Magical Mystery Drawers

 No, this post isn't about Paul McCartney's underpants (although I'm pretty sure those would be valuable to someone). This week I'm featuring another coin bank that I picked up at a flea market years ago. It looks like this:

"Wait!," you might be saying, "That's not a bank, that's a set of drawers for a doll house!" Well, we're both right! Let's look a little closer, shall we?

The chest is small. It's only  4 3/4" by 4" by 2 1/4". Still, it has pretty good detail. It was apparently made by Sherman Park. It's  made of bakelite, which makes me think that the one date I could find in my online search (1940s) might be correct. 

The back is made of metal. There was a piece missing when I bought it, so I made a sheet metal replacement piece.

How does it work? I'm glad you asked! First you open the top drawer (the only one that opens)

Next, you put a coin inside.

Then, you close it up. (Pay no attention to that clunking sound when you do this- it spoils the magic)

Presto! The coin has vanished!!!

But what if I want my coin back?

Why, there it is! 

This is a fun piece, and not terribly rare since I found several listed when I did a little research for this blog. (Ok, very little). They seem to go for around 30 bucks, which is a lot more than I paid, so I feel good about that. They also made a different style and this one in red and green bakelite, which I find weird.

Anyway, I enjoy it and it's easily discovered magic trick, and that's what really matters.

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!

Banking on Clean Fun!

 Today I have something a little different. As I may have (or may not have) mentioned in the past, I sort of collect coin banks. I say "sort of" because I don't go out of my way to collect them, but I do find them entertaining and if I locate an interesting one at the right price, I'll pick it up.That's what happened here. I happened across this little tin bank and soap set at an auction for less than five dollars and it followed me home! 

As a kid, I had a love/ hate relationship with Avon. I was bored to death with toiletries and cosmetics, but Avon had some pretty interesting ways to package stuff that made even the dullest products kind of fun. This bank is in that vein.

Therefore, may I present to you, from 1978, the "Avon Safe Combination" soap set! 

The top of the box. I'm not sure why they didn't call it the "Combination Safe" set, but I'm sure they had their reasons... I guess...

I'm also not sure what scent "Tai Winds" is supposed to be, but it smells like I remember pretty much all perfumed soaps from the 70s smelling like...

The side of the box.

The end of the box (just for completeness).

Ah, here we are! The back of the box contains some copy! I'm not sure we needed instructions on where to place these items, but it must have been tough coming up with something to say.

INSIDE the box! You can just feel the excitement building!

And this is what you get.

The bank is pretty straightforward. A nonfunctioning plastic dial (well, it does spin), and a top that pops off to give you access to your coins.

In case you missed the "made in England" on the box.

The soaps come in their styrofoam holder that has kept them in pretty amazing shape for the past 45 years.

Granted, they look much closer to butter than gold, but the effort was there.

So there you have it! I have used the bank from time to time, and it holds pennies like a champ! So, not exactly a "treasure," but kind of fun anyway. Sort of like most Avon novelty items from the 60s and 70s.

Well, that does it for this week! Until next time, keep searching for treasure! (Or mildly interesting stuff)

Gold Records!

 ...well sort of, anyway.

This week I'm sharing an estate sale find that I got recently. It is this...

I was really excited at first, because I saw the publisher was an old friend- namely, Disneyland Records!

 When I looked closer, however, I noticed that none of the books and records was actually a Disney property. They were all classic children's stories, with nary a Mickey to be found! The collection was also a bit newer than I originally thought, having been produced in 1976.

Still, all of the 20 books and records were there, and although the box was in rough shape, the books were much better and the records were perfect- not a scratch!

Also, they were free. You see, we were the ones having the sale for my step-father (and he was doing it for the family of one of his long time renters who passed away- and everything not sold was going to charity- and it didn't sell...)

So, I took the box home. Here are the books...

This is what the backs of all of the books looks like:

And here is a shot of the inside and record from Smokey the Bear...

As I said, the outside box is in pretty rough shape, with water damage and some tears- and some duct tape!

Still, it's a fun collection, which sells for about 40 bucks online- even if it didn't sell at the estate sale. 

Would you like to experience the audio/ visual thrill that is a Little Golden Book- Record? Well, I've got you covered! Or, You Tube does, anyway...

https://youtu.be/ZBbPOtQkRy8 

By the way, You Tube has several others as well- including some not in this set!

So there you have it! Not exactly the book set I wanted, but still fun anyway!

Until next time, keep searching for treasure!

Reel Fun!

 Sorry for the delay on this week's post, but school just started back for the teachers and it's kinda crazy around here!

This week we have four Disney films in the Super 8mm format! Why do I have them? Well, when I was in school the teacher rolling a big ol' 16mm projector into the room was a sign that we were in for a treat! And sometimes that treat even included a Disney film! (Although none of these, I'm afraid) These kind of remind me of that thrill!

These weren't produced for school use. 8mm was the format for home theaters. Still, a reminder is a reminder, I guess. I picked three of these up at an estate sale, and one came from eBay. Let's take a look, shall we?

First, we have Mickey Mouse, The First 50 Years! It's actually a sound film that's 15.7 minutes long. It features clips from various Mickey Mouse shorts, including Steamboat Willy and The Band Concert. If you do a little math, you'll see this was probably produced around 1978.

Next, we have Goofy's Golden Gags! It's also a longer sound film. This one seems to be a collection of Goofy's "how to" shows. Of course it never goes well. At all. 

Now, this one is a shorter film, The Prince and the Dragon. It's silent and is a clip from Sleeping Beauty. Would you like to see it? I actually found this one on You Tube. Here ya go!

https://youtu.be/ftO7AJAqeV8

Finally, we have the one I got off of Ebay, Disneyland From Dream to Reality. It's silent too, and a short reel. Also, my copy has turned pretty magenta (as GAF film is wont to do). Still, I found it on You Tube as well. Here you go!

https://youtu.be/tuzSfJUOrkI

So there you have it! Why do I have them when I'll probably never play them? Why not? I think they're neat, and I paid under 10 bucks for all of them combined!

So until next time, keep searching for treasure!