.for those who savor the look and flavors of yesterday's kitchen.
April, 2009
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1. Welcome! Mama's Kitchen is a free newsletter about kitchen collectibles. This newsletter is designed to be entertaining and educational, but also a dialogue among those who have a fondness for kitchen items of all kinds. I hope you'll join us for a few memories, giggles, laughs and some useful information about kitchen collectibles. I am not an expert in any field, but I have been buying and selling kitchen items for over 9 years and loving them for a lifetime. Remember collecting anything should be fun. This is especially true when you can use your collection on a daily basis. Please let me know if there is a particular item you would like featured in upcoming issues.
The first known plastic molder in the United States was Samuel Peck. He started working with shellac plastics in 1852 and got his first patent in 1854. The history of American plastics began in 1868 when a shortage of ivory prompted a manufacturer of billiard balls to offer a $10,000 prize for a substitute. A young printer, John Wesley Hyatt, in Albany, New York, developed a formula of cellulose nitrate softened with camphor. He named it "celluloid" which he registered as a trademark in 1872. The plastics industry was off and running, although it would be quite a few years before plastics became a star of the housewares industry that it always knew it deserved to be.
There is no part of the history of housewares that ever got off to such a bad start as plastics. The plastics industy tripped over itself numerous times in its rush to the marketplace. In fact, it is surprising the plastics industry flourished considering it was oversold from its inception. In the 1920s and 1930s plastics were being heralded as the wonder material of the century. The glowing publicity of the day led consumers to assume that plastics could be used for anything.
During this time, the raw material producers really didn't know what their materials could or couldn't do; or what products for which they would be best suited. Most of the molders knew even less. It's not surprising the marketplace was flooded with inferior products like sink strainers that curled in hot water and refrigerator storage boxes that cracked in the cold. Plastics had a lot of critics but it was a stubborn little material that refused to die.
There are probably many reasons why the plastics industry continued to grow. One was the confidence of the molders who believed in the product and the promotional support of the raw materials producers. These were young men in new companies and they were willing to take risks. They believed in the product and they kept working at it until they got it right. These young men had the foresight to see the impact plastics would have on the marketplace. The chief one being less cost to the consumer. If you'd like to know more about the history of plastics, I recommend "The Housewares Story," Earl Lifshey, 1973, National Housewares Manufacturers Association. Click here to view the copies (new and used) available on Amazon.
Cook 3 cups of noodles in salted water until tender. Drain. Add ½ cup shortening or butter, 4 well beaten eggs, salt and pepper to taste. Turn into well greased pudding dish. Bake in oven at 350 degrees until well browned. Spread with ¾ cup raspberry jelly and serve at once.
"Modern Guide to Better Meals" Cookbook, Jessie Marie DeBoth, 1939..
If you have a favorite recipe to share, please send it to mamas@tias.com and we'll pass it along.
4. What is it?
Moth Disc Holder
This is a moth disc holder made by the Fuller Brush company. It used to be common practice to keep clothes stored in closets with moth balls. Of course this was before the days of pest control. You would often find them in pockets of coats. As plastics evolved, companies started producing holders to accompany the moth repellant products. It was much more efficient for changing the product than searching through all those pockets. I don't know the book value. You can usually find these for about $6.00-$8.00.
Cheap Elegance - Plastic Kitchenware
This is a red cheese dish with a clear cover. It has no mark. Cheese dishes were very popular in the 1960s for the cocktail hour. Bright colors paired with clear covers were a staple in the midcentury era. There is no book value and markets for about $10.00-$12.00. The second is a storage box and part of a picnic set. It was used to store things like potato salad or sandwiches in a basket. It is unmarked. This markets for about $8.00-$10.00 when sold alone. The whole set of three boxes would cost around $20.00-$25.00.
The third is a shallow bowl used for bread on the dinner table. It is not marked. Market value is $ 12.00-$18.00. The fourth is a butter dish made by Stanhome. This could have been a premium or ordered from your home when the Stanley representative visited you. With the original cardboard, it would market for about $15.00-$18.00. All of these values would depend on geographical location.
6. Mama's Kitchen Stories
One of the best days in my life happened in June. It was summer vacation and I was excited to be able to play all day. Mama called me inside from the tree house. She said she had a surprise for me. My aunt came to watch the boys and we started into town. Now we lived in the country and my father traveled during the week. So we walked everywhere. Back then it wasn't unusual to walk two miles to play with a friend. We took the shortcut across the creek and finally arrived at our destination.
It was the police station!
I immediately started thinking about anything I had done that might put me in jail. She took me up the stairs and opened the door to a room that seemed magical. All I could see were books. She introduced me to the librarian, Mrs. Fisher, who showed me around the library.
I never imagined there could be this many books in the world!
Mama told me to pick out three I would like to read. After much deliberation, I took the books to a table. I was prepared to stay there forever, but Mama came and got me after only a few minutes. She said it was time to go home. I was crushed. She took me to the desk where Mrs. Fisher handed me a card and explained about borrowing the books for two weeks. I was thrilled when she told me I could come back in two weeks and get three different books. Mama told me that reading books would be one of the most important things I ever did in my life, and if I had a book I would never be lonely.
From that day forward I visited the library every two weeks with Mama.
She gave me one of the greatest gifts I'll ever receive on that day in June.
Do you have a kitchen memory to share. Please send it to Mama at mamas@tias.com
7. Kitchen Tips
To make perfect tiny meatballs: Use a melon baller.
Sharon wrote:
Place cookie cutter shapes on top of frosted cakes or cupcakes then drizzle candy sprinkles or colored coconut inside the shapes, remove cookie cutters and you have an original cake decoration.
Marion wrote:
Flour Bugs: Keep a couple bay leaves in the flour canister to help deter the bugs (flour Weevils) congregating in their favorite hangout. You can toss the leaves loose in the flour or make a rough pouch out of one layer of cheesecloth to keep the leaves separated from the flour. Another tip is to tape the bay leaves to the inside of the lid. Try to keep flour and other grains in an air tight container, this will help keep pantry pests out.
Have you got a great kitchen tip or question, please send it along to mamas@tias.com
8. What's New at Mama's Treasures
Joining my mailing list at Mama's Treasures makes you eligible for promotional coupons and advance notice of sales. New items coming to Mama's Treasures include: Wearever Aluminum Sieves, Wood Spice Racks, Refurbished Tulip Spice Set, Federal Orange and Pink Nut Grinders, Refurbished Cherry Salt and Pepper Shakers, Moeller Punch N Cover, Wesson Oil Mayonnaise Beater Jar, Ivory Premium Red Handle Vegetable Peeler on Card, Hammered Aluminum Napkin Holder, Aqua and Pink Plastic Butter Dishes, Westinghouse, Watkins, Universal, Culinary Arts Cookbooks, and Peg Bracken I Hate To Cook and Housekeep Books, Pearl Necklace and Earring Set, Kromex Canister Set, Comet Aluminum Coffeepot, Christmas Nativity Figures and Pixie Elves, Kesco Roll Cutter, Handi Hostess Li'l Frankie Hot Dog Roaster, Xray Juicer, Foley Choppers and Forks, Mendets, Pet Milk Opener, Refurbished Tipp City Style Red and Yellow Flour Spice Set, Green Knob Cookie Cutters, Red Metal Spice Rack, Aluminum Measuring Cups, Mirro Aluminum Cookie Presses, Pyrex Teapots & Double Boilers, Japan Christmas Cardboard Houses, Feemster Peelers, Swans Down Cake Pan, Py-O-My Premium Baking Sheet, Roll- Rite Glass Rolling Pin, Brownie Reflex Camera, Robin Hood Flour Recipe Box, Schneider Cake Breakers, Boxed Hankie Sets, Teapot Aluminum Grease Cans and so much more!!!!! Drop by and visit me at www.tias.com/stores/mamas. I love to chat, answer questions and I always consider reasonable offers.
Drop by and visit me at www.tias.com/stores/mamas I love to chat, answer questions and I always consider reasonable offers.
9. Helpful Resources
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