One of my favorite spots in our mall is the “Vintage Boutique”. It is filled with wonderful fashions from the late 1800’s to the 1970’s. You’ll find dresses, skirts, sweaters, coats, shoes, HATS, and more. We carry one of the largest vintage hat collections in the valley. Currently we have over 200 hats for sale.

One reason we have so many fabulous vintage hats is because of one of our Dealers, Dianna Hanson, also know to us as the “Hat Lady.” Dianna has been collecting for many years and her personal collection has grown to more than 1000 hats. Part of her collection is featured in the 2013 calendar, “365 Days of Hats.” You can learn more about the “Hat Lady” at hansonhats.com. Here is some interesting information gathered from her website.

Dating a Vintage Hat by Its Label

By, Dianna Hanson

Dating a vintage hat can be a little tricky. It has been my experience that only about one in three hats has a label of any kind, while others may have up to three. However, here are a few tips to help guide you.

Victorian and Edwardian hats don’t usually have a label. When they do the information is stitched into or printed on the lining of the hat.

Beginning in the late 1920’s, ribbon-like hat labels were sewn into the hats. By the 1960’s some manufacturers began to use glue to attach the labels.

Size labels appear in hats of the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s and are most often size 22. This is the measurement of the circumference of the wearer’s head. Today this is stated as size 7. Also during this time period you may encounter labels stating, “Consumer Protection Label Mfd. Under Fair Labor Standards.” This and similar labels indicate that members of a union made them.

Sometimes antique dealers will miss-label a tiny hat as a child’s hat when in fact it is a woman’s “doll” or “toy” hat from the 1940’s. If the label says size 22 then it is definitely a woman’s hat.

You can find much more information and wonderful photos at the hansonhats.com website. To purchase your own unique vintage hat visit the Albany Antique Mall, at 145 2^nd Ave, in Historic Downtown Albany, Oregon.

This is a 1930’s chalkware doll. She is labeled “Beach Babe” on the back of her dress. She is 9 inches tall and has a light brown mohair wig. Isn’t she cute!

Find other great treasures like this at the Albany Antique Mall in Historic Downtown Albany, Oregon.

Remington New Model No. 4 Revolver

Manufactored between 1877 and 1888

.41 Rimfire

Very good condition

These days when we think of vending machines we usually think of candy bars, soda pop and potato chips, but did you know that the first vending machine was invented back in 215BC by Hero, a Greek mathematician? It was invented to dispense holy water inside the Egyptian temples.

In the early 1800’s the first coin operated vending machines showed up in London, they dispensed post cards. Shortly after, a bookstore owner, Richard Carlisle, invented a vending machine that dispensed books.

It wasn’t until 1888 that the first commercial coin-operated vending machines were put into use in the United States. These first machines were placed in New York City subways and sold Tutti-Fruiti gum. They were produced by the Thomas Adams Gum Company. The following year, as an added attraction, the Pulver Manufacturing Company introduced animated figures to their machines.

It wasn’t until 1907 that round candy coated gumballs and their machines were introduced. For one penny you could get yourself this sweet treat. Now the average price in the United States is 25 cents.

Other vending machine milestones include;

1920’s – Automatic vending machines that dispensed sodas into a cup.

1926 – Cigarette machines

1930’s – Chilled, bottled soft drinks

1937 – Coca-Cola bottle machines

1946 – Coffee vending machines

1960 – Single Cup Coffee Machines

1961 – Canned soda machines

1972 – Glass front vending machines

1978 – Soft drink machines that dispense water

1987 – Frozen food machines

1991 – Coffee machines that offer espresso and cappuccino

Today you can find a vending machine for almost anything. Stamps, eggs, lottery tickets, live bait, car washes, perfume, aftershave, Ramen noodles, DVD’s, life insurance, and gemstones, just to name a few.

If you would like to add a bit of nostalgia to your home, you can find vintage vending machines at the Albany Antique Mall at the corner of 2^nd and Ellsworth in Historic Downtown Albany.

Vintage Peanut Warmer

This is a Roy Stringer Co. Fireside Toasted Peanuts warmer/server. It is made out of aluminum and glass and was produced sometime in the 1950’s. When plugged in the light generates heat which turns a fan type wheel that throws shadows making it appear as if fire is dancing behind the little devils.

Find this item as well as other unique items at the Albany Antique Mall, Albany, Or.