Advertising Trade Cards

Advertising, advertising trade cards, Features

Figure 8: Chromolithograph. 36 Star American Flag. Williams genuine Yankee Soap TC. Ben Crane Collection

by Joe Gourd We live today in a sea of color images, printed and electronic, and we find it hard to imagine a time when media in color was considered ...

By Donald-Brian Johnson All Photos by Donald-Brian Johnson, except as noted Forget about the fruitcake. Cancel the cookie order. This Christmas, the perfect presents for all the special somebodies on ...

Women of the Wild West: 10 Famous Cowgirls, Outlaws, and Gunslingers

American West, Cowgirls, Features

by Maxine Carter-Lome When we think of the Wild West and the pioneers who set out for parts unknown after the Civil War, our reference is the American Cowboy. While ...

Cowboy Boots: The Boots that Survived the West

American West, Cowboy Boots, Features

a custom-designed boot made by Rocket Buster Boots and designed with Roy Rogers about 32 years ago. These boots were first available by custom order at the Roy Rogers Museum and were autographed by Roy himself.

by Judy Gonyeau, managing editor For as long as men and women have been riding animals to transport them from one place to another, they have worn some sort of ...

“Buffalo Bill and the Wild West”: Reimagining Frontier Life & Legends

American West, Buffalo Bill Cody, Features

As described in this illustration, “Buffalo Bill, Hon. Wm. F. Cody, Drawn and Printed Expressly for the FOLIO, The Great Illustrated Musical Journal of America, by J.H. Bufford’s Sons Boston.” The artist was Samuel S. Frizzell. The portrait was made c. 1873-1890

By Maxine Carter-Lome, publisher Buffalo Bill Cody, Sitting Bull, Geronimo, Annie Oakley, Rough Riders, Gen. George Custer, Belle Starr, “Wild Bill” Hickok … Most of what we know about these ...

Belt Buckle Collecting

American West, belt buckles, Features

Title image: A portion of the Author’s collection of vintage belt buckles.

By Brock Lane, www.beltbucklehistory.com The very first vintage belt buckles that I bought were on Craigslist. I didn’t know anything about them, but they looked interesting, and I was hopeful ...

The History Behind Stetson: The Quintessential Cowboy Hat

American West, Cowboy, Features, Stetson hats

An early Stetson “Boss of the Plains” hat from the early 1900s. The Boss of the Plains was a lightweight all-weather hat designed in 1865 by John B. Stetson for the demands of the American West. It was intended to be durable, waterproof and elegant. The term “Stetson” eventually became all-but-interchangeable with what later became known as the cowboy hat due to later style designs based on how the rounded crown would deform from regular use.

By Albert Muzquiz Reprinted with permission from Heddels.com When I turned up in St. Joseph, Missouri, a storm was just gearing up. The sky was dark, and I was pelted with ...

Anson Green Phelps and His Namesake Business The Ansonia Clock Company

Anson Green Phelps, Ansonia Clocks, Features

This 1882 Ansonia cast iron clock is an example of one of he most popular designs offered by the Ansonia Clock Company. Sold at Charish.com for $550.

By Judy Gonyeau, managing editor The town of Ansonia, Connecticut, owes its name and fame to Anson Green Phelps – entrepreneur, businessman, and community supporter. Not only was he known ...

Horology in Folk Art

Features, folk art, Horology

By Bob Frishman This article was first published in the NAWCC journal. This abbreviated version of the original article has been reprinted with permission from its author, Bob Frishman. To ...

The Toy Box: Originals and Reproductions and Telling the Difference

Antique Toys, Features, Toy Box

Side by side: Original mid-1950s Dinky Toys Riley with its original box on left, next to a reproduction box made by D.R.R.B.

By Douglas R. Kelly There’s a box full of empty boxes in a storage space under the eaves of our house. The empties once held toy and model cars, but ...

Japanese Tin Toys: A Craze That Rebuilt Post-War Japan

Features, japanese tin toys, tin toys

Vintage old toy, tin & celluloid, wind-up Tumbling Fido Dog, Occupied Japan Box, for sale on ebay for $299.

By Bruce Elsass, collector, the Golden Glow of Christmas • Introduction by Judy Gonyeau, managing editor At the end of World War II, Japan had seen more than its share ...

Harvey Comics Toys – A History In Four Characters

Casper, Features, Harvey Comics, joe palooka, Richie Rich, sad sack

By Jonathan Sternfeld I started collecting Harvey Comics as a child in the late 1970s, but my interest in merchandise that featured Harvey’s characters did not really start until the ...

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