Albany Antique Mall

A tin toy is a mechanical toy made out of tinplate. There are many categories a collector can choose from when it comes to tin toys. Trains, boats, planes, cars & trucks, animals, pull toys, clockwork toys, friction-drive, age, etc. Some collectors stick with Halloween or Christmas toys. Some like to collect toys from only one manufacturer. It all just depends on what you like.

Tin toys are made out of tinplate which is steel that has been rolled out into thin flat sheets and plated with tin.

Tinplate was great for making toys because it was lightweight and easy for the machinery to cut and shape. Before 1880 the pieces were soldered together. After 1880 tabs and slots were stamped directly into the pieces then the toys where fastened together that way. By the 1880’s, lithographic presses were used to print various colors and details onto the tinplate before the toys where stamped out.

Tinplate has been used by tinsmiths in Europe since the late 1700’s to make kitchenware and toys. Its first use for toys in America was around the 1820’s but production really took off in the 1840’s when tin ore mines were opened in Illinois. By the 1920’s America had become the leading manufacturer.

Louis Marx and Company, an American firm, was the largest and most successful company producing tin toys from the 1920’s to the 1960’s.

Production of tin toys in America was discontinued during World War II because the raw materials were needed in the war effort. After the war ended, Japan became one of the top manufacturers until the late 1950’s. By the 1960’s plastic had taken over. It was cheaper and considered safer for playing with. Today, China is the largest producer of tin toys.

If you are starting a new collection or adding to one you already have you might browse about at the upcoming, “Antiques in the Streets” sale on September 10th. With approximately 50 dealers showing their wares you are likely to find something special. And of course, you can always find something unique at the Albany Antique Mall on 2^nd and Ellsworth, a proud sponsor of the Points for Profit program.

Silhouettes are two-dimensional dark images shown against a lighter background.

One of my favorite keepsake collections is that of the silhouette pictures my kids brought home from kindergarten. It was easily done. They sat sideways on their chair while the teacher focused the overhead projector on the wall and then traced their profile that would be cut out later. They are simple portraits I will cherish forever.

Today, silhouettes are one of the most popular art forms to collect. There are many different types of silhouettes. Some are simply cut-out black and white paper. Others have scenic, colored backgrounds. Some have highlights in gold or silver. You can find silhouettes mounted behind convex glass or painted directly on a piece of ivory. My favorite silhouettes are those that are reverse painted on glass and then mounted over a background of milkweed and dried flowers. I’m usually drawn toward scenes with children in them but I will purchase anything that makes my heart sing.

The art of paper cut portraits actually began in Europe in the late 16^th century becoming more popular by the mid 1700s.

It is interesting how these little portraits became known as silhouettes. The word silhouette use to carry a negative connotation with it. In the 1760’s, the Finance Minister of France, Etienne de Silhouette, taxed his people into poverty. He was so interested in his hobby of cutting out paper profiles that he ignored the hardships of his people. In protest to his indifference his people began to wear only black clothing, imitating the Ministers black paper cutouts. All over France, the people would say, “We are shadows, too poor to wear color. We are Silhouettes!”  Still today, these black profile pictures are called silhouettes.

At first silhouettes were an art form reserved for the upper class. Artists were hired to attend extravagant affairs and cut out the profiles of the Lords and Ladies attending. By the 1800’s the art of silhouette paper cutting had reached its height in popularity. Many European silhouettists had moved to America where they catered to American politicians and the rich. Other artists traveled around to small towns and country fairs all over America. Since a skilled silhouettist could cut out a portrait in a few minutes it became a way that ordinary folks could capture their family’s profiles without the time and expense of an actual painting.

You can find many beautiful silhouettes at the Albany Antique Mall. Open daily on 2^nd & Ellsworth in Downtown Albany.

If you’re looking for a fun time and you have a sweet tooth you’ll want to visit Albany Antique Mall on Saturday Oct. 29^th from 10am to 12pm. If you can follow the footprints to the end of the mall your reward will be a sweet treat. Don’t worry if you get lost there will be plenty of costumed characters to help you stay on the right path. And kids, you can bring your parents too!

As you follow the path throughout the mall you might see some unusual Halloween items. Vintage Halloween items have become quite collectable and hard to find. Did you know that some of the oldest Halloween collectables date back to the Victorian era? Almost all Halloween items older than 1970 are collectable today. Postcards, plastic toys, cake picks, noise makers, plastic blow mold figures, die cut decorations and even drink stirrers are all popular to collect. Prices for these items can range from a few dollars to thousands of dollars for older, in perfect condition pieces. The most popular Halloween decorations are either American or German made.  German made Halloween decorations were made by homemakers so each piece you find will be unique. A popular theme in Germany was vegetable people. You can look for pieces featuring these fun and cute little characters. All of the early German Halloween pieces were made and exported to America after WWI. At this time Halloween was becoming more popular in the U.S.

As with any collection you may be starting choose items that appeal to you. Postcards are great because they don’t take up much space but they can be expensive and are getting harder to find. Some collectors like the old papier-mâché candy holders while others concentrate on the hard plastic blow forms of pumpkins, cats and ghosts.  Some people just choose items that remind them of their childhood.

However you celebrate this fall season remember to stay safe and support your local non-profit organizations by shopping at Points for Profit businesses.

Collecting colorful Fiesta ware can be fun and rewarding, after all it’s the most popular dinnerware ever produced. The colors are vibrant and beautiful and are sure to brighten any kitchen they are used or displayed in.

If you are new to collecting Fiesta ware you will have many exciting options. At our mall you can choose from vintage, retired or new pieces in a multitude of colors. Vintage pieces are those pieces produced from 1936 until about 1972. Retired pieces are those pieces and colors that were produced after 1986 and then were discontinued. New Fiesta has been produced since 1986 and the colors are still being used today.

Albany Antique Mall carries one of the largest selections of Fiesta dinnerware around. Besides your normal place settings we carry several sizes of disc pitchers, sugar caddies, gravy boats, canister sets, relish trays, egg plates, cream & sugars, vases, bread trays, platters, tea pots, pie dishes and more!

Fiesta ware was introduced in 1936 by the Homer Laughlin Pottery Company.  Originally only five colors were used; Red (which looks orange), Blue, Green, Yellow and Ivory. The following year Turquoise was added to the pallet. The color red disappears from 1943 until 1959 because the Uranium needed to make the red glaze was not available during World War II. In 1951, Blue, Green and Ivory were retired and four more colors were added; Forest Green, Chartreuse, Rose and Grey. In 1959, Medium Green was added. In 1969, the entire line was restyled and Antique Gold and Turf Green were added. However, appeal for the dinnerware dwindled during the 60’s and the Fiesta line was halted in 1972.

In 1986, Fiesta ware was reintroduced to celebrate its 50^th anniversary with a variety of new pieces. New colors include Cobalt, Rose, White, Black, Turquoise, Periwinkle Blue, Seamist Green, Persimmon, Cinnabar, Sunflower, Plum Purple, Shamrock, Scarlet and Evergreen. Colors retired after 1986 include Lilac in 1995, Sapphire in 1997, Chartreuse in 1999, Juniper and Pearl Gray in 2001 and Yellow in 2002.

Next time you want to add to your collection or start a new one think of, Albany Antique Mall. It’s a great time of year to add a little color to your kitchen!

A frequent question at the antique mall is, “Why do so many of the lovely women figurines have holes in their bases?”  It’s a good question. Not only will you find wonderful women figurines but also birds, turtles, frogs, mushrooms, deer, etc. All of them with small holes around their bases. These wonderful figurines are called flower frogs. Flower frogs are objects you put in the bottom of a vase or bowl to hold flower stems in place using pins or a series of holes. You might remember seeing a more common flower frog in your mother’s flower arranging supplies. It is often oval or round with some serious little spikes sticking up. It looks more like a torturing devise than it does an object for helping arrange delicate flower stems. Today, these types of flower frogs have become popular for displaying items such as photos or postcards.

Flower frogs can be made out of ceramic, metal, or glass. You may also have heard them referred to as flower blocks, flower bricks, flower holders or floral arrangers.

Flower frogs first appeared in Europe during the 16^th century. Its name may have come from the fact that it sits in the water like a frog but there is nothing actually documenting that fact. The first United States patent for a frog was given in 1875 to, S. Van Stone. His frog was a cone shaped pyramid of concentric rings of holes. In 1893, Andrew Snow, Jr. was granted a patent for a mushroom shaped flower frog. However, flower frogs did not become widely popular in the United States until the 1920’s.

We have several flower frog collectors that frequent our mall. Collectors may specialize by collecting certain shapes, animals, dancing women, by the material they are made from or by collecting frogs made only by a specific manufacturer or era.

One thing is for sure, whatever type of frog you’re looking for you can probably find it at the Albany Antique Mall.