Vintage Cameras

Today, we are all photographers. Smart phones make it super easy to snap some pretty ok images, and some pretty spectacular ones too. But once upon a time, taking a photo required a lot of skill and equipment. Dad was a hobbyist photographer, but mostly, snapped a pic here and there on vacation and to document our childhood.

Minolta was his brand, but he started with a Kodak, tried Contaflex and Olympus and even Stereo Realist (sort of, he only shot a few rolls of film) . And of course - home movies. Lots of fun with home movies.

Here's a glimpse.

Vintage camera equipment. Minolta Rokkor, Minolta X-700, Minolta Maxxum 7000, Tokina ATX Lens 24mm-40MM, GE PR1 Exposure Meter, Metrastar Meter, Weston Master IV Meter, Minolta Zoom 8, Contaflex Zeiss Ikon, Kodak Motormatic 35, Heiland Flash, Flash Bulbs Westinghouse Sylvania GE Norelco 5B 25B and more.

Stereo Realist Collection

Antique Thanksgiving Postcards

 Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Postcard (c) S. Bergman NY 1912 

back of 1912 card

Thanksgiving Postcard (c) P. Sander postmarked 1913

back of 1913 postcard

Ideal School Blackboard Stencils - Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes

These intricate blackboard stencils from Ideal School Publishing Co. Chicago IL circa 1910s are really something special, and from what we can tell, incredibly rare. Designed for K-1, this teaching tool was used to illustrate classic Mother Goose nursery rhymes, holidays and more on classroom blackboards. The paper was unfolded and placed against a chalkboard - then an eraser with chalkboard dust on it was clapped against the paper allowing the chalk to pass through the delicate pinholes and imprint the illustration onto the chalkboard.

Ideal School Blackboard Stencil
Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes circa 1910s

All nine of these are incredibly well preserved and from what we can tell, unused. My grandmother and her sister were both teachers so they must have belonged to one of them. They were tucked in a small metal trunk with numerous education books.

This collection included:

* Boy Blue
* Four and Twenty Blackbirds
* Miss Muffet
* Hey Diddle Diddle
* Pussy Cat
* Jack & Jill
* Mistress Mary
* Little Bo Peep
* Little Pig Went to Market

I searched like crazy on the Internet but little was found about the Ideal School Publishing Co. other then some fun old ads scans on Google Books (love that tool!) dating between 1905 and 1913. The company appears to have held numerous business locations in Chicago, IL and advertised as selling "Construction Materials and School Specialties for Primary Grades." Their principle business seems to have been the Ideal Blackboard Stencils.

Ideal Blackboard Stencils image digitized by Google
 from Primary Education Volume 21 November 1913

I did my best to capture some of the detail on camera, but it's incredibly challenging. We tried a few techniques to project light through the pinholes to see the image on a wall but just couldn't figure out a great way to do so. And since we wanted to preserve the unused quality of these sheets, we didn't paint a wall with chalkboard paint then try the dusting technique ourselves, so the full images will be revealed to the next lucky owner. But, I captured a few snippets with my trusty iPhone and shared them below. Enjoy!

Ideal School Blackboard Stencil Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes circa 1910s

Ideal School Blackboard Stencil Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes circa 1910s
Pussy Cat

Ideal School Blackboard Stencil Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes circa 1910s
Boy Blue

Ideal School Blackboard Stencil Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes circa 1910s
Four and Twenty Blackbirds

Ideal School Blackboard Stencil Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes circa 1910s

Ideal School Blackboard Stencil Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes circa 1910s
Hey Diddle Diddle - Dish Ran Away with the Spoon

Ideal School Blackboard Stencil Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes circa 1910s
Hey Diddle Diddle The Cat And The Fiddle

Ideal School Blackboard Stencil Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes circa 1910s for K-1

The Great American Buckle Collection

The Mormon Temple Brass Buckle from The Great American Buckle Collection
 produced by Heritage Mint for First Security Corporation 50th Anniversary 1978

A collection of brass belt buckles dad had tucked away with his leather tool working kit. Never used. (Except the one on the belt that was mine as a child. He also gave one to each of my siblings.) There is some oxidation on a few of them that has created a beautiful natural patina.

The buckles were offered by First Security Corporation to celebrate its 50th anniversary and were bought outright or were given as a premium for new or add-on deposits. The program ran for seven-months and reportedly created in excess of $100 million in new deposits.

 "These serially numbered belt buckles were designed and sculptured by well known American artists. The buckles were cast in solid brass by the age-old sand-mold process, slow and tedious, which was popular in American foundries during the 1800s. They were then individually hand finished and polished to achieve a fine jewelry finish." (From pamphlet with buckle)

They each came in a leather satchel with a registration card and information about the piece.

The Process
"Solid Brass - Beautiful buckles that feature deep sculptured relief and three-dimensional styling. A Great Gift Idea!
   The master sculpture has been created with the same artistic skill and meticulous detailing that goes into the making of coins designated for minting. The hand cast original is duplicated in sub-masters used to form the sand molds.
   Molten brass, heated to 2000 degrees Fahrenheit in small crucibles, is pouted into the sand molds. Then each buckle is individually removed from the mold, smoothed and finished in 3 handwork steps, to impart the smooth,lustrous look that gives a living effect to the finished buckle. 
  Time consuming processes indeed, but the only way to achieve the magnificent look, feel and quality that reflects the authenticity of the two-centuries old method used in the making of the belt buckles of that period." (From pamphlet with buckle)



The Mormon Temple Buckle
"The world famous Salt Lake Mormon Temple is the most prominent building in Utah and is the subject for a limited edition of belt buckles. This grand edifice is a tribute to the spirit of the early pioneers who hauled huge granite blocks from Cottonwood Canyon by ox teams and labored on the construction from 1853 to 1893. First Security Corporation commemorates fifty years of service to Utah with this limited edition buckle; a handsome reminder of the industry of the people of the Intermountain West." (From pamphlet with buckle)

The Utah Golden Spike Brass Buckle from The Great American Buckle Collection
 produced by Heritage Mint for First Security Corporation 50th Anniversary 1978 

The Golden Spike Buckle

"To observe one of the most significant events in American railroad history, First Security commissioned Heritage Mint, Ltd to portray this memorable event that forged the way for the development of the intermountain region. The driving of the Golden Spike at Promontory Point on May 10, 1869 signified the joining of the transcontinental railroad system. This limited edition buckle honors that moment in history and is part of the Utah buckle collection in celebration of fifty years of service to the area by First Security Corporation." (From pamphlet with buckle)

The Utah State Seal Brass Buckle from The Great American Buckle Collection
 produced by Heritage Mint for First Security Corporation 50th Anniversary 1978

The Utah State Seal Buckle

"The Utah State seal buckle was commissioned by First Security Corporation as a tribute to Utah and its people. Designed by Harry Edwards, the seal was officially adopted by the first session of the Utah legislature on April 3, 1896, the year Utah was granted statehood. The seal incorporates the American Eagle as a symbol of protection in peace and war, the beehive connotes industry and is the state symbol. 1847 is the year of the arrival of the first pioneers into the Great Salt Lake Valley." (From pamphlet with buckle)

Old Texas Huebotter - Britz - Mofield

Descendants of Peter Britz (1825-1899)  & Maria Anna Koch-Britz (1827-1889) - my great-great grandparents.

Found some fantastic old photos from my mother's mother's side of the family. It appears she was working on some genealogy in the mid 1960s. Some of the images are original, others were developed from old negatives.

While my sister & I were trying to decipher who everyone was - we stumbled upon a distant relative online & some info they had further helped us unravel a few more details of lineage. What a kick to learn my mother's mother's side of the family came from a "colorful" past - gambling, horse thieves & even a few illegitimate children.

Britz Family - Original photo found

Charles Boog & Helena Britz Boog (my great grand aunt - daughter of Peter Britz & Marie Anne Koch) est year 1884

My Great Grandfather Huebotter's Mother's (Mary Caroline Mofield) Brother Heinrich "Henry" Mofield
Note on back says "Father of Louis, Ida & Emma Mofield" Ida is circled. He is my 2nd Great Grand Uncle

Nutting on the Brazos

Back of Family Portrait "Nutting on the Brazos" - it reads "I moved and you couldn't see my face much. Guy said he and Bess were holding up pecans to show Grandma and Grandpa."

These images had no details on the back. All we can safely assume is they were taken in Texas.

Antique Gilded Porcelain China

There was a beautiful collection of porcelain china and small figurines amongst grandma's boxes and while my father recognizes the pieces, he does not know any of the history behind them. So I've had my work cut out for me researching their origins. Here's a few of the items and the details I have discovered so far, I'll update as I learn more. 

 

Six gold gilded Moschendorf porcelain plates with fruit (above)
The porcelainmarksandmore.com website was a wealth of knowledge on German porcelain factories. These plates have a backmark with a crown motif above the letter P and the letter M with a wreath containing them and the word Bavaria below. It was used between 1895 & 1910 and is the backstamp of Porcelain Moschendorf Factory from Bavaria Germany (moschendorfer porzellan). Based on these dates for the stamp, my great-grandmother most likely brought these plates to the U.S. with her when she immigrated from England.

K&R porcelain backstamp

Blue Dish with K&R Mark on back - maker yet unknown (pictured above)

blue pansy gold dish. warwick china.

warwick china mark. year unknown.

Blue Pansy dish with gold edge and Warwick China mark on back (pictured above)

Austria Carlsbad Heart backback porcelain china rose dish

Rose Platter with gold edges Austria Carlsbad Heart mark (pictured above). From what I have read, the stamp was in use from 1880 to 1925.

1929 Day Planner Compliments of John D. Owen Fine Tailoring Salt Lake City UT

There have been a number of fun little calendars and day planners tucked away in all grandma's old belongings that reveal bits and pieces of my grandparent's life and everyday from the early 1900s. This 1929 Mini Day Planner is just one of them.

This 1929 day planner was Compliments of John D. Owen Fine Tailoring 3 East First South Street Deseret Bank Bldg Salt Lake City, Utah.

Inside are some beautiful maps (canada, western us, central states, eastern states, southern states, cuba, panama canal, europe, asia, japan, africa, mexico) along with useful information like distance between American Cities, banking proverbs, brief business laws, interest calculations, weights & measdures, how to prevent fires, information for contractors, postage rates, weights of grain, population from 1920 census, presidents of the us, heights &weights of men, help in case of accident - - all in a compact 5.5" x 2.75" book.

1929 Banking Proverbs & Basic Business Laws

1929 Day Planner

 

 

Antique Stereoscope & 1925 Stereo View Cards

1900s Antique Stereoscope

This was one of my mother's toys when she was a child - an antique stereoscope with numerous stereoscope viewing cards. 

Stereoscope is a device of viewing stereoscopic pair of separate images that depict the left-eye and right-eye views of the same scene creating a single three dimensional image. The earliest type known was invented by Sir Charles Wheatstone in 1838. Oliver Wendell Holmes created a model in 1861 that was handheld and easier to use then ever before. We don't know who created the model my mother owned, but have seen similar ones by Monarch and H.C.

These are pics of the cards that she had in her set. 

Stereoscope Cards featuring animals:  Winter Birds of Lake Michigan, Mallard Duck, Common Skunk, Orang-Outang, Prairie Dog, Polar Bears, Sonora Grizzly Bears, Greater Koodoo, King Rail, Gorilla, Red Winged Black Bird, Turtle 

(C) 1925 A.C. Co Stereocards/Stereograph Cards of U.S. Monuments and Historical Sites

no. 3 The Grant Monument, Lincoln Park, Chicago Ill
no. 4 Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington Cemetery Washington DC
no. 6 Lincoln Memorial Washington DC
no. 11 Home of Betsy Ross. The Birthplace of the Nation's Flag, Philadelphia Pa.
no. 12. Entrance to the Mint, Philadelphia, Pa.
no. 14 House in which Benjamin Franklin lived, Fairmont Park, Philadelphia, Pa.
no. 16 Pan American Mission, Washington D.C. 
no. 19 Salute to the Colors, West Point Academy
no. 20. Chinatown, New York City
no. 21 Woolworth Building and City Hall, New York City
no. 23 Home of Edgar Allen Poe in Poe Park, New York City
no. 29 Post Office Montreal, Canada
no. 32 One of the Large Railroad Depots of America - Philadelphia, PA
no. 33 Flat Iron Building New York City
no. 35 The Beautiful Grants Monument, Riverside Drive, New York City
no. 38. United States Capitol. Washington DC
no. 41 Union Stock Yards Chicago IL
no. 42 Looking East on Wall Street Trinity Church in the distance New York City
no. 44 Municipal Building and City Hall New York City
no. 46 Showing traffic at intersection of 5th Avenue and 42nd Street New York City
no. 48 A glimpse of one of Chicago's famous drives

(C) 1925 A.C. Co Stereocards/Stereograph Cards of U.S. Monuments and Historical Sites & People

no. 50 Looking north on Broadway "The Great White Way" New York City
no. 52 A Long Reach (boxer)
no. 53 All Dressed up and no place to go (pitbull with clown collar around neck)
no. 55 There she goes on her toes. (ballerina)
no. 58 Look Out! (fencer)
no. 59 The Light Fantastic (ballerina)
no. 61 Sacrifice Hit (baseball player bunting)
no. 62 "Some Feet"
no. 65 A Modern Mermaid
no. 67 "Have some Tandy?" (little girl with doll)
no. 68 That Pesky Garter (couple dancing in living room)
no. 69 "Near Beer" (clown holding beer)
no. 70 Stolen Sweets (child sneaking candy)
no. 75 The Bribers
no. 76 Bonanza and Eldorado Mines where Millions in Gold were taken out -Klondyke Alaska
no. 77 Colorado River with its banks of solid granite. one thousand feet high - Arizona
no. 79 Wawona, the Giant Red Wood - Mariposa Grove, California

(C) 1925 A.C. Co Stereocards/Stereograph Cards of U.S. Monuments and International Sites

no. 80 Winter Scene at Niagara Falls
no. 84 Balancing Rock - Garden of the Gods - Colorado
no. 86 Hanging Bridge near Otai Dam, Southern California
no. 88 Tree House Pine Hills Cuamaka Mountains California
no. 91 Mt. Alcajohn Vulcan Mountains Southern California
no. 93 Entrance to Imperial Valley, Scene of "Winning of Barbara Worth" California
no. 95 Erosion Columns Garden of the Gods Colorado Springs, Colorado
no. 96 Garden of the Gods Colorado Springs, Colorado
no. 98 Airplane view of Manitou Canyon and Entrance to Cave of the Winds Colorado Springs Co
no. 101 St. Peter's Church Rome
no. 102 Canal Rotterdam Holland
no. 104 Market Scene Cologne Germany
no. 106 Church where Tsar was baptized Moscow Russia
no. 108 Scott monument Princess Gardens Edinburgh Scotland
no. 109 General View of Seville Spain from Pasadera Showing Cathedral Tower
no. 110 The Grand Boulevard Paris France
no. 112 Albert Clock Tower Belfast Ireland
no. 114 People We Meet in Mountain Village of Tachamut
no. 115 Lucerne Switzerland Beloved by Travelers, Shady Quay and Picturesque Cathedral
no. 117 Gustav III Statue and Grand Hotel Stockholm Sweden
no. 119 The Rebuilt Stadium where old athletic games are revived Athens Greece
no. 121 the "Vasabro" a new Bridge in Stockholm Sweden

(C) 1925 A.C. Co Stereocards/Stereograph Cards of Religious Significance in the Life of Jesus

no. 123 Leaning tower and cathedral at Pisa Italy
no. 126 The Flight into Egypt
no. 127 Jesus Before the Doctors
no. 128 Jesus Taken From the Cross
no. 129 The Crucifixion
no. 120 Jesus Falls the Second Time
no. 131 Jesus Borne to the Tomb
no. 132 Judas Betraying Christ
no.  133 Jesus Condemned to Death
no. 132 The Adoration of the Wise Men
no. 135 St. Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
no. 136 The Nativity The Shepherd's Adoration
no. 137 The Wedding at Cana
no. 138 Jesus Attached to the Cross
no. 139 The Sermon on the Mount
no. 140 Jesus Meets His Mother
no. 141 Jesus Stripped of His Clothing
no. 142 Jesus Entering Jerusalem

(C) 1925 A.C. Co Stereocards/Stereograph Cards of Religious Significance in the Life of Jesus

no. 143 Simon Shares the Burden of the Cross
no. 144 Jesus Falls the Third Time
no. 145 Jesus Consoles the Women of Jerusalem
no. 146 The Ascension
no. 147 Jesus Bearing the Cross
no. 148 The Resurrection
no. 149 Church of St. Anne and Mosque of Omar, Jerusalem
no. 150 Jesus Falls the First Time