Categories
- 1800's (18)
- 1900's (18)
- 1910's (16)
- 1920's (16)
- 1930's (23)
- 1940's (26)
- 1950's (31)
- 1960's (24)
- 1970's (10)
- 1980's (28)
- 1990's (15)
- 2010's (1)
- Action Figures (26)
- Advertising (22)
- Americana (56)
- Amy (19)
- Animation (4)
- Art (11)
- Ben (30)
- Carol (48)
- Cast Iron (1)
- Christmas (11)
- Comic Characters (9)
- Costumes (5)
- Disney (9)
- Dolls (12)
- English (2)
- Ephemera (21)
- Food (4)
- Foreign (6)
- Glass (1)
- Hagen Renaker (1)
- Halloween (14)
- Hand Made (9)
- Historical (25)
- Holiday (25)
- Humor (44)
- Jim (36)
- Kitchen (6)
- Lighting (2)
- Miniatures (8)
- Modern Furniture (1)
- Monsters (28)
- Movies (3)
- Photography (7)
- Planters Peanut (1)
- Political (12)
- Polynesian (1)
- Pottery (6)
- Road Trip (11)
- Signs (9)
- Toys (57)
- Uncategorized (17)
- Vehicular (7)
- Weird (51)
- WWII (5)
Category Archives: Advertising
Vintage PF Flyers – Superpowers for Kids
I make no secret that I am on an endless quest to recapture my childhood. Was childhood really better in the 1950’s and 1960’s than it was (or is) for later generations? Most of us who were alive at that … Continue reading
Posted in 1950's, 1960's, Advertising, Americana, Disney, Ephemera, Jim, Signs, Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Shoe Shine Boxes – Part II – More Shine Is Just Fine
Just over two years ago, I wrote my first article about shoe shine boxes, those humble survivors of life in urban America. Since that time I have added a few more examples to my collection which I would like to … Continue reading
Posted in 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, Advertising, Americana, Hand Made, Historical, Jim, Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Telecoma Canned Food Fighters by Takara (Yet More Mealtime Combat)
I don’t know if Happy Meals are as big a deal as they were in the 1980s, when parents were blissfully unaware that all that fast food was putting their children at risk for obesity and type II diabetes. Honestly, … Continue reading
Posted in 1980's, Action Figures, Advertising, Ben, Food, Humor, Kitchen, Toys
1 Comment
My Love Affair With LIFE (Magazine)
This tenth anniversary issue of Life magazine shows the first issue with the famous Margaret Bourke White cover. I’m sure my love affair with Life began when I was about ten years old. Unlike just about every middle class family … Continue reading
Mr. Clean & Friends – Grown Men in Costume
It’s October, the month when grown men do crazy things like this. This vintage photo, most likely from the 1960’s, is from my collection. It’s hard to say why these men are in costume, but let’s assume it’s a … Continue reading
Posted in 1960's, Advertising, Americana, Carol, Costumes, Halloween, Humor, Photography
Leave a comment
Giraffe-Neck Women from Burma Circus Poster
My apologies on the flash flare. This thing wasn’t easy to photograph! It probably isn’t much of a secret that circuses would sometimes exaggerate in their advertising. A case in point is the subject of this article. Were the Giraffe-Neck … Continue reading
Posted in 1930's, Advertising, Americana, Ephemera, Historical, Humor, Jim, Signs, Weird
1 Comment
The Le Macabre Skull
It seems like ages since I have written an article for The Collector Gene, so I wanted to come back with one of my favorite pieces from my collection. I have been waiting to write about this one for a … Continue reading
Posted in 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, Advertising, Amy, English, Foreign, Halloween, Historical, Humor, Monsters, Signs, Weird
11 Comments
The Michelin Advertising Figure – Rollin to the “Roadshow” with Bibendum
The seventeenth season of PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow” just started recently. I have to admit that of all the shows dealing with antiques that have aired over the years, I still like this one the best. Based on the even longer … Continue reading
Posted in 1800's, 1900's, 1910's, 1920's, Advertising, Foreign, Historical, Jim, Weird
4 Comments
Have a Very Disney Christmas with Mickey, Goofy, Tron, and V.I.N.C.E.N.T.
As evidenced by the other articles you’re seeing pop up this month on The Collector Gene, we’re a family that’s very, very, VERY much into the holiday season. My parents have been very, very lucky to amass such a nice … Continue reading
Posted in 1980's, Advertising, Ben, Disney
Leave a comment
Last Travel-Log from the Road – 10/4/12: Antique Archeology-Nashville Submitted by Carol
When we set out on our cross-country journey at the beginning of September, we knew we wanted to antique our way across America, but we weren’t exactly sure where we would go. We still have a few more days on … Continue reading