA." When the company went out of business in 1961, the molds were sold to Terrace Ceramics, which made the cookie jars in plain white without decorations. There are also many fake Smiley Pig cookie jars on the market. Price of a genuine Smiley pig jar is determined by condition and decoration and ranges from $140 to $250.

Q: I inherited my grandfather's collection of more than 600 cigar bands. They are in an old scrapbook. Only a small corner of each band is glued onto the page. There are pages that have cigar bands picturing every president from George Washington to Teddy Roosevelt. Are they of any value?

A: Collecting cigar bands was a popular hobby in the early 1900s. Cigar manufacturers used the bands to keep cigars from unrolling and to identify and advertise their brands. Some bands made in the early 1900s were printed with real gold gilt. Single bands as well as sets of bands like your U.S. presidents were made. Collectors used to look for sets that interested them or for particularly beautiful designs. As with most paper collectibles, pasting or gluing them into an album or book lowers their value - unless they can be safely removed without damaging the paper. There are few cigar-band collectors today, but there are many collectors of cigar memorabilia. Look for dealers or auctions that sell cigar-box labels, cigar cutters and other tobacciana.

A: Blue Buckle Overalls were made by Jobbers OverAll Co., a firm founded in Blackstone, Va., before 1910. It later moved to Lynchburg, Va. In 1920 the company claimed to be the world's largest overall manufacturer, but it went bankrupt in 1921 and was taken over by Old Dominion Garment Co. of Dallas. Old Dominion continued to make Blue Buckle work garments. The manufacturer of your sign, Baltimore Enamel & Novelty Co., was founded in 1898 as the Baltimore Enamel Co. It made signs and, in 1903, manufactured America's first official license plates – for Massachusetts. Before then, car owners made their own license plates. The Blue Buckle sign is worth about $50.

Need prices for collectibles? Find them at Kovels.com, our website for collectors. More than 84,000 prices and 5,000 color pictures have just been added. Now you can find more than 856,000 prices that can help you determine the value of your collectible. Access to the prices is free at Kovels.com/priceguide.

CURRENT PRICES

• Hoody Doody slide puzzle, 15 tiles, black line drawings of Howdy Doody, Mr. Bluster, Clarabelle and Dilly Daily, plastic, white ground, 1950s, 2 1/2 inch square, $45.
• Anchor Hocking Vitrock range set, milk glass with red tulips, c. 1945, grease jar 6 1/4 inches, shakers 4 inches, three pieces, $60.
• Pat Boone paper dolls, two dolls, one in tennis clothes with racket, other in dress pants and shirt, Pat Boone copyright, 1959, $70.
• Uneeda Dollikin advertising doll, vinyl head, straight dark brown hair, fully jointed, nail polish on fingers and toes, orange strapless jumpsuit, navy flats, 1950s, 19 inches, $95.
• Rumrill Pottery vase, made by Red Wing, Indian Group line, bulbous, star-pattern rim, orange and bay matte glaze, marked, c. 1935, 5 1/2 x 5 1/4 inches, $150.
• Cast-iron embossing seal, lion's head, painted black with gold trim, "Buffalo Live Stock Exchange Inc., Apr. 1, 1887," 11 1/4 inches, $230.
• Applique quilt, tulip pattern, red, green, blue and white, leaf and vine border, white muslin backing, 1800s, 84 x 78 inches, $550.
• Eames-style lounge chair and ottoman, black leather, laminated rosewood base, Selig Mfg. Co., 40 x 34 inches, chair, 21 x 17 inch ottoman, $650.
• "Buy OshKosh B'Gosh Overalls" sign, heavy cardboard, Uncle Sam with left fist up, right hand pointing, red, white and blue shirt and hat, gold ground, red lettering, 1918 patent date, 13 7/8 x 29 7/8 inches, $800.
• Columbia Nickel Savings Bank, Lady Liberty on front, eagle and shield on sides, push lever, registers dollars and cents, red, white and blue stripes, c. 1910, 4 x 4 x 4 inches, $1,620.

© 2012 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

Kovels - Antiques & Collecting: Week of Aug. 27, 2012

A cricket is an insect, but it also may also be a footstool. The cricket (footstool) was usually no more than l2 inches high. It was used as a seat for young children in school or as a footrest. Larger stools, 12 to 18 inches high, were used for seating teenage children and adults. A few stools were used like steps to help short people get into bed, and some very tall stools were made for standup desks. Taverns often used stools as seats. Chairs were made only for kings and very important people until the early 1700s.

Chair-makers made stools in popular chair styles. Upholstered stools were billed as chairs were: one charge for the frame, an added one for the upholstery. Fabrics were expensive before the end of the 1800s, so the frame usually cost less than the fabric.

Footstools are still popular as pull-up seating, low tables and footrests, and for small children. They have been made in all styles and all sizes.

Q: I have an old 9-inch figurine with "Chas Chaplin" engraved into the front of the base. The mark printed on the bottom is "Mark Hampton Co. Inc., 1328 Broadway, New York City, Copyrighted 1915-1910." What is it worth?

A: Charlie Chaplin was the most famous film star in the world by the end of World War I. His legacy and star power carry on to the present day. Early 20th-century figurines like yours are collectible. A Mark Hampton Co. Charlie Chaplin figurine in good condition with the original box recently sold at auction for $275.

Q: My coffeepot is marked "D.W. Haber & Son, pat. 3994044, N.Y." I have been unable to find out anything about it. It's heavy and polishes up like silver. I bought it for $1 at a yard sale.

A: D.W. Haber & Son was founded in 1902 in New York and is still in business. It began as a silver repair business and then began making heavy silver-plated hollowware for hotels, cruise lines and other commercial uses. Since 2001, manufacturing has been done outside the United States. The company holds several patents, which include improvements to chafing dishes, coffeepots, compotes and urns. The patent on your coffeepot is for a heavy-duty hinge for restaurant and commercial ware. It was filed on Dec. 15, 1975, and issued on Nov. 30, 1976.

Q: I have a 27-inch-tall bronze sculpture stamped with the name Bouret. It is of a young woman adjusting the skirt layers of her dress. My wife and I inherited the figure years ago. Do you know the history of this sculpture?

A: Eutrope Bouret (1833-1906) was a French sculptor. He made many bronze figures, including sculptures of Joan of Arc, classical maidens and Roman gods. Most of his work dates from the late 19th century. His sculptures are collectible, and one of his statues recently sold for $3,256 at auction. But price depends on size, subject and condition.

Q: I have some Jaru ceramic accessories from the 1970s: three vases, a covered ginger jar and a stylized nude figurine. They are all covered with a brown glossy glaze. What value would you attach to these pieces?

A: Jaru Art Products was started in 1950 by Jack and Ruth Hirsh in Culver City, Calif. The name is a combination of the first two letters of their first names ("Ja" and "ru"). Jaru sold artwares and figurines by different artists. The company later created its own lines. Most pieces were marked with a simple paper sticker, although some have an impressed mark. Jaru changed hands in 1968 and stayed in business until the 1990s by diversifying and importing products. Collectors prefer pieces made before 1980. Your vases and ginger jar could sell for $20 to $75 each; the figurine is worth about $100.

Q: I have a Salvador Dali etching of El Cid. There is a certificate of authenticity glued to the back that states it is an original etching. The certificate is from the Collectors Guild of New York City. I'm curious about the value.

A: Salvador Dali was a famous 20th-century Spanish surrealist painter. Besides painting, he also experimented with sculpture, film and photography. In the early 1960s, he was commissioned to make a print series titled "Five Spanish Immortals" and based on historic Spaniards. The five included El Cid. The original etchings were printed in a total edition of 180 on two types of paper, one in black ink and one in sepia ink. Each example of this edition was hand-signed by Dali in pencil on the lower right corner. Many were marketed by the Collectors Guild. In 1968 the Collectors Guild published a new edition of the "Immortals." For this edition, Dali etched his name into the printing plate instead of hand-signing the prints. Thousands were printed. A rare hand-signed edition sold at auction in 2012 for $250. An etched-signature edition recently sold for $40.

Tip: Fishing line is strong and almost invisible and can be used to tie fragile items to a base or wall. This will help prevent damage from earthquakes, toddlers and dogs with wagging tails.

Take advantage of a free listing for your group to announce events or to find antique shows and other events. Go to Kovels.com/calendar to find and plan your antiquing trips.

Terry Kovel answers as many questions as possible through the column. By sending a letter with a question, you give full permission for use in the column or any other Kovel forum. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We cannot guarantee the return of any photograph, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. The volume of mail makes personal answers or appraisals impossible. Write to Kovels, Auction Central News, King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.

CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

• Harlequin dinner plate, yellow, Homer Laughlin, 1936-1964, 10 inches, $50.
• Figural pig tape measure, silvered brass, wire-tail crank retracts tape, impressed "Pan-American 1901," souvenir of Buffalo, N.Y., World's Fair, 2 3/8 inches, $160.
• Gorham sterling-silver salad spoon, Chantilly pattern, light gold wash on bowl, marked, circa 1895, 8 3/4 inches, $165.
• Old Gold cigarettes store display, cardboard, truck with billboard sides, image of woman, two wolfhounds and Old Gold packs, "Not a Cough in a Car Load," 1930s, 4 x 11 x 5 3/4 inches, $175.
• Cambridge Glass candlestick, Crown Tuscan line, nude woman lifting candleholder above her head, 9 1/2 in., pair, $275.
• Howdy Dowdy's Clarabell music box, die-cut clown's head, laminated cardboard, Howdy Doody characters revolve in mouth, F.B.A. Industries, New York, 1950s, 7 1/2 x 8 3/4 inches, $385.
• Hooked rug, floral and log cabin pattern, wool fabric and yarn, various flowers on lavender-gray ground, brown and black border, New Hampshire, circa 1900, 45 x 24 inches, $525.
• Arts & Crafts smoking stand, hand-hammered steel with bronzed finish, dome top, movable handle, storage compartments, ring handles, circa 1910, 38 x 20 x 8 1/2 inches, $875.
• Stump Speaker mechanical bank, cast iron, black man standing next to carpetbag, coin in man's hand drops into bag, Shepard Hardware Co., 1886 patent, 4 x 9 7/8 inches, $1,020.
• Armand Marseilles character doll, No. 400, bisque head, blue sleep eyes, closed mouth, composition and wood flapper body, folklore costume, black velvet vest, red wool skirt, white pantaloons, 13 inches, $1,750.

Prepublication offer. The best book to own if you want to buy or sell or collect-and if you order now, you'll receive a copy with the author's autograph. The new Kovels' Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide, 2013, 45th edition, is your most accurate source for current prices. This large-size paperback has more than 2,500 color photographs and 40,000 up-to-date prices for more than 775 categories of antiques and collectibles. You'll also find hundreds of factory histories and marks, a report on the record prices of the year, plus helpful sidebars and tips about buying, selling, collecting and preserving your treasures. Available online at Kovelsonlinestore.com; by phone at 800-303-1996; at your bookstore or send $27.95 plus $4.95 postage to Price Book, Box 22900, Beachwood, OH 44122.

© 2012 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

Kovels - Antiques & Collecting: Week of Aug. 20, 2012

Ancient Roman iridescent glass dug up in Israel is now being featured in modern jewelry. One of the jewelry designers told viewers of a late-night shopping channel that the thin layer of iridescence called "patina" was taken from the ancient glass and assembled flake by flake on a base used to create new jewelry. A chemical reaction causes buried glass to form the iridescent layer.

We have seen 1950s bottles buried in a damp location that show this type of iridescence.

Artists have admired this glass iridescence since the early 1800s. In 1817, a man from Scotland patented a way to iridize glass, but the glass that collectors like today, the kind with a golden iridescence, was made by Ludwig Lobmeyr of Austria-Hungary in 1873. Other glass artists, including Louis Comfort Tiffany, began making their own type of iridescent glass. Some of the factories that made gold iridescent glass and the date they started are: Glasfabrik Johann Loetz-Witwe (1890), Wilhelm Kralik Sohn (1890s), Tiffany (1896), Koloman Moser (1900), Quezal Art Glass Co. (1901) and Steuben Glass Co. (1903).

Carnival glass, a less-expensive and very different-looking type of iridescent glass, was made after 1908. Collectors and even experts often cannot identify the maker of a gold iridescent glass piece because the pieces are all so similar. And modern glassmakers can produce very similar glass pieces, too, so there is much confusion. The most expensive and most popular is Tiffany gold glass.

Q: I would like to know the age and make of my cast-iron toy gun. It's marked "TG-27" and has a funny nub on the bottom and a short barrel. It probably opens at the grip. My brother repainted the entire gun to cover up rust.

A: Your toy gun is a cap gun made by the National Toy Co. The nub on the bottom of the grip lifts up to show where the caps should be loaded. Although the company didn't officially incorporate until 1914, your cap gun likely dates from 1911. The company's products were successful and sold in stores like FAO Schwarz. Because your cap gun is repainted, its value is very low.

Q: Please settle a dispute between my husband and me about our small table. It has been in my family for years. We think it's made of iron. It has two pierced oval shelves and a marble top and it's marked "B & H" and "1646." The paint is chipped. I say it should not go to a landfill and my husband insists it should. Who is right?

A: Your iron table was made by Bradley & Hubbard Manufacturing Co. Walter Hubbard and his brother-in-law, Nathaniel Lyman Bradley, started making cast-metal clocks, call bells, lamps, chandeliers, sconces, bookends, frames, andirons and sewing birds in 1854 in Meriden, Conn. The company was sold to Charles Parker in 1940. During the late 1800s and early 1900s, Bradley & Hubbard made many types of small ornate tables and stands to hold plants, flowers, calling cards, smoking accessories and inkstands. The tables and stands sell today for about $150 to $350, depending on condition. All Bradley & Hubbard products are collectible. Don't throw the table away.

Q: A Dr. Scholl's counter display has been in my family for years. It advertises "Dr. Scholl's Zino-pads. For Corns, Callouses & Bunions." The display has a pair of men's feet on it and contains a flickering light bulb that shines through a red lens to simulate pain. What is its value?

A: Dr. Scholl's was founded in Chicago in 1906 by podiatrist William Mathias Scholl. Scholl was working for a local shoe retailer when he realized the market potential for shoes that addressed common foot problems. He took night classes at a medical school and received his degree in 1904. When Scholl hired salesmen, he paid them higher wages if they took a podiatric course. On his first trip to Europe, Scholl personally sold arch supports to Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany. The company used many different styles of counter displays to advertise its products in drugstores. Your display is unusual because it has electric components. A nonelectrical vintage Dr. Scholl's counter display recently sold for $144 at auction. Any large advertising sign with lights is worth hundreds of dollars.

Q: I have a scrapbook that belonged to my great-grandfather and then my grandfather. It's a scrapbook all about the Villa Igiea in Palermo, Sicily. It has about 145 pages and is filled with newspaper clippings from the early 1900s. We would like to keep it in the family, but wonder what it might be worth. Who might be interested in it?

A: Collectors and libraries value letters, cards, documents and photographs of famous people. If the person who kept the scrapbook isn't famous, the value of material in an old scrapbook is minimal unless the photos and letters relate to a historic event. Condition is always important, too. Collectors don't like newspaper clippings as much as they like postcards, trade cards and "scraps" (small die-cut colored pictures). They will pay $1 to $10 for common examples and more than $100 for rarities. If your scrapbook includes more than clippings, you may find it has more value by taking it apart and donating or selling the individual photos, postcards and scraps.

Tip: Do not display carnival glass made before 1910 in direct sunlight. The glass, introduced in 1907, will turn purple or brown and its iridescent finish may fade.

Terry Kovel answers as many questions as possible through the column. By sending a letter with a question, you give full permission for use in the column or any other Kovel forum. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We cannot guarantee the return of any photograph, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. The volume of mail makes personal answers or appraisals impossible. Write to Kovels, Auction Central News, King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.

CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

• Melamine dinnerware set, Trumpet Ware, white plates, brown cups and bowls, original box, Trump Plastics Co., 1960s, five four-piece place settings, salt and pepper, 22 pieces, $30.
• The Junk Yard Game, target game, pinball action, box, Ideal, 1975, $35.
• Fire-King advertising mug, "Col Ballroom, The Family Name in Dancing," Davenport, Iowa, white glass, red logo of couple dancing, Anchor Hocking, 1940s-50s, 3 1/2 inches, $40.
• Little Orphan Annie and Sandy ashtray, lusterware, Annie in red dress sitting on edge of tray, Sandy by her side, "Made in Japan," 1930s, 3 x 4 inches, $75.
• Space Ranger Walkie Talkies, two units, drawing of boy in spacesuit on box, Transette, 1960s, $90.
• Planters Peanuts cocktail glasses, red bowl, blue base, clear Mr. Peanut figural stem, paper ring tags, 5 1/8 in., set of four, $125.
• Hooked and braided rug, wool and cotton, diamond pattern, beige, gray and black with turquoise and pink nosegays, early 1900s, 30 x 50 inches, $245.
• Kate Greenaway figural napkin ring, silver plate, boy lying on his stomach next to dog, unmarked, James W. Tufts. $550.
• Rose O'Neill Skootles doll, pink and white sunsuit and bonnet, white leather shoes, pink socks, Cameo Doll Co., 1920s, 16 inches, $650.
• Refectory table, walnut, carved, trestle supports, chamfered stretcher, Continental, 19th century, 32 x 108 inches, $3,105.

Prepublication offer: The best book to own if you want to buy or sell or collect-and if you order now, you'll receive a copy with the author's autograph. The new Kovels' Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide, 2013, 45th edition, is your most accurate source for current prices. This large-size paperback has more than 2,500 color photographs and 40,000 up-to-date prices for more than 775 categories of antiques and collectibles. You'll also find hundreds of factory histories and marks, a report on the record prices of the year, plus helpful sidebars and tips about buying, selling, collecting and preserving your treasures. Available online at Kovelsonlinestore.com; by phone at 800-303-1996; at your bookstore or send $27.95 plus $4.95 postage to Price Book, Box 22900, Beachwood, OH 44122.

© 2012 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

Kovels - Antiques & Collecting: Week of Aug. 13, 2012

BEACHWOOD, Ohio - Knowing the name of the maker of any collectible or antique adds value, but sometimes a name creates a mystery. There are many vintage children's toys marked "Steelcraft," but books or online searches don't quickly turn up the history of the mark. These toys were made by Murray Ohio Manufacturing Co., a Cleveland firm that opened in 1919 to make parts for that recent invention, the automobile. By 1923, Murray also was making toy cars using the steel and production methods it used to manufacture full-size car parts. The toys were marketed as Steelcraft Wheel Goods. This diversity helped Murray survive the Depression. The company's pedal cars, airplanes, coaster wagons, bicycles and smaller wheeled toys were marked "Steelcraft," the identification seen by today's collector. Murray has made many other products, including lawnmowers and tractors. It even made special-order toy trucks that looked like a customer's full-size delivery trucks. Murray is still in business.

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Q: My antique Morris chair originally belonged to my grandfather. He was born in 1862 and left the chair to my father in 1936. The chair is oak with an adjustable back and loose cushions. I had the chair refinished once and the leather on the cushions replaced. Can you give me information on the current price?

A: The first Morris chairs were made in England by the firm of Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. around 1866. The Morris chair is one of the first reclining chairs. Many furniture makers copied the design, and it was an especially popular style among Arts and Crafts furniture makers. The most famous examples of antique Morris chairs were made by the Craftsman Workshops of Gustav Stickley in Syracuse, N.Y. A Stickley Morris chair from about 1912 recently sold for $4,500 at auction. Other antique Morris chairs can sell anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars.

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Q: My hammered aluminum tray is at least 70 years old. It's marked "Hand Wrought Creation by Rodney Kent 423." Does it have any value?

A: Rodney Kent is the name of a line of hand-wrought aluminum giftware that was developed for Krischer Metal Products Co. of Brooklyn, N.Y. Hammered aluminum giftware was popular from the 1930s through the 1950s. The Rodney Kent line was developed under the supervision of Stanley Gelford, who named the line after two streets near his office: Rodney and Kent. The line includes various serving pieces made of an alloy of aluminum and manganese. Most pieces are decorated with tulips. Some have ribbon and flower handles. Shapes were numbered from 400 to 499. The number on your tray indicates it is the 14-by-20-inch tray. Some pieces are marked "Rodney Kent Silver Co.," although the pieces are made of aluminum, not silver. Some had paper labels or tags instead of a mark; others have no tag or mark at all. Prices today are much lower than they were in the 1950s. Your tray might sell for $25.

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Q: I have an unusual beaded evening bag that belonged to my grandmother. I guess it's from about 1910 or 1920. The beads are sewn in a flower design in colors resembling peacock feathers. I think the top is silver plate. Both sides have a design of a man in a boat; on one side he's being greeted, and on the other he's being bid farewell. The clasp is two opposing acorns. I would like to know if it has any value.

A: Beaded bags were in fashion during the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th. Companies in the United States, Czechoslovakia, France, Germany and Italy made beaded bags. The foundations of the bags were knit or made on a loom. Early bags were decorated with tiny blown glass beads sewn in floral or scenic designs. Some had as many as 1,000 beads per square inch. Only the well-to-do could afford them since they cost about $5, a considerable sum in the 19th century. Bags with simpler designs or those made with a single color date from the early 1900s. Art Deco designs became popular in the 1920s. Cut-steel beads in silver and gold were used by some makers in the 1900s. Intricate designs sell for more than plain colors. An ornate frame in gold or silver adds to the value. Prices have dropped during the past few years, however, and most beaded bags sell for less than $100. Older bags in excellent shape and with intricate and colorful patterns of tiny beads attract higher prices.

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Q: I inherited one of my grandmother's ceramic bowls. It's decorated with white and purple flowers and yellow and green vines. It has yellow vine-shaped handles. It is about 8 inches high and 15 inches wide, including the handles. On the bottom, it's marked "827" and "Frie Onnaing, Made in France."

A: Onnaing Pottery was founded in Onnaing, France, in 1821 by Charles de Bousies. During the second half of the 19th century, the Mouzin brothers bought the factory and ran it until the factory closed in 1938. It was nearly destroyed by the Germans during World War I, but production restarted in 1921. The factory made mostly majolica pitchers and planters. Onnaing designs included flowers, geometric patterns and famous historical figures, among others. Each design had a number and a corresponding model name. The number 827 on your bowl refers to a planter named "Mogador." The marks "Frie Onnaing" and "Made in France" indicate that it was made after World War I. Because it is large, it would sell in a retail shop for about $200.

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Tip: Ivory, opals and pearls need to "breathe." Do not store them wrapped in plastic. Instead keep them in a cloth bag.

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Terry Kovel answers as many questions as possible through the column. By sending a letter with a question, you give full permission for use in the column or any other Kovel forum. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We cannot guarantee the return of any photograph, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. The volume of mail makes personal answers or appraisals impossible. Write to Kovels, (Name of this newspaper), King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.

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CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

Royal Copley figural wall pocket, bust of Asian girl, black hair, yellow hat, green shirt, marked, 7 3/4 inches, $45.

Sonja Henie figural pin, ice skater, shiny white metal, red, white and blue rhinestones, late 1930s, $55.

Blushing Willy Bartender toy, lithographed tin, battery-operated, pours drink, raises to mouth, rolls eyes, lights up, Yone, Japan, 1960s, 10 1/2 inches, $75.

Baby Pikie fishing lure, blended red head and white body, glass eyes, double line tie, Creek Chub Bait Co., 1920s, $100.

Post Toasties Corn Flakes grocer's apron, white cotton, red & yellow image of cereal box, top with clear pocket to advertise specials, 1930s, 22 x 35 inches, $115.

Robert Kennedy 1968 presidential campaign dress, fabric, black & white photo of Kennedy on front and back, sleeveless, 18 x 33 inches, $115.

Regency-style boudoir chair, bamboo-pattern upholstery, turquoise and white, 1950s, 30 inches, $195.

Art Deco beaded belt, five rows of black and red glass beads, clasp with plastic chiclets & tassels, 1920s, 35 x 1 1/2 inches, $425.

Cast-iron fat lamp, two spouts, dish base and handle, Marble Furnace foundry, Adams County, Ohio, c. 1820, 5 3/4 inches, $705.

Lenci doll, felt, blue glass flirty eyes, black mohair wig with bun, hand-embroidered brown and orange dress, wicker basket with felt gourds, 1930s, 22 inches, $995.

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New! Contemporary, modern and mid-century ceramics made since 1950 are among the hottest collectibles today. Our special report, "Kovels' Buyers' Guide to Modern Ceramics: Mid-Century to Contemporary" identifies important pottery by American and European makers. Includes more than 65 factories and 70 studio artists, each with a mark and dates. Works by major makers, including Claude Conover, Guido Gambone, Lucie Rie, as well as potteries like Gustavsberg, Metlox and Sascha Brastoff, are shown in color photos. Find the "sleepers" at house sales and flea markets. Special Report, 2010, 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches, 64 pp. Available only from Kovels. Order by phone at 800-303-1996; online at Kovels.com; or send $19.95 plus $4.95 postage and handling to Kovels, P.O. Box 22900, Beachwood, OH 44122.

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© 2012 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.

Kovels - Antiques & Collecting: Week of Aug. 6, 2012

BEACHWOOD, Ohio - Often when restoring a historic church or school, a large bronze bell is needed for the bell tower. The bells are difficult to find because many have been sold as scrap and melted, and others are too heavy to be moved for a reasonable price. But a vintage bell often is less expensive than a new one.

A bronze bell that sold a few years ago had the name "Vanduzen and Tift" molded into the metal. It identifies a Cincinnati maker, a partnership founded in 1837. The partners made top-quality bells during the 19th century. The bell that sold also was molded with a date, which was worn but appeared to be 1864. A four-digit number on a cast-bronze bell indicates the year of the casting. The mold for a cast bell can be used only once. The mold is broken to get the bell out after it cools.

If a small bell is marked with a date, it probably is a design patent, because the mold can be reused. Vintage bells of all sizes often need to be cleaned or restored. A cast-bronze bell should not be painted. Once it's cleaned, it should be left to develop its natural patina.

Q: I have a Windsor chair that my parents bought in the early 1930s. It is 44 inches high and has a fan back with nine straight spindles and two brace spindles. The chair is black with gilt striping. On the bottom there is a metal medallion that reads "The Simonds Furniture Co., Syracuse." Can you tell me more about my chair?

A: Elgin A. Simonds was a business partner of Gustav Stickley in the late 1890s in Syracuse. In 1898 Stickley bought out Simonds, who then bought the Hayden & Couch Chair Manufacturing Co. of Rochester, N.Y., and formed the Brown & Simonds Co. That company was renamed the Elgin A. Simonds Co. in 1901 and became part of a consortium of furniture manufacturers. The Simonds company made faithful reproductions of traditional furniture. Windsor chairs made by Simonds sell for $100 to $350.

Q: The white sailboats on my cobalt-blue tumblers are discolored. Is there any way I can clean them without losing the sailboats? I also have some tumblers with white windmills that have the same problem.

A: Your tumblers are part of the Sportsman Series, made by the Hazel Atlas Glass Co. in the 1940s. Designs featured sailboats, golf, hunting, angelfish and windmills. The pattern was made in amethyst, cobalt blue and clear glass, with fired-on decorations. The sailboats and windmills are being removed by the very hot water and detergents used in a dishwasher. Wash the tumblers by hand.

Q: I have an old Cuff 'n' Collar Maker with original patterns and attachments. It was made by Wheeler & Wilson of Bridgeport, Conn., and lists patent dates in 1850, 1851, 1852 and 1865. It is not a regular sewing machine. No one I talk to knows what it is.

A: Wheeler, Wilson & Co. was founded by Allen B. Wilson and Nathaniel Wheeler in Watertown, Mass., in about 1851. Wilson was a cabinetmaker who patented his first sewing machine in 1850. The company became Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Co. in 1853 and moved to Bridgeport in 1856. At one point, it was the largest manufacturer of sewing machines in the world. The detachable collar was invented in 1827, and detachable cuffs in about 1845. Wheeler & Wilson designed a sewing machine to make collars and cuffs as well as shirts, and claimed that an operator could make "80 to 100 dozen collars" in a day by using its machines instead of sewing the collars by hand. The company also made several other special sewing machines, including machines for buttonholes, corsets and boots. Wheeler & Wilson was taken over by Singer Corp. in 1905, but sewing machines under the Wheeler & Wilson name continued to be made until 1913.

Q: I have an autographed photo of Satchel Paige in a baseball uniform. What is its value?

A: Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige (1906-1982) was a professional pitcher who played for many different teams during his long career. A black player, he had to pitch in the Negro leagues before the major leagues were integrated. In 1948 Paige debuted in the majors with the Cleveland Indians at the age of 42, making him both the oldest player ever to debut in MLB and the seventh to integrate it. Paige pitched for the Indians, St. Louis Browns and Kansas City Athletics before ending his career in 1966. In 1971 Paige became the first player to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame as a Negro leagues player. An autographed photo of Paige in his Browns uniform recently sold for $253 at auction.

Q: I have an old hand-cranked candy-making machine. It has several attachments to make lozenges and other hard candies. The label on it reads "Thos. Mills & Bro. Inc., Confectioners & Bakers Tolls, Philadelphia." What is it worth?

A: Thos. Mills & Bro. was founded in Philadelphia in about 1864 by Thomas and George Mills. The company made equipment for confectioners, bakers and ice-cream makers. It was best-known for its clear toy candy molds and other confectionary equipment. A Thos. Mills & Bro. candy press identical to yours with extra attachments recently sold for $529 at auction.

Tip: Do not put an alabaster figure or vase outside. Alabaster is softer than marble and will eventually fall apart if exposed to rain.

Need prices for collectibles? Find them at Kovels.com, our website for collectors. More than 84,000 prices and 5,000 color pictures have just been added. Now you can find more than 856,000 prices that can help you determine the value of your collectibles. Access to the prices is free at Kovels.com/priceguide.

Terry Kovel answers as many questions as possible through the column. By sending a letter with a question, you give full permission for use in the column or any other Kovel forum. Names, addresses or email addresses will not be published. We cannot guarantee the return of any photograph, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. The volume of mail makes personal answers or appraisals impossible. Write to Kovels, Auction Central News, King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.

CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

• Michigan Steamboat cards, blue-and-white box, picture of steamboat, all are seven of spades except one three of hearts, 1920s, $45.
• 1952 political souvenir mug, "Republican-Democratic Campaign, Palmer House, Chicago," donkey handle, plastic, 3 x 5 1/4 inches, $75.
• Buffalo Billy elf bank, painted cardboard body, wooden arms, legs and head, head bobs on spring, Buffalo Savings Bank, 1958 copyright, 5 x 7 1/2 inches, $75.
• Silver-plated lily-pad napkin ring, engraved "June 7th 1884," Meriden Britannia Co., 3 inches, $85.
• World War I bonds poster, "2nd Liberty Loan of 1917," patriotic image of two children holding flag, 20 x 29 3/4 inches, $100.
• Cast-iron teakettle, domed and pointed lid with brass finial, gooseneck spout with split mouth, riveted ball handle, stationary bail handle, early 1800s, 7 1/2 x 9 inches, $225.
• Captain Action doll, blue outfit and hat, decal on chest, original gun and sword, box, Ideal, 1966, 12 inches, $225.
• Chenille bedspread, flower basket in center, bright pinks with red, green, yellow and purple on white, cotton, 1950s, 95 x 106 inches, $365.
• Chevrolet sign, easel back, vinyl front, yellow 1949 Chevrolet Styleline De Luxe Convertible, Glassy Finish Process Co., New York, 14 1/2 x 22 1/2 inches, $450.
• Ice-cream-parlor stools, red leather seats, floor-mounted cast-iron black bases, 1930s, 19 1/2 inches, set of five, $500.

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© 2012 by Cowles Syndicate Inc.