Forbidden License to Bite

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Sometimes I am asked by individuals if the following account is true. My only response is a forced faint smile. After all, it is they who will register it into theirconsciousness, and in the end, they will believe what they wish to believe. Itis that special mysterious human process we all possess. I cannot make thatpersonal decision for them. Their decision becomes their truth to them--andmine is mine…...

Winter is not my season and killing is not my thing but I realize that each exists and each will have its time in this world. In certain times and certain places, certain inexplicable events can transpire—events that are counter to our beliefs and defy what we believe is logical. Through no choice of our own we are sometimes drawn to negative worldly forces that we have no desire to align our souls with—and then we are forced to participate in events counter to the fiber that creates our being. Then we must deal with them with whatever means are necessary. 

 And so it was with me. This is my story, John McFarland, an ordinary man—until I met her. It’s about me—and her.

I could get under the covers with her and taste her, smell her, feel her, and experience her full womanhood. She was sweet, she was soft, she was loving—but some might say she was evil……

~~~~

I remember that day. It wasn’t long ago. I shivered ever so slightly even in the light of the late afternoon sun as I reached the old rusty broken red side door. Icicles that were hanging down over the old metal warehouse door cracked loudly and fell at my feet when I yanked on the handle and pulled it open. Inside the old empty warehouse, the rays of the setting sun, fighting to make their way through haze covered long rectangular windows near the roof, revealed a huge empty structure, awaiting either destruction or reincarnation into another life.

A large empty structure devoid of the people and activity that once made it useful can generate an uncanny presence. Scaffolding erected for day workers to make roof repairs was the only sign of recent activity. Scattered dimly lit incandescent bulbs along the walls provided an eerie light, casting ominous long shadows from the columns and beams that formed the skeleton of the structure. Once a busy sturdy structure, its only immediate function now was as a final meeting place for one hunter and one hunted. I wondered which one I would be. A rusty steel mezzanine on one side of the building was lined with small offices. All were dark save for one at the end, which had a pale yellow light shining through its window. It was my reluctant destination.

This decrepit structure seemed like a highly inappropriate place in which a thing of beauty would have to die, but she had chosen the place, not I, and I would do what I had to do to finally bring it to an end. Beauty is not a substitute for humanity and no being can truly live and love without its humanity. 

 

Jaguar XKE - The Original

Enzo Ferrari called it the most beautiful car in the world. It was introduced to the press and the public in March 1961 in Geneva. Designed by Malcom Sayer, a legendary aerodynamicist, it had a sensuous sleek design, and was an instant hit at the show. This sexy and powerful car was The Jaguar E-Type or Jaguar XKE as it would come to be known in the United States. It would remain in production until 1975.

Power was provided by a DOHC six-cylinder engine that first appeared in the Jaguar XK120. Outfitted with three S U carburetors it produced 265- horsepower that provided power to the wheels through a four speed manual transmission. with rear end  gearing of 3:31. The rear setup used a Lotus racing car design that used  U-jointed half shafts which doubled as upper control links. 

                    

The frame was based on Jaguar’s  D-Type race car that featured monocoque construction, incorporating a frame-less center sectionthat gained strength from the front and rear boxed tubular construction. The rear housed a limited slip differential, and disc brakes all around, a new and innovative concept at the time that gave the new design plenty of stopping power. Rack and pinion steering, and front and rear independent suspension helped keep the car going where it was aimed.

This sleek machine, available as a roadster and hatchback, with its long curving hood, and weighing 2700 pounds, could reach a top speed of 150 mph and sprang from 0 to 60 in under 7 seconds. A small oval intake at the front , chrome nerf bumpers, and tucked in glass headlights  augmented the distinct design statement the car made.

One could purchase this new car for around $5700 at the time. Today, the original 1961 cars are highly sought after. Although produced many years ago, their sleek design is timeless.

The 1953 Corvette -- Birth of a Legend

In January 1953, a special car appeared at General Motor’s Motorama display at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. The car would  become a legend. It was the concept car for the Chevrolet Corvette.

The Corvette was a result of the combined efforts of Thomas Keating, Chevrolet General Manager;  Ed Cole, Chief Engineer at Chevrolet;  and designer Harley Earl, manager of the Art and Colour studio at General Motors.

Keating wanted a car that would appeal to the youth market and keep up the momentum Chevrolet had enjoyed over its competitor Ford over the two previous years. Cole was eager to apply his talents to a new project, and Earl had the perfect project. Inspired by European sports cars, Earl had been toying with design concepts for an American sports car for over a year.

The time was right as all three worked to bring the Corvette to life from its concept drawings. Initially named ‘Project Opel,’ the Corvette’s metamorphous from design drawings to a real life car took months of work but was finally ready for the January 1953 GM Motorama.

With little time to bring the car to life and budget constraints, components for the new car had to come off the Chevrolet parts shelf. This included the 235 cubic-inch Blue Flame six cylinder engine, although it was given a few modifications such as a new camshaft, hydraulic valve lifters, and a three carburetor setup to give it more horsepower. A modified two speed automatic transmission was used to handle power from the engine to the axle.

The chassis was laid out with the seats in front of a standard Chevrolet axle and the engine and transmission moved back for better weight distribution.

Earl had become fascinated with the potential of a glass reinforced plastic body. After successful tests of a full size Chevrolet convertible with a plastic body, Earl decided that the show car would have a plastic body.

It was a beautiful car. At its debut at the Motorama, the car was a hit and it got the approval for production. One of the few concept cars to go into production virtually unchanged from the concept car, the Corvette went into production the following June in Flint Michigan, with its plastic body , with a total production for the 1953 model year of only 300 cars. The first one, a Polo White car with a red and white interior and a black manually operated convertible top, rolled off the assembly line on June 30, 1953. All the cars for that year would have the same color combination. Not until the following year would other colors be available.

      

 Although flooded with orders, the total production of 300 cars for that year was targeted for dealers to lend out to business leaders and celebrities for promotional purposes. Production moved to St. Louis for 1954 and increased as ordinary citizens were able to get their hands in the new car.

 Some would belittle the car for its lack of power with its six cylinder engine, that would soon be remedied as the Corvette would eventually get a V8 and become a finely tuned sports car. It steadily improved over the years and today it remains a beautiful and powerful automobile.

   

 

Love in September

Available as an eBook on Amazon

Jason called her Carol.At first I thought she was his sister—a secret sibling he never mentioned before or a stepsister—but she wasn’t. Carol had long dark brown hair and greeneyes. She reminded me of Natalie Wood. She looked like she had just stepped outof the pages of a fashion magazine, complete with a trim figure that was wellformed where it needed to be, and graceful.

She was pretty and always wore attractive outfits. Long slender dresses referred to as pencil style dresses were part of the ensemble for ladies in the fifties and the style looked great on her. Sometimes she also wore that period’s popular pleated swing skirts with coordinating tops. There was never a time when she didn’t look nice. One could spend endless time just watching her walk. All the pieces blended together into one coordinated smooth motion.

A gold chain made of small hearts always adorned her neck. The sides of the chain merged together as they descended to where she buttoned her collar, and then disappeared down inside the front of her dress. She never wore it outside. I always wondered about that mysterious chain. She always smelled good, too. A fresh delicious sweet but not overpowering scent surrounded her that seemed to bond all her pleasant qualities together. I mentally put her on a pedestal. That's the way I was brought up.

The time was the fall of 1958 in Maryland. I remember what my mother told me. "Search the world for the precious beauty that it holds for you and never abuse it or take it for granted," she advised me. I always remembered that. It was from her that I learned to appreciate beauty no matter where I found it. She also cautioned me to obey rules or else they could come back to kick you hard in the pants if you played loose with them. She was a big believer in rules and doing what was right, as well as beauty.

My father on the other hand was more practical about rules and life. He was Mr. Logic all right. Everything had to follow some sort of practical plan for him. He always said that some rules were just begging to be broken. I reckon they were both right. But I suppose ultimately that it was my father’s logic that unknowingly influenced me that fateful fall of 1958.

In the fall of 1958, Lakewood, Maryland, a small community forty miles south of Baltimore, was filled with respectable people doing respectable things. I sure thought I was respectable, living there with my mom and dad —never thought otherwise. Back in 1958, rules were stricter for what was considered respectable behavior, especially in Lakewood, our happy little quiet community. At least on the outside it seemed happy and respectable.

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The Search for Amanda

 

This is my story. I am sitting in my living room as I write this. It is quiet but my thoughts are jumping back and forth. You can accept this account as fact or fiction but it doesn’t matter to me. This is the way I’m putting it down because this is the way I have to tell it. I don’t remember much about my life before it happened except that it seems normal now. It was probably something like yours. I didn’t believe just like many of you don’t. Maybe that’s good in a way and maybe it’s not. If nothing happens it’s great but if something bizarre happens—believe me, you just aren’t going to be ready for it.

My advice to you, for what it’s worth, is to not accept the world about you the way it seems. Always leave your mind open to the possibility, however absurd it may seem to you, that there are things we have not yet experienced, things that we cannot yet see, hear or feel, that seem unexplainable and illogical to us humans, yet they do exist.

Some say that we each have a doppelganger--another being, an exact double of ourselves that lives in a world just like ours in another dimension, and each lives a similar but not exact life. Maybe I’m my own doppelganger and the other me still lives and exists the way it was before it happened. If that is so, I wish him a happy and fruitful life, even without having experienced what I have.

As for me, whoever I am and whatever dimension I live in, I cannot go back to the way it was, and I now accept the concept that this is the direction my life was supposed to go, at least in this dimension.

I will begin this account by saying that everything seemed normal to me before. I had a great life and thought I had a great job. Everything seemed normal--until that night. I had gotten home late from my grandmother’s house after I had helped her paint the spare bedroom. I had done most of the paint work. She had done most of the supervising part of the job.

I was pleased with the way the room had turned out. Of course, I guess the supervisor had a lot to do with it, always pointing out spots I had missed and just how to paint the wood trim so the paint saturated the intricate crevices. My breaks consisted of getting something to drink and some chips and then heading for the living room for a few moments to stare at that picture on my grandmother’s wall, as I had many times before.

I always seemed to gravitate there since she had pulled it out of her attic and hung it up a while back. It was that picture of a high school homecoming event in her school’s gymnasium back in the 1950s that fascinated me so much. I was drawn to it like a magnet to a steel door--not because it was a relic of the nostalgic 1950s, but rather because of her…  

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Ford Sunliner 1955 Convertible

They definitely don’t make them like they used to. I don’t know who owns this beauty, but he or she is one lucky person. It’s a 1955 Ford Sunliner convertible. I’d be afraid to drive one anywhere lest the whitewalls get dirty or something else happen to it—but that’s just me.

Although the 1955 Chevrolet with its heralded new small block engine, and new design was the most popular car of 1955, I still like the Ford’s design over the Chevy’s.

The new Ford sported a new longer (115.5 wheelbase) and lower body, although underneath it was similar to earlier Fords. The new body had crisp lines and accent chrome that evoked a feeling that it was moving forward, and also incorporated a wrap around windshield for the first time. An egg crate grill, large parking lights and new distinctive taillights complemented the design. The first factory installed Ford air conditioner termed ‘Select Aire’ was available as an option. 

The new Fords came in several model levels from the base Mainline to the Customline to the station wagon series, to the top of the line Fairlane named after Henry Ford’s Fair Lane mansion in Dearborn. The Fords came in various body styles including two and four door sedans, two and four door hardtops, two and four door station wagons, convertibles and even a model with an acrylic tinted sun panel called the Crown Victoria Skyliner. The latter wasn’t very popular. Although attractive because of the sun panel, it got very hot inside.

Consumers had their pick of a wide variety of colors from conservative colors like black and tan to vibrant beautiful tones of red, blue, yellow, green, and even pink. Two-tone schemes in numerous combinations graced the new body styles as well as single tone applications.

Unlike today’s drab gray interiors (You can have any color as long as it’s gray) that consumers, for some unknown reason, accept without complaints, Fords as well as other cars of that era had vibrant matching color interiors.

Under the hoods, the new Fords came with a 223 CID I6 OHV (Mileage Maker) inline six, a new 272 CID Y-Block V8 to replace the old flathead, and a 292 CID V8 called the Thunderbird engine, which was, as one might suspect also offered in the new T-Bird. (Other off the shelf Ford features were also used in the T-Bird.) Transmissions were the Ford-O-Matic and a three speed manual.

Total production for 1955 was 1,451,157 units, most of which were Fairlane Town Sedans (four doors with pillars), then Customline two door sedans, followed by Customline four door sedans and then Victoria hardtops (no pillars). The Crown Victoria Skyliners with the acrylic sun panels were the least purchased at 1999 units.

Fortunately there are a lot still around that have been restored to original condition. You won’t find them at your local used car lot though. Surfing the internet is the best way to find one, but expect to part with a good portion of your savings account to get one.

 

Proofreading and Editing Services

 

Writer member: Northwest Independent Writers Association

All inquires are welcome. Reasonable Rates are negotiable

This service on your manuscript will include proofreading and editing the items below. You will get a final copy and also a copy showing all changes so that you may review them.

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Flow and logic will also be reviewed.

Frank Arcilesi

Frank Arcilesi is a graduate of Towson State University with a B.S. degree in Mass Communications; and Mathematics. He has business and financial experience, and has written several eBooks available on various sites.

All articles on this website have been written by him and other material is listed on the sidebar. He is a current member of the Maryland Writers' Association. He has been a Comptroller, a CFO at a law firm and a former member of the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA). He received a NASA group achievement award as a contractor employee. 

Snowboarding is Becoming a Popular Sport

Snowboarding is a sport, which has gained in immense popularity over the last ten years. It was officially proclaimed an Olympic sport in 1994 and the first Olympic event was held in 1998. Currently 97% of all U.S. ski resorts allow snowboarding, which initially had been banned.

In the Olympics three events are held: the halfpipe, the parallel giant slolem and the snowboard cross

It may not overtake skiing yet but the body of enthusiasts is growing. Snowboarders represent 30% of the people who attend resorts.

History

Although Jack Burchett experimented with something resembling a snowboard in the 1920’s made out of a plank, the beginning of modern snowboarding is credited to a chemical engineer, Sherman Poppen who in 1964 crudely slapped two kids' skis together with a rope in front to control it, in an effort to make a new ski toy for his daughter to use.

It became very popular with his daughter’s friends and the following year he licensed it for production. This toy turned out to be the famous Snurfer, which became a hot seller with over a million units sold in the next ten years before its popularity died out. The problem with the Snurfer was that it had no bindings and was hard to control. It was dismissed as a toy.

In 1969 Dimitri Milovich started making surfboards inspired by skiing down hills on cafeteria plates from his college cafeteria. He is considered a pioneer for his development. His company “Winterstick” is considered to be the first snowboard company. He used technology based on how skis work. His boards resembled today’s boards and he was written about in several national magazines.

In 1970, Jack Burton, a Snurfer enthusiast got into the business by making snowboards out of laminated hardwood and fiberglass with the first bindings which made controlling the board much better. He also used P-Tex in the construction of his snowboards. This is an extremely durable polyethylene material, which is easily repairable and accepts wax for better gliding. Modern snowboards are constructed of P-Tex. Burton also incorporated designs used today such as metal edges to make the board turn better and was the first to place graphics on the boards. His company is the largest manufacturer of snowboards today. Burton was also instrumental in promoting the sport in competitions to what it is today.

In 1977 Tom Sims, a skateboard champion got into the business and with the help of his employee Chuck Barfoot manufactured what was called the “Flying Yellow Banana” which was a skateboard glued onto a plastic shell. They went on to incorporate skateboard technology in the development of their products. Sims also began using P-Tex in the boards.

These are the some of the pioneers in the 1960’s and 1970’s who developed the designs and equipment for the modern snowboards, which have resulted in this popular sport today.

Why People Snowboard

It’s difficult to come to a conclusion as to why people snowboard. After all it is more dangerous than skiing according to injury figures. Perhaps that is part of the enticement however.

Another reason may be that the snowboard experience is more of a challenge that skiing and for those individuals who want to step up to the next challenge so to speak, snowboarding is the perfect sport for them.

Of course some are just curious as to why others would want to ride in an awkward position over snow, and don’t mind taking a risk to find out.

Finally, the snowboard rider can perform more tricks and jumps than can be performed on skis. This can be quite an exhilarating experience for those who seek thrills.

 

Board Basics

Snowboards are about the width of a human foot or wider and are assembled in layers.

The most important layer is the core, which is constructed of wood or fiberglass, although other materials such as foam and aluminum are used. The wood is laminated for strength and then shaped by milling and planing. Inserts are drilled for the bindings. Sidewalls usually made of plastic are also bonded to the core to help protect it.

The core is attached to a base made of a strong polyethylene material called P-Tex, which is porous and absorbs wax for a slippery base. The P-Tex base may be made with different processes and sometimes graphite is incorporated to help the base reduce friction. Edges are put on the base running the entire length to help with friction on ice and maneuverability. Fiberglass sheets are sandwiched in between the base and core for added strength.

A top sheet made of fiberglass or other materials is put on the core to further strengthen it and this sheet also contains the graphics.

The snowboard is assembled in layers and then put into a mold and then into a heated press. This allows all the binding materials to dry and the board to retain its shape.

Bindings are attached so that the rider stands transverse to the longitude of the board.

 

Styles

There are three basic styles, freeride, freestyle, and freecarve/race although there is overlap among the styles.

The freeride is the most popular. Riders go down any hilly terrain and may perform tricks. Many types of snow may be encountered such as deep powder or ice so a stiffer boot is required. This style is good for beginners

The freestyle is more advanced. In this style the rider performs tricks using objects such as jumps, rails and boxes. It may incorporate flips and spins. These objects may have slick tops so the snowboard will glide over them. A more flexible boot is required for the required maneuverability.

Free-carve style, known as alpine snowboarding takes place on groomed runs with packed snow and focuses on carving turns as in skiing. A stiffer boot with binding allowing for quick turns is required.

Snowboarding injuries are twice those of alpine skiing so caution is advised.

Conclusion

Snowboarding is a relatively new sport. Inspired by surfing, sledding, skiing and skateboarding, it has become a very popular snow sport after several pioneers perfected designs and helped develop it the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Various styles are used in snowboarding although there is overlapping.

In the U S snowboarding cultures have arisen in Alaska, Utah, California, New England, Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest and competitions are held worldwide.

Pawn Stars Review

This is a fun show to watch although it may not represent a typical pawnshop. Apparently the format was tweaked by the producers to showcase the more exotic items that come into the pawn shop which are not typical of a run of the mill pawnbroker’s operation. A typical operation loans money on ordinary items like watches and jewelry. This series however showcases a never ending stream of people bringing in some of the most fascinating and exotic items one can image.

Background and Stars

Rick Harrison and his father Richard, known as the Old Man, are the original co-owners and started the shop in 1988 but it was Rick’s idea to try to sell the idea of a TV series filmed around their operation, which of course eventually happened. Although there are about 30 employees involved in the operation of the shop, the action surrounds Rick, his Corey who is being groomed to take over the shop, and Corey’s childhood friend known as Chumlee (Austin Russell) who’s worked in the store for a few years.

Chumlee, an overweight young man with a sad looking face is the butt of many jokes and insults about his supposed lack of intelligence. Rick is sometimes seen trying to educate him on various artifacts brought into the store since the only items he appears to have any knowledge about are pinball machines and basketball shoes. The producers have obviously tagged Chumlee to provide the comic aspect of the show.                             

Part of the attraction of the show is the interactions and arguments provided by these individuals as they work with each other. Corey and his father Rick are at odds sometimes when Rick thinks his son has paid too much for an item, such as a boat, which he believes they will have trouble selling. In the case of the boat, it was taken to an expert who restored it to a pristine condition for a reasonable price so that they made a nice profit and Corey was vindicated.

Not a Typical Pawn Shop 

Although a pawn shop will make loans and hold merchandise as collateral and buy some items, most of the individuals filmed for the series want to sell their items outright. Toward that end the staff is seen negotiating with the customers on price. It’s surprising how much they know about a variety of pieces and values. Rick is quite impressive when he is are able to give a little history lesson to a customer about a piece that's been brought in. When his knowledge on any item is rather shallow, an expert is brought in for an evaluation.

This is another aspect that’s entertaining but probably not something that happens in an ordinary operation. A squad of 15 or more experts is available for Rick and the others to call upon for advice on any particular item. Each has his or her own field of expertise. We watch as an expert is brought in to evaluate a piece and carefully examines it then declares its authenticity and value. Sometimes the expert just states it’s a worthless reproduction and the cameras don’t miss this opportunity for a close shot of the customer and some serious jaw tightening.

Anything and everything comes to the doors of this pawn shop open 24 hours a day in Las Vegas Nevada.  Cars, truck, boats, old guns, coins, toys, old letters signed by former presidents, old photographs, signed guitars, items that belonged to famous personalities, and many other items are brought in from a variety of people. Their reasons for coming to the shop range from needing money to just not having enough room to store the thing anymore.                  

Separate interviews are thrown in showing one of the staff members and a customer as each gives their analysis of a particular transaction and whether they were satisfied with the outcome. The typical customer wishes he or she would have gotten more and no wonder. Rick, the Old Man and the other staff members are quite reserved in what they pay out since they have to make a profit at resale. One wonders why some of these people come to a pawn shop to sell valuable pieces.

Fascinating Items Come to the Shop

One individual actually hauled in a new original Shelby Cobra aluminum body he acquired. Surely this was a reproduction. This exotic car was built in the sixties by famed race car driver Caroll Shelby from aluminum bodies that were shipped to him from England. A new authentic body shell would have had some car enthusiasts fighting with each other to buy it.  After Rick had an automobile expert look at it and verify that it was the real deal and not just a reproduction, the bargaining commenced until Rick made a final firm offer. The customer momentarily agonized over the offer before finally accepting it.

Well this is not your grandfather’s pawn shop. Rick has the wherewithal to have cars, motorcycles, boats, vending machines, and other items restored. He had the shell sent to a classic car restoration shop where it was fitted and built into a complete Shelby Cobra worth many thousands of dollars, a lot more than what he put into it.

As stated, this may not represent the operation of a typical pawn shop but one learns about the history of many old items which appear on the show; sees cars, motorcycles and old vending machines restored; and is entertained in the process.

Pawn Stars airs at 10 pm Mondays on the History channel.

Pontiac GTO - 1964: The Original Muscle Car

It was sizzle from the start. The Pontiac brand has been gone for several years now but the first true muscle car it created remains firmly entrenched in the minds of car enthusiasts. It was the 1964 Pontiac GTO. The car was a groundbreaker and it soon spawned other cars of this new niche from its competitors. 

GM’s ban on factory sponsored racing put a damper on Pontiac’s ability to promote its performance image. In order to sustain this image without factory racing, chief engineer John Delorean, general manager Elliot ‘Pete’ Estes and engineers Russ Gee and Bill Collins came up with a plan to promote this image with a factory model.

With limited resources to design an all-new hot car, they hatched a brilliant plan to produce such a hot car. They would put a big V8 into an intermediate body. The engine was a 389 cubic inch V8 straight off the inventory shelf. The body was the redesigned intermediate Tempest, with a 115-inch wheelbase and a maximum weight of 3360 lbs.

Married together this combination would be a Lemans Tempest option available for the coupe, hardtop and convertible models. As an option it could get around the 300 cubic inch limit GM had imposed on standard factory production cars. Unlike other maker’s V8’s which were big physically, GM’s 389 was trim enough that it did not have to be shoe horned into the intermediate Tempest body.

This factory hot rod was named GTO, standing for an Italian term, Gran Turismo Omologoto, meaning a car was certified for Gran Touring class racing—which it definitely was not—but it was good for the image of the car, although some enthusiasts complained.

This GTO option came with a stabilizer bar, red-line tires, choices of a 3 or 4 speed Hurst Shifter manual transmission, or the Hydramatic version. With the standard 4 barrel configuration it generated 325 HP but with the tri-carb setup it reached 348 HP. Seven gear ratios were available to pick from. With the proper combination of options, the car could go from 0-60 in 5.7 seconds.

Make no mistake about it, the GTO was a street rod. It had a firm suspension, it was fast, and its dual exhausts made themselves heard and firmly announced the presence of the GTO. It was meant for the enthusiasts, the young at heart and would-be hot-rodder.

The base price of around $3,200 made the car affordable. Buyers had their choice of 15 exterior colors, six interior colors, and seven convertible top colors to create a car to their personal tastes. Total production for 1964 was 32,450 units. The two-door hardtop was the most popular, followed by the two-door coup (fixed ‘B’ pillar, and then the convertible. Pontiac underestimated the popularity of this new hot rod and could have sold more if they had been available.

 

The GTO continued as a Tempest option until 1968 when it became a separate model. By that time many competitors had put out their own factory hot rods, but the GTO was the trailblazer.  

John Deere Memorabilia or "Bleeding Green"

If you are thinking about starting a collection you might consider John Deere memorabilia.

The John Deere Company has devoted fans and collectors throughout the world. These devotees are described as “bleeding green.”  I must admit to being one of these fans. A small collection of its licensed collectibles such as miniature tractors, tins, plaques, road signs, salt and pepper shaker tractors, tree ornaments, toy banks, clocks, trays and cups occupy my modest dwelling. “Bleeding green” can be addictive.

 

The John Deere name is known worldwide today but it wasn’t always that way. Born into poverty in Vermont in 1804, John Deere persevered and became an accomplished blacksmith. After a move to Illinois, Deere discovered that the soil there was thicker and heavier and stuck to the cast iron plows brought from New England. The ingenious Deere designed a polished plow shaped like an icebreaker, which solved the problem, and sales of it took off and so did his company. He went on to design other items such as a rider cultivator, cotton planters, wagons, buggies and even tapped into the bicycle craze for a period.

It wasn’t until 1918 after the acquisition of the Waterloo Traction Engine Company that the company began to manufacture tractors for which it is now famous. In the 1950’s the company moved into the residential sector when it began to produce lawn and garden tractors.

Today the John Deere Company is a worldwide organization producing equipment for farming, construction, residential, landscaping and other markets. Its leaping deer symbol first introduced in 1876 and tweaked throughout the years, and its yellow and green theme is internationally recognized. The hallmark and success of the company is innovation–a concept the customer oriented Deere insisted on early in his career. His motto was, “I will not put my name on a product that does not have in it the best that is in me.”

Almost from the beginning, toy companies and other manufacturers began to produce miniature replicas of its products and other memorabilia. Almost anything the company made is available in miniature. Genuine John Deere items will have some form of identification indicating the company licensed the products. Imposters will have no such identification. Although the familiar green and yellow theme may appear on an item, it may not be a true Deere product.

These miniatures and memorabilia sell as well as the actual John Deere products. An early hand panted iron toy tractor can be quite valuable. As always, rarity and condition determine value of any vintage item. Two excellent reference books on Deere collectibles are Warman’s John Deere Collectibles by David Doyle and John Deere Collectibles by Brenda Kruse. Both volumes have colorful photographs and suggested values.

This writer was supposed at the large loyal following of this famous brand. There are many John Deere museums housing both the real items and the collectible memorabilia. Some auctions have also been set up just to sell John Deere memorabilia.

Collectors’ clubs have been formed for the addicted fans and collectors. In addition websites have been established to buy and sell Deere collectibles, with discussion groups, news and postings about upcoming Deere auctions. A little research on the web will put you in touch with one of these groups. One that I found is located at http//www.greencollectors.com.

The beauty about Deere collectibles is that they keep making them so it doesn’t cost much to assemble a fine collection of Deere memorabilia. I recently bought a licensed miniature tractor for one dollar at a dollar store. Although you might not find that good of a bargain, a search of flea markets, yard sales, garage sales, and the internet will yield some nicely priced pieces. Deere collectibles come in a seemingly never ending variety from miniature tractors, to dishes, to paintings, to tins, pens, fobs–even clothing.

An inexpensive and colorful collection can be put together from Deere memorabilia and such a devoted and large following has developed through clubs, auctions and internet sites that collecting these pieces is a good way to meet interesting people. If you’re thinking about starting a collection, think about a John Deere collection.

Collecting Can Be Fun—AND IS!

Greetings couch dwellers and recliner recluses. I’m not saying it’s not nice to park yourself in these cozy places during the weekend, but there’s a limit to it. After all, how many times can you watch people throw odd shaped balls to other people or can you watch reruns of Gilligan’s Island. Ginger is definitely eye candy for you men but unless you shell out for the movie version, the Gilligan crew won’t be leaving the island anytime soon in those reruns..

I know, I know—it’s a free country and all that, but heck, there are other things to do.

Men and women are by nature inquisitive and hunter-gatherers. Why not turn that basic penchant for snoopiness and snatching things up into a pleasant and rewarding hobby. Well by now, if you read the title of this publication, you know what I’m going to suggest. Surprise—TRY COLLECTING. Big surprise right. Well I had to give it a title.

All right, enough with the attempted humor--let’s get down to business here. Collecting can be a fun experience and there’s no end to what you can collect, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. Sure, if you’re collecting Rembrandts you’d better have a checking account the size of Bill Gates’ but the collecting market is full of items for us low budget folks.

Someone once advised me that if you're going to go shopping for antiques, ‘stick to shops that are true to the business.' That meant, of course, turn your nose up at flea markets and those quaint little places off the beaten path that feature a few more items, other than the 100-year-old Tiffany lamp with the requisite patina on the base--places with things like old baseball caps, bottle caps, bobble heads and maybe some scented candles on the side.

Well shucks neighbor, definitely don't pay attention to any of that talk, or else you'll miss out on all the fun. High end antiquing is for the serious professional, but don't consider it fun, and for me, fun is what it's all about. I tossed out my stuffy collar long ago and now I just take my cowboy hat and boots, with me in them, to whatever nifty little place, wherever it is, that has some good old stuff to sell.

Of course if you are a serious collector, you'd better bone up on whatever it is that you're collecting, or else take the Kovels (no they’re not the ice cream people) with you, anytime you go out on that antiquing excursion.

I'll admit that I do have a penchant for items of the 50's, especially fine fountain pens and those colorful transistor and tube radios of that era. Bulova transistor radios are my favorite. That's right—the watch company—they made radios in the 50's.

My condo is running out of room to display my radio collection. Last count there were about 50 or so in various nooks and crannies (sometimes I have trouble finding my cat who likes to share the nooks and crannies with them). And yes, most of them work—the radios, not the cat..

But whenever I come across one of these gems, I've got a pretty good idea of what it's worth. I've done my research and so should you if you want to become serious about collecting items from a particular niche, even if it’s bottle caps.

There are plenty of excellent books around. The local library is a great place to start. There are plenty of good reference books for the novice who wants a broad view of collectibles. Specific books on any particular segment of the market such as dolls, collectible glass, matchbox cars, and just about anything else are also available. And don’t forget about our old friend the internet. What a fantastic place for research for professional or novice.

For the beginner though, getting a broad view of collecting is best at first—and fun. You'll be surprised at what sorts of things people collect. You'll be surprised at what sorts of things people collect.

But niche collecting is not the point of this article. I'm not always looking for radios nor do I wish to. Just taking a leisurely weekend drive through the American countryside on the hunt for one of these quaint shops is part of the fun, especially if you have no agenda as to what you're looking for.

My motto is, "If you like it, buy it." I've bought random items such as old key chains, John Deere memorabilia, cuff links, an old 45 RPM record player, vintage pencils, Carnival glass, and Coke memorabilia, just to mention a few, just because I liked them. And none of the items were budget busters—all were relatively inexpensive.

Now it doesn't matter what part of this fine great country you live in, those antique "emporiums" are out there, replete with those wonderful people who own them. Mall antique shops are fine but I'm interested in something with a bit more character, thank you. I've met some fine and interesting characters out there in those one-owner shops.

I'm on the East coast and I travel throughout Maryland and Pennsylvania on my quest for that next shop I haven't been to yet. Sometimes if you ask some of the locals at a gas station, convenience store or restaurant, you'll get valuable leads as to where a great little shop is located in the area.

One thing you should always keep in mind—don't let the looks of it from the outside deter you from stopping and going in. And if it looks like a barn, or an old railroad station, it probably is, so definitely don't miss the opportunity to take a few shots with the digital before you go inside for some easy browsing.

The people who own these shops are usually knowledgeable and friendly, and you'll find that the folks who visit them are just as friendly. Heck, that's what it's all about—that human experience, as they say.

Now just because we're feeling all friendly and have gotten that warm and fuzzy feeling inside after we've browsed around—that doesn't mean we can't get down to business. That price tag on that old lamp or that collection of PEZ candy dispensers is just your invitation for some friendly bargaining--I said friendly, not nasty.

Pleasantly asking if the price on the tag is firm is a good way to start. You'll usually discover that the answer is ‘no,' and if your willing to pay with cash, that's even better when you begin your bargaining process.

Don't make the mistake though of degrading the item as a way to get the price down—not a good idea. That's a sure way to cool things down fast. Offer 20% less than what is on the tag. You probably won't get it but more often than not, you can get at least 10% off your newly found gem.

I've even offered one price for a group of items that I'm interested in. After you've done it a few times, you'll find that bargaining can be fun. That's the whole idea.

Okay, now where's my cowboy hat—hope the cat didn't get it. Time for another weekend excursion.

Well, while I’m looking for my hat, flip the page where I’ve assembled some articles on various collectibles to wet your appetite. These are just examples of what can be collected but the range is limitless. Happy collecting!

 Collecting Beer Trays

Someone once asked why anyone would collect old beer trays. Well the answer was obvious–because they are colorful, part of history and some can be quite valuable.

Collecting beer trays is not a peculiar hobby. If so, there are a lot of peculiar collectors around. Beer trays are an art form that has attracted many collectors.

They’ve been around since the 1890’s when the lithographic process on metal was perfected by two advertising companies of the day–Tuscarora Advertising and Standard Advertising. They used the process to produce metal trays with advertising lithographs on the bottom.

Lithographic printing on metal trays became an effective method of advertising beer. Back in the 1890’s there was no radio, television or internet to inundate us with advertising messages. Advertising was a bit more personnel. You couldn’t get more personnel than having your beer delivered to you on a colorful tray with a spiffy piece of advertising on it for you to peruse before you took a sip of the suds.

Early on these trays were printed with landscapes or pictures of breweries, which were usually sturdy ornately, decorated buildings and a source of pride. Animals, comic characters and pretty women also became popular subjects for these pieces.

These trays came in all sorts of shapes including, round, square, rectangular and oblong but twelve and thirteen inch round trays were most popular overall. However, prior to prohibition most of them were oval in shape. Most were made out of metal although some were made out of porcelain enamel.

Although there are still some modern trays, the heyday of beer trays with the beautiful lithographic images ended in the 1950’s, precipitated by a sharp decline in the 1940’s. During the war effort production decreased due to the shortage of metal and many that were made were donated to the metal drives. Any surviving trays from that period are in demand.

The value of the older tray is determined by the period it was made in, the manufacturer, the scarcity of the piece and its condition. Serious collectors use a grading system that runs from fair to good to very good to excellent to near mint and finally mint condition.

Beer tray reference guides will give you an approximate idea of the value of a tray but the actual condition of the piece will determine its final value. Keep in mind also that printed values are subject to change due to market conditions.

One thing that is a no-no when displaying trays is that one never ever bangs a nail through the tray to hang it on the wall. The value of any tray will immediately dive should it suffer such a fate. Magnetic hooks or self-adhering hooks which can be removed should be used instead.

Beer trays can be found on Ebay, flea markets, garage sales and antique shops but the trick is finding one that’s a bit rare. Two good reference guides are Collectible Beer Trays by Gary Straub and The World of Beer Memorabilia by Herb and Helen Haydock.

Beer trays are an excellent art form to collect brought on by the development of the metal lithographic process. If you’re not interested in rarity, a colorful collection of inexpensive trays can be assembled and displayed easily. If you have a bar in your basement, a series of old beer trays hanging on the wall behind it will definitely add some ambiance.

It’s been my experience that beer trays you find in antique shops are a bit overpriced so be sure to haggle for the best deal. If you tend to be a bit more serious about collecting trays however, make sure you do your research with some good reference material.

 

Chevrolet Nomad - 1955 to 1957 is a Beautiful Car to Collect (even if it’s a model)

The Chevrolet Nomad series station wagons built from 1955 to 1957 are highly desirable cars to collect or restore. Don’t look for any bargains however. Prices can range from 20,000 to 42,000 and even higher depending on the model (check Hemmings classifieds). Six cylinder versions go for less. The 1957 version is the most desirable in the current market. Finding any Nomad in restorable condition can be a worthwhile project for the car enthusiast however. Most of the parts used on these models came from the passenger cars.

The Nomad is arguably the prettiest station wagon ever built. Oddly enough the idea came from a Corvette show car, which was on display at a car show at the Waldorf Astoria in New York.

The show car got such rave reviews that executives at GM instructed the stylists to incorporate some of its styling cues into its 1955 station wagon lineup. The result was the 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air Nomad.

It was a sporty station wagon with hardtop styling unlike anything that had been produced before. Nomads look fast even when they are parked.

History

Under the direction of design chief Harley Earl, Chevrolet had introduced the Corvette, GM’s legendary fiberglass sports car to the public in 1953. 

In 1953 Earl had a station wagon show car version of the Corvette built for the 1954 Motorama at the Waldorf Astoria in New York. This station wagon version of the Corvette had a stylish roofline. The roof design had been conceived by stylist Carl Renner. 

After the popularity of the show car GM, instructed Renner to modify the design for use on the 1955 station wagons. Renner revised his drawings to stretch the design to fit on the wagons and the Nomad was born.

Basic Specs

Nomads only came in two door models although there is plenty of hauling space in the rear.

Total production was only about 23,000 units so plan on looking hard for one. These units were not popular at the time because of the two door only configuration and the cost, which was typically higher than the convertible. There were leaking problems with the tailgate also because of alignment problems.

Chevrolet manufactured a new lightweight small block V8 for 1955 and they put it in the Nomad also. The old “stovebolt” six was also available. 1956 saw GM add a dual four-barrel option for the V8 and in 1957 they offered fuel injection.

Transmissions included Chevrolet’s trusty 2-speed Powerglide, a manual three on the column and a new smooth shifting automatic offered in 1957 called Turboglide.

The body style was the same except for styling tweaks, which paralleled the passenger line. The Nomad had sloping “b” pillars, a rakish tailgate, hardtop styling and a fluted roof consisting of nine transverse groves on the roof. They all had the signature seven chrome strips on the tailgate known as the “bananas.” Each year fronts and rears were restyled with new grilles and taillights and side moldings were also modified. The 1957 version had the big fins and like its passenger counterpart is considered by many to be the prettiest of the series but that is debatable.

Conclusion

The 1955-1957 Chevrolet Nomad station wagons may be the prettiest station wagons built according to popular consensus.

This is a great car to own for its beauty and it’s quite functional too. Although a restored car is costly to purchase, a restorable version may be found at a good price, which will make an excellent project car.

If you’re not into buying one quite yet, look for one at your local car show.