Dear Connie Sue
I purchased this box at a home sale. On the bottom, it is imprinted with “J.B. signifies the best.” It is numbered 637. The lining inside has worn away. I know this company existed from 1890 to 1950 but cannot find out when this design was made. I have attached several photos that might be of help. Your attention in this matter is greatly appreciated.
Margherita
Dear Margherita,
Jennings Brothers Metal Foundry in Connecticut produced footed, hinged-lid boxes like this during the Art Nouveau period roughly 1910 to 1920. The clover blossoms and leaves grow freely on the top and sides. A curved flower stem forms the handle. Boxes similar to yours have the same tattered or removed cloth interior. On the outside, a metal was plated with a thin layer of a gold or bronze color. Only unused, tucked away boxes still have a full coating of shine.
Ms. Davenport,
This dresser has been in our family more than 70 years that I know of. I have a picture of me as a baby sitting in the middle when I was less than a year old. Would you tell me a little something about this special piece of furniture?
Debbie, Jackson
Debbie,
Many of our mothers started housekeeping with waterfall dressers like this. They must have been all the rage just after World War II. I’m sure payment plans and good value helped sales, too. Dressers came in bedroom suites that included a bench, tall dresser, bedside table and bed. With all the fancy veneer intact and original pulls, this dresser will sell at a tag sale for $175 to $400. It would sell higher (more than $500) in an urban boutique.
Dear Connie,
We bought this unusual-looking ice cream freezer for almost nothing at a moving sale. We’ve shown it to lots of people, and nobody has seen one like it.
The bucket, paddle and cross pieces are all made of wood. The canister is thick, heavy glass. We would appreciate any information you can give us about its age and value.
Betty, Portland
Dear Betty,
I’ve never seen an all-wood, crank-around-the-top ice cream freezer either. The glass canister with the rotating paddle inside looks like a butter churn. Could it have been adapted for ice cream? Or maybe only a few were made because they soon discovered there’s a better way. Readers, can you help? Email or write — don’t call, please.
Connie Sue Davenport,
We’d like to know the value of our Elvis Presley trading cards. We’ve sent copies of the fronts and backs of 10 of them.
Louise, Portland
Louise,
Apparently, many people collected Boxcar Enterprises Elvis trading cards. They were produced in 1978, just after his death. A complete set of 66 can sell for as little as $10.
