A squeaky toy was possibly the first toy to grab your attention when you were a baby. For centuries parents have cooed, clucked their tongues, or softly whistled to entertain their babies. Rattles of all shapes and materials have had their places as attention-getters, but during the 1940s the rubber, and later, vinyl squeaky toys became the most diverting toy of all. Early rubber squeaky toys were a simple ball with just a hole or a metal whistle disk inside. Later, reed devices were developed to generate different sounds. After the 1940s, soft, pliant vinyl plastic replaced rubber. Today,...

This book captures a rich part of our textile history. With over 300 delightful photographs, it presents an array of vintage and antique tablecloths from the '40s and '50s. The brightly colored fruit and flower designs, Mexican motifs, ivy and foliage prints, and Pennsylvania Dutch-influenced patterns are sure to whisk you back to Mom's or Grandma's kitchen. Also included is a section on specialty cloths, and pricing and captions appear for each item shown. How could anyone resist this terrific resource for collectors, antique dealers, designers, and all who love and appreciate vintage...

For bear lovers and advertising buffs alike, collectors and non-collectors, this book is a must; it is destined to become "the" definitive reference work on bears that advertise products. With more than 500 previously unpublished color photographs, this first-of-its-kind book spotlights bears used to entice us to purchase products. More than three dozen collectors have shared their bear treasures of great diversity, from expensive limited editions to easily affordable bears found hibernating at flea markets and thrift shops. The bears advertise readily recognized trademarked products and...

Advertising Cutlery is the first-ever publication to deal exclusively with the subject of promotional knives. Containing over 400 detailed color photographs, this book explores over one hundred years of advertisements stamped into the sides of knives. In addition to the book's elegant photographic presentation, extensive captions and text give the reader the background information necessary for evaluating collectible advertising knives. Significant examples of advertising specimens are described in detailed stories. Evaluative schemes are included, and all captions contain accurate pricing...