COLLECTION #205: Vintage Acme Beer Salt Shaker

It's Orphan Wednesday! Today I have a single little item to share with you. Not because it is spectacular in any way. Not because it is valuable, rare, extremely old, or significant. In fact, in the world of antiques and collectibles it is quite unremarkable. But this little single tiny Acme beer bottle salt shaker (one of a pair, although I only have the single) marks a milestone in my life as a collector, for this is the first collectible I ever bought. It was 1966, and I was 15 years old. My first boyfriend was a hippie at heart, and very artistic and creative. He introduced me to the world of thrift stores and collecting 'old junk'. We frequented a place in Pasadena called Cy's Unclaimed Express. It was located it what is now called Pasadena Old Town, but back then, was just the run-down corner of Fair Oaks Ave. and Colorado Blvd. Our first foray bought me an old wool Army shirt, probably from WWI. On our second trip, I found this interesting little bottle. It stands about 3" high, and I was enchanted by the metallic gold edging, and the old-fashioned looking artwork. It took me several decades to finally discover that it was half of a salt and pepper shaker duo. The cap was gone, so I had no way of knowing that the cap had little holes for the salt.

I dragged this little bottle around with me through many moves in college. I have several photos of my old college apartments, and I can see that little bottle sitting on one of the crates I used for my shelves. I have had it in many houses through my marriage, and it's always had a place of honor on a kitchen or knicknack shelf. It's amazing to me that I've never lost or broken it. I'm sure the label has gotten more tattered. You can see the crazing on the finish in the close up view.

Photo from the internet, showing an original set.

I even did a layout in its honor awhile back. It was called "From Small & Simple Things". That's how I look at my little bottle. From this small thing came a lifelong love of interesting things that once belonged to someone else. Endlessly fascinating things that have enriched my life!

COLLECTION #94: Salt & Pepper Shakers

 

One of the advantages of being a general collector, is that you can collect a mishmash of things without worrying about the purity of your individual collections. I mean, it's fun to just acquire stuff, without worrying if everything is in mint condition, or if it's rare, or in the case of my small salt & pepper collection- if you actually have mates to each shaker.

I never even considered that I HAD a salt and pepper collection until now, but as I looked at my little blue and yellow fish that sit in my kitchen, then at the Fiesta Ware set in my china cabinet... it occurred to me that I had.  They are all in different places, so I gathered them up, and was surprised that I had so many.  After I photographed them, I realized that I also have a wonderful Yosemite salt shaker. I set off to buy the set from a friend's estate sale a few years ago, but as I browsed through her stuff, I dropped one and shattered it. The guy in charge of her sale made me pay for it anyway (gee, you'd think I was in a fine china shop!) so I kept the mate.  So, alas, it's not in my photo. Maybe I'll add it in later.

Willie and Millie the penguins above, were a promotional set from Cool Cigarettes in the 50s. I think they are rather charming!

I recently bought the Santa shaker because I love vintage 50s Christmas stuff. Isn't he cute?

The one mystery of my little collection is this little set- a quaint girl and clownish looking boy. For some odd reason, I've always thought of them as Snow White and one of her dwarfs, but I have no idea why. She doesn't look a bit like Snow White, and he looks nothing like a dwarf. So, if you know who these characters are, please let me know!

The pretty pink single is marked Occupied Japan, so it's a treasure to me, even without its mate!

I can't wait to use my Turkey shakers on Thanksgiving. They always have a prominent place on the table.  The pretty pink rosebuds are Franciscan Ware, and are part of my collection of Desert Rose dishes.