i found it but what is it?

Solidex Performance VHS Video Cassette Rewinder - Model 938A VHS

2012-11-25T14:42:00.004-08:00

Unlike many video tape rewinders of the day (e.g. those shaped liked race cars) this unit comes with "professional quality assurance." The formally introduced "Mr. Gerry Lively" is shown on the side of the box perched confidently upon a director's chair, carefully cradling some important document (a script perhaps,) and gazing intently into the viewer's eyes. In the background we find a reel-to-reel tape recorder and the dark and tangled vagaries of what we are intended to assume is a film set. In the foreground the strident leg of a Solidex tripod thrusts itself forward as some unknown camcorder rests above.

The specifics of Mr. Lively's professional bona fides are simply stated as his role of Director of Cinema Photography and the related Grand Prix Award bestowed upon him (presumably for his DP work) at the 1989 Festival D'Alvoriez. The apparent intent of the award reference is to instill some sense of quality and authority imbued by presence of Lively's stern visage. The festival name is given in a high-brow French form (one almost pauses to look for a small image of laurels) and the title of the supposedly winning film is quietly omitted.

As best as can be determined this refers to the Alvoriaz Fantastic Film Festival, although this now defunct festival (1973-1993) has left limited details lingering on the internet. What bits of festival history remain appear to contradict the claims on the box. In 1989 David Cronenberg's Dead Ringers took the grand prize at the Alvoriaz festival. Veteran cinematographer Peter Suschitzky shot that film as well as some of Cronenberg's later films like Naked Lunch and eXistenZ.

There was a special "Fear Section" award given that year (out of a limited four year run of that prize) to the Anthony Hickox, directory of the 1988 film Waxwork. Mr. Lively was indeed the cinematographer for that film, in addition to playing the role of "Sir Wilfred's Butler."

The script for Waxwork was written in a meager 3 days by the then penniless Mr. Hickox in lieu of payment to Staffan Ahrenberg, the film's producer, for damages Mr. Hickox inflicted on Mr. Ahrenberg's automobile.

Mr. Lively continued on as frequent cinematographer and sometime director of films. Gracing such varied projects as the Ice Cube vehicle Friday and Hellraisers III and IV. Of course Mr. Lively also acted as director of photography for the sequel to Waxwork, Waxwork II: Lost In Time. This 1992 follow up included performances by Bruce Campbell and David Carradine, and a hip hop closing track by the LA Posse with lines like "Lost in time, like a bug in a jar, no matter where you go, yo, there you are."

Gerry Lively recently directed the SyFy original film (i.e. T.V. Movie) "Dungeons & Dragons: The Book of Vile Darkness." Also of recent note, a Solidex Video Cassette Rewinder Model 938XT (the big brother of the 938A) "from a smoke and pet free home" was re-sold in Ottawa for $15. You can still get a 938A for the slightly higher price of $19.99 on eBay if you hurry.

grab a loop

2012-01-07T23:37:00.000-08:00

In 1966 Milton Bradley unleashed the Twister phenomenon upon the world. Called “sex in a box” by some, its sales were propelled after Johnny Carson demonstrated it with the help of Eva Gabor
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/105708

Two years later Milton Bradley tried to cash in on the physicality of Twister with the game grab a loop. Each player wears a belt with colored plastic loops loosely attached. Colors are randomly selected and players must try to grab the loops of the corresponding colors from the belts of the other players. Falling somewhere between flag football and Twister this game did not generate the staying power of either despite a television advertising campaign.
MILTON BRADLEY GRAB A LOOP & POP YOUR TOP

1968 saw the release of a number of other games from Milton Bradley including:

Stump - An awkwardly named card game.
http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgameversion/102411/milton-bradley-edition-1968

Let’s Drive - Described as a “Road Safety Fun Game” and “America’s #1 Driving Game” in which you get such cards as “You have shown good driver attitude. Collect $10.00 from each player” and “Because you prepared for winter driving with snow tires and anti-freeze, add 10 extra miles to the trip.”
http://www.amazon.com/Lets-Drive-Safety-Milton-Bradley/dp/B004YSKZ9U
http://boardgamegeek.com/image/688017/lets-drive

Dynamite Shack - The most engaging looking game from the same year in which players wear giant pink plastic thumbs and use them to gingerly drop tiny sticks of dynamite into the chimney of a rickety plastic shack before the timer runs out and the shack explodes.
http://boardgamegeek.com/images/boardgame/8075/dynamite-shack
Vintage Dynamite Shack Game SOLD on eBay (A seller of game collectibles show the condition of his Dynamite Shack and curiously refers to the chimney as a “smoke hole.”)

Snowboard Candleholder

2012-01-06T13:00:00.000-08:00

This unit is self-explanatory.

Centennial and Bicentennial Philatelic Assortment

2012-01-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

The official date demarcating the start of statehood for the initial members of the United States was determined by the date each ratified the Constitution. Maryland was right in the middle of the pack with an official start date of April 28, 1788 when it became the 7th of the original 13 colonies to join the newly christened United States of America. It was nearly two whole years later that Rhode Island brought up the rear and became the last of the original colonies to transition to statehood.

http://www.50states.com/statehood.htm?sort_by_date

Two hundred years later Stephen Hustvedt designed the stamp celebrating Maryland's bicentennial. The stamp depicts a skipjack sailing in the foreground and the Maryland Statehouse and St. Anne's Church in the background. That same year Mr. Hustvedt designed the insignia for STS-26, the first space shuttle mission to be flown after the Challenger disaster. That design included the 7 stars that make up the Big Dipper constellation to signify the 7 astronauts lost in the explosion. Hustvedt's nephew Frederick Hauck was aboard the the successful STS-26 mission.

http://www.collectspace.com/resources/patches_astronauts.html
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-26.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20011124042703/http://mdhallarts.org/air_hustvedt.html

Canada stepped into existing in 1867 (the same year Nebraska became the 37th state) as 3 British colonies were confederated into 4 provinces. One hundred years later commemorative stamps of most denominations where created to celebrate the event. The images on the stamps are reinterpretations of paintings by a variety of artists, but include many created by members of the "Group of Seven" Canadian landscape and wilderness painters. Some of the original works include the literally titled "Alaska Highway between Watson Lake and Nelson" by Alexander Young Jackson and "The Jack Pine" by Tom Thomson. Thomson disappeared 50 years prior to the issuing of the stamps while on a canoeing trip and was found dead 8 days later with an unexplained head injury and a multitude of possibilities for his death (fishing accident, drunken brawl, suicide, murder.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Confederation
http://postalhistorycorner.blogspot.com/2010/12/1967-centennial-definitive-stamps_07.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_of_Seven_(artists)
http://www.museumsyndicate.com/item.php?item=22009
http://g.co/maps/rcds3
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Thomson#Mysterious_death

During World War II former Group of Seven member Alfred J. Casson spearheaded a volunteer effort to silkscreen large versions of many wilderness and landscape paintings, including many by the Group of Seven, for display in army barracks and administrative offices to brighten the mood of troops abroad and remind them of the beauty of their homeland. Casson died in 1992 and is interred at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection along with five other members of the Group of Seven.

http://www.winchestergalleriesltd.com/artists/sampson-matthews/2011/index.php
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GScid=639435

Undercover Deluxe Security Belt

2011-12-31T18:30:00.000-08:00

This unit boasts the ability to be "concealed under clothing," but there appears to be a curiously noticeable bulge off of the model's right hip under his extremely ill fitting cardigan. Although it is unclear what makes this "deluxe."

Zappos claims you will "look good too" while wearing the belt.
Eagle Creek UnderCover™ Deluxe Security Belt 7735288

The World According to Ubi

2011-12-30T15:30:00.000-08:00

This unit is a peculiar creation from the designers who brought that mainstay of 1980s board-gaming, Trivial Pursuit, into existence. With more complexity (and reportedly more convolutions in the questions) this game did not catch on with the same fervor. Also, its love of Latin and a sensibility that seems to be a mix of Illuminati, Ancient Rome via Shakespeare, and goofy word play likely doomed it to obscurity.

http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/1482/ubi
http://popculturepastor.com/content/illuminati-symbolism-old-board-game

Egg Cuber

2011-12-30T11:30:00.000-08:00

The cursing and complaining chicken on the package of this unit seems to have a rather placid demeanor despite having apparently produced an egg with right corners.

Judging by the packaging this unit has created some time ago, but is still apparently in production and available for purchase.

http://www.chapfung.com.hk/diyhp/42157/enus/c-77051/p-AAAV+EAAhAAArZ2AA2/Household.html
http://www.amazon.com/Egg-Cuber-Square-Press/dp/B002C8ZDQE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325276560&sr=8-1

Most curious though is the Google Product Search description which includes such gems as:

"Enormous buildings, all cube shaped, crammed full of evil cybernetic chickens, were discovered. It was a frightening sight. Even the eggs laid by the Borgified chickens were cube shaped."

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=egg+cuber&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=1742653852220275673&sa=X&ei=Vhv-TpDIO6aciQLswMDQDg&ved=0CEUQ8wIwAQ

Nobility Super Deluxe Pro Dryer 1200 Watt

2011-12-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

This unit is a bit of a hard one to track down info on. This model's 1400 watt big brother is available for sale on ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nobility-1400-Watt-Super-Deluxe-Pro-Dryer-Hair-Dryer-Vintage-/280740860769#ht_500wt_1180

The Nobility line appears to have been popular at the low-end drug store market in the mid-to-late 70's and early 80's:
http://www.newspaperarchive.com/SiteMap/FreePdfPreview.aspx?img=113075498
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1948&dat=19791126&id=4_EiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=E8wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4181,5701273
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1948&dat=19820317&id=UqtJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_hwNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5475,641729

It is also unclear if this is the same Nobility that manufactured transistor radios:
https://www.google.com/search?q=nobility+transistor+radio&hl=en&tbm=isch

Portland 1972

2011-11-29T15:00:00.000-08:00

In the summer of 1972, Led Zeppelin visited the Rose City, just months after a rare tornado struck the area, killing 6, injuring 301 and going down as the worst in 100 years. This was the first year the Portland Marathon was held and the year the First National Bank Tower (now the Wells Fargo Center) was built.
http://www.ledzeppelin.com/show/june-17-1972
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_Portland%E2%80%93Vancouver_tornado
http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/entry/view/portland_marathon/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wells_Fargo_Center_(Portland,_Oregon)

George McGovern visited the city as part of his unsuccessful campaign for President of the United States of America.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_McGovern
http://lostoregon.org/tag/portland-1972/

It was also the year the Portland Downtown Plan was created. Within a decade the plan had lead to the creation of transit mall in the core of downtown and the transformation of the riverfront from a busy road to a 36 acre park. Within 20 years a major light rail line stretched from the Western suburbs to the new center of downtown, a former parking lot transformed into a central plaza.
http://www.portlandonline.com/bps/index.cfm?a=149406&c=44077
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_McCall_Waterfront_Park
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MAX_Light_Rail#Early_system_history
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pioneer_Courthouse_Square

The Rose Festival queen for 1972 posed with a giant bowl of ice cream topped with miniature giraffes at a local ice cream parlor http://www.happyitis.biz/History/chapter04.html

Larry Accuardi posed with his 1967 Chevy. Two years later he served as best man for Teresa Lois Ball and Scott Douglas Beardsley. Larry died at the age of 37 in 1990, three years before his own father died.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=86NVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OOADAAAAIBAJ&pg=2222,6345172&dq=larry+accuardi&hl=en
http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/r/i/c/Gary-J-Richert/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0069.html
http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/SSDI/individual_record.asp?recid=544541729&lds=3&region=-1&regionfriendly=&frompage=99

Tom Urushitani who posed with his 1967 Cortina went on to a career in real estate http://turushitani.equitygroup.com/?chome=1&odoor=

Howard Andrus who sat behind the wheel of a Model T later moved to Hawaii.
http://howardandrus.tripod.com/steph001.htm He is a ham radio enthusiast http://www.myhamshack.com/CallsignDatabase/WH6CLZ/ and still shows off his Model T on occasion
http://members.aceweb.com/bigdrifter/scripts/Jerry44Headlines.htm

Merle Haggard - George Dickel Whisky

2011-11-22T02:00:00.000-08:00

The distillery that produces George Dickel Whisky (note the lack of the usual American spelling) was started in 1877, was bought by George Dickel in 1884. He died in 1894 and after the company passed through a few hands and had a hiatus due to the ratification of the 18th amendment and the passage of the Volstead Act (an earlier Tennessee state prohibition law just forced the production to shift to neighboring Kentucky.) It wasn’t until 1964 that the operation was back in full swing.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Dickel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eighteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitution

In the mid-1980s Merle Haggard took on the role of company spokesman with the phrase “Water’s for teardrops, Dickel’s for drinkin’” just as his star was fading and 20 years of number one hits came to a close.
http://library.duke.edu/digitalcollections/oaaaslidelibrary_SLA1543/
“Okie from Muskogee” Merle Haggard -- Okie From Muskogee
“Mama Tried” Merle Haggard - Mama Tried (1968 live TV performance) (not sure why he’s on a carousel)

This unit was produced as part of the 1987 “Ain’t Nothin’ Better” tour of Mele Haggard and the Strangers sponsored by George Dickel Whisky, along with many other products including:

Whisky Jugs
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/george-dickel-tennessee-whiskey-jug-w-merle-haggard
Hats
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/merle-haggard-concert-hat-aint-nothin-better
Coffee Mugs
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/george-dickel-presents-merle-haggard-rare-coffee
License Plates
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GEORGE-DICKEL-BLACK-AINT-NOTHIN-BETTER-license-plate-1980s-/160684098794?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item256984c4ea#ht_500wt_1363

The signature on the unit is machine printed, but authentic hand-crafted versions will fetch a pretty penny:
http://www.historyforsale.com/html/prodetails.asp?documentid=172002&start=1&page=59

George A. Dickel & Co. is now in the hands of global conglomerate Diageo (current owner of Smirnoff, Johnny Walker, Bailey’s, and Guinness / former owner of Burger King and Pillsbury.)
Merle gave up the spokesman role, but is still on the road with a “shot of George Dickel within heart-attack range at all times.”
http://www.avclub.com/articles/merle-haggard,13705/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diageo
http://merlehaggard.com/tour-dates/

Killinger Hi-Jacs - King of Coasters

2011-11-20T19:30:00.000-08:00

Created by the Killinger Company of Marion, VA these knit coasters where advertised in a variety of periodicals including Life and Billboard
http://books.google.com/books?id=O0oEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PA108&ots=58wENMzLw9&dq=killinger%20company%20marion%20virginia&pg=PA108#v=onepage&q=killinger%20company%20marion%20virginia&f=false
http://books.google.com/books?id=ewwEAAAAMBAJ&lpg=PT48&ots=_9eOvCXnRe&dq=%22killinger%20company%22%20marion%20virginia&pg=PT48#v=onepage&q=%22killinger%20company%22%20marion%20virginia&f=false

A plethora of Hi-Jacs variations were sold throughout the years
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=hi-jacs&_sacat=See-All-Categories
As well as a handful of Lo-Jacs coasters designed for the bases of wine glasses
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=lo-jacs&_sacat=0&_odkw=hi-jacs&_osacat=0&_trksid=p3286.c0.m270.l1313

George G. Killinger, one time president of the company, served as the Chief of Psychobiological Service for the War Shipping Administration during World War II.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behavioral_neuroscience
http://books.google.com/books?id=YWeaAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA23&lpg=PA23&dq=%22killinger+company%22+marion+virginia&source=bl&ots=j1LqGPwICB&sig=zh9jawb9_q4hXZzHIHkNGmmHyX0&hl=en&ei=EELJTqqAHMOiiQKJ0IykBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CFwQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=%22killinger%20company%22%20marion%20virginia&f=false
He also had served as Director of Education for the United States Bureau of Prisons.

In 1952 Alger Hiss was denied parole by a U.S. parole board chaired by Dr. Killinger. Hiss was not released from Lewisburg Federal Penitentiary for another 2 years.
http://fultonhistory.com/newspaper%208/Niagara%20Falls%20NY%20Gazette/Niagara%20Falls%20NY%20Gazette%201952%20Nov-Dec%20Grayscale/Niagara%20Falls%20NY%20Gazette%201952%20Nov-Dec%20Grayscale%20-%200217.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alger_Hiss#Perjury_trials_and_conviction

By 1977 Dr. Killinger was heading up the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles
https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/47438NCJRS.pdf
He died in 1993 leaving behind an auditorium bearing his name in the George J. Beto Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, TX.
http://www.cjcenter.org/about/historyx.html#1993

Keystone Home Training System

2011-11-16T16:30:00.000-08:00

A home product from http://www.keystoneview.com/ this unit allows users to do vision therapy in their own home.

Peanuts Projects

2011-11-16T01:00:00.000-08:00

Determined Productions created this kids activity book in 1963 as part of their burgeoning Peanuts licensing empire. The company, founded by Connie Boucher, had graphic designer Jim Young guiding the art direction for this project. Sources seem to differ on whether Mr. Young was Connie's husband:

Her obituary http://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/27/business/connie-boucher-72-a-pioneer-in-licensing-cartoon-characters.html as Jim Young as her husband, while Charles Schulz's biography places him as a coworker http://books.google.com/books?id=omiHL5hnqLcC&pg=PA336&lpg=PA336&dq=%22husband%20for%20a%20business%20partner%22&source=bl&ots=FxE1B0OEkk&sig=8ZRx8H2uiNSZNURkJNsaCp-aeR8&hl=en&ei=HQzDTq_lFqKb2QXM39nnDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q="husband for a business partner"&f=false

From the biography:

"The look that Determined Productions gave to its output - crisp lines standing out among ornate Edwardian motifs designed to contract amiably with the daring colors of the psychedelic '60s - signaled a connection to San Francisco and the mix-and-match of counterculture..."

Available on etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80526679/peanuts-projects-book-1963-snoopy

Charlie Buoy Carryall Life Vest

2009-08-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

Charles Trager started Trager Manufacturing in 1914 in Seattle, but it wasn't until 1929 that he struck it big by adopting Lloyd "Trapper" Nelson's external back pack design (which itself was inspired by native Alaskan packs of sealskins stretched over willow sticks) and made a mint. The success of the external frame pack design helped make Trager one of the early outdoor gear success stories in the U.S.

Many still look back fondly on the "Trapper Nelson" packs. The original patent for the pack is not to be missed as it proudly displays the pack in use by a fellow after he has just lit his pipe while, ostensibly, hiking in the woods.

Later in the history of Trager Manufacturing the "Charlie Buoy" was created and sold. Developed to be half life vest and half fishing vest this unit features a receptacle for a CO2 cartridge for inflating the vest, pockets for gear, and plenty of straps for the fishing fan. Although some have found the unit to not have enough room for all their items.

According to Rick Trager, great-grandson of Charles Trager, and grandson of George Trager (who bought the business from his father):

Most REI sleeping bags,packs and tents were Trager made until the 70's, as were products from Eddie Bauer, Roffe and the first Jansport pack was designed and stitched by George Trager. Trager was also a primary sponsor and supplier of equipment for Jim Whittaker's successful ascent of Mt. Everest in the early '60's.

Rick Trager also appears to have created art for a Tower Records postcard which was part of a larger set.

Today Trager makes a range of bags, but has moved their focus from outdoor gear to more urban use (laptop bags, messenger bags, etc.) equipment.

Variety of Units

2009-07-26T21:45:00.000-07:00

This week we have a light listing of a variety of units that didn't make the cut for full investigation.

3-Ring Binder Compendium of "Peanuts" Strips

Array Of Retired Slide Projectors

Champagne Flutes You Can't Put Down

Fine Art - From Adobe

Treasure Chest (Treasure Sold Separately)

Wonder Woman saves the world from an oil crisis when she exposes a magician's method of changing lead into gold.

Rival Cookie Factory - Cookie and Snack Maker

2009-07-19T18:30:00.000-07:00

Released at the end of Rival's second run as a private company (1932-64 private, 1964-1986 public, 1986-1992 private, and public since then) this unit sports a triple X line of gingerbread men on the front somewhat reminiscent of moonshine jugs. While Rival once had a strong run of *-O-Mat products (Juice-, Can-, Broil-, Steam-, Shred-, Knife-, Grind-) the peak of its history was reached in the early 1970's when the crock pot craze was in full swing and sent sales of the electric warmers from 2 to 93 million dollars in a just a few years.

The major selling point of this unit seems to be the ability to bake cookies (or other snacks) without using your whole oven. As evidenced by the original patent for the factory, there is a single heating element that snakes beneath the matrix of gingerbread men alcoves. The triumph of this unit over the problems of the tradition cookie making method are outlined in the document:

"Portable cookie makers for household use are desirable because they allow small quantities of fresh cookies to be made quickly. When using a conventional oven it is prudent to bake a large batch of cookies. Otherwise, due to the necessity of preheating and maintaining the large volume of oven space at a constant baking temperature, the energy waste is substantial."

But the core of their argument is:

"Thus, instead of being a spontaneous endeavor, cookie making usually requires advanced planning. Portable cookie makers overcome these disadvantages..."

Not to be confused with other cookie factories this type of unit has been discovered by others. A similarly named product, the Bonjour Cookie Factory, has sadly proven to be a disappointment to some.

Rival's trademark for the "Cookie Factory" has been canceled and Rival has diversified into sump pumps and hand-held massagers, but the box's suggestion to "Let the fun begin" lives on in Rival's 2 LB Chocolate Fountain (Black) and the cryptically named Snow Cone Maker w/ Bonus.

Storage Made Easy

2009-06-09T23:14:00.000-07:00

While not quite as intriguing sounding as "Decorative Eggs", this glossy unit penned by the uniquely named Candace Ord Monroe seems to have been popular enough to warrant multiple printings.

This particular copy bears a personalized message.

This may be the most elegant phrasing of "Clean your room" I've ever seen.

Slice

2009-04-13T19:36:00.000-07:00

Presto Bread Slicing Guide

This is the greatest invention since... oh wait. Not to be confused with the the Presto Mail Service, the maker of this unit no longer offers it as part of its product line. Likely spawned by the bread machine craze of the late 1990's this tool seems to be a pale imitation of the original bread slicer.

The Cheese Machine

Of course most folks will want to put something on their freshly sliced piece of bread, and what better than an equally fresh slice of cheese. The manufacturer of this unit appears to have sensed a similar desire in the market for a tool to help regulate slicing. The large wheel has an inner gear which drives a belt that pushes the cheese out of the opening in graduated units. The white slider on the open end houses a wire which actually handles the slice'n. The patent for the slicer clues us in to its inventor, David A. Holcomb. Mr. Holcomb appears to be a prolific inventor who once owned a skateboard company and may now own a boat called "Trixter".

Banana Slicer

Why not?

VWR Treck Q50/100 Dual Range Quartz Lamp

2009-04-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

Wow, this has been a hard nut to crack. The story behind this unit has been rather elusive. The most definitive result is courtesy of
Vicki Lynn Frank who reaches across time from the year 1999 in the tiny town of Celina, TX.

View Larger Map

The unit has a knob for timing and buttons for setting some kind of levels. From Vicki's inventory:

VWR-Trek vacuum table with VWR Trek timer and Quartz lamp
- primarily reverse polarity camerawork - all aspecs.

Sadly I think this one will remain a mystery for now...

Shiny New Kid Award

2009-04-11T22:49:00.000-07:00

Apologies for the poor photo quality on this one. It seems that Kate Wood was less than excited about receiving the "Shiny New Kid Award" presented by ACME Business Consulting (or maybe some nefarious soul rent it from her clutch and donated it independently.) Kate was excited back in 1996 after attending a speech by then candidate and President Bill Clinton, saying "it was exciting to be around so many supporters."

While Kate's profile is still available on the site, she appears to be missing from the general staff listing, which may signal a parting of ways and provide a reason for discarding the award.

Following Directions Activity Cards

2009-04-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

Do they come with directions?

(faintly visible in the background is Mr. Wonderful)

With Best Compliments

2009-04-07T13:04:00.000-07:00

The inscription reads:

TO
I. HANAWA
WITH BEST COMPLIMENTS
FROM
PROMEDIPHARM SDN BHD
BANGI, MALAYSIA

This pharmaceutical chemical manufacturer making a variety of products, including
Vitamin K (not to be confused with Vitamin R manufactured by The Buttery Lords.) seems to have found the services of "I. Hanawa" most agreeable.

Their factory was built in 1995 in Bangi, Malaysia.

View Larger Map

Rapid Recall

2009-04-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

Not to be confused with the 1993 board game of the same name this game proudly proclaims itself as "Just Fun," but appears in the photo to be a strange octopedal form that would have been at home as an after-dinner game at the Deetz house.

Not visible in the black and white photo on the front of the box is that the majority of the unit is a giant red button and it has flexible extensions with little lights on their tips.

Tulip Toys, the manufacturer of this unit, appears to be no more, but their former address, Suite 2424 175 5th Avenue New York, NY, is the beautiful Flatiron building which recently had most of its ownership bought by an Italian group.

There seems to be a rumor in the works that the new owners will be kicking out the current tenants and converting the landmark into a hotel. They probably wont have to go to the same lengths as The Maitlands to remove the occupants, but it seems unlikely any of the current tenants will leave as little trace as Tulip Toys who seem to have left no signs behind.

Ewbank Hand Held Carpet Sweeper

2009-04-05T23:05:00.000-07:00

The British company Ewbank today makes a variety of floor care equipment including unpowered upright carpet sweeper with a long handle. But from looking at this unit it appears they once made a hand-held only model.

The recent resurgence of the push mower may signal a general shift back to more manual means it is a bit hard to imagine what would have been a common use for this little unit. Sweeping up crumbs from a couch? Wiping pet hair off of an ottoman? Whatever the use, it seems that the Ewbank company would know as the company's name is synonymous with carpet sweeper. You can check out some of their early models in their 1896 product catalog and see that they were once "sold everywhere by Ironmongers."

More S'Mores

2009-04-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

Finally a product to replace...

...fire?