"Tique-Tock"

TEAPOT LOVERS MUST READ I just got in a teapot with a big hump in the bottom.  I’d never seen one like it before and certainly wasn’t sure of the purpose of the hump, so of course I googled it.  The first thing I came to was Wikipedia, which I donate to because I find their information very useful.  The information about teapots that they shared was fascinating.  For example, did you know that when teapots first started that they were all small because they were single serving?  True!  Did you know that porcelain couldn’t be made in Europe in the early 1700s and because most teapots were made of porcelain, it usually was only the richest that could afford them.  Did you know historically the Chinese drank tea from the spout?  I can’t wait to research that a bit more.  I want to know why.  Go to Wikipedia and read about your favorite collectible and maybe consider a small donation.  Unfortunately, I still don’t know the reason ...

Sometimes you just really want to know who made a piece of porcelain years and years ago.  You can see the mark, but you just have never heard of it before and you don't know enough info really to google it.  This site only gives a picture and the name, but at least it's a start.  I wish it had more info about the company itself.   Well if you’re looking for a site to do this, I just found a great one, although it didn’t have the one that I’m looking for right now.  They have a picture of the maker’s mark and then identify the maker.  They also have an interesting glossary that identifies some of the porcelain lingo that’s harder to figure out and explanations of many things you’d not even thought about at all.  The question and answer area is also fun to read.  It’s like reading an antique magazine.  Visit and enjoy! https://www.efineantiques.com/webpages/fine_porcelains.htm

I was talking with a customer today about those things that she treasures and why.  She like so many other customers I speak with are worried that their children aren’t going to want any of their items they consider most valuable and NOT because of the monetary value, but what it’s meant to the family.  Throughout what I have to say in this blog, keep in mind that when I say child that this is inclusive to mean any younger person that you may want to share your life with after you’re gone.  I don’t have children of my own, but I’m hoping that nieces, nephews and extended family and friends will want a piece of us to treasure.   PLEASE share stories with your kids.  Don’t assume they’re going to remember the things you’ve told them as they grew up when you weren’t the cool one to listen to necessarily.  Have you ever noticed as your kids get older that it seems that you’re getting smarter in their minds?  You are!  BUT STILL don’t assume that...

Are you a fan of The Saturday Evening Post magazine?  Maybe of Norman Rockwell? Then you should absolutely visit SaturdayEveningPost.com .  There you can see every cover and lots of information about each particular issue.  AND…if you want to read that magazine, you can purchase to read it online or print it.  OR…you can join and see all of the magazines anytime you want.  It’s very well organized and I was able to find what I was looking for very easily.  I had a 1951 issue that was signed by the artist that did the cover.  The only problem was that it didn’t tell who’d done the cover on the inside, like it usually does.  Some of the pictures, cartoons, articles and even the ads would be great to print and then frame for decos around your house.  Of course, you wouldn’t be able to sell them because of copyright I’m assuming.  I think I’m going to join because I just love these magazines, but they’re so big and awkward.  It’d be gr...

Oh my!  I just visited this site to find out how much they were selling this unique Wagner Sad Iron Heater that we just got in stock for  because it’s so rare.  Theirs had already sold, so I couldn’t compare.  However I started looking at items on their site and I was so intrigued that I spent about 20 minutes there.  They have free shipping, but their prices were way up there.  They've sold a lot of things, so I don't know what their secret is.  I'd like to know; that's for sure.  It was just interesting to see the items and read the short descriptions.  Talk about unique, this is definitely a special site to visit.   http://www.wrinkledwillytreasures.com Another one that is comparable  is www.antiqbuyer.com.  Please notice the unique spelling of this site.  You can go back and see the hundreds of items they've sold on this site, and the price they sold it for.  They have them very well organized when you ...

Oh my, I found such an amazing website at eapgs.org that explains what almost every glass shape is called and for what reason it was created.  It's so interesting to read for that information alone, but they also tells uses for some of the dishes today.  Unfortunately, you have to be a member to get to everything on the site, but don't let this stop you because this site has such a vast amount of information for FREE!!!  They list patterned glass by shape, name, maker, pattern and show an endless amount of examples.  It's truly beyond any I've found thus far!!  I'll be using this resource often.  

I was pricing items at 3 am this morning and I came across an AMAZING site for Star Wars' fans!!  It's a Star Wars collector's archive database with PAGES AND PAGES AND PAGES of categorized lists of items that have been made for Star Wars' fans.  A pic is only a click away and there is a search tab, which I didn't notice until I'd scanned about 30 pages.  When I realized I wasn't close to the end of the site's elaborate list, I went back to the top and found it.  You can search by item, category, country, film, etc.  It truly is a remarkable compilation of Star Wars' related items, but wouldn't you know it, the item that I have isn't there.  I think I can add to this list and I think I will if I win it, if I can figure it out.  LOL!!  If I do win the item, I'll be sure to let you know what it is and you Star Wars' fans can race to Tique-Tock to see if you get there first.  Check this fabulous site out at theswca.com!

If you're a fellow glassware lover, you might already know, but you can practically type any maker of glass on Google.  If they're no longer in business, they'll probably be a collector's group that has a website just for them.  Some you have to pay to join, but most you don't.  Even the ones that ask you to pay a fee usually allow at least a part of their site to be seen.  You can keep looking and almost always find a free one.  I found one for Indiana Glass today that's great.  You have to do several clicks to get to the pics, so don't give up on it.  Their pics are fantastic!  They're detailed and when possible even show some of the original boxes, which is something very unique.  This is the site... http://indianaglass.carnivalheaven.com/id70.htm When you visit our site, we often try to include some interesting information about they items we're selling.  Plus check out old blogs of mine for those items you may collect.  We'r...

A woman stopped by today with the neatest pamphlet about this scenic route.  Sometimes we all forget what a beautiful state we live in with such a rich history.  There are so many covered bridges, most old, some new, within 20 miles of our store on Union County's Scenic Route and more in Madison County.  Not only did it include bridges, but information about historic buildings and structures along the way.   I'm going to make sure we have some of those pamphlets available as soon as possible. I think "Tique-Tock" would make a great welcoming center for Plain City, since we really don't have one.  All of us love to tell people about things that they can visit before or after they shop with us.  I wish I was a tech savvy person that could create a map of all of the neat things you can find just within 5-10 miles of our store.  If you know of something that we should tell people about, let us know!

A lady just came in and bought bunches of our Ohio postcards!!  She belongs to this postcard sending group called "Post Crossing."  She gets postcards from all over the place!  What fun!  How great that someone is enjoying the lost art of writing a short note of excitement on a postcard bound for another anxiously waiting lover of postcards.  I just may have to check it out.

I just got the most adorable donation!  A friend of Tique-Tock brought two different sized jars from somewhere in the 1930s-1950s packaged by the Frank Tea and Spice Co. of Cinncinnati, Ohio.  They have an adorable elephant face on the front with embossed swirls around him to announce that the jars are filled with delicious Jumbo Peanut Butter inside.  They are not going to last long I'm sure because there are so many elephant collectors.  Plus they're just so adorable, I want to keep them myself!  Check them out online or come see them for yourself at Tique-Tock!

A young man came into Tique-Tock today looking for tokens for coal miner tokens for coal company stores.  I'd never heard of such a thing! I'm sure many of you know exactly what I'm talking about, but for those that don't, read on.  Coal companies were pretty smart, because they figured out a way to pay people with tokens to spend at THEIR company owned stores.  What a way to keep the money all for themselves.   He told me to look for Ingle System tokens online, which of course I did.  Not only did they make tokens for coal miner stores, they made them for all kinds of stores.  For example, one might be for a free loaf of bread.  I know I'm going to be on the lookout for these!

Our milk glass area is getting pretty full.  I enjoy looking at all the beautiful way people have them displayed on Pinterest.  I  tried to follow a pin on Pinterest that said they had 13 great ideas for using these beautiful dishes.  Here's the picture they had that I thought would lead me there, but no luck. UPDATE...if you go to Housebeautiful.com, you should find some more great ideas.

WikiHow has some awesome info and great simplified pics to help you sort through old canning jars before you sell them too cheap or miss out on keeping one to pass down in your family. Did you know there were Mason jars that were upside down? They only made them for a couple of years. All of the canning jars are often referred to as Mason jars, even though there are other makers, like Ball, Kerr, Golden Harvest, and of course Mason. See how many makers you can find and you may also find you learn some fascinating info that will have you looking at canning jars everywhere you go. Have fun!!

It's that time of the year! The big car show that lines 161/Main St. in Plain City is Saturday from 2pm to 8pm.  It's a little later so that the heat is not quite as intense.  Bring your umbrellas because it's rain or shine; hopefully it'll be LOTS of shine.  There's more going on this year than ever before!  There's even going to be a wine and beer garden, as well as lots of food.  There'll be portable restrooms located in our parking lot.  A DJ will keep music going when the live band, "The Groove," isn't on stage.  Then you can stay for the after party with "Terry Davidson and the Gears" playing from 8pm-10pm.   You can go to Plain City's "Uptown" website at www.uptownplaincity.com to find out lots more. We do plan to be open our regular hours from 11-5 and perhaps even a little later.  Come enjoy the car show, music, food, and of course, please visit us too!

Did you know that this has been taking place right at Darree Fields in Dublin, Ohio this year?!  It will be taking place next year as well.  People come from all over the United States to participate.  One of my new customer's husband has done very well this year.  His team took first place yesterday and he took third place.  They're in the business of making bows and many who are winning even internationally have used their bows.  What an awesome skill that has been around for a VERY long time.  I'm not sure I'd be able to even see which target is mine, let alone hit the center.  LOL!!  You can see the results at Betweenends.com and see if you know any of the competitors.  It's crazy how many amazing things you can see and do right in your own little area.  I'm hoping to let people know from what I learn from my customers at Tique-Tock.

No bats in the belfry, but birds in the Clock Tower!  LOL!!  I want to praise Plain City for taking such quick action yesterday when birds were getting in the Clock Tower and leaving little presents for us.  They caught one and hopefully will catch the other one soon.  Plus they found the open screen and took care of that.  Yea!

Miami Valley Steam Thresher corrections for 2018: featuring “Ford unusual and rare,” not John Deere as I’d read somewhere else.  Sorry for the mistake.  The parade is at 6:00 p.m. tonight and as always starts at pastime park and goes through downtown Plain City.  Come early to get the best seats and parking.  Our parking lot may be used as well for this event.  Just park wisely and don’t block our alley.  There are SO MANY events going on, including my husband selling lots of tools, Primitives, and such awesome stuff.  I want all of his items, so he usually doesn’t show me because he doesn’t want me to beg for them.  More information can be found at the Miami Valley Steam Thresher’s website, mvsteam.com..

BICENTENNIAL WINDOWS We've worked very hard on putting items in our windows that might have been used by people that were living when Plain City was first started and during its early years.  Stop by and see if you know what all of the items were used for and then come inside to see lots more!!  Be sure to check out all the events that are happening to celebrate Plain City's 200 Year Birthday!!

            68th Annual Miami Valley Steam Thresher’s Show Located in the peaceful, shaded Pastime Park in Plain City, Ohio on North Chillicothe St. July 12th (R) - July 15th (Sun) from 10 - 7 2018’s Feature:  John Deere So much to see and do!!!  First you’ll want to visit my husband’s area with lots of awesome tools, primitives, cast iron, woodworking items, and so much more for sale!  Then you can go see the other exhibitors that have lots of things for sale too.  But of course the main things are the tractor displays, steam and gas engine displays, tractor and truck pulls, lawnmower races, horse pulls, unbelievable food at every turn, lots of nice people… and all for $5!!  Best of all, bring the kids and show them a piece of history for free!!  Kids under 12 get in free.   Don’t forget the free parade on Friday night through Plain City.  Not sure what time it begins, but usually around 5:00 or 6:00...