Today, let’s have a little game! What purpose did these vintage items serve, do you know? These enigmatic things, which range from strange equipment to unusual decorative pieces, may leave you perplexed. Don’t worry, though; try it and see if you can envision what people in earlier eras did with these fascinating objects.
First Item: The Coin Gatherer
First up, we have a mixed-metal object with connectors on the sides and slots on top. Do you know what it was used for in the past?
You’re 100% correct if you assumed it was a coin collector! Conductors of trains and buses would deposit the fares into slots and then pick up the neatly piled coins from the bottom. They could fasten it to their belts using the hooks on the sides. Remarkably, a contemporary rendition of this is still in use at a few locations where admission is free of charge. Pretty smart, huh?
The Sand-Filled Swim Cap is item #2.
This is an intriguing cap with chin straps, a blue interior, and a feminine printed pattern. Would you want to guess? Here’s a hint: it has sand inside of it!
Actually, this peculiar headgear is an antique handmade swim cap. People used to love modeling swim caps after the aviatrix fashion trend back in the 1920s. However, home sewers had trouble finding rubber ingredients. They then devised a clever fix: the cap was filled with sand, and the channels and stitches were machine-sewn.
Why the sand? As a water blocker, it lets swimmers select their own fabric pattern rather than being restricted to yellow or black rubber. Undoubtedly a novel strategy!
The Iron Flue Damper is item #3.
Now look at this iron object that has two stamps on it. Along an iron post with a spiraling end, the iron plate swivels. Any suggestions?
You’re exactly right if you assumed it to be an iron flue damper! Even though they are rarely seen, these iron flue dampers are still in use today. We enjoy finding unique artifacts that are a part of our past when we go antique shopping. It resembles going back in time!
The Victorian Shop Dispenser (Item #4)
Admire this metal box with a beveled glass front and elaborate gold stenciling. It even features a tiny sliding door with a dog picture on it. How do you suppose it was put to use?
Actually, this graceful box is a Victorian-style shop dispenser. It came in several sizes and was intended for bulk sales. This one had a label insert for gunpowder, but it may have also been used for bulk commodities like sugar or confectionery. Customers could see the quality of the products they were buying because to the glass front. Why was there a picture of dogs hunting? Well, since the purpose was to hold gunpowder exclusively, it’s merely an ornamental touch. This is a very fascinating essay, isn’t it?
The Cedar Butter Churn is item #5.
Take a look at this big wooden drum with a handle, a footed base, and a lid. There’s a crank on the side of it also. Any ideas about what it’s meant to accomplish?
This wooden drum is a butter churn made of cedar. To produce more butter, it was utilized. It says “Farm Master Dairy Supplies” on the other side. However, we didn’t want to reveal anything too quickly! Knowing about these antiquated gadgets truly transports us to a bygone era of ease.
The Soda Bottle Stand is item #6.
Look at this three-tiered metal stand for a moment. Each tier has a notch carved out of it. It is nearly four feet tall and supports itself on three legs. What was the purpose of it, do you suppose?
The purpose of this booth was to showcase Coke bottles—but not just any soda. Nehi purposely made it as part of their marketing strategy for their soda bottles. With their handy necks, the bottles fit well in the triangle shape with the notches. These stands used to be found in grocery stores and local stores during the Great Depression. They were really impressive!
There you have it, then! These enigmatic objects transport us through time and serve as a reminder of the inventiveness and resourcefulness of earlier generations. How many of those were accurate guesses, then?
In her memoir, Lisa Marie Presley shares that when she and Michael Jackson first started their relationship, he was still a virgin.
In her memoir, released after her death, Lisa Marie Presley says that when she and her second husband, Michael Jackson, started their relationship, he was a virgin. Michael Jackson, known as the “King of Pop,” passed away from a heart attack in 2009 at the age of 50, just weeks before his final tour was set to begin.
Michael Jackson married singer Lisa Marie Presley in 1994, but they divorced two years later. Presley passed away in January 2023 at the age of 54 due to complications from weight loss surgery. The two first met in 1975 when Lisa was just seven years old at a Jackson Five concert in Las Vegas, where her father, Elvis Presley, was also performing.
Their romance didn’t start until about 20 years later, when Lisa Marie was 26 and Michael was 35. They got married shortly after Lisa divorced her first husband, Danny Keough, with whom she had two children.
In her book From Here to the Great Unknown, released on October 8 and finished by her daughter Riley Keough, Lisa Marie Presley shared that Michael Jackson told her he was still a virgin when they got together. He mentioned that he had only kissed Tatum O’Neal and had a non-physical relationship with Brooke Shields. He also said Madonna once tried to hook up with him, but nothing happened. Lisa Marie admitted she was nervous about doing something wrong.
She added that when Michael decided to kiss her for the first time, he took the lead in everything. The physical side of their relationship started quickly, which surprised her because she thought they might wait until marriage. But Michael told her, “I’m not waiting!”
In her memoir, Lisa Marie Presley wrote about how their relationship grew. Michael Jackson told her, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m completely in love with you. I want us to get married and for you to have my children.”
At first, she didn’t know what to say, so she replied, “I’m really flattered, I can’t even talk.” She added that by that time, she had fallen in love with him too.
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