Cooking Up Memories In Vintage Aprons

Whenever I think of kitchen aprons, or see my wife wearing her retro aprons around the house, I conjure up images of post World War II suburban America. Americans at this time had, in the aftermath of war, a renewed interest in "the home" and creating family units, if you will. The family represented everything that war didn't--comfort, safety, security, and a return to traditional gender roles. During wartime, women held jobs that were conventional for their husbands, but in the postwar era, there emerged this strong notion that men should be the primary breadwinners and women should make it their job to cultivate the home and raise the children.

According to a 1954 issue of McCall's magazine: "The most impressive and the most heartening feature of this change is that men, women, and children are achieving it together. They are creating this new and warmer way of life not as women alone or men alone, isolated from one another, but as a family sharing a common experience."

Such enthusiasm in regard to family togetherness generated an overall sense of strength and safety at a time when the threat of nuclear war was on everyone's mind. The nuclear family became a representation of shelter and refuge for America to the extent that, in advertisements especially, it became impossible to separate the image of the nuclear family from that of nuclear warfare and bomb shelters. The droll phrase used in ads at the time, as some of you may remember, was "Fallout can be fun."

It's funny how certain material objects can bring about imagery from another time, and as I mentioned before, this is what happens when my wife wears her retro aprons around the house. I find it a little ironic that she used to wear similar kitchen aprons 50 years ago--only they were a bit more authentic in that context. Now she wears them simply because they're vintage and "fun." She is quite the fashionable 75-year-old, I must say.

Even though I was once after the American Dream myself, and wanted that security of a nuclear family that was so coveted during the old days, I celebrate the fact that there are many different types of family units today. I love seeing my wife in her kitchen aprons, but the fact that she is a strong, opinionated woman who worked as a college professor for most of her life, makes them look even better on her. I couldn't imagine her playing any other role!

Author:
Written by Kacy Suther. Designer kitchen aprons, cute retro aprons and vintage aprons designed by Thia Designs on http://www.dlux57.com

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The Apron Book Vintage aprons and modern designs are turning up in movies, magazine spreads, upscale shops, and hip retail venues like Anthropologie, whose trendy line of aprons is selling as fast as they can ...

The Age of Antique Golf Clubs

Even though it is seldom easy to precisely distinguish an antique golf club from one that is merely an old golf club, there are several hints that can at least help us as collectors of golf memorabilia, to date a vintage club with relative accuracy, helping us to determine, ultimately, a golf clubs value.

The following 5 point test, which is really a preliminary golf club appraisal, can offer some quick insight on the approximate age of golf golf collectibles. Determing the age, as you would imagine, is the natural first step in establishing vintage golf club values.

The Grip - The texture of the grip can offer a meaningful hint about the age of an old golf club. Older clubs were generally equipped wit flocked suede grips. Generally speaking, clubs made after the early 1920's were manufactured with leather grips. It is also important to spend the time and energy to effectively determine whether the grip of a vintage golf club under evaluation is original or whether perhaps it could be a once or twice removed replacement. An accurate assessment here is critical as you begin your analysis.

The Club Face - The club face on antique golf irons is often smooth. Although many players manually scored their club faces, the marking of faces on vintage iron clubs was not introduced until the first few years of the 20th century. Again, even though this would certainly not rank as an exact method of dating old golf clubs, a smooth face would certainly indicate that you are in possession of a club that dates prior to 1905.


The Wooden Shaft Test - Whether or not the shaft is made of wood is a primary indicator of age. There were clubs manufactured after 1930 where preowned golf clubs with metal shafts were overlaid with plastic covers. Even though these are often represented as authentic wooden golf clubs, the old reliable magnet test can always uncover whether the original shaft is wood. If it not, this is a post 1930 age factor.

The Metal Club Head - Simple test. Prior to 1920, a different grade of steel was used to manufacture clubheads. This inferior grade of steel, as you would expect, results in clubs which today look more dated; dark colored, sometimes even rusty. An old golf club that still exhibits a shing clubhead woul point to a pice dated post 1920.

Markings or Stamps - If there is a marking or shop stamp, an Antique Gold Club Reference Guide , like our recommended resource could be used to date the club pretty precisely.

As with many antiques, often times the best way to preserve golf club value is to do nothing at all in the way of polishing, or painting, or shaft repair that would compromise the original integrity of the piece. Any reputable antique dealer, and particularly those in the golf collectibles arena, would be well equipped to help you understand those things that would enhance value vs those things which would compromise value.

Also, remember when acquiring a vintage golf club, especially through a commercial channel, to ensure that you receive a certificate of authenticity, and if possible, a golf club appraisal with your purchase.

K Harrigan
http://www.antiquegolfclubs.org

Author:
Kevin Harrigan

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Antique Furniture- Making The Right Purchase

Buying antique furniture may be harder than you ever anticipated. You may have to go through oceans of fakes and reproductions before you get to the genuine article. That is the reason why it is necessary to look at an item thoroughly before deciding to buy it. Antique shopping is not a place for impulse buying; it has to be approached with great care and research in order to get the most from your antique furniture purchases.

An example of things going awry in the world of antique purchases is the case of Sam. It was Sam's first time to purchase an antique furniture item. He had been saving for such and was thrilled when he found a magnificent piece that he strongly believed to be genuine. It was a huge display cabinet that was beautifully made. The smooth talk and wit of the salesman sealed the deal. It was only two days later that he discovered that he has been duped and that the piece was a reproduction from an unknown carpenter in a nearby locale. At the end, he ended up US $20,000 lighter and with a piece of furniture that was worth way less.

If it is your first time to purchase an antique item, be wiser than Sam. Consult a professional if you can. If you don't have the means to do so, try reading and looking up tips in how to spot the fake from the genuine article. Here are some basic tips and tricks to help you get a genuine purchase.

(1) Get a thorough look at the object. Look at all sides of it and even at the bottom part. Don't settle for something standing against a wall without looking at its back. Try looking at these objects under bright light as flaws will generally manifest themselves under the scrutiny of a bright glare. Be wary of sales personnel who seem pensive and hesitant to show you all sides of the item. Consider that a red flag, they are usually hesitant to show you the product because it will show its true nature as a fake, a refurbished item and maybe even a reproduction.

(2) Ask questions. Ask yourself and other people if it looks old enough. Notice the wear on the product and try to conclude if it's genuine or not. Never be hesitant to inquire about the item. Ask about its origins, its previous owners and whatever. Remember that a genuine piece will likely have a long string of history attached to it.

(3) Check the outward appearance and the quality of the product. Look out for uneven shading and hues as this will alert you that the product is of less quality. Of course, expect blemishes, but look out for signs of shoddy workmanship like nail head sticking out and other signs.

(4) Last, but not least, a second opinion is always important. There will be things that only another pair of eyes can notice. An expert's opinion will always be one of the best. If you have to shell out some cash for the services of a known expert, it is always much more productive than purchasing something above its perceived value.

To find great deals and a variety of antique furniture in the UK visit: http://www.antiquesbizarre.co.uk
Author Info:

For author bio visit:http://www.steviebabysblog.com/

Starting To Collect Antique Furniture Clear, relevant information on Western furniture from 1660 to 1900 by a leading authority. Now available in a new larger size.

How to Determine the Value of your Antique Collectibles

By: Casey Markee

Could you have a goldmine sitting in your attic? If you've been wondering whether your pre-war ceramic bowl is worth anything, you need to determine if you have a real antique on your hands. With over 100 million avid antique collectors worldwide all participating in a global market that could top $150 billion in 2008, there has never been a better time to revisit those old or cherished collectibles you may have in your possession.



Below are five guidelines to judge whether or not you should take the next step of meeting with a professional appraiser. You can also use these signs to make sure you're getting quality when you are buying antiques.



RARITY - Items are valuable because they are rare. For example, a limited edition printing of a painting is more valuable than a painting by the same artist that was distributed in wide release. There are a few different aspects that constitute rarity. An item can be considered rare if very few pieces were made to begin with or if just a few of the pieces are still in existence. You've also got something rare on your hands if it's in an unusual color or design for the particular type of antique. Other rare items include common items with an unusual size or shape.



AESTHETICS - A piece's aesthetic quality has a lot to do with its value. Even though aesthetic tastes are very personal, there are certain things that look good to everyone. When everything about the piece is balanced and harmonious, it's considered to be aesthetically appealing. If it's pleasing to your eye, it will probably be pleasing to others as well.



DESIRABILITY - Trends come and go in popular culture and they do in the antiques and valuable market as well. Trends depend on a number of factors. For example, after the death of a public figure there is an increase in demand for items related to that person.



AUTHENTICITY - Doing research on your item will help you tell whether or not it's authentic. There are certain types of antiques that are frequently replicated and without having a careful eye, you can be easily duped. Many types of antiques have guidebooks that detail what to look for in authentic pieces. A good appraiser will also be able to tell you if your piece is authentic.



GOOD CONDITION - If your item meets all of these standards, the only thing left to determine is its condition. Ideally, your item will be in the same condition that it was when it was first created. However, depending on the age of your antique, that's not always possible. The closer to mint (original) condition the more valuable it will be. In some cases, a very rare item will still be valuable even if it's in damaged condition.

Author Resource:-> Casey Markee is a consultant with worldwide consignment shop Nate D. Sanders, Inc. based in Los Angeles, CA. Visit them online today to view their incredible inventory covering everything from Hollywood memorabilia to historical autographs to signed Presidential memorabilia.

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100 Great Antique Automobiles in Full-Color Prints Splendid detailed prints depict 1853 Dudgeon Steam Wagon, Ford Quadricycle (1896), Stanley Steamer (1902), Holsman Surrey (1905), Riker Theatre Bus (1901), many others. Descriptive notes.

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The History behind Tactical Watches

Tactical watches were born from wrist watches that came from a man named Louis Cartier. Cartier made his friend, a Frenchman, Alberto Santos-Dumont a leather wrist band to hold his pocket watch for him and he made it popular in his native France.
Tactical Watches and Service Men - The wrist watch gained more popularity during World War I when officers came to realize they were more suitable than their normal way of telling time.

In addition, pocket watches were more of an item for the middle and upper classes, wrist watches were for the working class and the servicemen were certainly among the working class.

Infantry and artillery men needed to depend on their timepieces as the battles became more and more complicated. Because the attacks needed to be coordinated and the watches were needed on the ground as well as in the air, the military pilots found them to be just as useful as the patrolman on the ground did. Ultimately, the military commissioned their own manufacturer of wrist watches that had a black face and white numbers for ease of reading. They produced them by the masses for their troops, both airman and ground soldiers.

Tactical Watches in the Second World War - During the Second World War, a popular watch was similar to the former watch called the A-11 and had the basic needs of airmen in mind. It had a large black face and white numbers with aviation coordinates available.

Post War Tactical Watches - Following the war, soldiers wore their watches around town and they became even more popular with the middle and upper class. Then they helped to modify the wrist watches into more than just a timepiece. The standards were raised and watch makers added a chronometer, which is a clock that is used for navigational purposes and is designed for long term precision and accuracy. Then came the slide rules which made appropriate engineering and scientific calculations for many applications for both airmen and artillerymen.

Today's Tactical Watch - It wasn't before long that watch makers began tweaking and adding to the wrist watches and they began to come up with more and more sophisticated watches.
Today's tactical watches have had the input of several law enforcement agencies, Special Operations Units, SWAT teams, and military personnel before coming up with a design suited for all grades of tac tical units.
There are tactical watches today that come with software you download on your computer and then plug into the tactical watch and load various programs for what you want the watch for.

You can customize your tactical watch to fit your needs. Watches with Computers - Some tactical watches are actual computers that are no bigger than the ordinary sized watches, yet hold some of the most complicated programs for military; Special Forces and police would need out in the fields. There may be a few more buttons on the outer circle and a few more items to read in the manual, but other than that, these tactical watches are the same, durable and dependable watches as the rest of the tactical gear: ready for all conditions. There are programs for the tactical watches that are similar to a GPS tracking system.

There is software that can help you with your gun scope, or what's known as a ballistics calculator and wind velocity and muzzle velocity for shooting purposes. The watch is water resistant to 100 feet or more. Of course tactical watches have the date and time. Sometimes the watch will give more than one time zone, and has an alarm, as well as a stopwatch, a second hand, and a back light for night viewing. All of these features come in handy for many of the military and police who use the tactical watches.

They are also made for high altitudes and diving specifications such as being water resistant. Traditional Tactical Watches - Somewhere along the timeline, the leather watchband became a thing of fancy watches or everyday watches and the tactical watches adopted the strength of the nylon strap with Velcro to hold it in place. This has been a traditional piece of the tactical watch since its beginning. All of the traditional watchmakers manufacture tactical watches and military grade timepieces, but several clothing, knife and gun manufacturers also make and produce tactical watches.

They are all certified to military grade specifications and guaranteed to perform under the worst of conditions. Tactical watches are durable, dependable, military grade watches that are sold to the Armed Forces, Special Forces and police SWAT teams, as well as to the general public. There is a wide variety of styles and types to choose from depending on what you are going to be doing while wearing the tactical watch.


About the Author
William "Cole" Doggett is the owner of Knife & Supply Company, LLC. Not only will you find a massive selection of knives, but you will also find a very nice and affordable collection of Tactical Watches. Stop By!

A History of Vintage Automobiles - From 1916 to 1924

Before cars were around, people usually traveled distances using horse-drawn carriages. But as early as 1335 several bright minds have been trying to come up with a 'horseless carriage'.

In Italy there were quite a number of designs for wind-driven vehicles, none of which were ever built. Leonardo da Vinci designed a clockwork vehicle, but that too remained just a concept.
In America there were two prominent figures who would be remembered as forefathers of the modern automobile-- Ransom E. Olds and Henry Ford. Olds was the first mass producer of gasoline-powered automobiles in America, while Ford built several prototypes and began selling cars in 1903.However, these cars were really nothing more than crude horseless carriages, and they looked a lot like them too--the open body, the large, wooden wheels all screamed 'carriage without a horse'. But by 1916 certain developments enabled these carriages to become viable means of transportation, with better mechanics, increased power and efficiency, and most of all, safety and comfort.

uring the 1916-1924 period, most automobile designs have improved drastically.
The dangerous hand crank was replaced with electric starters, and kerosene lanterns were replaced by electric lighting. Enclosed bodies were also becoming more popular, and the windows can be raised or lowered at will. These improvements not only made automobiles more stylish, but also safer and more comfortable for both passengers and drivers.
Driving was slowly becoming more pleasurable.

Apart from increased comfort and security, another important characteristic of cars that became emergent during this period was the increase in durability and affordability. Automobile manufacturers like Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Buick, Plymouth, and Oldsmobile were mass-producing durable cars on assembly lines, which made it possible for more people to travel around at an affordable price. In addition, smaller companies began producing specific car components, adding to the ease of production and sustainability, and further lowering prices, which in turn increased the popularity of the automobile as the preferred mode of travel for everyone....

Visit Muscle Cars and Classic Cars to read more about these wonderful automobiles.

Vintage Cars Vintage Cars looks in detail at over 45 of the most collectible and desirable vintage cars from the UK, Europe, and America, providing a unique reference guide to the greatest pre-war automobiles ...