We have a few very collectible Nativity Scenes that include a 1950s Italian Set made up of 12 pieces, a Plastic Nativity from the 60s, an ornament light that can fit over a bulb on a tree from the 60s, a U.S. Zone – Germany set from the 40s in fair condition considering it’s made with Papier-mâché figures. One of these just might make someone on your gift list very happy!
from Wikipedia:
Papier-mâché is a composite material consisting of paper pieces or pulp, sometimes reinforced with textiles, bound with an adhesive, such as glue, starch, or wallpaper paste.
You already know that here at Bahoukas Antique Mall we have some mighty fine ideas to help you with your gift giving. Let us know what you’re thinking about and we’ll do our darndest to help you find it. Hurry in… we’ll be watchin’ for ya!
We have a delightful array of Santas available from silly and funny to a bank or a candle. The photo below includes a 1960s Santa-in-the-Outhouse, a Spaghetti Santa ceramic bank, a 1960s battery-operated animated Santa on a roof top, a stuffed Santa from the 1950s, in front is a plastic Irwin Santa, a small Santa mug, a rocking-chair Santa candle and a Santa Snow Globe (all from the 60s).
CLICK HERE for a great blog post that tells you how best to clean a spaghetti ceramic figure. It can really change an old piece to a real collectible.
Vintage spaghetti poodle dogs have so much charm and character. They come in a variety of colors and styles and can be found highly decorated with rhinestones, bows, glasses, hats, playing sports, chain leash with puppies, depicted as fireman, graduating students, band musicians, reading the daily newspaper, snooty, high fashion, smoking, brides and more!
Spaghetti Poodles were made from clay, porcelain, and ceramic; their “hair” was applied in various ways to form various textures to mimic an actual poodle’s hairdo. To accomplish the spaghetti look, decorators and designers would have different techniques like using tea strainers to push the material through it to form strands that were then affixed to the poodle giving it a pom-pom look or swirled onto to the poodle for a curly look. Spaghetti is very fragile and tends to break or chip during the years. (this is discussing Spaghetti Poodles, but there are many ceramic items that use the ‘spaghetti’ technique) from Crazy4Me.comblog)
Whether you need a fun stocking stuffer, a new piece to add to your holiday decor, or just a cute little Santa for a bit of ho-ho-ho, stop by Bahoukas Antique Mall in Havre de Grace and see what we have to add to your holiday decorations and celebrations. Some of these pieces could also be added to a wreath for a special touch. So, as you know, we’ll be watchin’ for ya!
Entertaining Comes to Mind for This Gift-Giving Idea
Before Thanksgiving we mentioned some fine decorating ideas for your holiday table. We were thinking white and gold.
But today we offer shades of Ruby Red.
This sampling for festive holiday entertaining is a bit different from our white and gold that we posted earlier. Here we have Hobnail Ruby Glass place setting, candy dish, sugar and creamer, plus candlesticks and a salt & pepper set from the Avon Cape Cod Collection.
Entertaining should be fun and festive. Whether you’re looking for an entire set or just a few pieces, we have some wonderful items for you to choose from. We encourage you to hurry in to Bahoukas Antique Mall and pick out a few pieces to add to your holiday dining table, buffet table and mantle. We’ll be watchin’ for ya!
Cast iron farm animals may be truly vintage and collectible – or reproductions. Above is a ‘flying pig’, a boy milking a cow, a pig, rooster, buffalo and a horse. We have many other collectible/vintage/and reproduction cast iron pieces from beautiful mermaids to Black Americana pieces, huge lighthouse doorstop to mechanical banks.
So for the collector on your gift list, or a unique gift for the farm-loving child, we have some very intriguing cast iron figures. Stop by Bahoukas Antique Mall to browse our 9,000 sq ft overflowing with unique ideas for gift giving! We’ll be watchin’ for ya!
No – not Goldilocks! Nope – not locks of a canal. But locks that require a key or a combination.
Here we have several railroad locks: B&O RR, PA RR, and Southern Rio Grande Pacific. We also have Master locks,a showcase lock, and even ‘handcuffs.’ We have a variety of old keys as well.
Over 6,000 years ago, locks may have been simply special knots tied in a rope that would tell the owner that someone had been in their belongings. From History of Locks, we offer this interesting quote:
History of mechanical locks started over 6 thousand years ago in Ancient Egypt, where locksmith first managed to create simple but effective pin tumbler lock that was made entirely from wood. It consisted of the wooden post that was affixed to the door, and a horizontal bolt that slid into the post. This bolt had set of openings which were filled with pins. Specially designed large and heavy wooden key was shaped like modern toothbrush with pegs that corresponded to the holes and pins in the lock. This key could be inserted into opening and lifted, which would move the pins and allow security bolt to be moved.
The History of Locks also mentioned this interesting bit of information concerning the Dark and Middle Ages in reference to locksmiths:
to try to confuse or compound lockpickers with new tactics. Instead of one simple lock they created multiple key mechanisms, increasingly complicated key designs, they obscured keyholes with detailed ornaments, created fake keyholes (with fake mechanisms inside), and more.
The first recorded mention of handcuffs appears in Virgil’s telling of the myth of Proteus…
MASTER LOCK PADLOCKS
Most of us are familiar with the name “Master Lock” and probably have owned a few over the years. We can think of bicycle locks, a lock for our school locker, or maybe even a lock on our tool box!
Master Lock was founded by Harry Soref in 1921.
In 1924 they started running ads like the one in this photo from their website,
If Bank Vault Doors and battle ships were built in laminated layers of steel for greater strength, why not make padlocks the same way? The first Laminated Steel padlock was invented and patented on April 22nd.
And did you know that Harry Soref helped Houdini? Here’s a quote from the Master Lock website:
By 1925 Harry Soref became a recognized icon with padlocks. Escape artist Harry Houdini visited Soref after he was unable to escape from a pair of handcuffs. Soref advised Houdini on trick places to hide padlock keys between his fingers and under his tongue during stage shows.
… and yes, they even did really well during Prohibition!
On February 20th, 1928 a container of 147,600 padlocks was shipped to federal agents in New York City. These locks were used to lock down many of the establishments that continued to sell the outlawed alcohol during prohibition.
These are just a few tidbits we discover when we write our blog posts.
No matter … stop by and see if one of these items would make a perfect gift for the magician on your Christmas List or maybe a great decorative item! We’ll be watchin’ for ya!
George gathered up the above items to add to your home or office decor – or to give as a very useful and beautiful gift. More importantly, you’ll always know the weather pattern where you’re at! The tall black case with brass trim includes a thermometer, barometer and hygrometer. We know a thermometer gives us the temperature. But do you know what a barometer or hygrometer tell us?
Temperature and humidity are the two most basic of weather variables and all of us are interested in what they are right now and what they will be in the future. Hygrometers measure the amount of moisture (or water vapor) in the air, commonly referred to as humidity. By knowing the percentage of humidity in the air along with the current temperature, dew point temperature and heat index can be calculated. These factors can be important to those who work and play outside. They are also important to farmers and other agricultural concerns with regard to stress in livestock or plants, or in properly irrigating crops. With an easy-to-read display and fast response time, analog hygrometers offer excellent accuracy and the ability to be calibrated. from weathershack.com
Barometric pressure plays a large part in the ever-changing weather pattern.
As a very loose rule, a high-pressure area will be clear, and a low-pressure area will be cloudy and rainy. from Science: How Stuff Works
The ‘pilot wheel’ is a thermometer created as an advertisement for Carney-Berman Mfg. Other items include “Old Salt” wood carvings, a coffee grinder thermometer, wood framed barometer-thermometer-hygrometer, a plastic Springfield thermometer, a woman silhouette that is a thermometer and an advertisement for Campus Pharmacy. There is also a glass thermometer for fish tanks by H-B Instrument Co., made in Phila PA USA, and a small a/c thermometer.
We doubt that you’ve really thought about all the possibilities for gift-giving available to you at Bahoukas Antique Mall. Be sure to stop in soon and discover for yourself. We’ll be watchin’ for ya!
There are many combinations that can be created for your Holiday table and buffet. This is just one sampling. Beautiful gold and white would most certainly add an elegant touch to your holiday theme. We have place settings, salt & pepper shakers, an amazingly stunning gold tea set, and a variety of serving dishes. Or many you just want a ‘splash’ of interest – a serving dish … or maybe just the tea set!
Mix and match items give your personality to your holiday decor. Here at Bahoukas Antique Mall we have plenty to ‘mix & match.’
We encourage you to click on this link to visit RealSimple.com and get 26 unique ways to celebrate the holidays with a bit of splash! Don’t forget that along with what we post, Bahoukas has plenty of wonderful finds to put that ‘splash’ in your holiday theme! We’ll be watchin’ for ya!
‘Tis the Season to fill your home with warmth by sharing a wee bit of your personality! Do you love flowers? Flowers and Candles?
You will love our Day 4 of 44 Days of Gifts. These wonderful floral frogs allow you to add a bit of color and flair by arranging your favorite flowers with ease. Some even include a candle holder. Other pieces offer great sculptures to accent the flowers.
Add your favorite holiday flowers and create a beautiful table centerpiece, possibly use one of the sculptures to add a bright accent to your fireplace mantle or bookshelf. Large and small, these floral frogs make it easy to add the splash of color and a warm welcome to your upcoming holiday entertaining. Using the floral frogs allows you to easily create a Hostess Gift that can be easily transported and will surely be appreciated!
Here’s a great video that shows you how to use a ‘floral frog’ … with just the sweetest touch of Southern Hospitality!
You know my now that “we’ll be watchin’ for ya” at Bahoukas Antique Mall and Beer MuZeum!
1963 – JFK Assassination probably the most remembered event
With the release of 13,000 documents related to the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, it seemed an appropriate time to mention some of our JFK collectiblesavailable at Bahoukas Antiques. Above are a few of the JFK Tapestries we have. They are beautifully done! Possibly a grandparent or parent would appreciate one of these items. Then take the time to listen to their stories from those days long gone.
Above is a small selection of the many JFK Memorabilia we have for you at Bahoukas. Included are several magazines (Post and Life), a vinyl record of the actual speeches of Franklin D. Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy, small busts, figurines, banks, tokens, and even a PEZ Presidents Collection.
Along the bottom of the above photo are a few photos taken of the Kennedy grave site in March/April 1964. To the left is a larger image of one of those photos. (Apologies for the blur)
Are you interested in reading these documents for yourself? Click this link to the government archives. Read them for yourself. We will note that there are still many redactions.
Do you wonder what else happened in 1963?
Let’s see:
The Lava Lamp was introduced (photo from Wikipedia)
AT&T introduced the touch tone phone
The Beatles released their first album,
“Please Please Me”
Martin Luther King gave his “I Have A Dream” Speech
Curious about other trends and happenings? We can point you to more by having you click this link.
Many items besides the JFK Memorabilia are available at Bahoukas Antique Mall. Always we invite you to stop in and browse. And yes, we’ll be watchin’ for ya.
As we all try to adjust to standard time, we pay a bit more attention to clocks. We thought we’d share the beauty and variety of vintage and collectible clocks available at Bahoukas Antique Mall.
This outstanding grandfather clock has the original clockworks from 1795.
The case was handcrafted to the original design in 2000.
Definitely come in and see this clock. We apologize for the cut and paste of the photo. It was difficult to back up far enough to get the clock in one photo. It’s beautiful and a “must see”!
Below is a closer view of the face of the clock. (Ignore the reflection from the light above the clock!!!)
The best of the 17th and 21st centuries in one beautiful piece!
Next we share two very collectible mantle clocks. The clock on the left is an impressive Gingerbread-Style and the one on the right is a standard mantle clock by Ingraham. CLICK HERE for a link to the history of Ingraham Clock Company.
At Bahoukas you’ll also discover a variety of wall clocks including these two. On the left is a reproduction of a vintage clock, on the right is a gorgeous clock from the 50s that offers beautiful chimes. We encourage you to stop in and view the many clocks and time pieces we have.
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We also highly recommend Stephens & Stephensfor any repairs, refinishing, or purchases of clocks. is highly trusted for repair and restoration work by discriminating collectors and owners all over the East Coast, including the State of Maryland, The Governor’s Mansion, The State House, and The Homewood House Museum at Johns Hopkins University, MBNA
Today, with everyone reading time on their smart phones or computers, analog time seems to be nearly a thing of the past. Can your children tell time on an analog clock/watch? Not sure what that is?
One of the most common examples of the difference between analog and digital devices is a clock. On the analog clock, the time is represented by hands that spin around a dial and point to a location on the dial that represents the approximate time. On a digital clock, a numeric display indicates the exact time. from Dummies.com
Before the blinking digital clocks on our stoves, computers, and nightstands, we used a variety of timepieces. Above is a small collection from Bahoukas Antique Mall that include: a 10-minute hourglass used as a timer, a Travel Alarm Clock by Westclox, a Fisher Price children’s clock, a Burlington Special Pocket Watch, and a beautiful Coca Cola watch w/diamonds.
This weekend we ‘fall back’ as we turn our clocks back one hour to standard time. You get an extra hour of sleep before heading out to church on Sunday. Enjoy and savor. For those who love the morning sun, smile!
Watch for our next post when we share some wonderful older clocks including a grandfather clock and a mantle clock available at Bahoukas. Til then, make a plan to stop by Bahoukas. We’ll be watchin’ for ya!
Lance and Planters Collectibles just in time to use for your Halloween Party!
The peanut plant probably originated in Peru or Brazil in South America. No fossil records prove this, but people in South America made pottery in the shape of peanuts or decorated jars with peanuts as far back as 3,500 years ago.
European explorers first discovered peanuts in Brazil. As early as 1500 B.C., the Incans of Peru used peanuts as sacrificial offerings and entombed them with their mummies to aid in the spirit life. Tribes in central Brazil also ground peanuts with maize to make a drink.
Peanuts were grown as far north as Mexico when the Spanish began their exploration of the new world. The explorers took peanuts back to Spain, and from there traders and explorers spread them to Asia and Africa. Africans were the first people to introduce peanuts to North America beginning in the 1700s. ….
…Their popularity grew in the late 1800s when PT Barnum’s circus wagons traveled across the country and vendors called “hot roasted peanuts!” to the crowds. Soon street vendors began selling roasted peanuts from carts and peanuts also became popular at baseball games. While peanut production rose during this time, peanuts were still harvested by hand, leaving stems and trash in the peanuts. Thus, poor quality and lack of uniformity kept down the demand for peanuts.
Around 1900, labor-saving equipment was invented for planting, cultivating, harvesting and picking peanuts from the plants, as well as for shelling and cleaning the kernels. With these significant mechanical aids, demand for peanuts grew rapidly, especially for oil, roasted and salted nuts, peanut butter and candy.
Who invented peanut butter?
There is evidence that ancient South American Inca Indians were the first to grind peanuts to make peanut butter. In the United States, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg (of cereal fame) invented a version of peanut butter in 1895. Then it is believed that a St. Louis physician may have developed a version of peanut butter as a protein substitute for his older patients who had poor teeth and couldn’t chew meat. Peanut butter was first introduced at the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904.
Peanuts and peanut butter became an integral part of the Armed Forces rations in World Wars I and II. It is believed that the U.S. army popularized the peanut butter and jelly sandwich for sustenance during maneuvers in World War II.
(A bit of info regarding our love of peanuts in America)
…Peanuts, peanut butter and peanut candy are some of the most popular products in the United States. Americans eat more than six pounds of peanut products each year, worth more than $2 billion at the retail level.
Peanuts are still a staple for Americans. And the story of Lance and Planters Peanuts are American stories of entrepreneurial spirit. Stop in and choose your collectible to either add to your personal collection or to add to holiday decorating. Remember, we have thousands of unique items available at Bahoukas Antique Mall. We’ll be watchin’ for ya!
Wall Pockets are a wonderful way to bring a little summer sunshine into your home as the cooler weather announces the arrival of Autumn.
The photo at left is a set of 3 Smiley Flowers by Holt-Howard. These would make a cute addition to a sunroom or a kitchen with a wee bit of ivy growing from them. Below is a bit of history of the Holt-Howard Corp.
Holt-Howard was an importer that started working in New York City in 1949 and moved to Stamford, Connecticut, in 1955. John and Robert Howard and Grant Holt started Holt-Howard, whose first products were Christmas items made and sold in the United States. The company sold many types of table accessories, such as condiment jars, decanters, spoon holders, and saltshakers. The figures shown on some of its pieces had a cartoon-like quality. The company was bought out by General Housewares Corporation in 1969. Holt-Howard pieces are often marked with the name and the year or HH and the year stamped in black. The HH mark was used until 1974. There was also a black and silver label. Production of Holt-Howard ceased in 1990. Similar pieces are being made today by Grant Holt, one of the founders, and are marked GHA. from Kovels.com
Here are a few more beautiful wall pockets. There really is a design for every decor. Top left is a basket filled with fruit and top right is a cornucopia with rosebud decoration by Lefton China. Bottom right is a Czechoslovakian heart shape covered in florals and the deep blue tube on the bottom right has a bird/flower design. Besides tucking an air plant or a bit of ivy in them, they could also be used to store pencils, paint brushes or other small items.
Wall pockets of yesteryear can add a dash of wonderful color and creativity. So drop by Bahoukas Antique Mall soon and see what wonderful treasures you might find to add your personality to your home and office! We’ll be watchin’ for you!
Vintage Linens are beautiful and often real artistry in their making. But, although we now use tissues instead of cloth hankies, there are some wonderful ways to use vintage linens in today’s lifestyle. Check out this blog post: 15 Cute Ways to Repurpose Vintage Linens.
Here’s a beautiful close up of the detail on some of the pieces available in our store.
If you’re wondering how to clean vintage linens, we have two links available, PART 1 and PART 2from Dell’s Daily Dish blog.
Stop in to Bahoukas Antique Mall and browse for the perfect vintage linens to use or to decorate with. Be sure to check out some of the awesome upcycled items created by Barbara of Green Joy!
Those heavy, cast iron, painted door stops that you use to hold a door open. With cooler days approaching, turn off your air conditioners and open the door. Let one of these whimsical cast-iron door stops hold the door open for fresh, cool air to circulate through your home or office.
They can be whimsical or historical, but cast-iron doorstops were always functional before air conditioning and central heating. In 18th century England where they originated they were known as “door porters. They were made in America in the early 19th century. Historically, President Andrew Jackson is said to have had figural frog doorstops with the slogan “I croak for the Jackson wagon, “ used during his campaign. _from The Antique Shoppe Florida
In the above photo, the duck is a reproduction. The dogs and the ship “The Constitution” are originals.
After the Civil War when iron casting techniques became more refined doorstops became of a status symbol for the upper class and many subjects from animals to ships became popular. Whatever was trendy at the time was turned into a doorstop. During the 1850s when trading with Japan began figural doorstops were images of Buddha. _from The Antique Shoppe Florida
Door stops first appeared in England in the late 1700s. Made of cast brass, they were used to help prop open the heavy English doors, allowing air to better circulate through homes. The earliest door stops had wooden handles so they could be easily moved. Handles disappeared in the 19th century; by then, cast iron had replaced brass. Most door stops you’ll find today were likely made in America sometime between the turn of the last century and 1940. They hit their peak of popularity during the 1920s and ’30s. _from Yankee Magazine
Coca Cola Bottling was a solid economic asset in Havre de Grace
Coca Cola has been a part of the Havre de Grace economy for decades. Here’s a small news clip (3rd column a little more than half-way down the page) from the Midland Journal that describes the plant managed by J. C. Hebditch. The date was November 1, 1940. It reads:
Coca Cola By Hebditch
Adhering to the fine principles of production which make Coca Cola the nation’s outstanding drink, the Coca Cola Bottling works has grown rapidly under the management of J. C. Hebditch, who established the plant 17 years ago (1923). It is located in Havre de Grace, on Juniata St.
The modern plant sterilizes every bottle and distrbutes its products throughout the Harford and Cecil counties, keeping service above par at all times. A call for a case of Coca Cola receives prompt attention, with gas and soda orders also filled on prompt schedule. -The Midland Journal, Friday, November 1, 1940
Another interesting news clip re: J. C. Hebditch of Havre de Grace Coca Cola Bottling Co.
Rotarian Offers Land For Swimming Pool HAVRE DE GRACE, Md.,Sept. 27, 1944 – from The News Journal from Wilmington, DE– J. C. Hebditch, a soft drink company representative for Maryland, has offered a tract of land on the dual highway opposite the Chesapeake Courts for a swimming pool and also has donated $100 toward the $2,000 needed for the civic enterprise. The Havre de Grace Rotary Club, of which Mr. Hebditch is a member, will sponsor the project and has agreed to return all money donations if the pool is not built within eight months after the goal has been reached.
Click here for some fun history from the World of Coca Cola website.
Are you a collector? You might want to check out this page from Coke’s Website!
Create a Perfect Home Decorating Piece with
Fun and Beautiful Ceramic Planters!
You’ve seen them – the little lambs and chickens, giraffes and bears, baby items and puppies, and so much more. These delightful ceramic planters can be used for many other things than plants. Although, a cute grouping of perfect little plants in these ceramic planters would be awesome. But consider using them to hold a variety of items: business cards, pencils, crayons or colored pencils, paint brushes or pens, toothpicks and cotton swabs. They can be functional and beautiful and most definitely put a little flair in any room! Go ahead, let your creative side show!
There are some really fun ways to enjoy the colorful ceramic planters of yesterday. Visit this Pinterest page for a few of them. Then stop in at Bahoukas to pick out 3 or 4 or 5 for your latest decorating idea. And don’t forget, in a week or two the kids go back to school… then it’s a slippery slide to the holidays and gift giving. You could have a lot of fun with a project using a few of our beautiful ceramic planters. Stop in soon!
