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June 2020 - Antique Shoppe - 19
Dad’s Day

Continued from Page 17 Questions &

Recent estimates are that
Americans spend over one Common Sense Answers
billion dollars each year on
Father’s Day festivities. And with Fred Taylor
of course, when Dad isn’t
otherwise occupied wincing at
his latest new necktie, planting I have two chairs that
those new rosebushes, or firing Q. came from a church
up that new barbecue grill, part that is 120 yrs old. The name on
of his Father’s Day schedule the chairs “The Wylie Reclining
includes opening greeting chair” made by “The American
cards. Chair Co.” Seymour, IN. I cannot
Dad’s day means big find anything on these chairs
business for greeting card The little bear on this as to how old they are, and
1943 Hallmark
manufacturers. It’s the fifth card has what they are worth. One of
most popular holiday for practical things the chairs still has the straw
sending cards, with retailers on his mind. . . material in the seat. Thanks for
totting up nearly 100 million your help. Fred M.
dollars in card sales. And, the Fred – Interestingly
market for recipients is no A. enough, I couldn’t find
longer limited to just dear old any reference material on a
Dad. There are Father’s Day greetings tailor-made for grandpas, hubbies, company in Indiana called
sons, sons-in-law, uncles, godfathers, and assorted other favorite fellas. the American Chair Co. The
Vintage Father’s Day cards are popular with today’s paper only one I could find was in
collectors, who are taken with their nostalgic, often humorous appeal. Sheboygan, WI. in the late
While popular card imagery includes such old stalwarts as fishing 1920s. Your chairs are an early
rods, smoking paraphernalia, and hunting equipment, interesting 20th century version of the This oak recliner is an updated version of the
19th century Morris chair. It has a continuous
embellishments often added to the visual appeal. A World War II-era well known Morris chair. The friction bearing in the mechanism rather than the
card, featuring an illustration of a hand-carved model battleship, was mechanism in your chair is a exposed bar of the original Morris design.
accented with raised wooden letters, spelling out “Dad”. A take-it-easy friction bearing similar to ones
Dad was pictured at rest in a hammock made of real net, while a card used in Morris chairs around the turn of the century, but the older
showing a typewriter (remember those?), with the heading “You’re the version had a series of positive stops that were released by a button
type for me, Dad”, came complete with a swatch of “real” typewriter inset in the arm of the chair. Yours appears to be a continuously variable
ribbon (in black and red, slide, a considerable upgrade from the previous version. The style of
just like at the office). the oak apron and of the arms also indicate a manufacture date in
There were cards with the early 20th century, prior to World War I. The chairs were probably
metallic paper “mirrors”, originally upholstered in leather. Chairs like yours would sell at auction
so Dad could see who in the range of $200-$300 each. Thanks for writing and thanks for the
all the fuss was about. excellent photos.
. .cards with glowing
pipes, their embers In the ten years we’ve been in the refinishing and antiques
courtesy of gold glitter. Q. business the best thing we have found to remove the odor from
. .and more than a few inside drawers and cabinets are the fabric softener sheets for a cloths
cards depicting what Dad dryer. Just throw one in each drawer and leave them as long as needed.
might rather be opening We also stopped accepting painted pieces for stripping years ago as
on his day off: a ready- we could never guarantee the results and the residue from the many
to-be-drained cocktail layers of old paint often contained lead and was therefore considered
shaker. hazardous waste. We enjoy your articles, keep up the good work. Larry
This Father’s Day, and Gail G.
if you’re part of the Larry and Gail - The use of fabric softener sheets sounds like an
more than 60 percent A. interesting idea. I have never tried it but I will. It also sounds
of Americans who’ll like a good way to just maintain a nice smell in the furniture year
be getting Dad a card, ‘round. I will include my results in a future column. I know what you
why not send one of mean about the stripping problems. I had the same ones during my 20
the vintage variety? Plenty of years in the business. I just found a good hazardous waste company and
unsigned, new-old-stock cards let them take care of it with all legal documentation. It was worth the
A card shaped are among the hundreds of cost just to not worry about it. In the meantime, remember that lots
like a tobacco Father’s Day items listed daily of other things are hazardous too (like sanding dust, two part bleach,
canister offers a
“cheery mixture on eBay; most sell in the $5- and overspray) so keep up your safety guard. Thanks for reading my
for Father’s Day”. 10 range. And when you sign columns. The best of luck to you in your business.
Unmarked. it, be sure and add “Thanks, Dad”! Continued on Page 20