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To me, there’s nothing more important than having access to art and historical documents.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.

Another Book

I collect books. I wish I read them all, but I can't keep up with my queue of print, filed in no particular order on various shelves in my house. I've finally gotten to "Deadly Spin" by Wendell Potter - about the healthcare industry and basically everything you need to understand about that world, public relations, and why you may care to know about it. He was an executive at Humana and Cigna. High rank. Arrived at his conscience. It's pretty amazing stuff.





After reading Paula Deitz's book review of "Founding Gardeners" by Andrea Wulf, I feel very compelled to put myself in the very familiar position of having to find a place for yet another book I want to consume. My interests far exceed the space and time I have. Perhaps I'll just call myself an optimist.

Here's a snippet - see if it intrigues you:
"In 1961, when John F. Kennedy asked Rachel Lambert Mellon to design the Rose Garden at the White House, the commission established a strong link with America’s botanical past. And so, much more recently, has Michelle Obama’s organic vegetable garden, elsewhere on the grounds. As Andrea Wulf reminds us in her illuminating and engrossing new book, “Founding Gardeners,” the first four presidents were passionate botanists whose country seats became laboratories for their grander vision of an independent agrarian republic in the New World." [read entire article at the NY Times]

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!)

Charles W. Cushman - Poseyville, IN

10/29/50 - 910 Maxwell St.

Taken from the Indiana University Archives website dedicated to Charles W. Cushman:
"Charles Weever Cushman, amateur photographer and Indiana University alumnus, bequeathed approximately 14,500 Kodachrome color slides to his alma mater. The photographs in this collection bridge a thirty-two year span from 1938 to 1969, during which time he extensively documented the United States as well as other countries."

I went to Maxwell Street once in my early teens - before it was shut down and "renovated", and long after its legendary heyday. I bought some crappy socks, but was looking for a cheap Starter jacket. Back in its prime (arguably before the '60s), it was a melting pot of people, filled with an array of goods and products. Musicians played on the streets, churches and their congregations preached the gospel from the sidewalks, and food vendors provided those who packed the street with iconic grub like the Maxwell Street Polish Sausage.

Maxwell Street is also highlighted in the film, "The Blues Brothers," when Jake and Elwood go into The Soul Food Cafe (and run into Aretha Franklin) after checking out John Lee Hooker playing "Boom Boom" on the sidewalk. In the DVD version, the scene is extended, and you get to see/hear the entire song - even the joking/arguing between the musicians afterward. Classic scene in a classic movie, and Maxwell Street remains a historical piece of Chicago to this day for anyone who was alive when it thrived, and anyone else who has heard the stories.

Cushman's photographs give us a glimpse of what it was like. I also included a few Library of Congress photos - a couple from the Tribune, and a couple by photographer, Russell Lee. There is also a documentary called "And This Is Free: Maxwell Street" that is worth watching (it's currently on Netflix's "watch instantly"). It's straight documentary/journalistic style, but it's extremely interesting to watch nonetheless. It was filmed in 1964, and even then, the purists in the film talk about how things have changed, and that the street has lost its luster.

04/18/43 - Maxwell Street

10/01/50 - Maxwell and Newberry

10/09/58 - on S. Halsted at Maxwell St.

10/19/58 - Maxwell St.

Maxwell Street - 1935

Maxwell Street - 1927

Photo by Russell Lee - April 1941

Photo by Russell Lee - April 1941

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)

Reference

Here are two articles we threw up on Twitter recently that everyone should have a chance to stumble upon.

One is from Apartment Therapy, and they give a guide to buying modern made in the USA products. It's a quick guide - nothing more - but worth a look.

The other is a great NY Times piece about Allen Edmonds shoe company, but also about the American shoe industry as a whole. Obviously, this relates to American made clothing and products as well. It stresses the point that if you make good, classic shoes and take care of them, they'll last 20 years and be worth the sometimes pricey investment you paid initially. This is true of everything. It was commonplace in my grandparent's generation, but it has disappeared in the last two.

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