Page 29 - September Banner 2017_Neat

Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper September 2017 Page 29

The second antique is a Singer hand-crank sewing machine,
dated 1888.
T r nket Machine,” and in 1888 alone,

over eight million were sold!
“Singer” became a household
Treas re name in America. Just as
fascinating as this beautiful work

Isaac Merrit Singer. As a child,
by Lisa C. Cantwell of machinery is its inventor,
Owner of Coal Black Horse Antiques and a Maryland state- he ran away from a troubled
licensed antique dealer home and, literally, joined the
carnival. He became a giant of a
man, standing 6’5”. He fathered
twenty-four children, and was
one of the wealthiest men of the
There were no questions submitted about trinkets or treasures this past Elaine is a member of the time.
month; so, my friend, Elaine Gladhill of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, recently Summit Stitchers, a sewing and In addition to the Singer sewing
invited me to her home to view and research some of her collections. You quilting group that meets at the Blue machine, he invented a digger for
never know what trinket or treasure may be gathering dust or rust around Ridge Summit Library. She has used rock excavation, a rock drilling
your den, attic, or shed. Take a second look and contact me at tomandlisa@ this little sewing machine to make machine, a wood-cutting and
wildblue.net, and I’ll feature your item(s) in a future article. beautiful creations. The needles are carving machine, and a printer’s type
rare, so she keeps extras when she cutting machine. Internet research
The first item Elaine showed me is a metal box of “Wayne finds them. Her old portable Singer, revealed that a Singer 12k brought
Reamers” and is of regional interest. imprinted “12k” on its base, is $1,681 at auction in April 2011.
encased by the original oak cover Elaine’s not planning on parting
seller of reamers and drill bits, and mounted on a fiddle-shaped with her treasure that she bought at
and is still in operation today. base. It was originally marketed auction (for a much smaller amount)
An extensive internet search did as the “Singer New Family Sewing anytime soon.
not reveal another Wayne Tool
Manufacturing box like this one,
complete with original products The last item is a vintage chair table that sits in Elaine’s
and prices. Similar boxes of other foyer.
makers were valued between
$14.00 and $62.00 on internet Of all the interesting and old
sale sites, but none were as old or things she showed me, including
as stocked with tools, nor did they Civil War relics, antique furnishings
have clear and books, this table caught my
labeling. eye because of its design. This
This set of tool This box style of table dates to 1620 and
accessories was a gift from dates was in use by colonials and early
a friend, who originally anywhere settlers in the New England region
purchased it at auction from from 1917 until about 1780. Also known as
an old home in Waynesboro, through a “chair hutch,” it was a space-
Pennsylvania. The wooden the 1920s, saving, duo-purpose furnishing,
box has clear lettering of and is in made of available hardwoods, such
“Wayne Tool Manufacturing very good as hickory, oak, and pine. The table
Co.” printed on its lid, with condition! simply flips forward and rests on
a pasted paper insert list of reamer Its value would be in the $75 to $125 the chair base. A painted version
types and pricing. Wayne Tool was range, and possibly more, due to its dating to the early 1700s had an
founded in 1917 as a maker and rarity in the current market. asking price of $1,950 on one
internet site. Reproductions that
were made between 1900 and 1950, chair table with a square top by
bring $260 to $400, depending on an independent craftsman. It’s cost
the craftsmanship and the maker. was $975! Unique vintage furniture
Chair tables are not being made en from the 20 century certainly has
th
masse today by furniture companies, a following and is gaining value.
so they are difficult to find “new.” Knowing which styles and makers
A search on a popular internet are in demand gives buyers and
site yielded a new, handcrafted sellers an edge in the market.

My thanks to Elaine Gladhill for sharing these treasures with us!

If you’d like to discover the history and value of your heirloom,
attic find, flea market or yard sale purchase, collectible, or
antique item, don’t forget to send in a photo and description of
your trinket or treasure to [email protected]. Your piece
could be featured in an upcoming issue of The Catoctin Banner.