Sunday Historical Website & Online Store is Live

   Sunday Historical now has a website complete with online store and quick shopping cart! The website is still under construction, but should be functional enough to navigate. Please check out the Sunday Historical  website and leave your comments here on this blog or email them to sundayhistorical@gmail.com. There is still a great deal of work to be done, but I decided to make it live now. No time like the present you know. The online store has about 24 items at this writing, but more will be added daily. Below are just a couple items that are on the website store.

New in box

                                                                 

union case

           

see baby Moses in the basket

UNION CASE, MOSES AMONG THE BULRUSHES
MANUFACTURED IN FLORENCE, MASS BY LITTLEFIELD, PARSON & CO.
BROWN THERMOPLASTIC CASE WITH DAGUERREOTYPE OF LADY
FRONT OF CASE CHIPPED OFF OF HINGE, HINGE SLIDES OUT, SOME CHIPS AROUND INSIDE EDGE
CASE IMAGES AND PHOTO LOOK GOOD
CASE MEASURES 2 3/16"  X 2 5/8"
I USED MICROSCOPE MODE ON A SEVERAL OF THE PHOTOS TO CAPTURE THE CASE MOLD OF BABY MOSES SCENE

A brief history of Littlefield, Parson & Co. below:

From 1856 to 1865, the business of Littlefield, Parson & Co. gave employment to from 75 to 199 hands. Very great success attended the business after the first two or three years, particularly the manufacture of the union cases. The demand for these goods was so great that during a considerable part of the time the factory was run to its utmost capacity, night and day, producing daily 89 to 150 dozen cases. Although this case was a beautiful article, and ranked high in market, its great success was due quite as much to the extraordinary demand which existed at that time for cases of some sort, and if this company had manufactured any other variety its success would have been inevitable.


Thanks for your support, Laura

Norfolk & Western Hotel Roanoke Carafe Frame & Flatware at Auction

 This rare R. Wallace 1947 Norfolk & Western Hotel Roanoke silver plated carafe frame was  part of a personal N&W Hotel Roanoke collection at a Monument Ave. Richmond VA estate until  I purchased them in March 2013. The original owner purchase this and many other items at the 17 day Sale of Contents at the Hotel Roanoke in 1989. It is the cream of N&W Railroadiana and Hotel collectibles.
The carafe frame does not have have the glass insert. It stands about 9.5" tall to the top of the finial. It has the manufacturers mark on the bottom back of handle which reads  8-47 R. Wallace 0389 T, Silver Soldered, Norfolk & Western. I wanted to let as many Railroad memorabilia collectors as possible know of this fabulous historical piece. I have been hanging on to it since March, but need the proceeds to fund Sunday Historical`s upcoming events.

View ebay auction

This rare silver plated carafe frame, which was the rage on railway dining cars and hotels in the 1940`s. It is currently at auction on Ebay. The auction ends tonight, Sunday April 21, 2013 at 9:27pm EST. There are two bids at this writing.

I have included the history of the Norfolk & Western Railway`s  Hotel Roanoke below.

The Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke Virginia, was built in 1882 by the Norfolk and Western Railway (now part of the Norfolk Southern), which had recently constructed its administrative offices in the city, bringing in over a thousand railroad workers. It officially opened on Christmas Day, 1882. 1882

Roanoke was a little town named Big Lick when enterprising railroad magnate Frederick J. Kimball chose it as the site of a railroad juncture and a major city. After Kimball combined two of his railroads into the Norfolk and Western Railroad, he built his vision of a comprehensive community with the Hotel Roanoke as its grand centerpiece. Travelers coming to the city or breaking a tiring rail journey made the Hotel Roanoke their haven.
In July, 1898, a fire started in the kitchen which shut down the hotel for several months. The hotel was reopened in January, 1899, restored with a few additions.
The next major renovation took place in 1938, remodeling the hotel to have a more Tudor look. Additional new wings were added in 1947 and 1955.
In 1989,  deeded the Hotel Roanoke to the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) for $65,000 (USD). After the flag lowering ceremony on November 30, the hotel was closed. Sale of the contents began and continued for 17 days.
In 1992, the "Renew Roanoke" campaign was launched to raise enough money to reopen the hotel. Virginia Tech had set a deadline of December 31, 1992 to have enough money. By late fall, the campaign was still short $1,000,000. In an unprecedented Christmas-time fundraiser, the campaign succeeded, raising $5,006,000. Norfolk Southern then donated an additional $2,000,000; 30 times what it received for the hotel. The Hotel Roanoke reopened in 1995 and still operates today.
Roanoke's landmark former passenger rail station was built across the street from the hotel. In 2004, it was converted in a museum devoted to the photography of O. Winston Link as well as housing the Roanoke Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau.

This Norfolk & Western water carafe frame is in remarkably good condition as evident in the following photos

This item sold on Ebay! Check out shop.sundayhistorical.com for more railroad collectibles.

finial on lid

side view

rear view

makers mark

Take a look at the auction on Ebay, there are quite a few folks viewing it and several watching, as well as two current bids. I will be glad to answer any questions today before the auctions ends at 9:27pm EST Sunday April 21, 2013.

There is a second Hotel Roanoke item at auction on ebay right now.
Four Norfolk & Western Railway Hotel Roanoke Engraved Flatware Knives are at auction on ebay. The auctions ends at 8:45 pm EST April 21, 2013. These came from the 17 day Sale of Contents at the Hotel Roanoke in 1989 and were a part of the Hotel Roanoke collection at a Monument Ave. Richmond VA estate until March 2013. N&W Railroadiana and Hotel collectible.
They have dings and scratches. The butter knife is the only one with a stainless blade. They come in a flannel case that is not original to the pieces. 

These sold on Ebay! Check shop.sundayhistorical.com for more railroad collectibles.

close up photos taken on microscope mode 

flannel case to protect them from further dings

Thanks for checking out these Norfolk & Western Hotel Roanoke items from Sunday Historical

1950`s-60`s TV & Motion Picture Productions Exhibit at Virginia Production Alliance Meeting

   TV & Motion Picture Productions, Inc. owned by John C. Wood operated in the 1950`s and 1960`s in Richmond Virginia during the height of 16mm industrial films.

   Wood`s son John C. Wood Jr. and John Payne of (WWII Round Table of Virginia) were the presenters of an exhibition at the  Virginia Production Alliance Presentation and Meeting Monday night February 25th, 2013 at Artworks, featuring John C. Wood Jr.`s father`s company  TV & Motion Picture Productions. The presentation was at 6:30 pm followed by a business meeting at 7:30. "The Virginia Production Alliance (VPA), headquartered in Richmond, was formed to promote production in the Commonwealth. We unite the Virginia creative community — professionals involved in film, video, audio and new media — and provide valuable educational, social, and networking opportunities that help grow the industry."

   The exhibit consisted of photos from John C. Wood`s life, including his days as a photographer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch and his WWII service. The highlight of the exhibit was the continuous showing of a 16 mm film by TV & Motion Picture Productions made for the Appalachian Power Company (American Electric Power Company) in 1962 called Sky Hook For A High Line, which I secured from Creative Services at AEP Communications. J.C.Wood Jr. shared with the attendees his experiences accompanying his father on movie making adventures. He told of flying in helicopters and planes while his father shot footage while flying the crafts.

    Appalachian Power had a project to build power lines from Roanoke across the mountains to West Virginia. The mountainous terrain and limited access caused Appalachian Power to come with the idea of using helicopters to airlift aluminum transmission towers to remote locations. John C. Wood loved to fly and took some fantastic footage of the mountains of Virginia. In pages 3-12 of the book Hollywood Homestyle: Making Motion Pictures During the Brief Heyday of 16mm Industrial Films, Fred Frechette, author and one time partner of Wood, describes his experiences during his partnership with Wood and the filming of Sky Hook For A High Line. Frechette was present at the screening for the company`s top brass at AEP headquarters in New York .

    John C. Wood made a number of films for companies such as Reynolds Metal, Philip Morris, A.H. Robins Pharmaceuticals, Seaboard Airline Railroad, Thalhimers, American Machinery & Foundry, Westinghouse, General Electric, Commonwealth of Virginia, Virginia Electric Power Company, and American Oil, before his death in 1967. TV & Motion Picture Productions had their office at 207 East Main Street as well as Dawn Street in Richmond Virginia. Wood was also a correspondent for CBS. John C. Wood Jr. has a vast collection of his fathers negatives which I hope to digitize over the next couple of years. It will be a huge undertaking, but there is a chunk of 1940`s -1960`s Richmond history waiting to be rediscovered when I turn those negatives in to photo images. John C. Wood Jr and I are discussing making some of the photographs available for sale as well.

    The manager of Creative Services at AEP has requested me to send photos made during the filming of Sky Hook For A High Line and the Smith Mountain Lake project to him to add to AEP`s historical archive.
   J.C. Wood Jr. worked with me at R.T. Sunday Company until it went out of business in 2004. We have remained friends ever since. I look forward to working with him on digitizing his fathers negative collection.

    Two images I made from Woods negatives were on display at the VPA presentation and I have included them in this post. Please contact Laura Smith at SundayHistorical@gmail.com regarding this post.

John C. Wood exhibit at Virginia Productions Alliance presentation

John C. Wood Jr. at Virginia Productions Alliance presentation

advertisement for TV & Motion Picture Productions

awards from the Richmond Times-Dispatch

discussion of the film

J.C. Wood with John Payne

J. C. Wood Jr. beside book Hollywood Homestyle and his father`s film presentation

John C. Wood & his mobile camera platform atop his 55 Chevy Nomad on Monument Ave. at the Robert E. Lee Monument

John C. Wood shooting photos from a piper cub plane


Please contact J.C. Wood Jr. (804-779-2714)  if you know any of the employees pictured in the TV & Motion Picture Productions company photo, or if you or any one you know might have known John C. Wood, the photographer & movie maker.

Please contact me at SundayHistorical@gmail.com regarding this post or if you are having trouble commenting on this post.
Thanks Laura Smith

Vintage Watchmaker/Jeweler Parts Cleaner

Vintage Watchmaker/Jeweler Parts Cleaner

I found this and could not pass it up. It predates the ultra sonic for cleaning jewelry and watch parts.

The Master model  L & R Precision Cleaning Machine manufactured by L&R Mfg. Arlington, N.J. Their technology sure has changed since they began business 80 years ago.

This machine is so cool. It operates by lowering the motorized basket into one of 3 glass tanks, then lower it over the dryer (where it is pictured). It works and looks really cool. Just had to share this. Look for it soon on my website & online store www.sundayhistorical.com

basket is in the dryer

faceted  red light and toggle switches

twist the basket out, it has a propeller  to circulate the cleaning fluid

mfg label

one of the glass tanks

view from the top looking down on the crank handle

Vintage Jewelers Blow Torch

Check out this wonderful vintage jewelers blow torch in the original box.

The Super Jet blow torch has instructions and 3 fuel tablets in the original tube.
Manufactured by Birk MFG. Co. Niantic Conn. USA.
The Super Jet Blow torch is model #113FT and the fuel tablets are #113F.
The blow torch was intended for soft and silver soldering.
Good for small parts as it has a slim design.
The blow torch is listed as uncommon in the Vintage Torch Guide, which means it is not commonly found everywhere.
The instructions are visible from the bottom of the plastic storage box.
The manufacturing information is on each piece-torch, fuel and box.

I probably will not use it so I have offered it for sale at my online store SundayHistorical.com    

blow torch, fuel tablets & original box

place tube in mouth and .....

BIRK MFG  CO. NIANTIC, CONN. USA

Directions

Model Number

Fuel Tablets

It really is cool

See it now at shop.SundayHistorical.com

I thought some of my co workers would enjoy this!

                                   

My Art Work

My Art Work Past & Present

1977 pencil drawing of Joni Mitchell

                              Reflections from the glass showed up in photo, may try again later

1977 water color:  Hikers enjoying the view

2009 water color :cemetery on Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge Kiptopeke Virginia

1978 Oil on canvas unfinished work: Tribute to Diane Arbus

Historic Guest House Dinnerware Service Rediscovered

PAIR (2) of Antique Edwin M. Knowles China Co Covered Serving Dishes blue transfer set from Historic Guest House

              

Here is an extremely nice PAIR (2) of antique covered vegetable or serving dishes by the Edwin M. Knowles China Company with a history. This pair of dishes was part of the dinnerware service used at the Hallett`s Guest House in Historic Cheriton Virginia on the Eastern Shore which operated from 1943-1968. The house was purchased from the Upshur family in 1943. The dishes have been untouched, wrapped & packed and stored since 1970. They were just rediscovered in November 2012 and now put up for auction. I have not cleaned them so my photos show some dust on the handles. Please see photos for condition details.These two covered dishes were manufactured between 1901-1909 according to the makers mark and are marked  semi vitreous. They are in very good condition with minor gold loss, no chips or cracks. The finials and handles are intact and very ornate. I have included in the photos, a copy of a postcard from the Hallett`s Guest House and a photo of the sign that hung beside the front door when it was in operation and will include them with the purchase. The Hallett Guest House was listed by Duncan Hines as seen on the sign below. This is a chance to own a piece of vanishing history. Please ask questions before bidding. There is a little history on the Edwin Knowles China Company provided by Robbins Nest below. Thanks for viewing.

                                               SundayHistorical.com

History: "Edwin M. Knowles ( 1869-1943) was the son of Isaac Watt Knowles (1819-1902), a founder and partner of the firm Knowles, Taylor, and Knowles Co., which by the turn of the century had become the largest pottery in the world. Edwin Knowles' father had helped pioneer many inventions that revolutionized American dinnerware manufacture.

Edwin M. Knowles entered the pottery business after receiving his education at Allegheny College and Harvard University. He took control of the Potters Supply Company of East Liverpool, Ohio in 1890. By 1900, he became founder and president of the Knowles China Company, which soon changed its name to the Edwin M. Knowles China Co.

The Knowles facility, located in Chester, West Virginia, was described as a "model plant of the highest order." Edwin Knowles determined that his firm would manufacture only the finest semi-vitreous ware. One year later, product from the plant was lauded by the Crockery and Glass Journal as the highest grade ware: "weight is light, its finish the finest, its shapes graceful, its decorations artistic, and its body and quality most durable." Knowles' reputation for creating quality product became known throughout the industry. Demand for Knowles product grew. It wasn't long thereafter that plant No. 2 was erected, just two miles south of plant No. 1 along the Ohio River in Chester, West Virginia in Newell, West Virginia."        

PAIR of covered serving dishes 1901-1909

Gold painted accents 

Edwin M. Knowles China Co. Semi Vitreous

Ornate gold paint

Sign at front door of guest house

Hallett Guest House Postcard