Gosh, I haven't visited THE BOX since the end of March! It's time to look at more STUFF.
I love this beautiful brass pin from Jack Westway's Under Sea Adventure Club. The pin was issued by Malt-o-meal in the 1930s, and I thought that it might be related to a radio program, but if so, I can't find any information about it. Still, this is a pretty swell prize.
Next we have a 1938 Little Orphan Annie Miracle Compass Sun-Watch, with an Egyptian motif, so that you know it is imbued with mystical powers. With a compass and a sundial, you could have this with you in the Amazon jungles and you'd be able to easily make your way to civilization.
Here's a Tom Mix Bar Brand Branding Iron from 1935 - actually a stamp that came with an ink pad, though I do not have the pad. Just go buy one at Target, it'll work just fine! Then you can put the Tom Mix bar brand on all of your friends.
I love this next one, a 1951 Rocket to the Moon ring from Kix cereal. Made of quality brass and the finest Corinthian plastic! There are mysterious space symbols on the sides, only aliens can possibly know what they mean. You're not an alien, are you??
The Rocket to the Moon ring did indeed come with three glow-in-the-dark plastic rockets, which could be spring-loaded and fired into outer space, or into the living room carpet, never to be seen again. These days, the rockets are much scarcer than the rings - but I happen to have them.
Here's another nice item from one of the General Motors "Motorama" Expos - this one's from 1956. It's a... thing. Maybe you could use it as a guitar pick. The hole in it makes it seem like it could be used as a keychain, or you could wear it around your neck. While one side lists all of the brands of automobiles that GM made, this doohickey has a stylized jet plane (?) on each side. Makes ya think. Just above the word "Chevrolet", you can see a little bump, which allowed this thing to be spun around on a flat surface. For yucky kissing games!
And finally, here's another vintage award for prowess in shooting a revolver - for ladies! It's from 1939, and was acquired with the award seen in THIS "stuff from the box" installment. That one was for second place, but this one is FIRST PRIZE. Whoever won this could shoot a hat off of a flea - and did so, often. "What are you shooting at, Mabel??". "That flea over there is wearing a hat, and I don't like it - not one bit!".
I hope you have enjoyed today's STUFF FROM THE BOX.
Major-
ReplyDeleteI must say I can't pick a clear winner from this 'haul' from THE BOX. I think they're all terrific - or should I say swell-??!!
Thanks, Major.
Man, this edition of Stuff From The Box makes it hard to choose a favorite, several of them are really nice. Nanook thinks so, too.
ReplyDeleteI like the deep sea helmet because it's shiny gold.
I like the brass and Corinthian plastic ring because of its spring-loaded mechanism and its bright red color. And it's cool that you have the rockets for it. Have you tried shooting it?
But my favorite has to be the Little Orphan Annie Egyptian-themed sundial & compass. Every part of it is exquisitely detailed and well crafted. Even the top/crown thingy is highly detailed.
According to the slight shadow on the face of the sundial, I'd say it was about 2:15. Although I'm pretty sure you took this photo indoors. In which case, the shadow doesn't indicate anything, except the approximate placement of your light source.
Thanks for sharing your Stuff, Major.
I would also have to say that it's hard to pick a favorite among this selection. That rocket gun is pretty nifty, however, so I might have to choose that. Especially if you tell me that Ricardo Montalban was promoting it in Kix commercials.
ReplyDeleteI think my favorite is the GM whatsit because it’s so weird. If you put it on a chain or a string around your neck, you’d be wearing it upside-down. Maybe it came with a short chain (now lost) through the hole and was intended to be used as a keychain. Or maybe you were supposed to sharpen one end, lash it to a stick, and hunt small game with it. I like how the different GM brands are listed in ascending order of luxury. Rust in peace, Pontiac and Oldsmobile.
ReplyDeleteMajor, your collection never ceases to amaze. The only thing better is the accompanying dialog.
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure I’m an alien, but I was accused this week of being human, which was a grave letdown. Must try harder next week.
As much as I crave that rocket gun, complete with missiles, (which reminds me of a nuclear sub toy I received as a gift and I launched the missiles immediately and accidentally into the floor furnace where they melted), I have to choose the sundial.
Everyone knows Egyptian sundials are the most accurate since they have so much sun in Egypt, it’s easier to be efficient. This one probably gets 150 seconds per lumen, top performance, undoubtedly enhanced by the arcane symbolic engravings, and it’s also self-winding.
JB, a unit of this quality would keep perfect time even indoors.
I’m sure everyone knows that sundials were invented by the Norns, which is why the central spire thing has become called the “Gnomon”. Get it? “Gnome - on”? Never mind.
JG
I have consulted with my panel of experts and we agree that anything that shoots stuff automatically wins! Yay, rocket ring!
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that Tom Mix had tires on his car with the "TM" brand on them so it woukd leave a trail on them as he drove. Probably too much pavement now for that to work well, but it might be worth trying!
I always love Stuff From the Box!
These are top-notch Box Things. I’m probably imagining the Annie sundial as smaller than it is, but that compass looks so teeny. I like the brand too, and the diving helmet is so detailed. Yes, I want to know if you’ve launched those ring missiles, Major. Thanks for another glimpse at these prized possessions.
ReplyDeleteMajor, the first two knock it out of the park. I've never seen a Little Orphan Annie sundial before. The Rocket gun is also in a class of it's own. Gee whiz, Wonderful stuff. A grand collection, I must say.
ReplyDeleteThanks Major, keeper of lost treasures.
Nanook, I need to take more photos, but it’s so time-consuming! And which box? So many to choose from.
ReplyDeleteJB, I really like that deep sea helmet too, and for some reason those pins usually go for pretty reasonable prices. Not sure why, maybe there are a bunch of them out there, or maybe people prefer premiums with characters they recognize, like Captain Midnight or Little Orphan Annie. I have not tried to shoot the rockets, they are too valuable! But I did cut a Q-tip in half and fired those pieces, they went about six feet. The sundial/compass is pretty neat, I think they used the identical design for another character, but I forget which one.
TokyoMagic!, it took me a while to get those rockets, I bought them separately, but it is pretty cool that the ring shoots actual projectiles. I wish I could have Ricardo Montalban’s voice narrating my blog. So classy!
Chuck, I do like artifacts from those old “Powerama” and “Motorama” events, from a time when the car manufacturers had such amazing, exuberant designs. Detroit when it was at its peak! I think you’re right about the “keychain” use, though I have never seen one of those thingamajigs with a chain.
JG, according to some, life on Earth comes from extraterrestrial origins, so in a way we are all aliens. Plus I have a flying saucer. Based on horror movies, I thought that Egyptians used giant timepieces that had a swinging axe as a pendulum, perfect for cutting people in half. So it’s not a single-use gizmo! Efficient. “Gnome-on”, I get it!
Stu29573, I need to get a Captain Midnight ring that shoots a little silver jet, but those go for a lot, which is why I have never acquired one. Someday! I have the booklet that goes with the ring, though. I think I’ve read that same fact about Tom Mix’s car (and tires). I also remember reading something about John Wayne being disappointed that Tom Mix acted like such a snooty star.
Kathy!, the Orphan Annie sundial is basically the size of a typical pocket watch. The compass is tiny, maybe 1/2” across, but hey, it does the job. I feel like if I ever tried to fire those rockets, they would manage to find someplace where they would disappear.
DrGoat, I feel like I should know how to use a sundial, but I don’t really. How do you know which way to face? Does it change depending on the time of year? As for “keeper of lost treasures”, I still have so much stuff to share!
Chuck, leave it to a Scout leader to come up with the spearhead theory. Watch those squirrels scurry!
ReplyDeleteJG, don't forget the 17 jewel inner mechanism. Those ancient Egyptians wouldn't settle for anything but the best!
Major, launching a Q-tip is fine. At least you know the mechanism still works.
Sundials are notoriously incorrect, except for the two times a year when they are spot-on. The gnomon has to be adjusted for your particular latitude. And Daylight time makes it off an hour.
archive.org has *nothing* on Jack Westaway, wow.
ReplyDeleteHere is an old action link with paper ephemera, "get a flashy diver's helmet pin"
cool!
https://www.hakes.com/Auction/ItemDetail/97049/JACK-WESTAWAYS-UNDERSEA-ADVENTURE-CLUB-MEMBERSHIP-LOT
Wondered just how many of those rockets were sucked up in Mom's 1951 vacuum cleaner. Which now is also a collector's item.
ReplyDeleteSee the article on Campbell Cereal Company. Jack Westaway was packaged by an ad agency that had won the Malto-Meal account. Perhaps it only reached a limited market, and/or had a short run.
ReplyDeletehttps://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Magazines/Archive-Radio-Daily-IDX/RD-37/RA-1937-Nov-OCR-Page-0145.pdf
Major-
ReplyDelete"I feel like if I ever tried to fire those rockets, they would manage to find someplace where they would disappear." Major - I see a 3D printer project in your future...
JB, the mechanism works great, the spring still has a lot of energy! Now I can see why I didn’t understand sundials much, they look neat, but maybe I won’t be carrying one in my pocket.
ReplyDeleteLTL, you have to admit, the diver’s helmet pin IS pretty flashy!
DrGoat, collectible vacuum cleaners! I guess it just goes to show that anything old enough can be collectible.
DBenson, thank you for that! Plus I love seeing all those headlines on the “Radio Daily” from 1937.
Nanook, there are people who reproduce the rockets, not sure if they are 3D printed or just cast, but I would imagine that it would be easy enough to pass off repros as the real things.
Fleas in hats, cats and dogs living together, mass hysteria! The Box is a true Cabinet of Curiosities in the best sense of the term.
ReplyDeleteRemember the episode of The Andy Griffith Show where Andy's girlfriend beat him in the skeet-shooting contest?
I think my faviruthe this time has to be the shiny gold diving helmet, because it looks like the head of a really fancy robot. Speaking of which,
"I’m not sure I’m an alien, but I was accused this week of being human, which was a grave letdown."
Reminds me of the time a therapist asked me, "Would you rather be a flawed human being or a perfect robot?" And I'm sure I sat and stared at him for way too long, because the answer seemed obvious to me but I know it wasn't the one he was looking for.
Melissa, flawed human beings are a dime a dozen, a perfect robot would be Stuff From the Box.
ReplyDeleteJG