More Stuff From the Box
Hey! Did you know that there has not been a "Stuff From the Box" post since February 13th? Well it's true. So it's high time that we all get to enjoy some random STUFF. In the name of complete transparency, today's items are from a new box, but it's a boring Samsung phone box (I don't own a Samsung phone), so it isn't worth showing.
Let's start with this magnificent ring that was a premium from the Buffalo Bill Jr. television program, syndicated in 1955 and 1956. Actor Dick Jones played Buffalo Bill Jr.... years before, he voiced Pinocchio in Walt Disney's second (and best?) animated feature. What boy (or girl) wouldn't be proud to wear this magnificent golden ring?
Wikipedia says: Gene Autry came up with the idea of doing a children's western about an old judge, a teenaged cowboy, and his little sister. Dick Jones was under contract to Autry's Flying A Productions, and was asked to play the young cowboy, even though he was 28 years old in 1955. Since childhood, Jones had worked at rodeos as a trick rider and roper, so he did his own stunts on the show.
The series was filmed at Pioneertown, and the original sponsors were Brown Shoe Company and Mars Candy. The western was sold to more than 100 markets.
Next is this small (but elegant) employee pin from Knott's Berry Farm. I know basically nothing about this pin. When was it distributed? Who was lucky enough to get one? No idea. But they are not common. The pin is about 1" wide, and has a very attractive and appropriate design of a covered wagon, complete with water barrel.
I love this fancy jeweled pin featuring the likeness of one of my top three beatnik fish, Charlie the Tuna, spokesfish for StarKist Tuna. With his beret and vivid blue rhinestone eyes, Charlie has nothing to be sorry about. Perhaps one of these pins can be found in the Louvre?
I'm a fan of little celluloid "flips"... flat advertisements on a simple pin device. These were used to advertise many products, perhaps they were cheaper to produce than the seemingly more standard pinback buttons? As you can see, this one has the date of "1905" on it. Hey, that's old! The flip pictures a fat, healthy pig - he got that way by eating Swift's Digester Tankage. What is "digester tankage", you ask? Well, Merriam-Webster says that it is "tankage for feeding livestock". The end. Thanks, MW, you were barely any help at all.
Here's an appropriately-small tin-litho badge advertising Volkswagen the Beetle. If you study advertising at all (and why wouldn't you?), you'll know that "think small" was a big deal. Think Small was one of the most famous ads in the advertising campaign for the Volkswagen Beetle... in 1959. (The) Volkswagen Beetle campaign was ranked as the best advertising campaign of the twentieth century by Ad Age. The campaign has been considered so successful that it "did much more than boost sales and build a lifetime of brand loyalty [...] The ad, and the work of the ad agency behind it, changed the very nature of advertising—from the way it's created to what you see as a consumer today.
Next is this interesting oddball, given to me by my mom years ago. It's a fancy ribbon and brass medallion from the TPU (Theatrical Protective Union) Ball, from February 21, 1931. As you can see, the pin has the IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees) logo in white and blue enamel. I'd hoped to find a vintage article about the TPU Ball, but had no luck. Still, it's kind of a neat artifact!
Oh yes, there will be more STUFF FROM THE BOX.
20 comments:
Major-
As lovely as both the ring and covered wagon are, I can't help but feel I'd really be stylin' if I were to make an entrance wearing a Charlie the Tuna pin - especially with those eyes-!
Yes, "Think Small". Good 'ol Doyle Dane Bernbach... Juan Valdez; "We try harder".
Thanks, Major.
That Knott's covered wagon is a service award pin. I have one just like this. The blue stone is supposedly a real sapphire. It's probably synthetic! I received mine for 5 years of service to "the family." They did not give a one year pin, like Disney did, so you had to put in five years of being a "permanent" employee, which usually required being a "seasonal" employee first, for about 6 months prior to becoming "permanent." Anyway, you got a pin and a certificate and were invited to attend a "banquet" in the Gold Rush Camp across the street at Knott's Lagoon. At that time, the Gold Rush Camp was set up in the dry riverbed of what was originally supposed to be Bud Hurlbut's "Fur Trapper Boat Ride," which was never completed.
Anyway, there were covered wagon pins for each 5 years of service. I didn't quite make it to 10 years. That would have been the same pin, but with an emerald, I believe. Then there was a pin with a ruby and other supposed "gems" and even one with a diamond. After I was long gone from Knott's, I was taking my nephew there in the early 2000s and would see a few people who I used to work with. There was a man who was a school teacher, and worked at the park on weekends and school vacation periods. He was wearing several of these pins with all the different gems in them. But knew when he was originally hired, so I knew how many pins he should have at that point, an he was missing at least one. When I asked him about it, he said, "Oh, they discontinued giving out the pins some years ago!" How sad is that? Too cheap to give a lousy pin out to someone who has put in 20+ years of service!
Okay, after grumbling about another example of corporate greed, I'll say that I like the Charlie the Tuna pin the best! Since that has the blue "sapphire" eyes, I wonder if that could have been a company service pin, with different colored eyes/stones for varying lengths of service?
Thanks for sharing "Stuff From The Samsung Phone Box" with us today, Major!
Wow, look at Charlie, tarted up like some kind of aquatic Liberace!
"Animal AND Poultry Foods?" Did poultry get kicked out of the animal kingdom while I was distracted by that bedazzled albacore?
Thanks for the background on the Knott's pin, TM! Modern employers are such cheapskates.
I think the prize in our virtual Crackerjack is that fancy TPU medallion! Did your Mom work in the theatre?
The Buffalo Bill Jr. ring looks nice an' shiny an' hefty. I could see the holstered gun on the right side of the profile image, but, after staring at the left side for three minutes, I have no idea what's being depicted there. I tried looking at the darker, raised part of the bas relief, and I tried looking at the lighter, negative space... nope, nuthin'. Anybody else having trouble deciphering it? It's probably just me.
That Knott's pin is very attractive. I love the overall artwork, and I love the "Knott's" font. The water barrel was necessary to cool down the radiator while crossing Death Valley. I studyed gud in skool.
This must be the Fabergé version of Charlie the Tuna. With those gemstone eyes he looks like he's wearing X-Ray Specs. I wonder what this pin was made for? Because, when I think of gold and rhinestone jewelry, Charlie the Tuna does not come to mind. However, I do like the pin.
"Digester Tankage"... Geez, what a strange name for food, even animal food. I sense that there was a lot of strangeness in advertising in the early 1900s. That's what makes this piece likable. That, and it's a pig.
If the VW ad campaign was so successful, why haven't I ever seen, or heard of it before? I do get it, though: Simplicity of design, not even mentioning VW, all lowercase letters, text that literally makes you think about what they're trying to communicate. I like it!
Hmm, yes Major, that pin and ribbon IS an odd one. I like the Comedy/Tragedy masks. In the small print at the bottom, it says, "[something, something, something] Baltimore".
Time to choose a favorite (not required, but traditional to do so). I'm torn between the Knott's pin and the blinged-out Charlie the Tuna.... I'll go with Knott's; the craftsmanship really is nice.
Tokyo!, I was thinking the same thing about the Charlie/Tuna pin; a service pin. But who knows.
Thanks for the Stuff, major.
JB, it’s a horse! The head is down on the left—and those little lines are its mane standing up. You can see his legs too. I’m guessing it’s a he, as I can’t see everything on it.
Will be back later today.
Sue
"Digester Tankage"... Geez, what a strange name for food, even animal food.
"Digester Tankage" sounds like one of those Star Wars characters who appears for ten seconds in the background of a crowd scene but also has a 1,000 word biography on Wookiepedia, a series of novels in the Expanded Universe, and a devoted community of cosplayers. People have gotten death threats on Reddit over their like or dislike for him, and Dave Filoni is writing him into the next Disney+ series even though we saw him die horribly onscreen.
"Kathleen Kennedy and the woke brigade should be FIRED for RUINING Digester Tankage! They're DESTROYING my CHILDHOOD!"
These are all pretty awesome, but the Swift’s “flip” has my vote today, only because it’s such a bizarre thing to make a pin about. Who is the intended market for wearing it? The graphics on both sides are oddly familiar to me, although not the term “digester tankage.”
TM!, I’ll bet they stopped giving out Knott’s pins after the acquisition by Cedar Fair. It my have been something as simple as it wasn’t the new company’s tradition, although I understand Knott’s lost a lot of the “family” feel after it was sold.
Chuck, from what I remember, this former co-worker told me that Cedar Fair continued to award the pins for several years after they took over, but then decided to stop. Maybe they continued to give them out as long as there was an existing inventory, but then didn't want to order any more. Because you know, they cost money.
Nice collection! I have a Samsung phone and I was wondering who the heck took my box! This seems to be a great use for it, though, so all good.
My favorite....huh.... I was going to say the ring, but that wonky horse on the side (which I can almost make out but not really) kind threw me off it (get it?).
I vote Sir Charles of Tuna! Not so much for his "gems" (although they are wonderful) but for his goofy, completely happy expression! We should all be so happy to have good taste!
Thanks, Major!
Now I’m wondering if the Brown Shoe Company ever made white or black shoes?
“Digester Tankage”, really? Since I know next to nothing about animal husbandry, other than it sounds like marrying a pig. My high school had a library book called “Swine Science”, a cute alliterative title that I never read. I’m stumped. There are big Agricultural Trade Shows where manufacturers of various equipment and tools show their wares. This pin might have been a giveaway at one.
While all of today’s haul have merit, each in their way, for my part, Charlie takes the biscuit today. I’ve always wanted to see him in a cage match with the CoS Mermaid. I’m sure he is why Disney went with CoS as a sponsor, Charlie would upstage the Disney characters.
Thanks Major!
JG
Here’s some Digester Tankage knowledge…
https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=OFR19170407.2.28&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN----------
From a 1917 newspaper: (scan artifact spelling errors in the original)
“Digester tankage is a dry meal thai is made by large meat packers . \\ consists mostly of lean meat and driec blood but carries also small particles of bone and other ( tissues . It is madt by cooking at a high temperature one very high pressure the by-products _ o the slaughter-house and is a very higt class feed for hogs . The best grade : generally are guaranteed to carry 6 < ¦ percent of protein , altho some mak ers put out a brand with only 40 per cent of protein . Most feeding ration ; are figured on the basis of 60 percen of protein . By adding protein to the grain ra tion it makes it possible to make porl with less grain and thus at a saving It also causes a more rapid growth especially of young pigs , and is excel lent to feed to sows while sucklhif their pigs . Prices arc higher now thai they ever were before , but inasmucl as both corn and hogs are also high cr than ever before the feeder cat well afford to pay present prices fo good digester tankage”
Doesn’t sound appetizing, but, I’m not a pig,(unless you believe the rumors).
JG
"There are big Agricultural Trade Shows where manufacturers of various equipment and tools show their wares. This pin might have been a giveaway at one."
Ag Swag, we used to call it.
Nanook, I’m pretty sure Rhianna was wearing one of those Charlie the Tuna pins at the last Met Gala!
TokyoMagic!, very cool that you got one of those Knott’s pins for your time as an employee. Assuming that gem is a sapphire at all, you’re right, it is likely synthetic. However, I have an employee pin with a tiny white gem, and my mom took one look at it and said, “I think that’s a real diamond”! Tiny is the operative word though. Bummer that the company stopped giving out those pins, but it’s not much of a surprise to be honest. My guess about the Charlie the Tuna pin is that it was a giveaway or something you could buy… there is a LOT of Charlie the Tuna merchandise out in the world, surprisingly.
Melissa, I wonder if Charlie has a brother named George? And you should know by now that chickens are insects. No, my mom did not work in the theatre, she just likes cool junk, like I do. That’s probably where I get it from!
JB, I wear the Buffalo Bill Jr. ring to bars in case I get into fights (which happens a lot because I am a loudmouth jerk). It helps to knock out teeth! The thing pictured on the side of the ring is a Tully Monster (anybody? anybody?). Both the Tiffany company and Fabergé made Charlie the Tuna jewelry, you can see it on Queen Elizabeth, Jackie Kennedy, and Ruth Buzzi. That VW ad campaign was quite a while ago, maybe you were too young in 1959 to be aware of such things. The small print on the theatre pin just names the manufacturer, I can’t read it on the photo, and the pin itself is now in “the vault”!
Sue, the horse must have been scared, the way his mane is sticking up! And thank goodness we can’t really tell if it’s a “he”.
Melissa, you are right, “Digester Tankage” almost does sound like a Star Wars character. Which is not a compliment to the Star Wars universe! I watched about 20 minutes of “Andor” (which by all accounts is a good show), and when I saw the stuttering robot I was OUT. It sounded too much like Twiki from “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century”. But I digress.
Melissa, when I think about all the ways Kathleen Kennedy has impacted my daily life, I am in a rage! ;-)
Chuck, like you, I often like things just because they are so darn odd. Digester Tankage, maybe the kids would be into it these days. You know how crazy they are! With their twerking and the Facebooks and the dot coms!
TokyoMagic! (and Chuck), it does sound likely that there was still a supply of those pins for a few years. Once they were gone, they were discontinued. Those cheapies!!
Stu29573, it turns out that an empty Samsung box is worth ten million dollars, and it’s mine, ALL MINE! I have a hard time choosing a favorite among these items, they all have different qualities that I love. You can’t go wrong with Charlie though.
JG, if the Brown Shoe Company ever DID make shoes of any other color, you could sue them for… I don’t know… something! “Pain and suffering”? “Cruel and unusual punishment”? “Swine Science”, how could you not read that book? I picture pigs in lab coats and glasses. Charlie and the CoS Mermaid could never be enemies! I’d like to think that they go to each other’s lairs for Christmas.
JG, well, thanks a lot, now I’m hungry! A dry meal made mostly of meat and blood? YUM!
Sir Charles of Tuna is quite the pin. I'd wear that to all of my most formal events.
My brother-in-law is a member of IATSE. I'll ask him if they have annual balls or fancy pins any more. Maybe I'll find one like that for Christmas :-)
Sue, that's the most pitiful horse I've ever seen.
"I’m guessing it’s a he, as I can’t see everything on it." Most parts of this horse are unseeable!
Melissa, hahahaha. Your Star Wars fandom description was great!
Major, I'm afraid I don't know what a "Tully Monster" is. Although it does sound vaguely familiar.
One has to wonder who that fabulous Charlie pin was made for? Mr. Executive? Mrs. Starkist? Some not-so-micro dosing hippie? Free in special tin of tuna? Collect your labels promotion? Regardless, he’s having a swimming time.
Ooops yes, MS
I vote for the Knott's pin. Lots of details and a pretty gem stone (my guess is that it's real).
It's quite obvious that the creator of that goofy horse, on the Buffalo Bill ring, didn't design the Knott's pin. Thank goodness.
Thanks, Major.
d above is me. Didn't check before posting.
Any chance it was the BUSTER Brown Shoe Company? I recollect from early 60s childhood commercials for Buster Brown Shoes, Red Goose Shoes, BF Flyers, and Keds; often promising premiums if you badgered your parents into patronizing their brand.
My folks must have been resistant, as the only shoe purchase premium I remember getting was a pencil carrier that looked like a fat vinyl pencil. And I'm pretty sure I didn't badger them for that.
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