Eye Cup or Eye Bath Glass

You may need these today after you enjoy the Eclipse!

eye cup or eye bath glass to refresh your eyes after the eclipse - from Bahoukas in Havre de Grace Maryland

glass eye cups or eye baths date back into the 19th century in the United States, and aluminum examples appeared early in the 20th century. Through the years there have been several devices used to install liquid eye medicines into the eyes for irrigation or treatment, but for use by the patient, the eye cup or eye bath were most popular until eye drops were developed using a screw-capped top provided with a plastic collar and a rubber unit carrying a glass dropper and a rubber teat. To use the eye cup, the patient applied it to the eye with the head bowed forward, threw the head back with the eye open, ensured lavage of the eye by blinking several times and then removed the cup with the head once more bowed forward.     … Dr. Richard Cannon

Of course you know that you DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN during today’s eclipse! If you do, then you obviously have not been connected to any media in the past couple months!

These very collectible eye cups can be used as easily today as they were used in the 19th century. A warm eye wash will relieve irritated eyes tired from reading, watching too much tv, or working on your computer. A wash can also be used to quickly remove irritating or hazardous chemicals in the eye. Naturally, we recommend that you consult with a doctor or other medical establishment. But the eye cup easily fits around the outside of the eye. When you tilt your head back, the refreshing wash easily works by just blinking your eye a few times.

If you need one of these great items, stop in today. If you just like the look of these little cups, they can be added to a collection, used for a tiny flower, or even in a shadow box. Stop in we’ll be open all day!

Printer’s Trays – yesterday and today

Did you ever wonder why there are so many layouts of printer’s trays?

Old printer's trays often used for shadow boxes today, available at Bahoukas in Havre de Grace MD

These amazing vintage printer’s trays are sturdy and beautiful pieces of wood in their own right. Today they are often used for shadow boxes where folks put a variety of ‘collectibles’ in them and usually hang them on the wall. We might add it’s a great way to keep those smaller collectibles together and add a beautiful display piece to your home or office.

But are you aware that they were used to hold the letters for the old letterpress. Well, we say ‘old’ with the exception that Letterpress has become popular again. Just ask Glyph’s in Havre de Grace. Beautiful cards, stationary, and posters are being created today using the Letterpress.

But have you ever wondered why there are so many different layouts. CLICK HERE for some history and also CLICK HERE to read a bit of how they’re being used with a Letterpress today.

Here’s a beautiful assortment of ways to use the old printer’s trays in Pinterest. Gorgeous. Do a search and you’ll thousands of ways to use these old printer’s trays. Enjoy!

When you discover items at Bahoukas Antique Mall, ask George about it. He always has a few tips about the amazing collectibles in his shop.

Beautiful Decoys in All Sizes

Bahoukas Antiques in Havre de Grace, Maryland brings a wonderful variety of decoys to you!

decoys in all sizes available at Bahoukas Antiques in Havre de Grace, Maryland

Decoys are beautiful. They can be simple and primitive or amazingly artistic! Here, at Bahoukas, we have a wonderful variety of decoys to match every budget and every style. Stop by and see them for yourself. From miniatures to very collectible full-size decoys, we would love to show you our selection. Stop in soon!

1858 map Harford County and 1803 map referencing Harmers Town

Harford County 1858 Map

1858 Harford County Maryland street map published by Jennings & Herrick

This map was published by Jennings & Herrick entirely from original surveys. It includes an inset of Havre de Grace Streets. (yep, we know it’s upside down. It is so fragile that we didn’t want it to tear,)

better photo of 1858 Harford Co map

Posted above is a better photo from Herrick, L. W. A map of Harford Co., Maryland, 1858. [Philadelphia?, Jennings & Herrick, 1858] Map. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, website. (Accessed July 12, 2017.)

George also has an 1803 map regarding “Harmers Town as established by the concerned parties in the year 1796”

Made from tracings from the original maps in the clerks office at Bel Air, Nov. 1803. Below are some great snapshots of the map

1803 map re: Harmers Town (later Havre de Grace)

Stop by Bahoukas Antique Mall to view many historic pieces related to Havre de Grace history. Many are not for sale, but George has plenty of stories to make it worth your while. Of course, we have 9,000 sq ft of antiques and collectibles plus another 2,200 sq ft of browsing in the Beer MuZeum (and yes, most of this IS for sale). We’ll be watchin’ for ya!

 

 

When Was The Last Time You Phoned Home!

Jimmy Vancherie Shared A Story About the Havre de Grace Switchboard

reproduction of a famous painting titled "The Operator" to honor switchboard operators.

(Apologies for the blurry photo – no matter what we did, we either got blur or reflection!)

Jimmy told George years ago that his mom was a switchboard operator and the service was located on the 2nd floor of the old Post Office Building (where JoRetro is located) on the corner of Franklin and Union.

Now you knew that Bahoukas Antique Mall would certainly have a unique line of antique and collectible phones to complete this piece of history. Check these out (and they work!):

This is a beautiful phone. It’s a Western Electric “Stowaway” – it’s in a most beautiful wooden case and has a retractable cord on the phone. It’s from the 70s and talk about ‘stylish’! WOW! This piece is beautiful. You have to stop in and see it.

Western Electric Stowaway phone - beautiful wood case - at Bahoukas Antique Mall

Inside the case of the Western Electric Stowaway phone from the 70s at Bahoukas.

Then check out this unique phone. It’s almost a piece of sculpture. It’s an Ericsson, made in Sweden. The dial pad is on the bottom.

            the clean, artsy look of the Ericsson phone, made in Sweden

The next phones are a Bell System 1940s dial phone (on the left) and a Princess Style Phone from the 70s on the right. The color of the Princess Phone is rare.

        

Of course, we can’t ignore the wonderful working reproduction of the Candlestick phone with dial pad. And we encourage you to “Phone Home” just like E.T.

Did you know about the switchboard operator that worked on the 2nd floor of the old Post Office building? Anyone in cyber-land have any stories to add? Stop in one day soon at Bahoukas and share your stories with George.

A. P. McCombs – Havre de Grace

“The Pink House” – Havre Iron Company
and The Havre Republican Newspaper

Bond from Havre Iron Works at Bahoukas Antiques in Havre de Grace, MD

This bond was signed on January 1, 1879. The following are the signatures of A.P. McCombs, President, and the Secretary, E. Mortimer Bye.

Signature of A.P. McCombs - Havre Iron Works

   Signature of E. Mortimer Bye, Havre Iron Works

These items can be seen at Bahoukas Antique Mall and Beer MuZeum.

A.P. McCombs built the grand Victorian Home located at 120 S. Union Avenue in Havre de Grace. This beautiful home is well-known in the area as “The Pink House.” You won’t miss it! Click the link below to read the pdf and learn more about this building from the Maryland Historic Trust document with photos.

HA-1171-APMcCombs

In addition, A.P. McCombs built the building on the east side of N. Union Ave – corner of Union and Franklin – 467 Franklin, which at one time was used for the U.S. Post Office. JoRetro is now located there! Click the link to the JoRetro site to view photos of the building! (It’s also a wonderful shop to visit while you’re in town!)

From 1868-1881, A.P. McCombs & Son published a weekly newspaper, The Havre RepublicanThe clip below is from Pettengill’s Newspaper Directory and Advertisers’ Hand-Book for 1878:

Needless to say, A.P. McCombs left a legacy in Havre de Grace. Stop in and chat with George, he’s a wealth of information and the most interesting tidbits about Havre de Grace!

 

WhoZwhatsIts #3

Wasp Catcher? Candle Holder? Breast Milk Catcher?

These are some of the guesses we’ve had for this unique item.

Do you know what this is? Another great WhoZwhatsIts from Bahoukas Antiques

WhoZwhatsits # 3 is about 3″ wide and 1″ deep. It has a hole in the top with
about a 5/8th inch opening. Have you figured it out yet?

Another view of WhoZwhatsIts #3 from Bahoukas.

A tiny dish with a big task…

It’s a Vintage Ant Trap!!!!!

You see, you just never know what we might find at Bahoukas! Stop in soon and see what treasure you might discover!

How Does the USS Maine Connect to Jones Bazaar?

 It’s truly amazing what bits of Havre de Grace History show up on the counter at Bahoukas Antique Mall and Beer MuZeum.

The US Battleship “Maine” is an American naval ship that sank in Havana Harbor during the Cuban revolt against Spain, an event that became a major political issue in the United States. The Spanish–American War began in April 1898, two months after the sinking. Advocates of the war used the rallying cry, “remember the Maine! To Hell with Spain!”     ___from Wikipedia

This trade card offers the painting of the U.S. Battleship Maine sailing along the coastline, by Fetherston. On bottom right reads: Copyright 1898 by M.F. Tobin, U.S.V. Navy, New York. Measures framed 16 1/2″ high by 24 1/4″ wide by 1″ deep. Visual 8 3/4″ high by 16″ wide. It includes a small portrait of Capt. Charles Sigsbee (top right) and includes the artist’s signature (bottom left).

Below are close ups of Capt. Charles Sigsbee, the title, and the artist’s signature:

 

  

Here’s the LINK to the personal narrative of the sinking of the “Maine” from Capt. Sigsbee.

CLICK HERE for an excellent piece titled “The Painting on the Wall” by Dean James Stavridis, a retired Navy Admiral, regarding the US Battleship Maine. It’s a different artist’s painting, but the thoughts from a 2013 perspective are interesting.

What’s truly unique is the back of the piece is stamped with “Jones Bazaar” offering China, Glass, Queensware and so much more… right here in Havre de Grace. Listen to that audio for the story of how George received this amazing piece and what he learned of Jones Bazaar!

 

on back of the tradecard of the USS Maine is this reference to Jones Bazaar in Have de Grace MD

Stop in and chat with George … you’re sure to learn something unique and fun!

Icy Ball – not what you’re thinking!

EARLY REFRIGERATION 1920s-1930s

George demonstrates how the 1920s Icy Ball Refrigeration worked at Bahoukas in Havre de Grace

This Icy Ball (which weighs nearly 40 pounds) was used for refrigeration in the 1920s. It was manufactured by the Crosley Radio Corporation. It was actually a pretty amazing piece of equipment. Listen to George explain how it was used.

In addition, we found this interesting post where Aberdeen Proving Ground did some testing on this concept as late as 1974! This particular Icy Ball was actually used by the Pitcock Brothers in this very building back in the day! Want to know more about how it works? Check out this photo!

Bahoukas in Havre de Grace not only has the instructions, but has the actual Icy Ball available!

FASCINATING!

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