What a Piece: Canvas Duffel Bag

Esquire Magazine is consistently pushing their style/fashion book, Esquire's Big Black Book. On their site, they have a related slideshow on what they say is a new American style revolution. It's one of the few mainstream publications that are trying to set the tone - now that the so-called American trend looks like it's going to stick around.

It's been a trend for well over a year now - since the recession really started to grab hold on the day-to-day lives of Americans. What I hope people realize is that this is not really a trend, but rather it is now the norm. This is the way things will be from now on, for some time. Back to basics, personalization, individuality, vintage, classic - keywords that you will hear time and time again.



#6 of their "60 products, places, people and ideas that transforming the way we dress in 2011" is the canvas duffel bag. The bad thing is that new canvas duffel bags are expensive. There are a few that you can get for under $100, but most are far beyond that, and even fewer are small enough to actually be called duffels.

I found a vintage canvas duffel bag recently, and though it has been used well (as it was built/meant to be used), it's still a fantastic bag - full of character and life. The black stripes give it that extra style, and the brass knobs on the bottom supply a solid foundation to rest upon, allowing the duffel to stand without slouching. Size: 15" L x 8" H x 7" W





The other vintage canvas duffel bag I came across was fairly small, but like the other one, still in decent condition and still a great little bag. The canvas on this littler one is not as stiff as the other, but it has the cool red piping that gives it its standout quality. Size: 12" L x 6" H x 5" W





Here's more of what Esquire has to say about the canvas duffel bag:
"Because, when you're itching to escape, nothing beats one of these tough, sturdy SOBs for sheer utility. Toss it into a taxi's trunk or onto the luggage rack of a tour bus, and the canvas shell (which is actually tightly woven cotton) can take whatever fresh hell your travels entail. Do yourself a favor, though, and leave that free PBS canvas duffel at home. Better to invest in something with a distinctive look than to chance a baggage mix-up when you (finally) arrive at your final destination."

Utility is the key word here, as these types of bags used to be primarily for tradesmen (i.e. masons, engineers, etc.).

Here are a number of new bags available, ranging in price, size, and style - many of them are made in the USA, which we would obviously recommend:

J. Crew Rugged Twill Travel Bag - $168
Brook Farm General Store Canvas and Leather Tool Bag - $79
Herschel Supply Co. Novel Duffel Bag (at Nordstrom) - $75
Jack Spade Mitchell Military Canvas Duffel Bag (at Nordstrom) - $395
Jack Spade Boat Canvas Duffel Bag (at Nordstrom) - $245
Alternative Canvas Duffle Bag - $138
Wm. J. Mills & Co. Classic Duck Duffel Bag - $130-$150
Port Canvas Cruiser Duffel Bag - $55 + options
J.W. Hulme Co. Classic Field Duffle Bag - $365
Frost River Small Explorer Duffel Bag - $110
Ernest Alexander British Tan Wax Overnight Bag - $395
Beckel Canvas Products Olive Drab War Bag - $68.95
Beckel Canvas Products Possibilities Bag - $63.95

The National Jukebox

Art is for consumption, and everyone, regardless of their class or status, should be able to consume as much art as they can and want. When I hear about something like The National Jukebox, it makes me think there are others out there with the same perspective.

The National Jukebox is an archive of over 10,000 sound recordings – recorded 1901-1925 for the Victor Talking Machine Company.



All of the content is currently owned by Sony, and they have granted streaming access to the Library of Congress for free.

Just upon an initial browsing, I came across some really interesting things. There are presidential speeches, such as “The farmer and the business man” by Theodore Roosevelt, recorded September 22, 1912:



Opera, spoken word, and early pop music, like Irving Berlin. Even as an avid music listener, the music collection is daunting, but the Library of Congress has already done a wonderful job bridging that gap by creating suggested playlists – by genre, or by subject/theme, such as the Early Tin Pan Alley playlist.

Granted, the sound quality is not what most are used to, but when you’re looking that far into the past, everything gets a little fuzzy. But behind all that dust, scratches, cracks and pops, the good stuff is there.

To me, there’s nothing more important than having access to art and historical documents. Thanks to the efforts of the Library of Congress, and the generosity of Sony, we have another wonderful addition to the public collection.

Pyrex Percolator II & Fans II

We've talked about Pyrex Percolators before, and just a couple days ago, we posted about vintage metal fans. In the last two weeks, we've come across some items we thought we'd share - as an update to those other posts.

First, is the 1922-23 Emerson Fan, type/model 29666. I found it at a tag sale. The folks running the sale didn't even know it was in the house. I got it for a good price. It's in amazing shape, though I do think the original cord has been replaced. It needs a good cleaning, but it works!





And then the Pyrex Percolators. We found a bunch in one place - these two are the best of the group. The metal holder is ours - recently purchased. It has no markings, but the all-glass 6-cup fits perfectly. Enjoy!

Pyrex 6-Cup Percolator - pre 1952 (BUY IT!)

What a Piece: Fans

Westinghouse Tesla Fan - 1897

With the warmer months coming up, it’s time to get a fan. Instead of getting a cheap plastic one at a local drug store, put out only a few extra bucks and get yourself not only a fan of obvious quality, but one that also serves as a piece of art - a classic piece. Some of the earliest vintage metal fans you come across are decorative pieces by design – made for the rich. Forty years after the invention of the electric fan, as technology got better, companies began making less expensive metal fans for use in the average home. By the ‘50s, so many manufacturers were making fans that some companies sold what is now referred to as “drug-store fans” – fans that were mass produced, and were lesser in quality.

Today, several names have stood the test of time – some very familiar. Westinghouse, General Electric (GE), Emerson, Robbins & Myers, Diehl, Dayton, and Vornado, among others. The early ones are heavy and louder, but they are beautiful pieces of machinery, engineering, and design. The Art Deco era fans are very collectible as well, not to mention quieter, and as defined by the period, they are fantastic to look at. Here’s a 1950 GE metal fan that I had my uncle Nye pick us up recently at an auction. It'll be on sale at the Junk and Howe store this week!



It’s not a rare fan by any means – it seems that I’ve seen similar models in a few antique stores and such – but I just can’t pass it up. It’s one of the essentials that made a real difference in the days before air conditioning. They were functional for so long, and with energy costs rising all the time, cutting back on the air conditioning may mean the fan retains its importance. And, it looks cool.

Here are a few pictures of fans that grabbed my eye, along with some vintage Emerson ads. Some of are from a fan enthusiast/collector website (earlyfans.com) and some are from Etsy stores. All are worth checking out, along with the Antique Fan Collectors Association.

1906 Diehl Fan (photo by Steve Stephens @ earlyfans.com)

1908 Westinghouse (photo by Steve Stephens @ earlyfans.com)

1950s Vornado (LuccaBales @ Etsy)

Wagner Metal Fan (arksendeavors @ Etsy)

Dominion Metal Fan (reneecourt @ Etsy)

Junk and Howe Easter Weekend Finds

We had such a great weekend of junking that we couldn't fit half of the stuff in the car to bring it home. With so little sunlight in the last couple days in Chicago, taking pictures has proven a difficult task. I managed to take a few.

For "coming soon" restaurants and cafes, we have a few cases of Pyrex tableware - mugs/cups, saucers, and plates (for the copper pattern). Then again, we may split up the cases so individuals can stock their kitchen with cool, quality tableware.

We also came across an abundance of Pyrex Butterfly Gold dishes lately - unopened divided dish, brand new juicer, casserole dish set, and mixing bowl set - amazing stuff.

This and more coming soon to the Junk and Howe store! Also pictured...

Mid-Century Metal Gooseneck Cone-shaded Desk Lamp
GE Metal Oscillating Fan (12" cage)
Black & Decker Metal Saw Case/Box (huge!)
Westinghouse Electric Roaster Dish Set (new in box) - RARE!
Pyrex Butterprint Refrigerator Dish - 1.5 qt.
Brown Sweater Coat with real fur collar
Starflite Blue Hardshell Hat/Train/Carry-on Case
Pyrex Early American Mixing Bowls - 1.5 qt. and 1.5 pint
Wooden Condiment Caddy with Stainless Steel Bowls and Serving Spoons (with plastic lids)

Not pictured:
Hazel Atlas Tumbler Glass Set of 8 with Metal Holder
Pyrex Tableware Copper design - new in box
Fire King Large Mixing Bowl with Pink Flamingo Striped Rim (2.5 qt?)
Glasbake Green Daisy Roaster Dish - 2 qt.
Pyrex Ribbed Cake/Casserole Clear Bowl (old, and not in any reference books or online)
Pyrex Percolators (4-cup, [2] 6-cup, tall 6-cup with plastic handle)
Industrial Metal Silver Box (originally for 8mm film reels)
Unmarked Clear Refrigerator Dishes
Orange Metal Tin Mug Set of 4
Black Tin Percolator
Vintage 6-ft. Metal Kitchen Storage Cabinet with shelves - white
Vintage Brown Leather Clutch
Garner Ware Canister Set
Masterware Canister Set

Pyrex Percolator - Made in the USA

As you can see in our “Diane Sawyer Loves Junk and Howe” post from a few days ago, they (ABC News) had a hard time finding a coffeemaker that is made in the United States. They couldn’t find one at all, actually.

Many nights, Jules and I will make coffee, and we make it the “old fashioned” way. We use a Pyrex Percolator – made in the USA. It may take a few minutes more than an electric coffeemaker, but it tastes much better, no matter what kind of coffee you like, and you never have to flush clean a coffeemaker. I saw a commercial for CLR the other day, demonstrating how to clean your coffeemaker with this toxic product. And then you’re supposed to brew coffee through that? And drink it? Multiple cups? Ack.

I’m quite fond of this classic piece of flameware by Pyrex. It’s one of my favorites, and probably the one we most often use. We have a 6-cup – they also made 4 and 9-cup versions. Since we have the 6-cup, we use 6 tablespoons of coffee for 6 servings. Here are the instructions.

1. Fill water to the line at 6.



2. Place a filter in the glass and metal basket. You will have to poke a hole in the center/bottom of the filter in order to do this.



3. Fill the filter with 6 tablespoons of your favorite coffee. We recommend Chicago favorite, Intelligentsia.
4. Place the top on the glass basket, and place the stem and basket in the middle of the pot. Put the lid on.



5. Turn the flame on high. VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: DO NOT use glass percolators on electric range tops. They will shatter. Flame only!



6. It should take 8-12 minutes for it to begin percolating, causing the water to begin turning brown. After about 30 seconds or so, the entire pot of water should be brown.



7. Keep flame on high and let the coffee percolate for 4 more minutes.



8. Turn off the flame.
9. Using a kitchen towel, carefully remove the lid. Wait 2 minutes, and then carefully remove the stem and basket.



10. Replace lid and pour your coffee.




To clean, simply use a sponge with soap and water as you would with any other dish. The inner pieces – the glass stem and glass basket – are fragile, and should be handled with care. You can leave the handle and stainless steel band on for several uses, but it is ok to unscrew it and the handle to clean under the band once in a while. I would not put any pieces in a dishwasher.

We will have a few in the Junk and Howe store in the first couple weeks of May. There are a number on Ebay, but they’re often overpriced. If you can get your hands one, we’d recommend it. You’ll never want to use anything else.

Pictures of Pyrex as Promised

Here's a few pictures of some Pyrex that we'll have coming to the Junk and Howe store this week!