Hi! I'm Buster Brown. I live in a shoe....

Do you remember Buster Brown shoes? I do. I also remember watching the Buster Brown TV show ... Smilin' Ed's Gang and later Andy's Gang. The shoes were "special." Back in those days I went to Catholic school and the nun's required us to wear shoes ... I mean real shoes ... "oxfords" we called them. Mom bought us Buster Brown shoes 'cause they would last the whole year!

The advertising line for Buster Brown was:

Hi! I'm Buster Brown. I live in a shoe. 

That's my dog Tige. He lives in there too!

The Brown Shoe Company has been around for over 130 years. Today they also market Famous Footwear and Naturalizers, and they are a contract manufacturer for other shoe brands.  But they are most well-known for the Buster Brown line of shoes.

In 1902, cartoonist Richard Outcault introduced a new comic strip character, a mischievous little rich boy named Buster Brown and his dog Tige. Two years later, at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair (famous for bringing the world hamburgers and ice cream cones) Outcault licensed the character to a number of companies, including the Brown Shoe Company. (Click here for a History of Buster Brown Shoes.)

 

Andy Devine and Froggie

By 1953 we had TV in Hawaii and I got to watch the "Buster Brown Show." My favorite was Froggie the Gremlin ... Plunk your magic twanger Froggie! Then there was the cat that could talk ... it said Niiice. The original show, which started in 1950, was hosted by Smilin' Ed. After Ed’s death in 1953, Andy Devine became the show's host. Watching the Buster Brown Show was a Saturday morning ritual for me. In 1956, Buster Brown Shoes became a pioneering sponsor of the “Captain Kangaroo Show."

All this came to mind when I saw this advertising piece in an auction. It is a tin display sign about 12 inches tall.  Wish I could bid on it, but it is estimated to sell between $900 and $1400!!! I don't want it that much, but Buster Brown memorabilia does get premium pricing in the collectors' market.

Here are a few images for your enjoyment.

Display piece with Buster Brown and his dog Tige

Postcard from 1907 advertising Buster Brown Shoes (Courtesy riptheskull on flickriver)

Buster Brown Comic Books were another piece of clever merchandising (Courtesy stwallskull)

 

Advertising circa 1900

I was doing some family history research in newspapers from Hawaii circa 1900 and found these ads. I thought these were kind of interesting ... so I thought I'd pass them along.

Congo Gnat Oil? (1902)

"Swell Hats" for the well-dressed Hawaiian Victorian lady (1900)

Cannot figure who is more the dandy ... the poodle or the gent? (1894)

Seems like you can still buy these in Hawaii today (1900)

Cheap Fashion ... 1900 style

Wine ... Vintage 1902 ... the finest tonic and invigorant!

FYI: I research old newspaper on a Library of Congress website: Chronicling America. It has digitized newspapers from 1836 to 1922, and a directory of newspapers as far back as 1670. Great research resource.

What's Your Mom Love?

Remember Mothers' Day is Sunday May 12th. 

Vintages will be open on Sunday May 5th and 

Sunday May 12th for your convenience.

Say "I Love You Mom" with this little dish ($9.95 in its own box)

Every Mom is different. Every Mom is special. That's why we select a variety of gifts and special items for Moms. 

Gifts for the Crafty Mom

Vintages has a great selection of new and 

vintage crafting treasures, supplies and accessories

Solder Craft Kits and Accessories

Beautiful Decorative and Craft Papers (from $3.95 per sheet)

American Made Papers for Crafting, Decorating and Gift Wrapping

Vintage Millinery Flowers, Trims and Feathers

Beautiful Ribbons

Vintages has the finest ribbon selection

Vintage Ribbons, Lace and Trim

Specialty Ribbons

Gifts for Every Mom!

Handmade by Susan • Magnets, Paperweights and Jewelry

Inspirational Bookmarks (just $3.95 each)

Wax Seals and Accessories • Initials ($9.95) • Designs ($11.95)

Wall Plaques by Earl ($24.95 each)

 

Special Selections for Moms  

Who Love Beautiful Things

Gorgeous Hand Decorated Clutches and Handbags (from $175)

Beautiful Handmade Bowls and Vases (from $75)

Genuine French Limoges Porcelain Boxes (from $89)

 Every Mom Loves Jewelry

We have a wide selection of 
hand crafted and vintage jewelry

Vintage Jewelry from Legendary Designers

Bangles in Bakelite, Silver and Beads

This is a Beautiful Antique Diamond, Gold and Carved Rock Crystal Brooch ($695 one only)

Cameos Never Go Out of Style

 

 

 

 

 

Gifts for Moms Who Collect

Vintage Perfume Bottles, Bathing Beauties, Fans and Compacts

Pincushion Dolls and Sewing Collectibles

Old Journals, Letters, Documents, Photos and Advertising

Beatrix Potter Peter Rabbit Storybook Figures • New Additions

We carry few collectibles in the shop, but one that we always search out are the wonderfully cute character figurines from the Beatrix Potter Storybook collection. We recently acquired a dozen or so additions to our selection. Peruse a few of them below:

The Amiable Guinea-Pig

Mrs. Rabbit with Two Babies

Jeremy Fisher and his Buddy Mr. Jackson (below)

Mr. Jackson

Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail

 These are all available online and in the shop.

The Make-It Book - Things to Do for Children

Not only is this a great children's book with great graphic images, but it also has a boatload of craft projects for kids and kids-at-heart. The Make-It Book- Things to do with Scissors and Paste and Odds and Ends by Rachel Taft Dixon and Marjorie Hartwell. This wonderful book was published back in 1928, yet the craft projects are as relevant today as they were then. 

The projects include paper folding, paper dolls, doll houses, masks, kites, things made from corks and clothespins, walnut shells and twigs.

I have copied below a couple of clothespin projects. Pretty cute! Try them.

 Click on the image to see a larger size.

Vintage Photographs ... and the stories behind them

Old photographic images intrigue me. It is amazing that so many of them are still around. Most of the images are still crisp and clear, though many are faded or have taken on sepia tones. But that's OK with me. Just makes them look old. In doing my family history (an undertaking that can be fully consuming of time and emotions) I have found relatives who have literally boxes of old pictures of our family. Tiny ones, torn ones, faded ones, unknown ones! It's like solving mysteries.

In the shop we have hundreds of old photographic images ... cabinet photos, carte de visites (CDV), tintypes, portraits, action shots and more. Just like with my own family photos, I get excited when I find writing on the photo. Sometimes it's a name. Sometimes it's a story. Sometimes just a date. Along with clues in the images like cars, signs, fashion and such, these help connect other photos, other people and other times together.

Here are some recently acquired photos along with the annotations that are on some of them. Of course, there are some images that speak for themselves ... no notes needed. Enjoy!

Grandchild walking by car.

Great Bicycle Shot ... note the dude sitting on his bike!

OUCH!

Need a Haircut?

Old Harley Davidson

1931 Bi-Plane in Texas

Dig the kid in his green and white rompers!

Old folks in front of their vintage Studie! Studebaker, that is.

I hope this is a theatrical group.

Kahalui Railroad on Maui in the 1930s

These guys are working?

Woodrow Wilson? No but worth a few laughs.