Book Description
Cast iron cookware is an increasingly hot item in the antique marketplace. Collectors are scouring antique shops, shows, and flea markets searching for treasures to add to their collections; and hunting for more information about the products history and manufacturers. In response to this growing demand, David Smith and Chuck Wafford have created another authoritative guide to collectible cast iron. This book continues where The Book of Griswold & Wagner left off--illustrating hundreds of items not included in the previous book. With over 845 photographs of cast iron pieces from the Wagner, Griswold, Lodge, Vollrath, Excelsior, and Martin manufacturing companies, this book delves into the histories and products produced by these manufacturers. Complete with pattern numbers, catalog list numbers, price guide, index, and much more; this book is a must-have for all cast iron cookware collectors.
Customer Reviews:
The Second Cast Iron Collecting Book You Should Buy.......2005-12-22
This is the second book you should buy if you have any interest in collecting classic American cast iron goods. Collectors call this the "Red Book". The first book, "The Book of Griswold & Wagner", is called the "Blue Book", although it looks kind of turquoise to me, and is by the same authors. This edition, with a copyright of 2001, is getting a little out of date for catalog values, but still is a good indicator of relative value. It covers Wagner, Griswold, Martin, Lodge, Vollrath, and Excelsior. There is little duplication between the Red and Blue books, but together they are just a treasure chest of good clear photogrpahs and information that is not available anywhere else. The author is active in the major collecting societies and solicits information, including photographs and corrections, as each edition is prepared. (As an aside, it's hard to comprehend how someone could be critical of a book full of pictures and descriptions of collectable iron.)
It is really unfair to be critical of the catalogs values in such a work. They are useful in determining relative value and rarity, but the current marketplace must looked at to get the best indicators of value.
Bible #2 for cast iron collectors.......2005-12-22
Unlike steve (ca) review, this book is considered the second book that all cast iron collectors must have. While some discrepancy on some values in the book may be present, values on most items are completely accurate. It is unfortunate that the other review destroys the credibility of this fine book. The "RED" book is the most complete and accurate book on the market for Wagner Ware collectors. This book and the "BLUE" book should be in every serious cast iron collector's resource library.
No excuse to not adjust errors in pricing, years later........2005-02-14
Both this book and the "blue" book mislead readers by listing "price values" that are blatently low,-on the very uncommon items listed, even though the pricing errors were brought to both author's attention years ago. Many revisions later, they remain for the most part unchanged.
Shame on them.
I don't recommend.......2003-08-08
If you like collections of photos, this book is great ... Hollow.
Lots and lots of good information!.......2001-03-26
This new book by the authors Smith and Wafford picks up where the old "blue" book stops. This book contains practically all new pictures and items which were not in the old book. Based on the title "The Book of Wagner & Griswold" the majority of the book contains information about Wagner. There is 124 pages which deal with Wagner Ware. The information contained is solid and not to be found anywhere else. Once again, this book becomes the Bible for collecting old cookware. The information on Griswold is not nearly as as long as Wagner. It is only 75 pages. There are many new items in this book which was not in the other books. There is quite a bit of information about aluminum Griswold items which is very helpful if you are collecting this type of cookware. Finally the sections on Martin Stove, Lodge, Axford, Vollrath and Excelsior(G.F.Filley) is great! For each manufacture it gives the history along with photo's/prices. Super information which I have not found anywhere else. I think this book is a "must have" for the cookware collector. It is a good companion book to "The Book of Griswold & Wagner." To be fully informed you really need both books. I have found these books by Smith and Wafford to be pretty close in the values of various items. Although variances do exist I have found these to be the closest out of all the cast iron collectable books available. I keep both of these books next to my computer and refer to them almost daily when shopping the internet for cast iron. A++++
Book Description
Linda Campbell Franklin's long-awaited new edition cooks up three centuries of the most avidly collected domestic tools of the trade.
Collectors will find more than 7,000 antique items that dice, measure, filter, or whir in the kitchen arranged by function from preparation and cooking to housekeeping and gardening. Franklin also offers healthy servings of classic recipes, helpful hints, and fascinating tidbits from 18th, 19th, and 20th century trade catalogs and advertisements.
Features updated pricing, information on collecting, buying and selling on the Internet, and more than 1,600 photographs and illustrations, including a new 16-page color section.
• More than 7,000 listings and prices for collectible kitchen items
• More than 1,600 photographs and illustrations, including an all-new color section
• Author has established herself as THE expert in this collectibles field
Customer Reviews:
This book is missing pages........2007-01-23
Just received my second copy (replacement copy) of "300 Years of Kitchen Collectibles" and it also is missing pages 401-432 and has duplicate pages 433-464. That makes two books missing the same pages.
Otherwise the book has a lot of information.
most comprehensive book on kitchen collectibles.......2006-09-17
I bought this book about a year ago, I saw a lady using it at an auction bidding on kitchen items. The next day I ordered this book and it has been my guide ever since, with so many kitchen items out there, fakes and repros, it's good to have a helper to guide you thru a maze of online auctions and fleamarket finds.
The description are accurate, there are plenty of pictures, the index and glossaries are very well organized, it also gives marks, how the items have changed over the years, who made them, where when and how they were used. I love it.
A Packrat's Delight!.......2005-01-11
This is packrat Linda Campbell Franklin's fifth edition...for many good reasons!
What first seems like a hodgepodge of items to a beginner-collector or student, has a certain logic or shorthand to those in the know, and to those getting acquainted with kitchen collectibles, it's an eye opening education! All sorts of pointers, reproduction alerts and historical notes are placed throughout the book, to avoid being duped by many fakes.
Yes as one reviewer noted, there is scant information on items less than 75 years old, and that's just fine with me..these 890 pages are going to keep me interested and learning for quite a while! The little color section isn't terribly helpful...more smaller photos of items could have been placed in these expensive pages. Still for most of these mechanical items, color is not the key in identification. I'm just tickled to be able to recognize what a peculiar gadget is/was used for! So if someone realistically wants more black and white pictures/drawings, bring them on..and yes there could be sharper photos of some blurry items taken for better clarity in a future edition-it's not a problem for me!
She lists many references for those seeking more information, and addresses to contact specialized collectors or clubs. Well worth the price of admission, alone!
This is a delightful "must have" for the "kitchen curious" and beginning collectors!
I liked it so much I gave it away.......2002-06-06
Seldom is a reference book an entertaining read. Seldom is a good read easy to reference and find information quickly. This book does an excellent job of bridging both worlds. For the casual auction hound or dealer this book is invaluable.
I liked the book so much I was wondering what to give my mother for mother's day. She's one of those people who either has everything she needs or goes and gets what she needs when she wants it. The idea of giving her this book struck me as a good one. Reluctantly I gave her my copy. She clearly has enjoyed it, she allows me to look at it when I'm visiting. She hasn't been willing to loan to me though.
Not worth the price........2002-04-17
The 300 years of Kitchen Collectibles is sorely lacking in information about the last 75 years of kitchen collectibles. The majority of the book covers what I would call primitive kitchen items. The photos are grainy and lack detail. If you have a kitchen item that you need to identify..this book might prove useful.
Book Description
America's triumphant Queen of Junk homes in on where the heart dwells--in the kitchen--with vintage treasures that add spice to life and cost next to nothing
In the effervescent yet practical style of her American Junk and Garden Junk, Mary Randolph Carter tracks down and rescues kitchen gems everywhere from thrift shops to tag sales to country auctions. Kitchens are often the source of our earliest memories--eating oatmeal before school, lingering over a cup of hot chocolate. If the kitchen is old, with appliances that challenge decorative instincts, or characterless and crying out for touches of nostalgia (old Tupperware is more and more in demand), the answers lie in Kitchen Junk.
From the era of "good housekeeping" come bib aprons and blue feather dusters, wooden ironing boards and handcrafted scrub brushes. Dinette sets, gingham notepads and oilcloth picked up coast to coast for $2 to 10 cents...vintage cookbooks and old milk bottles...a porcelain-enamel table top and sentimental kitchen samplers...midcentury calico roosters and white granite-ware pitchers a hundred years old but timeless...the stoves, toasters, and clocks of yesteryearall contribute to the author's signature arrangements and inspire readers to create their own. Before and after photographs, prices, and hints on junk hunting and haggling mingle with tips on cleaning old linens, avoiding rust on baking pans, and much more. With an extensive Junk Guide that lists flea markets and other "junking sites" countrywide, Kitchen Junk is the reference for thrifty, evocative, eclectic furnishing of the hub of the house.
Customer Reviews:
SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!.......2000-11-09
Whether we call ourselves collectors, buffs, aficionados or even pack rats, let's face it - we like stuff! One need only to note the proliferation of garage sales or the thousands who cram flea markets to know that we're a nation of accumulators, and Mary Randolph Carter, author of "American Junk," now hones in on the heart of our homes and serves up Kitchen Junk, the ultimate guide to everything culinary that's fun to hunt, costs a pittance, and will give a kitchen retro charm.
An unlikely candidate for "Queen of Junk," Ms. Carter is the Vice President of Advertising at Polo/Ralph Lauren. With her husband and two sons she maintains homes in New York City and Duchess County, New York, where, as she says, there's too much junk. Nonetheless, she abides by her motto "Never stop to think, do I have a place for this?"
With over 400 lush colored photographs and a state by state guide for junking forays, Kitchen Junk is the ultimate guide for shoppers. Helpful information offered includes a dress code and tips on haggling: "Most dealers worth their junk expect a bit of a tug-of-war."
One of the most appealing chapters, "A Checkered Life," is devoted to red and white checked items. These pages are replete with tablecloths, napkins, dish towels, aprons, gingham, oilcloth, mitts and even a rooster in those trademark all-American colors. Ms. Carter demonstrates how to set a table with these items and create an atmosphere based on "the fantasy of the farmyard."
Such aprons you have never seen - a bib apron embellished with a picture of a young girl cleaning her plate, a half apron fashioned of a cloth decorated with kitchen tools, a "Some Like It Hot" barbecue apron for him, a strawberry pattern for her. Prices of the items and where they were found are also noted.
Stating that 50% of kitchen time is spent at the sink, the author spruces up that area with an enamel soap dish found for $3.00 at a New York flea market, French agatewear bowls - a steal at $10.00 per, and vintage cut glasses discovered at garage sales for an average of 50 cents each.
Everyone knows what the staff of life is and bread boxes abound from "A hinged lift-top bread box decorated with a frieze of teapots and kitchen ware. It beckoned from a yard sale in Virginia for $3.00." to a "1930s English enameled bread bin."
Few how-to's and where-to's are overlooked in this enthusiastic paean to collecting. With Kitchen Junk in one hand and a Mapsco in the other many will prove the old saw that one man's trash is another man's treasure. Happy hunting!
The Martha Stewart of Junk..........2000-04-26
Anyone who can make REAL junk look this good is a friend of mine! As a casual collector of things old with a special place for kitchen collectibles, I found this book fascinating not only for its content - such a wide variety of items - but also for the excellent photography, creative displays, and down-home narrative style. While you won't find this useful as a pricing guide, you can still get a feel for values of some everyday items you might find. This was my second book by Mary Randolph Carter and they have become my "coffee table" books. (I now have all 3 of her Junk books.)
The difference between junk and junque is..........1999-12-05
... junk is stuff you should throw out and junque is what it becomes through Mary Randolph Carter's eyes. Yes, this makes a trio of "junk" books, but her approach is infectious, humorous and fun. She is clearly setting up faux scenarios, not telling us how to live with old rusty flour sifters! There's food for thought among the frolic. If you believe the keys to understanding a civilization are in its flotsam and jetsam, you will learn a lot about 20th century America here. And there's plenty of good advice about flea marketeering, how and where, etc. In fact, after lapping up each chapter, it's all I can do to keep from hitting the road! P.S. Thank you, Mary, for not finding MY favorite junque spots!
A Trip Through Time and Space.......1999-11-27
Ms. Carter's book was true journey thru the past.Who would not want to be reminded of our youth and members of families and oour friends who did not just collect this stuff but actually used it in their kitchens and homes. Thank you Mary Randolph Carter for your beautiful book and for bringing me back to years gone by. You must be a swell girl.
Am I a Junk-e?.......1999-11-22
My wife and I loved the first two Junk books. When we saw Kitchen Junk we thought Ms Carter might be milking a good thing. But, we found it just as fascinating and maybe even more fun. The photography is great, the "negotiating" tips are priceless; if you have even the slightest interest in what has to be the greatest way to spend leisure time...flea market hopping...you'll love this book. We did.
Book Description
Many new photos and new discoveries and information make this book indispensable to all glass collectors and dealers. More than 5,000 items are showcased in beautiful professional color photos with descriptions and values. Many new finds and exceptionally rare pieces have been added. The highly collectible glass from the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s fills the nearly 300 pages, in addition to the ever-popular Fire King glassware. This comprehensive encyclopedia provides an easy to use format, showing items by color, shapes, or patterns. The collector will enjoy the pages of glass, from colorful juice reamers, shakers, rare and unusual glass knives, to the mixing bowls and baking dishes we still find in our kitchen cupboards. The price guide has been revised to reflect the current collector market. 272 pages. 2005 values. AUTHORBIO: A collector since childhood, Gene Florence's hobby of buying and selling glassware turned into a full-time career. First writing a book on Depression Glass, Florence has gone on to author many popular glassware titles including books on Depression Glass; Occupied Japan Collectibles; Kitchen Glassware; Very Rare Glassware; 40s, 50s, 60s Glassware;Elegant Glassware; Stemware; Glassware Pattern Identification; Anchor Hocking's Fire-King; Glass Candlesticks; and Salt Pepper Shakers. REVIEW: Written by America's top authority on Depression glass, this is undeniably the definitive reference on kitchen glassware. The highly collectible glass from the Depression era through the 1960s fills its pages, in addition to the ever-popular Fire-King and Pyrex glassware. In an easy-to-use format, more than 5,000 items are showcased. -John Alvey
Customer Reviews:
Kitchen glassware identification.......2006-06-11
This book goes everywhere with me! I've bought a lot of reference books, and it's definitely one of the best.
KITCHEN GLASSWARE IDENTIFICATION.......2006-03-22
THIS BOOK IS NOT ONLY A NECESSITY TO USE TO KNOW THE VALUE OF ANTIQUE GLASSWARE, IT SO INTERESTING JUST TO BROWSE THROUGH WITH ALL THE COLORFUL GLASSWARE AND ITEMS YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IN YEARS AND SOME I'VE NEVER SEEN. I'VE REALLY ENJOYED LOOKING AT THIS BOOK OVER AND OVER AGAIN.
it's a keeper.......2006-03-12
An excellent resource superior to their book on Oven Ware. I would highly recommend. Lots of pictures and values.
Life Saver.......2005-10-24
I have been using Florence's books for research and pricing. What a world of help and knowledge!!!I recommend this book for those, like me, who are new and need a helping hand and guidance as well as for those who have been in the business for years. My thanks!!!
An always learning, collector........2005-09-07
This is a beautiful book, well organized, clear photographs, with many "don't get fooled" tips.
Book Description
A "collectors" place is now in the kitchen! Readers will experience an enjoyable visual view of the kitchen, with this full-color, generously illustrated book highlighting postwar collectible kitchen gadgets, plastic house wares, accessories, and much more.
This impressive identification and price guide features more than 1,200 color photographs of vintage advertisements and magazine covers. For collectors who want to value their collection, it also contains listings and prices for 2,200 kitchen and food preparation items, such as utensils, mixers, pans, molds, juicers, shredders, slicers, can openers, and more. Dealers, decorators, designers, and historians alike will appreciate all this rich and entertaining guide has to offer.
* Over 1,200 color photographs of vintage advertisements and magazine covers offer an enjoyable visual view of kitchen collectibles * Includes listings and prices for 2,200 postwar gadgets
Customer Reviews:
Spiffy Kitchen Collectibles - fun to read and own.......2007-10-01
I have enjoyed this book very much. It is very informative. I own lots of kitchen collectibles, but was not sure of their use. Now I know. This book has covered a wide range of items and every page is bright and colourful. I'm sure others will enjoy this book as much as I do. It sure takes you back to the "Good Old Days". A great book to browse through and add to your collection.
Anne.......2006-11-10
This book is great. There are so many kitchen items featured that it is amazing. It has been really helpful for me.
Warning--this is the same as the Warmans Kitschy Kitchen Collectibles Field Guide.......2006-06-09
I just recieved Spiffy Kitchen Collectibles and was quite disappointed to find out that it is exactly the same graphics and photographs as contained in the Warmans Kitschy Kitchen Collectibles Field Guide, just in larger format. I saw they were by the same author, but didn't think they'd be exactly the same inside!
A Fabulous Book!.......2003-10-14
Excuse the enthusiasm, but Spiffy Kitchen Collectibles is an amazing book. It's accurate, informative and beautiful. And on top of that, it's a hoot. Filled with more than 1,000 full-color pictures of kitchen gadgets of all kinds, the book is part identification guide, part price guide and part stroll down memory lane. Covering Post World War II kitchen ware, the book includes hundreds of period magazine advertisements, helping to put the collectibles in context. Visually, it's brilliant. Some of the pictures are small but that's only because there are so many included. You don't have to be a collector to enjoy this book. But if you are, you'll find the book handier than an Ecko egg beater. Buy it. Read it. Enjoy.
Product Description
The Book of Griswold & Wagner, referred to as the "blue book" by collectors is the most complete, accurate, and widely used reference and is coveted by collectors. It is now back in its 4th edition with even more pictures and updated values.
Customer Reviews:
Serviceable Reference Guide.......2007-08-30
This book took a couple of reads to get the hang of. While the historical essays were interesting, a detailed description of how to use the guide, where the various identifiers could be found on respective pieces, as well as a tone geared toward the lay person could have made this book significantly more useful.
I will definitely take a look at other similar guides if given the chance, but this book will do for now.
Also, while this is the fourth edition, the beginning of the book makes it seem that the prices are only current with the printing of the first edition, which was in 1995 (?). So why weren't the prices updated with subsequent printings?
Overall it's very useful, but I wish I could have browsed and compared at local bookstores.
Great photo reference for Griswold Collectors.......2006-08-06
I'm just getting started collecting Griswold cast iron, and I bought this guide recently because I wanted some sort of reference point for assessing cast iron at auctions, flea markets, antique malls, etc. I'm not a dealer, and (so far, anyway) I don't purchase or sell any cast iron on-line.
I really like this guide, since it's descriptive, inclusive, and has photos and illustrations which are more than sufficient for determining what you're looking at when you're standing over the vendor's table. The major complaint that I've read about this guide is that the prices haven't been updated. That's true - it says right in the front of the book that the prices were gathered in 1995, even though this is the fifth edition and has supposedly been revised a few times since. But, I get the impression from what I'm seeing in the marketplace that, whether due to this book itself or due to the market for cast iron, the prices quoted are still fairly accurate for most pieces. At any rate, it still serves as a great relative pricing guide, to tell you how the various pieces compare to each other. People have said that the prices quoted in here are not reflective of on-line auctions for cast iron, though whether they're generally lower or generally higher, I don't know. Since I'm not buying or selling on-line, I can't really comment, but I do know that on-line bidders have a tendency to go haywire sometimes. These seem to me to be accurate prices for antique malls or flea markets, though. A few people have complained about the quality of the photos, but I think that this is a baseless complaint, since the photos and illustrations are very clear and easily sufficient to distinguish one piece from another. The authors even show a few select counterfeits, and do a side-by-side comparison of the genuine piece versus the counterfeit. They also included a nice informative blurb about the history of each company which is represented in this guide, and a list of part numbers for each line which is invaluable if you're trying to tell just what it is you're looking at. I wish I could give it four and a half stars - it deserves the extra half. I'd give it a fifth star if they'd put a little more effort into detailing some of the diagnostic features typical to pans of a specific vintage - I'm still a little in the dark about just which handle is the "old handle" and which handle is the "new handle," given that I've seen at least four or five handle styles on these pans, and I'd like to know a bit more about some of the skillets which were manufactured by Griswold but don't say "Griswold." such as Victors and Puritans, etc. The authors do give full pricing and photograhic information for those makes, but they don't really give any information about why they exist or why they don't say "Griswold" on them.
By the way, this review is mostly focused on Griswold. I don't collect Wagner, Favorite, Sidney Hollow-ware, or Wapak. On the whole, I would say that even though I don't collect these brands, this is a very good guide for Wagner as well, and an alright guide for the other three brands. Favorite, Sidney Hollow-ware, and Wapak don't get nearly the attention that Griswold and Wagner get in this book, but I get the impression that those companies weren't as successful and didn't have quite the diversity of products in the first place that Griswold or Wagner did.
Very pleased.
Book Description
Conscious cooks in the 1950s equipped their drawers and cupboards with the latest and greatest specialty doohickies, thingamajigs, and must-have products. From the Saucy Stovetop Butter Melter to the Chop-o-Matic, if there was a vegetable to chop or meat to be carved, there was a device to make it better and easier! ATOMIC KITCHEN presents a gallery of gadgets, features, and cooking devices that appeared—and in some cases, disappeared—during the creative cooking 1950s. Accompanied by illustrations of vibrant, original packaging and vintage advertisements, you'll marvel at the ingenuity of the minds that brought you the Weenie Wheel, Bean-X Bean Slicer, Cookie Gun, and much more.
Customer Reviews:
Nuclear ladies delight.......2005-11-13
The housewife in the atomic days of the Fifties was the ideal person for manufactures to sell their products to and what better place than her kitchen, didn't every home need new appliances, furniture, color schemes, lighting and especially gadgets to make everything so effortless, well, that was the promise. The two hundred plus colorful pictures in this book provide a backward (though essentially superficial) glance at what was on offer.
Unfortunately this book is a sequel to the publisher's previous title 'Atomic Home' (ISBN 1888054891) and like that book it has the same faults, short blocks of copy that don't relate to the photos on the same page, none of the images are dated (would it really take too much effort to say that the painting on page thirteen is a Saturday Evening Post cover for September twelve, 1959?) pictures overlap each other, colored backgrounds and shapes (with a different color on each spread, too) frequently get as much space as the illustrative material.
Of the three chapters the one devoted to Gadgets and Accessories is the most intriguing, thousands of small companies across the Nation must have churned out handy gadgets and rather uniquely they all seemed to be sold in dreadfully designed packaging. Just how often would the spaghetti fork (page 154) with a small handle at one end to rotate the tines, be used, most likely never? How about an automatic butter curler...no home should be without one! There are lots of ads showing these dubious products and some incredibly flat still-life photos as well.
Atomic Kitchen is a colorful look back to that suburban palace but for a more organised view check out 'Inspiring 1950s Interiors' (ISBN 0764304585) admittedly its excellent colored photos cover the whole house but there are fifty-two kitchen sets to be seen. Gadgets get a good showing in Michael Goldberg's 'Groovy Kitchen Designs for Collectors' (ISBN 0764300105) with three hundred photos of appliances and gadgets and some actually look like they could be useful.
***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.
THE SPACE AGE KITCHEN OF YESTERYEAR!.......2005-07-26
Odd the way style is...the once considered tacky and gaudy kitchen designs of the 1950's are now hot among collectors and homeowners today as everyone is going retro. Walk into a Target store and see how they've adopted to the look of the 1950's with their brightly colored new appliances and gadgets. I guess after years of having everything being so uniform and style not mattering, people are again looking to spice up their homes with color. "Atomic Kitchen" is a great source of reference for people looking to capture that retro look, or just take a glimpse back in time some 50's years ago to see what homemakers of the time had available to them.
The book begins with an introduction to...the kitchen and points out how the kitchen came to replace the family hearth as the central gathering place for friends and family. As new, smaller homes were built in the 1950s, the dining room was often replaced with a larger kitchen in order to serve both functions of preparing food and eating it. Thus it became important for homemakers to be able to express their style but also have great functionality as well. For the first time, appliances not only had to work good, but they had to look good as well. Color was the order of the day. Not only with small appliances but large appliances as well. Consumers had an entire rainbow of colors to choose from, from bright reds and yellows to soft blues and pinks, and everything could be color coordinated.
Atomic Kitchen provides hundreds of vintage advertising that display the latest and greatest in new items for the home...all designed to be better and make your life easier. The 50's saw an explosion in new gadgets for the home. You had to have a handy new gadget to do everything from opening cans and jars to crushing ice, to making waffles. If there was a task that needed to be done, some manufacturer was going to come up with a new, electric way of getting it done automatically. Rival had an entire line of such items like the Juice-o-mat, Slice-o-mat, grind-o-mat, ice-o-mat, and who knows how many more. One could buy knife sharpeners, potato chip makers, sandwich toasters, ravioli makers...no mundane task was ignored it seems. But even with all these new appliances, they were still heavy-duty, often made of stainless steel and built to last years...unlike the almost disposable appliances we have to contend with today.
It's such a treat just to browse through this book and see the many wonderful items, many long-forgotten, that were in use fifty years ago. These ads give us a glimpse into an era when these new appliances must have been looked at as life-savers for people's kitchens. Just a fantastic book!
Don't miss this one!.......2004-12-16
Wow! What a fun and interesting book. It brought back many delightful memories as I was a young girl in the 1950s with a Mother that absolutely loved to cook. I was especially tickled to see the "sandwich toaster". Mother used to make all types of delicious sandwiches using that gadget! If you enjoy collectibles, you won't want to miss this book.
Great book. Highly recommend........2004-12-14
Like the author, I too am a collector of kitchen gadgets. I collect gadgets from all time periods so I was intrigued by the Atomic Kitchen and its focus on the period following World War 2 and up through the 50's. The photos are clear and crisp. Many from popular magazines I recall seeing at my folks. I found the book to be informative and insightful. While I am a collector, I would recommend this book to any one with an interest in kitchens and collectibles.
Trip Thru Time.......2004-12-14
Must admit, I have no clue as to how the other reviewer could not enjoy this trip thru time. It reminded me so much of my childhood and the things my mom had in her kitchen. I could almost smell the cookies from the oven. The author really did a great job!! I have already purchased a few other copies as it is going to make a great Christmas gift for my sisters Doris and Shirley.
Book Description
Three of the most collectible lines of vintage dinnerware are throughly explored in this major work written by expert collectors. Colorful Fiesta, Harlequin, and Kitchen Kraft sets made since 1936 by The Homer Laughlin China Company are shown in 592 color photographs and detailed measured drawings along with extensive analysis of the shapes, marks, production methods, and decorations. Their enormous popularity, originally and now, has made these dinnerware lines familiar to four generations of Americans, and this reference will link them with collectors, dealers, and users long into the future.
Customer Reviews:
The definitive Fiestaware® and Harlequin® text........2002-05-16
This is the definitive text on Fiestaware®, Harlequin® and Kitchen Kraft. It was written for collectors by collectors (the combined efforts of the Homer Laughlin China Collectors Association.)
The book has insightful, smart and readable text that was reviewed by experts for accuracy. Each piece is illustrated with gorgeous, professional full-color photos, scale line drawings and details on its manufacture.
Homer Laughlin gave the authors unprecedented access to the original journals of Franklin Rhead, the original designer behind Fiestaware® and Harlequin®, and it shows.
This is more of a textbook than a guide. I find myself using it constantly. For Fiesta and Harlequin® collectors there is no equal.
The *Definitive* Fiesta Reference Book.......2002-02-06
This book, by far and away, is THE BEST for the collector of Homer Laughlin colourware. It has an amazing amount of detail and answers almost every question a person could ask about the dishes named in the title. Measured line drawings are an invaluable help for both the novice and seasoned collector. And it is quite a treat to see photos of nearly every piece in all glaze colours. I found the price guide to be a major improvement over most, as each piece is priced individually by colour.
Readers are treated to a wonderfully accurate history of the dishes. Several rumours that have circulated among the collecting community over the years are laid to rest. The fact that the authors had access to both Frederick Rhead's journals and the HLC modeling logs resulted in a book that is sure to become "The Fiesta Bible".
It is quite refreshing to be able to consult a reference for information, and know that it is factual and free of some author's prejudice and innuendo. This particular book sets a new standard for what collectors' books should be. A MUST BUY!!!
Get the Huxford One First.......2001-10-20
This is a fine quality coffee table type book, with heavy paper and nice color reproduction. If you are an advanced collector who owns every book about Fiesta as well as every piece of Fiesta, you will want this book.
If you are a new collector who has absolutely no idea what any thing is, have no assortment of Fiesta to look at as you read and have no spatial visualization skills, you will want this book because it very pedantically gives every measurement every which way so that you can figure out that your plate that measures 9 5/8 inches is ... surprise commonly called the 9" luncheon plate, and not some "rare, unknown, experimental" due to that extra 5/8". In fact, if you are given to such flights of imagination, especially when pricing your items for sale, please buy this book.
If you are the average collector who falls in the middle, who has seen a set or two of Fiesta, or owns some already, who knows the difference between a bowl and a cup, the tried and true Huxford book, also out at this time in a new edition at about ... and in stock at ..., is the more standardly used alternative, and the one that all but the most novice collector would probably find the better value.
Given the hype-.......2001-05-05
Given all the hype that has been sounded off about this book, I guess my expectations were far too high. I expected something that would make me throw away my Snyder book for the pictures, stop constantly using my Huxford for the information and become enraptured with this one... sorry folks. I found the "one item to a page" thing a little too overdone and self important. Really, MORE information on LESS pages at a LOWER cost would have been much preferred. At 39.95, it is unlikely that I will buy the next (inevitible) edition...- I mean, just how many photos of a single item, followed by a line drawing of the same item, do you need to see?... Huxfords have always kept prices at around $20 per each edition update.... at $40 I would rather buy a piece of Fiesta than (a second edition of) this book. If you can, buy it used or borrow it.
The definitive guide fro collecting Fiesta & harlequin.......2000-12-09
If you are a beginning collector of Fiesta, Harlequin or Kitchen Kraft, this book will be an excellent source of information, particularly with regard to colors, dimensions and marks, the most commomly asked questions. If you are a more advaned collector, there is still a wealth of information to be found in this reference. The inclusion of dimensions for each piece is a subtantial improvement over most collectors guides to dinnerware. An absolute must own for the Fiesta or Harlequin collector!
Book Description
Popular in the 1930s and 1940s, Bakelite has again become a material of choice for many collectors, and this is the informative guide that Bakelite enthusiasts have been waiting for! Barbara E. Mauzy provides a definitive look at Bakelite with almost 600 full-color photographs of thousands of pieces, including their descriptions and values. More than 40 categories of kitchenware are presented in this appealing volume that covers gadgets, flatware, napkin rings, children's utensils, and even some non-kitchen examples too colorful and fun to miss. This is the one, indispensable source of information on dating, manufacturers, and designs that is an absolute must for the dealer, the collector, even the non-collector., 573 color photos, 8 1/2" x 11", Price Guide
Book Description
Patrick Dunne has made a career of collecting and researching the history of fascinating and beautiful culinary implements and his accumulated knowledge is ripe for collecting in a book. From absinthe spoons to caf-au-lait bowls, he illuminates a wide variety of subjects with verve and authority. Lavishly illustrated, part food history, part a connoisseurs handbook, the epicurean collector will appeal to a broad readership interested in antiques as well as the more general areas of food presentation, entertaining, and style at the table.
Customer Reviews:
Tour de Force.......2003-04-01
Patrick Dunne is one of, if not the, leading experts on food-related antiques in America, and French antiques in general. His shop on Chartres street is one of the best-kept secrets in New Orleans. This book lists "et al" as additional authors of The Epicurean Collector, but don't believe it: without Dunne, there is no book. This stunning book is a fascinating look at lovely pieces and Dunne's excellent prose. If you love antiques related to food, own this book and be very happy.
A scrumptious delight for the eye and mind.......2002-09-27
This ravishingly beautiful book is also a highly entertaining and informative jaunt through history. Patrick Dunne writes with great wit and intelligence. Whether discussing the unusual "sugar nipper" or the ordinary egg, he succeeds in bringing alive whole worlds. This is a wonderful book.
Books:
- The Booklover's Repair Kit: First Aid for Home Libraries
- The Complete Pinball Book: Collecting the Game and Its History (Schiffer Book for Collectors) (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
- The French-Inspired Home, with French General
- The Great Earthquake and Firestorms of 1906: How San Francisco Nearly Destroyed Itself
- The Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly/Disassembly: Automatic Pistols (Gun Digest Book of Firearms Assembly/Disassembly)
- The Indian in the Cupboard
- The Invention of Hugo Cabret
- The Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes (Klutz)
- The Magical Garden of Claude Monet
- The Norton Sampler, Sixth Edition
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
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- The Grapes of Wrath
- On the Track: A Guide to Contemporary Film Scoring, Second Edition
- Lonely Planet Moroccan Arabic Phrasebook
- Shadowrun: Street Magic
- The Sword of Truth
- Silver Pigs: A Detective Novel in Ancient Rome
- Macromedia Flash Professional 8 Game Development
- Fundamental Managerial Accounting Concepts w/ Topic Tackler CD-ROM, Net Tutor, and Power Web
- Big Gold Dream
General
| Antiques & Collectibles
| Home & Garden
| Subjects
| Books
The Book of Griswold & Wagner: Favorite * Wapak * Sidney Hollow Ware (Schiffer Book for Collectors)
Collectors Guide to Wagner Ware and Other Companies with Prices
Griswold Cast Iron Vol. #2
Griswold Cast Iron Vol. #1
Antique Iron: Identification and Values
