It's STUFF FROM THE BOX time! Perhaps you read about it in "Colliers" or "Good Housekeeping"? Or at least "Reader's Digest". It highlights some kooky collections of vintage STUFF. Usually from a box. But today we have some contributions from GDB pal Steve Stuart, AKA Nanook (which is the name I will use henceforth). You know him, you love him. Nanook generously sent along some photos of two treasures, along with some fun info to give some useful context. Hooray! Let's go:
Evidently this matchbook could be had at golf courses located at either the Sepulveda Dam basin or Griffith Park – both in Los Angeles for those unfamiliar. Presume they were given out at the myriad of eating establishments ‘hosted’ by Bob Feagans. Bob Feagans also ran a few “coffee shops” in Southern California, some delivering to offices, but I was unable to find any specifics other than just two locations, both in medical buildings, about one block apart on Wilshire Blvd., just east of MacArthur Park.
I pass the Sepulveda Dam golf course on a regular basis, and once, while walking along the beautiful LA River, accidentally found myself on the course. Long story. The golfers love to see random guys on the course!
George Hjelte was the General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks from July, 1949 thru August, 1962, so that range of dates provides a window into when this matchbook was providing the needed ignition for ‘delightful smokes’... and scorekeeping – two activities that always go hand-in-hand – at least as Madison Avenue often portrayed it.
The image printed atop the array of individual matches is a lovely addition (note: matchbooks with images printed on the actual matches are called "feature matchbooks"). Folded, the matchbook measures 3-⅜” wide x 4-¼” tall. Unfolded, it’s 7-⅞” tall.
Oh man! This has introduced a subject that is near and dear to my heart - vintage matchbooks. My collection is paltry compared to those of die-hards, but I still have boxes of them. Once I get my photography setup in order, I will start sharing some of those!
Next, this magnificent copper token (some call them coins!) from the 14th National Foreign Trade Convention Detroit. “This token was molded from salvaged ships of the U.S.A. emergency fleet and presented by the Ford Motor Company”. Knowing the density of copper, this token is undoubtedly solid copper, so it’s nice to know even in 1927 ‘recycling’ was a thing. The relief of the images is quite striking in-person. I could not find out any information as to if this token was unique swag for this meeting, or it was one of many over the years.
On the obverse it states that The exploits of the hardy Norsemen still inspire the moern trader to seek out the remote corners of the world. Those Norsemen, you never know what they're up to!
Vital stats – definitely a hefty piece:
70mm (2.75”) diameter
0.476 centimeters (.1875”) thickness
165g. (5.8 oz.) weight
AWESOME! And now, for a bit of added fun, here are some random items from your old friend Major Pepperidge. Starting with something that is familiar - yet another "Holiday Inn" employee pin, This one is for somebody who has only worked there for four years. See my other two pins for 8 YEARS and 13 YEARS. Those have rare gemstones. I think I want a complete set of pins for a 20-year span, please contribute to my "help Major Pepperidge acquire more crap that he doesn't need" fund TODAY!
I'm all about SAFE DRIVING, and so was the Sun Oil Company. You can encourage safe driving through bonuses or higher wages, but you can also get away with giving drivers a cute li'l pin. I'll bet it worked great, too.
And finally, a painted metal pin featuring Tony the Tiger, one of my favorite cereal mascots. I can only assume that this was a giveaway in which kids could send in five box tops or whatever, though I could find no specific information. The pin is nice and chunky and painted by artisans in Florence, Italy (I recognize the style).
MANY THANKS to Nanook for sharing some of his personal treasures! And as always, there will be more STUFF FROM THE BOX!
Major-
ReplyDeleteI'll take that 'cute li'l Sunoco pin' in lieu of pay as it's very snappy. I have no idea of the significance of the red arrow as part of their logo; hopefully its inspiration truly has meaning, as many of today's logo designs seem to be based on an impossible set of silly things that are merely the figment of a Madison Avenue executive's warped mind.
It's hard to see any representation of Tony the Tiger without immediately hearing Thurl Ravenscroft's voice running thru my head.
Thanks Major for sharing some of 'my stuff'.
I wonder how George pronounces his last name... "HEL-tee"? I like the "NOrmandy" prefix on the phone number. Reminds me of all those movies and TV shows that used the "KLondike 5" prefix (555). There were no real "555" phone numbers so it was safe to use without actually giving out anybody's real phone number.
ReplyDeleteWow, that copper souvenir coin has excellent artwork and nice detail. And the thumbnail is just slightly larger than actual size! (On my monitor.)
The Holiday Inn pin is nice, but no gemstone. It's gotta have a gemstone! Actually, the radiant star might look just as good as a gemstone.
Tony may be "Grrrreat!" but my favorite today is the Sunoco pin. It really looks fancy and sophisticated!... And Shiny! And elegant! And detailed! Oh, and GOLD! I think I'll staple it to my fireplace mantle and declare it a national monument! ;-p
Thank you, Nanook for sharing your items with us. Thank you, Major for sharing more of your Stuff.
I like the graphics and colors on that matchbook! I also have a bunch of matchbooks,. I was thinking that maybe I should sell some of them, but I guess you can't send matchbooks through the mail, since they are obviously flammable. That must be part of the reason why a lot of matchbooks for sale on ebay are empty.
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to pick a favorite of the pins. I guess I would go with Tony the Tiger pin, just because of the childhood memories of seeing him on TV, even though my brother and I never ate Frosted Flakes! I just like the way he used to say, "My goodness, you're all shtaring at us!"
Thank you, Major and Nanook!
Awesome collection and insights, Nanook! Thank you! That copper token is impressive, considering its size.
ReplyDeleteWow, the matchbook art is really something! I love the choice to drive the tee into the blue circle, as it would be driven into the ground IRL!
ReplyDeleteExactly Nanook...Thurston will be roaring around my head all day now.
ReplyDeleteFun stuff
MS
Thanks Nanook for some new and different “stuff”. My Dad collected matchbooks and I have probably hundreds, but I’ve never counted or systematically studied them. I should get on that.
ReplyDeleteI’m going with Tony the Tiger, partly because I loved the cereal, and partly because of Thurl. That Holiday Inn pin is pretty cool too. If there’s an Academy Award for sign design, that one should win.
Thanks Major and Steve!
JG
Nanook, I was wondering about the arrow on the Sunoco pin too. What does it mean? I’m sure people knew it back in the 50s. And yes, seeing Tony the Tiger say “GRRRREAT!”, it’s impossible to not hear Thurl!
ReplyDeleteJB, yeah, that name is a real head-scratcher. Is the “j” silent? I still see signs around the Sepulveda Dam area with his name, and it always makes me wonder. I think The Simpsons loves to use phone numbers that start with KLondike 5”. Like Mr. Plow! I’m sorry that there’s no gemstone on that Holiday Inn pin, but the employee just hadn’t earned it yet. Ya gotta put in your time. Much like prison. I’m kind of surprised that you like that Sunoco pin out of everything, but there are no wrong answers!
TokyoMagic!, how many matchbooks is “a bunch”? I inherited MANY from my grandparents, who both smoked, but they were all partially used, which I don’t care for. You are right, technically you aren’t supposed to ship flammable matchbooks through the mail, but people do it all the time. Ha ha, it took me a second to connect “My goodness, you’re all shtaring at us!” with Frosted Flakes!
Steve DeGaetano, somewhere I have a token made from pieces of “Old Ironsides”, it reminds me of Nanook’s token. Gosh, I haven’t seen mine in years, I wonder where it is?
Melissa, those matchbook companies had some good graphic artists, there are many that are very clever and appealing! Hopefully I’ll show what I mean if/when I get around to taking pictures of some of mine.
MS, ha ha, hopefully Thurl’s booming voice won’t drive you crazy!
JG, hundreds of matchbooks! That might be more than I have (I’ve never counted mine either, though I did try to sort them, at least crudely). I love cereal, and Frosted Flakes is up there. The texture, the flavor! I haven’t had FF for a while, but now I am craving a bowlful. I think I mentioned in a previous post that there is supposedly only ONE surviving classic Holiday Inn sign, found in storage somewhere. I guess it is now in a sign museum.
I recently fell down an online rabbit hole about wall-mounted dispensers for household matches, both matchbooks and wooden kitchen matches, after seeing one exactly like the one from my childhood homes in the background of an episode of Laverne & Shirley. It made me so tempted to buy one for my current place, even though I have an electric stove, central heating, no fireplace, and smoke detectors so sensitive I have to use battery operated candles on birthday cakes.
ReplyDeleteI keep my battery powered birthday candles in the pantry next to my electric chop-sticks …. Next to the tray of clear carbon paper .
ReplyDeleteI purchased some vintage unused matcbooks on ebay for my CONTEMPORARY RESORT guest bathroom … they were shipped without any problems …but i didnt know it wasn’t allowed . The box was vintage unused stock featuring the 1970’s orange and white logo. I also got a package of mini soap bars from the same period . I had two glass cylinders one filled with the matchbooks the other one shorter - with the wrapped soap bars . I eventually i removed them because they were supposed to be for looks and not use. Im picky that way.
Melissa, wow, your comment made me remember one of those wall-mounted match holders that was in our house in Pennsylvania! In my memory it was old and made of cast iron, but it's been a long time. You can still own one even if you don't need it!
ReplyDeleteMike Cozart, all you have to do is look at eBay to see that there is a brisk trade in full vintage matchbooks. I've bought some myself, though I did not know that they were not supposed to go through the mail until relatively recently. Cool that you bought the unused matchbooks and soaps from the Contemporary Resort!
First, I need to tell Melissa that I LOVE her "Christmas Underpants Hat Tradition" and photo, on yesterday's post.
ReplyDeleteToday's winners are the turquoise-headed matches (love that color), and Tony the Tiger. I used to love eating Frosted Flakes, as a kid, but I remember that you had to eat them really quick, after pouring the milk on them -- or they'd get limp and soggy.
Fun stuff today, thanks to Nanook and Major.
TokyoMagic!, how many matchbooks is “a bunch”?
ReplyDeleteMajor, I have a lot that I started collecting in my 20s, from various restaurants and nightclubs. Then I have quite a few from Knott's, Disneyland and the DL Hotel, which I started collecting in my teens. At some point, I found out that the Tobacconist on Main St. wasn't the only place with matches. They had them in most of the larger shops, and the graphics on the books were unique for each of the lands. And if I remember correctly, matches from the Blue Bayou had their own separate graphics. The matches were always kept behind a counter in the shops, so you had to ask someone for them. Even though I wasn't old enough to smoke (and I never did smoke), they never had a problem handing me a book of them. Oh, and I have several books of stamps with "Bates Motel" on them, which I purchased in a shop at Universal Studios in the 1990s.
And my last batch of matches are in a jar, which was left behind by the previous owners of my house. They left some other things behind, too.....mostly weird things, with the exception of the matches.
Ha, ha.....make that "book of matches" with Bates Motel printed on them, NOT "book of stamps"!
ReplyDeleteI forgot that I have also purchased some match book covers on ebay, from restaurants that my brother and I were taken to by our parents and grandparents when we were little. Those are all from places that no longer exist, so they bring back special memories for me!