(Communal) House Cleaning

The community craft room was just given a drastic weed-out of orphaned items. No exertion from me; I only answered the call to take anything of interest before the rest was carted away.

And so, got a nice haul of vintage mother-of-pearl—

I took a few other sewing notions of use; otherwise, just brought away pictures of the more notable stuff.

Unfortunately damaged beyond taking: a German-made needle packet from the era of this kind of travel—

Have never heard of these, and I would guess this pack was kept for sewing—

Product was US-made, too. The packaging might be as recent as the 1980s—

Surely a useful item for the lady voter—

That's William Hanes Ayres, who held office 1951-71.

Ayres was elected as a Republican to the Eighty-second and to the nine succeeding Congresses. Ayres was well regarded by House members of both parties. He usually did not list his party affiliation on his campaign literature instead listing himself as "Your Congressman."

Did he simply choose to be a non-partisan public servant? If so, it's startling to realize that option once would have been possible.

"14 years" makes this 1965, and these matchbook kits still were made as advertising giveaways. (A post about kits and their history here.)

Other giveaways included quite a few mystery gadgets. Kind of a sad display representing an unknown number of years' worth of projects abandoned (or never quite started).

This was the most noteworthy of numerous odd gadgets—

Styles reflecting the 1938 origin, to be sure—

This is only half of the directions—

"READ... CAREFULLY!" indeed, when what's required involves so much getting thread through holes and woven around other thread.

Understandably, the would-be lacemaker didn't get far. But this is enough to give an idea of the pattern that was intended—

The set is for what I've learned is Tenerife lace, made by creating and joining wheel motifs. I'm not completely anti-lace, though I'd never be ambitious enough to try making it. But there's something about these particular designs that's oddly unsettling. Perhaps it's due to childhood memories of cartoons where this often was about to happen—

Though it seems like what's in my subconscious is some older, scarier (Max Fleischeresque?) version.

Depth psychology aside, here's a link to a better scan of Polka Spider instructions.

Thrift Shop Day

Pictures from the holiday half-price sale, at the Parent-Teacher Organization's shop. While the shop is there to raise funds for student activities, it is itself a highly educational experience.

For instance, before today's visit I would not have known either this object (filter paper for chemical tests), or the 19th century scientist endorsing the brand.

Finding Berzelius' actual endorsement would no doubt take real research, but here are prices from a 1903 lab supply catalog, published in St. Louis.

Program notes from a Philadelphia Orchestra concert.

This was in a locked case, and the place was way too busy to bother having it opened. Going by art style, the program is probably from the 1940s to early '50s.

According to this, the game originated in WWII (but copyright was 1940, per this.)

For this to have caught on, it would seem to have needed public confidence that the Depression was ending. Perhaps a few years of New Deal had inspired enough confidence by then. The early '40s picture does seem complicated by what was on the near horizon: wartime status for the economy, and rationing for the public. Maybe the game's concept was attractive as a matter of aspiration.

Jump to postwar; roughly, early 1960s?

This would work as a soundtrack for the speedway action.

Complete with genuine simulated stereo.

Another country heard from...

Spotted by J, who, a few years ago, found this classic of the genre.

J's other find today—and the pièce de ... something or other—a newspaper-collaged candle holder.

 

At first glance—and in keeping with the motif—this wacked-out face had looked like some medieval equivalent of a hippie. A wild-eyed alchemist? Some ancient Dr. Caligari?

On further consideration... Shylock?

And...

Multi-tasking Lenin, who orates while sheltering a young girl. I assume the cringing figures on the right must be serfs (who haven't yet heard the good news?) Although Marx must be meant to listen thoughtfully, it really has to be said that he looks pained and disbelieving.

The Complete Book of Progressive Knitting

Published 1940.

Not merely signed by the author.

Author portrait cut from a newspaper and glued to end paper

Bonus items inside the pages are newer than 1940. From a later owner?

Detail is done in fuzzy flocked stuff.

Sadly, the back of the card is missing. No clue, then, as to when this was manufactured. The cartoon style and poodle motif may most likely be from the '50s or early '60s.

And without inside matter, any further punchline is lost to the ages.

How To Have Fun And Learn

Cover, 1954 booklet by Armand N. Spitz

The author's name was not familiar to me, but I have learned that it's well-known in the planetarium world.

A non-scientist (who also didn't finish college), Mr. Spitz became an innovator in planetarium design during the 1940s. There's a bio here, and a long article here. And full-scale planetariums are still produced by Spitz, Inc.

From the '54 booklet, printed in Rosemont, Penna.—

FOREWARD
(To the adult or parent)

By the designers and producers of this Planetarium

There are many books written for children which can be and have been read and enjoyed by adults; seldom has the reverse been true. It was with this thought in mind that the author set about writing this book. The subject is not intended for any single person or group of persons. Its language is universal, but we feel that is it especially directed to our children, so that they can learn and appreciate all the wonders of the universe which so many of us have neglected and forgotten in the daily hustle and bustle of life.

...

Armand Spitz long dreamed of a small planetarium which could be placed in every home for the education and enjoyment of both adult and child, but with the problems of developing the large units he could not find the time, nor were his scientific contacts the type which could lead to national distribution through the major toy houses, chain and department stores. It was here that Harmonic Reed Corporation moved into the picture and began working out details of design and production. After many, many months of painstaking development and engineering a unit was designed which would lend itself to low-priced production. The result of this research is the "Spitz Junior Planetarium" which we hope will provide you, your friends and family many hours of real enjoyment.

HARMONIC REED CORPORATION
Manufacturers of Harmotone Musical Toys

As Spitz lived and worked in the Philadelphia area, his ideas must have come to the attention of this particular company. There is something touching in the enthusiasm and educational aims for this product—after all, this was before the 1957 Sputnik launch, and American concern over competing in a space race.

The booklet is a basic introduction to the stars and how to view and identify them. It encouraged kids to practice using the Spitz Junior so they could invite their friends over to see the show.

First step was to remember:

The user needed to read a few pages about the nature of stars. Next, orient himself to the planetarium ["When you sit in front of your planetarium...you are facing North, your back is to the South, the East is on your right...]

Then set the planetarium's axis for the user's latitude:


The booklet goes over stars seen north and south, during each season of the year.

Near the end:

One of the interesting things about your planetarium is that it can be used as a space machine, carrying you in an instant to other parts of the world, where you can see the stars in a different way.

Followed by directions for adjusting the planetarium's axis to change latitudes and travel the globe.

Further suggestions:

DON'T TRY TO SHOW TOO MUCH AT ONE TIME

VISIT PLANETARIUMS WHENEVER YOU CAN

Final suggestion:

...so go outdoors whenever you can, and see how easy it is to find the stars in the real sky after having learned them with the help of your own planetarium. Each night you'll learn some more things, until you'll feel at home whenever you look at the sky, from any part of the world. That's when you'll really understand how wonderful it is to recognize these stars which are so universal and ever-lasting.

Followed by a word from the sponsor:

Ah, the golden age of American small manufacturing.

Was it also the heyday of enthusiasm over pure science?

Why do I have the feeling that today, some similar (if higher-tech) toy would be marketed as: "your child needs this, to get into an elite school and make big money..."