TRIVETOLOGY

The "Quick Meal" Sad Iron Stand

2012-02-04T20:40:00.003-05:00

Cast Iron, 7 x 5" with 3 feet.

On face: RINGEN STOVE COMPANY

DIVISION AMERICAN STOVE CO.

ST. LOUIS

QUICK MEAL

On reverse: 1561

This rare sad iron stand sold on eBay for $155.50 on 2/4/12 after 16 Bids. What's so unusual about it? Well, for starters, it was an advertising giveaway from the Ringen Stove Company of St. Louis, maker of the "Quick Meal" line of wood burning and gas Stoves. According to the information below the stand probably dates to the turn of the century. As quoted from Wikipedia:

"In the 1850s, an immigrant to the United States John Ringen began a tinshop in St. Louis, Missouri. His business prospered and in 1870, he took in a partner, George August Kahle, who had immigrated to America in 1867. The business sold housewares, washing machines and cooking stoves they called "Quick Meals". In 1881, George Kahle persuaded his brothers-in-law, Charles and Louis Stockstrom to set up a shop to make stoves. These four principals then organized two corporations, the Ringen Stove Company and the Quick Meal Stove Company."

"Quick Meal manufactured the stoves with Ringen Stove handling the entire output of Quick Meal's production. The phenomenal growth of these two companies during the 1880s and 1890s led to the merger of eight other stove companies in St. Louis, Chicago and Cleveland in 1901 to form the American Stove Company."

Now, to learn about actually using a Quick Meal stove,

I'm sure you'll enjoy reading

Industrialist Cuisine: Slow Cooking on a Quick Meal

from the blog Jet City Gastrophysics.

Ice in Florida!

2012-01-05T05:44:00.014-05:00

Typically cold weather in Florida is accompanied by clear skies. The only icy weather we encounter is man made! I took this photo yesterday on the way in to work ... a sprinkler had been left on overnight, resulting in a blanket of ice.

When it gets down to 32 degrees or lower, it's time to protect any tropical plants in a landscape. Over the years as our yard has lost plants to freezes we've replanted with cold hardy varieties. But I do have one Meyers Lemon tree that I wrap in a blanket on chilly nights.

Happy Holidays ~ 2011

2011-12-21T22:14:00.018-05:00

Live every Day like it's a Holiday ...

being Thankful,

spending Time with Friends and Family,

and looking Hopefully to the Future.

Seasons Greetings

Wonderful A & W Mfg Co Sad Iron Heater found at Renningers!

2011-11-19T06:09:00.050-05:00

When cooler weather arrives in Florida, Renningers in Mt. Dora is always my first, favorite Fall outing. I attended Day #1 of their November Extravaganza yesterday and within an hour spotted and purchased this amazing sad iron heater!

I've had a small, one burner Taylor & Boggs Sad Iron Heater for years but always hoped to add a larger laundry stove to my collection. Until now I've only seen them offered in online or out-of-state Auctions, where shipping would add a hefty surcharge. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw this stove! It's a beauty, in near mint condition, complete with wicks and mica windows.

Metallic Composition: Cast Iron with Brass knobs
Dimensions: 14.25" long x 10.25" wide x 16" high
Weight: 37 pounds
Capacity: heats up to 3 Sad Irons at once

The bottom of the stove is the liquid fuel tank, accessed via a small screw cap. The center of the casting has a hinged door that opens to reveal the burners. Only one of the mica windows is torn. On the very top is the detachable metal slide access for holding three sadirons. As you can see, this stove is as beautiful as it is functional, declaring this to be Model No.3, dated 1883, a product of the A & W MFG CO CHICAGO. On the side of the stove is a plaque that identifies the original patent date as 1869. Also, on the top of the base tank is a list of various production dates from 1869 through 1883.

The Seller didn't accept credit or a bank check, so I had to leave a deposit, walk about a 3/4 of a mile to the Office/ATM and back ... pay, then load it into my cart. The hardest part was pushing that heavy stove (plus 21 more pounds = the three 7 pound sadirons that came with it!) back up the sandy hill to the pasture, which serves as the gigantic parking lot for Renningers. And I made it without having my cart break down on the way to the car. Now that's a successful day!

PS: After performing a Google Advanced Patent Search I was able to locate the original Patent Number 96249, Issue date: Oct 26, 1869, issued to Robert B. Mitchell of Chicago, Illinois.

I'm Home from the 2011 PITCA Convention!

2011-08-16T19:53:00.016-04:00

August 1st - 5th, 2011 I attended the annual Pressing Iron & Trivet Collectors of America (PITCA) Convention in Evansville Indiana. It was a whirlwind week of Auctions, Meetings and fun! I had to return to work the next week and, believe it or not, I still haven't formally unpacked yet. I took everything out of my suitcases right away (to make sure there was no breakage) but everything is still sitting in my living room. I'm hoping to get things put away this weekend ... I always like to prolong this process so I can savor the memories of each collectible purchased.

The Buster Brown "Trivet"

2011-04-26T04:54:00.023-04:00

I bought this little 4 3/8 x 3 3/4" cast iron trivet about 15 years ago. The detailed design features Buster Brown and his little dog Tige. The back is flat with backcoping and a small" 4". It appears in my second book, page 77.

In browsing eBay this week I stumbled upon several Buster Brown Banks which varied in price according to condition. Right away you'll discover what I did ... that my "trivet" may have once attached to this bank! I took my casting off the wall and, sure enough, there was faint evidence that the bolt attachment had been removed and filed away. However, my trivet is solid along the rim whereas the bank has openings along the horseshoe edge.

The bank measures 4 1/8 high x 5 wide" and was manufactured by the Arcade Toy Company of Freeport, Illinois from 1908 to 1932. In the two images below, courtesy of Next Generation Collectibles, note where the horseshoe attached to the horse. Click the images to enlarge.

Was my "trivet" a piece from a different version of this bank, or could it have been a reproduction created from the original casting? I'll need to do further research to discover the answer!

Ray Harpel and his collectible Irons & Trivets

2011-04-10T12:10:00.028-04:00

When I saw this poorly photographed Swan iron on eBay last week I didn't pay it much attention. The head and neck were strangely cast ... and was the tail broken off? However, on checking back I was shocked at the ending price of $362.57! Obviously there is much more to this swan than I realized, and I began searching through my references.

Jim & Robin Geisert's book Tuesday's Reflections discusses this iron: "The story of Ray Harpel and his homemade swans and geese were thoroughly documented in Tuesday's Children. They were made during the early 1940s and given to friends and family members. They vary considerably in shape and finish. This goose shows particular charm with it's unusual yellow coat with brown feather highlights and dark blue base." The next photo of the Harpel Goose is from the Geisert's book. (Click on each photo below to enlarge.)

There is more to learn about this Goose in Judy Politzer's book Tuesday's Children, p.22: "The Harpels had already been in the foundry business for over a century when 12-year old Ray went to work for the foundry in Sinking Spring, Pennsylvania. A sand molder for fifty years, he made his work his hobby as well. This swan [a] and goose [b], based on the classical Swan (have the) individual touches that give them the charm of genuine American primitives."

And another Harpel treasure to be on the lookout for is this little painted trivet, featured on p.72 of the Geisert's book.

References:

Geisert, Jim and Robin (2008). Tuesday's Reflections. Lexington, KY: Self-published. Copies available through The Trivet Collectors Network.

Politzer, Judy (1977). Tuesday's Children. Walnut Creek, CA: Self-published. Reprinted and available through PITCA.

Nashua Lock Company Hinges & Panel Trivet

2011-03-06T18:10:00.029-05:00

Several of my Panel Trivets bear advertising for major American hardware manufacturers of the mid to late 1800s. For a while now I've been on the lookout for a nice hardware example that could be displayed with my trivets, and this is one of a pair of antique butt/door hinges that I found on eBay! Once cleaned & polished, they will be the perfect "go-withs" to hang alongside my Panel Trivets.

Notice the beautiful designing and attention to detail, typical of metalwork from an era when even something as ordinary as a door hinge was crafted with care. This particular hinge was produced by the Nashua Lock Company of Nashua, New Hampshire, in business from 1834 until 1889. Nashua Lock was particularly renown for their door pulls, fancy keyhole escutcheons and glass shank knobs. As you can imagine, hardware collectors treasure these as much as we prize our trivets from the same companies! Below is my Nashua Lock Panel Trivet. Note the intact acorn at the apex of the trivet. Be sure to check a panel trivet for this acorn, as it was easily broken off and is often missing.

My Best (Trivet) Valentine!

2011-02-13T09:18:00.047-05:00

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

It indeed will be a very Happy Valentines Day, because after many years off searching I'll finally be adding this Rimby 12 Hearts trivet to my collection! Some Rimby designs are signed WR; others WBR or RIMBY. But this 12 Hearts design, on the handle reverse, bears the most complete signature of all:

W. B. RIMBY BALTIMORE

Computer Enhanced Trivet Images

2011-02-06T06:31:00.055-05:00

The five most frequently used (and abused) terms encountered when browsing Internet listings for potentially old trivets are Vintage, Antique and Early, Scarce and Rare. Just because a Seller describes a trivet with one of these terms doesn't make it necessarily so! Unless the trivet's description and images leave no doubt of it's age, it's up to the Buyer to determine whether a trivet is genuinely old before bidding. And not being able to physically examine the trivet presents its own unique challenges.

Many of us have experienced winning an Internet auction for an "antique" trivet, only to receive it and realize it's damaged, or worse yet- a reproduction. How can you increase your chances of success in buying trivets? The answer is by recognizing the characteristics of an early casting. The 1990 book Trivets & Stands has an excellent section on early Trivet Designs on pages 85-95. And on my website All About Trivets you'll find Antique ID which provides additional information on differentiating newer from older castings.

Once you've found an interesting trivet, the next step is to inspect it for any damage. Some Sellers may not recognize a hairline crack or missing design feature. It's necessary to enlarge the photo as much as possible to detect any imperfections, and your computer can assist!

The first order of business is to enlarge the internet auction photo to its largest possible size. On eBay just click ENLARGE by the photo; at other internet auction sites there is usually some method provided to enlarge their photos. For example, this eBay auction featured a Lantz style trivet that was described as antique and in good condition, free of cracks. And although it does exhibit a pronounced wedge mark (making it an early trivet, probably 1850s), it's important to check for cracks. The circles are the most fragile area of this particular design.

Now, enlarge the photo even further! By holding down your computer's Control (ctrl) key while moving the center mouse wheel forward you can enlarge the image, providing an even closer view. Moving the wheel backwards will return the image to its original size. Be sure to examine all areas of the trivet carefully. If you see something suspicious in one photo, look at that same area in another view. Just as I suspected; this trivet has several cracked circles.

Sometimes the problem is simply that the Auction photo is too dark, hiding imperfections or valuable information like a design element, a signature or a cast mark. If you have access to Photoshop or a similar application, take a screenshot of the Auction photo and then use Image Adjustment to improve the exposure.

By adjusting the brightness and contrast previously hidden details may become evident. These before and after photos of an eBay auction were adjusted with Photoshop. By increasing the brightness the surface details and left edge gate mark become much better visualized, and there don't appear to be any cracks in the casting.

What Goes Around Comes Around

2011-01-08T12:35:00.026-05:00

I was surfing through the Trivet listings on eBay yesterday morning before going to work when ... guess what I found? This wonderful horseshoe trivet in its original box, pictured above. Ordinarily that alone would have been a neat enough find; but when I gave the box a closer look I realized ... this is the exact same item I parted with on eBay a few years ago! I was able to identify it from the excellent condition of the trivet and by the areas of staining on the cardboard box. I then performed one of my quickest "Buy It Now"s ever.

While writing my second book The Expanded A-Z Guide To Collecting Trivets I needed to sell some of my trivets to help finance the purchase of others. Because this boxed horseshoe plaque trivet had already been pictured in my first A-Z Trivet book it was among those items sold. But I had always been sorry I gave it up, because I'd never ever seen another horseshoe plaque trivet in the original box (until now).

The online dictionary Wiktionary defines the proverb "What goes around comes around" in two ways: (1) A person's actions, whether good or bad, will often have consequences for that person; and (2) The status eventually returns to its original value after completing some sort of cycle. Thank goodness I was given a second chance to return this really wonderful boxed trivet to my collection! Look at my photo from The A-Z Guide To Collecting Trivets pictured below and you'll agree that the two boxes are one in the same.

The Pleasure & Privilege of Upgrading

2010-12-23T10:17:00.023-05:00

When viewing a museum collection, notice what wonderful condition the majority of pieces are in. This happens by design, because as the opportunity presents itself display items will be upgraded until near perfection is achieved.

The same is true for private collectors. Even though a trivet collection may be considered "complete", the quality of the collection can always be improved. For example, I just had the opportunity to upgrade my nickel-plated Jenny Lind Jeremiah Dwyer Trivet (65% of plating remaining) for one in which over 95% of the original nickel finish remains. Both trivets have their own charm; but the new Dwyer trivet, pictured on the right in both photos, is in near mint condition. There are a few small areas of light rust which I will try and remove with a dremel; then it will take its place with my other Jenny Lind trivets.

It's both a pleasure and a privilege to upgrade! For after all, it's only as temporary caretakers that we enjoy these beautiful trivet castings until they pass on into the hands of future collectors.

Florida Renningers Extravaganza ~ Nov 2010

2010-11-25T08:51:00.054-05:00

The November Renningers Extravaganza in Mt. Dora, Florida was exceptional, as always! Over 800 Dealers set up booths along the 117 acres of rolling pastureland Friday - Sunday, November 19 - 21, 2010. I think their pre-Holiday Extravaganza is always the best of the three they do each year; the other two shows are coming in January and February. (Click on the photos to enlarge.)

My goal this year was to find an antique washboard, and I wasn't disappointed! My favorite dealer is Curt Howard Antiques, found under a big tree near the bottom of the Gate 5 main trail at Booth space 1220. This seller is at every Extravaganza- always at this same location- and undeniably has the best trivets, irons and laundry collectibles of anyone there.

What's special about Curt is that everything he offers is of top quality, in working condition and display ready. All metalwork is polished and waxed and wooden antiques are carefully refinished to their original glory. Because of all this work his prices are a bit higher- but still very reasonable for the quality of the antiques. That's Curt below, seated at his "office" table, writing up yet another sale.

And last but not least, here is the main display table of the irons, fluters, trivets, and laundry stoves offered by Curt Howard Antiques. Like what you're seeing? Don't miss the next Extravaganzas coming to Mt. Dora, Florida on Jan. 14-16 and Feb. 18-20, 2011!

IRON TALK: Journal of Antique Pressing Irons

2010-11-17T07:43:00.023-05:00

Iron Talk was published bi-monthly 1996-2002 by Jimmy & Carol Walker, who were well known iron collectors from Texas. There were 40 journals issued between 1995 and 2002. Every other month a different topic was discussed. Each issue is in an 8 1/2" x 11" booklet format with 14-16 pages printed on heavy stock.

Past issues of Iron Talk Journal are hard to come by! Issued by subscription, today the majority of bound sets reside in the libraries of collectors. If you are an iron collector or a trivet collector who would like to learn more about irons, this is a valuable reference.

Below are the subjects discussed in the 40 issues of Iron Talk.

1995
9/10: Charcoal Irons
11/12: Tailgates (Irons) & Pressed Glass

1996
1/2: Tuesday's Children
3/4: Reversible Combination Irons
5/6: Poster Stamps & American Fluting Irons
7/8: Travel Irons
9/10: Little Fluters
11/12: Secrets of Cleaning Irons

1997
1/2: Tanks for the Memories
3/4: Not Quite Sprinklers
5/6: Mrs. Florence Potts
7/8: 19th Century Hatter Irons
9/10: Scottish Irons
11/12: Basic Iron Collecting

1998
1/2: Advanced Iron Collecting
3/4: Record Keeping For Iron Collectors
5/6: Early Coleman Irons
7/8: Clothes Sprinklers
9/10: Little Swan Irons
11/12: Flatiron Building Collectibles

1999
1/2: Light My Fire
3/4: The Ephrata Swan
5/6: The Dover Family
7/8: Provenance
9/10: Brimfield
11/12: Little French Irons

2000
1/2: Displaying Your Collection
3/4: Patent Models
5/6: Korean Stone Iron
7/8: Black Memorabilia for Iron Collectors
9/10: Letterhead Art
11/12: Coleman Irons

2001
1/2: Too Hot To Handle
3/4: Primitive Irons
5/6: Irons of the Old West
7/8: Shepard Fluters
9/10: Polishers
11/12: Streamlined Irons

2002
1/2: Shapers
3/4: It's a Small, Small World

What Will Become of Our Trivets?

2010-10-04T08:06:00.025-04:00

Whether our collection is large or small, we should each give serious thought to what will become of our trivets once we no longer have a need for them. We're not getting any younger, and eventually the time comes when a collection must be dispersed and sold. As a collector myself I can only imagine the conflicting emotions ... there would be angst at the thought of having to give up a beloved collection, but also hope that a respectable portion of the money invested would be returned.

This is something to discuss now with family members and to put in writing as well. If your collection is small, you may want to designate who will get which trivets. If you have a larger collection and no family member wants to assume it, then you will need to consider how it would be sold and by whom. Many people rely on an Auction Company for this service. The following two examples describe why it's so important to carefully select your auctioneer.

In the past few years I've bid in two Lifetime Collection auctions that were sad to watch. It was obvious from the way the trivets were presented that that these auction companies didn't recognize their potential value. In the first auction the trivets were sold in Lots of up to ten trivets. There were no individual photos and no information was provided as to type of metal, dimensions or condition of each trivet. Rare trivets were partnered with more common designs, and as a result the price realized for each Lot was far below what each trivet should have brought individually.

In the second auction, although the trivets were listed and photographed individually, only dimensions were provided. Many of the trivets dated to the early 1800s and several bore a moulder's signature or had other unusual casting features; crucial details that were not provided.

So ... if you've ever considered selling through an Auction company, start doing your research now. Be sure to select a company that has experience in handling, presenting and selling trivets. Review a company's Past Sale Archives to review both how the trivets were listed and the prices realized. There are many good companies out there, but I recommend Simmons & Company Auctioneers out of Richmond, Missouri. They do a consistently fine job with the pre-convention PITCA Auctions each year. They provide accurate descriptions along with a professionally done Catalog/CD and their auctions are carried live on Proxibid, attracting bidders worldwide. Another recommendation is Antiques Of A Mechanical Nature, a website run by Larry & Carole Meeker of California. They have a special section of their site devoted to the sale of irons, trivets and other laundry day collectibles. They take collections on consignment as well as purchasing outright for later resale.

But, for now, enjoy your collection! You may want to begin preparing for the future by keeping notes of the trivets in your collection that you consider the most valuable and why. Don't forget to mention other "go-withs" that may also have value, such as irons, reference books and ephemera such as postcards or advertising trade cards.

Advice for Internet Trivet Collecting

2010-09-03T00:40:00.047-04:00

Question:

I have what I think is a troubling question. I'm a relatively new collector. I've been watching some trivets on an Internet Auction and now I'm worried about bidding on them.

I saw one particular trivet that I really like. I sent the Seller a question, asking about whether there was a break in the design and he said it wasn't broken. I looked it up in Hankenson's book and part of the design is clearly missing!

What should I do now? I'm trying to build up my collection, this Seller has a lot of trivets for sale, and the prices are reasonable. Help!!

Answer:

You were wise to turn to a reference books to validate how the trivet design should look. Until you gain more experience, a good reference will provide an image of the trivet in display condition, as well as its metal composition and dimensions. (There's a listing of recommended trivet references at the bottom right of this page.)

You're learning early that some Sellers don't know a lot about trivets, which is why a collector sometimes gets a fantastic deal on a rare casting! Other Sellers might overlook things visible to an experienced eye, like a crack or a missing detail. And occasionally you'll be baffled by a listing for a trivet with a defect that should be obvious to anyone ... like a trivet minus a leg or handle.

I never bid on an item until I email the Seller and ask my questions. If I'm uncomfortable with the answers I'm getting, I don't let myself bid. And if a number of the trivets being presented appear damaged, I shy away from purchasing from that Seller altogether.

Two last pieces of advice ... if you are bidding on a Live Auction, be sure you have read the terms of sale. Most Auctioneers add an Internet Buyer's Premium, calculated at a percentage of the ending price. And don't forget to find out what your shipping charges will be.

Don't let this one bad experience make you afraid to bid on Internet Auctions in the future. There are many wonderful trivets for sale online! But ... let the Buyer Beware.

Program of the 2010 PITCA Convention

2010-08-13T06:45:00.030-04:00

HIGHLIGHTS

All activities took place at the Casino Aztar Convention Center in Evansville, Indiana. Commercial jet service into Evansville made travel easy for those who needed to fly.

Many attendees drove to the Convention just so they could load their cars and vans with trivets and irons for sale!

The "Hospitality Room" provided a place to gather and enjoy refreshments throughout the Convention. Delicious home baked cookies were provided by fellow Members.

There were 77 Members in attendance from the United States and Canada, France and Romania.

EVENTS

2 Day Auction, August 4th & 5th, 2010
Simmons & Company Auctioneers presented 1,050 Lots of irons, trivets and other related items from the collections of Buck Carson and David Irons.

Friday, 8/6/10 * Convention Day 1
9:00 AM: Convention Begins
9:30-10:00 AM: Coffee Break- Hospitality Room
10:00-11:00 AM: Show & Tell
11:00 AM-12 Noon: Demonstration by Richard Gillis on Ironing with a Charcoal Iron
12 Noon: Lunch Buffet
1:30-2:15 PM: Presentation by Jay Raymond on research being done for his next book on European Mangles
2:15-3:00 PM: Presentation by Lynn Rosack on her new trivet book "The Expanded A-Z Guide To Collecting Trivets"
3:00-4:30 PM: Cookie Break-Hospitality Room
5:30 PM: Bus leaves for the Evansville Otters Baseball Game. ("A League Of Their Own" was filmed on this field!)
8:30-11:00 PM: Hospitality Room Open

Saturday 8/7/10 * Convention Day 2
9:00-10:30 AM: Buy/Sell/Trade
10:30-11:15 AM: Coffee Break- Hospitality Room
11:15-11:45 AM: Presentation by Jeannie Marcus on Antique Clothespins
11:45 AM -1:30 PM: Lunch on your own
1:30-2:30 PM: View Member Displays
2:30-3:00 PM: Cookie Break-Hospitality Room
3:00-4:00 PM: Presentation by Lonnie Sinclair on The Coleman Iron Series
4:00-5:00 PM: Annual Business Meeting
5:30 PM: Cash Bar Open
6:30-9:30 PM: Banquet Dinner
9:30-11:00 PM: Hospitality Room Open

PITCA * Convention Day #2

2010-08-07T23:11:00.018-04:00

Saturday 8/7/10

Today was the second day of our 2 Day Annual Convention! Buy/Sell/Trade, one of the favorite activities at the Convention, took place first thing this morning. There were over a dozen sales tables set up this year, offering everything imaginable that might be laundry related: books, ephemera, jewelry, ceramic statues, washboards, and of course irons and trivets!

After a coffee break, a wonderful presentation on Clothespins was given by Jeannie Marcus. She has an impressive collection, including early examples intricately carved of wood or whalebone (scrimshaw), later examples of Bakelite, and contemporary collectible clothespins. Her slideshow illustrated the infinite variety available to collect.

After lunch, various members set up Display Tables showcasing trivets, full sized and mini irons, steam irons, clothespins, washing agitators, Holiday cards (with an ironing theme), and reference materials. An hour was allotted, giving everyone time to walk around the room and enjoy all the exhibits. One of the exhibits is pictured above.

Next came a presentation on Coleman Fuel Irons by L. G. Sinclair. Each different model was presented and discussed. Afterwards we had the opportunity to examine the irons closely and to marvel at all the different designs and colors. Check out the brief video below showing those fantastic Coleman irons!

The annual business meeting followed, at which time next year's location was announced and a new President selected. In the evening we enjoyed a seated banquet dinner; the party favors were irons molded of white and dark chocolate! The evening's entertainment was "Let's Make A Deal" (remember the old TV show?) which was enjoyed by all. And all too soon this year's Convention came to a close.

PS: One final trip to the Aztar Casino and the last of my original $102 winnings was lost. So although I had fun "gambling" a bit each evening, the real "winnings" I'll take home with me are the great irons and trivets I purchased during the week and the pleasant memories of another wonderful PITCA Convention!

PITCA * Convention Day #1

2010-08-06T17:23:00.023-04:00

Friday 8/6/10

Today marked the official beginning of the Convention! This year 77 members are in attendance from the United States, Canada, France and Romania. After opening remarks by our President Richard Gillis and the opportunity to grab a snack, we gathered for the traditional "Show & Tell" session. Some members brought objects that were either interesting or unidentified; others related experiences in trivet and iron collecting. The objects were placed on several long display tables and we had the chance to examine them. One particularly interesting items was a cathedral trivet with it's original pattern.

Then we went outdoors, under a tent by the beautiful Ohio River, to watch Richard Gillis light a charcoal iron (above). Once the iron was stoked and smoking, he demonstrated ironing for us, even utilizing an antique wooden ironing board. This was a dragon headed charcoal iron, so when it was piping hot the smoke escaped out the dragon's mouth!

Lunch was a buffet, followed by two presentations from 1:30 PM to 3 PM. The first sideshow was by fellow PITCA member Jay Raymond, who has been in Europe researching Mangle Boards in preparation for his next book. He discussed their history and then guided the audience through the nuances of differentiating boards from according to country. Featured were mangle boards from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Germany, and Iceland. Most of these boards predated 1750 and were intricately carved. If you are unfamiliar with the Mangle Board, there are some great photos in this Christie's Auction Catalog from 2003.

The second presentation was mine; a look behind the creation of my second book, The Expanded A-Z Guide To Collecting Trivets. I showed examples of some of the trivets that will be featured in Book 2, then shared some slides describing my favorite places to find trivets! I also briefly discussed how I researched and organized the data and assembled the manuscript. The talk concluded with a few slides on photography, because without my husband Ed's great photos there would have been no book!

At 5:30 PM a short bus ride took members to Bosse Field to watch the Evansville Otters play baseball. You might recognize the field ... A League Of Their Own (with Tom Hanks, Madonna and Geena Davis) was filmed there.

Below you'll find a short clip from the "Show" table after Show & Tell, giving you an idea of the excitement this event generates each year! One of the "Tell" items was an excerpt read from The Flatiron, a recently released book that tells the story of the Fuller building and turn-of-the-century New York City. This book is a must for any iron & trivet collector.

PITCA * Day #2 of the Carson/Irons Auction

2010-08-05T22:10:00.018-04:00

Thursday 8/5/10

The Auction resumed at 9 AM with Lot #700, and finished by 1 PM. There were some really nice items auctioned today, including a number of little irons and painted Swans (I won a red Swan!).

Let me describe the teams of dedicated employees it takes to smoothly run a successful auction! Simmons & Company has several professional auctioneers who take turns calling each piece. Other employees move subsequent tables forward and organize the sale items in order of auction number. There are two people who alternated in showing the current item for bid, and a scribe logging in the final results. In the back of the room there is activity as well. Individual purchase cards and itemized statements are being prepared and a professional shipper is on hand, organizing purchases for those who need that service. And, of course the Proxibid employees are on the right side of the room handling the Internet bids. Watching how everyone worked together was fascinating!

The rest of the afternoon was spent at the Casino or in just being lazy. Members who had bumped into each other while wandering through the Hotel could be found sitting on couches and just having fun talking. Other members opened their hotel rooms, offering irons and trivets for sale.

Tonight we carpooled as a group for dinner at the Texas Roadhouse. It was a nice change of pace from eating at the casino complex. On our return to the hotel the PITCA Hospitality Room was open ... a place to take a break, have some cookies and a beverage and mingle with other members. Then, off to rest in preparation for tomorrow's Convention!

PITCA * Day #1 of the Carson/Irons Auction

2010-08-05T14:08:00.014-04:00

Wednesday 8/4/10

Today was the first day of the 2 Day Buck Carson & David Irons Auction, managed by Simmons Auctioneers. I chose a front row seat, better for watching and learning. The Auction is being broadcast Live on Proxibid, so to my right is a long table with four employees manning the computers. As Internet bids are received they are called out.

I believe the highest price for an iron today was a bit over $7000, with quite a few irons bringing between $1000 and $4000 dollars. However, at the other end of the spectrum there were items that ended below $100, reinforcing the importance of not being afraid to Bid.

There were 700 items to auction, which took from 9 AM to almost 6 PM. Afterwards many in the PITCA Group carpooled to The Black Buggy Restaurant, a buffet restaurant with an Amish theme. The food was good but being among friends was even better!

I ended my evening with a trip to the Casino, where I lost $20 in 20 minutes. I decided to stop (before I lost more) and call it a night! Here's a short video I made just prior to the Auction. Don't you wish you had attended?

PITCA * Arrival in Evansville 8/3/10

2010-08-05T09:16:00.031-04:00

Tuesday 8/3/10

We flew Delta to Memphis on an Airbus 320, then changed planes for a Delta Connect jet flight to Evansville. Both flights were on time and uneventful ... except in Memphis it was 103 degrees (probably 120 degrees on the tarmac) when we had to walk outside to board the commuter flight. It was SO HOT!

We got into Evansville and checked into the Hotel Aztar by 4 PM. The room is not fancy, but it's large, clean and even better- it has a great air conditioner! The hotel is on one side of the street; a catwalk connects it to the Casino on the other side. After dinner, Ed and I walked over and checked out the Casino Aztar, which is built to look (from the outside) like a three floor riverboat. Inside, there are no windows or clocks and the casino was full of chain-smoking and drinking older gamblers. (Apparently, Monday through Thursday hosts an older clientele, while the casino is more popular with younger people on the weekends.) I made my way to a 5 cent slot machine where I put in $10 and thirty minutes later walked away with $102! Can I hold on to my winnings through the week?

PITCA * Convention 8/2/10

2010-08-05T09:04:00.009-04:00

Monday 8/2/10

Finally! It's the week of the annual PITCA Convention, and this year it's being held in Evansville, Indiana. Tonight I'm packing my suitcase (clothes) and my carry-on (trivets for my display). I've already had a box of books shipped to the Hotel Aztar; if I run out, Collector Books is only 80 miles away and could overnight another box. Ed & I fly to Evansville tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.

I read that Evansville will be under a heat advisory for the next several days. Sounds like Florida! I'll try and post a little something every night to update everyone on what's happening.

Don't miss the 2010 PITCA Convention!

2010-07-19T06:33:00.011-04:00

26th Annual PITCA Convention
August 6 & 7, 2010
Casino Aztar Hotel, Evansville, Indiana
Preceded by a 2 Day Auction: August 4 & 5, 2010
Irons, Trivets, Reference Books and Go Withs: 1000+ Lots!
from the collections of Buck Carson & Dave Irons
Auctioneer: Simmons & Company

It's almost time for the annual Pressing Iron and Trivet Collectors of America Convention! If you are a collector, you need to seriously consider attending. The Auction this year will be great; I've been pouring over the Auction catalog. And there is nothing like getting together with dozens of other people at a Convention ... especially people who are passionate about their collections of trivets and irons!

There is still time to register and attend the Convention. For more information, visit the PITCA website. You can also order an Auction Catalog from Simmons & Company Auctioneers.

Determining Suggested Price in Trivets

2010-06-25T05:47:00.013-04:00

The 1990 reference book Trivets and Stands provided a Rarity scale for each trivet. A small booklet was included, with suggested prices. It's the practice of Collector Books for their authors to publish a current suggested price with each item described. After selecting the trivets that would appear in my second book I then needed to determine a suggested price for each one.

Luckily, through the years I've been keeping track of trivet prices. I jot down ending prices I see for trivets that appear in Trivets & Stands, and review Prices Realized results for published auctions. From talking to other collectors and attending auctions I've gained a pretty good feel for pricing. And, an added benefit of being a Worthpoint Worthologist is that I have full access to their Worthopedia database.

In my second book I've listed each trivet with a Scarcity & Value Rating. The Scarcity scale describes how easily the trivet can be found, and the Value scale provides a suggested $ range. I believe most of you will agree with the pricing on the more common trivets, but that you might be surprised at some of the values I've determined for the Early American trivets.

Yes, trivets do bring those kind of prices from collectors of Early American metalwork! It's easy to forget that there's a world outside eBay, but I think we'll all acknowledge that we go to eBay first, both for the bargains and the sheer volume of trivets to select from. However, the better Early American Trivets are still being sold privately between collectors or presented in Live Auctions. Considering the prices realized for other antiques of comparable scarcity and age, investment quality trivets are still a real bargain.

Spoonbills are Nesting @ St. Augustine!

2010-06-17T06:10:00.025-04:00

My husband Ed & I have an annual March 6 - July 12 Photo Pass to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm (FL) that allows early admission at 8AM. The extensive alligator pond in the rear of the park is surrounded by huge oaks and smaller underbrush that shelter nesting birds. There is a wooden walkway around the perimeter and over the alligator pond that allows close access to the trees and birds. Photographers come from all over the world to capture images of the birds nesting.

This Spring we can't help but reflect on the Gulf Oil Spill and what's happening to the marsh rookeries of Gulf shore seabirds including the Brown Pelican, already endangered before this happened.

On a happier note, here's a VIDEO that Ed made last weekend in St. Augustine of a Spoonbill feeding her newly hatched chicks. You'll hear the constant background noise of hundreds of birds and their chicks in the surrounding trees. Afterwards we went to Cracker Barrel for Sunday lunch, and the level of sound was eerily similar ... only this time the background noise was from adults and children!

When a Trivet has "Issues"

2010-05-23T09:40:00.050-04:00

Jenny Lind Trivets were cast to commemorate her P/T. Barnum American Concert Tour of 1850 to 1852. One of my favorite of the many Jenny Lind commemorative trivet designs is the square portrait version, as shown here. I recently purchased this trivet which, although having a few issues, is still beautiful. The detail of the trivet is nice and sharp. On the reverse, in raised letters, is the legend: MADE BY JEREMIAH DWYER WHEN SERVING AS MOULDER'S APPRENTICE IN 1852. There is wear, as expected, to the tips of the chin and nose, as this was most probably used as a pressing iron stand.

First of all, notice what initially looks like a crack at the upper handle. What's interesting is that if I closely examine my other 2 Jeremiah Dwyer Jenny trivets, they also have a slight design continuity variance in the same area, plus that squared appearance on the upper handle reverse. Because a stress crack wouldn't be raised up as this is, and a full surface crack would be difficult to repair without leaving evidence of the solder, I'm thinking that this might instead represent an early mold issue with this particular design.

The second issue regards the metal and finish. A magnet sticks, identifying the base metal as cast iron. However, the handle (especially the sides and reverse) definitely shows nickel plating, and over that a coppery finish. I spent some time this morning applying a paint remover, which didn't lift the finish at all. That would suggest a copper plating, applied at some later time, but why? To conceal a repaired crack at the handle? Or to conceal some rust that might have appeared in areas where the original nickel plating chipped?

Crack repair or mold defect? With the question still unanswered, for now I'll display it with my other Jenny Lind trivets. It's a beautiful and interesting casting. In August I'll take it with me to the PITCA Convention in Evansville, Indiana. I'll be interested to see what other collectors think after examining it.

A Most Beautiful Mangle Board

2010-05-18T04:59:00.021-04:00

A friend of mine, Carole Meeker, co-owns and operates Antiques Of A Mechanical Nature with her husband Larry. They always have fascinating things for sale, but of special interest to me are their offerings of Antique Sad Irons, including a Laundry/Trivets section.

They also sell on eBay under the ID theantiquemerchant. On May 16th their Auction of a rare 1817 Mangle stirred a lot of interest there, ending after 32 Bids at $811.76! Shown above, this is a wonderful Scandinavian styled example, beautifully carved and dated 1817, with the original paint (click on the photos to enlarge). Notice the age-related worm holes on the reverse.

Exactly what is a Mangle Board? It was a rudimentary tool used for ironing. However, the most decorative of mangles served another purpose, as a love token from a young man to his potential bride. I think you'll find this information on Mangle Boards interesting.

* Carole & Larry currently have several other Mangles for sale in their section on European & Scandinavian Mangle/Smoothing Boards.

2010-05-09T15:11:00.010-04:00

MOTHER'S DAY 2010
On Children
Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Mother's Day 2010

2010-05-09T06:29:00.023-04:00

It's Mother's Day, and I received two thoughtful gifts from my children! The Calla Lily is beautiful, and I'm going to re-pot it and see if I can nurture it successfully as a house plant. They also had some note cards printed that spell out TRIVETS in images. How nice! I'm going to frame the first card, and then enjoy using the others.

What Does Proofing Involve?

2010-04-18T10:10:00.016-04:00

Exactly what does proofing involve? Well, the editor sends a complete printout, in single pages, of the final version of the book. The purpose is for the author to review it one last time, page by page, in an effort to catch any errors before publication. I'm making sure the captions match the pictures and that the text is correct and in the right sections. While doing this I'm also checking for any small errors like word choice, punctuation or grammar. Also, I'm over by 4 pages- so I have to decide which 4 pages will be cut.

I'm Proofing The Book This Weekend!

2010-04-18T05:34:00.023-04:00

The proofs arrived from Collector Books this week! Just as with my first trivet book, it took a few days for me to fully appreciate the layout and overall appearance. Being a type "A" Libra who could be satisfied with a book that looks like a term paper with pictures, thank goodness for the Art Department at Collector Books. They took my manuscript, plus Ed's wonderful digital pictures, and created a really cool book!

Just as collectors fondly refer to Trivets & Stands as "The Blue Book", I think one day my book might be referred to as "The Yellow Book." The cover is a butter yellow, which continues to the inside pages, which are tinted a light yellow. I've never seen a book with yellow pages, but using yellow actually showcases the darker color of the trivets nicely.

I visited the Collector Books website and they are now estimating a June 15, 2010 delivery date. So as soon as I finish checking the text on each of the 240 pages and return the corrected proofs, the book will soon be on its way to the printer (Collector Books contracts for off-site printing). It won't be long until June and I can hardly wait to see a finished copy! (Click on the picture above to enlarge it.)

Progress Report on Book 2

2010-04-06T05:40:00.012-04:00

The new projected deadline is July 27, 2010. I received the following email from by book Editor last week:

We have just finished the layout phase of your Trivet book and now it is headed into the proofing phase. We ran over 4 pages. It now ends on page 244 but we will need to lose 4 pages. We have to have full sigs which are 16 pages so the page count has to end on page 240. I left all of the ads in there so you could decide which of the ads in the back to drop. Hopefully we will have it to you in a couple of weeks for you to proof. Thanks for being so patient with us since we are running behind on our spring projects.

The end of my book contains trivet ads from old catalogs, so if anything has to be cut I guess that is the best place. My book was laid out in a signature of 16, meaning that there are 8 pages front and 8 pages back per sheet of paper. When folded it becomes a section of the book. Here's a short YouTube Video of a 16-signature book press to set the mood! I'm getting really excited to see the proofs of the book!

Eat Dessert First

2010-03-15T21:04:00.031-04:00

On March 2nd a special relative in our family passed away. Known simply to all as Father Ed, he was a retired Byzantine Catholic Priest and the namesake of my husband, his nephew.

During the past 35 years of our marriage Ed & I always received a yearly Christmas card from Father Ed, and we kept him updated as well with photos of our children as each was born and grew. However, we lived in Florida and he was in Pennsylvania and we were all busy with our own lives; his focus for the majority of his time on this Earth was naturally his church family.

Retirement in 2004 afforded Father Ed the time to further pursue his many interests. He was often on the computer into the early morning hours, building his Website, writing a reflection on Christianity for publication, or doing research (Native American Indians fascinated him). And he continued to celebrate blessed Mass on his glassed patio every Sunday for a small group of friends.

He enjoyed food and never turned down the opportunity to eat dessert. Thankfully Father Ed was not diabetic, because goodness knows he loved pie! One of his favorite restaurants in Pennsylvania was the Eat 'n Park, well known for their menu that features 13 different types of pie: Apple, Dutch Apple, Blackberry, Cherry, Peachberry, Orchard Fresh, Lemon Meringue, Oreo Creme, Chocolate, Banana, Coconut Creme, and their famous Strawberry.

So, now that Father Ed has gone on to his heavenly reward, I will consider him an angel on my shoulder as I go about the business of living. I'll remember the example he set: that life is an adventure to be not only revered, but also experienced and enjoyed. And I will take a second look at a dessert menu every so often, ignoring the calories, and perhaps even eating dessert first!

Monsignor Edward V. Rosack's Obituary

A Return to Renningers for the February Extravaganza

2010-03-07T11:44:00.011-05:00

Renninger's in Mt. Dora, Florida holds three Extravaganzas a year: January, February and November. I wasn't able to make the January show, but I did return in February 2010. And what a great show it was! Although the number of dealers seemed down from November, I thought the quality and variety of the merchandise in the booths was better.

My goal this time was to add to my antique wireware collection. And I wasn't disappointed! I found the booth of a Slovak-American dealer who had brought some wonderful antique folk art, including wireware, from his last trip to the Czech Republic. I purchased the two trivets pictured here; he had several more, but they were similar in design to others in my collection so I passed on them. He also had some gorgeous antique wire plate holders, complete with plates- but since he took cash only, I had to stay within my budget.

I really enjoy attending these shows. It's a great feeling to be surrounded by others who love and appreciate antiques and collectibles. Add in the enticing smells wafting from the trailers of the food vendors and a bit of spending money in your pocket ... it's enough to make you feel like a kid at a carnival!

A Successful Trip to Renningers 11/20/09

2009-11-22T08:21:00.031-05:00

I ended up with an unexpected day off from work Friday, so I drove over to the Florida Renningers Extravaganza being held in Mt. Dora. This is a three-day event, held annually in November, January and February. I arrived just as they opened for the first of the three days. The Seller attendance seemed good, with dealers set up over much of the 117 acres.

I hoped to score at least one nice trivet, iron, piece of wireware, or other interesting laundry go-with. Within the first 90 minutes I had found four of the five treasures pictured above (click the photo to enlarge). I continued exploring for a total of 4 1/2 hours (until my legs gave out), discovering the combination iron on my way back to my car.

The Wireware was a wonderful find, offered by an established Dealer who attends every Extravaganza. She had recently purchased it out of a Pennsylvania estate collection. There were about a dozen pieces in all; I should have bought more of these pieces. By the time I revisited her booth in the afternoon, most of them had been sold.

By midday the shopping carts being pulled by fellow antiquers were getting fuller and heavier. Renningers Mt Dora is on beautiful undeveloped land, very old Florida with mossy scrub oaks and sandy soil. But that sandiness makes it difficult to pull a heavy cart over the trails. Plus the area is quite hilly for Florida, so anyone unused to uneven terrain soon finds their legs aching!

So today I am going to clean and "season" the swan iron. The other four pieces are in display ready condition and have already joined my collection. Yes, Friday was truly a successful day at Renningers!

The Finds:

* Large Swan Iron: sole-plate 6 3/8 x 3 1/2"; height 4"; weight 4 pounds. I'm not sure if this is an iron or a paperweight ... a recent vs an old casting ... but regardless, I think it's so neat! I found it within a display of antique duck decoys.

* Combination Iron (pressing iron/fluter), 7" long, nicely nickeled, signed FEB 28, 1874 (150L, p.57 of Irons by Irons). This iron is in perfect shape, complete with the wire latch!

* Wireware Cracker Piercer, used to pierce the tops of home-made soda crackers before baking. There were three sizes offered in wire, and several other wire piercers with wooden handles. I could only afford one, so I picked the one I liked best!

* An interesting Wireware Kitchen Scoop, unlike any I have seen before.

* And a most WONDERFUL Wireware Trivet, intricately styled, and probably now the nicest antique wireware trivet in my collection.

The Book is Done ...

2009-11-20T20:55:00.020-05:00

I can't believe that my last Bog post here was on Mothers Day! I spent the majority of the Summer, right up to my September deadline, working on a second Trivet Book.

I am so excited about this upcoming book! My husband Ed has outdone himself in (again) taking all the trivet photographs. And the book developed just as I had envisioned. There is much new information which I hope you'll find both interesting and informative. Here's the cover ... and it will be hardbound!I don't have a final page count yet, but it will be substantial. The current projected release date by Collector Books is June 22, 2010.

Now I am looking forward to having the time to refocus on my collection. I need to go through all my trivet photos and determine which trivets didn't make it into the second book, and start a Book 3 file! I will continue to downsize, slowly tightening up my collection to those pieces I like the best. I also plan to paint my display walls a color that will better display the trivets hung there. I'm thinking about a butter yellow?

Moving in a new direction, I am in the process of closing my eBay group "Cast Iron & Brass Trivet Collectors" that I founded in 2003. In it's place a new and improved eBay group, Trivet & Pressing Iron Collectors United, has been created. With a new Leader and a fresh start, it will provide a forum on eBay for both Trivet and Iron collectors. If you are an eBayer, by all means Join Us!

And, last month I opened a private Ning platform group called The Trivet Collectors Network. If you are a serious trivet collector, you are invited to request membership. I envision it as a place where serious trivet collectors can network, make new friends, share knowledge, and Buy/Sell/Trade!

Mothers Day 2009

2009-05-10T20:19:00.001-04:00

Happy Mothers Day!

The moment a child is born, the mother is also born.
She never existed before.
The woman existed, but the mother, never.
A mother is something absolutely new.
- Rajneesh

A Freudian slip is when you say one thing
but mean your Mother.
- Unknown

Take a peek at the thoughtful gift my two (adult) children Mike & Mary sent me ... special M&M's! The photos are of them in childhood and then again (now) in their 20s. The package contained three bags of M&Ms, so there's one bag to eat now and two to save.

I also received a wonderful hand-made pottery trivet from Mike (his wife Sara throws pottery as a hobby, so I think he might have had some help.) I'll get a photo taken and add it as well.

Collecting During a Recession, Part II

2009-02-20T05:47:00.006-05:00

I first blogged about an approaching recession on September 30, 2008 ... see Collecting During A Recession, Part I. Well, the Recession is here- there's no disputing it any longer. And it is definitely affecting the choices we're making about discretionary spending. However, life goes on, and collecting continues; so that means Buying AND Selling.

Buying during a Recession can be a very wise move. The bargains are out there, and now is the time to make some astute additions to your collection. Just take a look at this Janis Iro-Case that I recently won on eBay. It's a scarce and fabulous piece from the late 1940s; a suitcase with a travel iron built in as the detachable handle. How convenient for the chic traveler! I'd only seen this case twice before; once in the display of an advanced iron collector, and another time in an antiques store. The Janis Iro-Case is listed in Dave Iron's book Irons By Irons as R5 V11, which is the rarest category with a valuation of $500 to $750. And I paid $62 for it on eBay! I now have it listed on eBay as a Buy It Now for $225, which is still undervalued. I have quite a few watchers, but no one has yet decided to take the plunge and purchase. It is, after all, a Recession.

Life goes on and Selling continues during a Recession. I've been selling trivets from my collection to create new display room, as well as to reimburse the expenses from buying trivets and other research materials for my next book. I'll keep listing and selling trivets, even though prices realized right now aren't what they've been in the past. Why is this important? Nothing generates excitement and renews interest in a collector more than acquiring a really nice piece for their collection! And this can be a transitional experience for the novice collector, one in which their eyes are opened to the differences ... in casting, history and lasting value ... between old and newer iron.

Besides, over time it all averages out ... some trivets will sell low while others are obtained at bargain prices. Of course, old habits die hard and "bidding wars" are still being seen on the Auction sites. So there's still an undercurrent of possibility and excitement while selling, made even more sweet due to the Recession!

*** Updates *** I listed my Janis Suitcase Iron on eBay and it sold on 3/15/09 for $98.55 ~ more than what I paid for it, but MUCH lower than I would have hoped it to bring. More recently, another Janis Iro-Case sold @ the Carson-Irons Sad Iron Auction (Lot 647) on 8/04/10 for $180.

Images for my Next Book's Cover

2009-01-10T09:43:00.001-05:00

My second trivet book is tentatively titled The Expanded A-Z Guide To Collecting Trivets. My husband Ed is again taking all the photos and WOW, it's been quite a job! I think there are only about 25 trivets left to photograph, along with a few irons and other misc items.

In October I was asked to send Collector Books 10-11 trivets so they could begin to design the cover. The plans are for the book to be hardbound this time, and here's a photo of the trivets I selected to send. I think they're a good representation of the different trivet & stand designs, including cast iron, brass and nickel plated examples. Since my second book will include a wider variety of trivets including many that are rare and/or unusual, I think featuring these trivets on the cover will reinforce that.

The trivets I chose are among my favorites. There is something very special about each one, but condition wise the Cinderella trivet is the nicest- I purchased it mint in its original box, so the nickel finish is perfect. And the Lord Roberts trivet is so unusual! Here is some great information I found about Lord Roberts. If you scroll about 2/3 of the way down the article a different Lord Roberts brass trivet is presented as well as a Gentleman in Kharki trivet (Kharki=khaki).

Thoughts on Finishing a Manuscript

2008-12-21T05:53:00.001-05:00

I started saving information for a second trivet book shortly after my first book The A-Z Guide To Collecting Trivets was published back in 2004. By 2007 I had started organizing the information and when I realized I had enough to create an update, Collector Books extended a contract.

Since then, I've been purchasing trivets and gathering information and, along the way, making new trivet and iron contacts. All this information has been evolving to a point that, although my manuscript due date was February 1st 2009, I knew I wouldn't be ready by then. So the new target date is August 1st, with a Spring 2010 release.

At this point, I have a strict outline and am sticking to it. Any further information will just have to go into a new file I've marked "Book 3"!

I'm limited to between 800 and 1000 photos. That's far less than the number of trivets I have cataloged, so I'm having to be selective in which trivets will appear in the book. I'm also debating on the best way to present the information that accompanies each trivet photograph. I want it to be user friendly, complete but concise. I've also been re-reading all my trivet references, noting just what it is I like about each of my favorites.

Over the next 7 months the final draft of the book will be assembled. I am getting excited to see how it will turn out! I can visualize it in my mind, but am looking forward to actually seeing it in print.

A Great Documentary: NOTE BY NOTE

2008-10-06T06:35:00.001-04:00

My husband Ed and I went to the Orlando Enzian (Indie) Theatre Sunday afternoon for a screening of the film Note By Note: The Making of Steinway L1037.

What a wonderful film! Like many others I took piano lessons as a child, and I made sure our children were also exposed to music. But, although I can play by ear, I haven't really practiced in years. The piano still sits in our living room, recently tuned but rarely used. After seeing Note By Note I'm inspired to begin practicing again!

This is a feature length documentary about the creation of a Steinway Concert Grand Piano from forest to concert hall. Every detail of the construction is shown, along with interviews with the craftspeople as they work. It's a testament to the values of hard work, technique and quality in a world where mass production rules.

Director Ben Niles attended the Orlando screening and stayed after to answer questions and sell/sign DVDs. That's me, above, getting my DVD jacket signed!

So be sure to check out the movie Note By Note: The Making of Steinway L1037. This is one film you don't want to miss! This movie is as marvelously crafted as the Steinway it features.

Collecting During a Recession, Part I

2008-09-30T22:13:00.002-04:00

Hope Trivet, circa late 1800s - early 1900s

With the country in what now appears to be an approaching Recession, how will this bode for Collecting?

During hard times the prevailing thought is to hunker down, be frugal, continue to save and hope that the economy improves soon. However, frugality begets the inevitable desire to indulge, whether it be a meal out, a trip or an addition to a collection. And, when the meal has been enjoyed or the trip completed, there's nothing material left as there would have been if those dollars had been spent, instead, on an antique or collectible!

This recession may influence some people to offer some of their collectibles for sale. It also may become a Buyer's Market, with bargains to be realized. So keep an eye on your local flea markets, antique fairs and the Internet. Don't be surprised to see some lovely items appearing at surprisingly affordable prices!

From Auction Wally's (aka Walt Kolenda) column on Examiner.com, here is some great insight:

Auction Wally's Top 10 Reasons for Investing in Collectibles

Unlike gold, which has a set market price, collectibles are much more diverse.
Collectibles are easier to obtain for the average person.
Collectibles can be easy to liquidate.
Collectibles are a tangible asset which means they can never drop to zero value, so. you are never at risk of losing your entire investment.
Collectibles have thousands of different markets they can be traded in vs. the few stock exchanges.
On average, educational information is not as technically cryptic for the collectibles market as it is with other investments.
Investments in collectibles can present fun opportunities to include family and friends.
Many collectibles such as fine furniture and paintings can be enjoyed and used while they accumulate market value.
When you invest in collectibles, you are likely to make connections with people who have an interest in helping you to further your success in the business.
You can invest in collectibles at almost any dollar level.

Of course, no one should ever spend more than they can afford, but then again ... remember the Stock Market adage: Buy Low, Sell High!

*** Update *** This article continues as Collecting During A Recession, Part II.

Hopewell Trivet: A Contemporary Casting

2008-09-16T20:41:00.002-04:00

This handsome trivet design, known as the Hopewell, is frequently represented to be an Antique. However, it's important to know that it's a contemporary casting.

I was able to get in touch with the Superintendent of the Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site (in Elverson, PA) back in 2003 when I was completing my first book. He confirmed that they sold this Hopewell trivet design in their gift shops, beginning in the 1980s. He stated that it was fashioned after a piece of metalware (not a trivet) found on the Hopewell Furnace grounds during excavation.

The trivet was cast, from the mid 1980s to 1995, by the Unicast Company of Boyertown, PA. Since then casting has been performed by the Delvest Company of West Chester, PA.

On the trivet reverse I have seen this design with Hopewell inscribed; Hopewell on a raised plate, and unsigned. None appear to have significant wear, finning, rough cast marks or anything to suggest that they are older castings.

The signed versions measure 8 x 5¾ "; the unsigned versions are smaller, 7½ x 5½". My best guess is that the smaller, unsigned trivet is a reproduction of the original, since it is one size smaller.

So, in conclusion: original or copy, the Hopewell design is a fairly recent casting, and definitely not an Antique!

The Joy of Marriage

2008-08-07T00:40:00.002-04:00

Our son just married a wonderful young woman and my husband, daughter and I had the pleasure of being there to witness the event.

We flew to Wisconsin where we hosted the wedding-eve dinner at Karl Ratzsch's Restaurant, a German cuisine favorite in downtown Milwaukee since 1904. It's highly recommended, not only for the food but for the ambiance.

Our daughter Mary Kate presented Mike & Sara with the custom-crafted Wedding BobbleHead you see here. It's remarkable how much it looks like the couple! Check out this Website for information on how these bobbleheads are created.

Fortunately the wedding day weather was accommodating for the outdoor formal photographs. Then into the hotel for the Ceremony, where we watched through misty eyes as Mike & Sara faced each other and joyfully recited their vows. The Reception followed ... a receiving line, then appetizers, drinks, dinner, dancing and a chance for the two families to become acquainted ... making for a perfect day we will never forget!

Thank You, President Bush for my New Trivet!

2008-07-18T05:54:00.001-04:00

According to Congress the purpose of the Economic Stimulus Rebate is to help Americans jumpstart the Economy.

I just spent my share of our Economic Stimulus Rebate Check on a new trivet!

I've wanted this design for several years, ever since I visited my fellow Triveteer Doris in Connecticut in 2004. She had one of these Fly Trivets on her Trivet Wall of Rarities and I was fascinated.

Actually, I've only seen it offered for sale twice before, and again both times on eBay ... once in 2001 and again in 2005. So I was thrilled when I ended up the top eBay bidder out of twelve last evening.

The design is a marvel of casting. It measures 9 x 3.75 x 1.25 inches. Although the version I purchased is made of cast iron, on p.179 of the book Trivets & Stands it's cataloged in brass.

It also appears on p.141 of Esther Berney's book A Collectors Guide To Trivets & Stands. She wrote ~ To incorporate animals, birds or insects in trivet designs took greater craftsmanship than producing a similar geometric motif. That is why fewer such trivets were made.

The British Registered Design System

2008-06-26T08:56:00.004-04:00

Have you ever seen Rd and numbers on the back of a trivet, or perhaps a Diamond with letters and numbers?

"Rd" is an abbreviation for Registered Design and was a system, still used today by the British, to register new designs in many different mediums. Drexel Grapevine Antiques has a wonderful website with a section devoted to British Rd (Registered design) Marks.

I particularly enjoy collecting these trivets because the Rd number validates Great Britain as the region of origin and the numbering gives the approximate date of manufacture. My favorite Rd trivet is pictured at the left. This one has a Rd Diamond rather than an Rd Number. As you saw by visiting the Drexel Website, the Rd Diamond system is older than 1883, preceding the numbering system.

Do you have a copy of my book, The A-Z Guide To Collecting Trivets? If so, there's information on the Rd System on pp.33-36. If not, I wish I had some copies left to sell, but unfortunately I'm out. However, you can always buy a copy on eBay !

Make Your Plans: MSICC Convention 2008!

2008-06-22T12:04:00.003-04:00

Any Sad Iron or Trivet Collectors reading this should seriously consider attending the August 2008 Midwest Sad Iron Collectors Club Convention in Kansas City! This is the year that there will be an important vote … whether to accept the proposed name change, from MSICC to "Pressing Iron & Trivet Collectors of America" (see my Blog entry of May 5th for more info).

If interested and Kansas City is too far for you to drive, check the Internet and see how much a round-trip airline ticket would be from your location. You might be pleasantly surprised!

Besides transportation, the other convention-related expenses would be:

$92/night + tax: MSICC Member rate @at the Kansas City Airport Hilton (Airport Shuttle available- no need to rent a car!)
$40 MSICC Convention Registration
$33 & $30= $63 Friday & Saturday night MSICC Banquet Meals
$ 30 MSICC Yearly Dues
$15 (optional) Friday AM: Bus Tour to the John Wornall House. They've planned a special presentation plus refreshments for MSICC members only- a "Confederate Soldier" will show how he cleaned not only his gun, but all types of metals plus there'll be a visit from a period costumed woman telling about doing daily chores and laundry.

The MSICC Convention proper usually starts after lunch on Friday.

I'm thinking the entire trip could be done on about $350 (2 nights hotel) + travel expenses + pocket money. Also ... for those who have arrived by Thursday evening, MSICC Members are carpooling to the local Casino for some action!

It's not too late to make plans and Join Us ... isn't this something you should consider? There's nothing like finding yourself in the company of others who share your special passion for Irons and/or Trivets!

FELLOW COLLECTORS:
I look forward to meeting YOU in Kansas City!!

Details:
MSICC Annual Convention
Friday-Saturday
August 8-9, 2008
Hilton Airport Hotel
8801 NW 112th Street
Kansas City, Missouri
Reservations: 1-816-891-8900
(Group Rate available until 7/20/08- mention MSICC)
Questions?
Email the MSICC Secretary-Treasurer, Jerry Marcus

10 Suggestions for Selling a Trivet Collection

2008-05-28T21:42:00.001-04:00

Have you been entrusted with selling a Trivet Collection?

Unsure exactly how to best go about it?
Here are 10 suggestions:

Take good photographs- perhaps the most important step!
Provide measurements- length x width x height
Point out any defects- cracks, chips or bends
Specify the type of metal & plating if present- remembering that a magnet sticks to cast iron
Describe number of feet & any identifying numbers, letters, marks or signatures- again, photos are helpful
Identify which trivets in the collection are the most desirable and/or valuable- ask a knowledgeable trivet collector to assist you in determining this
Sell the most valuable trivets separately- in this case you are targeting the Serious Collector who is interested in specific examples to add to their collection
Offer the more common trivets in small groupings - here you are targeting the Novice Collector who is building a collection
Provide a variety of payment options- such as PayPal, Check, Money Order or Cash
Bubble wrap each trivet individually and ship in a sturdy box with adequate padding- antique metal trivets can be fragile!

Of course, these suggestions apply to anyone selling a smaller collection (100 pieces or less) with relatively few rare pieces. If the collection is larger or has a large percentage of more collectible trivets, you might be better served by contacting a professional with experience in auctioning trivets and pressing irons. They will ensure that your collection is showcased and presented properly. In this case, it is best to keep the entire collection intact, rather than selling some of the rarer items pre-Auction. Here are three recommendations:

Antiques of a Mechanical Nature of California
Cordier Antiques and Fine Art of Pennsylvania
Simmons & Company Auctioneers, Inc. of Missouri

And finally, an excellent reference I'd recommend is:
Sell, Keep Or Toss?
How to Downsize a Home, Settle an Estate,
and Appraise Personal Property
by Harry Rinker

Are We In A Trivet Recession?

2008-05-21T07:38:00.001-04:00

You may have noticed recently that ending prices and bidding in general is down on eBay. Trivets that, in the past, would have stirred excitement and generated a number of Bids now languish unappreciated and unpurchased. The highest bids realized today are at Live Auctions, where the item can be examined and the passion of bidding can reach unbelievable heights.

I have purchased so many trivets to feature in my second book that I've been forced, at this time, to seriously downsize my collection. The majority of trivets I've sold on eBay over the last six months have gone at a loss, compared to my original purchase price only a few years ago. For example, my beautiful brass Victorian era Home Sweet Home trivet sold this week on eBay for the minimum bid of $9.95. I originally purchased this trivet from Great Britain in 2005 for $85 + shipping.

What's happening? Have we entered a Trivet Recession? Or could this signify something entirely different?

As my first book The A-Z Guide To Collecting Trivets was released in 2004, there seemed to be a resurgence in trivet interest on eBay and elsewhere. Another factor was that, around the same time, many collectors (by word of mouth) were reintroduced to the fabulous but out-of-print Kelly & Ellwood book, A Collectors Guide To Trivets & Stands. Both books illustrated the variety of trivets available to collect and people predictably flocked to eBay to find them. This brought Buyers and Sellers from around the world together ... and some really wonderful trivets emerged from basements and attics, to be presented on eBay to an appreciative audience! Many trivets exchanged hands, and collections were born.

Rather than being in a Trivet Recession, I like to believe that bidding and sales appear depressed because many collectors already have these examples in their collection. So, rather than being a negative indicator, perhaps this is an encouraging testament to the quality of the trivet collections that are being built!

And, you know, whenever a newbie wins a special trivet at a bargain price there is always a silver lining ... a Triveteer is born!

Mothers Day 2008

2008-05-11T07:58:00.001-04:00

Did you know that one of the first proponents of an annual Mother's Day was Julia Ward Howe? Campaigning for world peace and women's equality in 1870, she released the following proclamation. Although she was unsuccessful in promoting an annual day of rememberance, in 1914 Woodrow Wilson honored American mothers by establishing Mother's Day as a national holiday.

Mother's Day Proclamation of 1870

Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise all women who have hearts,
Whether your baptism be that of water or of tears
Say firmly:

"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands shall not come to us reeking of carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of
charity, mercy and patience.

"We women of one country
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says, "Disarm, Disarm!"
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice!
Blood does not wipe out dishonor
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have of ten forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war.

Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.

Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.

Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God.

In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions.
The great and general interests of peace.

Don't Miss the MSICC August 2008 Convention & Iron Auction in Kansas City, Missouri, USA!

2008-05-05T05:39:00.006-04:00

I would like to encourage all trivet collectors

to join the
Midwest Sad Iron Collectors Club !

This photograph was taken during the 2007 Convention. These jovial members performed a skit on the history of ironing. As you can see from the image, everyone was having a great time! Click the photo to enlarge.

Click Midwest Sad Iron Collectors Club for more information. Dues are only $30/year for US & Canada ($40/year International) which includes their informative quarterly newsletter. It's in a very professionally done 8.5 x 11" color booklet format and usually runs around 25 pages long. (Because the newsletters are so informative I keep mine stored in a notebook!)

There is a proposal on the table in 2008 to change the name of the Group to Pressing Iron and Trivet Collectors Of America. This would more accurately reflect the diverse membership. The official voting will take place at the 24th Annual Convention, to be held August 8-9, 2008 at the Hilton Hotel, Kansas City Airport, Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Mark your calendar now as you will not want to miss this event! This is a unique opportunity for trivet collectors to align themselves with one of the premier collecting groups in the world. PLEASE JOIN ME in membership and let's vote in favor of the name change!

Get your Simmons & Company Auction Catalog while they last! These auction catalogs become valuable references & the CD photos are always of 1st quality. And if you're unable to attend the Auction in person, consider studying the catalog and placing an Absentee Bid. There is certain to be something for every collector at this 2 day Auction!

* Cost is $39 (US & Canada) or $44 (All other Countries)

In the USA, you can mail your payment to:
SIMMONS & CO. AUCTIONEERS
40706 E. 144th Street
Richmond, MO 64085-8033

Simmons & Co. also accepts PayPal payments ...

Enter this PayPal Address: usepaypal@simmonsauction.com
Also, email them to remind them you ordered by PayPal:
rilla@simmonsauction.com

Enjoy the brief video below ... I filmed it at the 2007 Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana in August of 2007. The Auctioneer is auctioning a Fluting Iron that ended at $4800!

The Saga of Poor Packaging

2008-04-23T03:30:00.001-04:00

... from the movie
A Christmas Story:

Mr. Parker: Uh, 'frah-gee-lay.'
It must be Italian!
Mrs. Parker: Oh, I think that says 'fragile,' honey.
Mr. Parker: Oh, yeah.

I am often amazed at the packaging that people will use to ship trivets to me. I have received Victorian brass trivets from England in cereal boxes and antique cast iron trivets from the farthest corners of the USA in bubble bags. I cringe whenever I receive a trivet damaged due to poor packaging.

I find that most brass is packaged carefully, since it's generally recognized as a softer metal. But many people may not realize that cast iron, especially aged cast iron, can become quite brittle! One sharp blow in transit can easily crack a design or break off a handle.

The best way to package a trivet is to first wrap it in bubble wrap, padding the legs well so they don't poke out through the box. Then, if possible, select a container that allows 2 inches (or more) of space all around as a buffer zone. Finally, always choose a quicker shipping method like Priority Mail over Parcel Post. The less time bumping into other things, the better.

Antique trivets are becoming harder to find every day. It's always a shame to receive one damaged in transit when all that heartache could have been prevented. Unfortunately that's the saga of poor packaging.

The Future of Collecting

2008-04-18T06:38:00.003-04:00

Are you ever concerned about the future of collecting?

I don't see children collecting today with the same fervor we did in the 1950s and 1960s. Bugs ... rocks ... coins ... baseball cards ... most everyone seemed to either have a collection or know a friend who did. And many fellow Boomers have carried that joy of collecting on into their adult life.

Some say there is a collecting gene in our DNA. If so, then in my family's case it has skipped a generation! My two adult children are interested in many things, but collecting is not one of them. Which comes to the question ... why DO some people feel the compulsion to collect, while others don't?

If we understood that, then we could successfully nurture the seeds of collecting in children. Harry Rinker, in his wonderful book How To Think Like A Collector (Emmis Books, 2005), comments that "too many parents neglect their children's collecting gene." He offers some guidelines on how to influence children towards collecting:

Encourage the child to collect
Let the child decide what to collect
Keep adult assistance to a minimum- allow the child the joy of discovery
Share collecting techniques
Most importantly, teach the child to be patient

As Rinker so wisely summarizes, "Set a course that will show that collecting is a lifetime experience."

PS: The photo is of my daughter Mary, at age 8. Both she and her brother Mike were exposed to collecting; in fact, he collected dinosaur models and she had a shell collection at one point. Right now neither collects. But maybe they are just late-blooming collectors (like their Mom). I really didn't become fascinated with trivet collecting until my early 30s ... so there is still hope!

The Challenge of Finding Great Trivets

2008-04-06T05:07:00.003-04:00

I'm sure other collectors will agree that it's can be quite a challenge to find really great trivets!

This shop pictured was an exception. The seller had a nice variety of trivets, from 1950s reproductions to quite a few antique trivets and advertising stands. They were all reasonably priced and in display ready condition. Any novice collector would have been very lucky to find this varied a selection of trivets for sale. (Renningers Antique Mall, Mount Dora, FL.)

My preference is to browse through antique shops and malls because I enjoy seeing the wide variety of antiques available. But I have to admit the quality of merchandise has diminished over the past few years. Few "antique" stores deal in true antiques anymore. The majority of items in stock seem to be 1950s kitsch or just outright junk.

For the more advanced trivet collector, the challenge is to find new designs and to find them before another collector does! So, besides your local antiques shops, here are my suggestions for some of the best places to search for trivets:

American Idol for Trivets

2008-03-30T16:53:00.014-04:00

Ever since our two children grew up and left home, Ed & I have begun to prepare for retirement. As we take steps to get our lives in order, one of my goals has been to eventually downsize my trivet collection to around 250 of my favorites, and to let the others go. And so, each weekend I make the rounds of my house and take another 7 or eight trivets down from display and list them on eBay. As I began the familiar routine today I realized ... this is very similar to a season of the television show American Idol! Which ones will remain among the favorites this week? Which ones have to leave?

I suppose I tend to be most like Paula Abdul. I find it hard to find fault with any of my trivets ... they all have their own unique attributes and each one is desirable in some way. However, I need to aspire to be more like Simon Cowell (or my husband!) and be logical and impassionate as I pluck those trivets off the walls.

I have come to admit that maintaining a large trivet collection is a lot of work and responsibility! There's the dusting and polishing, not to mention the remembering of the facts about each one. And as time marches on I find I want to simplify life, which now means surrounding myself with friends and activities (and possessions) that are my favorites. However, I'll continue to be on the lookout for trivets I've never seen before, because I find the discovery and research to be the most exciting part of this hobby. There will always be room for "one more" in my collection! Thankfully I have an advantage (over other collectors) in that I'll have my two books to remember all those I've owned before and then sold ... so I don't buy them again!

Paul Beau Metalware

2008-03-23T11:49:00.001-04:00

This beautiful 7" diameter brass trivet just sold on eBay for $400. It was crafted by Paul Beau, a Canadian artist and metalcrafter (1871-1949).

Pau Beau was a member of the Arts & Crafts movement in Canada. He spent a lifetime crafting beautiful metalware by hand, long after others had turned to machine-manufacturing techniques. His items are varied and interesting ... note this simple but elegantly designed trivet.

I have no idea of how many different trivets he may have created ... each piece of metalware being individually crafted, and in the hands of private collectors now. Paul Beau creations are investments as well as collector items, with some selling in the thousands of dollars. The person who won this eBay Auction for $400 saw a true bargain!

You'll find more information on Paul Beau here:
Origin & History of the Arts & Crafts Movement in Canada

Trivets Made from British Sword Hilts

2008-03-08T11:00:00.003-05:00

In my trivet collection I have two unique brass trivets created from the half-basket guard of a sword. Both date mid-Victorian, during the rule of Queen Victoria. Since they have identifying numbers on their reverse, I'm hoping to use those numbers to eventually identify the specific date and location of manufacture.

Another thing to verify is whether they were made into trivets while still flat ... before being pressed into the curved shape that would grace a sword handle. I would think it would be hard to flatten a rounded half-basket without damaging the brass in the process.

One trivet example is shown above. Notice the scrolled VR & crown emblem identifying this piece to Queen Victoria's era ... mid to late 1800s.

Intrigued? Here is a link to even more information:
Gothic Hilted British Infantry Swords

Creating a Book is a Labor of Love

2008-03-04T11:00:00.004-05:00

Since my first trivet book was published in 2004 I've been buying even more reference books, gathering information and collecting trivets that I hoped to include in a second trivet book one day.

I’m happy to announce that Collector Books will again be my publisher, and this next time the book will be hard-bound! My manuscript due date is February 1st, 2009 for a Fall 2009 publication. My first book was written as an introduction to trivet collecting. This next book will contain much more detailed information and even more fabulous trivets!

Be sure to take some time to visit the Collector Books website. They have numerous publications o9f interest to a wide variety of collectors!
Collector Books

As I visit other collectors and study their collections one thing I have learned ... some trivets were either manufactured in limited quantities or were one-of-a-kind. It would be impossible to picture every trivet in one book. However, by providing examples of the different types of
trivets and their characteristics, a collector should be better prepared to evaluate the pieces in his or her collection.