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2 - Antique Shoppe - www.antiqueshoppefl.com
OBITUARIES— In July 2020, a 14-inch tall doorstops and cast-iron toys. Hubley
Halloween doorstop was offered produced a vast variety of doorstops
on eBay for $21,000. This from animals to people to houses,
antique doorstop depicts a girl and all of Hubley’s doorstops were
in ghost costume holding a jack- hand painted, so there are no two
o-lantern, and the doorstop has identically alike.
Hubley’s black cat doorstops
been called the “Holy Grail” depict full figured animals posing
of Halloween doorstops. Littco as only cats know how to do—
Robert Alexander Dewar— Products of Littlestown, stretching, sitting
Robert Alexander Dewar, 71 years old, Pennsylvania, standing, and seemingly
of New Smyrna Beach, died Thursday, manufactured this menacing in a hair-
August 27, 2020 at Halifax Health Hospice,
Edgewater. Born in Dobbs Ferry, New York doorstop sometime raising Halloween sort of
to John and Jane Conroy Dewar, Robert between 1916 and 1940. way with their black bodies
came to Florida in 1971 from Long Island, A friend of mine uses this Hubley “Flying This Halloween girl and red mouths.
Witch” as a doorstop. It was originally
New York after serving in the U.S. Navy produced as a pair of bookends, which are doorstop is considered the Cat and Halloween
Submarine Force. Robert was a member valued today for around $1,500. most desirable doorstop collectors search for Hubley
of the American Legion Post 17, VFW, black cat doorstops, paying
AmVets, Clamagore Submarine Veterans Doorstops in the world and is one from $200 to nearly $1,000
Association and Friends of Canaveral. of only four original for these figural feline
After a career in Real Estate and Continued from Page 1 examples known to doorstops.
Construction, he and wife, Joyce, enjoyed exist. Folklore, mythology,
30 years in the Antiques and Collectibles By the early 20 century, Before you think
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business, owning Coronado Antiques & cast iron doorstops were cheap and symbolism have
Collectibles Mall in New Smyrna Beach. commodities, costing as little as $21,000 is too much enhanced the desire for
Survivors include his wife, Joyce; money to pay for a Halloween doorstops.
stepson, Michael (Andrea); stepdaughter, 50¢ in Dime Stores, making it doorstop, consider this: Witches, black cats,
Kellye (Alan); grandson, (A.J.) Alan possible for nearly every house in In 2006 another of and ghosts have been
Amaral, Jr.; brothers, John of Michigan America to have at least one. these “Holy Grail” Antique “black cat” Halloween used as symbols of
and Bruce (Michele) of Connecticut, and Osborn Dorsey (a 19 century doorstop, circa late 1800s, Halloween since the
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produced by Hubley, this
sister, MaryAnne Downing of Georgia. He black American inventor) is doorstops sold at doorstop was offered on eBay 17 century when the
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had a large extended family and friends. Bertoia Auctions for $900. traditions surrounding
Robert was preceded in death by his credited with inventing the (Vineland, NJ) for All Hallow’s Eve
parents and sister, Carole Styles. common doorstop. On December $72,800. And in
Condolences may be made online at 10, 1878, Dorsey received 2016 a third one of them sold at crossed the Atlantic from Europe to
www.settlewilderfuneralhome.com. the first American patent for a liveauctioneers.com for $24,500. the American colonies. Witches and
doorstop (patent number Littco’s girl in ghost black cats are thought to be familiars
of the devil and actually helped lead
American Pickers 210,764). Dorsey’s costume doorstop has to the hysteria that reached fruition in
to Showcase invention was a doorstop been reproduced. Salem, Massachusetts, in 1693 when
mechanism, not the
In 2012
Americana Collections old fashioned, liveauctioneers.com 19 men and women were executed
for being witches. In the 20 century,
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cast iron doorstop these same scary symbols usher in
“American Pickers,” a television sold a re- Halloween each year, and there is
show dedicated to Americana artifacts that collectors production of this
Witch on
and antiques is looking for “interesting seek, but since broomstick famous doorstop for no better permanent representation
characters with interesting items” to it was the first with bat. a mere $175. of these devilish symbols than a cast
submit a description of their collections to receive a Origin unknown, And though it was a iron doorstop.
for a chance to appear on the History patent, Dorsey’s but most likely made Cast-iron Halloween doorstops
Channel show. doorstop is in the second reproduction, it have become so popular among
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If you have rare vintage items, they half of the 20 was advertised collectors that “fantasy doorstops”
might want to talk to you. The cast of historically century. as “very have flooded the market. Fantasy
“American Pickers” will be following important. desirable and doorstops are reproduction doorstops,
all guidelines and safety protocols for Collectors seek figural cast- hard to find.” Reproductions are usually made in Taiwan, that have
safe filming as outlined by each state, iron doorstops that are prized as always scary things to deal with, been cosmetically aged to resemble
and may reschedule filing dates as new much for their decorative appeal antique doorstops. Novice
developments occur in regards to the so let the doorstop buyer beware! collectors need to be on
pandemic. and beauty as for their utilitarian Among Halloween figural guard since reproduction
The show is seeking submissions of function. Although there were doorstops there is a veritable doorstops may hold open a
private collections only. They do not many foundries in the early part menagerie of witches, black door but they do not hold
accept submission from shops, flea of the 20 century that produced cats, jack-o-lanterns, and ghosts.
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markets, museums, auctions or any place metal doorstops, some of the Black cats go hand-in-hand with any value.
open to the public. After looking through leading producers were Littco,
items, show hosts Mike Wolfe and Frank Hubley, Spenser & Sons, and Judd Halloween décor, and some of Original, but in poor condition
Fritz may decide to sell things in their the most whimsical, detailed, Hubley “black cat”
antique shops, or in some cases, add Manufacturing Company. and sought after Halloween Halloween
them to their personal collections. And while there are many doorstops depict black cats. doorstop that
is valued at
To apply for a chance for your items themes that are apparent in Hubley manufactured more black $200.
to appear on “American Pickers,” call doorstops, Halloween themed cat metal doorstops than any other
1-855-OLD-RUST, or send an email to cast iron doorstops have always
AmericanPickers@cineflix.com. been the most desired and foundry.
Be sure to include your name, city, most expensive doorstops ever John Hubley founded Hubley in
state, and contact information plus a Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in 1894,
brief description of your collection. produced. manufacturing mass-produced