Checkerboard

January, 2019

In This Issue

This issue of the Checkerboard is largely devoted to Baking Powder Tins. It consists of three components:

The first is an article written by Linda Seeley who has been a passionate collector of baking powder tins for many years and has assembled a large collection of rare and hard-to-find examples. In her article, she recounts her journey in collecting this charming genre. We are also offered a glimpse of her expansive collection.

In the next article, Tom Licouris, another serious collector of baking powder tins, provides a historical retrospective. We are also treated to some photos of his impressive collection.

In the third element of this special issue, AAAA is proud to present the "Baking Powder Tin Value Guide". This special publication, in the form of a stand-alone PDF document, represents the first value guide published by AAAA in many years. The 16-page Value Guide features a photo gallery of almost 200 different types of baking powder tins---the complete collection of Linda Seeley plus a few additional examples from the collection of Tom Licouris. Linda and Tom collaborated on the determination of value ratings for each type. This Value Guide should prove to be a very helpful resource for all collectors of baking powder tins. For non-collectors, it still stands as a delightful testament to the beauty and diversity of this area of collecting.

AAAA wishes to express its thanks and appreciation to Linda and Tom for all of the appreciable work that went into these articles and the Baking Powder Tin Value Guide. If you have any questions or comments for Linda or Tom, please click here and they will be forwarded to them.

By Linda Seeley

The origins of my tin collection go back all the way to when I was a child. Our family home was originally a two-room country store in rural North Carolina. When we moved in, we found a Holtzman Pretzel tin that had been left behind (left photo). We saved the tin because our last name was Holtzmann. Even though the spelling on the tin differed slightly from our name, we liked it anyway. I guess that tin set the stage for my subsequent collecting adventures.

I started actually collecting tins in the late 70's after seeing an article about how to display collectibles in Good Housekeeping Magazine. The beautiful graphics and colors just seemed to speak to me. Before I knew it, I was searching shops in northern Virginia where were were living at the time. Our small apartment began to fill and I eventually had to narrow the collection, like many of us do from time to time.

I acquired a number of tobacco tins as my Daddy grew tobacco. However, prices were sometimes more than I could afford. So I shifted to baking powder tins because I love to bake and I already had some good tins, like Hoffman and Golden Rod. Most of the baking powder tins I acquired were affordable and colorful and they fit well in my kitchen. Many of my non-collecting friends say they are glad they don’t have these dust collectors and I say I am glad they don’t own them either!

I also collect other advertising items: washing powder, stove polish, old patent medicines, cosmetics, and talc. However, baking powder remains my favorite. 

I have often heard that a person should buy the best tins that they can afford. With baking powder tins, however, I learned that I had to buy them when I found them. Many of my tins are not in the best condition but most are the only ones that I have ever seen. I don't find many advertising tins in our region. My favorite places to shop are at the AAAA conventions, the Adamstown, PA area antique malls, and Bill Morford's auctions. 

We live in a larger home now. My husband Bill is not a collector and, as many of you know, it can be difficult when your spouse does not share the collecting bug. But Bill and I have found a compromise. I agreed not to fill the walls with signs and to leave room in the garage for his Harley! 

Happy collecting! I hope you enjoy my collection. It has been fun sharing with you.

Some baking powder tins from the collection of Linda Seeley

Views of the Linda Seeley Baking Powder Tin Collection

Baking powder revolutionized the baking world. Without it, there would be no cakes, pancakes, biscuits and donuts! It all began with Alfred Bird, a British chemist, who discovered and began manufacturing the first product that resembled baking powder in 1843. Bird’s wife was allergic to yeast and eggs so he created baking powder as an alternative leavening agent. In 1856, Eben Norton Horsford refined Bird’s invention into the first modern baking powder, which he marketed under the name Rumford.

Soon baking powder was a huge business and hundreds of companies sought control of the market with competing formulas, advertising campaigns and price wars. In order to capture a share of the market, colorful and graphic tins were created. Eventually, Clabber Girl and Calumet won the baking powder wars, which are still sold in our grocery stores today.

Because the baking powder industry was so competitive, companies needed to stand out and began producing beautiful tins for their product. Today, the most desirable tins from a collecting standpoint are those that are most colorful and graphic. My wife and I find this to be true with any area of antique advertising collecting. We are drawn to the baking powders by their beautiful graphics and varying sizes. Our love of collecting country store advertising began 40 years ago. The collection of baking powder tins makes an interesting mini collection within our country store collectibles.

Some baking powder tins from the collection of Tom Licouris

A glimpse of the Tom Licouris Country Store

Collection where Baking Powder Tins are Displayed

Collectors eagerly seek out Value Guides to assist them in their in purchasing and sales decisions. The Antique Advertising Association of America has published a number of Value Guides over the years within the pages of PastTimes.

Topic areas have included:

 

Continuing in that tradition, AAAA is pleased to announce that it has produced a Value Guide on Baking Powder Tins. It is available to you as a member at no cost simply by clicking on the red button below.

  

The Baking Powder Tin Value Guide was inspired by the large Baking Powder Tin collection of Linda Seeley who authored the above article. Most of the photos in the guide came from her collection. Tom Licouris, who wrote the other article above, was recruited to assist in providing valuations. He also contributed some photos of tins that are not in Linda’s collection.

  

The Guide consists of two sections: an 8 page Gallery and a 6 page alphabetized Value Listing. The Guide is intended to provide very general relative values of baking powder tins. A simple 1-5 rating scale is employed, with a “1” assigned to tins with very little value and a “5” assigned to tins with significant value. No dollar pricing is ventured. The reader is left to his or her best judgement. By providing “relative” value ratings of baking powder tin types, condition is not considered. Also not factored into the ratings is whether the tin is opened or unopened or full vs. empty. As such, this Guide is intended to provide the most “high-level”, basic guidance possible. Value ratings were based on the years of collecting experience gained by Linda and Tom, in some cases augmented by references to the Worthpoint database. The Guide was not based on methodical, rigorous research of sales data and does not purport itself to be the final word on baking powder tin pricing.       

Once the Guide is downloaded, it is recommended that it be saved to your computer’s hard drive. It can also be printed for easy reference.

When you think about it, there are very few national collector events, other than auctions, that are largely targeted to the full range of antique advertising. The venerable Indy Antique Advertising Show, of course, comes to mind, as well as the Chicagoland Antique Advertising, Slot Machine & Jukebox Show (Coin Op Show) and the All American Collector's Show in Glendale, CA. Specialty events are also certainly out there but other full-range shows featuring antique advertising seem to come and go. Very few of them stand the test of time.

The AAAA Annual Convention has faithfully taken place every year since 1991. In all of those years, we have learned something about hosting an event that is fun and memorable.

Yet the AAAA Convention is different than any other enjoyable antique advertising event. Like others, the AAAA Annual Convention makes thousands of antique advertising items available for sale. Our room sales and silent auctions are very exciting!

However, our conventions go way beyond that. It is not just about what is bought and sold. At our events, it is just as much about fellowship that is nurtured by breaking bread together and being given the opportunity to make new friends and see old comrades. It is just as much about learning more about our hobby through seminars and informal discussions. It is just as much about supporting a group that, in turn, supports the hobby of collecting antique advertising.

Attending the AAAA Convention is something that should be on the "must-do" list of every collector of antique advertising. If you are a regular participant, the 2019 Convention will not disappoint. Have you attended at least once in the past 2-3 years? If not, make this the year you attend!

Our attendees consistently rave about the fun they had at the Convention. They love the active schedule that keeps them busy from morning 'til night. They express appreciation for how well-organized the event is. They are impressed by the quality of the seminars they attend. They enjoy the delicious meals and the first-class convention hotel environment. In recent years, they have also enjoyed the other collector groups we have collaborated with, such as the Graniteware folks, the Ice Screamers, and the Cracker Jack collectors.

We expect 300 or more participants, including our members, our collaborators, and the public! There will be a buzz of activity throughout much of the Convention.

The 2019 AAAA Convention will take place July 24-27 in our popular Reading (Wyomissing), PA location at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The Registration Fee remains at $125 per person which includes all convention activities and two full plated dinners, three robust breakfast buffets, and an ice cream tasting event hosted by the Ice Screamers club. Lunch is on your own. The hotel room rate is a heavily discounted $115 per night plus 11% taxes which includes wi-fi in your room and free parking.

 

We will once again collaborate with the Ice Screamers national club and the Graniteware collectors. AAAA members will be invited to attend selected activities of the Ice Screamers convention and vice versa. The Graniteware folks will be room hopping with us as buyers and sellers and they will also be attending our silent auction.

 

The schedule will keep you engaged and having fun from Wednesday evening through Saturday morning. Seminars, Silent Auction, Favorite Advertising Exhibit, room hopping, shared meals, Public Day, seeing old friends, making new acquaintances, buying selling and hanging out with kindred souls will make the time fly by.

 

When the convention ends early Saturday morning, we will turn you loose on one of the best antiquing locations in the US. Thousands of dealers can be found in dozens of antique malls nearby, many with inventories of antique advertising.

 

This year, we are introducing on-line Convention registration and payment! On-line registration is simpler, faster, more accurate, user-friendly, and efficient. Also, you will not need to mail in any checks. Confirmation of your registration will be provided immediately.

 

For those without internet access or an email address, our standard manual paper and pencil process will continue to be available.

 

Are you ready to register? Sellers who register early will get the best room assignments. So if you are ready now, go for it!

 

Click here to complete your on-line registration for the 2019 AAAA Convention. If you experience any problems or have any questions, call Paul Lefkovitz at 317-501-3832.

 

Click here for the paper-and-pencil registration form.

 

Click here for the Convention flyer. Please share it with your friends!

 

We hope to see you at the 2019 Convention! If you have any questions, click here to contact Paul Lefkovitz, Convention Coordinator.

You may have seen the Soulis Auctions ad that accompanied the December, 2018 issue of PastTimes. We have been asked to inform you that the date of their upcoming auction of the Monumental Castleman Collection of Antique American Advertising has been postponed. The new date will be Saturday, February 9 at 10 am. This Auction is growing! Please check their web site to stay tuned: SoulisAuctions.com . 816-697-3830.

Chupp Auctions-3-Day Winter Antique Auction

January 17, 18, and 19, 2019

Live Auction: Invaluable Auction

For more information, click here.

Don't let the generic title of this auction event fool you. It includes hundreds of desirable examples of vintage signs, display items and other forms of antique advertising. It is especially strong in the agricultural genre.

In this column are those sought-after items of desire that seem to be elusive. If you know where any of these items can be acquired or if you have one available, please click the link to reply directly to the seeker. To place a listing in this column, click here . There is no fee for AAAA members. Up to three listings per member are permitted.

Wanted Top Condition: Sunset Trail oval cigar tin (white version), Continental Cubes tobacco tin (medium size kidney shaped slide lid) 6” tall, Continental Cubes tobacco tin (larger flip lid pocket tin) 5” tall, Convention Hall Coffee tin (Kansas City tin) one pound GREEN and/or YELLOW version, Bob White tobacco tin small box (Ginna) size 3” by 4” by 2.5”. To reply, click here.

Stock food, poultry food, veterinary advertising wanted.  Posters, medicine packages, give-aways. Email [email protected] or call (256) 520-5211.

White Plastic 7" Tall "Pole Sign" Thermometers advertising local/regional gasoline/oil/service station brands such as: SPEEDWAY 79; SUPER 98; TOPCO; ROCKET; HANCOCK; BELL; OKLAHOMA. NOT the major national brands like Texaco. Peter Capell. To reply, click here.

Singer Sewhandy Model 20-Green-regular paint, not hammertone. To reply, click here.

National Biscuit Company, Nabisco, Uneeda Biscuit, Uneeda Bakers, Muth Bakery, NBC Bread toys, signage, tins, containers, displays, historical items. Please Email [email protected] or call (937) 205-2232.

Early Cigarette Rolling Papers: Pre-1940’s - American, Zig Zag, Braunstein Freres, Bambino, and Ottoman papers wanted. To reply, click here.

Antique/Collectible Banking and Financial System "Give-a way" and advertising items. Specifically from Pennsylvania. Alarm devices and such. To reply, click here .

Unusual one pound peanut butter tins . Tin litho or paper label. To reply, click here .

Marshmallow Tins, Smaller than 5 Pound Size. To reply, click here .

American Cookie, Biscuit and Cracker Tins and Boxes . To reply , click here .

Columbian Stove sign made by the Keeley Stove Co. in Columbia PA To reply, click here or call 717-572-3108.

 

VITAMINS advertising, displays, signs, bottles, and anything related: Hadacol is an example. Most would come from the 1930’s thru the 1970’s. Also anything related to cod-liver oil and WEIGHT-LOSS, REDUCING, ANTI-FAT, and OBESITY ITEMS. To reply, click here .

 

Early tin signs lithographed by Tuchfarber, Wells and Hope, Worcester Sign Company, Sentenne and Green, etc. I can pay more for good condition, but would be interested in any condition. Don Lurito  [email protected] also in the directory. To reply, click here .

 

Dwinell-Wright Co. Royal Ground Spice Cardboard Spice Boxes. One side displays horizontally. Approximately 3.75" by 2.25". Any type of spice is OK. To reply, click here .

 

ENSIGN Perfect and ENSIGN Perfection vertical pocket tobacco tins to enhance my collection. Feel free to contact me at 614-888-4619 or [email protected] to see if you can help fill the voids.

 

Ice Cream Advertising.  Mr. Ice Cream desires better ice cream advertising including: postcards, trade cards, letterheads, billheads, booklets, poster stamps, blotters, magic lantern slides, pinbacks, watchfobs and pocket mirrors. Allen Mellis, 1115 West Montana St. Chicago, Illinois 60614-2220.  [email protected] . To reply, click here .

 

Tall 1 lb. Mallard Coffee Can - Shows duck taking off. To reply, click here .

 

Chewing gum packs, sticks, wrappers, full boxes, lifesavers, candy bar wrappers, displays, and boxes.  Anything candy related. To reply, click here . 

 

Pre-1900 advertising items related to: barbed wire, farm fence gates, tools for erecting or mending wire fences, and farm fences. Only primary material please--no ads from newspapers, etc. Larry W. Love. To reply, click here .

 

Armour Foods Signs, Cardboards, Store Displays, Die-Cuts Wanted. To reply, click here .

 

Cigar advertising tip trays, pinbacks, or any unusual cigar advertising items. Harry Cohn: To reply, click here .

     

Edmands Coffee Company, Edmands Tea Company, 1776 Coffee, American Beauty Tea, Japan Tea, Devonshire Tea, (imported by Edmands, Boston/Chicago):  Any items such as tins, signs, paper, or anything else related to the Edmands family of companies in Boston is desired. To reply, click here .

The AAAA Checkerboard is a monthly e-newsletter that is made available to all AAAA members at no cost. The mission of the Checkerboard is to increase knowledge about antique and collectible advertising among AAAA members. The Checkerboard also provides news and updates about AAAA. It is produced each month with the exception of the four months per year when the award-winning PastTimes print newsletter is published. Paul Lefkovitz ( [email protected] ) serves as Editor of the AAAA Checkerboard. Copyright, 2018, Antique Advertising Association of America