May 2010 - Showcase Americana, Made in USA

Americana? --made by hand or by machine by Americans for fun, for pleasure or for utility. All the items reflect Arts & Crafts, Art Deco, Mid Century Modern design or just cobbled together design. Skateboards like Roller Derby # 10, c. 1962, have steel wheels and look fast and daring. Plumb-bobs from 1920s -1940s manufactured by Exact & Dunlap were state-of-the-art measurment instruments in the building trades. World War II photographs of loved ones were mounted on wood stands and placed on mantles. Itty bitty oil cans, 1910s-1940s have screw tops and are made of copper or mixed metals, proudly displaying manufacturer logos or names. The G-21A Grumman Amphibian is an Air Catalina model plane, 1936-- people hopped this plane from L.A. to Catalina Island during 1937-1960s Arts & Crafts hammered door knob sets from 1920s were crafted by Russwin and look substantial. American fascination with space travel and space-age objects found great popularity in every manner of robot, including this handcrafted robot Taylor R458, 1970s. Art Deco iron scale weights make great modern paper weights. We have to admire the 19th century home-made cobbler iron shoe stand which was kept handy for re-nailing shoe heels/soles. When we own and display Americana, we celebrate American work, American ingenuity and American durability! Hurray!