Pyrex With Bex (Bex Scott)
Explore every episode of Pyrex With Bex
| Pub. Date | Title | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 2025 | The 5 Pyrex Patterns I DON’T Love - Minus One I Forgot | 00:18:37 | |
Host Bex Scott shares the five Pyrex patterns that she doesn’t love in this episode. In addition to naming the unloved patterns, she explores their history and what dishes made up the sets on offer. Everyone’s tastes are different so listeners may love a pattern Bex doesn’t. You may agree with Bex or you may want to bring a case in defence of a favourite that appears on this list. Or possibly you’re new to Pyrex and want to explore different sets. Whichever way you lean, there’s something for you in this episode. All the information Bex shares is from the Pyrex Bible, more formally known as Pyrex Passion 2nd Edition by Michael D. Barber. From Golden Acorn to the infamous Old Orchard, Bex lets you into her opinions on her least loved Pyrex patterns. What is it about these patterns that put her off? What other patterns does she dislike? What is the best way to ruin a gold pattern Pyrex bowl? And is there anybody who will stand up in support of Old Orchard? Listen in then share your agreements, arguments, and collection display photos with Bex on Instagram @PyrexWithBex. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast, where you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat. Hey everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. On today's episode, I wanted to talk about the five Pyrex patterns that I don't love. I figured that since I've talked in the past about so many of the patterns that I do love, and I've had guests talking about their collections and the ones that they collect the most often, I'd switch things up a little bit and talk about the ones that I don't love as much. Now I do enjoy all Pyrex and I'll use any kind of pattern. I have even put patterns that I don't love in displays just because they go so well. And you'll realize that there's a bit of a pattern to the ones that I don't love once I start going through them. But I wanted to give you an idea of some of the ones that I don't necessarily collect as much of, and I'd love to hear your thoughts on whether you agree with me, which ones you don't love, and get a conversation going. You can find me on Instagram at Pyrex with Bex, and feel free to share your thoughts about this episode there.
Bex Scott: [00:01:42] So starting off, we have the first one, and I'll start by saying all of the information that I'm going to give is from the Pyrex Bible, the Pyrex Passion Book by Michael D Barber. I have the second edition, and that's where I get all of my of my information from. So I wanted to, once I say which pattern I don't love, give you a little bit of background information on the dish so that you can learn a little bit more about it if you're a new collector, or maybe you have been collecting for a while, but you haven't necessarily read up about certain patterns. And just to give some fun information on each of the pieces. Because regardless of whether I like it, there's tons of other people out there that do like these pieces, so to each their own.
Bex Scott: [00:02:30] So the very first one is the Gold Acorn. And I have owned various pieces of this set, and I believe I started off liking them, but it just wasn't a pattern that grew on me. So this one was produced from 1959 to 1963, and it came in an assorted bakeware set. So it was gold applied to a beige background. It paints a little bit of a picture, and it's like a scrolly kind of ivy leaf pattern with little acorns on it. And it says that the boxes didn't include the pattern name, but marketing materials from the time used the name Gold Acorn on Ivory or Golden Touch in reference to this pattern. And it says that the first edition of Pyrex Passion referred to the pattern as Golden Acorn, but Gold Acorn was more commonly used in the catalogs. And most items were offered from 1959 to 1963, with the exception of the 053 oval open baker, which was dropped in 1962. So the ones that I've had are the oval casseroles, and they come in the one and a half quart and two and a half quart with the clear lids. And I've also had a divided serving dish. And one of the things that I learned early on when I was collecting Pyrex is that you don't put anything abrasive on gold, and this was me being naive. I should have known better. But I remember getting a tube of peek because starting off in my collecting, I had heard that peek is the perfect thing to take the utensil marks off of Pyrex and just clean them up, which it is. But you cannot use anything abrasive on gold because it will wear it off. So I remember squeezing the peek onto a piece of paper towel, and I rubbed off the whole bottom half of the gold acorn pattern. And I still haven't forgotten that it was a good lesson for me to learn, but for any of you that are just starting out, you can use peek to clean your Pyrex but do not use it on the gold. It will ruin it.
Bex Scott: [00:04:58] Okay, so the Gold Acorn was also offered in the stamp catalog carousel with a cradle, and the stamp program was where you would redeem your stamps at the store and they would give you the Pyrex in return. So it says the item appears in the 1961 Top Value Stamps Family Gift Catalog. The cradle was the same one used on the 1959 duet, or also known as Dandelion Casserole. And that one kind of has the same colorings. It's more of a yellow, though, actually. And I really like the Dandelion. The oval divided serving dish also came in Gold Acorn and then the oval open baker. And I have to say, I don't love this pattern, but I do have a weakness for space saver casseroles. I just love the size of them, especially if they come with that metal lid. Perfect for the freezer. So these ones were sold individually with a clear lid from 1959 to 1963. And then they came out with another set, same time frame though, with the oven freezer serving set. And they were both packaged in a set that included one clear lid and two metal lids. And I know where I am in Canada at least those metal lids are very hard to come by. I think I have maybe one of them that I was lucky enough to find on Facebook Marketplace, and that's one that I will never resell. That one will stay in my collection, and I'm always on the lookout for more of those metal lids. Now, the Gold Acorn did have a prototype, and they were the 473, 474 and 475. They were the round casseroles with clear lids, and these ones were not standard production items. They have resurfaced in this pattern and are being said that they're possibly manufactured as test items in the early 1960s.
Bex Scott: [00:07:00] So next up, you'll see there's a bit of a theme here with which patterns I don't love. We have the Golden Honeysuckle, so it's not all gold that I dislike. There are quite a few patterns, especially the promotional ones that have gold. There's just something about these ones that have the vines or the flowers that I don't know why, it just doesn't do it for me. The Golden Honeysuckle 1963 to 1965. It was testing, Corning was testing the market with new shapes and sizes of casseroles. And I think that's maybe why this one I don't love so much. Now, I've owned all of the Golden Honeysuckle, and they are really nice to bake casseroles in and to heat things in because they're nice and long and they're really deep. There's also shallow ones for vegetables, which is great. But to me, this isn't the standard Pyrex that I know and love. They released four casseroles, and they featured a unique square shape designed by William M Curtis.
Bex Scott: [00:08:09] To ensure the gold pattern adhered properly casseroles were sprayed white on top of the opal glass. Walnut serving trays were also available in one size, a 935 that fit the two smaller casseroles, while another size, 958, fit the two larger casseroles. The serving trays were sold separately and also packaged with the casseroles when sold as a set. And these casseroles were sold individually and you have the 033, 035, 055, 058, 935 which is the tray and the 958 which is the tray. And then it came as a casserole serving set. So you have the 33, the 35, the 55 and the 58. And then there were casserole prototypes. So after the casserole style was patented in 1961, Corning tested the new shapes with many different designs. These prototype items are quite rare, but can be found in many patterns such as Early American, Green Scroll, White Snowflake on Turquoise, and White Compass on Turquoise.
Bex Scott: [00:09:17] Okay, the next one. This is going to be no surprise because I've talked about it at length on many of my episodes. That Old Orchard is my least favorite pattern. And there's tons of memes out there about poor Old Orchard. And it really doesn't get a lot of love. So I would really like to know how many collectors out there or just people in general, like the Old Orchard pattern. And if you have examples of how you've styled Old Orchard in your shelves with other items, I would really like to see them because this is one pattern that is very interesting to me, and I'm sure it will look great in a fall assembly of just different items, so feel free to shoot them over to me on Instagram.
Bex Scott: [00:10:06] So Old Orchard was 1973 to 1977 and it contained a mix of pattern pieces, solid colored pieces and pieces with brown shading sprayed around the top of the bowl, so it gave it kind of an ombre effect. It was designed by Corning artist Estelle G. Rothstein, and it was released in late 1973. The lids were solid brown applied to opal glass. However, by 1977 the brown lids were replaced by clear lids, and I have maybe 1 or 2 of these pieces. Actually, I think I have most of the Cinderella Bowl set and a few of the round casseroles, but I've only ever found one of the solid brown lids, and it does look nice when you put a solid brown lid on the solid bottomed pattern. But the clear ones are definitely more popular to find with this set. So this set came in a three piece and a four piece mixing bowl from 1973 to 77. So you have the 401, 2, 3 and 4, and it alternates from the pattern, the fruit pattern to the brown tan fade, fruit pattern, brown tan fade. So you have an alternating pattern for your stack. And then that's the same for the Cinderella bowls. It was a four piece Cinderella bowl set.
Bex Scott: [00:11:28] And then you have the four piece refrigerator set as well. It was two 501s that are different colors. One was solid dark brown and the other was solid caramel. Next up you have the three piece bake, serve and store set. And this was round casseroles in the three piece with brown opal lids from 1973 through to early 77. In the last few months of production, the opal lids were replaced like the clear lids like it mentioned before. So you have the 471, 472 and the 473. And then it came in the three piece casserole set, and it typically included brown opal lids, which were then replaced by the clear lids as well. So this set was the 473, 474 and 475. Next you have your oval casseroles, your oval divided serving dish, and then the covered casserole, the four quart round covered casserole, also known as a Bertha. And it came with the round knob lid, which was the 664 four quart round casserole Old Orchard pattern clear single knob lid. There was also Harvest promotional items that went with the set. Two of the round casseroles 473 and 475 were offered as promotional items, called Harvest in 1974. They included a brown hugger, if you guys haven't seen that, it's the plastic little stand with the handles that just fits around the casserole dish, and a decorated clear lid with a leaf design. Unlike standard Old Orchard items, the promotional items did not include a brown shade effect at the top of the bowls. The smaller casserole has a dark orange background and the larger has a light orange background. These ones, because they're not the ombre brown, I actually like them a little bit more.
Bex Scott: [00:13:30] And last but not least, in the five patterns that I don't really love so much, we have Forest Fancies. So I've been on the fence about Forest Fancies for a very long time because I do like anything with a mushroom on it. And mushrooms are so popular, they resell like crazy. I actually had somebody I sold another set to ask me to source a Forest Fancies set for them. So there's definitely people who love these ones. This, out of all of the ones I've mentioned, is probably the one that I like the most out of the five, but it still unfortunately made my list. So Forest Fancies was released in the mid 1980s on a limited number of items, specifically nesting mixing bowl sets, and round casseroles. The design was sold as Forest in Canada, and it was discontinued during the second half of 1986, when all opal Pyrex ceased production. Backstamps only contain metric units, although boxes included both metric and imperial measures. Since the mid 1970s, kitchen decor was increasingly dominated by earthy elements such as fruits and mushrooms. Like I was saying, that's all really popular right now. All of the the earthy mushroom fruits and vegetables. And Corning's response to the trend resulted in this pattern, and it was designed by Corning artist Mark G. Rubin.
Bex Scott: [00:15:00] Reusable plastic containers with airtight lids had replaced the practicality of glass refrigerator and freezer storage dishes, resulting in the discontinuation of many Pyrex items such as oval casseroles, divided dishes, and refrigerator sets. So this one came in a three piece and a four piece mixing bowl set, and the four piece mixing bowl set was discontinued in 83, while the three piece remained available through 1986. And that was the 401 through 404. Then there was the four piece Cinderella Bowl set, and that was the 441 to 444. I haven't actually seen a lot of the Cinderella bowls around where I live, but I have seen quite a few of the mixing bowl sets, and I've never actually seen any of the round casseroles in real life, so that would be kind of a cool set to have, I have to admit. So it was the three piece bake set and serve store set from 1980 to 1985, and they all had clear lids. There was the 471, 472 and the 473, and those ones are actually kind of cute. And in the picture here, they're propped up next to a 470 set with a counter saver. So it was like a placemat for your counter. You could probably cut things on it and it had a little, it has the little Forest Fancies pattern on the bottom right hand corner.
Bex Scott: [00:16:28] Okay, so they also have the three piece casserole set in the 473 to 475, as well as the one and a half quart covered round casserole, which was sold individually, so the 474 was sold in the casserole set as well as on its own. You also have the 475, which was sold on its own through 1980 to 1983. Then there was also a two piece casserole set, and that was the 473 to 474 so there's all these different combinations where you could get a three piece, a two piece, buy them individually, and then they talk about the Counter Savers, which were available from 1985 to 1991. And it says two sizes of glass counter savers, marketed as Mushroom, were launched around 85 to match the Forest Fancies design. So you had a 12 by 15 and then a 16 by 20. Those would be cute to have on your countertop.
Bex Scott: [00:17:34] Okay, so those are my top five least liked of the standard Pyrex patterns. I'll have another episode that goes into the promotional items that aren't on the top of my list, but in the meantime, I'll add in some more positive things that I like episodes just to balance it out for you guys. But I would love to hear your thoughts on the ones that I don't love and tell me the ones that also aren't your top Pyrex patterns. Follow me on Instagram at Pyrex with Bex and we can start a conversation there. Feel free to send me photos of all of your awesome displays and I will see you next time.
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| 28 Feb 2025 | Pyrex Name Challenge with Returning Guest Rob | 00:24:26 | |
DISCLAIMER: Please note that I use collector's nicknames for some of the dishes and not the official names they were produced with. — Bex Scott brings back a fan-favorite guest from Season One. In Season One he was called Rex but his actual name is Rob, Bex’s husband. Rob returns to test his Pyrex knowledge (and how well he listens to his wife talk about her Pyrex collecting) by naming Pyrex patterns shown to him. How well does Rob do? Is he a Pyrex savant? Or is he just winging it here? See how you do against Rob by following along with the photo links in the Resources section. Rob’s final score is one. One point. Which one did he get right? No spoilers here. Lessons were learned in this episode. Rob definitely believes he’s better at naming Pyrex patterns than Pyrex was. The 60s and 70s were a wild time for Pyrex colors. Bex throws out some 14-year-old slang terms. Rob learns what a hugger is. And we all learn what the Pyrex names really are for some very interesting and classic patterns. Test your own knowledge along with Rob. And contact Bex to let her know what you think of Rob’s names. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat. Hey everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. And on today's episode, I am bringing back one of your most favorite guests, formerly known as Rex in season one of the podcast. It is my husband, Rob. Welcome, Rob.
Rob: [00:00:48] Thanks for having me back. I'm really excited.
Bex Scott: [00:00:50] It feels like a very long, hard road getting to this recording, because we just spent the last half hour trying to fix my mic, and thank goodness that your mic wasn't working because you were playing jeopardy music in the background, trying to provoke me.
Rob: [00:01:05] It was much needed. There was so much suspense.
Bex Scott: [00:01:09] There was suspense if we were going to get this done. If, yeah, just all the suspense. So suspenseful that I'm lost for words.
Rob: [00:01:18] I can see that.
Bex Scott: [00:01:19] That made no sense. Anyway, back to the episode. Today, I thought it would be fun to play a little game with Rob to see just how well he knows his Pyrex patterns, and I've gone in and selected 12 different Pyrex patterns. I'm going to show him the picture. And because all of you wonderful people can't see what I'm showing Rob, I'm going to describe it first, and he'll give his best guess as to what the pattern is. So it's going to be a lot of learning together to see just how much Rob pays attention to me and to my love of Pyrex. Here we go. So I invite all of you to join along and make your best guess and see just how good you are with your patterns as well. I know that going through this, it was very enlightening because Pyrex didn't come up with a lot of unique, exciting names for some of their patterns and their dishes. So you'll realize that as we go through some of these. So I figured it would be nice to start off easy, give Rob a little bit of a break on his first go.
Rob: [00:02:34] And you'll understand that by asking me these questions that I should have been chosen by Pyrex to name these patterns.
Bex Scott: [00:02:43] I hope so, maybe the names you give will be so amazing that collectors around the world will just adopt them.
Rob: [00:02:50] There'll be a fee for that, but no problem.
Bex Scott: [00:02:53] Okay, we'll see how great they are, how creative you're feeling. Okay, here's the first set. So for those of you listening right now, it is a four piece mixing bowl set starting with blue, going to red, then green, then yellow. Rob, what is the name of this bowl set or pattern?
Rob: [00:03:17] I would call it Primary Colors, plus an Attaboy. Because the green is not a primary color. So you have the primary colors plus the attaboy.
Bex Scott: [00:03:31] You would be correct.
Rob: [00:03:33] Oh, it's called with the attaboy. Nice.
Bex Scott: [00:03:35] Well. No, but I like that rendition better than just the plain old Primary. So. Good job. 1 out of 12.
Rob: [00:03:44] Oh, it's called Primary. Okay.
Bex Scott: [00:03:45] Yeah. You're winning so far. Next up, we have a lot of this in our house, I'm looking at it right now. Okay. For everybody out there. It is a Cinderella Bowl set, and it goes from white to pink to white to pink, and it has some nice little without giving anything away foliage vine situations on it. Rob, what do you think this set pattern is called?
Rob: [00:04:16] I have to call it the Alternating White Wine Red Wine Vine set.
Bex Scott: [00:04:29] That's quite the name.
Rob: [00:04:31] Well, yeah. Like I said, I should have been hired for this job.
Bex Scott: [00:04:35] At first, I thought you were going to say wine spritzer.
Rob: [00:04:38] Well, yeah. Well, if you smash them, you could make a spritzer. It'd be kind of pink.
Bex Scott: [00:04:44] It's a spritzer. Okay, this is Gooseberry.
Rob: [00:04:47] Oh I was close.
Bex Scott: [00:04:48] You couldn't have been further away, but that's okay. It has a little, it's hard to see, but there's little gooseberries on there. They kind of look like onions, to be honest. That's okay.
Rob: [00:05:02] I couldn't see it in the picture very clearly.
Bex Scott: [00:05:05] I'm sorry. That was my fault.
Rob: [00:05:07] Absolutely. Anyway. Carry on.
Bex Scott: [00:05:10] Okay, next up, we have another mixing bowl set. It's an ombre. An ombre moment, as the kids would say. And it's kind of an orangey yellowy going into a more orangey. Wow. That's a terrible description.
Rob: [00:05:30] See why I should have been hired?
Bex Scott: [00:05:34] It's an orange ombre. There we go.
Rob: [00:05:37] Well, it brings back some traumatic memories of the colors that my parents made me wear. So I would call that the 70s Throw Up Fade pattern.
Bex Scott: [00:05:50] Oh, the PTSD is strong in this one.
Rob: [00:05:54] Yeah, it goes from like a horrific orange that I remember I had to wear down to like a nasty pastel yellow that I also had to wear.
Bex Scott: [00:06:04] The jumper?
Rob: [00:06:05] Yeah. Where's me jumper?
Bex Scott: [00:06:10] Okay.
Rob: [00:06:11] I'm sure that's probably not quite what Pyrex might have used, but it probably should have been.
Bex Scott: [00:06:16] So is that your your real guess?
Rob: [00:06:19] Okay, fine. Um. Let's see. I would call that. Oh, let's get all fluffy. A fading sunset.
Bex Scott: [00:06:29] Oh that's deep. That's a romantic set of bowls.
Rob: [00:06:34] Don't worry. I've got that in me.
Bex Scott: [00:06:35] Off into the fading sunset. It's called Flame Glo.
Rob: [00:06:40] Same thing.
Bex Scott: [00:06:43] Glow with no w. Yeah. Throw that wrench in there.
Rob: [00:06:47] Is there two dots over the o?
Bex Scott: [00:06:48] No. Flame Glo.
Rob: [00:06:53] Yeah, it's the the German division of Pyrex. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:06:58] Okay, this next one is good. Okay, I have to blow it up really big so you can see the extreme importance of the detail. So this is a Cinderella Bowl. It is green. It has a salad theme to it.
Rob: [00:07:17] I thought that's what I saw. So I would call that the Grenaded Garden pattern. Looks like somebody threw a bomb into a garden. And there's just lettuce and radishes and stuff exploded all over the place.
Bex Scott: [00:07:30] I actually like that. That's good.
Rob: [00:07:32] And it's got alliteration, right? Grenaded Garden. Final answer.
Bex Scott: [00:07:38] Ding! You are not correct. This one is interesting. This is called the Fetus Bowl.
Rob: [00:07:46] Well. I don't understand that.
Bex Scott: [00:07:48] I'm pretty sure it wasn't made and called the fetus. I think that's probably what people have called it over the years. But if you can see there's a little fetus outline right there, can you see it?
Rob: [00:08:02] Yeah. To me it looks like a kid sitting on like a Hot Wheels. You know, those green machines? Like, from when I was a kid. The three wheeled machines. It looks like a little kid sitting on one of those just ripping it up, obviously tearing up a garden patch.
Bex Scott: [00:08:18] Oh, it looks like a little kid cuddling with a leaf. But fun thing is, I was researching this while preparing for our discussion, and I learned that it comes with a pair of sparkly salad tongs back in the day.
Rob: [00:08:38] Well, everybody needs a set of bedazzler salad tongs.
Bex Scott: [00:08:41] You absolutely do. Bedazzler scooping it from your Fetus bowl.
Rob: [00:08:46] Nothing improves your appetite more than hearing that.
Bex Scott: [00:08:51] I'd like some salad right now.
Rob: [00:08:52] How would you like to have some salad out of my Fetus bowl? Yes, please.
Bex Scott: [00:09:02] Okay. Next one. And you can't really tell, Rob, but that's pink. Oh, this is a hard one to show. Okay, here we go. One second. I'll explain it to you. So it is pink. It has the knob lid. It's an 024, a nice light pink color with more vines. They really like their vines, but they're tiny little flowers. Tiny little flowered vine. Kind of like a bad tattoo.
Rob: [00:09:33] I would call this Viney Vinny's Knobby Dish Delight. I don't know. You know, Vinny cooks up a meal.
Bex Scott: [00:09:46] Viney Vinny. Viney Vinny. Oh, no. Images. This is called Duchess.
Rob: [00:09:55] Vinny the Duchess.
Bex Scott: [00:09:58] Uh, it's my unicorn piece. My most coveted piece of Pyrex is the Duchess. The next piece is a lovely dish in a wicker basket. It is blue. It has the opal lid with a very intricate blue design of tiny flowers. And what else is on here? It's an artistic line art design. This is harder than I thought it would be to explain what's on the lid. So blue base, opal lid, intricate little blue design on the top.
Rob: [00:10:45] Hmm.
Bex Scott: [00:10:47] Reminds me of something I would doodle on my arm when I was in high school.
Rob: [00:10:50] Right. I would say...
Bex Scott: [00:10:52] Right.
Rob: [00:10:54] That is the, it almost looks like old Viking type print. So I'm going to call that the Vikings Breadbasket.
Rob: [00:11:07] Because of the wicker.
Bex Scott: [00:11:09] Blue Doily.
Rob: [00:11:11] Pretty close.
Bex Scott: [00:11:11] Yeah. The Vikings Doily.
Rob: [00:11:14] Has something to do with Vikings, doesn't it?
Bex Scott: [00:11:16] Oh, a better name is the Viking Doily. There we go.
Rob: [00:11:20] There you go.
Bex Scott: [00:11:21] Viking Doily.
Rob: [00:11:23] RagnarDoily. There we go. The RagnarDoily.
Bex Scott: [00:11:30] Oh, this is a fun one. Okay, here we go. Here we go.
Rob: [00:11:33] I thought the last one was a fun one.
Bex Scott: [00:11:35] This is even more fun.
Rob: [00:11:36] Oh my gosh.
Bex Scott: [00:11:37] Okay, so this is a nice bright blue bottom, a clear top. It's a round casserole and it has, how do you explain this? Like a line art green and blue...
Rob: [00:11:54] Flower.
Bex Scott: [00:11:55] Repetitive flower looking. Yeah. Flower looking design on the top. But it's not a flower.
Rob: [00:12:00] I just remembered what it's called from my childhood. It's called the Magna Doodle Acid Trip. That's what that's called.
Bex Scott: [00:12:09] For a second, I thought you were actually going to get the name.
Rob: [00:12:13] Oh, God. No. Never. There is this cool coloring thing when I was a kid, and anybody who's of my vintage, which is like, you know, 29, that there was this coloring set called the Magna Doodle and it had like these round disks that you could put a pen in, and they had different pieces you could put in, and you just kept drawing your pen around, around the circle. And it made a pattern.
Bex Scott: [00:12:38] But what's another name for that?
Rob: [00:12:41] The Magna Doodle Acid Trip.
Bex Scott: [00:12:44] What's another name for the Magna Doodle?
Rob: [00:12:46] Oh, um, the.. Superman Acid Hit.
Bex Scott: [00:12:52] The Spirograph.
Rob: [00:12:55] Well, okay, if you want to get technical, sure.
Bex Scott: [00:12:57] That's what this is called. Spirograph.
Rob: [00:13:01] I like my name better. Let's see what your listeners have to say.
Bex Scott: [00:13:07] We should get them to vote on all of your names after this.
Rob: [00:13:10] 100%.
Bex Scott: [00:13:13] I feel like I need to get better at describing them, though. This is really not setting you up for success. Okay, next is another round casserole. This one has a hugger. A nice brown plastic hugger.
Rob: [00:13:27] What is a hugger?
Bex Scott: [00:13:29] It's so that you don't burn your table or your hands. It hugs the dish and keeps the table safe.
Rob: [00:13:37] Is it like a rubber thing or something?
Bex Scott: [00:13:39] It's just like a plastic. A hard plastic.
Rob: [00:13:43] Okay.
Bex Scott: [00:13:44] Okay. And this one is, it's hard to tell, but it's like, the only way I can explain the color is like a granny panty color. It's a nice beige on the bottom. And then it has some...
Rob: [00:14:03] Powder blue?
Bex Scott: [00:14:04] No, that's opal. That's white on the top. So it has...
Rob: [00:14:08] The darker color.
Bex Scott: [00:14:11] On the top of the lid?
Bex Scott: [00:14:13] Yeah, it's just brown. It's just a bad picture.
Rob: [00:14:16] Oh, sorry. The picture makes it look...
Bex Scott: [00:14:18] So it's a white lid with circles on top. There's three sets of circles, like line drawn circles, line drawn. Obviously it's a line drawn circle, anyway. Oh, no. Moving on. And then there's.
Rob: [00:14:41] See, maybe you should have named them.
Bex Scott: [00:14:44] And then it looks like leaves with more line drawn circles. Kind of like a bulb or something on the front. Okay.
Rob: [00:14:54] I will call this the Hypnotic Salad Bowl because it looks like a hypnotic situation going on with the lid. Like they're trying to will children into eating salad and green foods. That's definitely what that was used for. It's like an evil adult--
Bex Scott: [00:15:18] Evil eye.
Rob: [00:15:19] -- tool.
Bex Scott: [00:15:20] Sucking you into the vegetables.
Rob: [00:15:23] Eat your veggies. Yep. That's you will love your green beans.
Bex Scott: [00:15:28] This casserole, I have to say, is very ugly.
Rob: [00:15:33] Yeah, it's not going to be on our table.
Bex Scott: [00:15:35] No. Okay, wait, did you already give me a name? Oh, yeah. You did. It was so great, I forgot. Okay. It's called Brown Onion.
Rob: [00:15:48] It's called the Hypnotic Salad Bowl. I looked it up.
Bex Scott: [00:15:55] Just Brown Onion.
Rob: [00:15:57] The Brown Onion Hypnotic Salad Bowl.
Bex Scott: [00:15:59] Here's another one. It's another one with a hugger. It's a brown casserole with a clear green hugger. The bottom is a nice green color. The lid is opal, and there is a nice fruit. A purple and green fruit. What's the word I'm saying? I don't know. It's gone. Gone from my mind. It's a fruit. I'm trying not to use words that will give away the the name of it.
Rob: [00:16:32] Looks like grapes or something.
Bex Scott: [00:16:34] Yeah, and the box, I actually really like the box. Okay. What would you say this one's called?
Rob: [00:16:41] The 70s Jello Fruit Salad Thingamabobber Calls To You. Or is calling? Yes. It's very, very, very 70s colors.
Bex Scott: [00:16:57] It is. I don't mind this one.
Rob: [00:17:00] Or 60s.
Bex Scott: [00:17:02] It's just called Grapes. That's another--
Rob: [00:17:06] Way to dumb it down.
Bex Scott: [00:17:07] I know. That's why I was saying at the beginning they didn't come up with the most exciting names. Okay, here we go.
Rob: [00:17:14] That's why they should have hired me. Okay.
Bex Scott: [00:17:17] Next up, mixing bowl set. There's three of them. There are some cute little mushrooms on there. And some grass. And some flowers. No. No flowers. Just grass. Grass and mushrooms. And it's a beigey speckly color.
Rob: [00:17:37] Well, this is pretty obvious what this should be called. It's the Hobbit. Hobbit Town. And Gandalf's Garden was what the three different bowls are called.
Bex Scott: [00:17:59] Oh, I actually like that. I could see that in a little, what are the hobbit huts called in the Shire?
Rob: [00:18:08] I don't know.
Bex Scott: [00:18:09] They're little houses.
Rob: [00:18:11] Like burrows or something. Yeah, something like that. Anyway, yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:18:17] I digress. Forest Fancies.
Rob: [00:18:21] I wasn't too far off.
Bex Scott: [00:18:22] I actually like yours better. I think they'd sell.
Rob: [00:18:27] You. You'd reign in the LOTR folks, that's for sure.
Bex Scott: [00:18:32] Okay. Next up. I like this pattern. We don't have any of it because it's a slippery slope. There's lots of it and I just can't start another collection, as you know. Okay, so this is alternating opal with a pattern, red opal with a pattern and then a nice orangey color. It's a mixing bowl set. Some cute little birds on it and some flowers and leaves in nice orange red. Oh no. Yeah. Orange red and nope, just orange and red. I'm having trouble seeing.
Rob: [00:19:19] It must be called the Blood Red Christmas Doves Sharing a Pomegranate.
Bex Scott: [00:19:30] That's a very good description. So that people will know out there that are listening what it is.
Rob: [00:19:38] I can't tell what's on the, behind the birds. Is that like a teddy bear? What is that?
Bex Scott: [00:19:45] No, that's a a floral decoration of sorts. Like a tulip. It's a tulip.
Rob: [00:19:55] Oh. It looks like a bear.
Bex Scott: [00:19:58] It's a tulip adjacent. This is called Friendship.
Rob: [00:20:04] Oh, well, I mean, two Blood Red Doves Sharing a Pomegranate is friendship. So that, it's just the simplified version of my name.
Bex Scott: [00:20:18] I was going to say something. No. In the teenage speak of a 14 year old. But I couldn't think of anything. Like bro-ing up or something. Or bro-ing down. Or they're just bro-ing.
Rob: [00:20:33] No, they're just skibidiing on a pomegranate together.
Bex Scott: [00:20:37] It's a skibidi Pyrex. Oh I've just lost all of my listeners. Okay.
Rob: [00:20:43] I think so. Here we go.
Bex Scott: [00:20:44] I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed. Okay. Next up.
Rob: [00:20:48] Oh, that looks familiar.
Bex Scott: [00:20:49] You've spent a lot of time with this pattern with all your cooking and baking. It is a mixing bowl set. It is a speckly beigey brown with a really nice blue floral pattern on it.
Rob: [00:21:06] Well, the side pieces almost look like little armored, well armored shrimps. So I'm going to call this the Cretaceous Era Battle for Middle Earth.
Bex Scott: [00:21:26] Now all I'm seeing is shrimp in a squid.
Rob: [00:21:30] But the shrimp are wearing armor, like.
Bex Scott: [00:21:32] They're ready to get in there.
Rob: [00:21:33] They're front line. Ready to go.
Bex Scott: [00:21:35] Yeah. Yeah. This is called Homestead.
Rob: [00:21:42] Well, maybe they were fighting in their homeland, so it's called homestead. The homestead shrimp.
Bex Scott: [00:21:48] Shrimp on the range. Home on the range.
Rob: [00:21:51] Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:21:53] I like it.
Rob: [00:21:54] The range being the beach, I guess.
Bex Scott: [00:21:58] Okay, that was it. Those are all the ones that I chose for us. So. Lessons learned--
Rob: [00:22:07] Interesting patterns.
Bex Scott: [00:22:09] -- is that Rob can go very deep when naming things. Another lesson learned is that I am ashamed that I didn't know what color was on the Duchess, having spoken about it in many episodes. And what else? I need some sparkly salad tongs. And yeah, those are those the main takeaways.
Rob: [00:22:36] Go to Value Village and find one of those old bedazzler sets and really do up a set for you.
Bex Scott: [00:22:42] I think we might have to.
Rob: [00:22:45] And one-up those.
Bex Scott: [00:22:48] Well, I think we might have to do a second round of this down the road. Maybe you can do some studying and thrifting and Pyrex research to expand your vocabulary of names and in the meantime, I'll keep saving to buy my Duchess to secretly bring it into the house and hide it from you.
Rob: [00:23:14] No, that is the wrong answer.
Bex Scott: [00:23:20] But anyway, I'd love to know what everybody listening guessed for the Pyrex names. If you aren't a collector, if you don't know your Pyrex patterns, let me know! Find me on Instagram or Facebook at Pyrex with Bex and we will hopefully hear from Rob again down the road with more Pyrex naming and knowledge. So thank you everybody for listening. And thank you, Rob, for being here again.
Rob: [00:23:48] My pleasure. And please people comment on whether you think that my names are superior to that of Pyrex's boring shortened names.
Bex Scott: [00:24:03] I'll be sure to let you know what they say in the comments.
Rob: [00:24:06] Yes, please. That'd be great.
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| 12 Apr 2024 | "Whatnot" with Kim, the Red Rooster | 01:08:32 | |
Bex Scott welcomes guest Kim, owner of The Red Rooster Shoppe on Instagram and Whatnot, to the show to discuss everything to do with Whatnot. Kim, who has accumulated quite a following on Whatnot and is practiced at live shows, shares tips and advice on how to make Whatnot both fun and valuable. She also talks about all the vintage delights she collects and the many thrift stores she visits in Ontario. Whatnot, according to Kim, is a social selling platform that combines entertainment and thrifting. It’s a buyers and seller social marketplace where live auction shows are commonplace. Kim and Bex talk about exactly why Whatnot has become so valuable to their vintage resale endeavours, not just as a sales platform but as a place to make like-minded friendships and support circles. Kim dishes about her childhood growing up with collector and reseller parents, her time as an auctioneer, the extensive vintage collection she has amassed, and exactly how to get started on Whatnot and in vintage collecting in general. The conversation is fun, full of laughter and tips, and a great way to get a feel for Whatnot as a platform. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Kim | The Red Rooster Shoppe:
Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat. Hey, everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. On today's episode, I'm going to be chatting with my reseller friend Kim, also known as the Red Rooster, all about Whatnot, what we love about the app, and how to get started on it as a new reseller.
Bex Scott: [00:00:49] Thanks for tuning into another episode of the Pyrex with Bex podcast. Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Kim from the Red Rooster Shoppe. Welcome, Kim.
Kim: [00:01:00] Hello. How are you?
Bex Scott: [00:01:02] Good, thanks. How are you?
Kim: [00:01:03] I'm good. I'm good, very good.
Bex Scott: [00:01:06] So I met Kim through a fun little platform called Whatnot, and we'll get into Whatnot a bit later. But I wanted to start off with you telling us a little bit about you.
Kim: [00:01:17] So my name's Kim. I live in Hastings, Ontario, Canada, or just outside of Hastings, technically. I'm a full time dementia caregiver, but I used to be an auctioneer and my parents were big collectors and resellers. So when I was a kid, that's all we did as vacations was go to flea markets and meets, and weekends were spent in some gym, in some school somewhere in Ontario selling things. So it's just kind of what I'm used to, and I enjoy doing it now as kind of like a fun activity.
Bex Scott: [00:01:56] That is very cool. I didn't know that about you. Did you love doing that as a kid when you were growing up? Was that something that you really enjoyed doing or what were your feelings around that?
Kim: [00:02:07] I was an only child. I am an only child. So I don't think I knew anything different. Right? Just this was my normal. It was a little boring sometimes. But then mum would get me making crafts in the background, which of course we'd sell. You know, we had these pencils you could rub between your hands and they were your frustration releasers and they would go all funny hair. So I would sit there and--.
Bex Scott: [00:02:31] -- oh I remember those.
Kim: [00:02:32] Yeah, yeah, I forget what they were called, but, or the anger busters, I think we used to put labels on them sometimes is that. The only problem with them was because I used to take them to school with me, they were my fidget toy, but the eraser gets covered up by the hair and it's really hard to correct your mistakes. So you can't make any mistakes when you have that as your pencil. Yeah, but it was so normal that in grade seven I did speech arts, which I don't know if you did, but where everybody has to write a speech and then everybody goes in front of the classroom. It's probably too anxiety driven to be done anymore for kids.
Bex Scott: [00:03:12] Yeah. That was my worst. Fear.
Kim: [00:03:14] Yeah, it's it probably ended in like the late 80s, early 90s. But in the 70s and 80s, it was the thing you, every single kid had to do it. And I was good at it. I was, I was good. I could memorize and I could perform a little bit, but then I would get up on stage, and usually I would do a five minute speech in 2.5 minutes, because I would get really nervous and I would just go through it really, really fast, which took away from points. So I never went to like regionals or anything. Anyways, in grade seven, I wrote a speech. The first line of it is, have you ever gone to Pennsylvania for a screw? And it was so normal to me and I, and I was, I was like 13. I had no idea what a screw like that, what the connotation of that was until I was up on stage in front of the entire school. And the moment it came out of my mouth, like a millisecond later, I'm like, oh, I know what I just said, but I have to carry on. I have to carry on. But we would go like, we went every year to this swap meet for classic cars because my dad, who never finished building it, but he was building a 1928 model A coupe, which is kind of like a truck.
Bex Scott: [00:04:32] Very cool.
Kim: [00:04:33] But he never finished it because he wanted it to be 100% original, which meant every single part down to screws. Which is why we would go all the way to Pennsylvania, because that's every October at Hershey, Pennsylvania there's a meet for classic cars, antique car enthusiasts. And it's just, it's mud. It's an entire field of mud that you trudge through because it always rains, it always rains and there's so many people and everyone's pulling their wagon with their car parts in it, and I would have to trudge along in the mud holding on to a precious screw or something. But I just thought it was normal. So I wrote, in grade seven I asked the entire school if they'd ever gone to Pennsylvania for a screw.
Bex Scott: [00:05:25] I love it. That's very cute.
Kim: [00:05:27] It's a little embarrassing now.
Bex Scott: [00:05:30] Oh, so you had the childhood of flea markets and auctions and being an auctioneer. So how did the reselling side of what you do now begin?
Kim: [00:05:41] I had to close my business as an auctioneer. Auctioneering was actually like the last career I had before I got sick. I have what's called central sensitization syndrome. And so it's like fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue put together into one. So I was pretty much laid up in bed for a few years. And then the pandemic hit. And then my mother started to have the signs of moderate dementia. And so it got to the point where I had to move her in with me. So we moved here to near Hastings on the Trent River. And it's beautiful here and there's lots of activities for her to do. But I was looking for another outlet and mom and I always loved thrifting. It was our thing to do was to go thrifting. And I love that treasure hunt. But then you get the stuff home and it's like, oh, I don't really need this. And I had a huge, I had when I was sick and laid up at home, I had started trying to, like, ADHD really, because I never really completed anything, but I would get into a whole bunch of different crafts. So I had a whole like room full of craft supplies, and I was on Instagram and it wasn't even related to reselling, the woman that I was following.
Kim: [00:07:06] But she posted that her son and daughter-in-law were doing some, you know, Funko Pop sale on Whatnot. And I went, what's Whatnot? Like, I need to Google this. So I didn't use the referral code or anything, so I didn't get my little your bonus of using a referral code from a seller or another Whatnot or... But I looked into it and I was like, this sounds cool. This is fun. I think I want to do this. So first it was just to kind of get rid of my craft section, and then it was like, nah, you know what? I like these vintage decor people. The people who do vintage decor are fun. And I love these sellers and I love that community. So that's where I want to start, I started buying from there and then I was like, you know what? I think I want to, I want to sell in this category too. And next thing you know, I've got an entire basement full of stuff.
Bex Scott: [00:08:04] I understand that fully. Yeah, that's what my basement looks like as well.
Kim: [00:08:09] It's bad. It's really bad. But it's all inventory as far as I'm concerned. It's all inventory. So it's just a matter of when I manage to get time to sell it.
Bex Scott: [00:08:22] That's what I say every time I bring a new box home. Like this will be sold one day and it's going to make me a lot of money. So that's why I bought it. And then it's the slippery slope of the next box is the same thing.
Kim: [00:08:34] Yes. My husband just, he just shakes his head because he likes everything new, so he doesn't understand it. But he likes me being thrifty. He likes that. He likes that I can always find a way to save money somewhere. I will figure out a way.
Bex Scott: [00:08:52] That's perfect.
Kim: [00:08:52] He doesn't think that way. So he's always like, oh, good, like we don't have to buy a brand new fridge. We can go to the restore and get a fridge that's pretty much brand new because it came out of some remodeled house, you know, those sort of things. He likes that. But he doesn't like all the boxes right now. We call it the Great Wall of Hastings, because they're all lined up and built up into basically a wall that divides part of the basement. So.
Bex Scott: [00:09:24] That's awesome. I'd like to come and shop in your basement.
Kim: [00:09:27] Yeah. You'd have to unbox everything. I always say if someone was to come here and rob the place to try and get my treasures, first of all, it's all stuff that's going to take you a while to resell, so good luck with that. Second of all, there's a dog that will bite you. But third of all, you're going to have to go and like clean up first to find all the stuff and go through about 150 boxes. So guaranteed, I'll be home before you get through a third of it.
Bex Scott: [00:09:56] So really, it's a security system. That's a whole new way of looking at it.
Kim: [00:10:01] Yeah, it's it's a way of, you know, hiding your valuables in about 150 boxes. It's a little treasure hunt. It's like an Easter egg hunt for robbers. To figure out which box it is that's got the best stuff. Might be at the bottom. Might not be, I don't know. I don't know, actually, because I can't remember what's in everything. I never label the boxes, which I should probably do, but then it's always usually just whatever comes from the latest auction. And, you know, I accidentally fall into a thrift store on the way home from an auction pick up. That's not my fault. That the car just--
Bex Scott: [00:10:42] -- it just happened to be there.
Kim: [00:10:43] The car has a self-driving system that drives itself to different thrift stores on the way to the grocery store. Or like when I do my blood work, I make sure I do it in Trenton because the parking lot for the blood work place is the same parking lot as for the Missions Bible Thrift store. You know, so it's not my fault that after I get blood taken, I have to go into a thrift store to recover. That's the only way to recover from a loss of blood, really. Is to buy somebody.
Bex Scott: [00:11:20] It definitely helps.
Kim: [00:11:21] Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:11:22] That's how I feel about Costco. I send my husband to Costco because Value Village is on the way to Costco, and he can drop me there and then go do the grocery shopping and then come and get me after he's done.
Kim: [00:11:35] I think what I'm going to start doing is bringing, once my husband's semi-retired, I'm going to get him to come with me thrifting, because then he'll get the 55 plus discount because I don't qualify yet. And I was thinking of becoming a student just so I could get the student discount because I buy so much, especially from the one place, Vinnies. I love them. But every time they always ask, they just automatically ask everybody do you qualify for a discount? Every time I'm like, no, not old enough yet. I wish I was old enough. It would save tons of money. I spend way too much there.
Bex Scott: [00:12:15] So from your perspective, I've tried to explain Whatnot to people before, and I'm not very good at it. So how would you explain Whatnot to somebody who's never heard of it?
Kim: [00:12:26] They call themselves a social selling platform, but basically it is entertainment plus thrifting put together. It's a way to get social and meet new people. There's friendships there, but it is... Whatnot is Whatnot. It's just, it's everything under the sun. They're even looking at the possibility of doing, in the next year or so, doing like vehicles and stuff, like.
Bex Scott: [00:12:56] Wow.
Kim: [00:12:57] Yeah. Which would obviously be local pickup not shipping. But they were talking about that in a product development show. So Whatnot is, it's like eBay but it's live. It's entertaining. There's still the auction part. But you can go in and you can just search for things at any time. But there's always a show on somewhere with something that you're probably going to like and want.
Bex Scott: [00:13:22] Mhm.
Kim: [00:13:23] And it's just fun. You can just come in and watch because there's, you know, there's goofs like me doing trivia and like I was just on the wigging-out train where we all were, there was 22 sellers, so that was like 11 hours solid of sellers who were wearing silly wigs and being silly for 11 solid hours. Yeah. It was pretty amazing. It's I mean, whatnot is just, it's entertainment, but it's also value because you can get some really good deals on Whatnot. And as a seller, it's just, it's a fun way to sell your stuff. I find it quick and easy and it's on my schedule, right? Like, I don't have to, if I can't do it because with mom having dementia, she's my priority, so if she's not having a good day or because she's not having a good day, I'm too tired to do a show because I don't want to be blah on a show. I want to be fun. I want to be myself. So I need to feel rested, so I can move it. I can move my shows when I need to.
Kim: [00:14:33] Consistency is important, but it's do as I say, not as I do. If you have the time, and, you know, one day when mum's not with us anymore, then I hope that Whatnot will be something that I do like, you know, 3, 4, or 5 times a week. That I'm doing short Whatnot shows or long Whatnot shows. And that's the other thing, you don't have to do one hour or, you know, three hours. You can do as much as you want or as little as you want, which I really like. So, it's so flexible for sellers and they are asking us to do more detailed listings. But if you do an unboxing. You can just lift it up and show it and turn it around and give some descriptions and mention any issues with it, and hit the button and start the auction and sell it like right there and then. So, which is great because I got a lot of boxes to unbox. So I love that part. But yeah, it's, I mean I think it's more, it's like it's entertainment and shopping all in one for just about anything you could think of.
Bex Scott: [00:15:40] Yeah, I think that's the perfect way to describe it. And I'm a very introverted person. I kind of keep to myself, and I've always been shy and starting off on Whatnot, having to - you don't necessarily have to show your face, you can flip it around and just show your product - but having to talk to yourself the whole time at the beginning was very challenging for me, but you kind of get into it and you start to have fun, and you have your regular followers and shoppers that come in to your shows all the time, and you start to build friendships and community. And I think four of the Canadian sellers, you've been a huge part of building that community and those friendships. And when I found all of you guys, it was kind of like a little built-in friend pod that you go along your daily life, but you guys are always there and you can ask questions and shop from each other's lives, and it's perfect.
Kim: [00:16:38] Yeah, I love the fact that there's like this group and it's, you know, mostly women in our category. So it's this really awesome, supportive group of women that are all Canadians who all love to buy and sell. And yeah, we're just so supportive of each other and just going into each other's stores. And there's been major things that have happened. Friday was my one year of selling on Whatnot anniversary, so--
Bex Scott: [00:17:07] Congratulations.
Kim: [00:17:08] It's only been one year and like three days. So, and it's not easy at first. You got to kind of get your own rhythm and groove and find the vibe that works for you. And that took some time for me to figure out because I didn't, I didn't really know, like I'm like an introverted extrovert, I guess. So like, I start off really shy and then I get stupid, or else I'm like extremely extroverted and I talk to every single person in the store, and then I just say, I don't get out much. That's my excuse. I don't get out much. But there's that Canadian group of women and we chat with each other offline, off of Whatnot, about our lives, and we're supportive of each other in our own lives and what's going on because, you know, as resellers there's so much else that goes on in our lives other than just listing product and selling it. And, you know, we've had we've had some pretty big tragedies that we've helped each other through and day-to-day sometimes if I just, if I have to rant, I have some place I can go and just put out a rant about how something that's not so great in my life that's happening.
Kim: [00:18:26] And it's just like, you're not alone. You realize you're just so not alone. But as resellers too, it's great because we can help each other. Like, do you know what this is? Have you seen it before? What is it someone sold it for, because Whatnot is one of many platforms that are available for resellers. It's the one that I'm using exclusively personally, but others aren't. And, so it's nice to be able to say, you know what? Maybe that should go somewhere else. Maybe that doesn't go on Whatnot. Maybe you want to put that on another platform and see if it sells there first, because you do get bargains on Whatnot. Whatnot's not always high end unless you're crazy lamp lady.
Bex Scott: [00:19:11] Yeah.
Kim: [00:19:12] That's a whole discussion. I have bought from her, I have to admit. I did go.
Bex Scott: [00:19:16] Her stuff is great.
Kim: [00:19:17] Her stuff is awesome. But at the same time there's stuff that she sells that it's like, yeah, I got that.
Bex Scott: [00:19:25] Yeah, yeah.
Kim: [00:19:26] I'm not going to get those prices. But that's okay, she can. She's built a following. She's worked hard to get that following.
Bex Scott: [00:19:32] Yeah. Especially when you have 530 people in a show. And sometimes I have like three.
Kim: [00:19:39] But you know what? All it takes is like one person who starts buying.
Bex Scott: [00:19:43] Yeah.
Kim: [00:19:44] Right? And especially if you do a loaded show, but someone says, hey, do you have any green glass and it's like, well, I don't have anything loaded, but here, walk over with me. You got, you can literally pick up your phone and just walk right over to wherever in your house or in your storage area you have whatever they're asking for. And you can just start loading it and selling it right on the spot to that person who wants it. It's great when there's competition, but you can also set your minimum price too, right? It's not like you have to do a low starting price. And that's what a lot of people do, is they set the minimum amount that they're willing to let the item go for, which I think is totally fair.
Bex Scott: [00:20:26] Yeah. I agree. It's an awesome platform if you're just starting out or if you have years of experience behind you as a reseller. So I'd highly recommend it. Everybody listening, go and find the Red Rooster Shoppe on Whatnot. And then I'm Pyrex with Bex as well. And check out some of our shows. Shameless plug for both of us. So how would you describe thrifting and sourcing in your area? Is it good? Is it bad? Is it..?
Kim: [00:20:59] It's way too good. It's way too good. I'm in a, like in a semi-rural area. Like there's, Belleville's not that far, but I haven't gone there yet, to be honest. Because there's enough. I've got one, two, three local auction companies that I don't even have to give my name. They've already pulled my items. Everything's ready.
Bex Scott: [00:21:24] So fun.
Kim: [00:21:24] I'm on a first name basis. Just hey, Kim, how's it going? Here's your stuff. So, I mean, there's never a lack of items and at decent prices. Plus we have, Peterborough has like multiple thrift stores and so I have my circuit that I do when I go into Peterborough. I sort of plan because I only have a few hours before I've got to be back home to take care of mom. So those during those hours, I make sure I hit all the key places that I need to because there's a value, what I call a valoo vilage, Value Village.
Bex Scott: [00:22:01] That's what I call it too.
Kim: [00:22:03] It sounds so much better when you buy, when you buy a dress and everyone's like, oh my God, I love your dress. Where'd you get it? Value Village. Oh, I haven't gone there yet. I really need to.
Bex Scott: [00:22:13] Very high end.
Kim: [00:22:14] Everyone needs to go to Value Village. So there's the Value Village. There's the Talize, which is nice because when I lived in Oshawa, there was one in Whitby. So now there's one in Peterborough. There's two Restores. So that's Habitat for Humanity. So that's awesome. And they have really expanded their vintage. They used to refuse vintage decor and now they've like really expanded their vintage decor. And they have great sticker sales. So.
Bex Scott: [00:22:42] I was going to say that I didn't know that they did vintage until I walked in maybe two months ago, and they had an awesome section.
Kim: [00:22:49] Yeah. So folks, if you haven't, like if it's been a long time since you've been in a Restore because you walked in and you're like, I do not need the building materials, thank you very much.
Bex Scott: [00:22:59] I don't need a toilet today.
Kim: [00:23:00] It is changed. And they do, they do sticker sales every month. So there's going to be stickers that are like 75% off what they say and their prices are already fair. So, like, I picked up a couple of end tables for my booth and I paid like $12.50 for each one and, you know, put the price tag on it is now $45. So, yeah, it's not bad at all. I just needed to, you know, polish it up a little bit and make it look a little bit prettier than it was, but yeah, Restores are great. Then we have the community care, which is an organization that does community care. Go figure. Like Meals on Wheels and drivers and home health brokerage and that kind of thing. They have one store in Bridgenorth. So that's like after one of my auctions, I can head north to the Bridgenorth one, and then there's one in Havelock where my mum goes to the senior center. So there's another. There's little thrift stores everywhere. There's like a really great thrift store in Madoc that is closed on Wednesdays, so don't go on Wednesdays. I forgot to check before I drove there because it's like a half hour drive, so it's not usually, I don't usually go that way. But then I've got like Trenton, Brighten, oh my gosh, Brighten is amazing. And I haven't even gotten into, I haven't gone into Cobourg or Port Hope yet. Like I haven't, there's so many spots to hit. Campbellford has like three thrift stores that are run by church organizations. There's a Baptist, Catholic, and the Anglican. We got it all covered. We got all the bases.
Bex Scott: [00:24:54] All the bases, yeah.
Kim: [00:24:55] I haven't been to the Baptist one yet because it's never open when I'm available. They have great stuff. And then there's antiquing. So there's like auctions everywhere. There's tons of thrift stores, and it's never, I'm never one of those people who's like, I don't have, I didn't buy anything this week.
Bex Scott: [00:25:12] Yeah. Oh I'm jealous.
Kim: [00:25:15] I'm the one who's like, I have to empty my van so I can go and fill up my van again. That's my problem is I don't have enough space in the van to put more stuff in the van and have my mom and her wheelchair also in the van, you know?
Bex Scott: [00:25:31] Yeah.
Kim: [00:25:32] Leave mom at home, and then I've got plenty more room. Can't always do that. I always have to leave space for that. So sometimes it's like, do I buy groceries? No, because I don't have space. So I have to go home first and then I'll go buy groceries locally, which I guess is good for my local grocery store. They get the benefit of the fact that my van is full of pickups from auctions and thrift stores.
Bex Scott: [00:25:57] I'm very jealous. I wish it was like that here. I thought it was pretty decent here, but... We have some online auctions that I go to weekly. They're in Calgary though, so I have to get my parents to pick up all my items, and then I have to drive them back here. And then most of it's just Value Village and the Salvation Army. But yeah, I wish I had an awesome circuit like you have, because I'd be in a lot better shape with what you're selling.
Kim: [00:26:27] Or you'd be trying to find a bigger house, building another storage shed.
Bex Scott: [00:26:35] Yeah. My husband wouldn't be very happy because we already moved from one house to this one, and he redid the whole basement storage room for me. And I've exploded it recently because of Whatnot, because I keep pulling things out of the inventory system and not putting them back. So I'm not a very organized seller.
Kim: [00:26:55] Yeah. I'm not. I just, things are on shelves and now that I have to put tags on for my, because I got a booth at the local antique market, so now I have to put tags on things. So I'm trying to like tag them as I go so that if I need to, I can just grab them off my shelf of my Whatnot room and take them to the booth without having to think, how much is this? What am I going to charge? All that kind of stuff. I can just do that quickly when when I start, because I don't tend to, like, I tend to just kind of have stuff out and I know general prices, but I don't put prices on things. So when someone asks what's the starting bid? I usually start really low because I'm like, yeah, I don't know. Yeah, I don't feel like Google lensing it. You figure it out, I'll hold it up to the light.
Bex Scott: [00:27:39] It's a moment of panic I have when people ask, I'm like ahh $3 start.
Kim: [00:27:44] Yeah, yeah. I've done it a couple of times where I've said like $2 dollars and I've literally, it's come out of my mouth and I'm like, well, I said it. So that's what it is. That was stupid. But that's what it is. Oh well, and usually people like, there's a lot of buyers who will bid it up a little because you can on, Whatnot you can actually bid against yourself if you keep swiping right, it will bid you up, which is, I actually think it's a it's a nice feature because I like doing it sometimes when a seller makes a mistake or I just feel like, you know what, I should pay a little bit more. I mean, it doesn't, you know, $2 more isn't going to kill me every once in a while. So I like that feature of Whatnot is that the buyer can actually outbid themselves. When I first started at Whatnot, I accidentally did it all the time because I was so used to bidding online. Right? Like you would just up your bid. So that, and I didn't realize the custom, there's a custom bid button, folks. That's what you're supposed to--
Bex Scott: [00:28:49] -- there is?
Kim: [00:28:51] Yes.
Bex Scott: [00:28:51] On Whatnot there is?
Kim: [00:28:52] Right beside swipe right, beside the swipe there's custom bids. So you click on that and then you can type in your max bid. And then the system will do it for you instead of you having to swipe constantly. Especially if it's--
Bex Scott: [00:29:05] -- I learned something new today.
Kim: [00:29:07] I don't do sudden death auctions. I did sudden death during the wigging-out train, but sudden death is basically, sounds horrible, especially if you're in vintage or 'sudden death, you're about to have an estate sale'. There's only 15 seconds, period. So there's no, the timer doesn't reset every time somebody bids, which it does and can take forever, right? If you do like a, even if you do a 15 second auction and people wait until, some people wait to like, they think they're sniping, but you're not sniping if it's going to reset the timer so that people wait and then they bid at the last second, and then there we go, we got another nine seconds. So here we go again. Now we wait another nine seconds. And you got to fill that space with entertainment. Right? So you got to keep talking about the thing. Here it is. Oh and sometimes I'll get distracted because the chat will be about something, right? And I'll start talking to the chat and I'll be like, oh, thanks so much so and so. And then everyone's like, no, someone else bid while you weren't paying attention. This person won. Oh, sorry. I just assumed you were the only one bidding. That's what makes Whatnot fun, is that we're kind of friendly and joking and we just have fun with it. There's no strict rules or anything on how you're supposed to run your shows.
Bex Scott: [00:30:26] You can kind of show your personality and have fun with it. And, yeah, it's different than just throwing up a listing on Facebook Marketplace and that's it.
Kim: [00:30:37] And answering 20 million questions.
Bex Scott: [00:30:39] Yes.
Kim: [00:30:40] Is this still available?
Bex Scott: [00:30:40] And you get the weirdos on there and yeah.
Kim: [00:30:43] Is this item still available? Or I'm interested.
Bex Scott: [00:30:50] Yeah. And then you reply and nothing happens.
Kim: [00:30:52] Can I give you five? I'm coming in five minutes to pick it up.
Bex Scott: [00:30:59] Yeah. I'm outside of your house. I'm here now.
Kim: [00:31:03] I'm here now. Give me your address and your blood group. And the birth dates of all your children and your mother's maiden name. And then I'll pay for it.
Bex Scott: [00:31:15] Yeah.
Kim: [00:31:16] Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:31:18] So you mentioned that you have a booth coming up, or have you already? You've moved in already. And is it ready for business?
Kim: [00:31:27] I mean, it's open for business. So a new antique market opened up four minutes from my house so I can roll down the hill to it. So it's really convenient. They're only open right now Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. But I'm upstairs, and I grabbed two spots. I keep telling her I need more, and she doesn't believe me. Well, she will see. She will see that I need more. I need to bring her to my house.
Bex Scott: [00:31:58] Send her a picture of the Great Wall in your basement.
Kim: [00:32:01] This is Great Wall. And here's the selling room. And, like, I could fill up, I said to her yesterday, 20 booths. Give me 20 booths. But I got two, and I haven't totally, like, jam packed it full yet. Like, I'm, every weekend we bring more stuff in. So yeah, it just opened early March, the upstairs part. So I've been moving in since then. It's fairly full now. I think you would walk in and think it was full. It looks full. But I know I can cram more stuff in there, so, and I will, because I still have to bring all my toys. I haven't even done a toy section yet. My collectibles, all the pop culture stuff. But then I'm like, oh, but I also want to sell that on Whatnot. Oh, so I have to--
Bex Scott: [00:32:51] -- that's the tricky part--
Kim: [00:32:52] -- I have to balance that. So I've got like now every box I unbox is like: booth, donate, Whatnot. Booth, donate, Whatnot.
Bex Scott: [00:33:01] Yeah. And do you keep most of the larger items for your booth and then do you--.
Kim: [00:33:07] Yeah, that's what I'm going to do. Because shipping is expensive no matter what platform you're on. I actually find that Whatnot's shipping costs are not that bad when you look at like eBay and some of the Etsy shipping costs that I've seen. For clothing, yeah, we're not competing with Poshmark for sure because Poshmark has made some sort of deal, but because they were doing mostly clothing so it was small, lightweight items. Now that Poshmark is doing vintage decor and stuff, like they're going to have to change their shipping rules because there must be, they must be losing a lot of money on that. Or Canada Post is. Somebody losing money on that. I don't know who it is, but someone's losing money. But yeah, I think Whatnot shipping prices are not too bad. The minimum is what, $11 for Canadians? $11 US. So I have to math that. So $14, $15 bucks, somewhere around there.
Bex Scott: [00:34:07] Which is really good because when I do shipping off of something like Facebook Marketplace, it always ends up being $20, $25 at the cheapest. So it's definitely worth it to shop on Whatnot and get that shipping.
Kim: [00:34:23] Yeah, and a lot of us Canadian sellers have started doing little coupons and that sort of thing that you can use during the show to help with shipping too. So we're doing whatever we can to convince you to buy because our stuff is great and you can see it, you can see it live, you can see all the angles. You can ask to see a close up. You can't do that on an eBay listing, right? It's like you can zoom in all you want, but if the seller doesn't show you the bottom in a way that you want to see it, you're out of luck. Like you buy it and then be disappointed. Or you could just--
Bex Scott: [00:35:00] -- hope for the best.
Kim: [00:35:01] On Whatnot, you be like, can I see it closer? And it's so much easier because you interact with the seller. As a seller, you interact with the buyer right away. So all the questions that a buyer is going to have, you can answer right then and there before they purchase. You don't have to do the back and forth on the messaging of the app. Right? Like eBay. This question, answer, wait two days. Another question, answer. Now ain't nobody got time for that.
Bex Scott: [00:35:34] No, no. It makes it so that you almost instantly have a repeat customer and a faster sale, which is, yeah, it's awesome.
Kim: [00:35:45] And people tend to buy more than one thing in a show, right? Because once you've got that first item paid for with the shipping, the shipping costs go like way down like $0.50. I think if you added another pound worth of stuff, it's only like $4.50. This is all in American dollars, mind you, but still, not too bad. Not too bad. So it means people tend to buy, once they've bought that first item, if your show is continuing on, you're going to get more sales from that person just because they're like, well, I've broken my shipping now, I might as well buy something else. Might not be something they want, or I should say that it would be something they want, they just don't need.
Bex Scott: [00:36:28] Yeah, that's mostly what I buy. I get sucked in because my shipping has been busted and my shopping addiction, it kicks in, and then it's so easy to just swipe and it doesn't even feel like you're spending any money. And then you're like $100 US. No big deal.
Kim: [00:36:45] I mean, you just have to sell some stuff the next day. You just go online and you sell stuff, and then you buy other people's stuff, and then you sell your stuff, and rinse, lather, repeat. But it's fun. It's so much fun. It's fun. I love it, and I love the community. Just because you don't, and you don't have to go on and buy something to be part of the friendships that we have on Whatnot.
Bex Scott: [00:37:11] Exactly.
Kim: [00:37:11] There's a lot of people who are my friends on Whatnot that have never bought anything from me. Yet. But that's okay because they come, they interact, we have fun. We laugh. I can't hear you guys laugh, but I can see it. I can see the emojis. And then I know you're all laughing with me. Or Whatnot also has that fun feature where you can tap twice and it sends hearts up.
Bex Scott: [00:37:36] Yes.
Kim: [00:37:37] Which is very cute. I love just sitting there and like tapping nonstop. I'll just tap. So if there's a show, if anyone's ever in a show and you see that I'm in and all of a sudden the hearts just keep going, it's just me. Like, I'm not bidding on anything, but I love you.
Bex Scott: [00:37:52] Yeah, you'll know Kim's in your show if you see all of the hearts all the time.
Kim: [00:37:56] Yeah. That's me. Sorry. Not bidding, but I'm hearting. It's the same thing. It's considered an, I think it's considered an interaction by the algorithm. So, you know, that's why I'm doing it. I'm trying to, like, pump up that algorithm so that there's more visibility for the show so more people can watch me tap hearts. Although they can't see it. I'm tapping right now and you can see it, but no one else can.
Bex Scott: [00:38:21] Yeah. No, she's tapping the screen right now giving everyone hearts.
Kim: [00:38:24] I'm tapping hearts with my finger nonstop.
Bex Scott: [00:38:28] So do you collect anything vintage yourself?
Kim: [00:38:32] I've collected a lot of things over the years. Right now, I'm very much into Blue Mountain Pottery.
Bex Scott: [00:38:39] Mhm.
Kim: [00:38:39] Too much. And I started and it's, Owl Always Love Vintage Ali. It's her fault because she had this cute little Goebel monk, the Friar Tucks, and she had one piece and I was like that is so cute. And then I got it. And then I saw a set in an auction. And so I bought it. And then I saw another bunch of stuff in someone else's Whatnot show. And now I have, like, a whole windowsill full of these little Friar Tucks. But it turns out there's also a cardinal line, like it's red instead of brown. I got outbid on an online auction that was a full set of it.
Bex Scott: [00:39:24] Wow.
Kim: [00:39:25] I got outbid because I realized thou shalt not spend too much money. So it's like, now I got to stop, I gotta stop, I really want it. But what am I going to do with it? It's just going to go and collect dust. And then I got to dust it. What happens is, is I get really into something and then, okay, I've got enough of it. I feel like I've collected it. Thank you, next. Now Blue Mountain is going to take forever to collect all the different pieces, because they were around from 1953 to 2004, and they did over a thousand molds.
Kim: [00:39:59] So I'm not going to be over that anytime soon. But yeah. And then glass, I love gorgeous glass now that I never appreciated before Whatnot. But then, you know, now I'm like glowy glass, i've got a whole collection of uranium glass, cadmium, anything that like is UV reactive I'm on it like nobody's business, like a dog on a bone. I am on it. And I go around with my, I have a 365 flashlight now because the different wavelengths will show you different amounts. So the 365 is the one that like CSI Las Vegas uses.
Bex Scott: [00:40:42] Yeah.
Kim: [00:40:43] So it shows a lot more UV reactivity with low amounts of like uranium. So there's a lot of old crystal and glass that they added uranium to to make it clear instead of make it green, to make it look clear. So like you can go to the Restore and just be like scanning and there's no noise actually but I'm making the noise. I got to make the noise so you could understand.
Bex Scott: [00:41:11] It should have noise.
Kim: [00:41:12] Scanning the shelves like like an idjit. Because I'm like literally like up there with my flashlight. Nobody has a clue what I'm doing. And then every once in a while, someone will go up and go, oh, are you looking for glowy glass? And I'll be like, yes, yes I am. Let's have a long discussion about it in the middle of the store.
Bex Scott: [00:41:31] Yeah, but if I find any, it's mine. You're not taking it while we're having this discussion.
Kim: [00:41:36] Oh, well, I'll be like, oh, I already have some of that. I have like, I have a whole box of that. Here, let me show you some. So usually I end up being like, you should get this. It's really cute. Look at this. This is also cute. I have a lot of clear glowy glass now, so I have to stop because it is easy to find it. It's out there. There's quite a lot of old glass and crystal that gets donated. Not a lot to Value Village though, interestingly enough in our area.
Bex Scott: [00:42:04] Not here either.
Kim: [00:42:05] Different demographic, Restore versus Value Village.
Bex Scott: [00:42:09] So I just discovered that vintage jewelry has glowy glass in it sometimes.
Kim: [00:42:15] Yes.
Bex Scott: [00:42:16] And that blew my mind. Now I'm going to be shining lights on everybody's earlobes everywhere I go.
Kim: [00:42:22] Well, I'm even diamonds. Different diamonds with different inside them. So like, I have three diamonds on my wedding ring, my engagement ring, and the middle one glows like crazy.
Bex Scott: [00:42:35] Oh, cool.
Kim: [00:42:36] Like, it's like, so cool when you put a 365 against it, it's like wow, I'm like, ooh, that makes it fancier to me. But it means there's something in there that's reflecting. But it's kind of cool. Like, there's so many things that fluoresce and UV react that you can find out there, and it's kind of fun just to like turn off the lights and start scanning around at all the collectibles, go to grandma's house, start scanning and it like, okay, so it's when I like, when people hear uranium glass, they think, oh my God, it's radioactive.
Bex Scott: [00:43:10] Yeah, yeah.
Kim: [00:43:11] The raindrops that are coming down from the sky are more radioactive than this stuff. Yeah, a high amount of it, like I bought from a seller in the States on Whatnot, I bought, like, a lot of uranium glass plates and cups. It was a teacup set with plates and everything. It was a big box. And so, yes, it did get delayed at customs, and it did get opened up because it probably did set off some sort of--
Bex Scott: [00:43:38] -- the uranium detector--
Kim: [00:43:39] -- detector that they have at the border, which I hope, I hope that's why it got, because I hope that they have a good sniffer system. And I have noticed that if I do buy glowy glass from the States, it usually ends up spending a couple of days in customs. Probably they don't usually open it up because it's smaller and you know, they can scan it and see it without having to open it up. But I'm sure they scanned the teacups and the the plates and were like, this doesn't make any... Why? Why are these teacups and plates like giving off a reaction? Something's wrong here. But then they saw what it was, i'm sure. I'm sure they've seen a lot of green glass over the years because of it. Because the the green uranium glass, you can see it from a mile once you know what it is, you know, and you can like, you go into a thrift store and you're just like, yeah, straight to it. I know what that is. And I started also collecting, but then I started selling them. So I kind of like, it's a buy to sell collection, I guess, of like the swung glasses, but the five-fingered ones that look like this, the Sesame Street characters, your favorite. I love when I see those in stores. I'm just like, I'm on an auction platform. I'm just like, got to get those ones because they're so cute. They just have personalities. I have two right now, and one of them leans slightly to the side. So it's kind of like when a character like, hello, I'm falling over.
Kim: [00:45:09] It's really kind of cute. It's super cute. So I like, I don't know, if you look around, I just have every, like I like everything, which is a problem. And so I appreciate the history and the story and what somebody did with that and, you know, what was going on in that era. What's the reason, like, what's the reasoning societal-wise why, you know, women were wearing certain types of brooches, you know.
Bex Scott: [00:45:37] Yeah. Yeah.
Kim: [00:45:38] Why did we start going into this whole like, you know, avocado green and mustard yellow? Like, what was the trends and why the trends and how the trends changed. And it's kind of fun when you can like, I love grabbing something and saying to myself, I think this is like - and I'll try and date it - and I play the like, did I get this, the dating game but it's different. It's like, did I get the date of this right? I pick it up and sometimes you'll see me unboxing, in unboxing shows, and I'll pull something up and I'll go, okay, I think this is 1985-ish. And then I'll flip it over and read what it says and be like, oh no, I was completely wrong on that one. Or yes, I was right, I was right. It was only off by a year. I think that's kind of fun. I just, I really like that. So I'm a generalist. I collect anything that I like, which may not even be pretty. It might be super ugly or super weird.
Bex Scott: [00:46:39] As long as it's vintage.
Kim: [00:46:42] Well, as long as it's, well, I like newer things, but I like sustainability. I like the fact that what we do helps the planet at the same time, because we are encouraging people to take something that otherwise would have gotten thrown away. A lot of the stuff that gets donated, a lot of people don't realize that the things that get donated to places like Value Village end up either in the trash or they get sent down to South America. And they have like huge, especially clothing's the worst, but like, they have these huge markets in South America where you can go. They're usually called gringos markets because it's stuff from us North Americans. Wasteful. And you can buy like you would have a field day because there's tons of Pyrex down there.
Bex Scott: [00:47:38] Yeah.
Kim: [00:47:38] You could just, you just like, just go in and because there's just too much that gets donated and they don't have enough space on the floor. So they just, they put it into household bales. So like bales of clothing, but they put them in big pallet boxes and they may or may not make it all the way to South America without getting broken. But there's just tons of stuff that just ends up getting sold down there. People buy it for super cheap and then they resell it in their community in these big open space markets. Part of that is also wasteful because the shipping, the carbon footprint of the shipping of all that stuff to go down south so that it can be resold, why don't we just stop that cycle? So when someone says to me, oh, you're a reseller in this disappointed way, when I'm in a thrift store, I'm like, yeah, yeah, I take this stuff and I resell it, but I clean it up first.
Kim: [00:48:35] I am the one who has to run around and source it. I have to look it up and find out information about it. I've got to present it somehow, which right now is Whatnot. I got to take the time to then pack it and ship it like, I don't see you doing any of that. So yeah, my time is valuable and so I'm going to charge more than I paid for this. But the whole point of thrift stores is to keep whatever organization that they're supporting, to keep it, to keep the doors open. Right? So like when I go into Habitat for Humanity store or Restore, I know that when I buy stuff from there, if I walk out with a box load, they're thrilled. Like, they know that I'm a reseller and they're absolutely thrilled because that's the money that they need in order to build that next house for someone, right?
Bex Scott: [00:49:22] Yeah.
Kim: [00:49:22] And with community care, it's the money that they need to be able to provide that Meals on Wheels service. So I don't, when people try to guilt me I'm like, no, sorry. I don't do a lot of shopping at Value Village. I talk a lot about it because I like saying it. I like going to the small charity shops. I have so many in the area. I'm very blessed that there's so many. There's, like a cute one in Omemee that's run by this little Baptist church. We did get into a little bit of a conversation about trans rights, but, you know, I think we came to an understanding about that, and it was a little bit uncomfortable at first, but then it was okay. But yeah I wasn't going to back down on that.
Bex Scott: [00:50:11] Yeah.
Kim: [00:50:12] My kids are important. So I'm gonna defend their right to be. But you know what? There's so many cute little places that I'm lucky enough to be able to go into. And then I know I'm supporting. It's the money is going back into the community to help people. So I'm always happy with that. That's also a great excuse to buy more.
Bex Scott: [00:50:28] Yeah, I think so.
Kim: [00:50:30] It's for a good cause, honey, I couldn't help it. They really need the money. They're building a new house. I had to get it. It's not my fault. Totally not my fault.
Bex Scott: [00:50:41] I love all of the reasoning behind buying things. I have so many different reasons that I give people to that I just have to keep adding new ones to the bottom of my list and recirculating them.
Kim: [00:50:53] Yeah, it's like reseller math if you buy something for $2 and you sell it for $10, that's good reseller math. But sometimes you buy something for $2, but you also buy like ten other things. So you know, you have a cart full, but one of those things is worth ten bucks. You're going to sell that one for ten bucks. So you've covered most of it. So yeah, maybe there's extra in there, but eventually you'll sell that stuff. So it's all okay. It's all just an investment. It's all fine. But there was one really good piece in there.
Bex Scott: [00:51:30] Yeah. What's the worst thing you've ever ended up buying? And worst in terms of you thought it was going to make good money or that it was something special and it ended up being just the opposite.
Kim: [00:51:44] Oh, gosh. I don't think there's a lot of worst. I don't, because I don't spend a lot. I'm, I am super cheap. I've had some things where I get them home and I break them while I'm washing them or cleaning them. There's a lot of Blue Mountain pottery that's the big long egret neck, like swan necks, and they are so easy to break. And that's just like, that's one of those sad moments. I have, I have like a little burial ground for pottery in the garden. So when there's a really nice piece, I put it in the garden and it becomes like, you know, a little, I just think of it as a new house for a bug. So there's a lot of vases and stuff that, you know, now they're a house for a bug or spider or something.
Bex Scott: [00:52:37] It's the bug amusement park.
Kim: [00:52:39] So there's, yeah. So I have to plan my garden now around my vintage cemetery that I have, but I don't want to get rid of the stuff because it was like, you know, the glaze was super pretty or there was just something about it that I really liked. So it goes in the garden where I know eventually it's going to break apart. And, you know, winter takes its toll on it. But I don't know, there's just something about the circle of life, of just bringing it back and making my garden pretty somehow. But yeah, I think the most disappointing for me is when I buy something, whether I spend a lot or I spend a little on it, and I break it before I even have a chance to buy it. Sell it, I mean. Buy it, I already bought it to sell it.
Bex Scott: [00:53:21] That's been my issue lately, but it's because my daughter takes it off the floor and she drops it because she thinks it's fun to break things. Right now she's in that awkward, breaking age, and I had a Blue Mountain Pottery candy dish that I just got, and she picked up this old butter dish and she threw it on top of the candy dish. And that was the end of that.
Kim: [00:53:43] Yeah, yeah. Well, eventually they they grow up and they go to kindergarten. So you've got some time eventually, eventually they start.
Bex Scott: [00:53:52] Four more years, four and a half more years of breaking my things.
Kim: [00:53:56] Yeah. My mom likes to grab stuff. And because of her dementia. And she uses the wheelchair for mobility, so she tends to stick things down her top or down her pants. And because, so if she goes through one of my boxes, there's usually a few things that go missing that I don't get to sell. And then the other day, there was this gorgeous Nippon candy dish that was really, it had a beautiful, beautiful hand-painted scene on it. Like, it was just gorgeous. It was going to be a keeper. And yeah. Mum actually put it underneath her boob.
Bex Scott: [00:54:39] Oh no.
Kim: [00:54:40] That was her storage spot, was up her top and and let her boob hold on to it because you know, they, as you get older ladies, they sag. So, but then she forgot that it was there. And then she stood up to go to the bathroom and it just smashed all in the bathroom floor. I heard the crash and I went, another beautiful thing has bit the dust.
Bex Scott: [00:55:03] Yeah.
Kim: [00:55:04] But mum loves, still loves going through all the boxes and seeing what I got and looking at the things and I've done a couple of live shows with her. I don't do it as much now because she is much worse. But when I first started on Whatnot, I would do shows with mum and sometimes I'd say, you know, oh, this is starting bid is $10 and she would be in the background going, it's not worth that much, two bucks. I'm like, please ignore my mother. Thank you for bidding.
Bex Scott: [00:55:34] And then you'd find it in her shirt later on. Because she secretly really loved it.
Kim: [00:55:38] I was really careful that if I sold something, it went up where she couldn't reach. That is a benefit of having her in a wheelchair. She can only reach so high. And she can't get down the stairs into the basement, so if it makes it to the basement it's safe. Safe from her, not necessarily safe from me dropping it or something, but yeah, every once in a while when I break vintage, I cry a little.
Bex Scott: [00:56:05] Yeah.
Kim: [00:56:06] An angel in heaven cries too. It's a sad moment.
Bex Scott: [00:56:14] So do you have any advice for resellers who are just starting out? Or if they want to get on Whatnot or find a booth close to them, or just start out in general?
Kim: [00:56:28] Well, you need inventory and you need to spend money to make money. That's reality, is you have to buy stuff. I would be careful about when you first start out about buying things at high prices. Go, I would say start with your local auctions. Like online auctions where you can pick up if possible. There's HighBid.com has a lot of Canadian and US auctions. There's Max Sold does a lot all over Canada. Maxsold.com. And then of course you can just Google to find out where there's your local auction house. And usually they'll have a website. And if they do online auctions or if they do in-person auctions. If you can go to in-person auctions, oh my gosh, there are deals to be had because people have gotten away from going to live auctions.
Bex Scott: [00:57:26] I've never been to one.
Kim: [00:57:27] Oh, they're fun. They're, you just need to behave yourself. You need to say, you know, I have a maximum and I'm going to stick to it because it starts to get personal. Like you don't want the other person to win kind of thing.
Bex Scott: [00:57:39] Yeah, I could see that.
Kim: [00:57:41] So you have to be careful with that. But if you're if measured at the beginning, look for deals. Pick what you like. Don't try and follow any trends. Don't try to follow what you think is going to sell. If you like it, if you see it on the shelf or you see it online, a picture of it online on an online auction, and it speaks, like if you're like, if you get excited about it, then that's the stuff you should sell. Don't try and just sell anything to turn a profit, because it won't be successful, because you won't have that enthusiasm for it. It'll start to become more of a chore and less enjoyment. That's my first recommendation. When it comes to being on Whatnot and selling, I would suggest, first of all, that you get on Whatnot and watch shows for a while, watch a lot of shows, different shows in different categories. Get to know people, start following people, start interacting in other sellers shows, just, you know, even just saying, oh, that's really pretty, I really like that. You don't have to buy, just come in and chat. We love chatting with everybody. We love hearing, you know, don't come in and be negative, nobody wants that anywhere. But just come in and say hi. And you know, when we say, how's your day? You can answer or not answer, it's up to you. I'd say 80% of the people who are in shows are quiet in any show, big sellers or small sellers, 80% of the people are quiet and that's okay too. But if you're going to be a seller, you need to be interactive because it's a social, it really is a social network platform. It's all about collaborate.
Kim: [00:59:32] Collaboration is the key. So once you get started, you need to let people know, I'm, you know, I'm going to have my first show. Book your show as soon as you're approved to be a seller. I would recommend going through and getting a referral from somebody who's already selling on Whatnot. Not only does that seller get a bonus if you do start selling on Whatnot, they get some, they get some money for it, but you are more likely you'll be put up higher on the list to be looked at, because there is a wait list for certain categories, but they want to see inventory. So you need to build your inventory. Because if you just say, I really, really like cards or I really, really like glass, they're going to be like, that's great, but show us what you got. And they want to see a lot of inventory because they want sellers who are going to sell volume, right? The more you sell, the more they make because they take 8% of the cut, which is not bad. It's not bad at all. And then there's the payment processing fees. But they have to pay that to somebody else. They're just passing that cost along to us. But they're taking 8%. So they want you to make as much money as possible. They want you to be successful. So they're not going to pick people that don't have inventory. So you need to take lots of pictures and do a collage of, like, use your little Google Photos to make a collage because I think you're only allowed, like, when I applied, I think you were only allowed like eight pictures to attach.
Bex Scott: [01:01:10] I think when I did it was two.
Kim: [01:01:13] Oh gosh. So like I did collages. I went around and like took pictures of everything. And at that time I did not have a 10th of what I have now. I have an issue, but I think I applied for handmade category because that's what I had the most of at the time in inventory, but then once you're approved as a seller, you can go just about anywhere. And I've been approved to sell at luxury bags. Not that I have any to sell, but I made sure that I got approved for that. There's a quiz.
Bex Scott: [01:01:45] Oh boy, I would fail that quiz.
Kim: [01:01:47] You would not fail the quiz. It's a pretty obvious quiz. Like, should you sell something fake?
Bex Scott: [01:01:55] Okay. Yeah, I thought it was gonna be on luxury bags.
Kim: [01:02:00] That's, you know, that's a really hard one.
Bex Scott: [01:02:03] Yeah.
Kim: [01:02:04] I think I should say yes. Yes, you should sell fake stuff. Like most of the questions are pretty, pretty easy. It's pretty easy. But they want to make sure that they don't approve you until you've already been a regular seller, that they can see a track record for because they don't want people getting scammed. They don't want scam artists. So they want to see that you got a decent inventory and that you've got some experience selling. So if you don't, even if you tell them about how you sold the most Girl Guide cookies when you were ten, right? Like, whatever it is, Boy Scout, whatever Boy Scouts sell, I don't know, apples, one of apples in our neighborhoods, but like they want to see that. And then once you get approved, just have fun. Like just make it fun. Forget about trying to sell. The selling will happen as you get more experience and you build your following. Like, I'm getting close to 2000 followers now after a year.
Bex Scott: [01:03:04] That's amazing.
Kim: [01:03:05] But that's also because of the collaborations that I've done, like organizing Raid Trains and the people that I've met and through them meeting other people. So, you know, always trying to go into other people's shows as much as possible, even if it's just say hi. Hi, love you, I hope you have a great show. Isn't that a cute item? Oh, that's so pretty. And then I may not be able to stick around, but I try to at least say hi whenever I can. But it's the collaborations that make it happen. It's going on, getting to know people, and getting on the Raid Trains or make up your own Raid Train. That's what I did. I wanted to do a Raid Train, so I just started openly inviting the world to it. And now it's like, it's totally full. I think April, we're almost full. So March is already full. April's almost full. And it's fun, just monthly for anybody who's a seller to sell anything they want, as long as it's sustainable. Because it's all about sustainability, right, my Raid Trains. I'm big on that.
Bex Scott: [01:04:13] Mm. I'm gonna have to join one of those.
Kim: [01:04:15] Yes. You should. How you sign up.
Bex Scott: [01:04:20] Sounds good.
Kim: [01:04:21] It's fun, it's fun. It's sellers from all over the world. Most of them are US sellers. So it's great for Canadian sellers to get introduced to their buyers because with a Raid Train, for those who don't know, basically one person starts their show and then when they're finished at a certain period of time, so they have usually it's an hour, they then raid, which sounds like a pirate thing, when I first started, I was like, what are we doing? We're raiding? I don't like, what, I don't want to raid somebody. I, what, I don't want to steal someone. Like, because I thought stealing, that's what I thought. I though raid/stealing. But it's basically you just take all of your viewership and bring it to someone else's show. And when they're done, they bring it into someone else's show, etc., etc. And a train is where you organize it so everything's on a schedule and everybody goes, basically, it's like you start at the engine and you move everybody back to the caboose at the end of the day, that's how I like to think of it, is everyone moves along the cars in an orderly fashion, buying all day long. And having fun.
Bex Scott: [01:05:33] Mhm. Yeah. In our next one, by the time this episode comes out we will already have had the Linens Raid Train coming up on Friday.
Kim: [01:05:42] Very excited about, I have so much to go.
Bex Scott: [01:05:46] You're kicking that one off, right? And then I go right after you.
Kim: [01:05:49] Yes. Yeah. I'm starting at 9 a.m., so I don't mind kicking it off. It's probably the toughest spot in any Raid Train.
Bex Scott: [01:05:59] Yeah, I was going to say.
Kim: [01:06:00] Like because it's just, there's no expectations of me selling too much. So like, oh, you were the first on the train, it's fine. It's okay, she was first, that's why. No, I'm just kidding. People buy all day long on Whatnot. That's the great thing, right? You never know who's going to come in. And linens is so hot right now. People are really interested in it. And ephemera is getting hot again. The thing is, there are trends on Whatnot that are fascinating to watch because you can see, you can actually see this, like it flow from the sellers through the buyers. And then a lot of buyers are also sellers. So then they start building a collection. And then all of a sudden they're selling and I've just watched it like, a lot of like ephemera especially, has moved through so many categories now because people are starting to realize how cool it is, how exciting it is. And linens. I love linens, I love little linens and big linens and pretty linens.
Bex Scott: [01:07:06] I like the sheet sets. That's my favorite. Anything with like a nice floral pattern. Love it.
Kim: [01:07:12] Yes, I have a lot of that, but it's on beds. I tend to use it, not store it.
Bex Scott: [01:07:18] That's good. You should.
Kim: [01:07:20] Yes, but it's so pretty that sometimes I feel guilty. You know, every time I put it in the laundry, I think it's shortening its life just a little more. But it's made it this far. I've got sheets from the 70s, from my like, from my bed, from my parents bed, from the 70s. So yeah, that's one of the benefits of living with your mother is all her linens came with her.
Bex Scott: [01:07:45] Mhm. Awesome. Well those were some perfect tips if you're starting out as a reseller on any platform, especially Whatnot. But thank you so much, Kim, for joining me today. And everybody go and find Kim on Instagram at the Red Rooster Shoppe and on Whatnot as well. And check out some of her shows. They are super fun. So thanks so much, Kim.
Kim: [01:08:07] Thanks for having me. Love you.
Bex Scott: [01:08:09] Love you. Have a great day.
Kim: [01:08:12] You too. Bye.
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| 08 Nov 2024 | Salt & Pepper Shakers | 00:22:09 | |
Bex Scott is back for a new season of Pyrex with Bex and in this first episode of the season, she’s diving into the rabbit hole of collectible salt and pepper shakers. Her own collection started when she found lots of them in an online estate sale and discovered that her favorites are the kitschy anthropomorphic shakers. Why were so many made? When were they popular and why? Which ones are most valuable now? Bex reveals what she learned in this episode. Salt and pepper shakers were easy to collect because of their size, small, and they were also very affordable. They date back to around 1858 though there is some dispute over the exact person who created them. Strangely, the kitschy eye-catching salt and pepper shakers were one of the few things whose sales didn’t dip during the Great Depression. Because they were small and cheap, they were easy to continue producing and still affordable to collect or gift. Bex explores how salt and pepper shaker designs reflected the time periods they were created in, the themes that became most popular, the rarest and most valuable salt and pepper shakers to look for now, and a family who collected 80,000 sets and started a museum just to house them. You don’t want to miss this episode. It will make you look twice at salt and pepper shakers when you come across them. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast, where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat. Hey, everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. And on today's episode it's salt and pepper time. We are talking all about salt and pepper shakers. And for me, this is a super fun topic because I have been collecting salt and pepper shakers on and off for the last couple of years. I don't have a huge collection, but they are one of the easiest things I've found to collect and to unfortunately amass in large quantities.
Bex Scott: [00:01:04] So my salt and pepper shaker collection started back when I found a bunch of huge lots of them in an online estate sale, and I didn't actually know how many I was buying until I picked them up. And I probably had three moving boxes full of them, and unpacking them and cataloging them and photographing them was a massive endeavor. But one of the most fun things you can do as a collector, as you guys probably know, is unboxing and seeing what's inside, what you've bought from a sale or an online auction, and finding the little nuggets of maybe a really collectible item or something that you really love.
Bex Scott: [00:01:53] So most of these salt and pepper shakers that I did buy, I ended up selling online on Facebook Marketplace or on Poshmark and some of them even on Whatnot now. And I've had a few friends on Whatnot who have had full on salt and pepper shaker sales, and it's so fun to watch them go through each of the shakers and to see just how fun they were. My favorite ones, hands down, are the kitschy salt and pepper shakers, and my great grandma had an absolute love of Lefton Bluebird, so I've been lucky enough to inherit some of her bluebirds. I have the salt and pepper shakers. I also have some of the more kitschy anthropomorphic ones. I have little kittens that are sitting on balls of yarn. I have some skunks that are sitting on logs and they're just very fun, cute, and you can store a lot of them in a small place. So this led me down a hole of looking into salt and pepper shakers, their appeal, their history. And I actually learned quite a bit about them.
Bex Scott: [00:03:07] So. Salt and pepper shakers were easy for people to collect because of their size, and they were so affordable and they were just really easy to come across as well. They held on to them or passed them down. And you could, before, get a figural set of a dog, a cat, a bird for 5 to $7. Now the prices have gone up a little bit because they are in higher demand. People are reselling them and there are more that are collectible, some more than others. Salt and pepper shakers, they go back to about 1858 and they were created, some believe, by a man named John Mason who also created the Mason jar. So some people kind of refute this and are questioning whether that's actually true. But this is what I've found so far in my research. And before the salt and pepper shaker came to be, people used a bowl of salt called a salt cellar. And I've come across a lot of salt cellars in my collecting days, and a lot of the really cute ones are the little hens on the nest. I didn't actually know the purpose of a salt cellar. I knew that it was called that and you scooped the salt up with a spoon. People often added rice to it to keep the moisture at bay. And then it wasn't until 1911, when the brand Morton Salt Company introduced magnesium carbonate into salt that helped it to not clump, which is why people don't often put rice into their salt shakers now.
Bex Scott: [00:05:02] So with these cute little kitschy and fun sets on home and restaurant tables, there was a high demand for the aesthetically appealing styles, and it was important for homemakers to have these on their table to show them off and to just have fun collecting them. So many people purchased them on road trips back in the day. One of the most popular types of salt and pepper shakers was the souvenir shaker that you got on your road trip that may have said the location it was from and where you got it. Now the Great Depression came along and there was no dip in salt shaker sales because it was one of the cheapest items in the kitchen. And during the 1930s and into the 1940s, the salt shakers went from glass and tin containers to the ceramic or plastic figurines. Most were from occupied Japan after a halt in production during the war. And the kitschier the better. So salt and pepper shakers became more cute, more eye-catching, and the number of salt and pepper shakers sold at local five and dimes and the fancier stores was just increasing. So some of the fun ones that you could find were the anthropomorphic fruit, fish, dogs. There's a set called the Extra Long Daschund that is really cute if you want to look up these funny little skinny wiener dog salt and pepper shakers.
Bex Scott: [00:06:45] So by the 1970s, these cute figural shakers had completely gone out of style, out of production, and they were replaced by what we now have, which is a more standard boring cylindrical-style salt and pepper shaker. Don't get me wrong, there's some beautiful salt and pepper shakers out there now still, but it's just not the same anymore. And some of the ones that they were replaced by that people still collect are the Tupperware salt and pepper shakers, which were really popular during that time and not so much the conversation starters of all the cute, anthropomorphic, kitschy ones that you used to be able to find. So by the 1990s, people started to realize that the salt and pepper shakers were worth something because of the demand that collectors had made for them. And some of the most popular ones are cute little ones hanging from trees that have little baskets. I just sold a set. It was an adorable little dog that had two hanging baskets on the left and the right that you could remove, and those were the salt and pepper shakers. And the baskets were filled with flowers. Lots of kissing and hugging shakers. I have two little bears that when you put them together, their arms wrap around each other. Lots of Christmas ones. And some of the most sought after are from Lefton, Napco, Holt Howard.
Bex Scott: [00:08:18] So a lot of this information that I found from my friend Worthpoint, and in this article that I was reading they went through the most collectible shakers from Lefton, Napco and Holt Howard, which I thought was super interesting because as a collector, I'm always wondering which ones I should be on the lookout for. So if you want to start the hunt, Lefton's most collectible are Bluebirds, Christmas angels, Miss Dainty, which is the girl with the red and white hat, Mr.Tootles the Maltese dog, Miss Priss the Blue Kitten, Thumbelina, The Green Fairy, Kissing Santa and Mrs. Claus, Christmas birds which are green, the Puppy Pal dogs wearing blue hats, and pink poodle chef, which in brackets they say is beyond expensive. I've actually never seen the pink poodle chef.
Bex Scott: [00:09:21] Napco, you have number one, Miss Cutie Pie, two anthropomorphic fruit people, so that would be the artists, musicians, kissing Valentine birds, the bowler and hard hats, devils, flower girls, and long neck animals. And then Holt Howard, you have the Nodder Rock and Roll on springs, merry mice,they are pink and mischievous, Holly Poinsettia girls, winking Santa, Daisydorables, rooster, and pixieware are the most desirable of all the Holt Howard shakers I've seen. Not in person, but on a lot of my favorite collectors Instagrams and some on Facebook Marketplace. The pixieware salt and pepper shakers. They are so cute! Next up we have Enesco. Number one is the Sweet Shop. It says very pricey and rare. Anything anthropomorphic, fruits, vegetables, forks and spoons. I have had some forks and spoons. They're very cute. You can't really hold a lot of salt and pepper in them though, so definitely more for display. Golden Girls, Country Kids, Snappy the Snails, Missy Mouse, Doctor WO Owl, and Jonah and the whale.
Bex Scott: [00:10:37] So going into more of the research, I discovered as well that people have local chapters of salt and Pepper shaker clubs. I didn't know that, but it makes sense. There are clubs for Pyrex collectors, Facebook groups and pages, many of which I'm a part of. So it would make sense that these salt and pepper shaker lovers would come together and sell and swap stories about their salt and pepper shakers. So after digging into some of this research about salt and pepper shakers and finding out that there was a salt and pepper shaker museum, I looked into this article by the Smithsonian magazine by Derek Workman, and it goes over this family's 80,000 shakers worth of salt and pepper shakers. So they have 40,000 pairs of shakers. They are called the Ludden family. And they have enough shakers to fill two museums. So it's Andrea, her son Alex, and her daughter, and they are in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, with all of their salt and pepper shakers. So andrea said she started completely by chance when she bought a pepper mill at a garage sale in the mid 1980s. I'm sure that most of the collectors out there listening can totally relate to this. You find one item at a garage sale and it takes you down a spiral of collecting. I know that that's how things usually start for me with my addictive collecting personality. That's how my Pyrex started with finding it in my grandparents garage. So Andrea says that she had this pepper mill. It didn't work, so she bought a couple more, and she used to stand them on the window ledge of her kitchen, and her neighbors thought she was building a collection.
Bex Scott: [00:12:32] She said nothing could have been further from her mind, but her neighbors started to bring new ones over, and eventually she had 14,000 on shelves all over her house, even in her bedrooms. And her husband Rolf told her that she needed somewhere else to put these or they're going to get divorced. So that's when they decided to create this museum. So you can wander around the museum. It says there's fat chefs, ruby red tomatoes, guardsmen in bearskins, Santas, feet sticking from a chimney, pistols and potatoes, a copy of the salt and pepper shaker cufflinks worn by Lady Diana. That is very cool. And Andrea, she was or is an archeologist by training, and when she moved to the States, she couldn't find work in her field. So she turned her attention to social anthropology, and she studied everyday life since the early years through her growing collection of salt and pepper shakers. And she says here in the article, "there's almost nothing you can imagine that hasn't been copied as a salt and pepper shaker. And many of them reflect the designs, the colors and the preoccupations of the period", which is very true. And when you think about it, when you look at a salt and pepper shaker you don't really think that deeply about it, but a lot of these designs were reflections of what was going on in the time.
Bex Scott: [00:13:58] So they go into how, in the article, it was because people could travel more freely, either for work or on vacation, that the souvenir industry came about. And salt and pepper shakers were cheap, easy to carry, and colorful, and they made ideal gifts. So among the earliest producers of salt and pepper shakers were the German fine pottery maker Goebel. They introduced its first three sets in 1925, and today its Hummel shakers, introduced in 1935, are highly collectible. And ironically, it was the Great Depression of the 1930s that gave a major boost to the popularity of salt and pepper shakers as a household item and a collectible item, and ceramic producers worldwide were forced to restrict production and concentrate on lower priced items, and this helped because salt and pepper shakers were small, easy to produce, bright and cheery, and really could be bought for a few cents at most local hardware stores. Soon other ceramic companies got into the act, and Japanese firms had a large share of the market from the late 1920s through the 1930s. As well, from the late 1940s through the 50s, and production halted during World War Two. So the shakers they produced in postwar years labeled 'made in occupied Japan' or simply 'occupied Japan' are extremely rare and highly sought after. In the 1950s and 60s, they began producing shakers made from plastic. Plastic was very fragile, so fewer of these examples exist, making them extremely valuable. Which is another good thing to know because I have seen a lot of the plastic shakers around.
Bex Scott: [00:15:49] Sometimes they're not in the greatest shape, but knowing this, that they are more rare and collectible, definitely makes that a bit exciting for me to try and find the plastic ones over some of the other ceramic ones that you can find. So they go into how, at first glance, the museum seems bright and happy, if a bit haphazard. The displays are well thought out and organized, especially considered the many models on display. I can't even begin to imagine how hard it would be to categorize and organize that many salt and pepper shakers. And because you can work by style, age, subject matter, color, Andrea says they try to do it in a way that combines all of the elements at the same time. There are hundreds of themes, and in those themes there will be many colors. But her mom has a way of laying out displays that are highly planned so that the colors within a theme are displayed together. For example, she continues, all the greens, yellows and reds of the vegetables are arranged in vertical rows. You get bright color bands, but all the shakers are on the same theme. It's a lot more complicated than it sounds because there are so many. A large number of the shaker sets are humorous. There's an aspirin salt shaker, a martini glass pepper shaker, and when they're all set up, there's sometimes an opportunity to create a visual joke. Andrea says that you see what looks like models of the southwest US Adobe houses of the style found in New Mexico with cactus and cowboys and Indians but behind them are two UFOs that have crashed and two aliens that glow in the dark.
Bex Scott: [00:17:33] It's amazing how many of these shakers tell a tale that isn't obvious to everyone. One of her favorites is a chef holding a cat in one hand and a cleaver in the other. I always thought it was just a fun item, says Andrea, but her mom explained that it was very significant to older people who had been through the Depression and major wars. Food was short, but you still had to eat, so if a cat strayed by, it went into the pot and came out as chicken surprise! Oh my. As they continue the tour, they're absorbed by all the weird and wonderful shakers. Coca Cola cans, Dolly Parton's photo on a souvenir from Dollywood, the Smokies most fun place, Mickey and Minnie in chef tucks and aprons, the Beatles with the cropped hair and collarless jacket of the early days, a turquoise TV with Lucie Arnaz and her neighbor Ethel Mertz on the screen, and a sofa with an I Love Lucy heart shaped cushion, alligators with sunshades from Florida, bullfighters and bulls from Spain, kangaroos from Australia, a bobby and double decker bus from London, before and after versions of Mount Saint Helens made from the actual volcanic ash. Very cool. There are also familiar ones, shakers your grandmother used to have, or you saw when you went on vacation somewhere, or you gave as a gift once.
Bex Scott: [00:18:48] "People come back over and over again and think that we are adding to the displays," says Andrea, "but we aren't. It's just that they didn't see them the first time around." The museum doesn't display all the shakers it owns, but it does exhibit a few Aunt Jemima and Uncle Tom shakers, the cook and butler stereotypical characters from the 1950s, knowing some people might be offended by the negative portrayal of African Americans. They are part of the history of salt and pepper shakers. We display them, but we do it discreetly, she says. You can't change history by simply pretending it didn't happen or ignore it. So that article, if you want to read more in-depth, Smithsonian Magazine, 'Would You Like Some Salt and Pepper? How About 80,000 Shakers Worth?' by Derek Workman. And diving into the world of salt and pepper shakers has definitely been a fun one. I would love to know your favorite salt and pepper shakers, how many you might have in your collection, where you find most of them. It is a super fun topic, and if you do want to find salt and pepper shakers out there, I would highly suggest looking at Facebook Marketplace. A lot of the Canadian sellers that I know, including myself, we sell them on Whatnot, so find us there and also on eBay.
Bex Scott: [00:20:11] They can get a little bit pricey, but I really find that the thrill is in the hunt. So check out garage sales. Even ask your family members. I'm sure your grandparents, your parents might even have some stuffed in their china cabinets that they're not using. It's just fun to see how many were produced, how many different kinds are out there, and just to see the evolution of them over time. And if you are buying them to resell them, it is really important to look for damage on them. They, I've found, are one of the easiest things to chip and to break, even the smallest little bump. They chip quite easily, especially if you have, like the little Lefton bird shakers, looking on the ears of animals and the beaks. And just anywhere where there's a corner that they may have been hit against something, just keep an eye out. But if it's for your own personal collection, then it's a lot easier just to pick them up in any condition that they are. So I'd love to connect. You can find me on Instagram @PyrexWithBex. You can find me on Whatnot. Selling weekly on Fridays at usually around 2 p.m. Mountain Standard, and my username on Whatnot is Pyrex with Bex. I sell a variety of vintage items, including Pyrex, of course, but a lot of smaller items and jewelry as well. So I hope you enjoyed this episode of salt and pepper shakers. And when you're sitting down at dinner tonight, you might think of the shakers on your table in a different light.
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| 10 Nov 2023 | The Mid-Century Maximalists | 00:42:20 | |
Host Bex Scott welcomes guest Danielle of The Mid-Century Maximalists on Instagram to the show for Bex’s very first interview episode. Bex and Danielle talk about all things Pyrex, why Danielle started collecting, her amazing ceramics collection, and the joy of being a vintage collector in a modern world. In a similar story to Bex’s, Danielle came to her love of vintage and Pyrex through her grandparents. She inherited several sets of Pyrex, including the Friendship and Butterprint patterns, and many of those pieces that hold sentimental value remain on display in Danielle’s house. She explains to Bex that many of her thrifted or purchased pieces, however, she uses on a daily basis. Danielle describes the eclectic maximalist decor she prefers, some of the many ceramics pieces her grandmother and great-grandmother handmade, and trades stories about favorite Pyrex and vintage items with Bex. This episode sheds light on why collectors love the hunt of collecting, the value of the pieces that goes beyond financial, and how to decorate with vintage finds. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex With Bex podcast, where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:30] Hey everyone, this is Bex Scott and you're listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. In today's episode, I'm joined by Danielle, the Mid-Century Maximalists on Instagram. We chat about why she started collecting Pyrex and vintage, her awesome ceramic collection, and what it's like being a vintage lover. Okay, so hey everyone, I'm super excited for today's episode because I'm here with my very first guest and I'd like to welcome Danielle to the show. Thanks so much for being here.
Danielle: [00:00:58] Thanks for having me.
Bex Scott: [00:00:59] And you can find Danielle on Instagram at the Mid-Century Maximalists. And it was actually on Instagram that we met. And I was impressed right away by your amazing Pyrex collection. And then I read your first post all about why you started collecting and why it's so important to you. And I'd love to start off with that story here today.
Danielle: [00:01:20] So my entire life I've always been a bit eclectic, and I spent a lot of my childhood at my grandmother's house. Wasn't one that wanted to just go out and party or anything like that. I just loved spending time with my grandmother, and her entire house was decked out in 70s garb, a lot of Merry Mushroom, a lot of Pyrex that has been handed down. And so it's things that I was familiar with my entire childhood. And then about three years ago, I lost my grandparents within two weeks of each other due to Covid. And since then, it's just kind of spiraled, collecting things that remind me of them because it makes me feel close to them. So it's been a hobby that kind of hit me out of nowhere, but it's fun.
Bex Scott: [00:02:12] Definitely. And I love stories like that, where it's more than just going out and finding things that you like. It's some kind of memory that's brought up when you find things or when they're passed down to you, and it's a great way to keep people in your life, even after they're not with us anymore. And that's kind of similar to my story. I got into it because of my grandparents, but it was more that we were cleaning out my granny and grandpa's garage, and we found some of my great aunt's Pyrex in a Rubbermaid bin. And that's kind of what set things off for me. And it spiraled into an addiction as well.
Danielle: [00:02:50] What pattern was it?
Bex Scott: [00:02:52] It wasn't anything super exciting. It was the lime green lasagna pan. And then I had some primary bowls. But after I found the primary bowls, that was my very first pattern or set that I collected. And I think I ended up with about 5 or 6 full primary sets. Way too many. You don't need that many ever. But I ended up selling them eventually, and I think I kept two and then a reverse primary. So I have those ones still. But yeah, it's easy to get swept up in it.
Danielle: [00:03:24] It really is. Every antique store you go to.
Bex Scott: [00:03:28] Yeah. Yeah.
Danielle: [00:03:29] It's the thrill of the hunt, though.
Bex Scott: [00:03:31] It is. It's a huge adrenaline rush. And then you have huge boxes and piles, and - at least I do. I have, I think, 60 banker's boxes of vintage items in my basement. Now that's become me having to resell things because I have so much. But it's fun, so it keeps me going.
Danielle: [00:03:53] Yeah, I wish I had a basement so that I could hoard some more things, but I unfortunately live in a ranch so I don't have that much for like room for storage. So whenever I cycle things out, I have to purge.
Bex Scott: [00:04:09] That's probably a good thing. That's what my husband would prefer, I think, because he's the one who helps me pack everything to ship and then pack it away in the basement, and he's a very patient man. Thank goodness.
Danielle: [00:04:22] We love to hear it.
Bex Scott: [00:04:23] Yeah. So do you have a specific pattern of Pyrex that was passed down to you that you really love?
Danielle: [00:04:31] So my family, I live in Georgia, but my family is originally from Pennsylvania and up there it was really prominent to have Pyrex, so there was a lot of patterns. And predominantly my favorite one that I've gotten is the Friendship pattern, but I've inherited the Friendship, there's several primary sets, there's the Amish Butterprint. There's quite a few that are within my family line. In fact, my mother still uses what she was gifted as a wedding present almost daily. She has this really neat, it's a complete yellow set, and I've been searching for one as I thrift because she won't give it to me. But she has that. And then she has this really cool casserole dish that's like a hunter green, and it has gold detailing on it. So there's quite a bit of Pyrex that I have inherited. My partner actually inherited the Sunflower pattern, so we have that too. So a lot of what we have on display in our cabinets at home are things that we inherited because of how sentimental they are to us.
Bex Scott: [00:05:56] That's awesome. And do you guys use them every day as well, or do you display them and keep them there?
Danielle: [00:06:02] We don't use the ones that were handed down, but we do use ones we have thrifted and antiqued simply because while they may look the same, it doesn't hold the same sentimental value. So we keep those put up safe. We've got a zoo of animals. You'll probably see a cat or two pop in here at some point. So because of that, we like to keep those types of things safe and away from the animals.
Bex Scott: [00:06:34] That's a good idea. My cat has definitely knocked a few knickknacks off of tables and desks before, so it's a dangerous hobby when you have pets.
Danielle: [00:06:47] Yeah, and we've got three large breed rescues.
Bex Scott: [00:06:51] Oh, wow.
Danielle: [00:06:53] A pit/boxer, a lab/hound, and a husky. So they're not well behaved.
Bex Scott: [00:07:02] That's okay. They sound very cute.
Danielle: [00:07:08] They are.
Bex Scott: [00:07:09] Nice. Most of my collection I keep in china cabinets, and then we ended up using the Homestead pattern as our daily Pyrex dishes. So all of those ones, I find that they wash really well, and they just go with pretty much everything in our house. So that ended up being something that we use and my husband likes them.
Danielle: [00:07:33] So we use the Corelle dish set, the ones that kind of match all a lot of the Pyrex patterns. So we use those as our everyday dishes, which is fun. That and I've also got my grandmother's, they're the cubist glasses, Indiana glass.
Bex Scott: [00:07:53] Okay.
Danielle: [00:07:53] I can't think of the name of them, but I've got her set, so we use those as our drinking glasses.
Bex Scott: [00:07:59] Nice. I've always wanted to incorporate some vintage glasses or barware into our kitchen, but we have three kids and they're pretty young still, so right now it would be too dangerous, I think.
Danielle: [00:08:14] Yeah, we're lucky enough, I guess lucky enough, that we don't have kids yet, so we can dabble in all that type of stuff. Once we have kids, I will have to be a bit more careful with where I place certain things, because I have a lot of ceramics that have been handed down to me, and if a kid hurts them, I will cry.
Bex Scott: [00:08:35] Oh, I think I would too. Yeah. And those are the ceramics that, was it your grandmother that made them?
Danielle: [00:08:44] My great grandmother and my grandmother.
Bex Scott: [00:08:46] Okay. And what kind of ceramics are they?
Danielle: [00:08:50] Oh, I've got some for every holiday. So right now I've got a little village out that has a tree with a vulture on it, and kids trick or treating, a ghost popping out of a casket, a little graveyard. It's super neat. Then I've also got a ceramic pumpkin that she, my grandmother, painted, made and painted, so that's pretty cool. And then I have a couple different ghost ceramics, a black cat ceramic, a house that's very similar to the village, but it's set up inside of a house. Things that I've never seen other people have, which is pretty cool. I've also got a turkey and a pilgrim and an Indian, which probably isn't kosher anymore, but my grandmother made them, so I hold on to them. And then for Christmas, I've got all sorts of things. But you name a holiday - Valentine's Day, Easter - I've got ceramics for it.
Bex Scott: [00:09:58] That's awesome. I would love to decorate my house for every season with ceramics like that, and I think I saw them in the little highlight on your Instagram story.
Danielle: [00:10:08] Those were the ones that I most recently was able to convince my mother to let me steal. Yeah, that's the little graveyard and the house. I've never seen anybody else have anything like that. So they're super special to me because I can remember just being little and thinking they were the neatest things and playing with them and then getting yelled at for playing with them. Rightfully so. So, yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:10:37] Yeah, I think I crushed some little reindeer figurines that my granny had when I was little, and my dad always brings it up when we're at family functions. And he reminds me that he told me just for looking, not for touching. And then I took them in my hand and I squished them. And so...
Danielle: [00:11:00] Oh boy.
Bex Scott: [00:11:00] Hopefully my kids don't do that with any of, I have a whole bunch of little bluebirds that I collect because my great grandma collected those as well. So I have to make sure the kids stay away from those.
Danielle: [00:11:12] Keep them up high.
Bex Scott: [00:11:13] Yeah. So what's the thrifting like where you live? Is it pretty good, or...?
Danielle: [00:11:21] I'm right outside of Atlanta. So unfortunately the market's kind of like saturated around here. It just doesn't seem like as many antiques. There wasn't as much Pyrex down here. There wasn't a whole lot of ceramics down here. So you do, like, bump into those things from time to time. But that just doesn't seem to be what people's ancestors down here had. So anything that is down here pretty much migrated with someone from the North. I find that when we travel, we have better luck. We went to Louisville to visit my partner's uncle and I found a ceramic wall hanging Christmas tree, and I was really pumped about that, like found it at Goodwill. That type of stuff does not happen down here. Unfortunately, our Goodwills are dumbly overpriced, like 20 bucks for a pair of pants and they're picked over and they're just not that great here. But we've got family all over, so we've got to travel quite a few times throughout the year. So we hit those places up. So like Florida and Pennsylvania and Ohio and Kentucky, just not, it's just not booming around here. I guess maybe too many resellers.
Bex Scott: [00:12:43] Yeah, that's like my area as well. Everybody seems to be getting into reselling and collecting. And I'm in a small town between two large cities, and there's a nice little pocket of Salvation Army and a few other Value Village stores that are really nice for finding things. But the further out you get, the harder it is to find good deals, like you said, and especially with Pyrex, the price seems to be going up where they'll have a dishwasher damaged bowl for $20. And it's just, it's kind of ridiculous and it makes it not as fun in that sense. You have to start looking online for things that you want to add to your collection, but that's okay. It's all part of it.
Danielle: [00:13:28] Yeah. I mean, I still enjoy the hunt. I still go to the antique stores. I've paid some stupid prices for things that I just wanted.
Bex Scott: [00:13:37] Yeah. Me too.
Danielle: [00:13:38] You don't see them every day, so, like, you know what?
Bex Scott: [00:13:42] Yeah, it's worth it at that point.
Danielle: [00:13:43] I'll take it. But whenever I try and purge things around here, like, I don't try and do that. Like, I'm not in it for the money. I just want to kind of get out maybe what I put into it or part of what I put into it. So I don't full blown re, like I wouldn't call myself a reseller. I just have to purge from time to time because I can't hoard everything. I know that I'm a maximalist, but, at some point...
Bex Scott: [00:14:14] Yeah. What's the best piece of Pyrex you found thrifting? If there is one that you can think of.
Danielle: [00:14:22] At an actual thrift store, I don't think I've ever actually found Pyrex, at least none that wasn't dishwasher damage, because I find, I find that kind of stuff all the time. I did find a pretty neat Corelle dish thrifting one time, but as far as like antiquing goes, the coolest one that I found, I'm trying to think, I've got several unique pieces, that I think the Pueblo pattern is the coolest one I've found out and about. It's probably my favorite piece in there.
Bex Scott: [00:14:57] Yeah, that one's beautiful. And then I noticed you have the Kim Chee as well.
Danielle: [00:15:03] I do have the Kim Chee.
Bex Scott: [00:15:04] And then the Navajo.
Danielle: [00:15:06] So the Navajo, fun story, we pretty much were given that one when we were in Ohio by someone we met. It was their grandmother's, and they made us swear up and down that we were gonna take care of it. Like absolutely! Brand new. Never used. And I was like, of course I will take care of this. It's in good hands. So I was pretty pumped about that one.
Bex Scott: [00:15:32] Those are definitely ones that you would never find out in the wild here. That would be, maybe not even in an antique store. I don't think I've ever found any of those patterns.
Danielle: [00:15:43] All three of those come from Ohio.
Bex Scott: [00:15:46] Okay, I need to go to Ohio.
Danielle: [00:15:50] My partner's father lives up there, and every single time we go up we make him take us to all of the antique stores. And he moans and groans while we have the time of our lives. Um, but good prices on them, too. The Pueblo we paid like 40 bucks for, it's pristine, was definitely never used. So we typically have really good luck when we go up there. So definitely hit up Ohio sometime.
Bex Scott: [00:16:20] Yeah, I've never been. It's on my list now. We went to Portland, Maine just this past summer, and my aunt took me around to a bunch of different shops, and there was one, I still have regrets that I didn't buy way more at the store, but they had a whole bunch of the Pyrex Christmas mugs that were given to staff every year as gifts. And I only bought one, and this one mug was $54 US, which was way more because of the Canadian dollar. Our dollar is terrible right now, but I should have bought all five of them and I still have nightmares about it.
Danielle: [00:17:05] Yeah, we have a pretty unique one that must have been only in-house, like Pyrex only gave it to their employees, but it has like beakers across it and it says it says Pyrex on one side, and then it says Corning on the other, which I thought was pretty cool.
Bex Scott: [00:17:27] That is cool. I don't think I've ever seen that.
Danielle: [00:17:30] I'll have to message you a picture of it.
Bex Scott: [00:17:33] Yeah. That's awesome. Very cool. So do you have a specific style that you like to decorate your house in, or is it kind of just eclectic from the things that you've collected or...?
Danielle: [00:17:46] It's very 70s. So the room I'm sitting in right now, obviously I've got this old Afghan, um, but we have a record cabinet, lots of vintage records, and our main living room is painted like a 70s bright orange, and it's all 70s garb. So pretty much anything that my grandmother would have had in her house, we have here, minus a couple things, because there were some things, like the Ivy dishes, that just never tickled my fancy. But we love cross-stitch. We have it all over our walls. Love ceramics, obviously love stained glass, love Pyrex, love... You name it, we probably have it.
Bex Scott: [00:18:41] That's awesome. It sounds like I'd love your house.
Danielle: [00:18:45] You'll have to come out sometime.
Bex Scott: [00:18:49] My one room, my office that I'm in right now, is the one that I decorate. And the rest of the house is just... my husband doesn't have the same style as me, so we've kind of come to some kind of middle ground with decor. As long as I don't put brass in the house because he really doesn't like brass, which kills me because I keep finding some amazing brass pieces.
Danielle: [00:19:12] Luckily, my partner and I have the same style. We both really caught on to certain things because of our grandmothers. So I mean, we've, I see you've got the Merry Mushroom canisters behind you, but we use ours.
Bex Scott: [00:19:29] That's awesome.
Danielle: [00:19:32] A lot of the things that we do collect, we try and make functional. If we can. Not everything, like some of the Pyrex obviously we don't want to touch, but yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:19:49] If you had one, I guess, Pyrex pattern or dish and one just random vintage piece, what would you want? Like what's your unicorn or your holy grail piece of vintage? And then Pyrex?
Danielle: [00:20:05] I'm going to stick with my Friendship dishes simply because those were passed down through my family. Like there was other ones, but for some reason I'm just stuck on those Friendship ones. I can remember, like my grandmother having them, I can remember my great grandmother having them. So it's one of those things that that would definitely be my Pyrex dish. As far as things that are hanging on the wall, I'm trying to think because there's several good things. Oh, I know what my other one would be. My cast iron cat that my partner hates.
Bex Scott: [00:20:50] That's awesome.
Danielle: [00:20:54] Yeah, I have, um, I have old vintage ceramic and cast iron cats almost in every single room. And my partner says they're creepy.
Bex Scott: [00:21:05] Cats are great, and there's luckily a lot of vintage out there with cats.
Danielle: [00:21:10] I actually just found a mug this past weekend, not this past weekend, two weekends ago, and it's an old piece of pottery and it has like cats painted on it. And my mom was like, oh God, please, no. And I was like, how much? And they were like $0.50. And I was like, done.
Bex Scott: [00:21:28] Sold.
Danielle: [00:21:29] Um, so yeah, no, I definitely would need to keep one of my cast iron cats. But that was also one of the things that my family members always had them. I have a great aunt, in Pennsylvania, and she's got quite a few of them. And I hate to break it to my partner, but they're all coming here.
Bex Scott: [00:21:56] You can just start hiding things around the house. They'll just start appearing.
Danielle: [00:22:01] She's tried to create, like a one item per room rule, that I can only specifically pick one item because I try and pick the most eclectic things.
Bex Scott: [00:22:16] That makes it fun.
Danielle: [00:22:17] If there's if there's a Bigfoot statue, definitely putting that in my house. So my partner has her opinions, but sometimes I get the veto.
Bex Scott: [00:22:29] Yeah. And we have a running joke in the house right now. I have a horse cross stitch, it's huge, I don't know who made it, but it's in a massive wood frame and it keeps moving around our house. It started above our bed and then I think now it's above our toilet and I have no idea where it's going to end up next. But I have it listed for sale. But until it sells, we just keep moving it around because none of us like it. So.
Danielle: [00:22:59] That's hilarious.
Bex Scott: [00:23:03] Nice.
Danielle: [00:23:03] Is that the only cross that you have?
Bex Scott: [00:23:06] I have a ton of flowers and they're all listed for sale. I want to keep all of them because my goal was to make a big cross stitch, cruel needlepoint wall behind me at my desk here. But I have trouble committing to a certain style and a certain type of...
Danielle: [00:23:26] You just got to throw them up like, turn mine, like ours doesn't match.
Bex Scott: [00:23:34] Oh, that looks great. Yeah. I love that.
Danielle: [00:23:35] But that we find things and we just throw it on the wall.
Bex Scott: [00:23:39] Yeah. My hope is to find a mushroom needlepoint or cross stitch that will go with my theme that I have going on with the Merry Mushroom.
Danielle: [00:23:48] That would be really cool. You could make one.
Bex Scott: [00:23:51] That's true. I have to learn how to.
Danielle: [00:23:53] My partner cross stitches.
Bex Scott: [00:23:54] Oh, really?
Danielle: [00:23:56] She loves it.
Bex Scott: [00:23:58] Maybe she'll have to do one for me.
Danielle: [00:24:01] I mean she would. She also sews.
Bex Scott: [00:24:03] Oh, I'll hire her. She's hired.
Danielle: [00:24:06] She's a jack of all trades.
Bex Scott: [00:24:08] Nice. Yeah. I haven't gotten into the cross stitch yet, but I even have a bunch of kits that I could start. That might be my...
Danielle: [00:24:15] We have a bunch of kits, too.
Bex Scott: [00:24:19] Yeah, those ones are easy to collect as well.
Danielle: [00:24:22] They are. You find them out and about quite frequently. At least I do around here, because I guess people will clean out their grandparents houses and they think that nobody knows how to do that type of stuff anymore. But like, there's plenty of people that do. Plus, it's pretty easy to like pick up if you put your mind to it. If you don't have ADHD like me because I started one and just haven't gone back to it. But maybe one day.
Bex Scott: [00:24:56] It'll be there when you're ready.
Danielle: [00:24:59] Yeah, it's how most of my projects go. I get about halfway and then I'm like, on to the next one.
Bex Scott: [00:25:06] Yeah, next thing. Well, I picked up a bunch of Christmas cross stitch kits in an estate sale a couple of days ago, so maybe I'll do one for Christmas.
Danielle: [00:25:17] That'd be awesome. You could also crochet some snowflakes to put on your Christmas tree.
Bex Scott: [00:25:22] Yeah, I think I have some of those from my grandma. Those are nice.
Danielle: [00:25:27] My partner's been on the hunt for a pink Christmas tree.
Bex Scott: [00:25:31] Ooh, that would be amazing. Then would you do vintage decorations?
Danielle: [00:25:35] We already have vintage decorations on one of our trees. We have a white one and then just a regular one. And I think, I think last year we put the vintage on the white Christmas tree. I can't remember, but we do have like vintage shatterproof ornaments. I actually have a bunch of ornaments my great grandmother handmade, but I'm too afraid with all of the animals that they'll get broken and they're kind of not replaceable. Our cats like to climb the trees and eat the trees, so we haven't found a way to stop them. We've tried all sorts of things to get them out, but because of that, I just keep them away safe.
Bex Scott: [00:26:27] That's a good idea.
Danielle: [00:26:31] Have you noticed any of your kids getting into, like, collecting?
Bex Scott: [00:26:35] That's a good question. I've tried. My oldest son, he's 13, and he comes to Value Village and Goodwill and all the garage sales with me. He doesn't love anything vintage, really, but he likes coming and looking for things with me. And it's, I think it's the thrill of the hunt for him as well. And then when I go out and I come back home, he'll say, Oh, are those more bowls in that box, or Did you buy more bowls today? I definitely did, and then I threaten, we have a nine year old son as well, I threaten them that this will be their inheritance one day, that they're going to have all of these bowls and Pyrex bowls to give to whoever they want, and they can sell it if they want, but it's all coming to them. We have an 11 month old as well and I'm hoping that she'll be the one that kind of turns into the Pyrex vintage lover. So starting off early.
Danielle: [00:27:33] I'm sure. Yeah, I'm sure as they get older they'll get into it because it's something I never appreciated when I was younger. I was always like, why don't you, like, redo everything? Because this is kind of outdated.
Bex Scott: [00:27:47] Yeah, yeah. And then you end up falling in love with the vintage items, and then you reverse time and then you don't go with the new, updated, renovated house stuff. It's like a blast from the past, which I really like.
Danielle: [00:28:01] Yeah. My friends will come in the house and be like, whoa, these are some bright colors. And I'm like, you can go home to your agreeable gray walls anytime you want.
Bex Scott: [00:28:13] Yeah, go home and stare at your white walls.
Danielle: [00:28:18] Exactly. So, I mean, to each their own, I guess.
Bex Scott: [00:28:22] Exactly.
Danielle: [00:28:27] What's your favorite piece in your room?
Bex Scott: [00:28:30] Oh. Good question. I have a cabinet on my right here that's full of all my pink Pyrex and my pink Gooseberry. So I'd say probably the pink Gooseberry. And then I have the glasses that go with the Duchess set. I think they're the Libby glasses. The Duchess casserole is my number one need to find one day Pyrex dish, so I'm always on the lookout for that. I found it online, but it's so expensive.
Danielle: [00:29:02] Yeah, that one is rather expensive.
Bex Scott: [00:29:04] Yeah, yeah. So maybe, maybe one day when I win the lottery, that'll be my next big collectible.
Danielle: [00:29:15] When did you kind of get into collecting?
Bex Scott: [00:29:18] I got into collecting at the beginning of the pandemic. So before that, I didn't really know anything about Pyrex. It was always just like the measuring cup that my mom had that I don't think was even very old. It just said Pyrex on it. And that's kind of what I thought it was. And then after we cleaned out my grandparents garage, that's when I realized that there was this whole world of vintage Pyrex out there, and it kind of just spiraled after that. And that's been fun collecting everything and finding new pieces. And at the beginning, when I first started collecting, I would essentially buy everything that I found, even if it was dishwasher damaged or it was way overpriced. So I was spending all of this money on things that probably weren't even in good condition or worth it. Now I'm way more selective, but it was, yeah, it's so easy to do when you're learning and trying to figure out what patterns are and what things might be worth, and if they're even Pyrex at all. So.
Danielle: [00:30:25] Yeah, it really is, because, I mean there's some things that aren't even like marked Pyrex. I have one, I'm getting rid of it, but I have one that's I think it's from England.
Bex Scott: [00:30:36] Oh yeah. The JAJ.
Danielle: [00:30:37] It's their version, I can't remember what it says on the bottom, but it's their version of Pyrex. So like I have that and that's pretty cool. But I would have known nothing about it before I started getting into this. I would have been like, oh, that's not Pyrex, and just like, moved on from it. So the more you learn. My partner actually bought this really neat book off of Amazon, and it goes through like the history of each pattern and details it. We use that as a guideline at all times, because it tells you so much about different promotional pieces and stuff like that.
Bex Scott: [00:31:20] Is that the Pyrex passion book?
Danielle: [00:31:22] I think it is. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:31:23] This one.
Danielle: [00:31:25] Yeah, yeah, yeah, that is our Bible.
Bex Scott: [00:31:30] Yeah, I have it on my iPad. And then I went and bought the the paperback version. And then there's a second one that came out as well that has even more in it. So that one's great.
Danielle: [00:31:41] I do laugh at their like suggested prices because I'm like, yeah, try and tell, try and tell most people that. Like they're not, I think I was looking and it had like the Butter print as like the entire set for like $75. And I'm like yeah, okay.
Bex Scott: [00:32:01] Yeah.
Danielle: [00:32:03] Tell me where you can find that for that.
Bex Scott: [00:32:05] That would be great. But yeah.
Danielle: [00:32:07] That's what I'm saying. So I do find the prices they list comical.
Bex Scott: [00:32:14] Yeah. Pricing is one thing that's always very controversial, I find. I'm part of a bunch of Pyrex groups on Facebook, and there's a lot of them that just flat out say you're not allowed to ask if you did good buying this, because if you like it, it's worth it. And we can't tell you if the price is good or not.
Danielle: [00:32:36] I am not a part of them on Facebook because I don't really have Facebook, but I am a part of a couple Pyrex groups on Reddit and some of the finds they post on there are insane.
Bex Scott: [00:32:52] I haven't looked at Reddit for Pyrex groups. That's a good suggestion.
Danielle: [00:32:58] On Pyrex groups and Animal Crossing groups. Gotta love it. Yeah, my partner actually named her Animal Crossing Island Pyrexia.
Bex Scott: [00:33:11] That's great.
Danielle: [00:33:13] Is there anything else that you collect other than, like, the mushrooms and the Pyrex?
Bex Scott: [00:33:17] Mushrooms, Pyrex, little bluebirds. What else do I collect? Secretly, I collect brass. It's in a box that my husband can't, well, he found it the other day, but there's a bunch of - I thought he couldn't find it, but it was in a cereal box, I talk about this in one of my other episodes, but it was packed away in a cereal box in our basement, and he found it and opened it, and he said, What is this? I said, oh, that's just my brass. I'm selling it. Don't worry, it's going on Marketplace. But I do like brass.
Danielle: [00:33:51] That's funny. I don't think we have much brass around here.
Bex Scott: [00:33:55] It's heavy and it takes up space.
Danielle: [00:33:58] Yeah, it does, it does. And we don't have, with all my ceramics we don't have that much like shelving. I know you said you had that horse. Do you have any other ones?
Bex Scott: [00:34:14] No, none that I've really kept. I have one that's a little girl on a toilet reading a book, and it says something really funny. I think it's like a potty training needlepoint or cross-stitch or something.
Danielle: [00:34:31] I have a cross-stitch. I have a cross-stitch in my bathroom that says, please don't do coke in the bathroom.
Bex Scott: [00:34:38] That's awesome.
Danielle: [00:34:42] And everybody always is like, did someone do coke? And I'm like, no, no, no, not to my knowledge, but...
Bex Scott: [00:34:49] Yeah.
Danielle: [00:34:50] It's a warning. Like please don't.
Bex Scott: [00:34:53] And they won't now because that's up there.
Danielle: [00:34:55] Yeah. I asked nicely.
Bex Scott: [00:35:02] I'm trying to avoid getting into all the art glass and like the vases, and that's another thing that I really can't do because I don't have space.
Danielle: [00:35:15] I think we have one swing base, but I haven't gotten a whole lot into that. But we do have quite the collection of nesting hens.
Bex Scott: [00:35:29] Oh, I love those.
Danielle: [00:35:32] And my partner insists on putting candy in every single one of them.
Bex Scott: [00:35:36] That's great. Do you have a favorite one or a favorite color?
Danielle: [00:35:42] So blue is my favorite color. Oddly enough, since most of the house is done in like yellow, orange, green, but we have a cobalt blue that has like the oil slick on it, almost like carnival glass. And it is my favorite. And it just so happened to be given to us by my partner's grandmother, which just makes it that much more special.
Bex Scott: [00:36:11] Yeah, those are beautiful, I love them. I've had a few of them in the past, and it's always hard to tell if they're actually vintage or not. That's my biggest struggle is what year they were from and who made them. So I do a lot of research when I find them, and I think there's even some jadeite ones too that I've seen that are really pretty.
Danielle: [00:36:34] Yeah, we have a small jadeite one, but we have quite a few. They're all over the house.
Bex Scott: [00:36:41] What's the biggest one that you have?
Danielle: [00:36:45] A turkey.
Bex Scott: [00:36:47] Amazing.
Danielle: [00:36:48] Yeah, it's a nesting turkey. And it's like orange and yellow and... It's pretty cool. I mean, I just think it's so funny, you go into most people's houses that are, you know, around our ages, and it's minimalist and boring and gray. Like, there's just not a whole lot of personality.
Bex Scott: [00:37:17] Mhm.
Danielle: [00:37:18] So, you know what? If I'm a hoarder, so be it.
Bex Scott: [00:37:23] Yeah I agree, it's great for people coming over and starting conversations and especially like with our kids growing up, I'd rather them live in a house with memories and things to look at and ask questions about. Where is this from, and What year was this from, then see everything from, I don't know, we have, I don't know if you guys have HomeSense where you are. It's like a mass produced store or home decor store where people get just the run of the mill stuff, but I'd rather have all of the memories and the fun items.
Danielle: [00:37:59] Yeah, I mean, I think, I think that's a lot of what the newer generations are missing out on. Like they're not going to have the things that have been handed down generation after generation because so many people get rid of them. They're like, oh, this is ugly so I don't want it. But it's like, I don't know, these are my family's ceramics. So there might be some that I don't love. But my grandmother made it, and for some reason that means I can't get rid of it.
Bex Scott: [00:38:33] Yeah. I'm the same. Yeah. All of the things that I keep, even if I don't like them, I keep them because they came from somewhere special.
Danielle: [00:38:40] Yeah. So I just think that this next generation is going to be missing out on a lot of that.
Bex Scott: [00:38:48] Yeah, I agree, and that makes it even more fun to hunt for items and just love vintage.
Danielle: [00:38:57] It definitely does. It's definitely something that I want to be able to pass down. My brother doesn't have quite the same enthusiasm as I have about certain things, but he has asked for a couple of different things we have. Like my great great grandmother, we have her cookie cutters, which is probably weird because they have just been passed down. When I went down, I split the bucket with him and he has, like my grandfathers and my great grandfather's vices, which is like, I don't know if you do much woodworking, but he has that out in his garage, which is really neat because my brother does some really amazing woodworking, creates a lot of custom pieces. So it's pretty cool that he's able to incorporate my relatives vices into his work, which he definitely wouldn't have to. Like, he has other other ones, but when he was able to get those, he retired the other ones that he was using and just put those away so that he could keep using our family's. So I know that he doesn't have quite the same love for the ceramics as me. But, you know, hopefully one day when my niece and nephew are a bit older, I'm able to teach them about this kind of stuff and maybe they'll have an interest in a piece or two.
Bex Scott: [00:40:34] Yeah, yeah, that would be great. Same with my family. My brother's not into all of the the same kind of things that I like. And he's more into the tools that our family had for woodworking and construction and that kind of thing. So that's his stuff. And then I've taken all of the the other stuff, so it's nice that way.
Danielle: [00:40:58] That's been the divide for us. My brother's biggest one is like my father currently has a pool table that's been passed down. Why we have such, like, random things that get found in my family I don't know, but my brother is insistent on the pool table and the light that hangs above it that those are his. And I'm like, I don't even have space for them, so go for it. But it's just funny the things that you kind of get attached to.
Bex Scott: [00:41:33] Mhm. Perfect. Thank you so much for coming on the episode today and for chatting about vintage. It's really great to be able to talk to somebody else that loves similar things and understand what it's like to be a hoarder.
Danielle: [00:41:52] Yeah, it was great jumping on and getting to chat with you. Yeah, it's definitely nice to talk to people that are like-minded.
Bex Scott: [00:42:00] Yeah.
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| 14 Feb 2025 | Value Village - My Process | 00:35:07 | |
Host Bex Scott lets you in on her process for going through her local Value Village thrift store in this episode. She explains the layout of the store section by section, how they’re stocked, and what to look for in each. She explains where the good stuff is on the shelf, how to check items for damage, and where some of the hot items are hidden. If Value Village is new to you or you find it overwhelming, this episode will break it down into understandable sections and help you scour for the perfect vintage score that you’re seeking. Bex also shares some key tips for collectors and resellers. Did you know that some of the best items are on the very bottom shelves in Value Village? Don’t be afraid to get on the floor and look down there. Where do they hide the salt and pepper shakers? Should you skip the book section? If you arrive at the store first thing in the morning, is sneaking into the middle of the queue a good idea? Bex answers all these questions and more in this episode. Listen in then share your thoughts and tips with Bex on Instagram @PyrexWithBex. Resources discussed in this episode: — Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast, where you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat. Hey everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. On today's episode, I want to take you through my process for shopping at Value Village. Now, where I live in Alberta, we have quite a few different thrift shops, antique shops, but I find that the one that I have the most success at right now is actually the Value Village in Red Deer. So for those of you who live in this area, I would be interested to see if you kind of have the same process as me for going through the store. Now, I know that everybody has their own sections that they really love to hit up first. I know that when I used to go thrifting every day before we had our daughter, I used to show up way before the store opened and line up at the Value Village, this was in Calgary, not where we live now, but you would see the same people there all the time. The same person was always first, and you would get to know the people who were shopping there, which was kind of fun.
Bex Scott: [00:01:38] And you would watch as people who weren't regulars came around the corner and they thought they could sneak into the line or try and create another line to get into the store before you did. And these people were having none of it. So one thing to know for sure is to never mess with a die-hard thrifter or reseller because they stake claim to their spot in that line and they will not move from it. So back when I used to go to Value Village in Calgary, my first stop was always the Pyrex section because there were a lot of other people who went there first. You wanted to be the first one to get the fresh Pyrex that they put out. A lot of times that's how I got my full sets. And you do have to kind of fight people for different things because you can tell, right? As you guys both lock eyes on the same set, it's like whoever is closest to that, you grab it. So you put your hand on it and you just have to be assertive, which is something that I'm not good at. I've learned to be a little more assertive since I've been thrifting for a bit longer now, but it's definitely not in my personality to fight with somebody over something. It's not worth it in my opinion.
Bex Scott: [00:02:58] If somebody is going to fight with me over a set of Pyrex, I will gladly give it to them because I'm just, I don't like conflict. I will miss out on a great opportunity just to avoid the conflict with a stranger. But some other people who are there that you get to know, there was one lady, I called her the Teacup Lady because she went and cleared out the full section of teacups at Value Village every single morning, and I would kind of creep to look at what was in her cart. I have no clue about teacups at all. Nothing. No knowledge about china, any of that stuff. So it was fascinating to me to see what she was buying. And I'm sure she was a reseller, because nobody can store that many teacups in their house. Well, that might be a lie because I have that much Pyrex. But anyway, there was also a guy that would go and buy vintage books and then somebody else who would buy video games and electronics. So those were the usuals who would line up with me on at the Value Village. So since I've moved out of the city, I frequent Goodwill, Sally-Ann, Value Village, and then a few of the smaller thrift and antique stores in our town. And Value Village is definitely a big store to search through. It goes in huge cycles of being amazing and just being totally crap for what's in there.
Bex Scott: [00:04:33] A lot of it goes with the seasons, which makes sense. So right now it's not too bad because people are clearing out after the holidays. Christmas is over, they have more time. So they're focusing more on clearing out, maybe getting ready to sell their houses in the spring/summer. So there's been a lot of good vintage in the stores recently, but before Christmas, it was all Christmas. That's all you would find there. Everything else was kind of junky stuff. And then right after Christmas, it went through a phase where the shelves were, like, completely bare, except for a few things. So now if, now is February, if you're getting into thrifting or reselling, now is a great time, in my opinion, to start stocking up on your inventory and looking through things before the big garage sale season comes up, which I'm extremely excited about.
Bex Scott: [00:05:33] Okay, so I avoid a lot of sections in Value Village when I look for my inventory. That is mainly because it's not my area of specialty. I don't know a lot about it, and I can't buy from every single category, or I would probably be kicked out of my house. Just kidding. But it would, it wouldn't work. So right when you walk into our Value Village, on the right, there's DVDs and board games. Now, I know a lot of people who resell DVDs and resell vintage, and not even vintage, just modern contemporary games, and they do extremely well.
Bex Scott: [00:06:12] So I would love to get somebody on the podcast as a guest to talk about just board games, DVDs, music, that kind of stuff, because that is a section that I avoid. The first section that I do go to is the book section. I am a massive reader. I read every day. Right now my goal is to try and read six books a month. I did that for January. We'll see for February. But I have a problem with buying books for myself, never mind books to resell and to collect. But when I do buy them for my collection, it's the Little Golden Books. I love vintage Little Golden Books. Some of the newer ones are cute too, but I buy them for the illustrations and the artwork in them, and this might hurt a lot of people to hear, but I repurposed some of the pages in crafting, so I've been making little coasters and journals, covering journals with like Disney pictures and just really nice old vintage artwork, which I know is terrible to do to cut a book up. But I try to only cut the ones up that are really damaged. I don't ever touch a brand new pristine condition book. So I collect those for myself and to read to my daughter. So I'm trying to collect as many Little Golden Books for her as I can to pass down to her. I also have had great success selling the Little Golden Books.
Bex Scott: [00:07:50] So if you can find them for like $0.25 each or a dollar each, they usually resell for like $3 to $4. So not a huge profit there. But if you get enough of them, you can sell them in bulk, you can sell them as a collection. And you might be able to find some good money in that section. Next, I always buy vintage Baby-Sitters Club books and Sweet Valley High, so right now those ones are really popular. I've sold quite a few Baby-Sitters Club books, and they did release, I think it was on Netflix, a Baby-Sitters Club TV show, which is actually pretty good, I'm not going to lie. So it did make a little bit of a comeback, but people are trying to complete their collections that they had growing up. So I always try and grab those books, especially the older Baby-Sitters Club ones. Next is Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys. There are some extremely die-hard collectors here, and I know I've talked about this in a previous podcast episode. There are different types of the Nancy Drew, different time frames that they were released with different covers, artwork, that kind of thing. So keep that in mind when you are buying them if you were trying to complete a collection or you're trying to resell, that different ones will have different values just because of the time they were released and the type of cover that they have.
Bex Scott: [00:09:25] Okay, so once you leave the book section in my Value Village, you go to this extremely overwhelming vase section where they've just crammed every single vase that has ever been donated from a florist shop. So you'll see a bajillion of them. They all look the same. They're all in there. I don't know why, but the same two vases could have two different prices. It drives me insane. But this is where I have had the most luck finding swung vases. And you need to be quick on these. Like this, when I walk in, I scan that section first to see if they've put anything really tall on the top shelf, because that's where they usually are. If I don't see any, I head to the books, but I've found quite a few amazing vases in this section. This is also where you want to look for pottery. Anything marked, I find is great to buy if you look it up with Google Lens. A lot of the potters marks are very hard to discern. So this is an area that I don't know a lot about, but I have lots of friends who have made great money selling especially German pottery. So if you can get to know some of the German pottery names, then this is the section you want to look for them in.
Bex Scott: [00:10:47] Kitschy planters. Everybody loves a good kitschy planter. These ones can be from maybe it was like a vase that somebody got their baby shower gift from. They have the cute little lambs and the balloons and the blue and pinks. Lots of Easter around Easter time. So little chicks and rabbits, that kind of thing. So I always pick up the kitschy planters if they're in good condition. Make sure you touch every inch of them. Same with the vases. These sections are terrible for broken items. I don't know if they just don't catch them when they sort them or if they sell them regardless, but I've been so excited about finding something that I just grab it, throw it in my cart, and I get home and I secretly cry in my office because now I have to do something with this broken vase. Another thing that I often forget to look at are brass vases. So a lot of these are made in India and they're beautiful. These ones are always great to resell. They're also great in displays because they are so pretty. But keep an eye out for brass vases. Make sure you get them at a good price, though, because Value Village has caught on that these are valuable items and they have been jacking the prices of them. So next to the vase section is what I call the weird wood section. This is like a catch-all for anything wood that comes into the store. A lot of times there are broken shelves here, little knickknack things, but the things that I like to look for are the wooden knickknack boxes or jewelry boxes.
Bex Scott: [00:12:35] A lot of them have really nice ornate carvings in them. Sometimes people's names on them. I really like these for storing knickknacks and jewelry, but also for reselling because they are a hot item. People love wooden boxes. Next would be wooden or carved animals. A lot of these things look like they might not have any value, but depending on the wood they're made out of, if you go home and research them, or you do a quick Google Lens in the store, it is definitely worth while. A lot of the wood is very valuable and the carvings have been done. There's lots from Africa or Mexico or places like that by the Indigenous people in the area, and they are very beautiful and great for collections, but also for reselling as well. Next up would be look for the little wooden knickknack shelves. These can be like the letterpress drawers or little mug holders that you put on your wall with the little pegs. Like the peg - peg, what's the word I'm going for? - The peg, the peg holder shelf thingies. Somebody, if you know what the actual word is, let me know. Not enough coffee today. But yes, look for those. I have seen some beautiful displays at Christmas where you have the accordion, peg hanger and you put Christmas decorations on them.That is a goal of mine one year to do with my vintage Christmas balls.
Bex Scott: [00:14:09] Okay, so we've gone from the weird wood section now. I'm skipping over the strange candle, votive, school supply aisle. There's very rarely anything in there. Maybe sometimes old vintage photo albums. That is a good thing to always grab if they're in good condition. And always look for photos in them, because sometimes Value Village doesn't take them out, which is a really big score, but I usually skip this weird section, come back to it at the very end if I have time. Next is the plastic stuff. So this is your typical, I bought this plastic water bottle and now I'm donating it, and Value Village now has 10,000 of them, so avoid those ones. I find it kind of gross anyway to buy an old reused plastic water bottle, but that's just me. Some of you might love that section. What is good in this section though, is Starbucks to go mugs. If they are in near brand new condition or they haven't been used and abused, they will resell. Starbucks always resells. I've had amazing luck with it. Just be sure to open it because you never know what's inside. Still in this section, this is where you find your vintage Tupperware. Do not sleep on this section. People will donate their vintage Tupperware. Always do, this is so gross, but always do the sniff test. I have opened some in Value Village and there have been spiders and bugs and weird smells in there.
Bex Scott: [00:15:47] To me, it's not worth it to take those home and clean them because I am creeped out by that. And it's, yeah, I would rather just leave that there for somebody else, which might be mean, but I would definitely check the condition and make sure somebody hasn't had spaghetti in it for a bajillion years, because that stuff stains. Look for utensil marks, make sure they're not totally torn to shreds and that they haven't been warped in the dishwasher or the microwave. So make sure the lids are nice and flat and that somebody also hasn't written their name on it in Sharpie. There may be a way to get it off, but just be cognizant of that when you're looking at the Tupperware section. Okay. Next we get into dishware. I love the dishware section. This is where I have found some amazing vintage Denby dishes. I'm not going to pronounce this right, but Le Creuset. I have found five Le Creuset mugs for 4.99. They are amazing to resell because they are just so valuable and expensive. Look for any Japan stoneware plates, Corelle dishes, those still resell like the butterfly gold that goes with the Pyrex. What else? Just keep an eye out. Start researching your dishware and just look at the bottom of everything, because you will be surprised at how many things you can miss just because you think it might be cheap.
Bex Scott: [00:17:25] There's been a lot of Dollar Store or Walmart dishes that I think look like Le Creuset, and then I flip them over and they're not, and vice versa. So just keep an eye open. In the same aisle we have the teacup section. So I know that this can be a gold mine. This is one that I do skip over because I have such limited knowledge in it. So if you are a teacup collector, I would definitely check this section out. Look for chips. Look for gold that's been rubbed off. A lot of the vintage teacups, they do have a gold rim or a gold handle, and it's always the first to rub off. So just make sure you keep that in mind when you're looking through teacups. If, sometimes they put teapots in this section as well. Teapots can be very gross and stained on the inside, but if you put a dishwasher pod inside of them and let it soak, it will clean out all of that tea staining. On the other side of this aisle is the glassware. Another one of one of my favorites, because you never know what you're going to find here. So I look for vintage Libby. So if you flip it over, you'll see the little script L on the bottom. A lot of these dishes or glasses are the ones with the gorgeous designs. They can have sometimes metallic on them, gold
Bex Scott: [00:18:53] Just make sure again that the gold isn't rubbing off. But they have the groovy flowers and the amazing patterns that you see in all the vintage catalogs. So this is a great section to look for that in. And try to find them in sets like four, eight, that always sells better. I've bought a lot of single glasses, which are definitely harder to resell. Sets of three are harder to resell as well, so you might get people asking to buy two of them and then you're stuck with one. But just keep that in mind when you're looking in the glasses. This is also where you're going to find the Dorothy Thorpe. So there's a lot of look alikes. So this is where there's the silver fade, like the roly poly glasses. I always buy those. They became very popular after Mad Men came out, the roly polys with the silver rim. Those are gorgeous. So I would recommend buying those. But always take a look at the silver. If it has scratches, if it's coming off, if it's fading. Because that will really hurt your resale value. Okay. We're still in the same aisle. This is a very good aisle. We are at the coffee mugs now and this section is usually a disaster. You have to dig. I have broken quite a few mugs in this section, because you're trying to reach around and get the good stuff at the back, so just be careful when you're moving things around, because I definitely need help in this section.
Bex Scott: [00:20:26] This is where you're going to find your milk glass, so don't do just a cursory glance. You might want to walk down the aisle in one direction and walk back. I often get on the floor and look in the bottom shelf just because it's so easy to miss things. But Federal glass mugs, what else do we have in this section? Fire King, we have the Pyrex mugs. We have, what else, stoneware. Made in Japan stoneware and English stoneware. I always buy those mugs. Also pottery, makers mugs, that kind of thing. So look to see if they have a pottery studio signature on the bottom. And Disney. Disney and Starbucks, always buy the Disney and Starbucks if it is in good condition, do not leave them. I know it's not vintage, but people love them. You can oftentimes find really rare or not in production Disney and Starbucks mugs and those sell really well, especially on Marketplace. Okay. The next aisle is the random junk aisle. This aisle drives me crazy because most of the time everything is broken in it. It's pieces and parts of things that they didn't know what they were, so they just threw them in there. But it's still worth it to dig through. This is where you'll find your trivets. A lot of times they have nice Lucite ones with flowers pressed in, really nice brass trivets, some wooden ones.
Bex Scott: [00:21:58] Placemats are here in the boxes. This is where I usually get my salt and pepper shakers, but make sure they are not chipped. It is so hard to find salt and pepper shakers that aren't chipped at Value Village. What else is good to keep an eye out? Marble rolling pins. I found quite a few marble rolling pins that do very well for resale, and I've kept a few of them because they are amazing to bake with. Recipe boxes. This is where I find the awesome recipe boxes from the 60s and 70s with the gross recipes in there. Those are always really fun to look through. After the random junk section, you have the serving dishes, and this is kind of a catch-all for anything glass. Lots of juice jugs, Pyrex percolators are here. But the best part of this section is the uranium glass that people don't realize is in there. So always bring your black light, because this is a section where it's usually stuffed in the bottom of the shelf at the very back. And it's the uranium glass platters, the milk and sugars, anything like that. Little bowls and dishes and trinket dishes. Make sure you look for anything that stands out as green. Stoneware serving platters. I found some beautiful floral print stoneware platters here and in my shop, weirdly enough, this is where the staff like to hide the valuable electronics.
Bex Scott: [00:23:34] So I have laid on my stomach in the floor multiple times. Because if you go towards the end of the day when the store is going to be closing soon, they like to hide Playstation games, Game Boy games. I've had some Wii controllers and just some really amazing stuff hidden in this section at the back. So pro tip, get on the floor, don't care what people think about you, just look for that gold mine of stuff that people are hiding because it does happen. My most favorite section, the Pyrex section, it is dwindling these days. There's not a lot out there. Mostly what I find is super beat up, dishwasher damaged to the point where it's not recognizable anymore. It's really sad. When I started thrifting, there was definitely a lot more, but I am now in a population that is a lot smaller than where I used to live too. But every once in a while you find a good, a good score of Pyrex. They're usually on the top shelf, which is easy to spot. Other things you can find in the section are Wilton cake pans. I've had great success selling Wilton cake pans. You just have to make sure that they are a low enough price. I would avoid cornflower CorningWare. It, 3 or 4 years ago, it was a hot item. It was hard to keep it in stock, for me at least. And now it is a struggle to sell it.
Bex Scott: [00:25:12] So spice of life, blue cornflower, any of that stuff. If you have success selling it still, go for it. But for me, I pass over that stuff now just because I found that it's not worth it. Jello molds. I love jello molds. These are the tin, usually rose gold or copper looking ones. They're so cute and a whole bunch of different sizes. I always grab those ones because they are fun in displays, to collect, and to resell as well. Okay, so now we are in to the strange bathroom section. My Value Village has a section where they sell hair clips, curling irons, what else do they sell there? Just weird random laundry baskets. But this section is amazing for vintage garbage cans. Also vintage jewelry boxes. So don't pass this section up if you have it in your store. This is where I find a lot of my velvet covered snap shut jewelry boxes, the smaller ones that fit little rings or necklaces. Those ones sell really well, especially if they are in good condition. If not, you can also recover them. I have a friend who does amazing and beautiful work recovering vintage jewelry boxes with new velvet, new insides, cleans up the little feet. So if you're interested in taking on a project like that, this is a great spot to look for them.
Bex Scott: [00:26:46] Next up is the linen section. I could spend a whole day in this section. It starts off with aprons, dishcloths tea towels, and then it goes into fabric, sheets, duvets and blankets, and then pillows. So this is all a lot of personal preference when you're buying linens, what you like to look for. But I like to look for the groovy floral sheets, anything with like a bold retro pattern. Chenille duvets. Pillowcases with flowers. What else? Really cool tea towels with graphics. Those all seem to resell really well. Especially the retro groovy looking sheets. Just make sure that you inspect them for holes, stains, anything suspicious because they do sneak in there. I find a lot of, like, duvets and bedspreads that I really like, but our Value Village is ridiculous for prices and they can be upwards of $20, so to me that is not really worth it. If you're looking through pillows, look for anything that is latch hook. I found an amazing latch hook mushroom pillow the other day. Um, crocheted pillows do really well. Anything with florals. The funky, groovy patterns again. And if it's a seasonal item, Christmas pillows, Halloween pillows, pillowcases and covers from the fancy stores, like the modern stores like Urban Barn, Pier One, anything like that. Even Indigo/Chapters, they get a lot of those in there. Those are great for reselling as well. On the right hand side of the linen section is the sewing section in our store. Now, I don't buy sewing patterns from Value Village because I find that $2 to $3 each is what I can sell them for, and that's the same price that Value Village sells them for.
Bex Scott: [00:28:56] So unless it's something really amazing, like a Barbie pattern, I always grab Barbie clothes patterns, Barbie furniture patterns, those ones resell at a higher price. Sometimes you can get about $10 or more for a pattern that is Barbie. But this is where I find my latch hook patterns, my cruels, my needlepoint, my cross stitch. They've had some amazing kits in this section, and you do have to dig through, because this is where they also put the baby diapers and the feminine products that are donated. So you have to dig a little bit, but they are in there. Next up we have the kids section. The kids toys and clothes. I have dug through the toys before to find Cabbage Patch Kids, My Little Pony, Littlest Pet Shop, vintage Barbie. This is a section you really need to spend time, like, come to the store just to look at the toys, because you need to dig through broken toys that aren't working anymore and just really spend time to decipher if it's vintage, if it's modern. I don't buy clothes when I go to the thrift store because that's a whole other thing. I wish I had the had the time and the patience to search through clothes and photograph them and all that fun stuff, but I mostly stick to the hard goods.
Bex Scott: [00:30:22] Next is purses. Purses and accessories I do like to look through because I buy the nice sequined beaded clutches, little handbags. Those do really well for resale and they're really pretty too. If you just want to dress up and go out for your own fun. So I do look through those. Sometimes you can find some good designer bags. I've found some Betsey Johnson, some Coach, but most of the time they separate those out in the Value Village and put them in the locked case. Next would be oversize items. This is usually where electronics, big furniture is in our store, and it's actually one that a lot of people I find skip because they think everything in there is too big. But there's been some really good finds in this section. I went with my friend not too long ago and we found, I think it was three lawn chairs with retro patterns on them. They were really cool. I found some awesome dressers, bookshelves, just really nice MCM looking furniture. Stools. And this is where they put lamps too. So you can find some awesome vintage lamps in this section to refurbish. Wine racks, couches. If you're really interested in refurbishing or cleaning something out like that, but make sure you take a look, just a quick walkthrough of the section because you can find some pretty awesome stuff.
Bex Scott: [00:31:49] And last but not least, this section is so fun to look through. It is the jewelry section. It's almost like a game for me now, where I know that they've gone through and looked through the signed pieces, and most of the time they're pretty good at it, they know what they're looking for, but there are some awesome gems you can find in here. I would love to find a find a Sherman. That would be crazy if they left a Sherman on the wall of jewelry. But I've found quite a bit of Sarah Coventry. Butler. Vendome. What else has there been? Just a lot of random signed pieces that have been skipped over. I mostly look for brooches. Anything with a nice rhinestone, even if it's vintage and unsigned, I buy it. And anything floral. So the nice, what's it called? The coated flowers. I've lost the word for it now, but they're the metal flowers that are usually a brooch or an earring. People love to make arrangements with those and frame them in a shadow box. Anything that has a really nice old clasp that might have some faux pearls and lockets. I love to look for lockets. So this section, you could probably spend a half day just looking through the wall of jewelry there. And sometimes the prices are great, sometimes not so much. But if you can find anything that they've missed that says 14 karat gold on it, anything that's sterling silver or, what else is there, even you might even find some real pearls you don't know. So this is a good section to spend a good chunk of time in looking through.
Bex Scott: [00:33:27] And last but not least, I think I already said that about the jewelry, but this is kind of an extension, would be the locked cabinet that they have. So that's where they keep what they consider the really good jewelry, the electronics, sometimes there's designer shoes in there. I don't spend a lot of time in that section because it is mostly overpriced and to me, not as fun to look through, but because there's a lot of people, I'm sure, like me, who don't go to it, you could find some amazing scores. So that is a quick walk through of my Value Village store. I'm sure that they vary a little bit with quality of goods, the layout, that kind of thing. But that is a typical thrifting restock run for me, where I'll go in and go through my process and hopefully find some goodies. So check out the show notes for my social media platforms. Find me. I am on Instagram at Pyrex with Bex. I live sell on Whatnot at Pyrex with Bex as well. I have regular shows on that platform and there are some really amazing Canadian sellers on there. We all sell vintage of some variety. So feel free to find us there and message me if you'd like to reach out and chat. Thanks so much everybody.
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| 08 Dec 2023 | Pyrex Prize Recipes Special | 00:25:03 | |
Host Bex Scott shares delightful Pyrex holiday recipes from the vintage 1953 cookbook, Pyrex Prize Recipes. A pie crust recipe straight from the book is also included, along with a variety of recipes and tips that Bex challenges listeners to try at home this holiday season. Corning Glass Works published the Pyrex Prize Recipes book in 1953 and it only cost $2.50 when it was released. Times have certainly changed! But have the recipes? Bex first shares the different types of Pyrex dishes and what appliances they can be used on. She then divulges tips for taking care of and cleaning Pyrex, hoping to help everyone keep their Pyrex new-looking. Finally, the recipes. From hot chocolate to apple pie to mince pie, follow along with Bex and try these recipes at home over Christmas. Resources discussed in this episode: -- Pie Crust Recipe TWO-CRUST INGREDIENTS For PYREX 7½-inch Pie Plate #208
For PYREX 8½-inch Pie Plates #209, #228, #909
For Pyrex 9½-inch Pie Plates #210, #229
For PYREX 10½- inch Pie Plate #211
For PYREX 5½-inch Pie Plate # 206
GENERAL DIRECTIONS FOR TWO-CRUST PIE The best pie makers handle crust gently. They mix the dough with a delicate touch, four the board sparingly, and press lightly with the rolling pin. Result-tender pie crust.
VARIATIONS OF TOP CRUST
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex With Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:30] Hey, everybody, this is Bex Scott, and you're listening to the Pyrex With Bex podcast. On today's episode, I'm going to be talking about cooking and baking with your Pyrex. Christmas is around the corner, and that means there's going to be a ton of holiday cookies, desserts, turkeys, all of the fixings for Christmas, and all the parties that are coming up. And I have the perfect cookbook that I want to go through with you guys. So I found this cookbook, it's called Pyrex Prize Recipes, and I've talked about it in a previous episode before, where I went through an angel food cake recipe that was baked in a 404 mixing bowl. And since then, I've been going through this recipe book and it's pretty amazing. The recipes are great and the photos are great. They showcase different food that's been cooked and baked in specific dishes, but some of the backstory about why they put it together is really neat as well. So I thought I would share some of the holiday recipes they have in it with you guys. If you're adventurous enough, maybe you can try them out and let me know how they go. But other than that, I thought it would be kind of fun to go through.
Bex Scott: [00:01:46] So this book was published in 1953 by Corning Glass Works, and it cost $2.50 when it was published. Now, full disclosure, I think I paid about $40 for it because I saw it on Poshmark and I had to have it, and I've seen one other one come up on Marketplace, so I'm pretty glad that I got it when I did, because it's been a valuable book for me. So the inside says 'dedicated to all men, women and children who love to cook in Pyrex ware'. I'll read the introduction to you guys because it's pretty neat and gives a bit of a background to the book. So it says 'This book of Pyrex Prize Recipes has been published in response to the many requests received from Pyrex ware users. All the recipes in this book have been tested and perfected under the supervision of Dr. Lucy M Maltby, Director of Home Economics and in charge of Corning Glass Works Famous Pyrex Ware test kitchen'. Now imagine what that would have been like being Dr. Lucy in charge of the Pyrex Ware test Kitchen. That would be pretty amazing to be able to have all of these casseroles and dishes, and to be able to test out different recipes and see if they work, if they flop using Pyrex.
Bex Scott: [00:03:13] And I've baked quite a few things with my Pyrex, I haven't cooked a lot. We mostly use our Pyrex to serve food out of in our house, but I have never been disappointed with anything that I've baked in a Pyrex ware dish. So it says 'You who are old friends won't think us vain, we are sure, when we claim to be popular among you. You have welcomed us into your homes. You have let us help with the cooking, the serving and the storing of food. And we've enjoyed it. Three out of four families in the United States use Pyrex ware. You've told us why you like Pyrex ware, and we would like to pass on your reasons to the newcomers who may join our family of friends as a result of this recipe book. You have given us many good reasons why you like Pyrex ware'. And this is pretty neat, so I know why I like Pyrex ware, but this is from all of the submissions that they received before they printed this recipe book first.
Bex Scott: [00:04:12] And they go dot dot dot... 'Because Pyrex ware is so easy to wash clean. Odors and flavors don't cling to the smooth glass surface'. It's pretty true. Second, 'Because Pyrex dishes keep their newness even after years of use'. Third, 'Because Pyrex ware is inexpensive to buy', not so much anymore. Fourth, 'Because Pyrex ware is dependable, there is only one Pyrex ware made by Corning Glass Works. With more than a century of experience in the manufacture of glass products'. Fifth, 'Because Pyrex ware is economical. Pyrex ware heats rapidly, bakes faster, and saves fuel'. Sixth, 'Because Pyrex ware saves dishwashing, the same dish can travel from refrigerator to oven to table and back to refrigerator'. To bring you up to date, we would like to review the variety and types of Pyrex dishes, which have been made available for your convenience. So this is where they go into each of the different types of Pyrex that they have, which I thought was pretty educational. And as a reseller of Pyrex, I've had a lot of people ask me, How can I use this flameware? Or can this dish go in the microwave or on the stove top or in the oven? So this is a great reference if anybody listening has been wondering about specific types of Pyrex that they have.
Bex Scott: [00:05:42] So the transparent Pyrex ovenware, which is used in the oven but not over direct heat on top of the range or under the broiler. It is designed for baking, serving, storing in the refrigerator, or for freezing in the freezer. Cake dishes round and square. Deep pie dishes. Casseroles with knob or utility covers, measures, custard cups, loaf pans, oven roasters, pie plates, mixing bowls, and utility dishes. So this is the transparent Pyrex ovenware. Next up, my favorite colored Pyrex ovenware, which is also used in the oven but not on top of the range or under the broiler. It too is used for baking, serving, storing, and freezing. Casserole, round, square and oblong baking dishes, pie plates in decorator colors. Refrigerator dishes. Color bowls. Hostess ware, casseroles, and ramekins in basic colors. Pyrex flameware, which is used over direct heat on top of the range whether gas, electric, oil, coal or wood. Anybody using wood, oil or coal anymore? It is also used for serving, storing or for baking in the oven. Double boiler. Saucepans with lock on covers and hang up rings. Percolators. Teapot. Skillet. Pyrex dinnerware, which can be used in the oven. It is beautiful enough for entertaining and sturdy enough to take hard knocks and high oven heat. The kind of dinnerware that you have dreamed of owning. Dinner plates, cups and saucers. Bread and butter plates, salad plates, and many other dishes.
Bex Scott: [00:07:26] So let's get into some holiday recipes. In my family, we always have mulled cider, and every single year when we go over to my parents place, and even when we were living at home still, my mom would always make mulled cider. It would be in a huge soup pot on the stove, just ready to drink throughout the day. And in this recipe, it says the dish you're supposed to use is your Pyrex nine cup percolator, and the amount is 12 servings for this. So the ingredients you're going to need are two quarts of cider, one cup brown sugar well packed, three sticks of whole cinnamon about two inches long, half a tablespoon of whole cloves and half a tablespoon of whole allspice. And I've had cider without the cloves and allspice, it pretty much just makes it apple juice. So the spices definitely make a difference. The first step, put cider and sugar in a nine cup Pyrex percolator. Place spices in the percolator basket. Let boil gently for ten minutes. Remove percolator pump in basket containing spices. Then there's no need to strain the cider, as the percolator basket itself acts as an excellent strainer. Three, serve very hot. And this is amazing! I've never thought of using a percolator for anything other than coffee or tea. And my mom, she uses a little tea ball that you usually put tea leaves in in the big pot, but this would be so much easier. So I think we're definitely going to try this one this year.
Bex Scott: [00:09:03] This next recipe is for the hot chocolate lovers out there, and I know that's everybody in my family. We go through so much powdered hot chocolate regardless of the time of year. And I remember in our house, my mom as well would make stovetop hot cocoa for us from scratch, and it was amazing. The difference was huge. So I haven't tried this recipe yet, but it's definitely on my list for the holidays. And it says serve directly from the Pyrex percolator in which the cocoa is cooked and saved time and dishwashing. And this recipe is made in your Pyrex four cup percolator, and it gives you six servings,. So you'll need three tablespoons of sugar, an eighth teaspoon of salt, which is interesting because my grandpa also put salt in his coffee, and I've tried it with the salt and without, and it makes a huge difference. It's so much better with the salt. So that's a little tip if you want to try putting a pinch of salt in your coffee grounds. Three tablespoons of cocoa, one cup of cold water, three cups of milk, a quarter teaspoon of vanilla extract. And this is cute, six marshmallows, if desired. Exactly six marshmallows. One for each cup. That's a pretty small amount. I think I put about ten marshmallows, if they're the tiny ones, in each of my hot cocoa cups. So the first step is mix sugar, salt, and cocoa together in a Pyrex four cup percolator. Add water, place over moderate direct heat. Simmer gently for two minutes, stirring constantly. Two, add milk and bring slowly almost to boiling point, but do not quite boil. Three, remove from heat. Add vanilla. If desired, beat with a rotary egg beater to prevent scum formation. Four, put a marshmallow into each cup and then pour in the hot cocoa. If anybody out there makes this hot cocoa, let me know how it tastes. I'm especially interested because it's made in the Pyrex percolator.
Bex Scott: [00:11:15] So next up, before we get into the good stuff, the baking and cooking with your Pyrex dishes, I thought I would go through what the book says about how to care for your Pyrex ware. So this section is called the ABCs of Pyrex Ware Care, and I've had a lot of people ask me over the years about how I clean my Pyrex, what they should and shouldn't do with it, what's the best way to get this and that off of it? So hopefully this sheds a little bit of light from the experts themselves. So a) Avoid wet surfaces. Don't set hot Pyrex dishes on a wet table or sink. The spot of water cools the dish too rapidly in one place. b) Be sure to use a wire grid under a Pyrex flameware dish on an electric range. These grids are free at any Pyrex ware sales counter. Or write to Corning Glass Works. That would be great if we could still do that. c) Cool hot Pyrex dishes before adding liquids. Pyrex ware can stand hot temperatures, but pouring liquid into a hot dish cools the dish too quickly in one spot.
Bex Scott: [00:12:24] When making white sauce, remove the hot Pyrex flame ware saucepan from the heat and cool slightly before adding the milk to the hot butter and flour mixture. d) Deep fat frying? No. This is a capital N a capital O with an exclamation mark. Never use Pyrex ware for deep fat frying. It's not that the hot grease will break the Pyrex dish, but if in that one chance in a million the dish is broken, the fat would catch on fire. Be on the safe side. e) Empty dish. Don't put any empty Pyrex flameware dish over the direct heat on top of the range. Always put liquid, fat or other food in the dish first. f) Faster baking. Pyrex ware bakes faster than shiny metal pans, so less heat is needed. If you're using a recipe which has not been tested for Pyrex ware, reduce the oven temperature about 25°F. Thus, if an old recipe says bake at 350 degrees, use a temperature at 325 for Pyrex ware, g) Greasing helps. A well greased Pyrex baking dish washes easier. If a Pyrex ovenware dish is filled very full, handles and rims should be greased too. This is a very good point, because I've made a lot of cakes in my Pyrex ware, and everywhere that hasn't been greased is pretty hard to get stuff off of unless you soak it or you clean it right away. So that's a pro tip right there. h) Handle hot Pyrex dishes with dry cloths. A wet cloth on a hot Pyrex dish cools the dish too fast in one spot. Also very good. i) Icy cold to roasting hot. Pyrex dishes can go directly from freezer to preheated oven. Frozen food thaws and bakes in just a little longer time than the normal baking period, and you can skip the wait for frozen food to thaw at room temperature.
Bex Scott: [00:14:26] j) Junior's food. When heating nursing bottles, cans of baby food, etcetera, bring water to boiling and remove Pyrex flameware dish from heat. Then put the bottles or cans in the dish. Otherwise, the dish might be permanently damaged when the water boils and leaves dry spots underneath the bottles or cans being heated. k) Keep its newness. Soap or detergent and hot water will wash Pyrex wear dishes sparkling clean. Never use scratchy cleansers. And this is a very good point because there are certain cleaners that people use now, like bar keepers friend that are great for removing utensil marks, you can use them on the inside, but if you use them on the outside of the Pyrex dish, that especially with the ones that have the gold or the metallics on the outside, it will fully take them off. And that is from personal experience.
Bex Scott: [00:15:23] l) Low direct heat. Use low to moderate direct heat with Pyrex flameware. m) Mineral deposits caused by hard water in some localities may leave white spots on dishes. Avoid this by washing the Pyrex double boiler bottom, for instance, with soap or detergent and hot water after each use. Stubborn mineral deposits may be removed by filling the park's flameware dish half full of water, adding two tablespoons of vinegar, and boiling a few minutes, then wash in hot, soapy water. n) Never let a Pyrex flameware dish boil dry. o) Occasionally, overcooking may cause brown stains. if hard to remove by just soaking the dish in warm water, add baking soda, three tablespoons to one quart of water. Diluted laundry bleach also is good for removing stains. And this is something that I wish more people did because I have bought, I think I talked about this in one of my other episodes, I've bought so many Pyrex dishes that have the brown stains on them that people haven't even attempted to take off, or else they have and they just haven't used the right methods. So awesome point. p) Pyrex ware has a two year replacement policy. Any dish or part of Pyrex brand Ovenware, which breaks from oven heat within two years from date of purchase, may be replaced by any dealer in Pyrex ware in exchange for the broken pieces. Any glass part of a Pyrex brand flameware dish, which breaks from heat within two years from date of purchase, when used according to the instructions, may be replaced by any dealer in Pyrex brand ware in exchange for the broken pieces. That doesn't really apply to us now, but it was nice that they did that back then. It's kind of like Tupperware. We will close our ABC's at this point, in the hopes that we have set down some helpful reminders on Pyrex ware care and use. So if any of these were surprising or helpful to you at all, I would love to know.
Bex Scott: [00:17:21] Next up we have the cooking and baking with Pyrex. So these will be the recipes that you can try out this holiday season and test on your family. The first one I've chosen is called Anna's Apple Pie and it says 'Apple pie still remains America's favorite dessert. Bring it to the table made just the way your menfolk - yes, your menfolk - want it in this Pyrex pie plate'. So it says you'll need one tablespoon of flour, five cups sliced apples, one and a quarter cup sugar, half a teaspoon of nutmeg, half a teaspoon of ground cinnamon and one tablespoon of butter. And check the show notes. Because this recipe I'm talking about now is for the filling of the pie. But in the show notes, I will have the recipe for the actual pie crust that Pyrex recommends. So it says 'Prepare the crust according to the directions on pages 96 and 97', which is what I'll give you guys. Number one, sprinkle one tablespoon of flour on unbaked bottom crust in the Pyrex pie plate. And this is using two crust pie in Pyrex nine and one half inch pie plate number 210. Two, arrange apple slices on crust. Sprinkle with sugar and spices. Mix together. Dot with butter. Cover with top crust. Three, Bake for ten minutes in a hot oven 425°F. Lower temperature of oven to moderate 375 and bake 30 minutes longer or until apples are done. Time, Bake about 40 minutes in all, temperature 425. Hot oven for first ten minutes and then 375 moderate oven for 30 minutes. Amount, eight servings and dish, Pyrex nine and one half inch pie plate. So the reason I chose to talk about this recipe is not only because people love apple pie in general, but because of this one little part right here. It says, 'Serve this delicious apple pie with cheese apples'. So I've heard about people making apple pies with cheddar cheese in the crust. I've never tried it. I've always wanted to. So I figured maybe a cheese apple is something like that. But it says, 'To make these, shape quarter pound sharp American cheese into balls about one inch in diameter. Dip the balls into red food coloring. Insert a cocktail pick into each cheese apple and stick these picks into a real apple. The apple will stand erect if three short pieces of picks are inserted for tripod legs'.
Bex Scott: [00:20:06] There's a picture of it. It's an apple. It's standing on toothpick tripod legs. And there are a bunch of cheese apples sticking out of it. So if anybody tries that as well, please let me know how it goes. Because it's another thing I've definitely never heard of. Then in the small print on this recipe, it says 'Day in and day out use won't hurt your Pyrex pie plate. It will come up sparkling after every pie you bake'.
Bex Scott: [00:20:39] Okay, so next up we have Christmas mince pie. And if anybody has had mince pie and likes it or doesn't like it, regardless, I'd love to know because I still don't really know what mince pie is or mince meat is. And maybe I should just try making it. So the recipe is... bake about 35 minutes in a 400 degree Fahrenheit oven. 6 to 8 servings. And this you'll be using your Pyrex eight and one half inch Flavr Savr pie plate number 228. And it says you'll need one package prepared mincemeat nine ounces, or two and a quarter cups moist mincemeat, sounding good already, three quarters cup applesauce, and half a cup seedless raisins. I'm not sold on this recipe. Okay, so it says prepare crust according to directions on page 96 and 97 for fancy top variation of two crust pie in Pyrex eight and one half inch Flavr Savr pie plate number 228. So again, if you're going to try out this recipe, check my show notes and I'll have that pie crust recipe for you. Number one, prepare mincemeat according to the directions on the package. Add applesauce and raisins. Pour filling into bottom crust in the Pyrex pie plate. Make a fancy top crust in the shape of a seven inch Christmas tree. That's pretty cute. Sprinkle with white or colored granulated sugar if desired, and place on top of pie filling. Bake until crust is nicely browned. And they have a nice picture of it in this glass Pyrex pie dish. It's the one with the little scalloped edges with the little handles, and there's a Christmas tree with the granulated sugar sprinkled on top. And it actually looks really nice. It says make Christmas mince pie the day before, store it in a Pyrex pie plate, then heat it up just before serving.
Bex Scott: [00:22:40] So the last recipe I thought I would share is a potential good side dish for your Christmas dinner. And because I'm in Canada, I picked this one, and it's called Canadian style bacon with candied sweet potatoes. Says 'Canadian style bacon is smoked cured pork loin'. I'm pretty sure that's just back bacon. 'Other cuts of smoked ham, thinly sliced, may be used'. So this one you're going to be using your Pyrex two quart utility dish. And it does 5 or 6 servings, 325 degree Fahrenheit, slow oven and bake about 45 minutes. You'll need 1 pound of cooked sweet potatoes, and in brackets it says (number three vacuum can). I don't think you need to use, I don't even know what that is. Is that like a can of sweet potatoes? Anyway, just go out and buy some real sweet potatoes. Two thirds cup brown sugar, well packed. A quarter teaspoon of salt. An eighth teaspoon ground cinnamon. Half a pound of Canadian style bacon, thinly sliced. 18 one half slices of pineapple, number two can. Exactly 18. Quarter cup of juice from pineapple. Two tablespoons butter or margarine, and parsley for garnish. First step is slice sweet potatoes in quarters lengthwise and arrange in two rows in a greased Pyrex utility dish. Sprinkle with brown sugar, salt, and cinnamon. Two, arrange alternate slices of bacon and pineapple on top of potatoes. Pour pineapple juice over all. Three, dot with butter. Bake. Garnish with parsley. So I hope you guys have enjoyed this episode of baking with your Pyrex Ware, and I can't wait to hear if any of you try out any of these recipes, I'd love to know! I'm definitely going to try a few of them myself, and I hope you guys have a wonderful Christmas dinner and a wonderful Christmas.
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| 16 Feb 2024 | Ruth's Pyrex Story | 00:34:30 | |
Host Bex Scott talks with another Pyrex collector in today’s episode, but this time it’s a conversation with her first Canadian guest! She welcomes Ruth from Periwinkle Collectibles to the show and they talk all about Pyrex, thrifting, and the life cycle of secondhand items. Ruth also shares her greatest Pyrex finds with Bex, finds from out in the wild. Ruth has been an avid thrifter for years but her “gateway Pyrex” happened in 2012 or 2013 when she discovered a 404 Poinsettia bowl in a church thrift store for $10. That led her into what she calls “Pyrexia” and she became a knowledgeable avid collector. Ruth tells Bex what the local market is like in her part of Canada, how thrifting prices have changed, and how she enjoys bringing dishes to family potlucks in some of her treasured Pyrex pieces. Ruth collects a lot of vintage items aside from Pyrex and Bex learns what they are. She also identifies which ones she needs to research because Ruth’s many passions include names that aren’t known even to Bex. Ruth has words of advice for all collectors about passion and joy. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:30] Hey everybody, welcome to another episode of the Pyrex with Bex podcast. And I'm very excited because today I have my first Canadian guest on the show. We have Ruth with Periwinkle Collectibles. You can find Ruth on Instagram at Periwinkle Collectibles as well. Welcome, Ruth.
Ruth: [00:00:49] Hey, thanks for having me.
Bex Scott: [00:00:51] Thanks for joining me. It's awesome to have another fellow Canadian on the show.
Ruth: [00:00:56] Yay! Go go, Canada! Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:00:58] Yeah. The snowy Canadian weather we have now, it's cold.
Ruth: [00:01:05] And the place where when people complain about the cold, you just go, but I live in Canada.
Bex Scott: [00:01:12] Yeah. So I wanted to start off today with how you got into Pyrex and vintage collecting.
Ruth: [00:01:20] That's a great question. I've been thrifting for a very long time, and so I was buying vintage things before they were vintage. But I'd say that my real gateway piece of Pyrex was a 404 Poinsettia bowl with lid and cradle that I found at a local church thrift store. It was behind the glass. It had a $10 price tag on it, which at the time - I think it was about 2012, 2013, you know, somewhere in there - and I literally did not have $10 cash in my pocket because at that point, that thrift store was super cheap, and I would often go with a $5 bill and buy things on my lunch hour from the day job. So they had this $10 piece of Pyrex behind the glass. I thought it was really pretty and that I could use it for Christmas serving. And so I ran across the street to the ATM, paid a ridiculous fee to get $10 out - I think it was at the time, I think it was like $2 or something, and I thought it was crazy - and ran back and bought that piece of Pyrex, took it home and started researching it because I bought it because it was pretty, it was a nice shape. And I had been buying, you know, like I said, vintage and thrifted goods for several decades before that. But that was the piece that really led me down the rabbit hole of Pyrex, was that $10 purchase. Little did I know what that, you know, I'm complaining about the $2 ATM charge. Little did I know what it was really going to cost me.
Bex Scott: [00:03:02] That's amazing. I wish that would have been my first Pyrex find because I love the Poinsettia. It's so beautiful.
Ruth: [00:03:11] Something about the gold on the red is just so pretty. And since then I have found the large casserole, the 045 with the designed lid. You know, the Christmas one also, I think some people call it Poinsettia as well. I can't remember off the top of my head what the name for it is. And I actually have the box. That's one of the few pieces that I have a box for. I'm not as much of a cradle and box collector as some people are, but I have found that one with the box and the cradle, paid a little more than $10 for it, but I think I paid like, I don't know, $30 for it back in like 2014. And I thought that was a lot of money. That progression of what I think is a lot of money for Pyrex has slightly changed since those days.
Bex Scott: [00:04:02] Oh no kidding, I would have loved to find it for 10 or 30. Now that would be a steal.
Ruth: [00:04:08] That was back in the day when I could go on Kijiji, for the non-Canadian listeners is like what Craigslist used to be. But you would go on Kijiji and I would hunt for Pyrex. And of course, you know, you find a lot of things labeled Pyrex that weren't, but you know, there would be a lot of things listed for $10, $20 that wow, you know, if I had a crystal ball, there's a few more things I would have bought back then.
Bex Scott: [00:04:35] No kidding. I was looking through Facebook the other day in a city close to me, and there was a collector that was liquidating his whole collection of Pyrex. He had everything, and I messaged him and he said, oh, I have got probably 380 messages to get through. And there were a few pieces that I really wanted that he had, but it ended up that he was asking for like $450 for a set of pink bowls and turquoise bowls, and it's like, sorry, I can't pay that much for them.
Ruth: [00:05:08] Yeah, it's funny when people want online world market prices on a local marketplace.
Bex Scott: [00:05:18] Yeah, yeah.
Ruth: [00:05:20] People don't necessarily drive those things, you know. Or they go, oh, but I found that on Chairish it's worth yadda yadda yadda. But that's like the highest level of where designers go to buy things like don't ever base any price on Chairish. And so many people who don't even know how to look up an eBay sold or look and see what did it actually sell for on Etsy. Oh, but it's on Etsy for $682. Yes, it's listed for that.
Bex Scott: [00:05:51] Yeah. My favorite is when you go into some of the smaller thrift shops and they have the printout of the eBay listing and not the sold, and then they've priced their item based on that little printout that they have. I just want to go up to them and be like, no, this isn't the price.
Ruth: [00:06:08] Have you been to garage sales where they do that?
Bex Scott: [00:06:10] No.
Ruth: [00:06:11] Yeah, I've been to a few where they do that. And it's just, I'm just like, well, good luck. You're still going to have it all at the end of the day. Not necessarily a well received comment. That's usually when my garage saling partner pulls me by the hand and goes, Quiet, let's just leave.
Bex Scott: [00:06:31] Not today.
Ruth: [00:06:33] Not today, not today. I've been known to tell a thrift store manager or two what I thought about certain prices, and what the difference is between an online worldwide market and their little thrift store in the corner of Darkville, southern Manitoba. But anyhow.
Bex Scott: [00:06:53] Oh that's great. I wish we lived closer so I could take you with me. I need someone like that.
Ruth: [00:06:59] Oh, I've been known to embarrass people, but, I mean, in reality, if they don't get the appropriate customer feedback, if everybody just shakes their head and goes, no way and walks away, how do they know?
Bex Scott: [00:07:13] Yeah.
Ruth: [00:07:14] The sad part is there's almost always, in the end, somebody who will pay that price. I mean, not always. Sometimes you see it sitting on the shelf or in the cabinet for weeks or months on end. And then what happens? It goes in the trash.
Bex Scott: [00:07:27] Yeah.
Ruth: [00:07:28] When nobody buys it, I don't know.
Bex Scott: [00:07:30] That's sad.
Ruth: [00:07:32] Yeah. Really sad. Really, really sad.
Bex Scott: [00:07:36] Do you have any family members that collect as well?
Ruth: [00:07:40] Not that collect Pyrex. No. I am the one that they humor when it comes to Pyrex, I have other family members that collect other items, but I'm definitely the person with the Pyrexia. The person that loves the vintage bowls and the vintage casseroles more. And I joyfully like to bring dishes to family gatherings, you know, if appropriate. You know, I won't bring one of my treasured bowls to a cement picnic table lot in the middle of the park. But I love to, you know, use them to bring things to family potlucks or wherever when possible. When possible. Because it's nice to share when people go, oh, that's a pretty bowl. Oh yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:08:33] Yeah. Let me tell you about this bowl. Yeah.
Ruth: [00:08:40] Yeah, yeah. They're like don't comment or she'll tell you all about it.
Bex Scott: [00:08:43] Yeah. They whisper in the background of the family events, Don't bring up the Pyrex bowl.
Ruth: [00:08:49] Yeah. So no, no one else in the family collects it. Do I gift certain patterns and things to people where I'm like, oh, I don't like this pattern quite as much. It's not a super, you know, in the collecting world it has a different perspective than to someone that's going to use it. They're always like, well, if I take this, am I allowed to put it in the dishwasher? Like they all know that. It's like, yeah, there's things you put in the dishwasher and things you can't put in the dishwasher.
Bex Scott: [00:09:23] Absolutely. And what have been your best Pyrex finds to date that you've had?
Ruth: [00:09:32] Oh boy. I have been very fortunate and been gifted to find a lot of great Pyrex out in the wild. Especially, like I said, I've been really looking for it for a dozen years and you know, over ten years ago it was much, much an easier story. I have found Gooseberry, pink Gooseberry at the thrift. I have found the yellow and black Gooseberry at the thrift. I have found almost every refrigerator dish that is commonly found at the thrift. What was my best? I think the one I was most excited about was when I found the yellow and black Gooseberry set way back at the beginning. One of my kids was with me, they were a kid at the time, you know, a child at the time, and they spotted it like they were learning to spot Pyrex for me.
Bex Scott: [00:10:21] That's fun.
Ruth: [00:10:23] She spotted it and she was so excited. And I remember it was $14.99 for the full set of all four, yellow and black, in good shape on the thrift store sell. Like that one really sticks out in my mind. But there's lots of other pieces of primary. I found the Turquoise bowl set at the thrift. I have found Butterprint dozens of times. There's an awful lot of Butterprint where I live. I don't know if it's one of the old department stores used to carry it, but it used to show up almost, I wouldn't say weekly, but monthly for sure, I could find Butterprint. Yeah. I mean, not the pink or the orange, but the regular Butterprint. It was pretty common to find a piece of it. Now, generally all I find of that is the dishwasher pieces of Pyrex that in my family we have a tradition when you find a, my tradition, when you see a dishwasher piece of Pyrex on the shelf, you hum Taps. You thank it for its service.
Bex Scott: [00:11:33] Oh, I love that. I'm gonna have to start doing that. Yeah.
Ruth: [00:11:37] Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:11:38] In memory of this Pyrex dish, what it used to be.
Ruth: [00:11:42] Yes, exactly. Oh, isn't there nothing sadder than finding, oh, my gosh, I have found a Pink Daisy at the thrift store. Like the casseroles, the space savers, not so much the space savers, but the 043s and the 045s, have found those a couple of times at the thrift. Actually found an 045 on the thrift store shelf two, three years ago? I think that's about as recent as I can remember finding that. The good old days. The good old days when nobody knew what it was.
Bex Scott: [00:12:18] Yeah. Now it's so hard to find anything that's not dishwasher damaged. Or I find Old Orchard all the time. It's always hanging around, lurking.
Ruth: [00:12:28] And Homestead. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:12:32] Yeah, Homestead. And the primaries that are always just destroyed. Yeah.
Ruth: [00:12:38] That have, yeah, yeah, that have given their shine in the service of many a batch cookies. Oh yeah. Yeah. There's lots of lots of that out there. Though, I mean,to be honest, I did find the 444 Friendship and the 443 Friendship at the thrift store just a couple of months ago.
Bex Scott: [00:13:04] Oh. Awesome.
Ruth: [00:13:06] It wasn't inexpensive but it was senior day. So, you know, in Canada, one of the big thrift chains on Tuesdays has 30% off for anyone over 60. So I just, I've just outed myself there. But yeah, but with the discount it was okay. And they were really nice and they were shiny. And I'm like, you know, yeah, I've never had these. And really in 12 years I've had the 442 a couple of times, but I'd never had the two larger ones. So I thought what the heck? And I bought them for myself and now I'm going, what am I going to, yeah, because sometimes when they're in really good shape and you're like, oh, I know this is, you know something I can enjoy for a while. And when I'm done enjoying it, I can pass it on at a decent enough price point to make someone else happy.
Bex Scott: [00:14:05] Exactly. Yeah. So what would you say thrifting and Facebook Marketplace are like where you live? Are prices high, is there a good selection?
Ruth: [00:14:16] I would say things are fairly moderate. I mean, some of the stores think they have gold every time grandma donates her Butterprint bowl, but then the items frequently don't get purchased. So there's a few of the chains are bad at high pricing things, the thrift stores, but overall it's moderate. Facebook marketplace is a, we don't have the time to discuss, pricing is all over the place because, you know, people can list things for whatever they feel is an appropriate price. And some people think Chairish is where you get your pricing, and other people just want to get rid of the old bowls that they're having to clean up. So it's, uh, it's a very mixed bag. If people ever post anything that's good at a reasonable price, though, you can bet it is snapped up faster than you can say, I'm in my car and on my way to go pick it up so it can be quite competitive. If you're trying to find some pieces for yourself that are reasonably priced, or if you're a full time reseller who's trying to pay the bills with what you're making on flipping the treasures that you find. So I would say moderate to ridiculous, depending upon the sort of store and/or the person listing the item. So there's still some treasures to be found out there, but it's quite, quite competitive. And as you know, over the pandemic, the amount of people that are resellers increased exponentially. For the people who have been doing it for a long time and making a living at it, it certainly made their lives, I have a lot of, I know there's a lot of people that have disparaging things to say about resellers. Sorry, that's the word we use now. Used to always be pickers, you know, antique dealers. There was different terms for it. I have a lot of sympathy for them, their lives are not, not that their lives are ever easy, but it's definitely a lot more challenging than it used to be.
Bex Scott: [00:16:23] Right. Yeah, I agree, and I kind of feel like I contributed to some of that unhappiness because I started in the pandemic and I started reselling. So I always feel guilty. I'm like, oh no, look what I've done, I've contributed to the people who are making people's lives harder.
Ruth: [00:16:41] But you're still doing it. There's a lot of people who started during the pandemic and have already bowed out, like the attrition rate, at least, you know, by the amount of local vintage seller Instagram accounts that I follow, there's been a fairly high attrition rate. I'd say 40, maybe 50% of them are still going. Maybe, that's likely closer to 40%. So it's like anything, it's becomes either a necessity because, you know, our options for making money during that time were more difficult. So I mean, people are having, doing what they have to do or, you know, learning things because they had time. And then as other opportunities opened up again, they moved on. And that's cool. You know, everybody has the right to earn a living in the way that they feel is appropriate, and of course, legal and ethical, legal, of course, you know, no question there. And then the ethics of reselling, I mean, obviously, as someone who resells to help fund my collecting habits, I find it ethical and a great way to keep things out of the landfill because there is such a abundance of items. I know you say like, how is the thrift store and how is Facebook Marketplace, and yes, there's competition over certain items, but as a whole, the amount of goods that are available to us within the recycling cycle of, you know, post-consumer items, it's so huge.
Ruth: [00:18:22] There is so much stuff that anyone that says that resellers are driving up the prices is looking at the big picture through a toilet paper tube, like they're looking at one little section, a few portions of items, you know, a few select, more what is in fad or what is popular right now for collecting. Are those prices up a little bit because more people are looking for it? Yeah, but that is 2% of what is out there. There is so much stuff that, you know, your number one choice, you know, of course, always is use what you have. Your number two choice is buy secondhand. And then of course number three is buy new. Unless you're talking about underwear, you know, I'm sorry but underwear, always buy new. Underwear, mattresses. But just about anything else, you know secondhand is the way to go if you have to buy it. But that's not the question that you asked. So I'll rein myself in once again.
Bex Scott: [00:19:31] No, that's good. And I've heard there's so much stuff out there that's being donated and I guess trying to be donated that they're just redirecting stuff to the landfills. So the secondhand stores, they can't keep up. So if we can help with that in any way, then I think it's worth it.
Ruth: [00:19:51] Absolutely, absolutely. And I think the whole collecting of vintage items from the past is one, it's earth friendly to continue to enjoy items that have already been made, but it's also a great way to appreciate the quality goods that used to be made on our continent. And this is, again, not disparaging to a lot, there's a lot of great quality made goods being made all across the world, and I 100% support that people have the right to buy anything from wherever they want, as long as it's legal. But, you know, the things that travel the least amount of miles is always the best thing to buy if you can afford it. You know, not saying because the 100 mile diet is not practical when you live in the climates that we live in. And that's a whole nother topic too, right? I'm just saying shop secondhand. It's good for the earth.
Bex Scott: [00:21:00] Yeah. I posted on my Instagram story a couple days ago, it was an old department store photo. And I got into a bit of a conversation with somebody in direct messages, and we were talking about how it would have been so cool to go back and shop in a department store with all of the awesome items that we now collect as vintage items. And she mentioned, I don't know if you guys have HomeSense in Winnipeg. It's like the home side of Winners, do you have Winners?
Ruth: [00:21:28] Oh yeah, yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:21:29] Where you can buy all the cheaper decor for your house. But she said, wouldn't it be weird down the road if our kids or their kids say, I want to go look at what was at HomeSense, like, that's considered vintage. And then you're looking for the Live Laugh Love posters that everybody has in their house and...
Ruth: [00:21:50] Really? You think those are... I mean, there was a lot of things that came out in the 50s and 60s and 70s that nobody is collecting now.
Bex Scott: [00:22:01] True.
Ruth: [00:22:01] You know, not everything stands the test of time.
Bex Scott: [00:22:04] Yeah.
Ruth: [00:22:04] And I really hope Live Laugh Love is one of those things.
Bex Scott: [00:22:08] Yeah. That one better die off because that... yeah.
Ruth: [00:22:14] You know, there's just things that, but all the dollar store stuff that is just made to self-destruct in such a short amount of time is sad, but is that what people will be collecting? There's a lot of toys for my childhood in the 60s and 70s that at the time were considered not super great quality because they were made in, you know, whatever offshore country. And at the time, they were just the toys that we enjoyed that now people are collecting and are gaga over it. So it's not always, it's not always the quality. I thought at first, is it the quality of the item or is it the nostalgia of the item? Like what will we be, what will people be pining for in 30, 40 years? What will your kids be looking back with great fondness in 30 years and will be the collector things? It won't be, it's just like, you know, the oil lamps and the things that my parents generation collected that no one has any interest in today.
Bex Scott: [00:23:22] Yeah.
Ruth: [00:23:23] Because no one remembers them. No one has memories of their grandparents using it. They didn't grow up with it. You know, it's the silent generation. They're almost all gone. And so that stuff is just, there's a lot of it, but people aren't collecting it. And that's how things kind of cycle. Cycle in and out, you know, your mom had it, she threw it out. You know, your grandma - what was it? Your grandma had it, she threw it out, now you want it?
Bex Scott: [00:23:55] Yeah. Exactly.
Ruth: [00:23:57] All of that. All of that.
Bex Scott: [00:24:00] And what else do you love collecting other than Pyrex?
Ruth: [00:24:07] Well, it's not a short list, but to summarize, of course, Pyrex was my gateway drug for really collecting vintage items, and a lot of that had to do with where I was in my life and not raising kids anymore and having the time and the resources to do it. But I also collect Delfite glass, which is like the blue milk glass as opposed to--
Bex Scott: [00:24:35] I love Delfite--
Ruth: [00:24:35] -- gray green, which is called Jadeite. So I have quite an extensive collection of it. I have some of the Made in Canada Pyrex. Some of you may know there was a Canadian Pyrex factory for a little under ten years outside of Toronto, and they made a couple of beautiful patterns in Delfite, and also in some other beautiful blue milk glass that I'm quite fond of. And the Jeanettes, and the McKee, you know, the slightly older than that late 40s to early 50s stuff that Pyrex made from the 30s and 40s. That's when most of that Delfite came out. I can't so much afford the blue milk glass that came out in the previous century, like before 1900 and the 19th century. I admire it, but a lot of it has become so pricey I can't collect it. But anyhow, okay, what I like. I have a fairly extensive Fenton Cake plate cake stand collection.
Bex Scott: [00:25:37] Ooh, I like those.
Ruth: [00:25:38] I have some yeah, they're, I love pink, I love pink and turquoise and ruffly and girly and I just like that kind of stuff, you know, which is kind of Pyrex is a real gateway to that with the pink and the turquoise. I have quite an extensive Federal glass collection. I think I have over, yeah, over 100 pieces of that, mostly because I really like the colored dots that they released a lot of them. A lot of the Federal glass was only, the patterns were only released in Canada, so it's a little bit easier to find here. So I'm quite drawn to those patterns, like the, okay, I won't start listing them all, but Federal glass and I have a bit of Hazel-Atlas and some Fire-King, some Cathrineholm, some George Briard enamel. You know, the Cathrineholm leads you down the enamel path, and then you start picking up some fennel, you know, and some George Briard and some, I really love the balloons, the George Briard balloons pattern. It's just blue and turquoise. It's just beautiful. I love it. That's dishes. I have a weakness for vintage handmade items, very particularly in all the different types of embroidery that are out there. My mother was a prolific creator of fiber items, from quilting to many different types of embroidery to crochet and that, well, she was also a product of her generation, right? Silent generation.
Ruth: [00:27:17] She was, she grew up and was taught how to sew and crochet and tat and can and pickle and butcher and, you know, all those kinds of things. And so I, you know, grew up with all of that, did not appreciate it when I was a child, did not appreciate it when I when I was a young adult. But as I grew older, I learned to appreciate it more as I tried to do things myself that appeared very easy because my mother so seamlessly in my mind, you know, because she had decades of practice, would whip off. Oh, you want a bag for your gym clothes? You know, sat down at her sewing machine, whip, whip, here it was. Oh, you didn't like that color blouse? You want it in this color instead? Okay. And she'd whip it up for me, you know, it seemed so seamless. And then I tried doing those things myself. Not quite as seamless, but, I mean, I did, yeah. Yeah, I, you know, I like sewing, but I love vintage embroidery, vintage cruels, needlepoint, petit point. Not a huge fan of cross-stitch because it's more of a math endeavor. You just have to count and keep all your x's the same size, whereas the other ones, wow, there's a hierarchy, there's a snobbery on the embroidery scale. But anyhow, in my mind, you know, no, there's just ones I like more than others.
Ruth: [00:28:42] What else? I have collection of chalkware fish in one of my rooms. I also have a collection of wood plates. I also have a collection of ceramic deer. Being retired has its privileges because it also means I collect things and sometimes they stay with me and other times the art of acquiring the collection, of finding it, of thrifting it, you know, I'm a very regular thrifter, is the part that I really enjoyed. And at the end I decide that the enjoyment of that collection needs to move on to someone else. And so I will part with, I will part with the collection because I have collected another couple of dozen other things that I collected until it wasn't enjoyable, or it got to the point where the things I wanted were no longer easy to acquire and I moved on. Which is interesting because Pyrex is one of those things that I got to the point where the things I kind of wanted were no longer easy to acquire, but I kept, I've probably kept about 20, 25% of all the Pyrex I've ever owned, and I have a couple of hundred pieces. So I've moved on and shared a lot of Pyrex in my life. My kids will say otherwise, but I have. I have!
Bex Scott: [00:30:09] I swear I have.
Ruth: [00:30:11] I swear I have, I swear I have, I swear I have. I no longer do the three things in and one thing out. Now I'm trying to change that ratio the other way. But it's hard when you've collected things and really enjoyed them. So yeah, wow. Simple question and I went on for a while. Sorry about that.
Bex Scott: [00:30:32] No, I feel like we could do another episode on just what you collect, and I would love to hear more about it because some of the names you said I don't even recognize, so I have lots of learning to do still.
Ruth: [00:30:46] Yeah. Oh, I've had the luxury of having had a little bit more time to learn about those things. And when they're interesting and you go down the rabbit hole of learning about them and now information is so readily available compared to... You know, I remember thrifting and finding things back in the, you know, a couple of decades ago and to figure out what things were meant going to the library, trying to figure out what it was so you could even look for the right book if the book existed. Or talking to the antique dealers at the time who were not always very willing to share information. You know, that was a different generation and a different time, where people were much more protectionist to the information that they had, because that was how they made a living, and that was how they fed their families better than the next person, because they had that information. Like it's not a wanting of the Boomer, the previous generations to withhold information because they're being mean or insightful, regardless of the memes that are out there. It's because that information was what enabled them to make a living. And okay, whatever. You know, again, another topic. What were we really talking about here? Circle me back. Circle me back.
Bex Scott: [00:32:27] No, that was a perfect reply. Perfect response. So in closing, what would you say to a new collector, or what's one piece of advice that you would give them? Could be for Pyrex, could be for vintage.
Ruth: [00:32:43] Collect what you love with a caveat of 'and that your budget can support'.
Bex Scott: [00:32:49] Yes.
Ruth: [00:32:50] Right. Because it's not a passion project or a project of love if you're spending money on it that keeps a roof over your head and food on the table. But you have to love it first. To collect something because you perceive it as valuable or other people perceive it of value is a very sad way to live your life. Life is about love and passion and sharing and joy and being kind to other people, and if you're a collector, it has to be what you love.
Bex Scott: [00:33:33] I agree, especially because so much of our lives now is determined by what we see other people have or what they're doing, and it shouldn't be that way. So collecting what you love is a perfect example of how we should be living our lives. So I think that's wonderful advice.
Ruth: [00:33:52] Thank you. It's been a real pleasure speaking with you, Bex.
Bex Scott: [00:33:56] Well, thank you so much for joining me today. You gave me a whole new perspective on Pyrex and collecting, and I learned so much from you. So everybody can find Ruth at Periwinkle Collectibles on Instagram. Thank you so much, Ruth.
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| 28 Mar 2025 | Vintage Costume Jewelry with Lulu | 00:23:38 | |
Bex Scott welcomes guest Lulu from Lulu J Vintage, a vintage costume jewelry collector and seller, to the show to teach her all about the joys of vintage costume jewelry. Lulu started collecting when she was sixteen years old and worked at the Carol Tanenbaum Vintage Jewelry Collection through high school and university. She learned from amazing mentors about the history of jewelry and developed her own collection before starting to sell on Instagram last year. Bex finds out what jewelry Lulu loves best, her philosophy on collecting, and tips for testing authenticity. Lulu describes herself as a “very passionate collector” and her love of vintage costume jewelry shines through in her conversation with Bex. She describes some of her favorite vintage pieces and why she prefers certain styles over others. Though she says she’s not a fashion historian, Lulu teaches Bex quite a lot about the history of costume jewelry and styles through the years. Bex learns about the current brooch resurgence, French designer Léa Stein, how to locate the lost mate of her solo Sherman earring, and how to test for true Bakelite. Lulu stresses that collecting should be about what someone loves, and what they’re passionate about, not simply focused on what will sell or what’s valuable. Join Bex and Lulu for a deep dive into vintage costume jewelry. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Lulu | Lulu J Vintage
Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat. Hey everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. And today I am very excited to introduce to you Lulu of Lulu J vintage on Instagram. Welcome, Lulu.
Lulu: [00:00:43] Thanks so much for having me Bex.
Bex Scott: [00:00:44] Thanks for being here. So I found you through Instagram and I instantly fell in love with all of your education on vintage costume jewelry and your amazing reels. And every time you post, I want to buy all of the jewelry that you show. So I wanted to make sure I could get you on the podcast to educate my listeners on all of the amazing jewelry. I love jewelry, I have a massive collection of just random things from over the years. I don't wear a lot of it, but I have this thing where I need to buy it and just keep it in a jewelry box and then look at it. So I'm excited to learn from you today as well.
Lulu: [00:01:27] I think that's how all collecting starts. You start with coins or jewelry or just things that you love, and it starts to turn in, even your beautiful books behind you and your collection.
Bex Scott: [00:01:40] Yeah, it's funny how you don't realize that you're starting a collection. And then you look at everything around you, and you have about 40 more collections than you thought you did. So can you tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into the world of vintage costume jewelry?
Lulu: [00:01:59] Absolutely. And so I am a very passionate collector of vintage costume jewelry. I've been collecting since I was 16 years old. I worked at the Carol Tannenbaum Vintage Jewelry Collection throughout high school and university, and that was the place I just fell in love with it. I was immersed in jewelry. I learned so much from amazing mentors and learned a lot about the history, and slowly just started to build my collection over time. I began selling just on Instagram last year as really a creative outlet from my full-time job and a way to get back into this industry and to meet like-minded people.
Bex Scott: [00:02:46] That's awesome. What is it about vintage costume jewelry that fascinates you the most?
Lulu: [00:02:51] That's a great question. I mean, I think I've always been a jewelry girl. I loved playing dress up as a kid. Go through my nana's jewelry box? Yeah, just, I've always loved fashion. There was a period through, I guess, my teens where I thought I wanted to be a fashion designer or a jewelry designer, and working at Carol's Collection, it was really that place that started my interest in costume jewelry and becoming really fascinated with it. And it was just, it's more accessible than collecting, I'd say clothing because you can keep it in a jewelry box. You don't need to have a big closet. And yeah, that's where it started.
Bex Scott: [00:03:31] And you can have multiple jewelry boxes and still hide them away. You can't have multiple closets as easily.
Lulu: [00:03:39] No. It's true. We live in a small apartment, and my personal collection jewelry box keeps growing because it's one of those ones that stacks on top of each other. And then the pieces to sell, I have an Ikea unit and we keep it in our little more like a storage room den. And I think my fiance is very happy that it's just jewelry and not racks of clothes.
Bex Scott: [00:04:09] I love that. I can relate to you mentioning going through your grandma's jewelry, because that's what I used to do with my granny when I was little. We'd go to her house and the first thing I do is run up to her bedroom and start undoing all of her clothes and her jewelry and going through her drawers. So, I don't do that anymore, because that would be strange. But that kind of started me with my tiny jewelry collection. Most of what I have is from her, passed down, and she always says she has a few more pieces that she needs to give me as well. So it's nice. Mhm. And have you come across any interesting or surprising stories behind some of the pieces that you have?
Lulu: [00:04:55] Yeah, absolutely. I think in my personal collection, a lot of the pieces I have are of sentimental value or just pieces that I absolutely love. And I just would not want to sell. But I actually recently found a piece that I just sold that looked very 50s in the style, and the woman I bought it from thought it was from the 50s. And then when I went to do a bit more research about it, it turned out to be a 90s German bracelet, and it was marked Germany on the spring clasp. And that you only find that marking if it's pre-war or post, like the fall of the Berlin Wall. So it's really interesting that this piece looked very 50s, and it actually turned out to be newer from my vintage perspective, but kind of just shows that all like fashion is very cyclical. Even with vintage jewelry, you can, designers will look into the past. And yeah, I thought that was really cool.
Bex Scott: [00:05:51] That is really cool. When you're researching the jewelry, do you often find things that are really surprising or is like from your experience, do you kind of understand most of what you've found now before you do the research?
Lulu: [00:06:04] That's a great question. I think I have a good base knowledge of that history, having worked at Carol's Collection for a very long time. But you're always learning as you find new pieces or like, as I just said, I thought that piece was 50s. It turned out to be a 90s piece. I'm not a fashion historian. I went to school for graphic design not fashion design in the end. So I'm no expert, but you have to always keep learning and it's nice to like, get books. And when I find a piece that I don't know, I like so many Facebook groups that you can join to learn more or help identify pieces. So yeah, always, always you constantly learn as you go.
Bex Scott: [00:06:47] Nice. I went to school for graphic design as well, so that's very cool to meet another graphic designer, and I think that partially put me into collecting as well, because it's so creative and like all the colors and the research, it's kind of goes hand in hand with that creative side of your brain.
Lulu: [00:07:06] Absolutely. And I even say, like making content for social media, even though it's more screen time than my day job, it's still very creative. It's like a different type of creative muscle that you're flexing and with collecting too, it's yeah, just as you said, like finding different colors or pieces that are really unique. Yeah I love it as a creative outlet.
Bex Scott: [00:07:30] Mhm. So what role do you think vintage costume jewelry has played in fashion history.
Lulu: [00:07:37] Yeah great question. As I said I'm not a fashion historian. So I'm going to speak more generally on this. But I do think it's played a role especially for couture designers as a way to reach different audiences. I think like Chanel had clothing, but they also had jewelry, and so that became a little bit more accessible. There's a designer, Kenneth Jay Lane, who had a couture costume collection of jewelry. But then it was like, I want to make sure that my audience is more broad and actually sold on Avon. So it's like it made it more, I think, accessible in that sense.
Bex Scott: [00:08:22] Neat. I think I've heard that name before. I wouldn't know any of the pieces, but...
Lulu: [00:08:28] So his pieces are in the 60s, and some of his couture pieces are these, like beautiful, like chandelier earrings, really colorful with, like, it's called, like diamante, fake diamonds all around it. And then if you ever see says KJL or Kenneth Lane, those are...
Bex Scott: [00:08:47] Okay.
Lulu: [00:08:47] And then his, his stuff for like, Avon is very different than that. But it's neat need to see the range of work how it, and over different time as well.
Bex Scott: [00:08:59] Mhm. Mm. You brought up Avon and I'm kind of curious how do you feel about Avon Jewelry and some of the vintage. I find so much of it.
Lulu: [00:09:10] That's a great question. And I actually just bought a lot of jewelry from a collector who, like, only shopped on the shopping channel, and it was all Avon and like KJL, Joan Rivers, like really fun 80s 90s like Gold Tone. And I like it. I think it really, I only buy what I like. So it to me, it doesn't matter if it's a piece really old like from, you know, like 20s or 30s to a 90s piece from Avon. Like, if you like the style and it speaks to you, I say you should buy it.
Bex Scott: [00:09:47] Exactly. I keep finding that Avon Rose. You probably know which one it is. It's the gold stem with the little red top. The brooch. Every time I buy jewelry in, like, a big lot, there's about four of them in there. So I think I have a mini collection of just the Avon Rose. Do you see a resurgence in the popularity of vintage costume jewelry, and how can people kind of incorporate it into their modern wardrobes?
Lulu: [00:10:15] I definitely think there is a resurgence, especially like the past year and a half of like, the year of the brooch and everyone wearing brooches. And I mean, you see that even with fine jewelry like that trend. But costume is a way that's more accessible. So you're not spending thousands of dollars on a brooch. You can spend it at a more accessible price point. And it's nice to see, like my clients range in age. So I do think it's popular just with different people and it's coming back.
Bex Scott: [00:10:45] Mhm. I love it, I like that the younger generation is starting to wear more jewelry and finding fun ways to wear brooches, whether it's their grandmothers or passed down from family, or if they're just collecting it themselves. I think it's really, really fun and refreshing. Totally. Are there certain designers or brands that shaped the industry and are especially collectible today?
Lulu: [00:11:11] I think that really depends on where you're from and what type of jewelry you like to collect. I collect primarily North American and few European designers, but as I said, like really, if I see something I love, it can be from anywhere, it just has to speak to me. There's many costume designers and I actually would recommend this book, it's called Vintage Jewelry Collecting and Wearing Vintage Classics by Caroline Cox. It's a nice overview of fashion history, but specifically from a jewelry perspective. And it showcases different designers throughout different decades. It's been a great resource. There's a lot of other great books out there too, but I just like that it shows that different designers.
Bex Scott: [00:11:59] I think that sounds great.
Lulu: [00:12:00] For myself, I really love her name is Léa, Léa Stein, and she was a French designer who made buttons, brooches and bangles all out of compressed layers of plastic. So it's really unique.
Bex Scott: [00:12:16] That sounds cool.
Lulu: [00:12:17] And like they created a lot of unique designs and patterns. And they're really fun brooches. They're just like, I have one umbrella. I have like a little girl. Some flowers are so fun. And I love, like, plastic jewelry. So it's definitely like she's one of the like the renowned plastic artists. And from a Canadian perspective, Sherman Jewelry is definitely the most collectible. He really used amazing like high quality rhinestones, particularly those aurora borealis stones, and it's really sought after. There's a huge community out there of Sherman collectors.
Bex Scott: [00:12:56] I think that's one of the Facebook groups that I'm a part of, and it's always fascinating to see how many different Sherman pieces there were and how some were signed and some weren't. So it's hard to tell if you have one or you don't, and...
Lulu: [00:13:11] Totally. And it's neat to see too, that like, there's so many different variations of his jewelry, but then there are some styles that I keep seeing, like, I actually just bought a brooch, it's one of the pinwheel brooches. And I feel like now every time I'm on that Facebook group, that style always pops up. And it's like nice to see. I love when I find other collectors who have similar pieces to you because it's so rare because there's the quantity of the jewelry is a lot smaller back then. So, it's really unique.
Bex Scott: [00:13:48] That's fun. I have a couple, I have two sets of Sherman earrings, and then I have a bundle that I bought at an auction, and it came with only one lone Sherman earring. And it's the prettiest earring I've ever seen. And it's just gonna sit there alone forever.
Lulu: [00:14:06] You could take it to a jeweler and, like, put it on a necklace or something. You want to do--
Bex Scott: [00:14:11] -- That's a good idea--
Lulu: [00:14:12] -- something with it?
Bex Scott: [00:14:13] Yeah. I was thinking they should have kind of like a dating app, but for lost jewelry, where you swipe to find the missing pair of your earring.
Lulu: [00:14:24] I will find it for you. I actually think I follow one Instagram that's like to find people's pairs. Like she just has single earrings. She might be based in the US, but I'll follow up with them for you.
Bex Scott: [00:14:37] That's amazing. I love that. Yeah. So what would you say are some of the key differences between costume jewelry from different decades. You know, there's so much of it. But even 1920s versus 1960s or now, what would you say are some of the key differences?
Lulu: [00:14:55] Yeah, that's a great question. I think the big differences are the materials that are used and as well as like how it mirrored fashion trends at the time. So as I said, I love 60s plastic. And there's so much plastic jewelry that's very like mod and colorful and like really reflective of that style. And so it really just depends on the decade and that example that I said like something that looked 50s but actually was 90s. You just need to do a bit more research on.
Bex Scott: [00:15:31] Yeah. What would you say about quality. Do you think it's gotten better? Has it gotten worse? Is it kind of the same?
Lulu: [00:15:39] Yeah, that's a great question. I don't collect as much contemporary costume and I've just been a vintage collector for so long. But I will say it's amazing the quality of vintage jewelry, that there are pieces that can last hundreds of years. Yeah, I have a necklace that was one of the first pieces of costume jewelry that I ever got. And this is like beautiful, Czech glass necklace. It's cherry red. I wear it all the time. It's so fun. And it's like 100 years old now. It's from the 20s and yeah, it's still in amazing shape. So the fact that it really stands the test of time is quite amazing. No obviously on everything, but a lot of pieces and especially those designer pieces, if you are following and collecting specific people.
Bex Scott: [00:16:33] It's kind of fun to think we collect vintage jewelry now, what is it going to be like 100 years from now? Will the jewelry that we're making now still be around, or will it be all broken and degraded?
Lulu: [00:16:47] Totally. I mean, there's so much I've seen online, even from a fashion perspective of, like going to thrift stores and a lot of it being fast fashion clothing. And it's not the quality that it was in the past. And so really high quality vintage pieces are harder to come by.
Bex Scott: [00:17:09] Have to hold on to them when you find them.
Lulu: [00:17:11] Definitely.
Bex Scott: [00:17:13] Are there specific gemstones or materials commonly used in vintage jewelry that we don't see as often today?
Lulu: [00:17:20] Yes. So this is a great question. And I immediately thought of Bakelite. I don't...
Bex Scott: [00:17:26] Yeah.
Lulu: [00:17:27] It's one of my favorite things to collect, as I've said many times, I'm a huge plastic collector. So Bakelite, 60s plastic, all of it I just love. And you really don't see Bakelite anymore because it's a type of plastic that had formaldehyde in it. And that wasn't, pretty much stopped using that after the 40s. And so it's very rare, hard to come by and really collectible.
Bex Scott: [00:17:55] I think I have a Bakelite bracelet and, let me know if this is true, but somebody said that you can warm it up and it has a smell, and that's how you know, if it's Bakelite.
Lulu: [00:18:05] So you have to like, you warm it up either, and like, I usually just like use my thumb on the Bakelite and just rub it a little and then it will smell like formaldehyde and, you know, it's Bakelite. So it's also like the, I don't know how to describe it other than the, like, softness of the plastic. It's a lot softer than other types of plastic. So it has a different feel as well.
Bex Scott: [00:18:34] I'm going to go and smell all my bracelets now. So what advice do you have for someone who wants to start collecting vintage costume jewelry?
Lulu: [00:18:49] Yeah. I think they should just collect what they love. Everyone should do their research and learn about the history if they want to collect specific designers. But I think by collecting what you love, you just, you're more passionate about it and you enjoy the pieces more. And it's not about, it's not always about a resale value. It's about how you enjoy the pieces as well.
Bex Scott: [00:19:14] I like that, that's, I feel like can be applied to so many different things where especially with things like Pyrex, you collect what you like and there's people on groups who post and say is this a good price for it or should I get it? Should I leave it? And I always like the responses that are, well, if you like it, then nothing, nobody else's opinion should really matter. Just collect it because you want it in your home and you want to use it. And that's all that really matters.
Lulu: [00:19:41] Exactly. And like Pyrex especially, it's something that you'll use often like we have like the butterfly set that was my fiance's grandparents and I just love them.
Bex Scott: [00:19:57] That's so special.
Lulu: [00:19:57] I, we use them every day. And so it's like a reminder of something of them, but also just that it's nice to have in your house.
Bex Scott: [00:20:07] Yeah, I love that. And for people who have vintage costume jewelry, is there a good way to store the pieces to keep them in good condition?
Lulu: [00:20:16] So I would suggest laying them flat when you can. I learned the very hard way not to keep a necklace on one of those, like necklace trees for a long time. It was this beautiful, like, beaded hand strung necklace. I went to put it on and it just completely broke.
Bex Scott: [00:20:35] Oh, no. I never even thought of that. Maybe, does it make it weak? From sitting on the tree?
Lulu: [00:20:42] The weight of it, of the beads. And because they were glass beads and like the thread over time, like it could wear. And so lay flat, not don't bend things harder if you have limited space, but just treat it as any other jewelry if you want it to last. You want to take good care of it.
Bex Scott: [00:21:03] Yeah. What's the best way to clean the jewelry?
Lulu: [00:21:06] That's a good question. I find for like, anything with like, sterling or like gold tone, you can get these like, polishing cloths. So I find that better than, like a sterling and...
Bex Scott: [00:21:22] Like an actual paste or a cleaner or something. Yeah.
Lulu: [00:21:25] I personally find it a lot better. It's hard with dust, so like you could use those cloths as well just to dust things, dust things off. But if you lay things flat and like in jewelry boxes, that's the best way to store and keep things clean because they're not out in areas collecting a lot of dust.
Bex Scott: [00:21:45] That sounds good. I need to do some rearranging and shifting of how I have things stored now.
Lulu: [00:21:52] It's okay. I mean, I do have a few things that are on top of each other, but.
Bex Scott: [00:21:57] Yeah.
Lulu: [00:21:57] It's best if you can. So you can give the piece some space.
Bex Scott: [00:22:02] That sounds great. And where can people find you online to give you a follow? And where can they shop for your jewelry?
Lulu: [00:22:09] Absolutely. So online I'm just on Instagram. It's at Lulu J vintage. You'll see my content as well as you can always send me a message if there's anything particular that you're looking for, because I only post a few of the pieces that I have either online or in store. And if you're in Calgary, I am at two local shops, so I'm at Joyce's Closet Boutique, which is in Kensington, and I'm at BEX Vintage and Mr. Mansfield's Vintage in the Beltline. They're really awesome mid-century furniture shop.
Bex Scott: [00:22:46] Very cool. I've been meaning to go to all of those places. And just so everybody knows, the BEX Vintage has nothing to do with me. We are two separate people. Just in case. Just the same name. Awesome. Well, thank you so much Lulu for being on the podcast. I learned a ton today, and I can't wait to go and organize my jewelry and keep collecting.
Lulu: [00:23:10] Thank you so much Bex, this is really great and nice to chat jewelry with you.
Bex Scott: [00:23:16] Yeah. Everybody go and give Lulu a follow on Instagram.
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| 14 Mar 2025 | 1960s Gadgets and Small Kitchen Appliances | 00:20:54 | |
Bex Scott introduces us to an article from ClickAmericana.com all about gadgets and kitchen appliances from the 60s. She opens with a story about her finds from a recent Value Village thrifting trip that got her thinking about the sorts of small appliances she often finds there. What kind of futuristic ideas in kitchen gadgetry did the 1960s produce? And how did they advertise these new products? Join Bex to find out. From wall and under counter mounted can openers to bun warmers and toaster ovens, it’s all here. The article features stunning images of the retro ads complete with color photos. Follow along with Bex as she learns which meat grinder can also grind hard almonds, the five good reasons for owning a General Electric rotisserie oven, and how 60s visionaries combined a portable mixer with a knife sharpener for the sake of convenience. Do you remember Presto coffee makers in white? Did you have a Redi-Oven? This episode will either make you scratch your head over the idea of owning an avocado colored blender or take you down memory lane with a Salton bun warmer. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: —
Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast, where you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat. Everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. I wanted to start off this episode with a little Value Village thrift store adventure. So I went into town with my husband and our daughter. Of course, she fell asleep on the way in. We were running some errands and we had some time to kill, so I asked Rob, my husband, if we could stop at Value Village and he said sure. So I let him stay in the car with our daughter, and I ran in to do a quick little ten minute run around the store, see if anything good was there. And lately Value Village hasn't been that great. There's been a lot of just broken things or missing pieces to things that I found. Today was a decent day, so there were some pretty beat up Pyrex. There was a Woodland Cinderella set, only three of the dishes, and it was priced at $35. It had some damage on the largest bowl, and I did consider it for a second, but I just couldn't justify paying $35 for that and the condition that it was in.
Bex Scott: [00:01:47] I also found a Homestead 403 mixing bowl that had been through years of dishwasher use, and they wanted $15 for it. And another primary set, blue 401. They wanted $6 for it and it was missing a lot of its color. So that was a bit of what I found today. That was a disappointment. I did, however, find six mugs from the Spring Blossom Tabletopware coordinates set. These are the nine ounce mugs that were sold in sets of four, and I found six in this pattern. So I picked them up and they were a great price. I was a bit sad though because I found them, I grabbed them and then I walked down to the other aisle and this little girl looked at me and I gave her a smile. I thought she was just being friendly, but then I heard her say, hey mom, I just saw somebody take those green flower mugs. And the mom said, don't worry, we left them there for a reason. And I felt so bad because this little girl obviously wanted to take these mugs home, but the mom was set on her not having them for some reason, probably because they didn't need six vintage mugs in their house for their kids to use. But I hope she knows that they're going to a good home.
Bex Scott: [00:03:13] I also found this amazing enamel fondue set in like a mustardy color with little flowers all over it, and it came with, I think it was six melamine divided plates and four forks with different colored plastic handles. That whole set is going to be in an upcoming mid-century modern show that I have a booth at in Calgary. It is my very first show that I'm ever doing. I have a ten by ten booth, three tables, so I'm excited to be thrifting to find some pieces that I can put in that show. If any of you are in Calgary and you hear this episode before I go to the show, it's April 12th, 2025, so you can catch me there and come and see some of the awesome pieces of Pyrex that I'm going to have there, and just other, other things that I have found over the last year or so. Going to Value Village today kind of brings me to my episode, where I always go down the appliance section, and I never expect to find anything in this section. It's usually a bunch of really beat up, lately it's been donut makers, those little instant donut makers or cake pop makers, so nothing really great in vintage, but it got me thinking about kind of the small kitchen appliances that people used in their home in the 1960s.
Bex Scott: [00:04:47] So I was doing some research and I came across this really great article in, the websites called Click Americana.Com. So go to my show notes and navigate to this article. It's called 1960s Gadgets and Small Kitchen Appliances Made Life a Little Easier, and this episode is going to be a bit of a read through the article and take you through it, but I want you to make sure that you see these photos, because a lot of them are clips taken from old catalogs and magazines, and it'll give you a really great idea of the pieces and the appliances that they had in their kitchens. And a lot of these I have seen at Value Village before, and other thrift stores, and some of them I even have in my basement right now waiting to be sold. So it's kind of a bit of an educational episode and a fun little show and tell as well.
Bex Scott: [00:05:40] So the first one we have is the retro wall-mounted manual can opener by Can-O-Mat. And this is from the 1960s, and the ad shows a little lady in the reflection of the can opener opening her can and it says most beautiful can opener made. Its clean, uncluttered beauty tells you Can-O-Mat is a masterpiece of mechanical simplicity. No levers, gadgets, wires or motors, just the easy turn of a single handle opens any can, any size, any shape. Leaves a smooth, safe drinking cup edge. That's why you'll find Can-O-Mat in most kitchens, where quiet, good taste and smooth efficiency are happily wedded. Any wonder its first choice of millions of style conscious homemakers? I struggle with can openers, all of the modern ones. I think they're terrible. I have trouble figuring out how to use them, and half the time they don't even cut properly. So it kind of has me thinking that I should be looking for one of these in the stores when I'm out and about.
Bex Scott: [00:06:42] Next up we have the Oster electric meat grinder. It's called the Electric Power Unit. It sits on your countertop and it says versatile and powerful, Oster electric meat grinder slices through foods without tearing, bruising, or mashing. That sounds kind of gross. Speedily and effortlessly grinds all foods from toughest meats to the most delicate vegetables. Even grinds hard almonds. New economies, better meals, and far more pleasure in food preparation are yours every day from the very first day you own the Oster electric meat grinder. I don't know about you guys, but I find a lot of meat grinder parts when I'm shopping or when I've bought a lot at an estate sale or in an auction. They are never complete. I would love to be able to test out one of these meat grinders, but so far I haven't come across one that's a full unit.
Bex Scott: [00:07:39] Next up we have the vintage General Electric rotisserie oven. This is really cute, it's a little countertop rotisserie oven and it says five good reasons for owning a General Electric rotisserie oven, in brackets, even if you have a good range oven. Number one is the rotisserie infrared broiler precision oven does so much more than an ordinary rotisserie. Does as many things, in fact, as an expensive range oven, and has range oven accuracy. Number two infrared broiling seals in the natural juices for best ever steaks and seafood. Brown and crusty outside. Delectable inside. Number three bake without heating up the kitchen. Separate baking element on bottom. Thermostatic heat control assure perfect cakes, breads, fancy desserts. Tilt top lid closes completely for baking. Glass window lets you peek in. This is like a fancy Easy-Bake oven. And then there's a picture. It kind of looks like a cat litter box with a lid on the top. Number four it has automatic push button controls. And number five, it's portable. You can cook anywhere with the General Electric rotisserie oven. That's pretty handy. You can take it to your friends houses. You could even cook in the parking lot if you have an outlet. Imagine taking this to a tailgate party. You just pull up your vintage rotisserie oven and put it on your tailgate. I would do that.
Bex Scott: [00:09:07] Next up we have a waffle maker and it says makes four big waffles at a time. General Electric Sandwich Grill and Waffle Iron has reversible grids that make delicious pancakes too. Grills sandwiches, bacon, and eggs. This is one that we have a ton of modern equivalents of this, so it looks pretty similar to what we have now. I have a waffle maker, but it's a tiny one, but I can see how this would be awesome. It is massive. Next up is something that I see a lot of in the thrift stores. We have the vintage GE Stainless Steel automatic coffee maker, and this one is from 1961 and it has a cute little Christmas background. But I find that these vintage coffee makers make amazing coffee, and I've had many of them over the years where we've brewed our coffee in them, and it just tastes so much better than drinking from a Keurig or a Nespresso pod. Next, we have the front loading Toast-R-Oven toaster oven. So it's spelled toast with an R in the middle, and it has a pretty funny description. It says, hands the toast to you, no digging. Toasts all breads, any shape, top browns muffins, grilled cheese sandwiches. Bakes too, frozen desserts, meat pies, even meatloaf. And it is essentially just a countertop toaster oven. That's what it is. I always wanted a toaster oven as a kid because I remember my grandparents having one, and the toast comes out so nice in these toaster ovens. This might be a bad episode for me, because now I'm thinking of all the different things that I should be buying and my family will love me for having no kitchen counter space after I go out and hunt for all these pieces.
Bex Scott: [00:11:05] Okay, next we have beats, whips, mixes, drinks, sharpens knives too. This is from 1961 and this is the General Electric portable mixer. Though it's only two and three quarter pounds, it's extra thorough with batters, extra gentle with sauces, extra marvelous with meringues. A free drink mixer fixes drinks in a whirl. This is a tongue twister. Remove beaters and plug in an optional accessory that sharpens knives. I've never seen one of these. Easily and safely. See the portable mixer in white, yellow, pink, and turquoise. Oh, those are some good colors. I would pick pink. At your General Electric dealers. It's very interesting actually. So you take off the beaters and then you can use it as the knife sharpener, or you can whip things up if you put the beaters back in. Okay, next we have the Salton Hotray appliance. I have sold so many of these hotrays. I've gifted them to my mother in law. And I have a few still in my basement. These ones are from 1962, and I find them almost every time I go to Value Village. And it's always fun to see which kind, because the top of them is always a different pattern. There's some pretty ones with flowers, there's some with just funky abstract designs. But it says here that it protects your dinner after you've cooked it. It can do this because the temperature of its radiant heat glass panel is thermostatically controlled to a point right under the cooking point. Thus, the food on it neither continues to cook nor to stand around growing cold. This means that those late coming husbands and extra drink guests will no longer pay the price of an overcooked and dried out dinner. And when dinner is finally served, hotray will put an end to your jumping up and down from the table. You just put the entire dinner on hotray, put hotray on the dining table, and serve from there. First will taste like firsts and seconds will taste as good as first. Of course, there's much more to Salton Hotray. Find me on Instagram and let me know, Did you guys use hotrays growing up? Do you still use hotrays? Do you like them? What are your thoughts?
Bex Scott: [00:13:19] Next up we have the automatic can opener kitchen gadget from 1961, and I'm pretty sure this is one that my grandparents had, and they mounted it to the underside of their kitchen cabinet. I remember this growing up vividly. It says it removes or hinges the lid quickly, cleanly, with no jagged edges. Magnet holds lid away from food, mounts on wall or optional counter stand. Next, we have a whole variety of vintage toasters from 1963. So we've got the GE Toast-R-Oven. We have the Two Slice that gives you nine shades of toast. We have the Dominion Four Slicer, ideal for big families, toasts 1 to 4 slices at a time, pops them up high, gives perfect results automatically. And it's chrome. We have the GE High Lift. Pops bread extra high, has easy to read control for light, dark or nine shades between. We have your Flip-Door toaster. It has a tray attached. Just flip doors, toast turns automatically, in a walnut trim. And then last we have the Toastmaster Sovereign. Has new controls up front. New concave design. Silent timer assures perfect shade of toast every single time.
Bex Scott: [00:14:36] Next up we have kitchen cooking and heating small appliances from 1963. We've got the Hand Mixer. Hangs on wall, has giant beaters and three speeds. The Toastmaster Portable Mixer has three speeds removable, cord. The Salton Gourmet Hotray. We have the Rotisserie Broiler, the 2-Burner Hotplate, the 1-Burner Hotplate, the Sunbeam Electric Frypan. It's completely immersible. Jumbo 12" Electric Skillet is automatic and washable. The Electric Buffet Server gives low heat, holds two quarts, and the Corning 10" Electric Skillet goes under broiler, yet on matching base, it bakes, stews and fries. And they have a little Corning blue cornflower on top of that guy.
Bex Scott: [00:15:28] The low silhouette blender. This one my grandparents also had, and it has the super dangerous looking like machete knife little blade in the bottom of it that I always got scared of when I was washing it. It doesn't have anything to say about it. It's pretty self-explanatory. Low, off, or high, that's about it. Vintage Presto coffee pots in white and black. These are really cool looking, they're actually, they look kind of atomic, kind of space age. And it says, does anyone on your street have the white one yet? Pardon us, but we do make a perfectly wonderful coffee maker. It's the one on the left in stainless steel with rich, glossy black trim, fully automatic. It brews a cup a minute of marvelous coffee and keeps it hot. The open spout means easy pouring, easy cleaning too, because it won't trap bitter oils in residues, and you can dunk the entire coffee maker without a worry. Families who live with it every day just love it. Still, we've had a mild but steady clamor, it wasn't a complaint, but a question. People kept asking why not make it white? Most people like the black one, we said. We might not have the volume and weight for mass production, we said. We might have to price it higher and then nobody would buy it. This is all in a magazine ad, just so you guys know. So we made the white one anyway, it's the one on the right. It makes wonderful coffee the same as the black one. It does cost a few pennies more, but now you have a choice. This is a crazy ad. We don't think you'll have trouble finding a black Presto on your street, but if you hurry, you still might be first with the white one. And that might be quite a kick. Wowzas.
Bex Scott: [00:17:13] Okay, Salton Bun Warmer, I have this, I've used it, it's amazing. It's so hard to find with the original cloth cover that closes and shuts, but I actually found one and it's great. So if you come across a Salton Bun Warmer, you'd better get it. It says it actually makes ordinary buns taste good, good ones taste great, and great ones taste like heaven on earth. The Salton Electric Bun Warmer won't perform miracles. It won't make our American mass produced buns and rolls taste like the kind grandma supposedly made 50 years ago. But what the Salton Bun Warmer will do is make rolls and buns taste a good deal better. It does this by keeping buns and rolls warm and fresh and crisp. And this ad, this is the exact one that I have. You can get the bun warmer for 9.95 or the French bread warmer for 11.95. Next up we have our Redi-Oven appliance tableside cooker from 1965. New, fast, easy, versatile, large capacity, compact electric oven that holds even a 3 pound roast or an 8 inch pie. Gleaming chrome finish with porcelain enamel interior. Automatic timer and controlled heat up to 500 degrees, perfect for preparing frozen foods, biscuits, baked potatoes right at the table. I want one of these. I've never seen this, but I want it. Double bonus $7.50 value international Silver Party Tray, plus free coupons for these famous frozen foods. Oh, so they were giving away this leaf shaped serving tray with a spoon as well.
Bex Scott: [00:18:55] Vintage 1960s Ronson Foodmatic in-counter appliance. Ronson Foodmatic slices, shreds, grinds meat and coffee, juices oranges, crushes ice, it even cooks. That is a versatile piece of equipment. It's very interesting looking as well. It sits on top of your counter. You can put beaters in there for baking. What else does it say? Automatic timer, solid state speed, beater clutch and arm release, speed selector guide. It's quite the 1969 invention. Okay, next up we have vintage small kitchen appliances and decorator colors from 1969. General Electric gives you a festival of color, flame, avocado, and harvest. Appliances include a can opener slash knife sharpener, portable mixers and stand mixers, Dutch skillet, buffet skillet, and a blender. I love these colors. These are awesome. Not so much the avocado, but I could see myself with the harvest yellow one or the flame. The flame is a really nice red. And that is it for our 1960s gadgets and small kitchen appliances. I hope you guys go to the show notes to get a great visual of the items that I talked about, and find me on Instagram at Pyrex with Bex, and let me know if you remember growing up with any of these appliances, what you loved, what you didn't, and if you have any in your kitchen now. Thanks everybody.
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| 06 Dec 2024 | My Adventure at the Goodwill Bins | 00:12:55 | |
Bex Scott shares her adventure thrifting at the Goodwill Impact Centre blue bins in Calgary, Alberta. The Goodwill outlet bins are where items like clothing, small home decor, fabric, toys, and similar donated things go to be upcycled if they don’t sell or can’t be used in the store. Bex explains what her very first visit was like, the treasures she found, the bin etiquette, and tips for other thrifters wanting to visit the bins themselves. Admittedly nervous because she is a shy and introverted person, Bex visited the Calgary Goodwill bins on a hot Sunday during the Calgary Stampede which likely made her visit less crowded than it would otherwise be. She was initially afraid of confrontation over items but while each new bin wheeled out was immediately pillaged by eager thrifters, there is a code of conduct that Goodwill enforces. Bex talks about the vintage Cabbage Patch Kids, vintage fabric, World War Two DVDs, and other treasures she found during her visit. She details exactly what happens when new bins roll out, where to leave shopping carts, how to check out, and how items are priced. She also divulges that some Whatnot sellers get permission to live-sell right from the bins. This episode is a how-to guide for Goodwill bins and an absolute must for thrifters wanting their first visit to be a success. Resources discussed in this episode: — Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex With Bex podcast, where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:31] Hey everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex With Bex podcast. On today's episode, I wanted to talk to you guys about my adventure at the Goodwill bins. And for many resellers I know in the States, the bins are a common thing, they've been around for a while. And in Canada, at least where I live, the closest city to me is Calgary, and Calgary got the Goodwill bins in April of 2023, and I had never been to them. It's always been something that I wanted to do, but, to be honest, I've heard some stories about how savage it is and seen some videos, so I've been putting it off. It's also an hour away from me, so being able to just go and have somebody watch the kids isn't as easy as it used to be. So I finally decided to go. I went on a Sunday and it was a Sunday during the Calgary Stampede, so I'm pretty sure that helped. A lot of people were out at the Stampede. If you don't know what the Calgary Stampede is, it's like a big Western fair that happens every year.
Bex Scott: [00:01:48] It was also very hot that day, so there were a few things working in my favor. But I decided to go. And I want to give you guys a little bit of a background about what the bins are first. So the Goodwill bins are where all of the items, the clothing, everything that Goodwill sells, it doesn't sell in the retail stores so they bring it to their big warehouse and they put it in these big blue bins, and you have to go and you sort through everything in hopes of finding some treasure, which makes it really fun. So where I went in Calgary, you pay by the pound and it was $1.45 per pound of items. And it's very great if you're going for clothing. Clothing is relatively light. You can stuff a whole bag full of clothes and have it be super cheap, but if you're going for hard goods, it can get a little more expensive faster than it would with clothes. So most of it is the bins full of just the random stuff that didn't sell. And then there's the other part of the store that is furniture like lamps, large decor, and that's all priced individually. So that isn't by the pound. You have to just pick it up and pay what they've labelled it as.
Bex Scott: [00:03:19] So I pulled up to the Goodwill bins. I was honestly very nervous. I wanted to bring somebody to go with me, but didn't have anybody that was available. So I'm a very introverted, shy person. I was hoping that I wouldn't have to get my elbows out or get into a confrontation with somebody over something amazing. Luckily, I didn't have to. So you walk in and you see just rows and rows of these huge blue bins, and I walked up to a few of them. It's mostly clothes on one side. I was looking through some things, and I saw this group of people at the back, and I honestly must have looked like I'd walked into the strangest situation I've ever seen because I stopped and I was staring at all these people that were just standing around in a rectangle. No idea what they were doing. And then I realized they were waiting for the next bin to roll in. So there's these yellow rectangles on the floor, and you line up at the designated yellow location marks. You're shoulder to shoulder with these people, and they roll the bin in between you and the person who rolls it out, they say you have to wait until - I think there's three bins to a row - you have to wait till all three bins are there. You have to have your hands above the bin. You can't touch anything in it. And once the last bin is rolled into your row, they say you can go and everybody just goes nuts. They dive in, clothes are flying everywhere, like you're hitting people's elbows. You're just hoping to find something that's in this bin.
Bex Scott: [00:05:03] And one of the suggestions on their website is that you wear gloves. I thought about this before I went, but then I forgot to bring them. But I 100% understand why you need to wear gloves. Because the stuff in there is not clean. It's dusty, it's dirty, and you can feel it after when you leave. Your hands are grimy, but everything can be washed, totally fine. But there's people in there that are wearing gloves, sorting through things. It's a great idea. So if you're going to go to the bins, make sure you bring your gloves. So next thing, you can use a shopping cart, but you can't have your shopping cart by the bins in the aisles at all. So everybody leaves their shopping carts on the side walls. They're just lined up in rows and rows and rows, and a lot of them have people waiting by them so that things aren't taken out of the carts. There's a rule that if it's in a cart, somebody claimed it. So a lot of people push their carts to the side and they pull from the bins, and then they go dump it in their cart and they go back. They have these little wheelie baskets that you can bring. So that's what I tried to do. I originally went in without a basket and then my hands were all full. I realized that's why you need a shopping cart. So you just keep going until you're done. And at the end, you go up and they have this massive scale on the floor.
Bex Scott: [00:06:28] You either roll your little cart up to the scale and they weigh it for you, or you dump everything into this shopping cart that is on the scale as well. So I ended up getting, I think it was $15 of things. And for $15, I got a full set of World War Two DVDs. What else did I get? Two Cabbage Patch Kids, vintage ones. My kids were not happy about those because they terrify them. I got a little dress for my daughter. I got a Roots hoodie, brand new. What else? What else? Oh, I got a huge pile of vintage fabric. Now I'm blanking on what I got. Oh, a box set of Playmobile. There was one tiny little piece missing, but that was a great find. And there were a few other things I got. So most of it was for my kids or my family. Not a lot of stuff that I could resell there, but there were a ton of dishes like pots and pans, clear Pyrex. If you need housewares like that, stuff for your kitchen, it is definitely the place to go. Oh yeah, I got a pot for camping. That was another one that was pretty heavy, so that bumped my price up quite a bit. Clothing there, there's a lot of like underwear in there that you have to sort through. A lot of the clothes are not in the greatest shape, but if you're looking for something really cheap and affordable for your family, great place to go for that.
Bex Scott: [00:08:05] Handbags, tons of handbags and backpacks, if you have the time to sort through them there's definitely some stuff that you could get in there to resell or even just to use for yourself. Toys for kids. This was the most exciting part for me. I think that they had some really great toys for kids. Some of the parts may be missing, but once again, if you dig through you can find some great toys, either to resell or for your kids to play with. And then the home decor. I was really surprised at the amount of picture frames and posters and paintings that they had, so that was a really great deal. And then just little decor pieces. And I think maybe because I went on a Sunday, they didn't have as much there as they would during the week. So my next trip would be definitely to go during the week, probably when it is more busy, unfortunately, and see the difference between a weekend thrift and a weekday thrift.
Bex Scott: [00:09:10] So one of the most shocking parts of the bins for me was the age range that was there. I'm 35 and I felt ancient. I swear I walked into, it looked like a high school dance. Like these kids, it was all guys, they were probably like 13 or 14 years old. I felt kind of like I was trying to hang out with my son's group of friends. It looked like they were professionals. They stood on that line, they rotated kind of through the bins like robots, all in a little, a gaggle of 14-year-old boys, and they would stand on the yellow lines, waiting all on their phones, heads down. Looked like they were, I don't know if they're resellers. They were all on TikTok or something. And right when the bins would come out, their little hands were in there so fast and I was watching what they were pulling out, and it was all like the really trendy clothes. So I have a feeling they were buying clothes for themselves, which is super cool because that's something that I would have done when I was their age. And of course, I go home and I told my son about this. He's not, he wasn't that interested in it. One day I'll get him to go with me because it's fun. But that was the most shocking part of the bins for me was just all these young kids standing there getting great deals, like, good for you guys. But I felt really old and I was like, am I? Am I too old to be doing this? But I did learn a few things from them. They were pulling out some pretty cool hoodies and shirts and jeans. So I'll see, likely they're not there during the week. It was a really fun thing to do. I can see how you could stay there for a full day and just stand there looking for stuff. I think next time I will definitely try to make it a full-day event, just because you need that much time to be able to sort and then pay for everything and go home after that.
Bex Scott: [00:11:14] And I don't know if you guys watch any of the Whatnot sellers from the bins, but there are people who sell live from the bins. I would love to do this. They go there, they stay all day, they pull items, and then they stand in a corner and they sell live. So I feel like if you're able to do that, that is 100% the way to make money from reselling at the bins instead of going home, sorting through everything, washing it, if you do that, and selling it and listing it online. I don't know if they would allow that. I know that these sellers get permission from Goodwill to stand there and sell right in their facilities, but it's pretty fun to watch. So check out on Whatnot some of the really great sellers that do it live from the bins, you can get amazing deals and a lot of them do it in bulk so you can buy bundles of t-shirts from them, or bundles of jeans right there while they're still at Goodwill. So I would love to know if any of you have been to the bins yourselves. What was your experience? Let me know your stories. I'm definitely going to be going back again and hopefully finding some great stuff to resell, and I will keep you updated on my next trip. Thanks, everybody! Feel free to follow me on Instagram at @PyrexWithBex.
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| 02 Jun 2023 | Trailer: Pyrex With Bex | 00:00:35 | |
Discussion about vintage pyrex and other vintage home items as well as interviews with collectors to chat about their stories. — Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: | |||
| 17 Jan 2025 | 1950s Housewife - Husband Hunting | 00:24:16 | |
Today, Bex Scott takes us back in time to the days of the 1950s housewife. An article from the New Zealand Herald in 2018 shared a vintage 1950s article on how to attract men and Bex dives into it with us to see how many, if any, of the old tips are valid. Take a trip in Bex’s time machine and learn, from different articles, how to find a husband, how to keep him happy once married, and how to keep looking pretty for this coveted man. How cringe-worthy is this article by today’s standards? Join Bex to find out. Modern dating often involves online dating so in fifty years we may look back on this era and find it extremely cringe-worthy as well. For now, 1950s sensibilities are on glorious display in this vintage article. The article was originally published under the title 129 Ways to Get a Husband in McCall’s magazine and was aimed at women who weren’t married by the ripe old age of seventeen. The suggestions range from simple - “walk a dog” - to baffling - “read the obituaries to find eligible widowers”. Of course, snagging a husband is only half the battle. Once married, he has to be kept happy. Those suggestions, from a 1950s Home Ec book, range from the expected - “have dinner ready when he comes home” - to the old school - “arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes”. Deep dive into the mind-blowing world of 50s husband hunting with Bex. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat. Hey everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. On today's episode, I wanted to go into a topic that interests me and I'm sure interests quite a few of you as well. It's the 1950s housewife. So we just got through the holiday season. We're in January now. By the time you listen to this episode, it's probably going to be way past that. But over the holidays, I always like going through cookbooks, reading old magazines, and learning a little bit more about the 1950s and 1960s and doing some research. And this past holiday season, I came across a bunch of really good recipes, articles and books. But one in particular that I wanted to talk about today was based off of an article from a while back. It was actually published on November 7th in 2018, in the New Zealand Herald. And the title was Husband Hunting, Cringeworthy 1950s Article Advises Women on How to Attract Men. And this headline caught me right after I read it.
Bex Scott: [00:01:50] I had to go through online dating before I met my husband. Dated a whole bunch of really interesting guys, not so great guys. Just ask anybody in my family. I was very lucky to find my husband and now not have to worry about how to attract a man, as this article title says. But I always find it very interesting to learn about what women had to do, or what was kind of expected of them in that time period with beauty, with how they were supposed to act, etiquette in general, and kind of what the world expected of women in the 1950s. And I think this article sums it up perfectly. So I'm going to go through it with you. And they have the actual article from, so they wrote about it in the New Zealand Herald, but they also have the 1950s article in full here that I will read for you. And I think you guys are going to get a kick out of some of it and probably cringe at most of it, but I'd love to know what you think after this episode.
Bex Scott: [00:03:02] Okay, so they start off by saying a magazine from the 1950s features a cringe worthy advice column for single women on how to attract men. The article, headlined 129 Ways to Get a Husband from the American magazine McCall's, includes hilarious and bizarre tips where most would never be used in this era, I'm sure. Photos of the advice column were posted on Facebook, with the post quickly becoming viral. So this is in 2018. The post had been shared over 13,000 times and had caused widespread controversy, quickly racking up more than 4600 likes and thousands of comments from shocked and amused users. The feature, aimed at women who weren't married by 17, was created with the help of 16 people who used a brainstorming technique to see if they could come up with fresh ideas on how to find a husband. The first 30 pointers reveal where to find him, giving single women creative tips on how to run into their potential new husband. This section includes advice as simple as get a dog and walk it to very cynical ideas like read obituaries to find eligible widowers.
Bex Scott: [00:04:16] Okay, so there's 13 different numbers here that they've listed on where to find your husband. Number one, get a dog and walk it. Number two, have your car break down at strategic places. That sounds very sketchy to me. I would not advise this in 2025 at all. Number three, attend night school, take courses men like. Okay. Number four, join a hiking club. I know many people, I have many friends who've actually done this and met some very nice men. So a hiking club is not a bad number here. Number five, look in the census reports for places with the most single men. Nevada has 125 males for every 100 females. Number six, read the obituaries to find eligible widowers. That is crazy. We're not going to do that. Number seven, take up golf and go to different golf courses. Okay, that could be a solid go-to. Number eight, take several short vacations at different places rather than one long one at one place. Number nine, sit on a park bench and feed the pigeons. Number ten, take a bicycle trip through Europe. Mm. That sounds very romantic and not realistic to find a man on a bicycle trip. You never know. I've known people who've met their significant other on a nice European trip. Number 11, get a job in a medical, dental or law school. Number 12, become a nurse or an airline stewardess. They have very high marriage rates. Number 13, ask your friends husbands who the eligible men are in their offices.
Bex Scott: [00:06:10] Okay, so the next piece of advice is how to let him know you're there. Giving women cunning ideas to get a man's attention. Okay, so here are all 41 of the ways to let him know you're there. So feel free to try any of these if you'd like. Okay. Be nice to everybody, they may have an eligible brother or son. Get a government job overseas. Forget discretion every once in a while and call them up. Carry a hat box. I wonder what that would do now? Probably not too much. If you carried a hat box, people would be wondering what was in the box. Make a lot of money. Okay. Learn several funny stories and learn to tell them well, but make sure you don't tell them to him more than once. Walk up to him and tell him you need some advice. Dropping the handkerchief still works. You could do that with a Kleenex, but I highly doubt that a man is going to pick up your Kleenex. Have your father buy some theater tickets that have to be got rid of. Don't let him fish for your name the next time you meet. None of this guess who stuff.
Bex Scott: [00:07:35] Next, single women are given advice on how to look good to him. Suggesting what cosmetics and items to wear. Get better looking glasses. Men still make passes at girls who wear glasses. Or you could try contact lenses, number 49 advises. Wear high heels most of the time, they're sexier. Unless he happens to be shorter than you, another pointer said. Okay, so here we go, continuing on. If you're at a resort, have the bellboy page you. Buy a convertible. Men like to ride in them. Learn how to bake tasty apple pies. Bring one into the office and let the eligible bachelor taste it. Laugh at his jokes. If there's a wallflower among the men you know, why not cultivate him. Oh cultivate the flower? For all you know, he may be a diamond in the rough. Accidentally have your purse fly open, scattering its contents all over the street. I don't think I'd want any, no, no, I don't want anybody knowing what's in my purse. Not that there's anything bad in there, but probably a lot of Pyrex. No, I'm kidding. I didn't have Pyrex back in the day in my purse.
Bex Scott: [00:07:35] Okay. How to look good to him. So this is the next section. Men like to think they're authorities on perfume. Ask his advice on what kind you should wear. Practice your drinking with your women friends first. If you dye your hair, pick a shade and stick to it. Tell him he's handsome. Take good care of your health, men don't like girls who are ill. That's an obvious one. If you look good in sweaters, wear one on every third date. Dress differently from the other girls in the office. Get a sunburn. What? Watch your vocabulary. Blah blah blah. Oh, my gosh, that's a great word to stumble on. Watch your vocabulary. There we go. Go on a diet if you need to. What? When you're with him, order your steak rare. Don't tell him about your allergies. Oh, great, so he can try and kill you. That's a good one. European women use their eyes to good advantage. Practice in front of a mirror. Buy a full length mirror, and take a good look before you go to greet him. What does that mean? That's rude. Change the shade of your stockings and be sure to keep the seams straight. Get the fresh scrubbed look by scrubbing. If he has bought you any trinket or accessory, wear it. Use the ashtray. Don't crush out cigarettes in coffee cups. Polish up on making introductions. Learn to do them gracefully. Don't be too fussy. Stick to your moral standards. Don't whine. Girls who whine, stay on the vine.
Bex Scott: [00:10:29] Okay. So in the final part of the feature, the magazine provided women guidance on how to land him. Tips ranged from ask him for her recipes to find out about girls he hasn't married. Don't repeat the same mistakes they made. Okay, here we go. How to land him? Listen up everyone. Show him you can have fun on a cheap date but don't overdo it. Don't let your parents treat him like a potential husband. Ask your parents to disappear when you're entertaining. Double date with a gay, happily married couple. Let him see what it's like. Tell his friends nice things about him. Send his mother a birthday card. Ask his mother for her recipes. Talk to his father about business and agree that taxes are too high. Well that would, yeah, that would work with my dad. He enjoys talking about taxes and politics. Buy his sister's children an occasional present. On the first date tell him you aren't thinking of getting married. What? How is that helpful? Don't talk about how many children you want. If he's a fisherman, learn to scale and clean fish. Don't tell him everything about yourself at the start, hold something in reserve. When you're out strolling with him, don't insist on stopping at every shop window. Don't tell him how much your clothes cost. Learn how to sew and wear something you've made yourself. Don't gossip about him. Never let him know he's the only one even if you have to stay home 1 or 2 nights a week. Wow. Don't be a pushover when he's trying to make a date. Very early in your dating, why not get a favorite song that you both regard as your own? Find out about the girls he hasn't married. Don't repeat the mistakes they made. Don't discuss your former boyfriends. That's a good one. If you are widowed or divorced, don't constantly discuss your former husband. Be flexible. If he decides to skip the dance and go on the lake, you go, even if you're wearing your best evening gown. Hide your Phi Beta Kappa key if you own one. Later on, junior can play with it. Oh. That's cute. Turn wolves into husband material by assuming they have honor. Resist the urge to make him over, before marriage that is. Learn where to draw the line, but do it gracefully. Remain innocent, but not ignorant.
Bex Scott: [00:13:04] If all else fails, the magazine offered a section Wild Ideas, Anything Goes, which included tips such as get a hunting license and advertise for male co-owner of a boat. Okay, so we are still in the section of how to land him. Okay, a few more here. Make your home comfortable when he calls. Large ashtrays, comfortable chairs. Learn to play poker. If he's rich, tell him you like his money. The honesty will intrigue him. Wow. No, don't do that now. No. Never let him believe your career is more important to you than marriage. But on your first date, you're supposed to tell him that you're not interested in getting married. This makes no sense. Buy him an amusing or particularly appropriate present every once in a while, but don't make it too expensive. Clip and mail him a funny cartoon that means something to both of you. Oh my gosh, I thought they were going to say clip a piece of your hair. Oh, okay, we're still safe. Don't tell dirty stories. Stop being a momma's girl. Don't let him think he'll have in-law trouble even if you know he will. Point out to him that the death rate of single men is twice that of married men. Wow. That's subtle. Okay, here are the Wild Ideas, Anything Goes. Go to Yale. Get a hunting license. If your mother is fat, tell him you take after your father. If he's fat too, tell him you're adopted. Oh my gosh! Wow. Stow away on a battleship. Rent a billboard and post your picture and telephone number on it. Paint your name and number on the roof and say give me a buzz, pilots. Start a whispering campaign on how sought after you are. Sink at a fashionable beach at high noon. Ride the airport bus back and forth from the airport. Bribe ferris wheel operator to get you stuck on the top of a ferris wheel. Stand on a busy street corner with a lasso. Carry a camera and ask strange, handsome men if they would mind snapping your picture. Ask your mother to take in male boarders. What? Wow. Make and sell toupees. Bald men are easy catches. That's terrible. Advertise for male co-owner of a boat. If you see a man with a flat, offer to fix it. Is that before or after you're breaking down in different places around the city like they mentioned before? If you see a man with a flat, offer to fix it. Okay, said that one. Carry a tow chain in the trunk of your automobile. Let it be known in your office that you have a button box and will sew on bachelor's loose buttons. Don't marry him if he has too many loose buttons. The end.
Bex Scott: [00:15:56] Okay, so that was the article, and I actually only read the first few lines of it and waited to read it on the podcast, so I'm pretty shocked about a lot of those. Oh my gosh. Okay, so after digging deep into that topic, I thought it would be fun to talk about how once you've found your husband, how to look after your husband. So this is from a 1950s Home Ec book, and it's an article clipping, kind of in the same vein as the other article. But you've already landed your husband, you're married, and now this is what you have to do to keep him happy. Okay, so number one, have dinner ready. Plan ahead even the night before to have a delicious meal on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him, and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home, and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed. Number two is prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc.. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too.
Bex Scott: [00:17:41] Number three. Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces if they are small. Comb their hair and if necessary, change their clothes. They're little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. There's definitely been a large number of times where my husband comes home from going out somewhere, and our two year old is just running around in a diaper. So I would have already failed this number here. Next, minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him. Some don'ts. Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair. Suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind. Listen to him. You may have a million things to tell him, but his arrival at home is not the time. Let him talk first. Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other forms of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to come home and relax. The goal? Try to make your home a place of peace in order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit. Wow. Okay. Thank goodness times have changed because I think I failed a good number of those points.
Bex Scott: [00:19:35] Next up is the beauty schedule for busy young wives. So this was an interesting one because I know that well, it kind of depends on what type of beauty you're interested in, self-care, if you're interested in a lot of makeup, if you like to get your hair done frequently. It depends on your beauty rituals and routines on how you'll see this one but I don't do a lot in terms of hair and makeup. I'm pretty easy that way. So this was, I read through this schedule of the week and it was definitely interesting for me. Okay, so it says can you look your most attractive at a moment's notice? The secret is to have a weekly beauty plan like the one we outline here. 30 minutes or less a day is all the time it takes to keep you at your prettiest and ready for holiday partying anytime your husband says the word. Okay, here we go. Monday. A facial helps you start the week with a bright outlook. First, cleanse your face well with cream. Then apply a mask to your throat and face, being careful to keep it away from your eyes. This stimulates surface circulation and tightens pores. Remove the mask following directions on package about time and method. You'll feel and look fresher. Tuesday. Because you're on your feet so much, treat yourself to a pedicure and foot exercises. Only way pedicure differs from a manicure as you file toenails straight across. Easier on stockings and discourages ingrown nails. While your polish dries, spread and clench your toes by picking up marbles or roll a small bottle back and forth with the ball of each foot.
Bex Scott: [00:21:25] Wednesday. Use a razor, depilatory wax or abrasive to de-fuzz your legs and underarms. Remember, this is a feminine must all year round. Not in the winter. Just kidding. Not really. And don't forget your eyebrows. Use tweezers to eliminate stray hairs and give a clean look. Follow the natural outline of your eyebrows for most flattering results. To complete the job apply a mild, soothing antiseptic. Thursday. Shampoo your hair or, if it doesn't need washing every week - every week, wow - give your scalp a thorough, relaxing massage. Before washing, brush your hair well. Then apply shampoo. Work up a good lather and scrub your scalp with your fingertips or a brush. Rinse well. Towel dry, again massaging scalp. It's a good time to wash your comb and brush too. Definitely if you're not even washing your hair once a week. Friday. Fit your weekly manicure into the day schedule. This includes shaping your nails, pushing back the cuticle, and applying polish. First a base coat, then two coats of colored polish topped with a sealer coat. Before starting assemble all the items you will need. Use a flat working surface to speed up the job and achieve a neater and smoother results. And last we have Saturday and Sunday. Reap the rewards of time well spent during the other five days of the week, and brush up on any grooming details that you find require a little extra attention. Now you know that with only a few minutes warning, you can step out looking and feeling your best. Above all, your husband will be more encouraged to suggest last minute plans.
Bex Scott: [00:23:09] Well, that last article has made me realize how much I need to step it up during the week. I need to have my weekly beauty regimen. No, I don't think I'll go that far into things. But that is what I found for this episode on the 1950s housewife. How to find your man, how to keep him happy after you've married him, and how to keep yourself looking pretty for your man. So I would love to hear your feedback about what we just went through. Do you agree with parts of it? Do you think it's all crazy? You can find me on Instagram at Pyrex with Bex. I would love to chat with you. Thanks, everybody.
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| 03 Jan 2025 | The Homemaker's Encyclopedia - 1952 | 00:27:14 | |
In today’s episode, Bex Scott shares vintage advice and tips for the retro homemaker from “The Homemaker’s Encyclopedia - 1952” book that she recently acquired. Featuring of-the-time shopping advice, meal ideas, kitchen planning suggestions, and more, this is a genuine blast from the past glimpse into the housewife’s day-to-day mealtime expectations. Join Bex for a trip into the past and learn some new (old) ways to shop and cook to please your family. “The Homemaker’s Encyclopedia -1952” includes such chapters as “Marketing Know-How”, “Different Items You Can Stock in Your Larder”, and “How Much Is Enough”. The author encourages women (the target audience for this book since it was women, the wives and mothers, who did all the grocery shopping, meal planning, and cooking in the 50s) to be unafraid of experimenting with “new foods, new recipes, and new ways of cooking”. She maintains that careful planning will enable women to provide balanced nutrition and budget-conscious meal preparation for their families. Bex also shares an amusing section on grocery store etiquette (including the gem “Dogs must be left outside, but children must often be brought inside”) and specific kitchen design shapes that maximize efficiency in prep and service. For lovers of vintage, retro cooking ideas, and amusing throwbacks, this episode is a must-listen. Resources discussed in this episode: — Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:31] Hey everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. On today's episode, I thought it would be fun to go through a newly acquired book that I have called The Homemaker's Encyclopedia Food Buying and Meal Planning. Now this beauty is from 1952, so it is exactly what you might expect. The content is all about the woman being at home being the homemaker, the man going out and working his 9 to 5 job and coming home to his children and his wife being ready to serve him his meal and for him to relax with a drink in his hand. And I wanted to read some excerpts of this book to you because it was honestly very entertaining to read and to just note how different times are now than they were before. In my household right now my husband does all of the cooking. I like to do the cleaning. We both work and we both equally contribute to raising our three kids, and it was just really interesting to read through the difference in how they used to do things. And I know a bunch of you can probably remember this from your childhood, maybe your parents. That was the dynamic for them back in the 50s, and it would just be interesting to hear your take on things in your memories of how things were.
Bex Scott: [00:02:11] So I wanted to start off by going through the introduction, because I believe that this gives you, as it says, a good introduction to this interesting book. So it says "Every homemaker is conscious of the need to try to get the greatest value for the money she can spend. How to do this while still continuing to provide meals that are nutritious and varied, is the subject of conversation whenever good housewives get together. Books such as this can be of great help. In an interesting fashion with easy-to-follow suggestions, the author ranges over the fields of marketing and menu planning in an effort to help you in your daily program". Now, when they say marketing, this is kind of embarrassing because that's my field of work. I'm in marketing. And when I read that, I was really confused about what they were talking about. Marketing is actually going to the supermarket. So yeah, that was an interesting enlightning fact for me. "While keeping the main objective in view, that of securing the most nourishing foods at the prices you can pay, she nevertheless succeeds in proving to the reader that this branch of homemaking need never grow uninteresting or monotonous, just as the meals you serve need never become dull for your family. The willingness to experiment, to try new foods, new recipes, and new ways of cooking should be part of every housewife's equipment. In many an old-fashioned American household, the food followed an unvarying pattern: a roast on Sunday, hash on Monday, chowder on Friday, beans on Saturday, or whatever". Or whatever. "Before the family entered the dining room, they knew exactly what would be on the table".
Bex Scott: [00:03:58] Growing up, we had roast every Sunday and that was honestly the best day of the week for me. My mom's roasts, they were amazing. And when we go back home to visit with them, my mom still likes to make a roast for all of us when we get together. "Most younger women are more flexible than the old-time cooks. They are learning some of the secrets of using unusual flavor through spices, herbs, and sauces to borrow from other nations some tricks of applying imagination to the food they serve their families. American menus would be the poorer without Swiss and Italian cheeses, Hungarian goulash, French and Vienna breads, chili con carne, chow mein and chop suey, Irish stew, frankfurters and sauerkraut, England's plum pudding, or whatever your particular favorites happen to be. Bearing this in mind, you need never be afraid to experiment or pioneer in foods or methods. In this book, along with practical advice on efficient shopping techniques, cooking shortcuts, and dollar stretchers, you'll find a view of meal planning as a family affair. To many women, marketing and cooking is a burden because they do all of it alone. The author suggests ways in which the other members of the family can help. Father with the marketing, the children in preparing meals and helping to serve them. Making these projects a part of your family's life seems a practical application of homemaking. That art, which is, in the last analysis, the most important profession open to any woman".
Bex Scott: [00:05:28] So now we get into the good stuff. So we've been introduced to the book, know a little bit about it, so part one is meal planning. "Number one, a good meal doesn't just happen. The experienced traveller knows that the success of a trip depends on thorough, beforehand planning. Just so homemakers whose meals get consistent rave reviews from family and friends will tell you that a good meal is made at the meal planning desk rather than at the cook stove". And there's a nice picture of a woman sitting at her meal planning desk, and it says, "when you plan ahead, you can relax and enjoy meal times too". I can tell you that my husband doesn't have a meal planning desk, but I'm going to ask him now if he would like one, and I'll let you know what he says. Okay, so it says, "and while impromptu meals can be lots of fun once in a while, a steady succession of haphazard conglomerations tells its story in flurry and worry, not to mention the added expense which substitutes for proper planning. Your family will probably be most interested in how the food looks and tastes, and in whether you are calm and cheerful or cross and worn out when you join them at the table". I can tell you that our two sons could care less what the food looks like. They are more interested in how it tastes and how quickly they can consume it. "You, on the other hand, will be equally concerned with balancing the budget and the nutritional scale, for you know that the actual health of your family is dependent upon the meals you serve. Every smart woman knows that you can lead a husband to vitamins, but you can't always make him eat". That is something that I have never heard before. "This holds true of children as well and harping on food values usually creates eating problems rather than converts to balanced nutrition. When you plan ahead, you can relax and enjoy meal times too, secure in the knowledge that you are giving your family food they need in ways they enjoy it, with a maximum of economy and a minimum of work".
Bex Scott: [00:07:39] And then it goes into "four ways to help you turn meal planning from a hand-to-mouth operation into a pleasant and worthwhile habit". Next up, this is a little pull quote that I had to share with you guys. It says "Entree, usually a made-up dish of an unusual food". So if anybody ever asks you what an entrée is, please be sure to use this definition. Okay next up we have the elements of a successful meal. "When you get right down to the business of meal planning, you must remember to coordinate a number of other factors with your four menu factors of: number one nutrition values, number two economy or money-saving, number three efficiency or time and effort saving, and number four" is my favorite "honest to goodness pleasure in eating". That's why I eat. Not to survive. I eat to enjoy and experience the pleasure in eating. "So you may want to introduce new foods, provide an invalid diet or entertain company on a budget. You may decide to streamline the family's collective waistline through a high-protein but low in calorie diet. Or you may yearn to cut down on dirty dishes and utensils so as to have more time for after-dinner fun with the family. And don't think for a moment that to do all these things, you're going to have to sacrifice personal or family preferences and foods, or throw out the window sectional or national ways of eating that are dear to your heart and traditional in your family. Actually, whatever you want to accomplish through your meals, within reason, of course, can be yours if you plan it that way and then follow through to the best of your ability".
Bex Scott: [00:09:27] Next, it says "nutrition needn't be complicated. Once upon a time, you may have worked your way through a school course on home economics. Remember the complicated charts of vitamins and minerals, the graphs of calories and carbohydrates, and the mystic terms you studied? It was all very complex, and you may or may not have absorbed enough to apply to your own food problems when you set up housekeeping. Today, a very simple and pleasant formula has been devised to help you see that your meals are going to nourish your family by supplying the foods and food elements that are needed for good health. You don't have to worry about each individual vitamin and mineral. Instead, you follow the basic seven food group outlined here. And if your family eats the suggested number of servings from each group, you can rest assured that their food needs will be well supplied".
Bex Scott: [00:10:17] Next up we have "Part two, marketing know-how", not the marketing I thought it was. "How to shop: attitudes and ideas. With the caveman, getting food was a matter of tracking it down, whacking it over the head, and dragging it home. It was dangerous, yes. Monotonous? Hardly". This is a good intro. It's a solid start to this chapter. "Today, the getting of food or shopping is much simpler, yet much more complex. While the caveman never had an opportunity to choose from the marvellous array of foods to be found in the modern market, neither did he have to cope with nutrition or decide which of 65 varieties of vegetables was the right one for him". Man, times are tough for those cavemen. "Small wonder that today's homemaker finds shopping such a challenge. With so many things to choose from, how is she to know which foods were stocked with her in mind? Actually, marketing can be a job in which the whole family takes part. Once upon a time, men played a large role in buying the family food in this country. Then it became exclusively the woman's province. Today, Dad is not only bringing home the bacon, but buying the groceries too, especially on weekends. Current figures show that at least 25% of the groceries in this country are bought by men. And if you can make shopping a real family project by getting dad and the children into the act, you'll be doing a real educational job as well as making fun time for something that might be just another chore".
Bex Scott: [00:11:47] Okay, here are the "certain fundamental things to remember in shopping. Choose the right store. Some books on food give glowing descriptions of the joys of searching out rare spices and unknown foods at little shops, buying bread here, meat there and cheese somewhere else, and so, on until you've been all over town assembling your groceries. And indeed, this is the way that housewives in many other countries have to shop. But in the United States, the large market with every kind of food possible assembled and spread out in orderly rows containing everything plainly visible and clearly marked, has become such a tradition that few families would know how to operate without it. Here you see women in mink pushing carts next to women in shabby coats, all bound together in an effort to get the most for their money. Certainly, there are not many women who would deliberately spend enough time or shoe leather to shop item by item in different stores. One big factor that has played a part in the growth of such large markets has been the fact that with their cash and carry policy, and with everything arranged for self-selection and self-service, your food dollar really goes for food, not for service. On the other hand, the smaller grocery stores make up in service what it lacks in savings. Just be sure that you really need credit, telephone shopping service, and delivery, before you become a steady customer at such a shop, for you may be sure that you pay for these services and added food costs, and this is only fair for it costs your grocer extra to provide them. If you're working or there is a new baby or illness in your home, or you are far removed from any shops, then the telephone shopping and delivery service may be a necessity for you. But even then, you'll be wise to try to arrange an expedition to the nearest market once every week, or even every two weeks, to stock up on staple items and canned goods".
Bex Scott: [00:13:40] We definitely do that. We go to Costco, I think, at least every two weeks, sometimes every week. We're big Costco people. "The fancy grocery or delicatessen has its place in the shopping scheme of things, but is not for you on a budget. Fine hothouse fruits or deluxe foods are grand as an occasional treat, but don't belong on your regular shopping list. After all, the most expensive food is not necessarily the most nutritious. The delicatessen stays open long hours and can be a lifesaver if you happen to forget something". Next up, they talk about shopping in person if possible. "This is the only sure way of getting what you want and what you need, particularly in regard to meats and vegetables and fruits, where real saving or waste is involved. When you are shopping in a market, remember to mind your manners. Small children and dogs are a nuisance. Dogs must be left outside, but children must often be brought inside". Interesting. "Don't put babies into the push carts unless the store provides a special kind which has a place for baby. Don't let your toddler run wild through the sections. Not only is it most annoying to others, it can be dangerous if he pulls stacks of cans down on top of his head. And if your older child feels the need for action, keep him from ramming the push carts into others or from working up speed on the curves around the canned goods by giving him a job to do, such as keeping track of your checklist. Don't block the aisles with your basket while you talk with a neighbor. When you get in line, don't keep others waiting by scrambling back for one more item. And don't try to force your way ahead of others who were there before you. Shopping in a regular store also calls for manners. You may have been a customer for years, or you may be a real favorite with your butcher. Still, you can wait your turn pleasantly and without engaging service personnel in conversation at a time when they should be concentrating on other people and their orders. Don't ask for more than one delivery a day, and don't telephone for service just a few moments before closing time".
Bex Scott: [00:15:53] I want to go back to the dogs must be left outside, but children must often be brought inside. Okay, next up we have a section about different items that you can stock in your larder. My favorite one is cheese. I love cheese, I could eat cheese all day, every day. And one of my favorite memories was when I went to the grocery store with my parents, and I think this was the first time my dad had ever been to the cheese section, because he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He didn't know there were so many different types of cheese, and I think my mom and I went off to do the grocery shopping, and my dad stayed in the cheese aisle the whole time, just trying to figure out what each of them were. So this section reminded me of that memory. So "cheese comes in a bewildering variety of types and forms, domestic and imported, and for a great variety of purposes. It is, in its less exotic forms, a very economical source of protein, and supplies vitamins and minerals too". These are all really great reasons that I like to tell myself when I overeat cheese, that I am getting all the vitamins and minerals that I need for my body. "There are three general categories used for convenience in classifying cheese: soft, semi-soft, and hard. Many cheeses are available in each group. Usually, cheese is a matter on which you wax enthusiastic or are content to stay with 1 or 2 mild favorites". I think my dad would probably fall into the wax enthusiastic category after that grocery shopping trip. "Gourmets are conscious of slight variations in flavor and traditionally favor the imported cheeses or used to. For recently, very fine cheeses have been made in the Western Hemisphere. If you are a cheese lover, you may have the attitude that processed cheese is only for cooking. It is not only an excellent melting cheese, but for the average family provides very good eating. In addition, processed cheese can be kept on the pantry shelf for emergencies. The larger-sized packages are usually more economical. Cheese spreads and mixtures can be bought in jars and are convenient for party occasions, if a bit more expensive". I also love a good cheese in a jar. Cheese Whiz on toast is great and when I was pregnant with our daughter, Kraft singles were my number one craving. So that is a very strange piece of knowledge about me.
Bex Scott: [00:18:26] Okay, number ten is "how much is enough? Estimating amounts can throw the inexperienced housewife into fits". Fits, huh? "Everyone has his own classic example of the bride who tried to buy potatoes by the piece, or thought that a pound of rice was barely enough for four people". I don't know that we do have those examples. Okay. "To save you from the experiences that are supposed to teach you, but usually just make you suffer, or to refresh your memory and serve as a handy reference guide, here are some hints on amounts to buy for each serving. How much meat to buy for dinner? How many servings will come from a pound of fresh beans? A number two and a half can, or a frozen package. The food shopper, with an eye to thrift and good management, learns to buy carefully just what she can use", and then it goes into different amounts for what you should need for cooking, which is actually kind of handy.
Bex Scott: [00:19:24] Next up we have "Storage, preparation and serving: kitchen convenience. Your kitchen is the room in which you spend many of your waking hours. Therefore, you want it as attractive and cheerful as possible. Because everything in it comes in contact with your food, you want it as sanitary and easy to keep clean as you can make it. Those things are important. But to you as a cook, the prime consideration in a kitchen is efficient and helpful arrangement so that everything is where you can find it and use it quickly and easily. The less stooping, bending or stretching, the better. The more working and storage space, the happier you'll be. Good ventilation and adequate lighting, both in the center of the room and again over each working area, are of primary importance. A posture stool or chair will let you relax for the many jobs which can be done just as well sitting down. Basic kitchen arrangement. There's a pattern to kitchen arrangement, or at least there's supposed to be. Ideally, a kitchen has lots of wall space and little floor space. It is not a corridor from the front of the house to another room or outside, and the walls are not broken up with lots of doors and windows. It is three basic work centers. The storage area around the refrigerator which should be nearest the back door, the preparation department which is the sink with workspace on either side, and the cooking and serving section, which should be nearest the dining area so that food can be put right on the table while hot".
Bex Scott: [00:20:49] "The U-shaped kitchen is usually considered the most efficient. Here your equipment is grouped on three walls and you have few steps between your three work centers. The L-shaped kitchen is next in preventing waste motion. Space along two walls is provided for the equipment, and often the portion remaining can be made into a dining area, business space for your desk and cookbooks, or play space for the children. The two-wall or corridor kitchen can be as efficient as a ship's galley, unless it's a passageway to the back door. The one wall or Pullman type kitchen is convenient for use, but usually lacks adequate cupboard space".
Bex Scott: [00:21:28] Next up we have "Seasonings, salads, sandwiches, and serving. Some women have a gift for turning out flavorful meals with the hot things hot and the cold things cold, with interesting contrast and textures and tastes, and served in gay and colorful fashion. Others serve the very same meal just as well cooked, to be sure, yet so dull and uninspiring". I think if I cooked for my family, I would probably fall into the dull and uninspiring category. Which is why I love that my husband likes to cook because he is great at it. I remember one time I made my mom's meatloaf recipe for our kids. I loved the meatloaf. I thought I did it right. But I think that was the last meal I attempted to make for them, because I was so crushed that they didn't like it that I probably, I don't think I made anything again after that except for baking. I love baking, so cakes and banana bread and all that kind of stuff. So it says, "what is the secret? Well, one thing is the matter of proper seasonings. You may have a shelf full of neat little spice jars and herb containers, yet how often do you use them and do you really understand how and when to use them? And what about seeds, poppy seeds, sesame seeds, and the many other kinds? How about the different flavors you can achieve by using different vinegars and cheeses? Have you tried wines in your cooking efforts?" I've tried drinking the wine while I cook. That's great. "In general, how well developed is your sense of gastronomic curiosity? Are you willing to experiment, to try new ways of cooking your old favorites, and to offer your family new tastes occasionally? If you can answer yes to most of the above questions, then your flair for interesting meal-making is well above average. If you say no to too many of them, try to widen your scope of activities by experimenting more and investigating new products".
Bex Scott: [00:23:26] "Meal time coordination. Chilled plates and chilled ingredients for salads. Hot plates for hot foods. These are part of getting the meal to the table in attractive form. For no one cares to eat lukewarm salad or meat in lukewarm gravy. Basic preparation and meal planning often come to grief at this point, for as much organization is needed at the moment of cooking as at any other point in meal making. Go back to your basic arrangement of your kitchen for real efficiency. The fundamental idea was to establish a traffic flow from storage to preparation to cooking, so that no time was lost and that food could be gotten to the table right from the stove. Somewhere in the traffic flow, you must be operating as a thinking director. You must have the ability to look at your menu and recipes, decide which foods must be prepared when, and then see that cooking time is so handled that your meat and potatoes are ready at the time that your salad is prepared, dessert ready, and the table ready and waiting. Experience and actual one, two, three planning are the only way to develop the ability to coordinate a meal perfectly".
Bex Scott: [00:24:33] Last in this amazing book, we have a section called Camouflage Ideas. I had to read this because I didn't know what they meant, and I really needed to know what camouflaging was. "Sauces, stuffings, relishes and other accompanying dishes are methods of camouflaging either the shape or taste or amount of the foods you are serving. Sauces are valuable because they contribute to the food value and appearance of foods, and add flavor and moisture to those that need it. Good sauces are perfectly blended, smooth in texture, have no lumps, and are neither too heavy nor too thin. By serving leftover vegetables and meat in such forms as au gratin", that's not how you say it. I apologize. That was terrible. "or a la king, you create a whole new flavor treat, and make company fare out of icebox items that otherwise wouldn't stretch. Stuffings may be used to add flavor and to extend a basic food that is in short supply. Don't forget that you can stuff many forms of meat as well as poultry and fish. Remember that stuffing is meant to be a mixture with variations of seasonings. It should be neither too dry nor too moist. Relishes in accompanying dishes like dumplings, Yorkshire puddings, and cranberry sauce are excellent for bringing out the flavor of other foods". Okay, that wasn't as bad as I thought. When they said camouflage, I had pictured in my mind what we do to get our toddler to eat vegetables by hiding them inside of fruit purees and disguising things. So not as bad as I thought.
Bex Scott: [00:26:15] Okay, well, I hope you guys all enjoyed this little trip into the 1950s of food buying and meal planning, and maybe you learned a thing or two that you can apply to your kitchen or your marketing. I know I sure did. I'm going to be passing many of these tips off to my husband, for sure, and maybe we'll even have him on a next episode to give his input on this amazing book. So feel free to find me on Instagram @PyrexWithBex. Shoot me a DM, give me a follow, and I will see you next time.
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| 20 Dec 2024 | Federal Glass & More with Ruth from Periwinkle Collectibles | 00:37:46 | |
Bex Scott welcomes guest Ruth from Periwinkle Collectibles on Instagram to the show to talk all about Federal Glass, among other things. Ruth teaches Bex some fascinating facts about Federal Glass, their patterns, which country they released certain items in, and how to spot the collectibles in the wild. Not every thrift trip can be single-minded, however, so Bex and Ruth talk about some of the other vintage items they search for and enjoy as well. Ruth claims Pyrex collecting was her gateway into other milk glass companies, patterns, and makers, and admits that in the early days, she would find something she thought was Pyrex only to bring it home and learn it wasn’t. Through those research lessons, she found that something she initially thought was Fire King was in fact Federal Glass and that sent her on a whole new collecting journey. Bex learns about the sheer number of varieties of dot colors and sets available in Federal Glass, how so many promotional items came to be made of Federal Glass, and how to differentiate Federal from other items in the wild. Join this episode to learn what Facebook Group to join for identifying Federal, what pieces are most sought-after, and exactly how many collections Ruth draws the line at maintaining.
Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Ruth | Periwinkle Collectibles
Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: —
Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat. Hey everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. And today I am very excited to have Ruth from Periwinkle Collectibles. Welcome back Ruth.
Ruth: [00:00:41] Hi Bex, it's good to be back.
Bex Scott: [00:00:44] How have you been since we last talked?
Ruth: [00:00:46] Oh, it's been a great, wonderful summer. But the days are getting shorter, the leaves are starting to fall, and it's time to start thinking about collections, isn't it?
Bex Scott: [00:00:57] It is. And my favorite Halloween fall season for Pyrex displays is just around the corner and I, as everybody knows, am an avid Pyrex collector. You collect Pyrex yourself, but today I'm very excited because you are going to talk to us about a different collection that you have. So maybe just kick us off and let us know what you're going to be chatting about.
Ruth: [00:01:23] Sure, sure. I thought that Pyrex, at least for me, was a gateway into a lot of other milk glass companies and patterns and makers, and many of us have found something at the thrift, found something out in the wild, brought it home thinking it was Pyrex. Started doing a little bit of research. And for me, this was before Google Image and before AI put all kinds of weird things out there, but it was before Google Image, so you'd have to try and describe what you had found to figure out, well, this isn't Pyrex, because it takes a while to realize that most Pyrex pieces have Pyrex stamped on them. And so you find a pretty white bowl at the thrift store with a really cute pattern, or what you think is really cute. And I mean, now I just, I flip things over and look for the maker mark. But back then I would just go oh 2.99 and this is pretty, in the cart it goes, and I'd bring it home and I'd go, oh, I found this great Pyrex. And then I'd start looking at it and trying to figure out the pattern and oh my gosh, I realized it wasn't Pyrex. Well, then what the heck was it? Well, I found quite a few pieces that had a really large capital F in a shield and I thought, wow, I found Fire-King! And I went on, this is the days of Facebook groups being the only place to really share things.
Ruth: [00:02:51] This is kind of early days of Instagram and before a lot of other social media. I remember going onto a Fire-King group and excitedly sharing what I had found. And wow, I got politely but quickly schooled that what I had found was not Fire-King, but it was Federal. And I'm like Federal? What the heck is that? So I started looking up the patterns of that and going, oh. So I mean, Federal Glass was a company that was around for, I think, around 80-ish years in the States. I think they were in Ohio. They started off making, I think it was like pressed glass in the early 1900s. They made an awful lot of depression glass. And I'll be honest, even though I lived through the 80s and 90s, I have never collected depression glass in my life. A lot of my friends were collecting depression glass during that time, but I never really got into it. It didn't, it didn't appeal to me because depression glass, that's a whole nother discussion. But Federal made a lot of depression glass. They made a lot of barware. But what I particularly really enjoy is the opal ware or the, what people call milk glass, and the pretty patterns that I thought were made by Federal. Because when I flipped the bowl or the casserole or the mug over, it had an F and a shield. But I also discovered that, well, Federal made an awful lot of milk glass or opal ware, they also sold what was called blanks to decorator companies. And so I live in Canada, and what I have learned over the years is that in particular, there was a company outside of Toronto that did a lot of decorating of Federal blanks and other Fire-King and a few other blanks too, and they were called Cutler. C U T L E R. So they, like, printed on Federal blanks. And that's kind of the main reason why the Federal glass that's found in Canada, it's a lot of different patterns. I mean, there is some overlap, but there's quite a lot of patterns that are more commonly found in Canada than in the States.
Bex Scott: [00:05:19] Interesting. I am already learning things from you because I had no idea. I had heard of Cutler and I'd heard of Federal Glass, but that is very cool.
Ruth: [00:05:29] Yeah, I mean Cutler, they bought blanks from other companies and they did a lot of glassware. But basically their thing was they decorated glassware. You know, they painted onto items made by other companies. So there's a lot of Federal Glass in Canada that is tourist ware, you know, mugs with city, city and town names on them and festivals and hockey teams and businesses and things like that. And of course, it exists in the States also, and Federal in the states was also making decorated milk glass and other glass items. But it explains why some patterns show up in Canada in way larger quantities. There was a gas company in Quebec, I believe it was, that gave away the circus bowls. That's a pattern that a lot of Federal collectors, or you've probably seen it too, it has like red, orange, green, blue pattern around the edge of various circus animals and circus carts and things. Well, that was a giveaway from a gas station in Quebec.
Bex Scott: [00:06:41] No way.
Ruth: [00:06:43] Yes way.
Bex Scott: [00:06:44] I would love to get that from a gas station. Why can't we get that from gas stations now?
Ruth: [00:06:48] I know. When I could, when I could afford gas in the 80s, it was Petro Can. And all we got was those ugly glasses that said every garage sale you ever go to in Canada. But this was an earlier time because I think Federal Glass was out of business by 1980, for sure. I've seen a whole bunch of different sources. Some say 77, some say 79, whatever. By 1980, they were gone. So a lot of this stuff was given away in the 60s and 70s. But that's why there's so many circus bowls in Canada, in particular in Ontario and Quebec. And maybe the company was in Ontario as well, but definitely found way more in the eastern half of Canada than the western half of Canada.
Bex Scott: [00:07:31] So has that made the circus bowls more popular in the States for collectors?
Ruth: [00:07:37] Yeah, yeah, that does do that because they're harder to find. And isn't that what always happens with collectors is the sought-after is the harder to find? Is that just the way we are as people? Is that just...
Bex Scott: [00:07:54] Yeah. We always want what we can't have.
Ruth: [00:07:56] Exactly, exactly. So it was like the circus bowls. And then there was also the dots. There's way more of them that show up. And that's in particular one of my favorite patterns, because along the way, as I was looking for Pyrex, I found a brown dot Federal mug that I thought was kind of cute. So I brought it home and started looking at how many colors does that come in? And I went, well, I'm going to see what I can find. And eight years later, 27 mugs later, I'm still finding new ones.
Bex Scott: [00:08:35] That was going to be my next question. How many different dot colors does it come in?
Ruth: [00:08:40] Oh boy. Well, yeah. First of all, there's two dot variations. There's one where all the dots are the same size, basically, and another where there's two sizes of dots. And then the shape of the mug, there's three variations. So the colors, I think basically it's about 6 or 8 per shape. And then on the two size dots I've only ever been able to find or hear of about 6. We have on the Facebook group, the Federal Facebook group that I belong to, which Bex is going to link in the podcast.
Bex Scott: [00:09:23] Yes. And they finally just accepted me. They actually accepted me really fast. So now I can drool over all of the beautiful photos.
Ruth: [00:09:30] And it's, it's, there are some books out there on Federal, but not really that concentrate on the milk glass side of it. They're more the depression glass and the pressed glass type of stuff. So in that Facebook group, there's a lot of albums in there which a lot of Canadian and American collectors have contributed to, to help with that body of knowledge and help us figure out what was Cutler. And people have actually found some Cutler catalogs as well. But to help us figure out what was the actual pattern names, because there is no official websites or books, a lot of Federal patterns have nicknames, and there's multiple nicknames for a lot of the patterns. And then we find a catalog page and realize the name is actually not at all what anyone has ever called it.
Bex Scott: [00:10:22] Mm. Yeah. Kind of like Pyrex with some of the strange nicknames that the bowls get out there.
Ruth: [00:10:29] Yeah, yeah. Because there was no real company information. And so people make things up, like for example, for Federal there's a - oh, there's also a dot pattern that I didn't even talk about, which most people refer to as atomic, where it's a dot with like a little kind of swirl circle around it. I mean, one, no company in the 50s or 60s or 70s - this is just one of my pet peeves - ever named anything atomic. That name is retroactive. But that aside, that pattern name is actually called Bolero. And there's catalog proof in the Federal group for anyone who wants to argue that one. Printed proof. But the dots, I don't think, ever really had a name that we found so far because they were mostly Cutler. Some were released in the States. But that explains why on the dot bowls there's five different sizes, and Federal bowls are measured, similar to how Pyrex bowls are, across the top in inches for the people who don't like to talk the Pyrex models of 401 or 402 or whatever. Some people think of them in regards to how many inches they are. But Federal there's no molds, i.e. size numbers on them. So they're always called 5 inch, 6 inch, 7, 8, 9 inch, etc. so there's basically five sizes for the regular mixing bowls. There's no Cinderella bowls, there's no space savers, there's no divideds, but there is covered casseroles. There is a few baking dishes. But anyhow, sorry, where was my brain going with that? I was talking about the differences. But that's why people, that's why there are kind of select colors for the dots in 5 to 9 inch, whereas 9 inches super rare has only been found in a couple of colors and a 5 inch in a few more colors, but the 6, 7 and 8, which were a typical 3 bowl set for Federal, came in even more colors.
Ruth: [00:12:44] Like, I think there's 8 or 10 colors for every size there. So when people say, well, what was the official set? What did it look like? Well, there's only a few catalog pages showing some of those variations. And of course, over time sets have been broken up and also a lot of those bowls were sold individually. So people would buy bowls and make up their own sets. You know, they'd pick, you know, a yellow 5 inch and a pink 7 inch and et cetera, et cetera. There are a few standard color combinations that were released, and that's just for one pattern. The dots. Stories like that surround almost every pattern where Blossom Time, for instance, there are certain colors you can find all over the place in Canada, but in the States, they they have a whole other color because they're, Federal made it, the pattern, and here Cutler made the pattern. Or, like some Pyrex stuff, just certain patterns were shipped to certain parts of the country or certain, you know, Kmart bought this product line and Kresge bought this other one and The Bay... I don't think The Bay and Eaton's carried Federal because the quality of Federal is different than Pyrex.
Bex Scott: [00:14:07] Mhm. I was going to say it. How do you explain it? Is it a little less in quality would you say, than Pyrex?
Ruth: [00:14:14] I would say, yeah. I mean that's, that's my personal opinion, just based upon the hundreds of pieces that I've seen over the years. And what happens if you, if your Federal piece accidentally goes into the dishwasher, it deteriorates much quicker than the end of the year is the 70s and 80s Pyrex that, you know, the odd dishwasher trip doesn't usually do too much harm, but Federal, half a dozen dishwasher trips can turn the whole thing into a piece of opal.
Bex Scott: [00:14:48] You'd be left with a lot of opal in your collection.
Ruth: [00:14:50] Yeah, well, and Federal had released a lot of opal. Like, it's very common to find just the plain nesting bowl that's Federal at the thrift or the flea or garage sale or whatever. And it can be hard to tell whether it was released that way or whether it was dishwasher, but if it's shiny, generally it was released that way. So, I mean, I probably find 15 - 20 opal Federal bowls for every one pattern that I find, at least, if not more. And I probably have, okay, I have a few sets of 5 to 9 inch oval and some of the sizes, again, way more common to find. 6, 7 and 8 inch super common, 5 fairly common, the bigger ones a little less common because sometimes it's just what people use and they also scratch on the interior quicker, like the pattern wears off faster. The interior scratches easier. Metal mixers do a real number on them. And while there's, you know, the school of people who are like, well, you know, you got to use, do you use it? You know, always the first question out of non-collectors mouth. Do you use it? And for Federal, yeah. You know, I use it, but I carefully hand wash it and hand use a gentle linen cloth and dry it and put it back on the shelf so it retains its shine because it, 100% agree with you, it does not have the quality and also the baking durability. It doesn't have that Pyrex baking durability. But that doesn't mean, it's still beautiful. It came in a lot of really pretty pretty patterns and some that are very highly sought-after. Are you aware of any of the Federal patterns or anything that's crossed your radar that you thought was?
Bex Scott: [00:16:51] I think the only ones that I really knew of were, I'd heard of the circus, the stripes, there's the dots and then the daisy ones I've seen before.
Ruth: [00:17:02] Right, right, right. The daisy. And then there's also a mushroom set that's quite sought-after.
Bex Scott: [00:17:09] Everybody loves anything mushroom.
Ruth: [00:17:10] Yeah, but it's also, it's primary colored mushrooms.
Bex Scott: [00:17:15] Okay, I like that.
Ruth: [00:17:16] Yeah, yeah. So it has like the yellow, the orange. There's like kind of 5, which I know is more than actually primary colors. But it was like a yellow, orange, red, green and blue that the mushroom set also comes in, and again, a kind of a printed band around the upper edge, which is a fairly common thing for, and it was a, I believe that one was a Cutler one as well. I think that one was a Cutler one as well. There's also some sort of harlequin or diamond type patterns that some people are very fond of. I mean, it's, right now it's the bright colors that appeal to people. There's a pattern that looks like French onion that Federal actually called Bucks County.
Bex Scott: [00:18:05] Hmm. Where does that name come from?
Ruth: [00:18:08] No clue. No clue. You'll rarely find it online under that name unless somebody has a box. But that's what it's called. There's a couple of variations on the kind of gingham tablecloth red and white check look.
Bex Scott: [00:18:25] Oh, I've seen those. Do they come in little cereal bowls?
Ruth: [00:18:28] Yes, they - oh, yeah, that's true. We didn't talk about cereal bowls, which is a shape size that Pyrex didn't really--
Bex Scott: [00:18:37] -- yeah--
Ruth: [00:18:38] -- didn't really do. I mean, Fire-King did a lot of, but, and so when you find them out in the wild with that little, that little cereal bowl, which I think most people nowadays would more call it a snack bowl, but, you know, they're even smaller than 401s. They have often a band of color around them. And they're generally, when you find them, they're either Anchor Hocking/Fire-King, or they are Federal. And just a quick flip to the bottom of the bowl looking for, you know, either one of the Fire-King logos or the Anchor Hocking logo, or the infamous F, large capital F in a shield to let you know which it is. And there's some patterns that kind of look like they might be Fire-King. There's a little bit, you know, there's popular patterns, like the KitchenAid pattern that Hazel-Atlas put out, which is like the turquoise or commonly turquoise, it looks like a coffee pot and a bowl and cups and plates that go around the outer rim of the bowl of Federal did a version of that, which I think that one was the Cutler one, I can't remember. Got to look on the albums on the group, but that I've only found one of, that's a bit harder one to find as well because it's pretty, you know, Hazel-Atlas had the just turquoise. Every single bowl was turquoise. Federal, of course, always does the color variation where each size of bowl is a different color. And then there's also some black and gold patterns. There's some all gold patterns. No clear lids, the lids, the lidded casseroles always have opal lids with a fairly distinctive knob shape.
Bex Scott: [00:20:28] And are the lids as hard to find in Federal as they are in Pyrex now?
Ruth: [00:20:33] Oh, harder. Harder, harder.
Bex Scott: [00:20:35] Oh no. Harder.
Ruth: [00:20:38] Because they didn't release as many, they didn't do, like they only had, there's only a few - I'm trying to think if it's 3 or 4 covered casseroles that came with lids. And those casseroles are, some people even call them bowls because they're round with sort of a shape at the bottom that's very reminiscent of the Fire-King splash proof bowls, but it's only on half of the bowl. It's like the top, it's like they couldn't decide who to flatter with their repetition of that pattern, you know, Pyrex with the roundness or Fire-King with the splash. So it's like a hybrid between the two. That's how, I don't know really if that's what was their intent, but that's how I've always thought of them in the casseroles and then the bakeware. There's kind of an oval dish, a couple of them, but the shapes are much, much more limited, you know, which is also probably contributed to their, they were sold for less money, sold by the lower end department stores, from what I've been able to see from advertisements and such, because they weren't as durable, they scratched up faster, they broke faster. Not quite Glass Bake. Sorry, not a fan.
Bex Scott: [00:21:56] That's okay. I'm not either.
Ruth: [00:21:58] But you know, you look at Glass Bake sideways and it cracks, scratches. Federal at least, you know, sure, maybe it scratches as fast, but at least it's pretty.
Bex Scott: [00:22:15] It is. And speaking of not being a fan, is there a pattern in Federal or a couple patterns that you would say have a resounding, like the fan base isn't there for them, they're maybe considered ugly or not as desirable? Because I know in Pyrex it's usually Old Orchard and Forest Fancy that doesn't have a lot of love. So is there anything, anything in Federal like that?
Ruth: [00:22:44] There's a pattern that's kind of black, a little bit of black with some brown flowers that not too many people are fond of. There's a pattern called Bouquet that comes in a dark teal that people aren't as fond of, because there's quite a bit of it out there. Whereas actually there's one size in that pattern and color that is super desirable because they barely released any. It's weird. It's one of those things where what is it, like, Woodlawn, where there's, like tons of 401 to 403, but the 404 is hard to find. Or was it Snowflake Garland where the 401 to 403 is, you know, it's a middle of the road pattern, but the 404 is super hard to find. So therefore people like it more. There's some of that going on. There's also a gold-only pattern, I think it's called Golden Glory, that was quite common. You've probably seen it. It kind of looks like gold bushes.
Bex Scott: [00:23:52] Oh yeah. Yeah, I know what you're talking about.
Ruth: [00:23:54] Yeah. And it was actually released twice. So that's why there's so much of it. It was first released in the, oh, I'm trying to remember, in the late 50s. Because I'm fond of it, because it's the pattern I grew up with, it's what my mother had. Right?
Bex Scott: [00:24:11] Yeah. You have the memories associated with it.
Ruth: [00:24:13] Right. But the pattern itself is not very popular. And then it was rereleased again, I think in the 70s when they were trying not to go under. So there's that. The golden brown, there isn't as many brown patterns as there is in Pyrex. I mean, there isn't as many patterns, period. But some of them are just, they're just, they're cute, they're adorable. They come in a lot of variations. And heck, we live in Canada where there's actually more of it. So I, I at first would leave it behind all the time because I was like, no, no, I'm only collecting Pyrex, I'm only collecting Pyrex. And then as you collect more of something and it gets harder to find and you start looking at the other, you start, you know, because there's generally very little monogamy in glass collecting, but you just start looking, you know, at the other things available and the other patterns and bringing them home and kind of going, oh, because I remember saying to some of my friends, no, I don't. I brought this home, isn't it pretty? And they're like, didn't you say you don't collect Federal? That was like, you know, 2000.
Bex Scott: [00:25:27] That sounds familiar with me, too. Yeah.
Ruth: [00:25:32] And before you know it, you're collecting it.
Bex Scott: [00:25:35] Yeah. I've slowed down a lot on the Pyrex collecting lately, and maybe Federal is my next new thing that I have to to collect. So I'm looking at all these bright, cheery photos, and there's one in the vintage Federal Glass Facebook group and it's of these really nice boxes. So does Federal have a box for each dish that's as nice as the Pyrex ones?
Ruth: [00:26:01] I honestly don't know because there just, there hasn't, I mean, there's some boxes out there, especially for those Federal made a lot of snack sets and boxes always survived for the snack sets because they weren't an everyday use type of, I don't know if everybody in the audience is familiar with a snack set. It's kind of like a large, generally oval-ish plate with a little raised and then indented smaller circle where you would put a cup and it was made for party use where you could hold this plate with the cup that was held in place with the little glass lip on the plate with a bit of food, you know, and your tea, and still stand and chat with people and be able to, you know, yeah, lift up your... Yeah there's an adorable pattern that kind of looks like cannabis that's like black, turquoise and pink. I can't remember the exact name of it. A lot of people like that. There's one in the snack sets of Federal one I think that's like a little pastel houses that are cute. I haven't delved into the world of snack sets other than looking at them, because I draw the line at 47 collections.
Bex Scott: [00:27:17] Just 47. 48 is too many. 47 is okay though.
Ruth: [00:27:20] There has to be a line, right? There has to be.
Bex Scott: [00:27:22] Yeah.
Ruth: [00:27:23] There's also because Federal did far more promotional items. They made promotional items with images on them that today we would not find socially acceptable.
Bex Scott: [00:27:39] Mhm. Mhm.
Ruth: [00:27:40] Okay. For certain banks or teams that had images that were derogatory to various, and in particular Indigenous, parts of the population. Some people collect those because they say it, because it's important to acknowledge the mistakes we made in the past. And some people choose to not go there at all. You know, it's a personal, that's a personal choice. But there's, there seems to be quite a bit more of that in Federal than there, you know, I can't, I don't know if I've ever seen any Pyrex that had what we would consider to be an offensive image.
Bex Scott: [00:28:25] I'm trying to think maybe some of the coffee mugs.
Ruth: [00:28:28] Yeah, true. Some of the sayings.
Bex Scott: [00:28:31] Mhm. But nothing out of like the patterned dishes or bowls that I can think of.
Ruth: [00:28:37] Yeah. There was a full set of bowls with a black silhouette of an Indigenous person with feathers in their hair that there's a lot of controversy about. Some people, you know, really think it's great. Other people think it's offensive. That's up to the individual to make their choice. For me, luckily that was released in the States. It doesn't show up here, so I don't have to, I don't have to look at it on the shelf and go is this is too offensive to go in the cart? Because it's important to acknowledge, you know, mistakes made in the past. But I don't particularly want to take pictures of it and glorify it in any way. So there's that. There's a lot of, you know, the office culture mugs. You know, what was acceptable to have on a mug in the 70s is often not acceptable today, thank goodness.
Bex Scott: [00:29:40] Yes.
Ruth: [00:29:41] A lot of, a lot of tourist ware and things like that. And a lot of glassware. There's glass canisters that Federal made that a lot of people misidentify as other companies. They call, the Federal company called them, I was going to say store-and-go, but I don't know if that's quite the right color. They came, they looked very similar to the Atterbury Scroll pattern that, I don't know. Are you familiar with any of this?
Bex Scott: [00:30:13] I don't think so. I'm gonna have to look them up because I really like canisters.
Ruth: [00:30:17] Yeah. So there were glass canisters with glass lids that had a plastic gasket. Not just all around the lip, but across the bottom as well. They came, Federal released them in oh, I think amber, clear, turquoise, and a kind of aurora borealis finish. I hunted for years to find every single color. They came in a bunch of shapes as well. I think an avocado green maybe is, no, I don't think Federals came in avocado green. Part of the problem is they look very, very similar to another company's gloss. So there's a lot of, and they're, none of them are stamped, but there is catalog showing Federal as hey, you know we make this. Because they made a lot of pressed glass in their history.
Bex Scott: [00:31:15] That makes it tricky to identify then. You definitely need to find that catalog to make sure you have the legitimate piece.
Ruth: [00:31:23] It's in the album, it's in the albums on the group. But so I think it's by color that you can tell from what company is what company. I just, I'm just trying to think what colors I have in my personal collection, because I tried hard to just find the Federal ones, which are easier to find here in Canada than other places.
Bex Scott: [00:31:45] Yeah, that's another thing I'm going to add to my list then to search for in the stores. I'm sure it's not easy to find though.
Ruth: [00:31:52] The those those plastic gaskets just didn't hold up like the...
Bex Scott: [00:31:56] Yeah.
Ruth: [00:31:57] Like the beautiful ground glass stoppers and edges on the Belgium canisters. You know, the bubble top, Belgium canisters that we all like or the Takahashi glass canisters with the ground edges. I have a little, I think that's collection 42.
Bex Scott: [00:32:22] I love that. I'm going to go and count my collections now.
Ruth: [00:32:26] I'm joking. And then I'm thinking, wait, am I really?
Bex Scott: [00:32:31] Like I'm not actually.
Ruth: [00:32:35] From Federal I always think, no, I have everything I want and then I find or a friend finds and they go, do you have the 5 inch solid colored bowl in, you know, and they name a color. And I look at my list and I go, dang, I have the other 5 colors. I don't have that one. Yeah. So I now, for Federal, I keep a list of the things that I don't have because it's easier than keeping a list of the things I do have.
Bex Scott: [00:33:07] Mhm. That's a smart way to do it.
Ruth: [00:33:09] Yeah. Because recently, fairly recently I found a 9 inch dot nesting bowl in turquoise. If it was in the Pyrex world it would almost be called rare. Definitely hard to find. And there's, there hasn't been a lot of them. And that's one that I actually, someone in Alberta had found it and I actually, yeah, coughed up and had to make that one mine.
Bex Scott: [00:33:41] Yeah you invested in it.
Ruth: [00:33:43] I invested. Yeah. That's the right way up. I really wanted it because I had the 5, 6, 7 and 8 in that color. So it just it had to be mine. But the vast majority of the Federal pieces I have are, I'd say 95% of them are from Canada, and 85% of them I found, I found locally or, you know, friends found locally because I have a lot of friends that collect locally. And what do we do? We find for each other and we trade. Right?
Bex Scott: [00:34:19] That's the fun part of it. Making friends and finding things for each other and buying and trading. And that's what makes this whole addiction or hobby or however you want to explain it or justify it, that's what makes it fun.
Ruth: [00:34:37] Serotonin is important.
Bex Scott: [00:34:39] Yeah. Yeah.
Ruth: [00:34:41] Definitely. It's almost more fun to find something that someone else has been looking for.
Bex Scott: [00:34:48] Exactly. Yeah. You can score their holy grail.
Ruth: [00:34:53] Yeah, yeah. Speaking of holy grails, beside the 9 inch turquoise that I was so happy to add to my collection, I actually found the batter bowl, a dot, red dot batter bowl. The white ones are a little bit more common for Federal, but I found a dot batter bowl at the thrift store.
Bex Scott: [00:35:12] Oh wow.
Ruth: [00:35:13] Last year or the year before? It was two years ago. Yeah, definitely two years ago, because I happened to be at a whole opposite end of the city than I normally am for an appointment and went, oh man, I have, I'm on my lunch still - wink wink - and I have time to... That's okay. I'm retired now, it doesn't matter. I was rushing back to the, rushing back to work and went, oh man, I'm driving right by this thrift store I never get to. Quickly swung in, raced up and down a few aisles and there it was for 4.99.
Bex Scott: [00:35:50] Oh my gosh.
Ruth: [00:35:51] And I went, the thrift gods were looking out today.
Bex Scott: [00:35:54] The rays of sunshine came down into the store. It was right there. And they were singing. And yeah, I can see it.
Ruth: [00:36:03] Angels sing.
Bex Scott: [00:36:05] Yeah.
Ruth: [00:36:09] That's the feeling when you find something you've been looking for on the thrift store shelf.
Bex Scott: [00:36:15] Yeah. You start to float and everything is just perfect. That's exactly how I feel.
Ruth: [00:36:21] You hug it to yourself.
Bex Scott: [00:36:23] Yeah.
Ruth: [00:36:26] Do you have a cart? You put it in the cart, you put your coat over it.
Bex Scott: [00:36:29] Yes. Yeah. Nobody else can see that because they will try and steal it.
Ruth: [00:36:35] Sadly, yes. Absolutely. And it doesn't matter how badly you have to go to the washroom, you do not leave your cart outside of the washroom with the precious item in it.
Bex Scott: [00:36:46] Well, on that cheerful note. I have learned a ton today about Federal Glass, and I think I'm going to have to have you back for another episode to teach me more about Federal and all of these other 47 collections that you have. But thank you so much for giving me all your knowledge today. I know it's just the tip of the iceberg, but I have to make sure that everybody joins that vintage Federal Glass group. We'll put that in the show notes, and then make sure you follow Ruth at Periwinkle Collectibles on Instagram as well.
Ruth: [00:37:23] Thanks, Bex. It's been a pleasure.
Bex Scott: [00:37:25] Thanks so much for joining me, Ruth.
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| 02 Feb 2024 | All Things Pyrex With Nate Smith of @MyVintageIs1976 | 00:52:40 | |
Bex Scott hosts one of her all-time favorite Pyrex and vintage collectors, Nate Smith of @MyVintageIs1976, on the show today. Bex and Nate talk about all things Pyrex from how they got started collecting and Nate’s favorite patterns to Pyrex swaps and overpriced pieces. Nate is a natural educator and happily shares his passion and Pyrex knowledge, which is vast, with all Bex’s listeners. Nate, like Bex, started collecting in 2020 through the need to clear out family houses. Once started, he fell in love with Pyrex and dug into research and collecting on his own. While his husband doesn’t share his Pyrex collection love, he is incredibly supportive of Nate’s thrifting, reselling, and the revolving seasonal displays in their home. Nate lets Bex in on the best Pyrex finds he’s made, his most treasured complete collection, and the rare boxes he’s now searching out. They discuss their belief on why kindness and sharing knowledge with new collectors is the best way forward, investigate the differences between pieces named differently in America versus in Canada, and Nate shares his top tips for thrifting success. If you love Pyrex, and you must if you’re here, this is one conversation you won’t want to miss! Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:31] Hey everybody, thanks for tuning in to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. Today I am super excited because I have one of my all-time favorite collectors of Pyrex and vintage on today chatting, and it's Nate Smith. You can find him on Instagram at MyVintageIs1976 and I was super excited when I came across your Instagram, Nate, because I love all the education you provide, all of the things that you sell. I wish I had enough money to buy all of them because they're adorable and I could see all of them in my house. But you were also the friendliest and most open to teaching people about what you know and helping new collectors, and I'm super grateful for that. So welcome to the show.
Nate Smith: [00:01:16] Thank you so much. It's my pleasure to be here.
Bex Scott: [00:01:19] Awesome. So I thought we'd start out with how you got into Pyrex and vintage collecting.
Nate Smith: [00:01:26] That's a great question. I had a lot of tragedy actually in 2020, and my sister and I were forced to clean out both my parents and my grandparents homes. My dad died in September and my grandmother died in October right after. And then my mother went into an assisted living at the time. So my sister and I were left with all this stuff and we were like, what are we going to do? So we just started digging in and having to clean out the houses. And that's in Kentucky and I'm in Texas now, so I would go as often as I could to go and help her out. But as we were cleaning out my parents home, we just kept coming across these beautiful bowls and casseroles in this huge variety of patterns, and my parents came by it, honestly. Me growing up too, if there was a wide spot in the road for a yard sale, if there was a thrift store, my mom would want to stop on the way to town. And just in case they put something out on the way back that she would want to stop on the way back. So she was a double stop thrift store kind of gal.
Nate Smith: [00:02:32] And a lot of these bowls still had the original $2 $4 dollar thrift store tags on them when she picked them up and my sister and I, we took a lot of stuff to the local thrift store just to donate back. But I couldn't take these bowls. I just kept circling back to them, and I just found them to be so beautiful. And so I asked my sister, can I take some of these back to Texas with me? I just want to research and find out a little bit more. And that deep rabbit hole kept going and going and going, and I started as to resell some of the things instead of just donating them. I saw value in them and I told my sister, like, I'm going to sell some of these. And then there were more and more patterns that I couldn't sell back because I didn't want to let go of them, because I started falling in love with them. And then a new collector was born.
Bex Scott: [00:03:31] That's awesome. And do you have family members that collect as well? Does your sister collect?
Nate Smith: [00:03:40] My sister has a pattern that she likes. She does the Colonial Mist, which is great because I don't care for it at all. Even though it's blue, I still don't care for it very much at all. But it was one of the last kind of opal ware patterns that Pyrex put out. And so it's pretty easy, still pretty common to find because it's one of the newer patterns. And so I've helped her complete her collections just in my own sourcing and thrifting and antiquing, I've been able to finish out her collection of Colonial Mist for her. But the next generation, like her kids and her kids' kids, no, I think we're pretty much it in the family. So, and none of my husband's side of the family really collects. So yeah, it's just me. I do enough for all of us.
Bex Scott: [00:04:30] That's like me as well. It's just me right now. We have two boys and a girl, and I'm trying to get our sons into it. I don't think I'm going to be successful, but maybe. Our daughter's only one so there's lots of years to get her into collecting and hopefully passing my collection on to her, because there's quite a bit of it.
Nate Smith: [00:04:50] Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:04:53] And does your husband share your love of vintage as well?
Nate Smith: [00:04:57] No, not even a little bit. And like, he humors me sometimes and goes with me to the antique stores, but he will find himself bored pretty quick and will ask me for the keys to the car pretty quick because he can go up and down the aisles relatively quickly and just say, yeah, I'm done. But he humors me, like he never makes me feel bad about my collections. He never questions me about anything. So if anything, he is also like all-star drop stuff off at the post office. All-star I have a lot of boxes to box will you help me? Absolutely. So he's roll up his sleeves, all hands on deck when it comes to that stuff. But he's not himself a collector by nature.
Bex Scott: [00:05:51] Yeah, it's good to have that support on that side of things too, with the packing. And that can get to be a lot.
Nate Smith: [00:05:58] Yeah, I turn and burn it pretty quickly. Like I can't let it pile up because then my OCD and anxiety just kind of spirals out of control. So like if somebody buys something, I try my best to hurry up and get it out because if it piles up, then I can feel my anxiety increasing.
Bex Scott: [00:06:17] Yeah. I remember buying some little bluebirds from you and they arrived so quickly. I was very impressed. So you definitely do get things out the door quickly.
Nate Smith: [00:06:30] Thank you, thank you.
Bex Scott: [00:06:32] And what does your home look like for displaying your Pyrex and your other vintage items?
Nate Smith: [00:06:39] Yeah. Good question. So again, I'm very lucky to have a husband who gives me that kind of creative license, but under a watchful eye of control, which is also good. We live in Texas, so there is no basement. The land of basements is not in Texas, so there aren't a lot of basements here. So I just have to make do with what we've got. And so I have kind of a prized hutch collection of my Pyrex kind of in our sitting room. And then we have some display cabinets in the kitchen that I display pretty regularly. And then I have a rotating seasonal display as well. Other than that, it's usually put in a what I call my Pyrex closet that I use to rotate things in and out for display. And then I also have an inventory room, which is where all the things that I have in preparation for my upcoming Instagram sales or Pyrex swaps kind of lives. So no kids. So easy to just put that stuff in the extra bedroom.
Bex Scott: [00:07:49] Yeah, yeah, that sounds like a very organized way to do it. I might have to implement some of that, because I took over our extra bedroom in the basement of our old house, so my parents and my in-laws weren't able to stay over anymore. So that was the Pyrex room. That was an issue. And now we have more storage in this house, but it's quickly escaping the storage room and making its way into other places. So definitely need a new system.
Nate Smith: [00:08:19] I could easily fill every cabinet and every display shelf and every closet with my collections. And so then I just kind of realized, yes, I love to look at this, but I know not everyone else does. And so that's why I just make sure I rotate things out so that I can appreciate it not all year long, but for a significant amount of time. And then when I'm tired and I want to see something different, I can pull something else out of the closet.
Bex Scott: [00:08:48] Yeah, that makes it fun too, coming up with new displays and seasonal things. Mhm.
Nate Smith: [00:08:54] Yeah, absolutely. And my collection too has evolved, I will say. So a lot of the things that I used to collect, like I've kind of pared down. So I don't do a lot of like, when I started collecting I had every refrigerator set. And so then over time I've gotten rid of most of those. I collected a lot of the bowl sets. I don't do any Cinderella bowls in my collection, so I give myself rules in my collection so that it allows for easier storage and better and better collections.
Bex Scott: [00:09:27] So is that just a change in taste of what you were collecting?
Nate Smith: [00:09:31] Yeah, I think based on what I heard from some of your previous podcasts, we started out very similarly in that if I saw it, I bought it because like, I felt like it was finding gold in a thrift store or finding, you know, and when we first started collecting, because I was right around the same time, 2020, you know, beginning of the pandemic, it was hard to find even in antique stores, if the antique stores were even open, like you weren't finding it. I feel like everybody was just grabbing it when they saw it. And so when I did come across a piece or pieces, I grabbed it if it was affordable and it was in my budget. So that's kind of how I started. And then as you grow as a collector, you start realizing, what do you really love? What patterns do you really want to dive into and collect? I ended up collecting the entire Horizon Blue pattern. That's my favorite kind of standard pattern. So I have the entire line. And then from there you just kind of start realizing, like, okay, I use these seasonally, those I don't use at all, so they're just sitting there, I would rather either pass them on to someone who can appreciate them more than I am right now. And that's kind of how I started becoming a reseller on Instagram.
Bex Scott: [00:10:49] That's very similar to kind of how I started as well, because like you said, there were no antique stores. I bought most of it on Marketplace and not knowing what dishwasher damage and what a bowl should look like at the very beginning of my collecting, I think I bought a ton of dishes and bowls and pie plates that I really shouldn't have. They were luckily cheap. But yeah, looking back, there's a lot of things that I wouldn't get now, but it was fun. The process of it, learning about them and starting to resell the ones that I didn't use very often, and it's all part of the Pyrex fun, I think. So it's worth it.
Nate Smith: [00:11:28] Absolutely agree.
Bex Scott: [00:11:30] And what have been some of your best Pyrex finds that you've had?
Nate Smith: [00:11:34] Good question. And I don't know, have you ever been to a Pyrex swap?
Bex Scott: [00:11:39] I haven't. I don't think we have many in Canada. There's been 1 or 2 that I've heard of, but I feel like they're really common in the States, which is sad that we don't have them as much here.
Nate Smith: [00:11:50] Yeah, and they're growing. Like there are a couple near me that are starting up this next year. I know both Oklahoma and Arkansas are starting swaps and at least closer to you I know there's one in Wisconsin and one in Michigan. So depending on where in Canada you are, right. So there have been some amazing finds at Pyrex swaps just across the country. And for the listeners who aren't familiar, it's basically just kind of a focused flea market. You know, all vintage is up for grabs, like anybody can come and set up at these Pyrex swaps, but it's kind of a definite focus on Vintage Kitchen and Pyrex at these, kind of just I don't want to call it a convention, but depending on how many vendors there are, you know, like Michigan had like 60 plus vendors, Tennessee had over 60 vendors. So a lot of people come from all over the country. I went last year to Pyrex Fest in Maryland. And you do, you find treasures. And it's not just Pyrex. You also find vintage Christmas and other treasures all along at these swaps. And so you never know what you're going to find, because people are coming from all over the country to these swaps.
Nate Smith: [00:13:04] In addition, like great antique stores, great thrift stores, like you, I definitely turned online both and Marketplace and Facebook or even eBay to find some great finds that I feel like I was in the right place at the right time and was able to pounce and and grabbed it. And so that gives you that thrill. So obviously there have been just some wonderful things. Dallas where I live, it's pretty dog eat dog. So like I don't do estate sales because the lines are just mammoth around--
Bex Scott: [00:13:41] Oh, I bet.
Nate Smith: [00:13:41] I feel like there are a lot of antique stores and a lot of resellers here in such a large metropolis metropolitan area. And so I feel like the competition is high. And so I just say, you know, I'm not from here. I don't know anybody. I don't have any inside tracks here in Dallas. And so I just leave that to them. And so I turn mostly to either the people I know in the Pyrex community or online, mostly, for my finds.
Bex Scott: [00:14:10] Yeah, I'll have to start looking for Pyrex swaps, because that's something that I've watched on people's Instagrams that look so fun, and just seeing what they've found from going to them is a lot better than going to the antique stores. We have a ton of antique stores around here, and they're all super overpriced, so it's very rare to find something affordable that's on your list there. But I keep trying.
Nate Smith: [00:14:36] Yeah. And sometimes even at the swaps you think it's a gather of collectors, but also it's just people who are vendors. And a friend of mine found a Lady on the Left Butterprint 503, so the large refrigerator dish, priced as if it were a regular refrigerator dish. And so that was a huge score for her. And I was like, because even as collectors and it was like midway through the swap and how many people were there and had noticed and just like, oh, it's just another 503. And she took the time to really pay attention and realize that it was a Lady on the Left. And so big score for her. We were all just like cheering her on. It was so awesome.
Bex Scott: [00:15:22] That's awesome. I would be very excited if I found that. And it does make a difference if you take the time to look through things and you can find stuff like that if you're patient.
Nate Smith: [00:15:33] Dig a little bit. Absolutely. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:15:34] Yeah. Mhmm. So what would you say are the most prized pieces in your collection?
Nate Smith: [00:15:41] So I will say that as my collection evolved, I have definitely kind of refocused on two major categories. Like I'm never going to get rid of any of my Horizon Blue. That's part of my complete collection, but focused for me now as far as Pyrex goes, I collect the boxes. The boxes have been a wonderfully deep rabbit hole that I have just absolutely fallen in love with the original artwork on the boxes. And then the rares. So those pieces that were either test patterns or things that were maybe one-offs that people made in the factories, and I've even found some people from other people who found out from people who worked there at the factory. A friend of mine bought some pieces directly from someone who used to work there, and he told my friend that basically after hours they could go down into the basement, and if there was already a pattern and already colors and anything, they could just mix and match things in a way for their wives or for anybody that they wanted to. And so he was able to find a Snowflake Cinderella bowl set that somebody had made their wife. And like, obviously that doesn't exist. And so it was amazing. Absolutely. And so for me, obviously, I'm lucky enough to own the Lucky in Love and I own the Constellation, Oh My Stars as it's called sometimes. I own a one of a kind, which is the Tulips, it's usually a white on blue, the 043 Tulip pattern, and I have it as a gold on cream.
Bex Scott: [00:17:29] Oh that would be pretty.
Nate Smith: [00:17:30] It's just beautiful. I have the Clover Berry. I mean, I'm so lucky to have so many of the rare pieces. And that's actually another reason why I'm still buying and selling on Instagram. You know, My Vintage Is 1976 was kind of born because like, I want to buy and sell. And then that kind of goes into my little Pyrex fun money stockpile that I can afford some of these things that I want to treat myself with. So.
Bex Scott: [00:17:57] And the Lucky in Love, there's two different versions, right?
Nate Smith: [00:18:01] I don't know what you mean. There's the clear. You know, that's kind of the new version that they kind of reissued that's pretty common that you can find. I think it was done, you know, not so long ago. But then it's on the opal.
Bex Scott: [00:18:17] Is there one without hearts? Does it have hearts?
Nate Smith: [00:18:19] Oh okay. Now. Yes. So there is one I think in the Corning Museum before they added the hearts. And that's the reason that I also have heard why it never made it to the run. On mine you can see that this is 100% true, the way they layered the paint, so there's some overlap with the heart over the shamrock. And you can see the green shamrock through the light kind of bubblegum pink. And I think so then it didn't pass their standards that you could see one through the other. And so then that's kind of why they stopped production or it never made it to market.
Bex Scott: [00:19:01] Interesting.
Nate Smith: [00:19:03] Yeah. Yeah. And the reason my second guess is there's a one of a kind, I think that's on the 475, the large casserole. And my friend owns that one and so. It'd be pretty cool to stack a 473 on a 475 just to see it.
Bex Scott: [00:19:19] Yeah.
Nate Smith: [00:19:20] You know, but.
Bex Scott: [00:19:21] That would be very cool. That's awesome. With all of the information that's out there, what's something that people, it's kind of like how do you say it, that isn't accurate that people talk about Pyrex? That you'd say that's kind of like a misinformation about Pyrex, if there is any.
Nate Smith: [00:19:40] Sure. Well, I see a lot of times people will say Pyrex as the brand, you know, and Pyrex is a product within the Corning company, you know, so Corning that also made Corelle, that also made Corning Ware, also made Pyrex. So it's easy to talk about, you know, Pyrex as the manufacturer. But they're not, you know, it's just another brand in in the Corning company. A lot of people will call, it's kind of like, oh, you know, you call every adhesive bandage a Band-Aid, you call every facial tissue Kleenex, or every pill Tylenol. You know, I feel like a lot of people will call all kinds Pyrex. You know, whether it's Fire King, Hazel, Atlas, Federal, McKee, any of it. It's just all Pyrex. And I'm like, no, no, it's not. So, that's another one that I'm like, gosh, see that all the time, is that they'll just label it all Pyrex, you know, like it's a one stop shop, one name for all of that kind of cookware. But obviously it's not.
Bex Scott: [00:20:51] Right. Yeah, that's a good point. Lots of my family members do that. They'll bring home something for me and they'll say, I got you some Pyrex. Thank you very much. But it's glass, actually. And are there any pieces that you're still on the hunt for in terms of Pyrex?
Nate Smith: [00:21:15] Always, always. You know, and it's so easy when in any collection, I feel like, it's so easy to become jealous. And I hate that word, but jealous of other people's collections because, you know, like, oh my gosh, they just have such beautiful... Even if it's just the way they display it. And I hear that often like, oh, I'm so jealous of your collection, but you should be happy with the collection you have. And so, and I oftentimes say, if I never get another piece of Pyrex, the fact that I've been able to be a part of the pieces I currently have history, then I feel beyond lucky. There are several boxes that I would love to add to my collection. If you know the Willow casserole, the cute little 473, I would love to have that box. There are several others. The Penn Dutch promotional friendship pattern. I would love to have that box. The grapes with the little plastic hugger, I think it's a 473 as well. I would love to have that box. Some of the boxes are just really cute, and I would just love to checkmark and add that to my collection.
Nate Smith: [00:22:24] As far as just general rares go, I have the turquoise Hex pattern with the lid and it came with an under plate. So I have two pieces. I have the lid and the casserole, but I don't have the under plate, so I would love to add that to my collection. All kinds. There's all kinds. Yeah, it's so funny though that there are some that they're like, Nate, do you want this or whatever? Because once you get to a certain level, a lot of it is just passed amongst the collectors, right? Like once you hit a certain tier, people call and say, hey, I've got this and I'm going to sell. Or hey, if you ever want to sell this, let me know. And a lot of it is just passed and will never hit eBay and will never hit, you know, the market. So I'm lucky enough to be in a lot of those circles as well. And so there are definitely some pieces that my friends have that I was like, if you ever want to let that go.
Bex Scott: [00:23:17] Yeah, let me know. Have the boxes been pretty hard to find?
Nate Smith: [00:23:25] So I've run across a lot of boxes in person in antique malls. I'm trying to stay very specific. Like I'm trying not to, unless it's just a gorgeous box or Horizon Blue, I'm trying not to do standard line boxes because then that just opens the whole floodgates, right? That's like every pattern, every different casserole, every different everything that, I mean, that's just a lot of boxes. So I'm trying to stay close with just the promotional pieces or the Horizon Blue pieces as far as boxes go, but I'll see several from time to time just, you know, you can tell whether they're Spring Blossom or Butterfly Gold or Snowflake Garland or several others, the Forest Fancies I see a lot, a lot of the later ones, the Shenandoah or the Colonial Mist I'll see pretty often, and you'll see those pop up pretty often on eBay as well, the especially the later ones, because they only have had to be in a basement for, you know, 40 years instead of, uh, 60 years.
Bex Scott: [00:24:37] And my grandma has a storage room right now that nobody knows what's in it. I don't think she even knows. So my hope is that she'll let me clean it out someday soon, and I'll find something great in there.
Nate Smith: [00:24:53] That's every person's goal. And I feel like that's how, that's why so much is hitting the market and has hit the market so much in the last five years, is because I think the generations of people who received these pieces as wedding gifts, as housewarming presents, now are unfortunately of the age that either they've passed and their children are cleaning out their homes, or they're downsizing and going to live their best condo life in the beach somewhere, you know, and they're finally cleaning out that basement. And they've been in boxes for 60 years. And another reason I love boxes is because they can so easily stack in my closet. And so it's so much easier than having to find individual shelves or, you know, trying to pull a balancing act with how many bowls can I stack on top of each other.
Bex Scott: [00:25:52] Can maximize the use of space.
Nate Smith: [00:25:54] Just as if they were in a basement. So I love that.
Bex Scott: [00:25:57] That's my new reasoning for starting to collect boxes. That they stack well, yeah.
Nate Smith: [00:26:02] Absolutely.
Bex Scott: [00:26:02] I'm going to tell my husband right after this. And the number of garage sales I've been to where people have had all types of items and they've said, we got this for our wedding 60 years ago and it never came out of our cupboard. It's just mind blowing. And they're selling it for super cheap because they never wanted it, and they expect that nobody else will.
Nate Smith: [00:26:28] Absolutely. Or if when these were purchased, I've gotten the boxes that still have the original price on the cardboard or even cut slash prices, it was $3.98 now it's $1.99, you know, on super sale. And I'm like, it's easy to understand that they feel like they can sell this for $5 because it was only $2 back then, you know. So I feel like to them, if they're not checking the eBay comps and in the Facebook groups like we are, understandably so, they don't necessarily see or understand why they would be so valuable.
Bex Scott: [00:27:07] Yeah, yeah.
Nate Smith: [00:27:10] Because I've had lots of grandmas see my prices at a swap and just be like, you're crazy. I'm like, I'm really not.
Bex Scott: [00:27:19] Yeah. Oh that's funny. I've had a few of those when I had a garage sale in the summer, and they were all older women coming into my sale and looking through and seeing all these things from their past. And a bunch of them said, you can't sell it for this much, like it wasn't this when I bought it so that's ridiculous. I'm like, well, like, thanks for your opinion, but...
Nate Smith: [00:27:44] Stand over to the side and wait till a couple more customers come through and you'll see this stuff flying out the door. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:27:51] That's funny. You mentioned Facebook groups. So how do you feel about all of the Pyrex Facebook groups out there and the information that's being spread about, and yeah. What are your thoughts?
Nate Smith: [00:28:10] So I do have a lot of opinions about that. Now I will say I'm pretty loyal to my Instagram. Obviously I've mentioned it, My Vintage Is 1976. I feel like it's a wonderful place to come and get information. In 2022, I hosted a year-long series called Let's Chat About Pyrex. And so twice a month I did kind of an educational series, it's a great place all the way to start from here's how the numbers work, here's the different patterns, here's maybe pieces you've never seen before. And then I eventually invited guests on so that they could show pieces from their collection as well. So I feel like it's a great visual educational series that you can still go back and watch. The Facebook groups I feel like it became a lot for me, and if I'm being honest, because there's so many different groups and all of them you can sell in this one and you can't sell in that one, or you better not show a picture that doesn't have a rare in that one or it's going to get deleted. So there just became a lot of rules. And so I left a large percentage of the groups. There are a couple that I absolutely love. I'm a member of the one it's called Pyrex Snobs, so I love that one. It's really cute. It's run by my friend Annette. And then I also love the, it's fairly new group, called Homestead Relics, and that's run by my friends Lindsay and Nicole. And they are phenomenal and they have lots of sales, but they also are just open whether you're a new collector or a veteran collector, it's kind of like we all knew them from the swaps and all that stuff, and they were like, let's go do this right. And they have just been phenomenal. I'm so happy to see the success of their Facebook page. It's been great.
Bex Scott: [00:30:08] I'm going to have to go join those groups because I've been considering leaving a lot of the other ones that as a newer collector, I'm scared to ask questions in.
Nate Smith: [00:30:20] Yeah, and and there are some people, whether they're the people who run the page or not, there are people in the Pyrex community, and I don't want to just say Pyrex community because it's most collecting groups, who want to make new collectors feel bad about their lack of knowledge, when it's really not their fault and they're really just trying to learn. And as a former educator, like I was a teacher in the classroom for 15 years, and now I'm a counselor, so I've been in education this is my 25th year. And so it's really hard for me not to want to meet people where they're at because as a kid comes into my classroom, you never know where they're coming from, what their background is, what teachers they had last year, what they know, what they don't know. Maybe they're new to your school. And it's the same way with collecting. There's a whole wealth of reasons why people want to start collecting anything. Could be the passing of a loved one. It could be just they found something and they like it, and they want to know more about it, you know? And it's the people who just want to shut them out or make them feel less than because they don't know the answer that makes me just, it made me want to leave a lot of the Facebook groups originally, so I did.
Bex Scott: [00:31:35] Mhm. And how have you found the community overall? Do you find that it's mostly supportive and friendly?
Nate Smith: [00:31:44] Highs and lows. I'm going to be honest. Because it comes down with different people's personalities. You know, like I've made a lot of people mad in the community. I have people who've blocked me and don't want to talk to me anymore because of the pieces I have and how they think I got them, which it's so funny how it all just, it all spirals like that. But there are also wonderful people and and I feel like as in any group, you get to see these people. I am in the swap circuit. So like I see people a few times a year, you know, when I can and I have my like inner circle of really close friends and then they're just everyone else that you're just friendly with, you know? So I feel like, and just because you see some people a few times a year, sometimes you think people are going to be great people, and then maybe they turn out not to be great people, or you very quickly realize you have a piece that they want and so they're just being kind or nice to you because they, and then when you don't give them what they want then they're like ease on down the road. So yeah like just like in all communities I feel like it's The Breakfast Club. Right? You're going to have all the different kinds of personalities represented. So you just have to find your tribe within this much larger community that can build you up from where you are. And I think that's where you'll get your joy and find your joy.
Bex Scott: [00:33:14] I agree. That's a great way to put it. And I've met a lot of really awesome people who have ended up becoming friends just through Instagram, and those are the ones you want to focus on, the ones that support you with your collecting and learning, and just want to have fun with you throughout the whole process of it.
Nate Smith: [00:33:33] Absolutely agree.
Bex Scott: [00:33:36] And how have you found that collecting has changed from when you first started to now? If it has?
Nate Smith: [00:33:42] No, it definitely has. I feel like, well I find joy that there seems to be a steady stream of new collectors in my world on Instagram, like new customers. So there are new people who seem to be buying Pyrex. So that gives me joy to think that it's not a fad or a flash in the pan that's over. I think there are prices that are getting and becoming astronomical that I'm like, oh my gosh, like three years ago I could find that piece for this and now there's no way I'm touching it for that. You know? Like I see some of the pieces and just how they're escalating on eBay or in some of the groups, you know? So I think that has changed. But I do think the joy and love that people get from collecting Pyrex is continuing to spread. Just like I said, there are new Pyrex swaps in different parts of the countries that are popping up. That tells me that there are new people and new communities gathered together to celebrate this and to find joy in it. And I do think that as long as that continues to happen, then I'm super excited that our community is going to continue to grow. I think that people who did collect during the pandemic, it's kind of like all things, right? Like either now they're to the point of where they're over it and they're done and they're ready to move on. Or like we had said, they're to the point to where they want to fine tune their collection a little bit and make it not just a Pyrex collection, but their Pyrex collection, and have it be a reflection of what they enjoy most and what they find the most joy in. So.
Bex Scott: [00:35:24] What would you say are the most overpriced right now pieces that are out there?
Nate Smith: [00:35:31] So we just came off of Christmas and Christmas always escalates prices. Because we see, whether it be the husbands who are buying something for their wives on eBay or even in the antique stores, people trying to think like, I've saved this back for the customers for Christmas, to think that I'm going to get more out of it, etc. you just never know. So I think that has skewed what I am currently getting ready to say. Overpriced, I feel like everything has gone up, but some of the, well, I don't know, I don't know, no, I don't, I want to say like the Duchess box that went for like five grand a couple months ago on eBay, like that still blows me away. But it was pristine. It was pristine. And even the Duchess in general, which I know is the piece, your unicorn, right? Like it's a beautiful piece. I've had it and sold it. And I've had and sold Pink Stems twice. I just can't keep pink. I just, there's something about I just don't like, I just don't like their pink. So those to me seem the most, or even, oh, here's a good one, Mrs. Maisel. You know, the Mrs. Maisel casserole, the white daisy on pink 045 casserole. That was part of a standard line that was one of the first standard line so maybe a little harder to come by. But I mean, there were thousands out there, but what people were paying for it just because it was on a television show, I was like, well, this was on Murder She Wrote, could I ask more for it?
Bex Scott: [00:37:16] Oh, I love Murder, She Wrote. That's a great one.
Nate Smith: [00:37:19] Oh, girl, we need to be best friends. Jessica Fletcher and I are tight. We're tight.
Bex Scott: [00:37:26] Oh, that's a good point about TV shows and kind of what they do to Pyrex. And I was looking through on Pinterest the other day, which Pyrex pieces have been shown in which shows? And there's so many of them. And this one, yeah, Mrs. Maisel, just everybody gravitated to it and it exploded.
Nate Smith: [00:37:46] Well, and they still call it The Mrs. Maisel casserole. You know, I think it was in the first or second episode that she took something to the comedy club in that casserole. And I was like, there have been four seasons since then. Why are we still focused on that? Is that, did you guys only get to the second episode? But that just kind of came became known as The Mrs. Maisel Casserole. And then people were just paying ungodly amounts for it. You know, but yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:38:15] Yeah. That's the one that always surfaces.
Nate Smith: [00:38:16] A standard line piece. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:38:19] Yeah Facebook Marketplace, it's all over here, and it's always dishwasher damaged, and it's always like $300 for the worst condition piece of it.
Nate Smith: [00:38:29] So can I ask you a question? So you are obviously in the land of the North. So to me, like you always want what you can't have. Right? So I feel like in Canada, I hear about these dream Fire King mugs that never kind of made it down to our market, but they always seem so readily available in Canada. And Federal, you know, like you guys, like all the Federal patterns and bowls and they're so pretty. And I never see Federal.
Bex Scott: [00:39:05] Oh really?
Nate Smith: [00:39:06] Like yes. All my friends like in Wisconsin or Michigan said like, oh yeah, it all comes down from Canada. It all comes down from Canada. So I have to feel like you're just living in a Federal and Fire King dream up there.
Bex Scott: [00:39:20] There does seem to be a ton of it. It's always in the thrift stores and people are always selling it on Marketplace, especially the mugs. There's a few sellers in my area who seem to have every mug possible, and they just slowly leak them out on their Marketplace page, and I see them coming up and it's always 'rare, hard to find' like $1 million for this mug. So yeah, there's a lot of it up here. But yeah, if there's anything specific you're ever looking for, it's probably at Value Village.
Nate Smith: [00:39:53] I will, I'll let you know for sure. I was a mug guy for a long, long time. I'm trying to slowly break away from the mugs. We're breaking up. We're on a break. We're on a break. But then, do you know the two US Pyrex patterns that were named differently in Canada?
Bex Scott: [00:40:12] Was one Colonial Mist?
Nate Smith: [00:40:14] Oh, if it was Colonial Mist, I don't know. The two I know, and may have, so Early American was called Early Canadian, I think, because I think they found a box called Early Canadian. And then I think our Shenandoah pattern is called Wintergreen.
Bex Scott: [00:40:33] Oh, cool.
Nate Smith: [00:40:34] And was called Wintergreen in the Canada market.
Bex Scott: [00:40:37] I didn't know that.
Nate Smith: [00:40:39] I would love to have a Wintergreen box. That's the goal. It's the same as Shenandoah, but it just says Wintergreen and I think it's so cute. Like perfect for winter, you know.
Bex Scott: [00:40:51] Yeah. We, I very rarely find Early American here. I think I've found it one in British Columbia once, but it doesn't show up very often.
Nate Smith: [00:41:01] Yeah. I think it was called Early Canadian. I think.
Bex Scott: [00:41:05] That's really cool.
Nate Smith: [00:41:07] Because I mean, that makes sense for Canadian market. If it's called Early American, who's going to buy it in a Canadian market? But that's why the Colonial Mist makes pattern or makes sense too, you know, colonial is so oftentimes associated, just the word, with colonial America. So it would make sense that they would change that name for the Canadian market as well. That's being, that's interesting.
Bex Scott: [00:41:30] That's really cool. One thing I've been wondering for a long time is what is the difference between Delphite and Bluebell? Is there something different? Because I've posted about Delphite Pyrex and I've had people correct me before. So yeah, I was wondering.
Nate Smith: [00:41:49] So I feel like Delphite, so I feel like the bowls here, or the bowls that were created in the US market, are referred to as Bluebell, right? But I feel like you guys had plates and all that kind of dinnerware that I don't necessarily think of as part of that Bluebell pattern. So is that what's considered Delphite?
Bex Scott: [00:42:17] Yeah, I don't, I'm not sure.
Nate Smith: [00:42:18] In Pyrex world?
Bex Scott: [00:42:20] I have a ton of the plates and I never know because I look them up and I get different answers online, so that might be it.
Nate Smith: [00:42:29] Yeah. Like I know there's another Pyrex passion book. There's two different ones. There's one that is the promotionals and the lines, and that's kind of the Pyrex passion second edition. I love it. But then I feel like there's one that focuses on dinnerware and tableware and things like that. So I don't know if it's covered in that one or not, but I don't know the answer.
Bex Scott: [00:42:56] I'll have to take a look.
Nate Smith: [00:42:57] Like I do know in Fire King, which I found this interesting, that they called what we would normally call Delphitec Turquoise.
Bex Scott: [00:43:07] Oh.
Nate Smith: [00:43:09] Yeah. Like if you look in the old Fire King books, like the teardrop bowls, the Swedish modern mixing balls that they did, like those are referenced as Turquoise, not Delphite.
Bex Scott: [00:43:21] Interesting. Huh.
Nate Smith: [00:43:23] Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:43:24] That makes things even more confusing.
Nate Smith: [00:43:27] Because, like, that's not really turquoise but whatever.
Speaker3: [00:43:30] No, that's definitely not.
Bex Scott: [00:43:35] So outside of Pyrex, you collect other things as well.
Nate Smith: [00:43:39] I do, so I do feel like I in general have an addictive personality, like I, by nature am a completist. So if I collect something, I want as much of it as I can have to say that I've completed the collection, and then I can put it to rest and then move on. So I do love collecting the Holt Howard pixie ware, the little condiment jars and oil and vinegar and dressing cruet, all the things like, I just, I've fallen in love with those wacky little faces.
Bex Scott: [00:44:14] They're very cute.
Nate Smith: [00:44:14] I think they're so cute. Yeah. I do a lot of vintage Christmas, but I'm very specific about what I collect in the world of vintage Christmas. I buy and sell a lot of vintage Christmas, but for me, I collect a very, very small, defined amount of that. And then, as given by my Instagram handle, my vintage is 1976. You can probably guess that I'm a child of the 80s, and so I love a good 80s toy as well. So whether if that's He-Man, ThunderCats, Monchichi, Smurfs, Pac-Man, if it brings back any sort of nostalgia for me, like I'll have a hard time walking away from that. So yeah, that too. Those three: Pyrex, the pixie ware, and the 80s toys are probably my three favorite things to collect.
Bex Scott: [00:45:08] Is it pretty easy to find toys in your area, or do you mostly find them online?
Nate Smith: [00:45:13] It's a mix, so I very rarely go looking for something specific in that world. So that's usually like if I find it and I love it, then I let myself have it. I found a boxed Monchichi in an antique store. And I was like, I can't walk away from this. Like, I want it real, real bad, like, instantly. So, like, stuff like that I have to do. I very rarely go searching for He-Man on eBay or anything like that. I tell myself eventually I'm going to recreate my entire ThunderCats collection that I had when I was a kid. So that's an eventual like, maybe I'll get there goal. But for here and now, like, if I find it and I pick it up, that's great. But like I said, I'm a completist. So if I just find a loose guy in an antique mall or a thrift store, I can't buy it because I know he had weapons or something with him, some little accessory. And if it's not there too, like, I can't because then I'll just drive myself crazy looking for that one little piece that I don't have.
Bex Scott: [00:46:24] That makes sense. Yeah. It has to be complete. Do you have any advice for new collectors that want to get into Pyrex collecting or kind of vintage as a whole?
Nate Smith: [00:46:39] Yeah. So as hard as this may be, I would try to find a Pyrex mentor if you can. You know, someone who's not going to judge you, but someone who's also going to hold your hand and help you through the process. Because while it is super exciting to buy it when you see it, if you see it you buy it, kind of thing, that can become overwhelming very quickly. And so just to have someone kind of put you on pause and say, do you really love this pattern or do you think you're going to eventually love it? Like why or do you just want to buy it because it's Pyrex? You know, something like that. I do think that there are an abundance of resources out there. The Pyrex Passion second edition that I mentioned earlier kind of was my Pyrex Bible when I started. I learned a lot, and I think it's organized very, very well, like the promotionals that you can kind of see with the brief little description in a history of when it came out, all the standard lines and all the pieces within the standard lines. It's organized in a way that I appreciated as a new collector. So I would say find a Pyrex mentor. I would say get a copy of the Pyrex Passion second edition. I would say listen to Pyrex with Bex, and I would say follow Nate, MyVintageIs1976.
Bex Scott: [00:48:09] That is all amazing advice.
Nate Smith: [00:48:10] That's all you need to do.
Bex Scott: [00:48:13] All you need for your Pyrex world domination.
Nate Smith: [00:48:19] That's it.
Bex Scott: [00:48:21] Love it. Well, do you have any other educational tidbits or anything you'd like to pass on to listeners in closing?
Nate Smith: [00:48:33] Absolutely. So I feel like if you are a thrifter, I think it's getting easier to find Pyrex at least than it was a year ago, a year and a half ago, in the thrift stores. I feel like it's showing up again, just like glass. I feel like you couldn't find mid-century glass in thrift stores a year and a half ago, and I'm starting to see it creep back in as well. So I would encourage anybody who is a thrifter to be consistent. If you're going to go, go on a regular basis is the only way you're really going to find something. Like, you might have that jackpot hit every once in a while, but it's the consistency that's really going to help you. I feel like always check the bottom shelf because boxes and other things kind of hide down there. And I would encourage you to do one pass in one direction in a thrift store. And then I would encourage you to turn around and go in the opposite direction. I would encourage you to look with the plates, and you might find some of the casserole lids or other lids that you're looking for. if they put the plates in one section, but a lot of times they'll put the pots and pans in the other section, and a lot of times for a long time, I skip the pots and pans aisle. But then I found like some of the things that they don't know what to do with, like the cradles, are living over there with the other metal pot and pans, and so it helps to look everywhere because you never know where you're going to find something if you're a thrifter.
Bex Scott: [00:50:01] Those are all great points, especially about looking in aisles that you don't expect things to be in. And the bottom. I've found so many things on the floor, like underneath the shelves too. So I've even gone on the floor flat on my stomach, looking underneath shelves. So I will do anything to find a good one.
Nate Smith: [00:50:21] Absolutely. I'm right there with you. I'm all about, you know, rolling up my sleeves and getting my hands dirty. Absolutely. We have this great, it's about an hour east of Dallas, it's called Canton. Canton. And it's called First Monday Trade Days. And it's like this, it's, I mean, it goes on and on and on, and it's this massive flea market that they have this particular weekend of the first Monday each month. And I found so many treasures there. But it's all about, like I said, being consistent. My biggest advice is just be nice, because these vendors who you're talking to, striking up conversation with, you never know what else they have that they haven't put out. But because you are nice and you asked a question that they might dig out of their van for you, or that they have a whole barn at their house that they, you know, were only able to bring so much. And I've been able to do two house picks just because I struck up a conversation with the right people. And so, you know, people always say a smile doesn't cost a dime. And that's 100% true. So I think there's no harm in putting your best foot forward, striking up a conversation with people, being nice and it's not to get something out of it. But sometimes because you are kind, good things will come back to you. And that's my big piece of advice and takeaway for that.
Bex Scott: [00:51:47] Yeah. Kindness definitely goes a long way. And it's, yeah, I agree 100% with what you said. Well thank you so much for chatting with me today. Everybody head over to My Vintage Is 1976 on Instagram. Give Nate a follow. You'll have a ton of fun looking through his posts, looking through what he's selling and up to, and just a lot of great education. So make sure to give him a follow. And thank you so much, Nate.
Nate Smith: [00:52:19] Thank you. It was a pleasure.
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| 10 Nov 2023 | Garage Sale Treasure Troves | 00:22:26 | |
Bex Scott shares her garage sale adventures, as both a buyer and a seller, in this episode. Garage sales can offer up vintage treasures among all the worthless items, and visiting the sales can require a bit of a strong mindset for negotiating, as Bex learned, and can be intimidating at times. But she also describes how the fun is not just in finding the valuable pieces but in meeting the people around them. Bex has fond memories of visiting garage sales with her mom growing up, so she tries to take her oldest son with her when she visits the sales now. Some of the garage sales she visited throughout the summer offered up beautiful vintage Christmas decorations and the hidden gems of Pyrex sold cheap because it wasn’t able to be cleaned (Bex knows better). Other sales visited offered only eccentric encounters with the people running the sales and a learning curve in bartering. Bex then recounts what she learned from hosting her own garage sale and encourages collectors to be prepared when visiting to enjoy the finds and strangeness alike. Resources discussed in this episode: — Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:31] Hey, everybody, this is Bex Scott, and you're listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. Thanks so much for tuning in. So today I thought I would talk a little bit about garage sales, and I know that garage sales are not for everyone, but I've always loved them. And sadly, garage sale season is fully over here in Canada. We're located where it's starting to get rainy and a little bit chilly, and really not a lot of people, unless you're super brave, are deciding to have garage sales anymore. And I'm always jealous when I hear of people in the States or the warmer climates that can have a garage sale all year round. And this is something that I never really thought about before, but they can have a garage sale any weekend they want as long as the weather cooperates. And we definitely can't do that with all of the snow and the cold weather that we get here. So growing up, my parents would frequently have garage sales on the weekends. We'd set up our clothes and toys and get up super early because we were so excited. And I remember putting out my toys, people coming up and saying, oh, could I buy this? Can you give me change? And it just being a really great memory and then at the end, counting all our money and looking back at all the hard work that we put into these sales to come out with, I don't even know how much, an extra $30 or $40 as a kid, which was really fun.
Bex Scott: [00:01:54] So as I grew up, it changed into me going to other people's garage sales with my mom. We would look through the newspaper every week and circle the ones that were close to us, and pack up the car and go driving around to find these sales. And at that time, it was mostly me buying toys and Barbies and Polly Pockets and all of that kind of fun stuff as a young girl. And the tables really turned now with what I'm looking for as a vintage collector and a reseller. We live just outside of a small town in Alberta, where the population is around 8000 people. So it's not the smallest, but it is a lot smaller than what I came from growing up as a city girl. So I would say that a decent portion of the population is older here, and I did manage to make it out to some garage sales this summer. It was our first summer here, so trying to get a little bit of a lay of the land and see what the town is like, and it really didn't disappoint in terms of what is able to pick up and also some of the stories that I came out of these sales with.
Bex Scott: [00:03:04] So the first sale that I went to, and I try to take our oldest son with me when I go, he's 13 and he loves garage sales. He doesn't necessarily love vintage, but he does love coming with me and tagging along and seeing what we can find. So the first sale we went to was a mother/daughter sale. Both of them were selling off a whole bunch of vintage items that I'm sure were her parents'. Everything was priced really well and I have to give it to them, because when you walked in, you saw this legend with all these color coded sticky dots, and the dots corresponded with the items that they were selling, which worked really well. And I don't think there was anything that was over $5. So this was super ideal for a garage sale. So we're walking around and the first thing that my son sees is this super old vintage mop and broom set. And we have a young daughter as well, and he was hell bent on buying this set so that we could teach her how to clean. So that was the first item we got, and I guess coming up will be once she's old enough, she'll be learning how to clean the house with this little vintage set.
Bex Scott: [00:04:14] Next up, I don't know why, but I always seem to find lasagna pans. They're attracted to me for some reason. So I found a Verdi 933 lasagna pan for $3, and something that I thought was that I keep finding, I guess, out in the wild and at these sales is that people will use their Pyrex, but they won't clean them. I don't know if it's that they don't know how to properly clean them, or that they're just too lazy. I'm not sure, but a huge majority of these casserole dishes that I find have baked on grease, have markings from where the tin foil was resting on them, and they're put out for sale at super low prices. And I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that they think that they can't be fixed. So I love grabbing these dishes and using oven cleaner and peak to really give them a new life and to clean them up, and most of them end up looking brand new in the end. Things that I found were probably my favorite at this garage sale, and if you know me, you know that I love Christmas, so I found some awesome vintage Christmas items. The first one was called a Bubbling Electric Christmas Lamp, and a bunch of you will probably remember the little bubbling candlesticks that you could get for your tree that you just screwed into the light bulb base, and there's liquid in them, and the bubbles went up and down.
Bex Scott: [00:05:45] And this is an actual lamp that has one of them in it. It looks like one of the vintage oil lamps, but there's a little bubbling Christmas light inside, and it has holly berries in the bottom and a nice gold stand. So I thought that was pretty cool, because I remember having the bubbling lights on our tree and being a little kid and touching them and remembering them being really warm when you touch them and thinking, now, thinking back on that, I'm sure these ones were fine to put on the tree. But I've come across a lot of vintage Christmas lights that were wrapped in paper or had little paper lanterns, or were definitely now probably considered a huge fire hazard, but really beautifully designed and just pretty for trees and decorating. The next thing I found was an Alpine Village set of little lights on a string by Universal Lights, and it says, contains a set of ten miniature lights with eight cottages and a cathedral. And these are super cute. They're red, yellow, green, blue and white, and I'm really looking forward to setting them up this Christmas.
Bex Scott: [00:06:59] Okay, so next we went to another sale. Now this one I had reservations about going to. It was one of those sales that when you look up online, this one was on marketplace, and the pictures show a massive amount of could be junk, could be really great treasures, but either way, we went to it and we pulled up and we walked into the back and there was this massive detached garage, and they opened up the garage door and it was stuffed full to the brim from floor to ceiling, with what looked like could have been a liquidated antique store or just collections of things from over the years. And we looked around a little bit. There was a little old man that lived there. He came out and he started following us around. We went to the back of the garage sale, where they had a bunch of china cabinets set up, and the man came over, and this was really funny, he starts telling my son that he should be buying some of these super ancient looking rum bottles and booze bottles. And our son was looking at me like, what do I do? I don't know what to do. I don't need these bottles. But this man was convinced that they were meant for him and that he would really love to have them in his collection. Next up, I ended up getting myself into the world's most awkward price conversation, and it was over a lamp that I didn't necessarily even need. It was an old gold painted lamp with glass shades. Nothing too exciting, but I was thinking of maybe putting it in my daughter's room. So he pulls it off the shelf and there's a little sticky price tag on it that says $15. And he looks at me and he says, well, that was priced years ago, so make me an offer.
Bex Scott: [00:08:45] So I'm standing there thinking that he meant that it was so long ago that the price didn't make sense anymore, and that I could go lower because it really wasn't anything special. So I - side note, I hate negotiating, I'm the world's most passive person and talking about money makes me so uncomfortable - so I'm standing there fidgeting, holding my breath and I say, okay, $10. And he looks at me like he was the most offended he's ever been and says, this is very old, very old, you can't give me just $10. So then I panic and go the other way and I say $30. He still wasn't happy. So I tried backtracking and at this point I don't know what I'm doing. So I said to him, please suggest me a price. And this whole time his lovely wife was listening in and standing there drinking her coffee, obviously thinking this was hilarious and entertaining for her, and she says something to him and ends up just giving me the lamp for $15, which was on the sticker to begin with. But at this point, I want to get out of there because I'm uncomfortable. I feel bad for low balling him. And so he takes the lamp from me and he says, no, no, no, you have to go in. You have to keep looking. So we go back into the garage and I end up going into where the china cabinets were again, because his wife said there might be some Pyrex back there.
Bex Scott: [00:10:19] Realizing that there wasn't, we turn around and he's there, standing, blocking the only exit out of this garage and pointing at things, just saying how old and nice they were, how we should take them. And I'm starting to panic because we can't get out and he's not making any move to leave. I think me and my son, we ended up standing there for a good, awkward five minutes until he decided to move on and find something else in the garage or go talk to somebody else. But I'm obviously not capable of going to garage sales without adult supervision because this one, I have to say, was a little bit stressful. But that didn't stop us from going to a few more that day. Our next stop was at an elderly couple's house where it looked like they were downsizing. This sale, I have to say, started off strong. We walked in and right as we started looking around, everyone in the garage stopped and someone brought out a birthday cake with lit candles. So we're standing there awkward and everybody starts singing around us, so we decide the only thing we can do is to join in. We start singing Happy Birthday to a random man in this garage, and it ended up being kind of the highlight of our day. But moving on to some of the things that we found there, I wanted to bring up this set of bowls that I found because, as you know, I'm a Pyrex lover, but I found a set of Hazel-Atlas bowls that were pretty cool.
Bex Scott: [00:11:49] So if you haven't heard of Hazel-Atlas spaghetti string bowls, now, I don't know if that's the correct term for them, but this is what I found when I googled them. These bowls were four little serving bowls and a large salad bowl, and the ones that I found were white milk glass with a yellow gold spaghetti string design, which I believe is called Hazel-Atlas spaghetti string butterscotch. And it looked like someone had taken paint and drizzled it all over the bowls. And the best part was the woman comes over and she looks at me and she says, I was given these bowls for my wedding 60 years ago, and they've never seen the light of day. And this is what makes garage saleing so fun, is that you actually get the back stories from people on who gave them these items, why they have them, why they're getting rid of them. And that makes it even more special when you add them to your collection. So to finish off, I thought I would tell you a little bit about the garage sale that I decided to have over the summer.
Bex Scott: [00:12:54] So during the pandemic, I had gone a little bit crazy with my collecting, and I ended up with around 60 banker's boxes of vintage items. And these items started with me at a whole other house. I started collecting, and they just kept adding up and adding up and I was making sales, so that's great. But at this point, my Poshmark and my Marketplace sales had slowed down, and I was honestly tired of seeing it hanging around, and some of these items were things that I had thought would sell and hadn't yet. And a large portion of it was actually Pyrex. Pyrex dishes that I started collecting, thought I was going to continue with that pattern, and then kind of went on to the next one and abandoned it. So I had a ton of vintage Pyrex. I had mugs, figurines, a whole bunch of brass. I think I should do a whole episode on brass, because my husband hates it so much that I try to keep it out of the house. The other day I was listing a whole bunch of things in the basement, and he came across this box of brass. It was actually a cereal box that I had stuffed all the brass into, and he was like, what is this, I thought you got rid of these. I started to panic a little bit. Don't worry, I'm going to sell them. They're going. They're leaving the house. Don't worry. Anyway, so I decided to have this garage sale and we live out in the country so I had it in the city at my parents house, and I was a little bit nervous about it because I had so many items and I didn't want to sell them too low, but I didn't want to go too high, so pricing them was an issue.
Bex Scott: [00:14:36] We spent probably a good five hours the night before unboxing everything, setting it up, trying to put stickers on things. I even attempted to do the color coordinated dot, but I had so many items that I ended up pricing maybe a quarter of them, and then leaving the rest and just hoping I would price them throughout the day or that people would ask me how much things cost, and then I would just kind of negotiate with them from there. Little did I know, that was a mistake. And now looking back on it, I think that was a no-no of garage sailing etiquette. So I set this garage sale to start at 9:00. And I didn't know that people lined up for hours before to get into these sales first. So I'm looking out the window, and my parents are like, there's a guy sitting out there in his car. So I start panicking. Do I let him in? Do I not let him in? I think at the end of the day, I ended up letting him in a few minutes early. But I go out there and I open the garage sale, and this guy gets out of his car and he's making a big production of stretching, and he's yawning and groaning. I'm like, oh, great, here we go, this is my first customer and it's already not going well.
Bex Scott: [00:15:55] So he walks up and he says, I was beginning to think this was the wrong house. Well, I had it set for 9:00 and he just walked by. I said good morning and he kind of just huffed past me. So he starts looking around. And he's asking me what prices are. He said there's no price tags on these things. I said, yeah, I know I haven't gotten around to all of it yet, but feel free to ask me if you're curious about something and I'll let you know. So he's going around and instantly you can tell he's a reseller. He's looking at the Pyrex, he has his phone out, he's googling things, so he asks me how much for this, like mint condition set of spring blossom Pyrex dishes. And I think I ended up saying, both of these are $35. And at this point, somebody else had come into the garage and it was one of his friends or a reseller that he knew. And he looked at this guy and he said, well, I guess that's why it's called a vintage sale. And at this point I'm panicking because I'm obviously messing up the garage sale already, don't know what to do. So he looks at me and says, how much would you want for everything here? And in the back of my mind I had kind of thought of a number already in case this had happened. I didn't think he was, I don't think he was being serious, but he said, throw out a number. So I said, well, for everything I would want $2,000. And he looks at me and says, well, that would be all the money I had for the whole day and walks out.
Bex Scott: [00:17:36] And so I felt like I had started off my garage sale on a strong note, and it was quickly becoming something that I was not familiar with, and I felt like I was a little bit in over my head. So as the day progressed, things got a little better. I realized that I needed to put stickers on things. I needed to lower the prices and just hope for the best. So another big portion of the garage sale items that I had were CorningWare casseroles. And I found it really funny because I tried to price these relatively low to get rid of them. I don't collect CorningWare, but I found a lot of success over the years in reselling it, and there are some pieces that go for a lot more than others like the brownie pans, the pie plates, the little petites with the plastic lids. Those are the more sought after pieces and not so much the everyday casserole dishes. So I had a bunch of just the run of the mill casseroles in my sale, some of the teapots, and I remember people coming in and saying, oh, you're selling these for like $1 to $5, that's way too cheap, these things are worth a ton of money. And then kind of giggling to myself, because the person before them had told me that I had priced them way too high in that same price range, and that I wouldn't sell any of them.
Bex Scott: [00:19:06] So it's funny how different people perceive things to have different values. And I know as a collector and somebody who buys off of eBay and Marketplace, that there's been a lot of conversations in groups around these CorningWare dishes that have been selling for hundreds of thousands of dollars, and there's been suspected money laundering happening through them. And this has kind of skewed people's perception and skewed people listing this CorningWare on these places for the proper price, so it could be your regular Spice of Life casserole, but it's being sold on eBay for $8,000, when really it's worth like $5 or $10. So it's just interesting that things like that are happening and that it's hard to price things to make everybody happy because you can't. So you have to go in with the best price for you and what you believe to be the best price for things.
Bex Scott: [00:20:06] And to wrap up, I thought I would go over a few of the other funny things that I experienced in my garage sale. So in the end, we ended up having about 4 or 5 weekends of garage sales because I had so many items to get rid of and we were doing quite well with them. And some of the highlights of my garage sales were definitely people complaining about prices being too high or too low. One man came in and told me that he was very upset because I didn't have any items for men. Another woman told me that she goes to many, many garage sales and that my items probably wouldn't sell. I had some really old vintage squeaker toys and they were both for a dollar, and somebody asked me if they could have them for $0.25 because all they were going to was his dog as a chew toy. And this kind of just made the whole experience a little bit more fun in the end, because I got to look back and think of all of the funny things that I came across, all the funny things that were said to me, and I would say garage sales are definitely not for the faint of heart. But if you are up for putting in the effort and taking the time, it is really fun because you do get the experience of meeting people and making connections and just having some fun while you're at it. I did come across a bunch of awesome other resellers that came to my sale, and we've connected since then. And my final story is, I remember one lady telling me that she got the full pumpkin set of butterprint Cinderella dishes for $65 at a garage sale. And that right there is my dream. So garage sales will always be near and dear to my heart, and I'll always keep going to them.
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| 29 Mar 2024 | Thrift Store Addict | 00:20:21 | |
In today’s episode, Bex Scott uses her confessed addiction to thrifting to share the top six items that she always seeks out at thrift stores. Bex lives in Canada so the availability of items, and store names, may vary from country to country, but the general categories of vintage items Bex looks for are a great guide. She walks us through what to look for, why, and how to value an item if you do find one. Bex’s list of items she frequents Value Village, Goodwill, and Salvation Army to find wouldn’t, of course, be complete without Pyrex occupying the number one spot. She tells stories of lining up before the store would open to be one of the first inside and she divulges some of the greatest Pyrex finds she’s experienced. Her six top sought-after items after Pyrex are brass, Blue Mountain pottery, cross stitch and crewel patterns, vintage linens, and kids' books. Why does she search for these specific items? Bex tells all in this episode: the why, their collectible value, and some of the pieces and brands to be on the lookout for. Tune in and then share your own top ten list with Bex on Instagram @PyrexWithBex. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:30] Hey, everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. Today. I wanted to go through the top six items that I always pick up at the thrift store if the price is right. That is the most important part of this. If the price is right for you to resell, if you're a reseller, or if it's right to you as a collector. So for those of you who know me, I am addicted to thrifting. And I realized that I had an actual addiction this year when I took all of January off of thrifting and buying anything vintage, and it was so difficult for me, I had no idea it would be that hard. But it really brought to light the fact that I love going to Value Village. I love going to Goodwill. And it is a huge part of my life. It's become a hobby, something that I like to do when I'm feeling stressed, and it's really helped me to connect with an amazing group of people on Instagram and whatnot, and it's just something that's really fun to do.
Bex Scott: [00:01:41] So when I go to the thrift store, I usually have a few things in mind that I'm always on the lookout for. And for those of you who are new to thrifting or new to reselling, I thought I would bring up these six things so that maybe you could start taking a look when you go to Value Village, Goodwill, Salvation Army. And I'm located in Canada so what I'm finding might be a bit different than what you're finding in the States or different parts of the world, and I would love to know what your top ten items are as well. So feel free to find me on Instagram @PyrexWithBex to let me know your opinion of what I'm going to go through in this podcast episode, and what you would add or maybe take out from what I'm going to mention, because price has a huge impact on what you pick up when you go out thrifting. If you're a collector, that price may have a lot higher of a ceiling, because you'll pay a lot more to have that piece in your collection. I know I'm like that with Pyrex. If there's a piece that I absolutely need to have and I find it at the thrift store and it is a bit higher than I would usually pay, especially if I'm going to be reselling it. I don't hesitate to invest that money in it. But if I'm looking to make some profit off of it, then I'm looking for a lot lower of a cost.
Bex Scott: [00:03:15] So let's get into it. The first item that I have on my list is obviously Pyrex. I would be feeling pretty weird if I didn't have Pyrex on this list. Unfortunately, it's becoming harder and harder to find good Pyrex in the thrift stores, and I'm sure all of you know this. It's the same across the board with all of the collectors that I talk to, and those of you who have been collecting for quite a long time, not myself, you have mentioned to me how easy or how much easier it used to be, even 5 or 6 years ago, to find good pieces at the thrift store. So before we had our daughter, I would wake up early a couple of times a week to go to Value Village and Goodwill. Those are the ones in the city that I lived in that I like to hit up, and I would line up before it opened, so I'd be there super early. It was cold a lot of the time. I was still going in the winter. And this was the only way that I could find good Pyrex at the thrift stores, and it was definitely worth it for me. It was pretty funny because the same people lined up every single morning, there were about 15 or 20 of us, and I always try to be maybe 4th or 5th in the line. Any earlier than that and I was not awake enough to be out there. But you would start to recognize the people who were in line and start chatting with them, and you'd get to know them. And there was always a teacup lady. She was always ahead of me. There was always a video game and book guy. And then you had your handful of what I like to call vintage generalists like myself. And those ones were my main competition. You'd see the doors open and everybody would pile in all at the same time, and then kind of disperse into the store. And if you were fast enough, you could grab a cart. But sometimes there wasn't enough time because people were in it to win it, and you'd all rush towards the same shelf and kind of scan the shelves that you pass to see if there's anything good on your way back, and you would hope that you got there first. And some of the best finds that I've had at Value Village and the Salvation Army have been an almost full set of the Friendship Cinderella bowls. The 441 was dishwasher damaged, but it was, the rest of it was in amazing condition. I found a charcoal Snowflake divided dish, a Friendship divided dish, a full primary set. I found a few full primary sets at the thrift store. And a bunch of other just random, little less desirable pieces here and there.
Bex Scott: [00:06:01] Something that I see all the time is the JAJ Cherry Blossom, and those ones I always leave behind. When I first started reselling, I would pick them up, but they are so common now that they've kind of lost their appeal to me. Those are the ones that I would buy if I needed something to cook in, that I wasn't going to put into my collection or my display, or if I wanted to gift somebody something. I've heard that people, they make their friends and their family casseroles, and they gift them the dish that it comes in and I think that's a really great idea to do with some of these less desirable, more commonly found casserole and pieces of dishware.
Bex Scott: [00:06:46] Next up is brass, and I only pick up brass if the price is right. And depending on what it is, that price is usually $7 or under for me. And my favorite have always been the animals, especially deer. Our baby's nursery was full of deer. I even put some brass deer in there. And I know I always mention this on my podcast, but my husband despises brass and I try not to put it around the house. I love it at Christmas. I've purchased huge brass deer for Christmas decorations, and I've also found large seagull wall hangings, a massive brass easel, a set of lounging frogs. The frogs were probably top of my list for my favorite. I like to call them the sexy frogs because they're both lying on their side with their arms under their head, lounging like they're striking a pose on a beach. And I've been pretty lucky as well with brass at online auctions. Just this past week, I won a box of 11 pieces for $17, which I'm pretty excited about because the Whatnot Canadian group of resellers that I'm a part of, we're thinking of having a brass, glass and wood seller train coming up, and I'm hoping to join that one to sell a bunch of brass and glass goodies. So most antique brass items are solid brass, and something that I've learned, a way of identifying solid brass pieces is by using a magnet. And if you feel a pull when you put the magnet up to it, then the item is brass plated and not solid brass. And a lot of the vintage or antique brass pieces, they don't have the display stamps or maker's marks to depict the place and year of manufacturing, so that's not as common. So usually if they do, you'll know that they are more modern pieces and not the antique or vintage brass. So any brass that I pick up now I don't usually hold onto. It's listed for sale on Marketplace or in one of my Whatnot shows. So if you're a reseller or looking to get into reselling, brass is definitely a no-brainer if you're able to find it for a decent price. So always keep your eye on that price tag.
Bex Scott: [00:09:08] Next up we have the Canadian favorite Blue Mountain pottery. So I have sold a large amount of Blue Mountain pottery over the years, especially animals; elephants, deer, dogs, and then other common objects like vases, ashtrays, candy dishes. And it's actually a pretty hot seller with Americans right now. A lot of my fellow Whatnot sellers, they sell Blue Mountain pottery online in their auctions and their live shows, and it does really well. So word to the wise, though, when you find it at a thrift store, check every single inch of it because it is so commonly chipped. I've gotten overly excited way too many times and haven't realized that there was a chip or 2 or 5 until I got home. I just was so excited to have found a piece. And then I get home and I'm super disappointed and there's not much you can do with it at that point except keep it in your collection or, I guess, say goodbye to it. So I wanted to give you guys a bit of information about Blue Mountain Pottery, because I've known about it for quite a while, but I've never really dug into the backstory or its beginnings.
Bex Scott: [00:10:22] So it was founded in Collingwood in Ontario, Canada in the early 1950s, and this is all information that I've found from my good old friend Worthpoint. The company initially bought ceramic blanks and decorated them with ski motifs, which I think is pretty cool. Soon the founders produced and sold their creations. Before long, the company was successful and exported globally, including to the United States, Europe and Australia. I'd love to know how many pieces or how prevalent it is in the United States, because I haven't heard of it much outside of Canada. So if you are a US or European or even Australian collector, let me know on my Instagram. So the pottery began in a barn at Blue Mountain Ski Resort. After they noticed the rich red clay being turned over to create new ski trails, they used it to make pottery to sell in the resort's gift shop. They decorated and glazed the products, primarily vases, ashtrays, bowls, and stylized animal figures. Moving to a factory allowed the business to manufacture tea and coffee sets, tableware, flower pots, decorative ware, and other sculpted animals and figurines. It became well known for its trademarked reflowing, or drip glazing technique that mimicked Blue Mountains colors during the summer. That's something that I also didn't know. I thought it was just a cool technique that they used with the kind of different glazes and flowy look, but it's really awesome to know that it was based off of the mountain's colors. After hand-applying one lighter and one darker glaze on a piece, the colors ran together during the firing process and resulted in mixed hue streaks. The company is best known for using this glaze to make deep green, almost emerald pieces. That's mostly what I've found when I go thrifting. Beginning in the 1960s, the company also produced other colors, including Harvest Gold, Cobalt Blue, Slate Red, Mocha, and Pewter. And I have to say that I think the red is my favorite. The color is so vibrant and it's just beautiful. So they designed many Blue Mountain pottery molds, including its frond vases, bookends, and jugs. They created the Angelfish figurine in the mid 1950s. If you haven't seen the Angelfish, look it up because it's also very beautiful and it's one of the potteries' most famous pieces, beloved by collectors. In the late 1980s, they made a more realistic version of the design called Tropical Fish. Studio potter Dominic Stazioni created hand-thrown vases, bowls, serving ware, and other free-form pieces for the company during the 1960s and 1970s. Designer David Bennett designed the Romar and Robert Wilson Collections, two animal figurine lines named after the company's later owner, Robert Wilson Blair. Rising production costs and increased overseas competition caused the factory to close in 2004.
Bex Scott: [00:13:27] Next up, I have cross stitch and crewel patterns. And crewel is something that I've recently gotten into. And I have to say, if you have the patience, it is a super rewarding hobby and also great for reselling. If you're able to find complete kits with a pattern and thread, you're definitely set. The kits they make now, they're pretty, but I find that the vintage ones, they have so much more character and color, depth, and just personality, so they're definitely worth finding if you can. A few of the brands to keep an eye out for are Dimensions, Sunset Stitchery, Paragon, and Jiffy Stitchery. And right now I'm doing a Paragon winter scene. It's massive so it's gonna take me probably like the whole year. But it is so fun and relaxing as long as you have that patience. Anything floral, mushroom, or with cute little animals is also a hit right now. And another thing that I do is I buy complete and framed pieces for resale, and I find that they sell really well because people love adding them to their collage walls in their house. Or a lot of people have a sentimental attachment to a certain pattern. I know that growing up my grandma had, I believe it was crewel because I came across the pattern for it actually on Facebook Marketplace the other day, and it was the Lord's Prayer, and it had flowers all around it like a frame, and that one really stood out in my mind. So I think for a lot of people, they remember their grandparents or their parents having them in their house, and it's nice to be able to recreate them or to have them in their home.
Bex Scott: [00:15:14] Number five on my list is sheets and bedding. So anything linens. Before collecting and reselling vintage, I'm not going to lie, buying used bedding and sheets did not seem that appealing to me. But now that I've kind of gotten over that fear, I know it's silly, I'm all over finding them. There are some pretty amazing floral print sheets and bedding sets you can snag in the linen section of the thrift store, and I typically look for flat sheets and pillowcases, as they're usually pretty reasonably priced, and I find it easier to look for damage or stains or rips on those pieces than some of the fitted sheets and larger items. Some of my favorite brands are Wabasso, Burlington, Elegance, and Picot. If I pronounced any of those wrong, which I probably did, I apologize to everybody. One of the vintage resellers that I met through Whatnot, she actually purchased a Wabasso flat sheet from me and used it as wallpaper in her new shop, which was a really cool idea. It looked amazing. It looked like it had been painted on the wall. So if anybody has old vintage sheets out there and you're looking to just spruce up a wall in your office or in your room, check out some old linens because it's such a great idea.
Bex Scott: [00:16:35] Okay. And last on my list I have vintage kids books. And I have always been a huge bookworm, especially when I was younger. I would go to the library and spend hours picking out books with my mom. Looking through all the kids books at the thrift store has brought back a ton of memories for me, especially when I find the same ones that I read when I was growing up and when I was little. And I usually find that the vintage books are easy to pick out. They tend to have hard covers, they have nicely textured covers, and they seem to use a different palette of colors in their illustrations and the covers of the books. So I tend to pick up anything with beautifully illustrated pages, because I've discovered that many collectors like to make craft projects out of the images. So this would fall under the ephemera category, which I'm still learning about. My latest addiction is actually a vintage greeting card, so I'll probably do an episode coming up about that, but I find that I have trouble cutting pages out of books unless they're already pretty damaged. But I have seen some awesome craft projects come out of books lately. And I obviously gravitate to the vintage Little Golden Books. But after doing some research on what to keep an eye out for, I discovered there are a bunch of other titles that are extremely hard to find, like needle in a haystack hard to find. They're first editions, they're special copies, and they're worth thousands and thousands of dollars. But I thought it was kind of fun to learn about them and to, you never know, keep an eye out for maybe some of these books.
Bex Scott: [00:18:20] So the first one is The Hobbit, the first 1500 first edition copies published by Allen and Unwin in the UK on September 21st of 1937, are the ones that you want to be looking for. Number two, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The current hot copy is Salvador Dali's illustrated limited edition. There are only 2500 copies from 1969. Three, Where the Wild Things Are. I loved this book growing up, and the movie was pretty good as well. The copy defined is the 1963 first edition published by Harper and Row. Number four, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl. This was another favorite when I was growing up, and the one that you're going to look for is the 1964 first edition published by Knopf. It has been signed by Dahl and has a pristine dust jacket. Good luck finding that one. And number five is The Velveteen Rabbit. And this one you want is the 1922 William Nicholson copy. And I just recently read The Velveteen Rabbit for the first time to my daughter, and it is a very cute story.
Bex Scott: [00:19:40] So I hope you enjoyed these six items that I always pick up at the thrift if the price is right. And I'd love to hear from you guys on my Instagram at Pyrex with Bex. Let me know what you always put into your cart at the thrift store. If you agree with what I've said, if you disagree, and what you would add to my list. Thanks so much everybody!
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| 22 Dec 2023 | Confessions of a Pyrex Hoarder’s Husband | 00:30:56 | |
Host Bex Scott invites the husband of a Pyrex collector, or hoarder, onto the show to tell what it’s like to be the partner of a collector. To protect his identity, since his wife doesn’t know he’s on the podcast, he is called Rex. This is his uncensored view of Pyrex collecting from the support side. Protected by anonymity, Bex gets Rex’s unguarded opinions on all things Pyrex. He shares that they recently had to move house due to his wife’s collecting “vintage knickknacky whatnots and doohickeys”. He answers every question you want to be answered: what his favorite pattern is, what Pyrex dish he exploded, how often he is dragged to thrift stores, why his wife is like the United Colors of Benetton, and what his most hated pattern is. This is an amazing look behind the veil of a Pyrex home from the perspective of the non-collecting partner. Resources discussed in this episode: — Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex With Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:31] Hey, everybody, this is Bex Scott, and you're listening to the Pyrex With Bex podcast. Today's episode is one that you don't want to miss because I am interviewing the husband of a Pyrex collector, so stay tuned to learn all about his side of the Pyrex addiction.
Bex Scott: [00:00:49] Hey everybody, welcome back for another episode of the Pyrex With Bex podcast. I am super excited for you guys to listen to this one today, because I have a special guest that I know you'll all love. He is the husband of a Pyrex collector or hoarder, if you will, and he's here secretly so his wife doesn't know that he's doing this podcast. So to keep his anonymity, we are going to give him an alias. And today he's going to be known as Rex. So I'd like to welcome Rex to the show today. He's going to give you a little bit of insight into his world, having a wife that is a Pyrex hoarder, a vintage lover. And I know that behind every collector and Pyrex obsessed collector and vintage lover, there is a spouse, a partner, somebody who is in the background having to put up with everything that we put them through on a daily basis. So welcome, Rex.
Rex: [00:01:52] Thanks for having me. I wish you had one of those voice synthesizers that make it even better.
Bex Scott: [00:01:58] Turn you into T-Pain on the Pyrex podcast.
Rex: [00:02:02] That'd be sweet.
Bex Scott: [00:02:03] So thanks so much for being here today, and I hope your wife isn't too mad that we're doing this if she ever finds out. But I wanted to get your take on what your life is like living with a Pyrex collector.
Rex: [00:02:17] Well, simply put, we have lots and lots of stuff in the house. We have a storage room that is dedicated to all of her stuff. We have boxes full of all sorts of different Pyrex and vintage knickknacksy whatnots and doohickeys and thingamajigs. So we are, we are surrounded from every direction.
Bex Scott: [00:02:46] That sounds like a dream for me.
Rex: [00:02:50] I thought you might say that.
Bex Scott: [00:02:53] And how would you say her collecting and hoarding has impacted your life?
Rex: [00:02:59] Well, recently we had to move, recently, and I will say here as Rex that it was because we ran out of space for Pyrex and our children. But, uh, it's very interesting to say the least. And being an older guy, it's funny how some of the things that she has found or digs up out of the archives of the 10 billion boxes that we have in the house, take me back to moments in my childhood, whether it be from my grandparents or my parents when I was a kid remembering different kinds of balls and knickknacks and whatnots that we used to have around the house.
Bex Scott: [00:03:41] Nice. So from the standpoint of it bringing back great memories of family and things that you've had from your childhood, it sounds like a positive thing, but maybe not on the side of running out of space in your home, having to potentially relocate because of her addiction.
Rex: [00:04:01] Yeah, that part's good. I mean, we got to the point where we had a spare bedroom in the basement of our old house that had to be converted into a Pyrex knickknack warehouse. We had to put up shelving and and all sorts of tables and shipping labels and bubble wrap and those foamy popcorn thingamajigs that get everywhere. So, yeah, it was, uh, anybody who wanted to sleep over is on the couch or on the floor.
Bex Scott: [00:04:35] Displaced by old bowls.
Rex: [00:04:38] Yeah. How odd does that sound?
Bex Scott: [00:04:41] Well, you sound like a very caring and understanding husband for building all these shelves and dedicating a whole room in your house just for her. So I think she's a pretty lucky lady.
Rex: [00:04:54] The things we do for love, you know.
Bex Scott: [00:04:57] And how long has your wife been collecting for?
Rex: [00:05:00] I think it's about four years now. Four long years. But yeah, but four years.
Bex Scott: [00:05:09] Four of the longest years of your life, would you say?
Rex: [00:05:11] Most definitely.
Bex Scott: [00:05:14] And when she started collecting, did you know about Pyrex and what it was, or what were your kind of initial thoughts and your headspace around Pyrex?
Rex: [00:05:27] Well, my initial thoughts or concerns was that my wife had been possessed by a very old geriatric woman in that she had this massive obsession with matching bowls and relic knickknacks and stuff. Sorry. What was the other part of your question?
Bex Scott: [00:05:48] And did you know what Pyrex was when she started collecting?
Rex: [00:05:54] I, yeah, I knew the name. I knew it was used for like cooking and stuff because we had some clear Pyrex that we used for casseroles or whatever. So I was familiar with the name, but I had no clue that there were so many patterns and colors and shapes and all that. Like, I was flabbergasted, honestly, at how much variety there was. I don't know if it's still like that, but, uh, definitely in the old days, it was certainly a thing.
Bex Scott: [00:06:28] Yeah. Pyrex has gotten, I think, a lot more boring lately with the modern types that they're making. They definitely don't make it like they used to with the nice milk glass and the different patterns and colors. It's all very... There's Disney and they've remade some of the vintage pieces into the more modern take, the glass, clear glass bottoms with the plastic lids and it's to me not as exciting, but I guess it is a way for the company to carry on and keep making money. And it has a place in some people's homes, so that's a good thing.
Rex: [00:07:07] Yeah, I'm not familiar with the modern stuff. I'm only familiar with the stuff that's as old as me.
Bex Scott: [00:07:12] That's good.
Rex: [00:07:13] Or older.
Bex Scott: [00:07:14] That's how it should be. So in your household, who does most of the cooking?
Rex: [00:07:23] Uh, that's all on my shoulders. Yeah, I do all the cooking and predominantly all the baking and stuff, too, in the house.
Bex Scott: [00:07:31] Very nice. You have a very lucky wife then.
Rex: [00:07:33] You got that right.
Bex Scott: [00:07:37] And when you cook and you bake, do you use the Pyrex that she collects? Are you allowed to use it?
Rex: [00:07:44] Well, that's a, that could be a bit of a delicate subject, but short answer, yes. And you know, I'll admit that despite my smarty pants remarks about everything, I have a signature chocolate cake that I make that's gluten free and can be lactose free and, um, I always use the standard kind of tin cake pans, and they always would stick, no matter how many gallons of Pam you dump in it, it would still stick. And parchment paper just made them look weird. And, uh, she suggested trying this one pink and one weird lime looking colored round Pyrex dishes from 1876 and gave it a little spurt of Pam. And the cakes just came out perfect, and they came right off the bottom. There was like, almost no residue left. I was thoroughly, thoroughly blown away with how how well they performed. So I was a convert there for sure. In terms of casseroles and stuff, I sometimes will use them like for shepherd's pie. It works really well, especially for keeping the heat in after. The delicate subject was, she had this one bowl that she was very proud that she acquired, which was, well you people will know what it is, this Big Bertha, I'm not sure what the print was. It was yellow with some white flowery things on it or something. Anyway, I was, uh, making a roast in it, and I'd like to say for the record that I had zero direction on Pyrex.
Bex Scott: [00:09:25] Sure, sure. Blame it on the wife.
Rex: [00:09:27] Well, it's true story. So, um, there are no, uh, 1950s directions with this thing. So, anyway, I, uh, mistakenly had put the Pyrex dish on the stove.
Bex Scott: [00:09:41] Oh, no.
Rex: [00:09:42] With the roast in it that I had, uh, seared and had turned it on. And then I had a jus that I'd made that I was pouring in. And for those of you who know what you're not supposed to do, it quite literally exploded.
Bex Scott: [00:10:00] Oh, no.
Rex: [00:10:02] Yeah, that was one of my prouder Pyrex moments in my life.
Bex Scott: [00:10:07] How long were you in the doghouse for that one?
Rex: [00:10:11] Oh, I didn't hear the end of it for a good three months. Yeah. And it still was brought up to this day. So it's going to be one of those things that's kind of like, uh, a cold sore. You just, you never get rid of it.
Bex Scott: [00:10:22] And did you finally replace the Bertha for her?
Rex: [00:10:26] Uh, well she did. I'm hopeless at finding this stuff, but she managed to find a replacement and then forbade me from touching it ever again.
Bex Scott: [00:10:34] That's a pretty scary story. And hopefully you have proof of this to show people down the road.
Rex: [00:10:41] Well, I did take a picture of the aftermath, but I was trying to be all, you know, uh, Gordon Ramsay style and show off my cooking abilities. So I'm sad to say, for my own sake, that I actually videotaped the, uh, the event as I was pouring in the jus you can see the whole thing just explode.
Bex Scott: [00:11:03] That's amazing. I think you're gonna have to share that video with me.
Rex: [00:11:08] For the right price. Sure. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:11:12] Oh, your poor wife. It's hard to find those Berthas. They're expensive, and they don't come around very often.
Rex: [00:11:20] Yeah, there's one less Bertha in the world now.
Bex Scott: [00:11:23] That's okay. You make up for it by doing all the cooking for her. So you're redeemed.
Rex: [00:11:28] Perfect. Can you let her know? That'd be great.
Bex Scott: [00:11:30] I'll try. I'll put a memo in. And does your wife collect one particular color or pattern, or does she tend to hoard them all, like some of us do?
Rex: [00:11:43] We should really refer to her as the United Colors of Benetton. She doesn't discriminate. She loves all patterns and shapes and bowls equally, as can be witnessed by the copious boxes we have on the shelves in the basement.
Bex Scott: [00:12:00] Very nice. That sounds like a great collector. A little bit of everything.
Rex: [00:12:06] Uh, sure. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:12:08] You're not convinced, though?
Rex: [00:12:11] I plead the fifth.
Bex Scott: [00:12:13] And of all of the patterns that she has, do you have a favorite pattern?
Rex: [00:12:19] Yeah. Once I started to warm up to the whole thing, I started to turn, I too became, you know, I was, what's the word?
Bex Scott: [00:12:30] You saw the light?
Rex: [00:12:32] Possessed. No, no, no, it's like the demon possessing me. Pyrex demon. And she has a lot of the Homestead it's called, pattern in the blue. I like the look of it. It was cool. And when I saw it all together, like, laid out, I was kind of impressed with all the different sizes and shapes. And I ended up gravitating to using them for serving because it, yeah, you know what? It makes the table look nice instead of the way I used to do it, which is just like, you know, dinner plates with different piles of food on it. Um, presentation wise, it was great. So that when we had, like, our parents over or whatever, then it just made for a nice spread. So that was a pattern that I originally liked. But then, and I will admit this, I am very fond of the black snowflake pattern. I really, really, really like that.
Bex Scott: [00:13:28] So that is a great one.
Rex: [00:13:29] That has given her all the green light that she wanted in her life to go out and go forth and seek out and find all the black snowflake. And we have a fairly good, we're only missing, I think, a couple of the entire collection and have some doubles, but they are, they look really nice and uh, of course function great. So that's my favorite. There's a few others that are cool, like the one-offs that have the gold foil. Those look pretty neat. But the black snowflake is kind of my favorite serving dish that I like to use.
Bex Scott: [00:14:01] So I have to agree with you that the black snowflake is an awesome pattern. But have you seen the English Pyrex? The JAJ Pyrex version? That's the white with the black snowflake.
Rex: [00:14:15] Yes. As part of my, uh, Pyrex indoctrination by my wife, I have learned about there being an alternate Pyrex universe across the pond, and, uh, she showed me how they have a snowflake one, but it's sort of like the inverse, I guess, of what is here. One of my grievances that I can't voice because they stopped making them back before I was born, was that they didn't seem to have a butter dish or a gravy boat that matched the black snowflake that we have now, to kind of compliment like a turkey dinner or whatever. And, um, yeah, she showed me that there's these butter dishes and gravy boats over in the UK that are the sort of inverted snowflake version of what we have, which I would really love to get. They look super nice, even though they are kind of the flip side color pattern. It's crazy though, like you can get the dish for 10 or 15 bucks, but then it's like $30 shipping or something ridiculous or, so I mean, as much as I'd like to have those, it seems a bit excessive to pay that much money, so hold out for when we have a friend going back to England or something. See if they can't fill a suitcase full of--
Bex Scott: [00:15:36] -- that would be great--
Rex: [00:15:37] -- Pyrex to bring back.
Bex Scott: [00:15:38] Yeah, yeah. It's funny how there's the JAJ in the UK and then they have Aggie Pyrex as well, which I believe is from Australia, and they're beautiful dishes. And like you said, there's a whole other universe of these dishes out there, but it is quite expensive with shipping and you don't find them here as often as you would just because they're made over there. And we have the US and the Canadian Pyrex here. So it's always fun to look online and see what you could purchase from Etsy or Poshmark or eBay, but that shipping really kills you. So not as fun on that side of things. So you've talked about Homestead, the black snowflake, is there a pattern that you really dislike that your wife has either bought, brought home, and forced you to look at or you just know exists? And you, she may not have any of it, but you just really despise.
Rex: [00:16:41] Well, we do have the, uh, Space Traveler's Guide to Pyrex book that she that bought shows all the different patterns and whatnot, which again blew my mind as to how many different things have been produced. But of all the ones I - and if anybody takes offense to this, I'm sorry, but you know, with therapy and counseling, you'll get past it - the Verdey or Verde, that green one with the weird sort of like round, smudgy fingerprint flower thingies on the lid, like...
Bex Scott: [00:17:12] That's a beautiful description.
Rex: [00:17:15] It's just so ugly. I just, it's a color I just can't get past. And she has a bunch of it, which, you know, it'd be a shame, but, you know, a box may fall on the concrete floor one day.
Bex Scott: [00:17:28] Uh oh. The Pyrex graveyard with the Bertha that you destroyed.
Rex: [00:17:33] Yeah. But, you know, in fairness, she's broken her fair share of dishes, too. So. And not from cooking, just from, you know, hacky sack, the bowl, or butterfingers or...
Bex Scott: [00:17:46] I can understand that. I've broken a ton of them myself. So the graveyard is getting bigger and bigger every day.
Rex: [00:17:54] Well, if you could, uh, you know, impart some skills and ideas on how she could improve our graveyard here, that'd be amazing, because then we'd have so much more space.
Bex Scott: [00:18:04] Well, there are people who make jewelry out of the broken Pyrex so you could scoop up--
Rex: [00:18:09] So I'll grab my sledgehammer and just give her.
Bex Scott: [00:18:13] Yeah and then send it away and have some jewelry made for her. There, I have solved all of the problems.
Rex: [00:18:18] I'm sure she would just be so happy with that.
Bex Scott: [00:18:21] I bet she would. So is it just Pyrex that your wife collects and hoards, or is it various other vintage items as well?
Rex: [00:18:31] Well, in staying true to the theme of Benetton, she doesn't discriminate with just only collecting Pyrex. She collects anything and everything that's old and dusty and musty and is, in quotes, vintage. So we have, oh my gosh, we have glasses and mugs and shirts and magazine holders and ashtrays. What else? There's just Christmas lights, old Christmas lights, old Christmas ornaments, you name it. We're, yeah, we're like a vintage thrift store.
Bex Scott: [00:19:10] That sounds amazing.
Rex: [00:19:12] I figured you might say that.
Bex Scott: [00:19:13] And is this all in your basement, or is it kind of decorating your house, or do you live in a very vintage-y, musty, dusty house as you describe these items?
Rex: [00:19:29] Well, most of it is contained within the room, but it does seem to find ways to sneak out at night and place itself on various countertops, couches, floors. Yeah. Railings? Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:19:46] Like vintage booby traps?
Rex: [00:19:49] Exactly. It's like, you know, like the movie Gremlins. Like, they just seem to multiply and they're everywhere. That's dating myself. But yes, if anybody's familiar with the movie Gremlins, that's what it's like. Somebody spilling water and there's little vintage gremlins everywhere.
Bex Scott: [00:20:04] And does she keep all of the vintage items or is she a reseller?
Rex: [00:20:10] She is a reseller. She needed a bit of a push to get going on the reselling because she was just more focused on the hoarding part. And then when the kids were having to sleep with Pyrex bowls and vintage shirts, we realized that, you know, she needs to start, uh, parting ways with some things. So. So she's gone into, um, listing the bowls and other vintage knickknacks that she doesn't like as much as her coveted - what the heck is it called? The pink and the turquoise Pyrex? Like, that's her, those are her babies as well as the, uh, primary color ones. But other ones she, like I can tell you one thing. Those Verde ones are not moving fast enough, but, she--
Rex: [00:21:05] They're haunting you.
Bex Scott: [00:21:05] -- no she does sell it. They do. I have, I'm in therapy right now for it because I've had to talk about it. So now when she goes, finds things, it's not necessarily stuff that she wants, which is what she used to do. It's more kind of like things that she thinks other people might appreciate.
Bex Scott: [00:21:24] That sounds like the right way to do it for reselling. It's tricky when you tend to buy things that only you like, and then you try to move them, and nobody wants to buy them because it's your taste instead of kind of predicting what the market out there wants. So that's a very savvy way of reselling. And how did she find all of her items?
Rex: [00:21:49] For the most part she frequents the, you know, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Vallue Village up here in Canada for anybody's from the States, just another sort of, uh, thrift store. There are sometimes these one-off ones that she comes across in different towns and cities that she'll go in and see, but that's probably the main way. She's, uh, also got big into watching estate sales and, uh, online auctions because it seems that there's a lot of old stuff that gets sold in those things, just mostly because there's only a a small group of you crazy folk who want that stuff. So a lot of people, that's why I find it kind of surprising, honestly, like she found a snowflake dish, black snowflake dish the other day. Like, was it a couple of weeks ago, maybe, in one of the stores and I was blown away that she found it, because I just find it surprising that - maybe it's just because it's the pattern I like - but that people would just donate it and not even look to see if it's worth anything. But I guess if you're, you know, sadly, clearing out a loved one, like grandparent's, house or something you don't want to be belaboring your grief by going through all their stuff like that. But anyway, so it's nice that people will donate that stuff so that other people can enjoy it.
Bex Scott: [00:23:15] Yeah. The estate sales are, they're definitely fun. It is sad to think that somebody may have passed and these are their belongings that are being sold. But the way I see it is I'm collecting them to kind of help keep that memory going. And all the Pyrex dishes that I keep, I love each of them, and... It really does sound like they're my children. Jeeze, maybe I am a crazy person. On that note...
Rex: [00:23:48] I'll plead the fifth again.
Bex Scott: [00:23:52] Has she ever taken you to the thrift stores when she's gone?
Rex: [00:23:57] Oh, my God, all the time. Yeah. No, it's, uh, it's become a mainstay of our routine. Buy food for the family, go to the thrift store, get gas for the car, go to the thrift store. Go to the thrift store. Go to the thrift store. Take the kids to swimming, go to the thrift store. Yeah. So we, uh, go frequently, but it's, you know, I've been somewhat infected by it. It is pretty fun. Uh, sometimes, like I will, you know, with shame admit there is one time we were at, I'm really quite enamored with the carnival glass stuff that looks, I like the look of it, it's really quite cool.
Bex Scott: [00:24:38] Yeah. It's pretty.
Rex: [00:24:38] And we were at a Vallue Village one day, and I was looking down the aisles and I got all giddy like a school girl when I found this gigantic carnival glass punchbowl with 14 carnival glass, like it was all intact except for the spoon, I guess. The serving spoon or ladle. It was beautiful. And, uh, I was quite excited about that. So I showed it to her, and I think she was quite happy that I was all excited about it.
Bex Scott: [00:25:12] That's a great score.
Rex: [00:25:13] It was a smoking good deal. It was, I think it was like $14 or something or $12 for this entire thing. So.
Bex Scott: [00:25:21] That's awesome.
Rex: [00:25:22] I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but, uh, maybe this coming summer, next summer we'll bust it out.
Bex Scott: [00:25:28] Very cool. And has there been anything weird or strange that you've come across? What's your best Value Village or thrift store experience?
Rex: [00:25:42] Oh my gosh, there's so many. There is so much weird stuff there that I'm surprised that they can even sell it. More to do with clothing, but, uh, I don't know. Sometimes you see stuff in there that you're questioning why they're even trying to sell it, because the condition of it is just so bad. Like there's those cornflower metal, I don't know what those are called, those big metal cooking like, I guess, a crock pot in a way, maybe?
Bex Scott: [00:26:14] Oh, yeah. Like the roasting pans?
Rex: [00:26:16] There was one, yeah, exactly. And there was one that I saw and it was just chipped to death like it'd be horrible to cook with. And I was a bit surprised to see something in that poor condition on the shelf. Especially, it was quite expensive too, it wasn't all that cheap. It was like 25 or $30. And I was just kind of like, that seems like a lot of money for something that's so used and abused. One thing I've found in all the multitude of stores that we've been to, there are definitely some that just, you know, they put a price tag on it and they just sell it for whatever seems reasonable to them. And there's others that seem to be more savvy with the value of the Pyrex world or the cornflower world or all this vintage stuff. And I've learned through my wife, like some of these prices are, they're just kind of ridiculous, especially from a resale standpoint. But even from a non-resale standpoint, like they're just, some places are just kind of a little out to lunch or maybe, I don't want to, I feel bad calling a thrift store greedy, but for the sake that they're doing stuff for good, but it's like if you really want to move the items, you have to be, you know, somewhat reasonable with your pricing. So it's just been funny to kind of see the disparity between different locations because obviously some people that work there are dialed in and others aren't. And so yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:27:44] Yeah, and I think a lot of them have gotten savvy to people coming in that are collectors and resellers, and they Google the items that people have donated to find out the prices and they jack them up. Even when I've gone, I've found certain shelves that you can tell the staff have been hiding items on behind things. So I've found PlayStation games and Pyrex dishes in totally the wrong aisle. But it's likely because somebody works there that knows somebody who would want it and they hide it for them. So I've gone back 3 or 4 nights in a row, and it's always in that one spot that they're hiding something, and the price is really low so that this person gets a good deal. So it works out well for me. But there's definitely some shady stuff that goes on.
Rex: [00:28:35] Yeah, it's good when you've cracked the code, hey?
Bex Scott: [00:28:38] Well, so in closing, Rex, what would you say? As words of encouragement for anyone living with a Pyrex hoarder that may have a partner that's one, a friend, a family member, that they have to endure on a daily basis.
Rex: [00:28:56] Well. Be strong, for one. You have to be understanding and considerate. But, you know, let's be honest here, this is a golden key for you to do your own thing and have your own obsession or your own thing, and they can't say anything about it. So in my case, I have a big car hobby fetish and yeah, so it's like a get out of jail free card. I can do it all I want. And she doesn't have any recourse because of, well, look at our storage room. So my words of encouragement are if you are wanting to have some sort of a vice or hobby or addiction of your own, and you have a Pyrex hoarder in your life, now is the time.
Bex Scott: [00:29:48] That is spoken like a true survivor of a Pyrex hoarder.
Bex Scott: [00:29:57] Well, thank you so much, Rex, for being on my podcast. I'm sure it was very enlightening for my listeners and myself even, to hear about the other side of the Pyrex collector world.
Rex: [00:30:10] Well, my darling wife, it was my absolute pleasure and pure joy to be on your show today, to share my side of my life with you. And it's amazing and interesting and definitely never dull. So. But I have to go, dinner's almost ready, so don't be late. Love you.
Bex Scott: [00:30:29] Well, thank you for supporting me through my addiction. And I'll help you through your car addiction as well. And I will see you in the kitchen. Love you.
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| 10 Nov 2023 | Pyrex Collectors with Kelli Szurek | 00:37:10 | |
Host Bex Scott welcomes her second guest to the show, Podcast Host and Pyrex collector Kelli Szurek. Kelli is an avid collector of all things Pyrex, along with other vintage glassware and figurines, and she discusses how she came to Pyrex love and what she is hunting for with Bex. Kelli, like Bex, really fell into collecting Pyrex in the pandemic in 2020. The first Pyrex she bought was the Spring Blossom Cinderella set and as she says, “from there I was hooked”. Kelli tells Bex about some of the pieces she’s collected and where they came from, including some treasured items she received as gifts. Their conversation ranges from how hard it is to come across great treasures in flea markets and antique shops, their coveted holy grail Pyrex pieces, how Kelli anticipates Pyrex collecting to look in the future, and what sets are overrated or underrated. Lovers of Pyrex will truly identify with this episode and the absolute fascination with Pyrex and vintage collecting that hooked Kelli and Bex. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat. Bex Scott: [00:00:30] Hey everybody, this is Bex Scott and you're listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. On today's episode, I'm chatting with Kelli Szurek about her amazing Pyrex collection, some of the pieces she's been able to find over the years, and where she thinks Pyrex collecting is headed. Hey everybody! I am super excited because today I have my second guest on the Pyrex with Bex podcast and it is Kelli Szurek. Welcome, Kelli. Thanks so much for joining me today. Kelli Szurek: [00:00:57] Thank you. I'm glad to be here. Super excited. I love Pyrex a ton, and it's always exciting to me when there's other people out there who are avidly collecting and are the younger generation, because we want this to continue on for a long time, right? Bex Scott: [00:01:13] Definitely. I agree, and I was really excited when we started chatting on Instagram and I found out that you collected. It's hard to find people who are really passionate about it, who are open to chatting and kind of like the same things in the vintage world. And you also have your own podcast. So tell me a little bit about that. Kelli Szurek: [00:01:33] Sure my son and I do a podcast. It has nothing to do with Pyrex. I occasionally do talk about Pyrex on the podcast, but our podcast is about just our relationship, and he just started high school this year. And so it's just kind of been the process of junior high changes, high school changes, struggles, just things going on in our life and how we just handle hurdles. And also we recently expanded to having guests on there just because sometimes our life isn't that eventful, which is good because, you know, I don't want to talk about all the trouble he gets in school all the time. Bex Scott: [00:02:12] Yeah. Kelli Szurek: [00:02:12] You check, you guys can all check that out. You can find On Our Best Behavior wherever you listen to podcasts. Bex Scott: [00:02:18] Perfect. I've checked out a few of your episodes so far and they're awesome, so I definitely recommend it. So you love Pyrex, I love Pyrex. What was the beginning of your Pyrex addiction and how did you get started collecting? Kelli Szurek: [00:02:32] So looking back, I cannot remember that anyone ever had Pyrex. My grandparents, I was fortunate enough to know my great grandparents for a long time. They lived until they were in their 90s and nobody had Pyrex. And my mom had one dish, but she didn't have the lid. It was just a yellow casserole dish. And I always wondered, like, this dish is so cool and it's so colorful. Why is it like, just like this random piece of kitchenware that we have? But I was young., I really didn't know anything about it. And then when the pandemic happened and the whole entire world shut down, I just found myself scrolling on Facebook Marketplace and I, for some reason, I don't know why it started showing up, but I just started seeing pieces of Pyrex and I just got really interested. I love these patterns. I love these colors. Not knowing how huge the Pyrex collection and world is. And my very first piece that I ever bought was on Facebook Marketplace, and it was the Spring Blossom Cinderella set. And from there I was hooked. Once I found out there was, like, this isn't just a one thing, there's like millions of, it has a whole collection, right? And a whole set and a refrigerator set and all these casserole dishes. And so I just kind of got sucked in and got on a deep dive and through the internet and books, and I was like, oh my gosh. And then I just started buying. Bex Scott: [00:04:05] I love it. That's kind of similar to my story. I started off during the pandemic as well, and it spiraled. And I remember the Spring Blossom was one of my very first as well. My grandma had it hidden away in her pantry and she pulled it out one day and I said, oh, I just started collecting this stuff. And she was like, oh, it's yours. You can have it. So I've kept that to the side. I don't use those ones, but it definitely has a special place in my heart as well. Kelli Szurek: [00:04:34] What kind of like hooked you? Was it the memories from when you were young? Bex Scott: [00:04:38] I think I remember my mom using Pyrex a little bit. She had the Autumn Harvest casseroles, those were on our table a few times during the years, but I started when I was cleaning out my grandparents garage, and they had some of my great aunt's dishes in big rubbermaid bins, and we were unpacking them, and I found a lasagna pan and a couple primary bowls. And that was my, kind of my gateway bowls, I call them. That started everything. And I went on Instagram, and I instantly found all these pink displays and turquoise, and I started messaging other collectors. And that's kind of when I was fully hooked. And then, like you, I went down the Marketplace rabbit hole looking for anything I could find and just buying the different sets. And yeah, it's a fun addiction. Kelli Szurek: [00:05:31] Yeah, yeah it is. Bex Scott: [00:05:35] And how does your, your family feel about your collection? Kelli Szurek: [00:05:39] They've done well. They've embraced it pretty well. I really, you know, when Justin and I, who is my husband, got together, I really didn't collect much of anything. Like I remember him asking me what do you collect? And I was like, well, I collect these, like, Starbucks mugs from places I've been, you know, he's like, well that's not like old and vintage. I'm like, well, I don't, never really been a collector. And so he was really into like going to antique stores and checking out rummage sales, garage sales, estate sales. And I was just kind of like, why do you want to look through, like, old people's gross junk? But then when I got hooked on the Pyrex, then I understood and I was like, oh my. I remember the first time we went into an antique store after I had gotten hooked on Pyrex. I was like, this is amazing. Can we go to all of them? And he's like, what happened to you? So. He has done well in trying to, you know, he'll be like, hey, I think, he'll try to like, remember what the patterns are called, like, oh, hey, did you see over there they have this or that? And my son Maccoy, he's awesome about it. Like, he is really happy for me that I have something that makes me so happy. And he calls it his inheritance. So he always wants to know, like, how much is this going to be worth? How much is this going to be worth? What's the most rare pieces? So we've talked about that. And he always says like I'm not going to sell any of it. I'm just going to keep it all. Okay. We'll see. We'll see how your wife feels. Bex Scott: [00:07:09] Yeah. He'll carry on the the collection for you. Kelli Szurek: [00:07:15] Yeah, I hope so. I mean that would be, that would be sweet. You know, I think that it is really important for the younger generations to continue it on. Right? Because once people don't care about it anymore, then it kind of fades away, you know? Bex Scott: [00:07:29] Yeah. My husband, he has been great with allowing me to have such a large collection and go to the thrift stores every week, and I think it's because he has a huge BMW old car collection, so he fixes them up and flips them. So if he was to say that I couldn't do my Pyrex collecting, then I might have an issue with his car collecting. Kelli Szurek: [00:07:53] Yes. You have something to hold over him, right? Bex Scott: [00:07:57] But I think that's awesome that your son calls it his inheritance. We have two boys and a girl, and I'm hoping, our baby girl is almost a year old, so I'm hoping that she's going to be the one that carries it on for me, because it will probably all be left to her because the boys, they don't want it right now. So. Kelli Szurek: [00:08:15] You know, as we get older, like, right, our appreciation for things changes. And so that might happen. Bex Scott: [00:08:22] Yeah. That's true. I'll keep working on them. Alex, he goes he goes to the thrift stores with me. And he's really good about finding things and being excited about it. So there's still hope. Kelli Szurek: [00:08:33] It's good that you share that. He'll remember that always like, oh mom, remember when we used to do this or hey, I found this piece, you know, so it will be special to him. Bex Scott: [00:08:40] Yeah, exactly. And what would you say are some of your best Pyrex finds that you've had over the years? Kelli Szurek: [00:08:50] So I feel like, you know, a lot of the basic stuff, I, I have all of the basic stuff and I, a lot of my sets I have pieced together. So I have been very picky about, you know, only spending like so much money on them. And so a lot of my stuff I've really just pieced together because I think if you buy the whole set, you end up spending more money. Right? So I have just kind of slowly done that and, you know, really only great like steals. I found like, you know, steals like, oh, this is, you know, $0.25 at a garage sale, but it's a, you know, Woodland 401 bowl, whatever. Oh, sweet. I'll take it. You know, and I am a sucker for if I see anything like that's really, really cheap and, you know, dishwater damaged. Whatever. I'll take it home because I just don't want it to go into, like, the junk. So I'm really bad about that. But one, a few years ago and I think this might have been early on, but I saw on - I'm in a lot of Pyrex groups - and somebody had posted locally here in Minneapolis that they had a Barcode set for $90, and I don't think they realized what they had. Kelli Szurek: [00:10:06] And I was like, I'm coming right now. So I got that. And then I also my other thing I was really, really proud of is I got a green dot bowl on auction for $30, and I just was over the moon about that. Yeah. So those are really my only like super great finds that I feel like I got for like a reason, you know, a way cheaper price. It's hard. I always want to be that person who goes into the thrift store and like, finds some diamond in the rough, but I feel like they're getting better at knowing what people are interested in, and then they will pull it aside or put it up on auction or something like that. And so then, you know, then it's not just laying there for us to find. So I'm still waiting to, like, stumble across a garage sale where somebody has like a, you know, Starburst Atomic Space Saver just sitting there for a dollar. That's my dream. Yeah. Bex Scott: [00:11:03] I'm in a bunch of the Facebook groups as well, and I always see people posting about what they've found and how cheap it was. And I always get jealous. I'm like, oh, I never find steals like that. Kelli Szurek: [00:11:15] And I think it doesn't happen that often because I used to do the same thing. I'm like, I'm going thrifting all the time. I'm stopping at so many garage sales, you know, I did it so much at one time that I just was like, would go home empty handed and feel so defeated. So then I was like, I'm done doing this. I need to take a break. I feel too disappointed. Bex Scott: [00:11:35] And there was, I think, last week or a couple of weeks ago in one of the groups, you might even be a part of it, but a lady mentioned that she found the Blue Dianthus Cinderella bowls at Goodwill and it was like 7.99 and 12.99 or something crazy like that. And that would never happen over here where I am in Canada. So. Kelli Szurek: [00:11:58] So in Canada, do you see like more of the, I mean, you're just a country up from me. It's not too far away. But I always feel like in different countries, like they have a different variety of things, or it seems like certain things are easier to find and other things are harder to find. Bex Scott: [00:12:14] Yeah. We, I don't know, I found a ton of primary here. I feel like every time I go to the store, I see the yellow primary bowl everywhere. What else has there been? Um, lots of Spring Blossom, Forest Fancies, Old Orchard. It haunts me. It follows me around everywhere. And I see it. Kelli Szurek: [00:12:39] It's here too. Bex Scott: [00:12:40] Yeah. Kelli Szurek: [00:12:42] That and the Early American like, runs rampant here, so. Bex Scott: [00:12:45] Oh, really? We don't have any of that here. Kelli Szurek: [00:12:48] Oh, really? Bex Scott: [00:12:48] Yeah, I think I've seen one and it was in British Columbia and so I picked that one up. But yeah. Yeah, the thrift stores are fun. I think my best find at the thrift store so far has been, what was it, a divided dish. It was the black and white snowflake and I think it was 999 and I was pretty happy about that. Kelli Szurek: [00:13:14] Yeah it is. It is a rush. It is a rush. Bex Scott: [00:13:17] That's the problem. The adrenaline you get from it. And you keep wanting to go back more and more. Kelli Szurek: [00:13:22] And, you know, I don't know about you, but the problem I have now is I have so much and I have so many that I love. Like, how do you display all of it? I feel like I have to constantly like switch it out to display it. Otherwise, I don't know, it's tough. I'm like, we need to build a house that has like built ins in every single room so that I can just put the Pyrex in every room. Justin's always like, okay, we'll do that. Yeah. Bex Scott: [00:13:53] I always love when the hardcore collectors have a whole basement that's lined with either built ins or Ikea shelves, and you just walk in and they have lighting coming from everywhere. And that would be my dream, I think. Kelli Szurek: [00:14:07] I always wonder, like, what do those people do for a living? Bex Scott: [00:14:12] Yeah. Kelli Szurek: [00:14:14] Or like, how long have they been, you know, you just wonder everyone's story. Like, how did this madness start for you? Bex Scott: [00:14:20] Yeah. So what would you say is the piece that you've paid the most for? Kelli Szurek: [00:14:25] So I personally didn't pay for it. But there was a Balloon bowl, chip and dip set with the bracket on Facebook Marketplace in the city, Minneapolis, and I think Justin paid $250 for it for me, it was a Christmas present. Bex Scott: [00:14:41] Oh, nice. Kelli Szurek: [00:14:42] I thought that was a good price for it. Like, don't even try to barter with her. Like 250 is a real fair price. And I think he did try to like get her down to 200 still. And she was like not happening. I have a lot of other people that want this, so take it or I'm moving on. Like take it. Bex Scott: [00:15:01] Yeah, I don't have that set yet. It's on my list though. I passed it up for a really good deal maybe 2 or 3 years ago, and I still regret it. I could have had it. Kelli Szurek: [00:15:11] That's the thing that's tough, right? Like when you see it, you have to make like a rash decision to buy because it's not like Target where you can just go back and get it tomorrow or go back and get it next week, you know. Bex Scott: [00:15:25] Yeah. And especially if it's on Marketplace, people are savage on there. Nobody holds anything. And I don't blame them because there's so many no shows. But you have to be within seconds of it being posted. And what would you say is your all time holy grail unicorn piece that you really want to have? Kelli Szurek: [00:15:45] Well, I always say, like, if we ever win the lottery when it's $1 billion, I want, you know, I think this is most people's holy grail, but I've never even seen it in real life, is the Lucky in Love dish. So I think there's maybe, you know, and I'm not, don't quote me on this because I don't know for sure, but I think like there's like two known in the whole entire world. So I saw one goal. I saw one on auction and it was, you know, over $10,000 that the bidding was at. So that'd be another one I'd just love to, like, stumble across for, you know, a dollar at a garage sale. But my other ones that I really want, the turquoise Atomic Starburst, the space saver, and which, you know, is attainable. So it's just, you know, you have to be ready to spend the money when you find them. And the Pumpkin Butter print. So those are like my three, you know, like Lucky in Love I'd probably never, ever get. But that would be my holy grail. Bex Scott: [00:16:46] What does the Pumpkin Butter print go for in your area usually? Kelli Szurek: [00:16:49] $1,000 for a set. Bex Scott: [00:16:51] That's like us here too. Kelli Szurek: [00:16:52] So $800 to $1200. And I've even tried to, like, bid on like bowl by bowl to try to get like, I'm like, okay, if I can get them for $200 a piece slowly, you know. When they sell individually, I feel like they sell for even more because people are probably trying to do the same thing and piece their own together. And then you need like that one last piece and then you're paying more than you should for it. Or some people just have way more money and can, you know, afford it. I try to have a Pyrex budget, so. Bex Scott: [00:17:25] It's a smart thing to do. Right now I don't have one and I'm kind of all over the place, so it's dangerous. Yeah. Kelli Szurek: [00:17:32] And then you get to the point where you're like, oh, I've done that, where I've bought something and then I've already had it. Oh shoot, I couldn't remember, but it was a really good price, I don't want to pass it up, like that whole thing. So. Yeah. Bex Scott: [00:17:46] And do you guys use your Pyrex at home? Kelli Szurek: [00:17:49] So anything that I have that I've picked up at like flea markets or anything like that, that's just kind of been, you know, like 401 bowls, we'll use those for cereal bowls at our house. I have some things that I feel so blessed that people know about my Pyrex love. And a lot of times, like a family member will pass and they'll say, hey, I'm cleaning out. So, you know, going through my grandma's things, she has this, do you want it? Yes. And so there's a couple of casserole dishes that I'll use and I always remember, like, who got me it or who gave it to me. And so then it's like special when I use it like, oh, this was from so and so when it was her grandma's. And I just think that that's really special. Bex Scott: [00:18:32] I love that about collecting and having other people kind of looking out for you and wanting to pass the dishes to you because they know that you'll look after them and it'll be important to you just like it was for them. Kelli Szurek: [00:18:48] And I also, but it also makes me realize the other side of that, which is how many people are going through their grandparents things and just throwing all this in the garbage, because a lot of people are like, well, we're just going to toss it if you don't want it or drop it off at Goodwill or whatever, which is I guess that's fine. But yeah, if you're just going to throw it away, call me. I met this, I've met a lot of people on Marketplace and just in the community, and I bought a dresser from this one guy, and he, just like a random thing, and he was telling me, like, he cleans out houses for a living. So like stuff that's going to get like condemned or knocked down and he'll go through and then he'll kind of like pick through stuff and resell it. And he's like, oh, you know, he's like, what's your thing that you love? And I'm like, oh, Pyrex. And he's like, oh, I wish I would have known you last week there was this house or so much of it, and I just left it all behind. And I'm like, you call me when that happens. Bex Scott: [00:19:42] Yeah. Kelli Szurek: [00:19:42] And he's like, okay, just so you know, like you have to be ready to come right now. And I'm like, well, if you call me, I'll try. And if I can't, I can't. But yeah, please reach out to me if you ever, if that ever happens again. And of course it hasn't happened but yeah it was that was a recent meet. So I'm still hopeful that he'll think of me. Bex Scott: [00:20:01] I was watching a story on Instagram of a collector that I follow, and they went to an estate sale out in the country and not everything sold. So they just took, the company, or the family took everything and put it into a big dumpster. And the collector was going through and trying to find as much as they could that they could salvage. And I was just thinking, oh, I would have loved to be there to save everything and bring it home. It's kind of like me with cats and dogs. Kelli Szurek: [00:20:32] You bring them all home? Bex Scott: [00:20:33] Yeah. Kelli Szurek: [00:20:36] I know people, I also have two bunnies, and so whenever, whenever there's, like, a bunny that needs a home, people are always like, you need to help this bunny. I'm like, I can't take any more animals, I can't. Bex Scott: [00:20:50] Oh, and you mentioned before when we were chatting before the podcast that you love to collect other things as well. So what are some of the the other things that you really love? Kelli Szurek: [00:21:03] So I feel like once I started collecting Pyrex, then I just kind of went down this rabbit hole of vintage glass and Fire-King has some. I don't love all Fire-King, but you know, I like the the super popular stuff that everyone does. The tulip bowls, the jadeite bowls, they have these teardrop bowls. So I have those. So Fire-King and then Hazel-Atlas they make like these cute dot bowls. So I have those and Federal Glass also has some like, I honestly am not like a big enough collector of those things to actually even tell you the real name of what they're called. But yeah, just as time has gone on and I've seen pieces or I've seen stuff, I'm like, oh, I have to have that. It's so cute. So yeah, I have randomly collected some of that. Like Fire-King has their own version of a primary set, so I have that. One of my other really unique items that I have is I have a primary set in a sealed box. And so I love that. Bex Scott: [00:22:09] That's amazing. Kelli Szurek: [00:22:09] That was a gift too. So that's kind of what's fun about Christmas is I'm like, okay, here's all the Pyrex I still need. Find it. But he actually, that was actually a Marketplace find too. And yeah, so that was, I feel like I'm really surprised with how much local stuff I've found that's a big find. And then, you know, just throughout I've really taken a liking to vintage sprinklers. If they're metal, like I have to have it, I use them to water my lawn. But I just think it's fun and they're cool. And I love bunnies. So I also collect any cute vintage bunny figurines. My mom had collected some Lefton when I was young and when she died, I kept all of that. So that has brought me on a trail of trying to finish, you know, like I didn't know when I was younger. I remember like, oh, this angel was a set of 3 or 4, and now I have to find them because she, there's only one left. So. But those are harder to, I feel like I've had a hard time finding those. Or people, which I remember we were going to throw that in a donate box and, you know, they go for $35 a figurine, which I think is expensive. So, you know, they're hard to find. But I was at a flea market, I think it was this summer, and I was at like in line to check out. I had found a pink striped bowl that was super cheap because it was it was a little faded. But we, you know, so that's one we just use in the kitchen. And I was standing in line and I saw one of those Lefton angel girls or poinsettia, I think it's a Lefton Poinsettia Girl and she just has like this poinsettia dress on. She's little. And I was like, oh my gosh. Like I saw one. And it was, you know, super cheap. It was like a dollar. So I was like, that was my every once in a while, you know, you get that like, I'm so excited about this. So yeah. So that's just kind of like, I end up getting into like, you know, if I start to see things repetitiously, sometimes they'll start to call my name and some things I'm just like, this is cute, I like it, I'm getting it. And then it just kind of starts a whole nother trail of junk. Yeah. My treasure. Right? Bex Scott: [00:24:19] Yeah. It's easy to to fall into the next hole of collecting the next best thing. My other addictions are the little blue birds. They were my great grandmas. So I've started collecting those. And then the Merry Mushroom canisters and anything mushroom I love. So that's another issue that I have to deal with. Kelli Szurek: [00:24:42] I know I also get in like that, I was a child of the 80s, so anything like Pound Puppies, Care Bears that's still in the box, I'm hooked. Like, oh, I have to have that. Bex Scott: [00:24:54] Oh, I love Pound Puppies. I forgot about those. I had quite a few of those. Kelli Szurek: [00:25:00] So now when I find like the old ones, I actually, one of my favorite finds was an antique store here, I live in Anoka, it was like a little bride and groom Pound Puppy set still in the box, like they are still in the box. So I was super excited about that. Like, I have to have it. So yeah, that's. And then Justin makes fun of me, like, oh, now you're on to something else. Okay. Bex Scott: [00:25:24] Make more room in the house. I have another collection. Kelli Szurek: [00:25:27] It's like, where are you going to put this? I'm like my grandma always said, if you want it, you'll find a spot for it. Bex Scott: [00:25:32] That's very true. Yeah. So where would you say Pyrex collecting is headed? Do you think there's going to be crazy prices, a lack of available dishes? What are your thoughts on that? Kelli Szurek: [00:25:48] Well, I do feel like as time goes on, right, they don't make Pyrex like this anymore so it's definitely going to get harder to find if people stop collecting it. You know, pricing, I always get a little frustrated with people online when somebody will post something for sale and people will comment like, this is a ridiculous price. I feel like things are worth what people are willing to pay for them. As somebody who has a very large Pyrex collection, I still want it to be worth something, you know, 50 years down the road. So I am hopeful that people will continue to collect, and I do want the price to stay high. So, you know, I want to find things for a steal. And I think that's what is really exciting about collecting some kind of antique item is it's, the hunt is fun, the hunt is part of the high, right? So I hope it continues. But I do see in my community a lot of young people, I also read, so I'll buy things in auction lots a lot, and I'll be going for one piece, but it comes in like this huge lot of other Pyrex or other stuff, and I'll resell that. And it is a lot of younger girls that are buying it because they're like, my grandma had this, I have to have it. Kelli Szurek: [00:27:15] And so that does make me super happy that people still have that in them. And I do think like, I don't know about this generation, but there is a generation younger than me that is into like vintage stuff. And now people are into like, don't throw stuff into the landfill, like let's reuse, let's recycle, let's... so that's inspiring that hopefully people will continue thinking that way. Save the planet, don't buy new stuff. Use the old stuff. So I don't know where it's going to go, but I don't see it slowing down right now. In my experience, since 2020, it's only been three years, but I haven't seen it slowing down at all. And even like, I'll even look at some auction websites and just to see, like, what stuff's still going for, what are people still bidding at? And yeah, it's not slowing, it's not slowing down. I always think, oh, maybe as a reseller, I don't claim to just be a reseller, but if I have extra stuff or stuff that I got that I wasn't going for, I'll try to resell it and I'll go on those auction sites sometimes and think like, oh, maybe I can find something super cheap and resell it. But I mean, I feel like it's going for what it's worth. So. Bex Scott: [00:28:36] Yeah, I agree, I'd like to see it continue and the younger generation get more into it. And I remember when I first started collecting, looking online for articles about Pyrex and it was mostly people, well, not mostly, but a lot of people getting angry about how there was a huge influx of collectors and resellers during the pandemic, and it was pushing prices up like crazy, and people were worried about where it was headed. But I think it's good if they're collecting it for the right reasons, and they love the dishes and they're going to pass them on to people and keep it going, I think that's awesome. Kelli Szurek: [00:29:13] Right. If we have been spending this much money on it and it's at its highest cost or whatever, then you never want anything to go down in value after you've invested in it. Bex Scott: [00:29:25] Mhm. Kelli Szurek: [00:29:26] We'll see. We'll see what happens. I mean I don't see it going anywhere. People are still, people are still buying it. So it's good. Bex Scott: [00:29:33] Mhm. Kelli Szurek: [00:29:34] But I'm to the point now where you know, Justin will be like, we'll be at an antique store and he'll be like oh did you go over there, they have a room full of Pyrex. And I'm like, and he's like, do you have all of that? I'm like, maybe. Bex Scott: [00:29:47] I might. Kelli Szurek: [00:29:49] That is the point where I'm really just treasure hunting, you know, the more rare things. So it's, I definitely haven't been spending as much money because I never stumble across those right pieces unless I'm ready to pay what they're worth. And I don't want to do that. Bex Scott: [00:30:07] And when I first started, I wasn't keeping track of what I was spending on it. So I'd hate to go back and calculate that because it would be a huge amount, because I was buying anything and everything I came across, and I had bajillions of duplicates, and I was trying to finish every pattern and I didn't get very far. But now I'm kind of, I've stuck to, I have my primary dishes and sets that I really love and then pink and turquoise. And now, like you, I'm going for the harder to find more rare pieces and selling off my extras to be able to pay for the more expensive ones. Kelli Szurek: [00:30:48] Yes. Yeah, I do that too. Like if I resell anything on Facebook Marketplace, I'm like, okay, well, I'm going to take that money and put it towards this thing that I really, you know, this piece that I really want or kind of just set that aside, like, okay, well if I'm reinvesting then it doesn't seem as bad, right? Bex Scott: [00:31:04] Yeah, exactly. And you mentioned that you're working on a Pyrex tattoo. Kelli Szurek: [00:31:11] Oh yeah. So I love tattoos and I have been wanting a tattoo for a long time, but it was like, what do you pick, right? Like you can't have every single bowl tattooed on your body. And trying to narrow it down, and so I initially was going to be like, okay, I'm going to get a tattoo of the Cinderella Spring Blossom. It was what hooked me. So it's, you know, that's a really important piece to me. It has a lot of meaning and significance. And then I was, Justin was asking me because I'm like, I'm really going to try to come up with this idea, he's like, why don't you make your set of four of your favorites? I'm like, oh, that's a good idea, because then, I'm like, but still like, how do you pick four? That's even hard. So I'm still trying to figure that out, but my goal is to have it done in January. Bex Scott: [00:32:05] I'm excited to see the finished product. That'll be awesome. Kelli Szurek: [00:32:10] Me too! We'll see what it looks like. Bex Scott: [00:32:12] Oh very cool. Well, I thought we would finish off with a bit of a game of underrated or overrated. So different patterns and dishes. So what are your thoughts on the Starburst Casserole? Underrated or overrated? Kelli Szurek: [00:32:28] I think it's appropriately rated. It is the next big piece on my agenda to have. So I mean I guess I would say it's overrated. Don't buy it so I can. Bex Scott: [00:32:44] That's an awesome answer. Kelli Szurek: [00:32:45] Nobody needs that. Nobody needs that. Don't buy it. Leave it on the shelf for me. Bex Scott: [00:32:50] I always see those posts come up when there's people who have like 7 or 8 of them at home and I'm like, how do you do that? I have never found one. I could use 1 or 2 of those. What about the Duchess? Kelli Szurek: [00:33:09] Gosh, I don't even know what that is. Bex Scott: [00:33:10] It's the the pink one with the little flowers. I think they're, it comes with the, there's a Libby glass set that goes with it and a carafe. That one's my holy grail. Kelli Szurek: [00:33:21] Is it? Okay, I'm going to have to Google it because I honestly, see, you know more than I do. I don't even know what that is. Bex Scott: [00:33:28] It's amazing. Kelli Szurek: [00:33:28] Underrated because I don't know. Bex Scott: [00:33:33] How about the primary set. Kelli Szurek: [00:33:35] What is this girl doing on this podcast? Bex Scott: [00:33:39] Nah. Kelli Szurek: [00:33:40] The primary set? You know, I think it's underrated because it was like the first bright color piece ever to come out. It's such a staple to me. So I think it's underrated because people don't realize like how great it is. It's what started this madness. Bex Scott: [00:33:57] Yeah, I agree, I'd say underrated as well. And the Opals? Kelli Szurek: [00:34:02] The true Opals, I think that they're underrated. I have never seen true Opal. And I think that what's tricky about it is that it's hard to tell unless you, like, know certain things to look for. Sometimes it can, people will advertise that they have white Opal and it's, you know, another bowl with all the paint taken off of it. So it's tricky. So I think it's underrated. Bex Scott: [00:34:30] I agree. Kelli Szurek: [00:34:31] What about you? Do you have some? Bex Scott: [00:34:32] No I wish. I always see the the Butter print with nothing on it at the store. And I get really excited. And then I walk up and, nope. Kelli Szurek: [00:34:44] Yeah. Bex Scott: [00:34:45] Mm hmm. Awesome. Well, thank you so much, Kelli, for joining me today. It was great chatting with somebody who who loves Pyrex just as much as me. And I think now I'll probably have to get into the Fire-King and Hazel Atlas. And to get your advice. Kelli Szurek: [00:35:04] It's another expensive rabbit hole. So. Bex Scott: [00:35:07] It is. Kelli Szurek: [00:35:08] But you know, it's fun. It's fun. I was going to say, too, I wanted to mention this on your on your podcast, but one of the things I get really excited about and all my friends make fun of me is if we go to a movie or watching TV and I see like Pyrex in the background because, you know. Bex Scott: [00:35:22] Oh yeah. Kelli Szurek: [00:35:22] Did you see they came out with Dear God, it's me, Margaret. And that takes place in like, the 70s. And so there was so much Pyrex and like, oh my gosh, do you see the Pyrex? Do you see the vintage? Like, look at their living room. It looks so amazing. And they're like, oh my God Kelli, no one cares. Bex Scott: [00:35:40] I love watching shows on TV. I think there was an episode of Young Sheldon my son was watching, and I was standing there and pointing out all the Pyrex. He's like, oh, I'm trying to watch the show. Kelli Szurek: [00:35:51] Right? It's just like so alluring when you see it. It's like, oh my gosh, did I just see that? I hope they go back to it because sometimes it'll be like a quick flip. I'm like, oh, rewind it. We have to go back and see what that was. Or Justin will be like, oh, I watched this girl on TikTok and she bakes and she uses her Pyrex. She's using, like, you know, green dot bowl. I'm like, why would you use that in your kitchen? Bex Scott: [00:36:13] Don't break. Kelli Szurek: [00:36:13] It. Don't put it in the dishwasher. Bex Scott: [00:36:16] So yeah, there's some really cool sites where you can look up dishes and there's a whole list of different shows that they've been on and where you can buy them. So that's something fun to do. I found a set of Denby dishes at Value Village the other day, and I looked them up and it said that they were all on The Brady Bunch. And I used to love The Brady Bunch. Yeah, it's kind of a neat thing to look up. Kelli Szurek: [00:36:41] Yeah. That's fun. Thank you. Bex Scott: [00:36:45] Awesome. Well, thanks so much, Kelli. Kelli Szurek: [00:36:47] Yes. You're welcome. And I'm excited to listen to all your episodes as they start coming out. It's exciting. | |||
| 10 Nov 2023 | My Gateway-Pyrex | 00:12:21 | |
Welcome to the inaugural episode of Pyrex With Bex with host Bex Scott. Bex talks about vintage Pyrex, of course, but also all things in vintage housewares. You’ll hear about her thrifting adventures, learn about reselling, and hear interviews with other enthusiasts. Today Bex introduces her “gateway Pyrex”, the item that inspired her passion for collecting. Bex came to Pyrex because of her grandparents. In cleaning out their garage at the beginning of the pandemic, she discovered a box full of carefully wrapped dishes and glassware. Three of the items were a lime green lasagna pan and two mixing bowls, one green and one red. That discovery got her hooked and sent her into research and collecting. It was her “gateway Pyrex”. In this first episode she explains the significance of the pieces she found in the garage, what collections they belong to, and which book has become her “Pyrex Bible”. Bex also shares vintage ads and recipes that may just inspire you to get your own Pyrex bowl to try baking in. Avid Pyrex enthusiasts, vintage collectors, and interested newbies alike will thoroughly enjoy embarking on this Pyrex podcast journey with Bex. Resources discussed in this episode: — Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey, everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex With Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:31] Hey everybody, you're listening to the Pyrex With Bex podcast. My name is Bex Scott and I am so excited that you're tuning in. I've been wanting to record this podcast for quite some time. I am a full-on Pyrex addict. I am self-proclaimed. But also if you were to ask my friends and family, I'm sure they would say exactly the same thing. And I wanted to take this episode to explain to you a little bit about why I got started, give you a backstory, and tell you a little bit about my addiction. So I started collecting Pyrex back in 2019, and this was when the pandemic had just started and we were on lockdown. We had started to lose our hobbies, things that we loved, we couldn't see family and friends. And for many of us, it was a time where we were looking for new things to do and new hobbies to have and Pyrex became that hobby for me. I loved being able to research bowls and patterns and what years things came out and going to the thrift store in hopes that I'd find my next favorite bowl.
Bex Scott: [00:01:46] And the whole reason that I found Pyrex was because of my grandparents. I remember at the beginning of the pandemic, we had decided to help my granny and grandpa clear out their garage and they had a full single garage full of we weren't sure what, but I knew there would be a lot of vintage clothes, jackets, dresses in there. And at the time that's mainly what I was interested in. So we went over and started unloading boxes and I remember my mom took down this Rubbermaid bin. It was full of dishes and glassware that was all wrapped up in linens and tablecloths and even some old needlepoint. And I remember seeing this lasagna pan and it was lime green. And at the time I had never heard of Pyrex outside of the measuring cup that I'm sure everybody's mom or even that you have in your kitchen. I unwrapped it and I saw that it was this lime lasagna pan and I instantly fell in love. I kept unwrapping and I also found a green mixing bowl and a red mixing bowl. And I was hooked. They looked like Christmas to me. And right after we left, I immediately went on Google and started looking into what these Pyrex bowls were, what year they were from, and started asking my grandparents questions about where they're from.
Bex Scott: [00:03:18] It ended up that they're from my mom's aunt, so my great aunt, and it was all items that they had saved from when she had passed and they ended up in their garage. So this was just a few of the items of Pyrex that she must have had. And to this day, I think about what her kitchen must have looked like and how amazing it must have been. And I wish that I could go back and see it now, knowing what all of these vintage items were. So I'm doing some research and nothing that I had was really, now knowing, hard to find or rare but it was still beautiful to me. I had the lime 232 oblong baking dish. Lime was launched with Flamingo Pink in 1952. It's not my favorite color, but I have to say when you pair the lime with the flamingo pink, it really looks great in a China cabinet or on a countertop. The lime and the flamingo pieces are the ones that we use in our house on a regular basis to bake cakes. So they've seen a lot of birthdays. And trust me, if you've never baked a cake in a Pyrex dish, it's amazing. We've used the brownie dishes, the lasagna pans, and the round cake dishes or the cake pans to do them and they pop out easily and the cakes are delicious and moist, so definitely give it a try.
Bex Scott: [00:04:44] If you like the lime color, there's also a complete line of lime green, solid border, opal dinnerware. And this is pretty cool. They have a 22 karat gold band on them. So if you're into dinnerware, give that a search and check those out. So the green mixing bowl that I mentioned ended up being part of the primary set. And the primary set made its debut in 1945 and was the first time that Corning ever sold opal glass to the consumer market using the Pyrex name. And I can see why they decided to start with this primary set because it's beautiful. It's yellow, green, red and blue, and it just, it looks great in your kitchen, I think, and it stands the test of time with the colors. I also had the 404 red mixing bowl, and after doing a bunch of research, I've found that starting in the 1950s, the 404 was sold individually in either yellow or red. So if you know the primary set, it's usually the 404, the biggest bowl, starts off with yellow. But you can also get this alternate red bowl. And to me, I think I like the big red bowl a little bit better than the yellow just because it's such a nice, rich color. The downside to the red is that I've found it is the hardest to find in good condition.
Bex Scott: [00:06:11] I don't know whether it's that people just use the red more often. I've also heard, this might just be a rumor, so don't quote me on this, that there's something in the red paint that made it so that it couldn't withstand the test of time like the other bowls did when they were being washed. But like I said, it could be a rumor, I heard it in a Pyrex group, but if you know otherwise or if you know if this is true, make sure you let me know because it's something I've been wondering about. So I would love to know which bowl was the first bowl that you ever collected or as I called the ones that started it off for me, the Gateway Bowl for you. Which do you love the most? Which pattern are you collecting? Let me know. Find me on Instagram at Pyrex With Bex. Send me a DM. I'd love to chat about what got you started with Pyrex collecting or vintage collecting. So back to 2019, I had started my collection with these three bowls, and this kicked things off full steam ahead for me. I started buying bowls like crazy, but the primary set was the main one that I had focused on, and I think that I had ended up with maybe 5 or 6 primary sets. Regardless, way too many Pyrex dishes. There's no reason I needed five full sets of them, so I did end up selling them on Marketplace and finding homes for them. But to this day, the Pyrex primary set is still one of my favorites.
Bex Scott: [00:07:47] And if you're a new collector, you need to go out and grab the Pyrex Passion book. It's by Michael Barber. You can buy it online. This has been the biggest help for me as a collector. It goes through all of the colors, the patterns, when they were released, and descriptions for all of them. It will be your Pyrex Bible. And I remember getting it for the first time on my iPad, I bought the online version of it, and it was so cool being able to flip through and see all of these bowls. I not too long ago invested in the paperback copy, which I think is a lot better than doing the online version because you can put sticky notes in it, you can mark it up as you collect bowls, you can check things off in pencil if you want, and just carry it with you and have that paperback copy that you can just hold in your hands. But in this book, Pyrex Passion, I remember seeing one of the very first Pyrex ads for the primary set. It said special $3.50 Pyrex ware color bowl set only $2.49. You save $1.01 limited time only. World's most famous mixing bowl set at almost a third off just in time for Mother's Day. Here's your chance to get America's favorite mixing bowl set at the lowest price in history. And just in time for Mother's Day, think of all the help these big colorful bowls will be for mixing, baking, serving and storing. Think how bright and gay they'll be on the table. Easy to wash clean, too, and they nest together to save space on your shelf. This special bargain offer ends June 30th, so don't wait. Get your Pyrex ware color bowl set and save $1.01 at any housewares store.
Bex Scott: [00:09:40] I thought this was pretty incredible to get a whole set for $3.50. Think about how much prices have gone up since that time. I know for where I live, I'm in Canada in a small town in Alberta and a primary set goes for around $100. That's for all four bowls in great condition, no dishwasher damage. Another thing I found really cool, which kind of ties into the primary bowl set or any mixing bowl, is in this vintage Pyrex prize recipes book that I have. I was flipping through and I saw a picture of somebody tipping a 404 red mixing bowl over and a full on angel food cake is coming out of it. So I've used the regular brownie or lasagna or cake pans to do cakes, but I've never baked a cake in a mixing bowl. And this is something that I'm definitely going to have to try.
Bex Scott: [00:10:38] So the recipe says, Angel food cake in a hurry with strawberry frosting. One package prepared angel food cake mix, prepare cake mix in a Pyrex mixing bowl according to the directions on the package, being sure that egg whites are beaten so stiff they do not slide when the bowl is tipped. When folding dry ingredients into egg white foam, have spatula or spoon reach the very bottom of the bowl. Leave the batter right in the Pyrex mixing bowl and bake. Turn the bowl upside down on rack to cool before removing cake from bowl. Ice inverted cake with strawberry frosting or sprinkle with confectioner's sugar. Time bake about 35 minutes. Temperature 350°F. Moderate oven. Amount one cake 9.75 inches in diameter. 12 servings. Dish Pyrex four quart mixing bowl. So I don't know if any of you have ever used a mixing bowl to bake a cake, but please let me know because this is something that I think is really cool.
Bex Scott: [00:11:38] You know a little bit about me and my Pyrex addiction. I'd love to know about yours. What was the first bowl that you ever collected or the first Gateway Bowl, as I like to call it, that started your Pyrex collection? Feel free to find me on Instagram at Pyrex With Bex or check out my website PyrexWithBex.com. Shoot me an email on there and check out some of the vintage items that I have for sale.
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| 05 Jan 2024 | Bex´s Merry Mushroom Episode | 00:14:31 | |
It’s all about Merry Mushrooms with Bex Scott in this episode. Bex takes us down memory lane into her childhood to explore where her fondest memories of Merry Mushrooms pieces come from and where those pieces are today. She gives us a little history lesson on Merry Mushroom sets, too. Links to childhood and family are always the most poignant in Bex’s vintage housewares journey and the Merry Mushrooms pieces are no exception. Bex shares memories of her great granny’s collection and what she remembers from summers in Drumheller, but she also shares what a fellow collector told her about his reasons for wanting a complete Merry Mushroom set. Everybody has different attachments to different pieces, which inspired Bex to research the Merry Mushroom history. She explains what she learned about the various companies and styles involved in creating Merry Mushroom sets. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:31] Hey, everybody, this is Bex Scott, and you're listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. On today's episode, we're talking about mushrooms and not the food type, but the ceramic type. Think vintage mushroom canisters, coffee mugs, teapots and more. Stay tuned so you don't miss it. If you're a collector or a vintage lover, you likely keep an eye out for the brown, orange, and green mushrooms that decorate the cream canisters of a Merry Mushroom set. This set was super popular in the 1970s and still today. Now, I understand that these pieces aren't for everyone. I've had people tell me that they think they're extremely ugly, and others with mushroom or mushy obsessions drool over them. I would say that I'm somewhere in the middle, but I'm definitely one of the collectors that looks in Value Village, Goodwill, any thrift store for anything remotely mushroom themed. So it definitely is something that I thought would be fun to talk about. I decided to dedicate this episode to mushroom canisters after I had decided to resell part of a collection I bought on Marketplace.
Bex Scott: [00:01:40] I listed the salt and pepper shakers of the Canadian Sears collection and a man messaged me. Now the salt and pepper shakers had a ton of interest on Marketplace, but as Marketplace goes, I had equally as many people interested as those who ghosted me. Which is super frustrating when you know you've priced something really well and you just can't have somebody or get anybody to commit to coming to pick something up. But I think it was meant to be this way because this man messaged me, and I'm always interested in why people want to buy certain vintage items and he offered up his story right away. He mentioned that his mother had passed away two days earlier, and he'd been trying to piece together a full set like the one that she'd had when they were growing up, and each of her children would receive a piece of the Merry Mushroom set that he was looking for so that they could look at them and remember her. And I honestly couldn't think of a better reason to purchase these salt and pepper shakers. And I was excited that I could keep her memory alive for him and his siblings. And after we got talking a little bit, I mentioned to him that I had all these other pieces of the set and he was super excited because he was looking for the complete one. So this is one of the moments as a reseller and a collector that really, truly makes me happy to be able to help pass on these memories of people's family members and the special times that they had growing up.
Bex Scott: [00:03:21] And after he messaged me, it got me thinking about my own set of vintage Merry Mushroom canisters. And the Canadian series Merry Mushroom set holds a special place in my heart. While they're not my favorite item to collect, I would never part with a single piece. So my great uncle sadly passed away this summer, and I was lucky enough to inherit the pieces of his mom's, my great granny's, collection. And I was very young when my great granny passed away, but my great uncle remained living in her home in a small town in Alberta, just outside of Drumheller, and he kept it exactly as she had it when she was alive. And we used to, as kids, go down to Drumheller every single summer, and my grandparents have a house down the street from my uncle, or where my great granny used to live when she was alive, and we would go to his house and play in the yard with my cousins, and it just holds a super special place in my heart. And I remember her Norcrest bluebirds that covered her dresser top. And I've been lucky enough to inherit a few of them as well. And I just remember how beautiful and blue they were. This is when I was little, so even before I knew what all these items would mean to me in the future as a vintage collector. She also had this rainbow kitchen clock that now hangs on the wall in my office, and one of my absolute favorite memories was her kitchen table. It was always covered in a cheery patterned vinyl tablecloth, and instead of throwing out the old one, she would staple a new one on top. And you could see years and years of memories just by peeking under the table and looking at the different pieces of vinyl that had been used.
Bex Scott: [00:05:13] So my granny told me that when my great granny was given the canisters, she was ecstatic because it reminded her of her mushroom picking days when she was younger. Her kitchen was painted a pale yellow. It was a really pretty color, and she loved the way that the colors of the canisters complemented the paint on her walls. She thought they were so beautiful that she didn't use any of them in case they broke. And because of this, each of my pieces is in near perfect condition. She was like this with most of her items in her home, which made it an amazing time capsule. And this past summer, after my uncle passed away, my family went to his home and we were looking through some of the items that my great granny had, and all of these memories were rushing back. And I had always loved these canisters and I feel so honored that I have them. So in my collection from her home, I have the cream and sugar, the teapot, six mugs, five canisters, the salt and pepper shakers, and a bird feeder.
Bex Scott: [00:06:29] And the bird feeder has to be my favorite piece out of all of them. It has a little hole on the top for a chain to hang it, and two openings on either side of the mushroom shape where the bird seed would be filled and the birds could sit. And I noticed that the American version of the Merry Mushroom also has the bird feeder, and it has a little gold chain that it hangs from, and I haven't been able to find photos of the Canadian version, but I'm assuming that it would be a gold chain on this one as well. And I also have the Arnels 1973 spoon, fork and serving spoon wall hangings, which are really fun. And I remember these hanging above my great granny's kitchen table in her house and I remember as a kid thinking they're super neat because the spoons and fork were so massive, and it just, it was always a memory in my mind. And to have them now is really cool to be able to look at them, and my kids can look at them as well. So these pieces are all in my office, displayed proudly, where everyone that has a Zoom call with me can see them. I have all of the mugs, the teapot, the salt and pepper shakers, everything, all the canisters lining my Ikea bookshelves above my head on these calls, and then the spoons and fork hanging over my shoulder.
Bex Scott: [00:07:55] So they're the perfect conversation starter, with some people thinking that they're very out there, while others instantly dive into stories of their family members having them. And I remember being on one call with a potential client, and I turned on my Zoom and she looked behind me and she said, are those mushroom canisters? And I was so excited that she noticed what they were. And she immediately started telling me about how her mom had the same canisters, which made me super happy. So I'm admittedly a newbie when it comes to these canisters. And when I first got them, I foolishly thought that they were all made by Arnels, and I started doing some research and quickly discovered that I was very wrong. So I thought I would share a little bit about what I learned, in case it might be helpful for other newbies out there. Or maybe you have this from your family's collection that's been passed down to you, and you've been wondering what you have, which collection it comes from.
Bex Scott: [00:08:58] So first off, I discovered that there is the Sears Roebuck American version, and it included over 250 pieces and ran for 17 years. That is a ton of time and even more pieces. Which makes sense, because looking back through some of the old advertisements from Sears catalogs, I can't believe how many different items there are. There's pretty much everything. You've got canisters, napkin holders, coffee mugs, you name it. So to be on a team that had designed all of those items, I feel like that would be really cool. So not all of them included a maker's mark on the bottom, and many people think that they would. Some had stickers that said Japan and looking through photos some of them said Sears, Roebuck and Co. with the date, like 1976 and made in Japan, stamped in ink on the bottom. And this version had mushrooms on the front and mushrooms on the back, while the Canadian Sears canisters only had mushrooms on one side. I thought that was pretty interesting because first, I didn't know there was an American version and a Canadian version, and I assumed that they would all have only one side of mushrooms. But the American version, if you look it up, there is a little grouping of mushrooms on the back as well. Next up we have the Simpsons-Sears Canadian version, and these ones were made by Laurentian Pottery. And if you look on the bottom of them, you can see the mark on all of their pieces. And these are the ones that I have. And the biggest difference between the Canadian and American versions is the paint job. I didn't believe it at first, but when you put them side by side, it is very clear. In my opinion, the Canadian version looks kind of sloppy, hate to say it, while the American version almost looks more professional and thought out. So if you take them side by side or google them, you'll see that the brush strokes look different. The American ones just look more polished with more detail. But that's not to say that the Canadian ones aren't beautiful. The canisters from the Canadian version. They also seem to have a bit of a longer shape. And the lids are different. So the Canadian lids, they're thicker and they have a bit more detail and a bit more of an underside to the cap of the mushroom.
Bex Scott: [00:11:41] So next up is Arnels. And this is the company that I thought produced all of the merry mushroom canisters. Arnels started in 1953, in Beaverton, Oregon, and made ceramic molds and finished wares. So these canisters were part of a paint your own ceramic set. And because of this, they can look extremely different than the Sears Merry Mushroom pieces. And I've seen some of these canisters that people have painted that are beautiful. You would have no idea. I definitely wouldn't be able to do something like this. I've tried going to those paint your own ceramics and pottery places for birthdays and just for fun. And the stuff that I come out of there with is definitely not something I'd be putting on my own shelf. So one way to tell if you have a Sears set or an Arnels, outside of it having an Arnels maker's mark on the bottom, is that Sears has one little mushroom on the lid, and Arnels has a cluster of three. But keep in mind that Merry Mushroom molds have also been used as paint your own molds over the years, and some of those ones can also have one mushroom on the lid too, so it makes it a little bit difficult to determine if you have an authentic Sears piece that was produced by Sears and painted by them, or if you have more of a maker's piece. So my recommendation would be to use the gradient on the lid, the glaze, and just the distinct colors that they use to determine the authenticity of the canisters that you have.
Bex Scott: [00:13:24] There may be other companies that I haven't highlighted above, but the three that I have talked about were the ones that I thought were the most important. I love that mushrooms have remained popular to this day, and there are certainly coordinating mushroom pieces around every corner. I love going to the thrift stores and looking for any vintage mushroom item I can find. Some of them make it into my collection, but most of them I enjoy finding new homes for. Whether that's somebody on Marketplace or friends that are collectors that have been looking for certain pieces, it's just a really fun part of being a reseller and a collector. So if you have a Merry Mushroom collection or a story about a piece that was passed down to you, I would love to hear about it. Find me on Instagram at Pyrex with Bex, give me a follow, and let's chat.
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| 01 Mar 2024 | All Things...Vintage Books | 00:14:52 | |
In today’s episode, Bex Scott talks about something a little different in vintage collectibles: vintage books. Recently reminded about Nancy Drew, Bex explores the origins of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys series: how they came to be, what editions were printed, and what collectors can look for when assessing value. This is a trip down memory lane for avid readers. Bex discusses the Edward Stratemeyer literary legacy which is where all the juvenile books of memory originated. Stratemeyer created everything from the Rover Boys to Tom Swift and the ever-popular Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series. Published through Grosset and Dunlap, Bex explores how each story idea was passed to a team of ghostwriters writing under a pseudonym - Carolyn Keene for Nancy Drew and Franklin W. Dixon for the Hardy Boys - and details the many volumes, dust covers, and endpapers that each incarnation of Nancy Drew hardcover went through. There is a devoted collectors base for many of the series so to assess the many incarnations, Bex offers tips about what’s rare and what’s sought-after. Book lovers, this is your episode! Resources discussed in this episode: — Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:31] Hey, everybody, this is Bex Scott, and thank you for joining me for another episode of the podcast. And today's episode is going to be a little bit different. Still vintage, but it's going to be on the vintage book side of things. I know a lot of my friends and family members are avid readers, and some of them are even collectors of vintage novels. So I thought today might be a little bit of a fun change in direction from what I usually talk about. So growing up I was addicted to reading. I still am, although I don't have as much time anymore to read, but I would stay up all night in my room reading mystery novels, fantasy novels, and waiting to go to the library every week to take home dozens of books. And this is kind of what, I believe, started my love of mystery shows, mystery books, and it was Nancy Drew. And somebody recently reminded me of Nancy Drew, and I hadn't thought of these novels in quite a long time. So I started going back and doing a little bit of research to find out more about the author, the books, the huge community of collectors that are interested in Nancy Drew, and other novels that are like that.
Bex Scott: [00:01:55] So I found out a ton of really cool information that I wanted to share with you guys. And it kind of starts off with the literary legacy of Edward Stratemeyer, and he's the one that kind of brought to life these juvenile books. So I wanted to talk to you a little bit about him and give you an introduction to the man behind the magic, as they might say. So Edward Stratemeyer was born in 1862, he died in 1930, and he was the mastermind behind a literary syndicate that shaped the entire early 20th century. So picture the early 1900s, where this visionary created a literary empire responsible for thousands of juvenile series books. And that's from the Rover Boys to Tom Swift and the ever-popular Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys. His imagination really knew no bounds at all. So here's the twist, though, Stratemeyer wasn't just a storyteller, he was the architect of ideas and characters. He crafted each storyline and then enlisted a team of ghostwriters. These unsung heroes wrote under various pseudonyms, giving life to the words that Stratemeyer envisioned. And all this creativity wasn't just in his mind. It hit the shelves thanks to dozens of publishers, with Grosset and Dunlap being the most common. So fast forward to 1979, and the syndicate's reins were handed over to new hands, Simon and Schuster. They took control, bringing with them significant changes to the style and format of the beloved series. But before we explore that era, let's focus on the golden age of Nancy Drew.
Bex Scott: [00:03:45] Nancy Drew spanned from 1930 to 1979, and during this nearly five decade period, the Nancy Drew series saw a constant evolution in physical formats. Early editions, the first six books, they were thick volumes with blue or bluish-gray split covers. The end papers were blank, and the title lettering was a subtle light orange. Dust jacket sported illustrations only on the front, leaving pristine white spines on the shelves. The evolution didn't stop there, though. In 1932, with volume number seven, a garish orange silhouette of Nancy adorned the book cover, and the endpapers transformed into vivid orange silhouettes. I haven't seen this version, but I would love to. This sounds like something you definitely have to see in person. Production costs led to changes, so three glossy internals were trimmed in 1937, leaving only a glossy frontispiece. The saga continued with a blue silhouette of Nancy joining the party in 1941. To fast forward to 1946, volume number 23 marked a dramatic shift. This is when white spine dust jackets adopted the wraparound style and the orange silhouette end papers turned into a deep, mysterious blue. And I don't know about you guys, but dust jackets drive me nuts.
Bex Scott: [00:05:14] I always take them off when I read hard covers, and they're beautiful if they're designed nicely, but they just get in the way. I'd love to know, you guys, how you feel about that as well. So the silhouette on the book cover followed suit. This is where we say goodbye to the orange hue and the silhouette spine symbol on the dust jacket, it lasted for just four more volumes before transitioning into a circular color portrait. So the journey gets even more exciting. In 1947 and 1948, some volumes surprised collectors with marvelous maroon Dana Girls end papers. This was a rare treat for the keen-eyed collectors. These volumes are both hard to find and highly collectible. And for those of you who have never heard of the Dana Girls, this was a series of mystery stories by Carolyn Keene, who was the author of Nancy Drew, and they were published non-continuously from 1934 to 79, and after the publication of volume 13, they were discontinued. So during the mid 1940s, Grosset and Dunlap terminated many series that weren't selling very well, and the Dana Girls was one of them. The sudden termination of the series is probably the reason why some scattered copies of Nancy Drew books from the late 1940s contain the Dana Girls end papers rather than waste the end papers, which had already been printed, the bindery put them to good use.
Bex Scott: [00:06:56] Okay, so back to Nancy Drew. The dust jacket took a turn in 1950, with the older volumes embracing the wraparound style and a new illustration by a fresh talent. Volume number 30, in 1953, introduced a shift from slick blue covers to a blue cloth tweed, a style that would eventually become the most common. And who can forget the mysterious digger ends from volumes 30 to 35, depicting Nancy observing a clandestine figure digging in the night. These sought-after end papers added an extra layer of intrigue to the collector's hunt. Now we're going to fast forward to 1959, and the iconic multi-scene end papers took center stage, gracing various styles until volume number 56 in 1979. The oval cameo end papers made a fashionable appearance as an offshoot of Simon and Schuster's reprints. So for those of you who love dust jackets and collect them, here's a little bit of a trivia nugget. The last volume featuring a dust jacket was volume number 38, 'The Mystery of the Fire Dragon', a rare gem produced only in 1961. Next up we have the 60s. In 1962, there was a shift to the yellow spine picture covers accompanied by revised text, updated content, and a drastic reduction in page count. The golden age of Nancy Drew books was undergoing a metamorphosis. As the 60s continued, Nancy Drew's popularity sparked continuous reprints. Each new format brought older editions out of retirement and it created a bunch of different styles in the book covers. From leather-bound Easton Press sets to yellow spine picture covers, the Nancy Drew collection became an amazing thing for collectors to attain.
Bex Scott: [00:09:06] So how do you identify the gems in this massive collection? It's all in the details, so check for intact and clean copies, undamaged spines, and the presence of dust jackets. Even though they're annoying when you read them, it is really necessary to have them for a complete collection and to increase the price you can get if you decide to sell them. Pay attention next to publication dates, publishers and page counts, and signed copies by the author, definitely a bonus, obviously. So first editions. It's always a thrill - I'm sure, I've never held a first edition of anything - to hold an original print of the original manuscript. That's what defines a first edition. But it's not just the number one in the number line. Scarcity plays a crucial role as well. Thousands of copies may dilute the value, so keep an eye out for those rare finds.
Bex Scott: [00:10:08] So next I wanted to talk a little bit about the mystery behind Nancy Drew's inception. For years, the question of who wrote the Nancy Drew books remained elusive. While Stratemeyer crafted the characters in synopsis, the actual writers remained silent, with Mildred A Wirt revealed as the ghostwriter behind Carolyn Keene. So Mildred was an independent and resourceful woman herself. She breathed life into Nancy Drew with her strong and vivid characterizations. The veil of secrecy persisted until the 1980 trial, where her identity as the original Carolyn Keene became widely known. And for those of you who are looking for a bit of a guide on collecting Nancy Drew, there is David Farah. Farah's Guide is the Nancy Drew Bible. It has a classification system to determine printing and value, and you can rely on this book to decode the intricacies of the 56 original volumes. And a little bit of information for you here, for collectors, a set of three first edition Nancy Drew books sold for $225 in 2019. And I'm not sure what they sell for now, but I feel like they must sell for a lot more than that. So that's the information that I have so far on Nancy Drew. And to give you an idea, going back to Stratemeyer, of how impactful he was, he churned out over 1600 young adult novels and amassed a staggering $500 million in sales. There's a quote that says, in 1926, a whopping 98% of American children considered a Stratemeyer Syndicate book as their favorite. So that included books like The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Bobbsey Twins, and more. And that's a pretty large statistic there.
Bex Scott: [00:13:21] So next up, I wanted to go into the Hardy Boys a little bit. I've read a couple of Hardy Boys books. They're awesome, and this is a collection that my dad had when he was growing up. The Hardy Boys was all about amateur sleuthing, mysteries, and captivating plots, and it was created under the pseudonym Franklin W Dixon. The series started in 1927, and it captivated readers with the adventures of brothers Frank and Joe Hardy. The classic series was comprised of 58 books from 1927 to 1978. Leslie McFarlane, a renowned ghostwriter, left his mark on the series, making volume one 'The Tower Treasure', a milestone in 1927. The series continued to enthrall readers with thrilling titles like 'The House on the Cliff' and 'Mystery of the Whale Tattoo'. The early years of the Hardy Boys series from the 1920s to the 1960s, witnessed hardback editions with dust jackets. The rare red cloth covers and white dust jackets adorn the shelves, capturing the essence of the era. Changes in cover art and format kept collectors on their toes. The 60s brought a significant transformation, with matte picture covers taking the spotlight. In 62 the hardback with dust jacket format bid farewell, making way for the iconic yellow spine picture covers. The value of individual books varied, but collectors often sought complete sets. Fast forward to the 80s, and this was a turning point with a limited edition release. Easton Press unveiled a leather-bound set with gold embossing, and Applewood Books brought back the first 16 titles in a small run. These additions became sought-after gems for collectors. So fast forward to present day, and Penguin Random House actually holds the reins of the Hardy Boys legacy, so it'll be interesting to see kind of what happens with that collection of books.
Bex Scott: [00:15:30] So I hope you enjoyed today's episode. It was a little bit different than usual, but if you are a book lover, a Nancy Drew or a Hardy Boys lover, let me know. I'd love to learn about the collection that you have, which books you are looking for, how many you have, and feel free to find me on Instagram at Pyrex with Bex. Thanks everybody!
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| 22 Nov 2024 | Dariya from the Thrifty Fox Shop | 00:32:39 | |
Bex Scott welcomes guest Dariya from The Thrifty Fox Shop to talk about her love of Pyrex and how many vintage collections she maintains. Bex met Dariya on Instagram and credits her with getting Bex onto Whatnot. They talk extensively about Pyrex, from their favorite pieces to their greatest finds, but as Dariya has an enthusiasm for a great variety of vintage items, there’s more than Pyrex to explore in this episode. Dariya, like many collectors, got into vintage collecting via her mom. She truly leaned into Pyrex around age sixteen and hasn’t stopped since. Pyrex and thrifting for vintage items is a family affair for Dariya too, as both her mom and sister are as avid about collecting as she is. She shares some of her most memorable Pyrex finds with Bex and they discuss their most and least loved patterns as well as which Pyrex dish both their husbands manage to explode during use. Beyond Pyrex, Dariya introduces Bex to her love of crewel embroidery, vintage mushrooms, glass animals, lucite flowers, vintage linens, brass, and many more of her very eclectic collections. Dariya’s philosophy is to collect what makes you happy and decorate the same way, so tune in to find out just what pieces bring her the most joy in her home. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Dariya | The Thrifty Fox Shop
Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat. Hey everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. And on today's episode, I have my friend and fellow vintage reseller Dariya from the Thrifty Fox Shop. Welcome, Dariya.
Dariya: [00:00:43] Hello.
Bex Scott: [00:00:44] How's it going?
Dariya: [00:00:45] Oh, good.
Bex Scott: [00:00:47] Nice. I see you have your awesome Halloween display behind you.
Dariya: [00:00:51] I do. We couldn't wait to start decorating for October, so we started in mid-September for decorating Halloween. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:00:59] That's how my family is but with Christmas.
Dariya: [00:01:01] Oh, fair.
Bex Scott: [00:01:02] My mom starts decorating the day after Halloween for Christmas, so I've kind of--
Dariya: [00:01:05] -- oh, wow--
Bex Scott: [00:01:06] -- got that Christmas bug from her.
Dariya: [00:01:08] Yeah. That makes sense.
Bex Scott: [00:01:10] Mhm. So I wanted to start off kind of with how we met. So we met on Instagram. I was following you for a while. And then I came across your Instagram story about your Whatnot show. And it was a Christmas show which is one of my favorite things obviously. And I watched your show got some amazing things from you and you helped me get into the Whatnot selling, which I'm very grateful for that.
Dariya: [00:01:37] I actually didn't know that.
Bex Scott: [00:01:38] You're the first person I found out about Whatnot through. And you made selling look so easy. And I remember a while back in some of the episodes I was talking about how I thought Whatnot was difficult because you have to be, like, on for an entire hour and talking and kind of, I'm a very severe introvert, so doing Whatnot is kind of stress-inducing. But I've loved it so far.
Dariya: [00:02:05] Yeah, once you get into it, then you find yourself more comfortable and stuff. Yeah, because I'm also an introvert and I never thought I'd ever do lives in my entire life. But hey, look at us go.
Bex Scott: [00:02:16] Yeah, yeah, yeah. Your one year just passed on Whatnot. And I think mine is coming up sometime soon, so.
Dariya: [00:02:23] Yeah. You'll have to do a show.
Bex Scott: [00:02:24] Yeah. For everybody listening, come find us on Whatnot. We have an awesome group of Canadian sellers. So how did your Pyrex and your vintage collecting begin?
Dariya: [00:02:35] With my mom. She's always, yeah, it's always someone in the family that gets you hooked. Yeah. My mom always loved, like, antiques and vintage. And so, you know, growing up around that. And then I kind of got my own style going, which has changed drastically over the last, like, years. When I started collecting, which was probably when I was 16, I started collecting, I've always like collected knickknacks, like ever since I was a little girl. But Pyrex was when around 16 when I started collecting all the Pyrex and I've never stopped.
Bex Scott: [00:03:09] It's good. A good collection you have going. Then for all that time, I.
Dariya: [00:03:12] Think of all the stuff I left behind at that time when all the prices were good. So many regrets.
Bex Scott: [00:03:17] Yeah, that's what a lot of collectors I've talked to say. Like, if they would have known that, they should have just grabbed things when they saw it. Yeah.
Dariya: [00:03:26] And the stuff that I started collecting nowadays and just thinking about what I could have left behind back then. Oh, man. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:03:35] So your mom kind of got you into it. Does your mom still collect Pyrex?
Dariya: [00:03:40] She does. Yeah, and so does my sister. So all three of us collect Pyrex and other collections we kind of share the same love for. So we're either fighting or finding each other stuff.
Bex Scott: [00:03:52] Yeah, I was going to say, when you go thrifting together, how do you decide who gets to keep what?
Dariya: [00:03:56] Basically, whoever finds it, gets it. Or else if one of us has something, then we'll, yeah, let whoever has it get the first dibs. But it's a competition sometimes, that's for sure.
Bex Scott: [00:04:09] I guess I'm lucky that way that I don't have any family competition. If anybody finds anything, they know to just give it straight to me. And I don't have to fight my mom over anything.
Dariya: [00:04:19] Well, and whenever one of us starts a new collection, we all get hooked. So then it's like there's no winning.
Bex Scott: [00:04:26] That's awesome.
Dariya: [00:04:27] Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:04:27] I guess on the flip side, that would be really fun if you had people in your family who you could go thrifting with and kind of had the same interests as you.
Dariya: [00:04:35] Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:04:37] Cool. And what have been your best Pyrex finds so far?
Dariya: [00:04:42] I think my best one was the two pieces of pink Butterprint at a garage sale and, in Alberta, which you never see pink Butterprint? And it was posted online and I, like, messaged them because it was a bit of a drive and I had like two little kids, so I was like, okay, like I'd love to get these, but would you be able to hold them? Because I don't want to drive there and get there and them not being there. So they held them for me and I paid 60 bucks for two of them, which is high for a garage sale. But like, again, pink Butterprint.
Bex Scott: [00:05:13] That's good.
Dariya: [00:05:14] Yeah, yeah. So I kept one and then gave one to my sister.
Bex Scott: [00:05:18] Lucky sister.
Dariya: [00:05:20] I know. Would have been nice if there was three. And then I could have given one to my mom too, but yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:05:26] Yeah.
Dariya: [00:05:26] No, I think that was, I was trying to, like, wrack my brain and that was definitely one of my best Pyrex scores.
Bex Scott: [00:05:33] Yeah. That's really good. Especially at a garage sale. That never happens.
Dariya: [00:05:37] And I'm so curious as to how they got the pink Butterprint, because I think it was only for the States and you had to get them through coupons or something? So it's curious to know how they got all the way up to Alberta.
Bex Scott: [00:05:50] Interesting. Yeah, I think I found a set of the Butterprint. It was in a Value Village and only one of the bowls was good, but it was still, it was still a good find, right?
Dariya: [00:06:03] Yeah, yeah, I'd love to find an orange. The orange Butterprint, but...
Bex Scott: [00:06:08] Oh yeah. Yeah. I keep seeing listings through Facebook for them and I'm tempted.
Dariya: [00:06:13] But that price tag.
Bex Scott: [00:06:15] Yeah like $750, $1000.
Dariya: [00:06:18] Yeah. No. Nope.
Bex Scott: [00:06:22] Cool. And what would you say is your holy grail piece, if you, you might already have it. But if you don't have it what would it be?
Dariya: [00:06:28] I don't actually. I still need that Starburst Pyrex. I was trying to think. Starburst, I kind of have three. Starburst. What's the - Pink Stems. And then this isn't Pyrex, but I really love like, a amethyst. Amethyst, Amethyst, Amethyst I don't know, um, Vikings swung vase. So those are like my three holy grails. Yeah, yeah. But yeah. Do you have a Starburst?
Bex Scott: [00:06:54] I don't.
Dariya: [00:06:55] I know, like, they're like they seem common enough. But the price tag again is just like, hmm, yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:07:02] And you see photos of people who have like ten of them in their collection.
Dariya: [00:07:05] Just hand one over to me. Please, please. I did see a Starburst at a antique, at the Antique Mall in Edmonton.
Bex Scott: [00:07:13] Oh, yeah.
Dariya: [00:07:14] And I think it was like $2,000. So I was like, oh, that was like, look at you from through the glass.
Bex Scott: [00:07:19] Yeah. Take a picture. And then just, that's as close as I'm going to get.
Dariya: [00:07:22] Pretty much. I was like, I was right beside it, but that's about it. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:07:26] Yeah. And do you want the turquoist? Turquoist? That's not a word. Turquoise. That's my my 14 year old son, he's infected me. He says turquoist. I'm gonna have to tell him now. He's gonna be proud.
Dariya: [00:07:36] Yeah. You know, my husband's always, like, deliberately mispronouncing things. And now I call, like, quesadilla a quesadillo. You know, I'm, like, so dumb, so dumb.
Bex Scott: [00:07:47] Try this again. Turquoise. Oh my gosh. Yeah. Do you want that one or, I think there's a cream one, right?
Dariya: [00:07:53] I'd probably want the turquoise. Yeah. The cream one's nice, but like. And there's a black one too, I think.
Bex Scott: [00:07:58] Yes. Yeah.
Dariya: [00:08:00] I mean, the black one would be nice for a Halloween display.
Bex Scott: [00:08:02] It would. Yeah.
Dariya: [00:08:04] But I would definitely take the turquoise one.
Bex Scott: [00:08:06] Me too.
Dariya: [00:08:07] Mhm. Just need to thrift one.
Bex Scott: [00:08:09] Oh that would be great.
Dariya: [00:08:11] Right?
Bex Scott: [00:08:11] That would be a start the car moment. I'd push everybody away in the aisles. Give it to me.
Dariya: [00:08:16] Yeah. I must go pay for this.
Bex Scott: [00:08:18] Yeah. And do you have any favorite patterns outside of your holy grail?
Dariya: [00:08:27] I have to say, I mean, I love a lot of the patterns, but my favorite one is the Zodiac one, which is right there. You can see behind me. Yeah. The Zodiac 475 casserole dish. I didn't even know I wanted it, and then my husband surprised me with it for Christmas one year. And it's like, hands down, the best Christmas present ever.
Bex Scott: [00:08:48] No kidding.
Dariya: [00:08:49] I kind of forgot that there was a Zodiac Pyrex available, so when I opened it up for Christmas, I was so excited. And yeah, it's definitely my favorite. Favorite Christmas gift ever.
Bex Scott: [00:08:58] That's a good gift from your husband. He's great at gift giving.
Dariya: [00:09:02] Yeah, he did pretty good. They need to make more of the Zodiac line. I'm, too bad that they didn't, but I can see how the gold is kind of hard and. Mhm.
Bex Scott: [00:09:11] Yeah.
Dariya: [00:09:12] You need that one.
Bex Scott: [00:09:13] Are there any patterns that you really dislike?
Dariya: [00:09:16] I mean I'm not a big fan of the Woodland Pyrex. I know a lot of people like that. I don't mind the lighter brown one, but the dark brown one is like mmm. And then I'm trying to think, there's another brown one I'm not a big fan of.
Bex Scott: [00:09:29] The Old Orchard one?
Dariya: [00:09:30] Yeah. Yeah. The Old Orchard one. Yeah. Other than that I'm like, I don't mind any of the other Pyrex, but the Old Orchard one just grinds my gears.
Bex Scott: [00:09:40] Yeah. It's weird.
Dariya: [00:09:42] Yeah. And I know some people like to exclusively collect that one, but I'm like, no.
Bex Scott: [00:09:47] It must have been, I don't know, it would be interesting to get in the mind of whoever designed that one because--
Dariya: [00:09:54] Right? Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:09:55] Maybe the colors on its own without the design on top would be kind of okay?
Dariya: [00:10:01] But yeah. Yeah, it's that design. I wouldn't mind it so much without the design. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:10:09] And do you use your Pyrex is a big question for collectors.
Dariya: [00:10:12] I'm like 50/50. I use, I have Pyrex, my Pyrex cupboard of items that I use and then my display Pyrex, which is like usually the harder to find or harder to replace pieces I display only. And I don't let my husband or children touch. But yeah, you got like those workhorses people call them. Yeah, I use those and I use my Autumn Harvest set of mixing bowls quite frequently. But yeah. So I'm like 50/50 split.
Bex Scott: [00:10:43] That's how I am as well. I have my pink cabinet that I've actually started to take pieces of it out to let my son, he made banana bread with it yesterday.
Dariya: [00:10:56] Oh, nice.
Bex Scott: [00:10:57] He was very gentle, which is good.
Dariya: [00:10:58] Yeah. Yeah. I've had a few Pyrex explode in the oven, so I'm like, definitely not my, can't put my favorite pieces in the oven. Yeah. Yeah. But I could display with like cookies or something in them.
Bex Scott: [00:11:14] Mhm. I brought home a Bertha, I can't remember which one it was, but my husband used it on the stove top.
Dariya: [00:11:23] Oh no.
Bex Scott: [00:11:23] And I told him to take a video of himself cooking. I didn't know he was going to use it on the stove top. It was going to be like a cooking kind of Pyrex thing. Yeah. And it blew up in the video, and he was doing some kind of roast with wine. And it, in the video, I have to find it and put it on my Instagram.
Dariya: [00:11:41] You will.
Bex Scott: [00:11:42] I know I've talked about it before, but red wine exploded everywhere, all over the ceiling, all over the walls. And he called me and he's like, I did something bad.
Dariya: [00:11:53] Very bad. It was the Big Bertha for me too, but in the oven that exploded. So there must be something with those big Bertha's.
Bex Scott: [00:12:03] Yeah, because they're just too big.
Dariya: [00:12:05] Yeah, and it was, like, pristine condition, too. And, like, I couldn't find any flaw in it, so there must have been just like, some kind of, like, small little hairline crack somewhere or something that I just couldn't see. And yeah. So that's wild that it, but worse for you. Because everywhere, like, at least it was contained in the oven for us.
Bex Scott: [00:12:25] Luckily he had it all cleaned up by the time I got home. And then I was able to find another one like a week later.
Dariya: [00:12:32] Oh thank goodness. Because yeah, I'd be like, I'm not cleaning that up. That was on you.
Bex Scott: [00:12:35] No, no. That's like a hazmat level. Bring somebody in. Clean every surface. Wine everywhere.
Dariya: [00:12:42] Yeah. Yeah, totally. Oh my goodness.
Bex Scott: [00:12:46] What else do you love to collect? I know on your Instagram you have the best taste and your photos are amazing. I always like creeping to see what you have new for me to buy.
Dariya: [00:12:58] I start a new collection somewhere or something. I wrote, I wrote down some of my collections because I was like, I'm going to forget. And even this isn't even all that I collected. There's so much more. But I think, oh, here we go. So I have, I put too much first of all, and then I collect, vintage crewel embroideries, anything like vintage mushroom, like Merry Mushroom, any kind of any groovy mushroom thing. Vintage glass, like swung vases and like glass animals I've kind of starting to get into. Vintage pottery, Lucite flowers, linens, vintage Halloween and Christmas. Vintage brass. Lefton pink poodle chef. And I could go on and on, but like, that's like the main ones.
Bex Scott: [00:13:45] Yeah.
Dariya: [00:13:45] But yeah, like, there's so many. Like any MCM groovy thing I can get my hands on, which is so hard to find where I am.
Bex Scott: [00:13:53] Yeah. No kidding. Especially nice mushroom stuff. I have the worst luck finding it, and whenever I do, it's very overpriced. Or it's broken.
Dariya: [00:14:06] Yeah, yeah, I usually I, yeah, rarely do I find something in the wild anymore. I usually have to buy something for my mushroom collection. Yeah. Oh.
Bex Scott: [00:14:16] And you, what's the word, you crewel. Is that how you say it, you crewel?
Dariya: [00:14:20] Crewel? Yeah, I know my husband always jokes that I'm so cruel to my crewel. I'm like, funny dad joke.
Bex Scott: [00:14:29] And how long have you been doing that for?
Dariya: [00:14:32] I'm trying to. I think I want to say when the pandemic started is when I really started taking it up. And I bought a few kits online to try, and then, yeah, I was just hooked. So that would have been, what, like five years? Six years? No, four years. Four years ish. So four years I've been doing it and yeah, I, I love it. And then I got my mom into it and my sister tried, but she doesn't have the patience for it. So I just make crewels for her. She buys me kits and then I do them up for her. But it's nice because I have like followers that like, keep an eye out for crewel kits for me and I'll, they'll mail them to me and it's awesome.
Bex Scott: [00:15:14] That's fun. Yeah. It's like your own little personal shoppers.
Dariya: [00:15:18] Yeah. They're like, I found this and I thought of you immediately. I was like, perfect. I will take it. Thank you.
Bex Scott: [00:15:26] I started a crewel last year and I still haven't finished it.
Dariya: [00:15:32] I know it's, sometimes I like don't pick it up for a couple days and then I'm like, I need to get back into it. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:15:39] Okay. And what would you say is your all time favorite piece of vintage that you've thrifted?
Dariya: [00:15:44] A Catherine Holm like Turquoise Bowl, and it's probably like the nine inch one for $1. It was like years ago, probably like seven years ago, but it was like my best find ever. And it was sitting in the thrift store window. It was like a small town thrift store, and I could see it from the outside. And I was walking in with my sister in law, and I basically pushed back past her, and I was like, I gotta go, I gotta go, and I grabbed it and yeah, it was a dollar.
Bex Scott: [00:16:13] Oh, wow.
Dariya: [00:16:14] I've never, ever thrifted another Catherine Holm or found one like for that price in the wild before. It was crazy.
Bex Scott: [00:16:21] And did you keep that?
Dariya: [00:16:21] And in amazing shape. Oh, yeah. Yeah. It's upstairs in my room. I'm like, I don't think I could ever part with it just because it was such a good deal.
Bex Scott: [00:16:27] No kidding.
Dariya: [00:16:28] Yeah,
Bex Scott: [00:16:29] I have never. I don't have any Catherine Holm because I'm too scared to start that collection because it's so expensive.
Dariya: [00:16:36] I guess I should say I do have a Catherine Holm collection too, and it is expensive, but I've, like I found. Well, I guess this isn't a thrift find, but it kind of is, it was on Etsy and from a shop in France. I got the green shaker canister sets from Catherine Holm for $20.
Bex Scott: [00:16:57] Wow.
Dariya: [00:16:57] Yeah. And the shipping for here was only $30, so it was like 50 bucks for the set. And usually those are like a couple hundred at least. And it was a brand new in the box, too. They had never been used. So.
Bex Scott: [00:17:08] Do you think they just didn't know what it was?
Dariya: [00:17:11] I think so because most of their stuff in their shop was like teacups and like plates and like that kind of stuff. So this was kind of like something wholly different for them. And it was labeled like enamel shaker set.
Bex Scott: [00:17:23] Oh, yeah.
Dariya: [00:17:24] Or spice set. Yeah. So I was like, oh, wow. And it had been listed for months too. And I just must have searched the right thing. And it came up and I was like, okay, add to cart. And yeah, they were in pristine condition when they arrived. And so that's another Catherine Holm score I had.
Bex Scott: [00:17:40] That's amazing.
Dariya: [00:17:41] Apparently I get some scores with the Catherine Holm.
Bex Scott: [00:17:43] I need your luck. That'd be great. Yeah. I think back to how many things I've sold over the years that I probably didn't know what they were, and somebody got an amazing deal.
Dariya: [00:17:54] Right? Yeah, I think about that too, especially in the early days of reselling, like, oh.
Bex Scott: [00:18:01] Why are 20 people contacting me all at once for this bowl? Oh. That was a mistake.
Dariya: [00:18:07] Yeah. But like, I'm not going to be one of those people who, like, say, oh, I'm going to raise the price. Like, I'll sell it for what I listed it for because that's my loss that I didn't research enough. But I hate it when some people say, yeah, it's available, you can come pick it up and then like an hour later, they're like, oh, apparently I can get more for it. So now I'm starting a bidding war and I'm like, oh no.
Bex Scott: [00:18:27] That's so shifty.
Dariya: [00:18:29] Yeah, it is. Just is. You got to honor that price you give because that's your mistake.
Bex Scott: [00:18:34] Yeah, yeah. There's somebody that did that around my area with some mid-century lamps. And they were the really nice tall ones with, like, the atomic looking.
Dariya: [00:18:44] Oh, yeah. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:18:45] What's it called lamp pole? Yeah, but that's not. It's not a... yeah. Yeah and I wanted to buy them, and then they didn't get back to me, and they were relisted for like, 100 something dollars instead of 20. So.
Dariya: [00:19:02] Yeah. Of course. Yeah. Yeah. That's so annoying. Marketplace sucks for that.
Bex Scott: [00:19:07] It does. It's a fun hunt still, though.
Dariya: [00:19:10] So it is. Yeah. Yeah. There's still gems to be found.
Bex Scott: [00:19:12] Yeah. What would you say you know the most about in all of your collecting journey?
Dariya: [00:19:21] Probably Pyrex, because it's the oldest collection I have. And then crewel embroidery and vintage linens would be like second. But I'm slowly learning more and more about vintage glass and how many different, like, vintage glass. Like whether it's Scandinavian or American glass. I'm still slowly learning more about that, which is kind of my goal, because there's just so much to learn about and know about. Same with, like, pottery. Vintage pottery.
Bex Scott: [00:19:52] Oh, yeah.
Dariya: [00:19:52] Canadian pottery. There's some really great pottery pieces out there, so I'm kind of starting to learn more. Watch some, like Whatnot pottery shows and like, learn more about the designers and stuff. So that's like kind of my goal to learn more about vintage pottery and glass.
Bex Scott: [00:20:10] That's something that I've wanted to learn about as well, because I see so much pottery when I go thrifting. And then I look at the bottom and there's some artist signature, and then I get overwhelmed and yeah, I can't Google Lens it, so I give up.
Dariya: [00:20:24] Yeah, yeah. Same. So I'm like I try and go with my gut. Sometimes my gut like is wrong and I leave something behind. And then I'm like, I shouldn't have left that. But yeah, but yeah, if it's nice and cute I'll still buy it. Just got to imagine if it's going to stay in my house for a while or if it's going to go.
Bex Scott: [00:20:41] Yeah.
Dariya: [00:20:42] Yeah. But Strawberry Hill Pottery I'm really liking.
Bex Scott: [00:20:46] Oh yeah I think I've seen that.
Dariya: [00:20:47] Their designs are gorgeous. Yeah, I got a mouse off of Marketplace. Cute. And then I found a bluebird on Whatnot, and it was, like, only $10 on Whatnot, so I was like, oh, I'll take that.
Bex Scott: [00:21:01] Yeah, I'll have to look that up. Bluebirds, all the little, the Lefton and the Norcrest bluebirds.
Dariya: [00:21:09] Yeah. You'd like this one because it's really pretty and it's kind of got that Bluebird vibe.
Bex Scott: [00:21:15] Nice. And you mentioned vintage linens. I love vintage linens as well.
Dariya: [00:21:20] I know I bought some many a linen from you.
Bex Scott: [00:21:26] Oh, it's always exciting when you find the really brightly colored, like, great condition ones. I see so many that are faded or you think they're good, and then you start opening them and there's weird stains and holes, and...
Dariya: [00:21:38] It's because they always have them in their garages. I go to a garage sale and they've got the pretty Wabasso sheets hung over their like, garage furniture, and I'm just like, I'll buy that. Like, I really like that. And I'll say like, oh, I use that on my bed right now. And they're like, why? I'm like, yeah, that's it's cute.
Bex Scott: [00:21:55] Yeah, I'll buy your painting dropcloth that's on your garage floor.
Dariya: [00:22:00] Exactly. Like how dare you? They're just looking at me like I'm crazy. Yeah. I have so many linens.
Bex Scott: [00:22:09] And do they have specific pattern names? Because I don't know a lot about them. But are there patterns that are more sought after or...?
Dariya: [00:22:17] Usually like the brand. Like, I know there are pattern names, but I can't remember off the top of my head, but like Wabasso like with the groovy floral daisies and stuff like that. And they come in different color schemes and in the rainbow. I can't remember the brand, but the rainbow, 80s rainbow sheets, they got really famous after Stranger Things.
Bex Scott: [00:22:37] Right! Yeah.
Dariya: [00:22:37] Yeah. So those are always like pretty sought after and higher end items. But yeah, I always just, anything groovy-ish, floral, like a rainbow, I always grab and my closet is overflowing with linens. But I use them and they're great. Honestly, they're great sheets.
Bex Scott: [00:22:58] Mhm. I remember finding a set at the Salvation Army and I took them up to the till and the lady was like, why would you want to buy these? I remember these from when I was a teenager and they're so ugly. I was like, well thanks.
Dariya: [00:23:11] Yeah. But not everyone thinks they're ugly because people are still buying them.
Bex Scott: [00:23:15] Yeah, I'm going to use these and I'm going to love them.
Dariya: [00:23:17] Yes. Give them a life. And I like how people upcycle with them, too, even if they're, you know, they may not be perfect to use anymore on the bed, but like, they can upcycle and make bags out of them and stuff, so it's great.
Bex Scott: [00:23:29] Yeah. Or the, I asked my mom if she could take an old vintage towel and make, like, shorts or a hoodie for me, I love that.
Dariya: [00:23:39] I bought a vintage towel shirt from someone in Calgary and it's so awesome. Like, and it's so cute and comfy in the summertime too. And yeah, I've even seen, like, bucket hats.
Bex Scott: [00:23:50] Oh, that would be nice too.
Dariya: [00:23:52] And there's someone on Instagram, I think it was Thrifters Delight on Instagram who took towel scraps and glued them to her vans. So then they looked like towel shoes.
Bex Scott: [00:24:03] That's awesome.
Dariya: [00:24:03] They're, and it was like, I'm not making it sound great, but it's like amazing looking. Like, you'll have to look it up too. I want to try that someday.
Bex Scott: [00:24:12] Yeah. I saw somebody on Instagram who took old, like, Disney duvets and made them into little jackets.
Dariya: [00:24:19] Yeah, like little puffer jackets and stuff. They're like $350. I need to be talented enough to sew myself, but I am not. Home Ec was not my strong point.
Bex Scott: [00:24:31] Neither. No. Oh, yeah. I remember doing Home Ec with my friend and her sewing machine caught on fire, and I think that was the end of it for me. I was like, nope, I'm not sewing.
Dariya: [00:24:41] Yeah, yeah. No, I would not either. Well, that was with me and IE class like first day teacher left me with the bandsaw and I nearly sliced my finger off and I had to go to the hospital and get stitches.
Bex Scott: [00:24:53] Oh that's scary.
Dariya: [00:24:54] I never went back into that class again. I was exempt.
Bex Scott: [00:25:00] Almost lost a limb. Exempt.
Dariya: [00:25:02] Yeah, yeah. They're like, she's not allowed in there.
Bex Scott: [00:25:05] Yeah. Oh, and do you decorate your house with your vintage finds?
Dariya: [00:25:12] Oh, yes. My husband built me a bunch of, like, floating shelves for the living room. So I have, like, six shelves, and they're honestly, they're, like, filled to the brim, but they look good.
Bex Scott: [00:25:22] That's amazing.
Dariya: [00:25:23] And, yeah, like, all my walls, I have, like, a mushroom gallery wall and, yeah, everywhere and anywhere I can get a little collection in and it's kind of fun too, because while I buy finished crewels, I also do a lot of the kits up myself, so I'm slowly adding to my wall each year. So it's like kind of like I can be proud of the decor because it's kind of something I'm doing on my own. So yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:25:49] That's awesome.
Dariya: [00:25:50] Yeah, it changes every year.
Bex Scott: [00:25:52] Yeah. And then you can see the progress you've made, especially with the crewels. What it started off with and then...
Dariya: [00:25:57] Yeah, I was like, oh I can't believe I did that at the beginning. Oh yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:26:05] And how have you found reselling so far? I know that you've been reselling for quite a while, right?
Dariya: [00:26:12] Yeah. When my first son was born, I kind of started not too long after he was born, I want to say, yeah, a few months. I just, like, I've always, like, loved buying vintage and then I kind of caught the bug to do a bit of reselling. And since I wasn't working anymore, it was kind of my way of like, earning my own money because, I mean, it was like, obviously my husband's money is my money too. But I wanted like, my own little squirrel nest for fun money and stuff like that. So that's kind of how I started. And I've just, yeah, I've really enjoyed doing it. It's been pretty good. I mean, it always has, I notice, like, it slows down and then it gets busy again. And, but that's kind of how I roll too, because I just list and post when I have the time. So, yeah, Christmas time is always nice and busy.
Bex Scott: [00:27:04] Yeah. And it's fun finding all the little gifts you think people would like to buy in the Christmas decor.
Dariya: [00:27:10] Yeah, yeah. I've had a couple times where I don't, I don't know if I pronounce this right, but Aritzia? Or is that, did I say that right? The clothing brand? Well, they bought some brass pieces from me, so.
Bex Scott: [00:27:24] Oh, really?
Dariya: [00:27:24] So I ship it to them. So that was fun.
Bex Scott: [00:27:26] That's really cool.
Dariya: [00:27:27] Yeah. I've always wanted, like, a movie set or something to buy something for me. So I was like, I'll take this.
Bex Scott: [00:27:31] That's awesome.
Dariya: [00:27:33] Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:27:34] I had a movie set buy an ice bucket from me once.
Dariya: [00:27:37] Ooh that's exciting.
Bex Scott: [00:27:38] And I can't remember what show it went into. It was a Netflix show, but that was the only thing that went somewhere else.
Dariya: [00:27:45] Still so exciting. Yeah. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:27:50] Nice. And where can people find you to buy your items?
Dariya: [00:27:55] Instagram. Etsy though I'm kind of solely, just I think I'm going to slowly be closing up on Etsy soon and focusing on other areas. I started on eBay and then Whatnot, of course, and Knickknacks as well. Starting kind of there. It's a lot. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:28:14] Yeah. I signed up to sell on knickknacks, and I haven't done anything with it yet.
Dariya: [00:28:19] Yeah, I've done a couple shows. It's great, but it's just, yeah, one more thing for me to try and balance. So, I mean, once all the kids are in school and stuff, I can focus a bit more on online. But, yeah and then I do a few markets. I co-host a vintage market a couple times a year at Fika Coffee House in Camrose. We have like a backyard market. So yeah, you should come do it sometime.
Bex Scott: [00:28:42] Yeah, I would love to.
Dariya: [00:28:42] We have one this Saturday, so that's our last one of the year. And then I do an occasional market in Edmonton as well, but I'm mostly online for now. Just works perfectly for my schedule.
Bex Scott: [00:28:54] Yeah. Yeah. Online is great. I, usually I started with Facebook Marketplace and then went to Whatnot and Poshmark and I used to sell a ton on Poshmark and I've kind of just let it die off. But I've gotten a few sales lately that were just out of the blue. Maybe I should go back on there.
Dariya: [00:29:17] I know, yeah, like I get a random sale or two on Poshmark, but I'm like not too focused on it anymore, but it's kind of where I put like my last chance items, I guess. Yeah, yeah, yeah, but I'm enjoying eBay, actually. I don't know why it took me so long to try it out, but yeah, I had a vintage toy collection on consignment. So I was like, well, I'll try eBay because that kind of seems like the place to do it.
Bex Scott: [00:29:41] It's good for toys.
Dariya: [00:29:42] And it's been, yeah, it's been good, so I'm liking it.
Bex Scott: [00:29:45] I might have to pick your brain about eBay, because I've always been too scared to try it out.
Dariya: [00:29:49] Yeah. Me too for some reason, I don't know why. And it's actually really easy. So. And yeah, so I think I'm going to start moving my Etsy listings over to eBay and close out my Etsy shop. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:30:01] So is your handle the same across all platforms? Thrifty Fox Shop?
Dariya: [00:30:06] Yeah. Yeah.
Bex Scott: [00:30:07] Perfect. So everybody can find you on all of those.
Dariya: [00:30:10] Yes, exactly. Make it easy.
Bex Scott: [00:30:14] And do you have any closing remarks or tips or tricks for people who want to get into vintage collecting or reselling?
Dariya: [00:30:24] For reselling I say like, focus on the things that you're passionate about, because again, when you're reselling, you can tell whether you're passionate about something or if it's just something that you just picked up to sell, and it makes a difference. And because I always, I'm very picky about what I buy to resell, because I have to like it myself in order to resell it, so I'm very picky that way. But then it kind of like makes you form your shop personality, right? So you're known for selling this or, you know, mid-century modern items or kitschy items or, and you don't have to stay within those parameters, but like, that's like the main focus. And I think that helps a lot too, in gaining followers.
Bex Scott: [00:31:08] Yeah I agree.
Dariya: [00:31:10] Yeah. And for collecting I, honestly just collect what you love. Like some people say that they want to stay in a certain like type, like boho or, you know, and I'm like, I'm all over the place. I'm mid-century modern, I'm kitschy, I'm boho. I'm like all kinds of different. And so it's just like, collect what you love, decorate how you love to decorate. Like, I always get like, oh, but like, what about the resale value of your house? And I'm like, I don't care.
Bex Scott: [00:31:38] Yeah, this is what I love. I'm going to do it.
Dariya: [00:31:41] Yeah. This is what makes me happy and I'm going to paint my house a certain color to match my vintage decor. And it's, yeah, that's, I don't know why people have to live in a box and not decorate or anything. Just.
Bex Scott: [00:31:53] Yeah, exactly.
Dariya: [00:31:54] Decorate how you want, buy what you want. You'll be happy for it.
Bex Scott: [00:31:59] I agree with all of those points. Yeah, yeah. Perfect. Well, thank you so much for being on the show today. And everybody make sure you go find Dariya on all of the platforms she mentioned at the Thrifty Fox Shop.
Dariya: [00:32:15] Awesome. And I'll see you on Whatnot again.
Bex Scott: [00:32:17] Yes. Sounds good.
Dariya: [00:32:19] This Sunday actually.
Bex Scott: [00:32:20] Yeah. It's coming up fast.
Dariya: [00:32:21] Yeah. Got to get prepared.
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| 15 Mar 2024 | 1971 Betty Crocker Recipe Index | 00:11:51 | |
Bex Scott announces a surprise in this episode. She found a Betty Crocker recipe cad library from 1971 in one of her Value Village thrifting trips, which is exciting enough in itself! But, inspired by her husband Rex, she is going to now cook something randomly chosen by Rex from the recipe card library every week. How can you join in the fun? That’s what this episode is all about. Bex describes the 24 different sections of the Betty Crocker recipe card library and how she and Rex will go through the categories starting at the beginning with ‘Seasonal Favorites’. Rex chose a card at random and Bex reads through the two recipes the card reveals, choosing one to make. Her efforts in recreating the recipe will be documented in a new feature on her Instagram - @PyrexWithBex - and the actual result of her cooking will be judged by husband Rex and their two sons, ages 13 and 10. The recipe Bex is challenged to cook for this feature is revealed in this episode and you can join in and cook along with her, using your own Pyrex to do so. Just like Bex will be doing for all of you. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast, where you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:31] Hey, everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. On today's episode, I am going to announce a little bit of a surprise. I have a new segment that I am going to be adding to my podcast and my Instagram account. And this is all thanks to my wonderful husband. His name is Rob, but he likes to go by his stage name Rex for purposes of the podcast. And if you listen to one of my previous episodes where I spoke to the husband of a Pyrex collector, it was actually Rex, my husband, and he is my biggest supporter with my vintage collecting and reselling, and he has lovingly agreed to be the star of this next segment. So I came across, in Value Village, a Betty Crocker recipe card library from 1971, and I was talking to Rex about how I was going to be recording my next podcast episode and I was going to originally go through some of the 1950s Chatelaine magazines that I have. And he said to me, kind of in passing, I hope you don't bring up any of the jello salad seafood rings that you've been talking about. And we both agreed that these jello seafood ring recipes are so disgusting.
Bex Scott: [00:01:59] I've actually heard, though, that people think they're delicious, and this got us talking about doing this cooking idea together. And I don't do any of the cooking in our house - full disclosure, I love baking but I've never been one to cook - so Rob or Rex, he is an amazing cook, our kids love his food, so I thought I would turn the tables and every week choose one of these random 1970s recipes from the Betty Crocker recipe card library. And it'll be totally random. I'm going to have him choose the card on video, so you can follow along on my Instagram @PyrexWithBex and whatever he chooses, I will cook to the best of my abilities, and then he will test it out and our boys will as well. The 13 year old and a ten year old, as well as our 16 month old daughter. But she won't be having any of the food. Well, maybe she will. She might even like it. But they're going to be my test subjects and I will reveal what it looks like, the reaction, all on my Instagram feed.
Bex Scott: [00:03:14] So a little bit of backstory on the Betty Crocker recipe card library. It says, here is your handy comprehensive index to your complete Betty Crocker recipe card library. Spend a few minutes browsing through it to get an idea of the range of your recipe card library, particularly the many unexpected treats in store for you. Some of them are great. I've done a little bit of a browse through and I think my husband should be a bit worried, not just because of my cooking ability, but because of some of the recipes in here. This index has been designed to fit your recipe card file, and then it goes into, although the index cannot be completely useful until you have received all 24 decks of cards, we felt that it would be helpful for you to get the fullest enjoyment out of the categories you have already received, as well as give you a preview of many good things to come. So after I read that, I realized that this was actually part of a monthly subscription where I think that you purchased either the box or the cards, and they sent a new set of cards to you every month, something similar to that. So if anybody else has this or had it in the past when it was actually freshly coming out, let me know because I'm super interested. It has 24 different sections and they're all alphabetized, so you would receive one section at a time and they are Seasonal favorites, American classics, Budget casseroles, Salads for every occasion, Men's favorites - ooh, that's going to be my favorite section - Children's parties, Come for coffee, Entertaining on a shoestring, Dessert spectaculars, International favorites, Recipes for calorie counters, Gifts from your kitchen - oh no, I don't think anybody wants a gift from my kitchen if I'm cooking - Snacks around the clock, Favorite family desserts, Fondues, Crowd size entertaining, Convenient oven meals, Outdoor entertaining, Hurry up main dishes, Impromptu party fare, Family breakfast brighteners, Gala menus from the Betty Crocker dining room, Foods that go places - interesting - and Recipes children can make.
Bex Scott: [00:05:31] So those are the categories that we have to choose from. And I had Rex choose one of them randomly from - we're starting at the beginning, so letter A - Seasonal favorites. And what he chose is 'Ways with Squash'. And it looks like, I don't even know what it looks like. There's a picture on the front and it's some kind of glazed squash situation. Squash and apple bake. Okay, so there's two recipes on the back. One) 2 pound butter nut or butter cup squash. Half a cup of brown sugar, packed. A quarter cup butter or margarine, melted. One tablespoon of flour. One teaspoon of salt. Half a teaspoon of mace. Two baking apples, cored and cut into half inch slices. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut each squash in half. Remove seeds and fibers. Pear squash, cut into half inch slices. Stir together remaining ingredients except apple slices. Arrange squash in ungreased baking dish. Top with apple slices. Sprinkle sugar mixture on top. Cover with foil. Bake 50 to 60 minutes or until squash is tender. Six servings.
Bex Scott: [00:06:51] The next one is Squash Gourmet) 3 pounds of Hubbard squash. Two tablespoons of butter or margarine. One cup of dairy sour cream. Half a cup of finely chopped onion. One teaspoon of salt and a quarter teaspoon of pepper. Cut squash into serving pieces. Remove seeds, fibers and rind. Cut into cubes. Heat one inch salted water, half a teaspoon salt to one cup water, to boiling. Add squash. Cover and heat to boiling. Cook 15 to 20 minutes or until tender. Drain. Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mash squash. Stir in remaining ingredients. Turn mixture into ungreased one quart casserole. Bake uncovered 20 to 30 minutes. 6 to 8 servings. So, based on the two recipes we have here, I think the first one is a little bit too tame and something that seems pretty familiar. So I think we're going to go with Squash Gourmet for my dear old Rex, and I can't wait to let you guys know how it goes.
Bex Scott: [00:07:53] So as I was digging around in the recipe index, I also came across a card that says how to plan the meals your family needs for glowing health, not just regular health, this is glowing health. It says 'the right kind of meals in good living habits can bring a glow to complexions, sheen to hair, health and good cheer to your whole family's outlook. Serving foods from the basic four food groups helps you with this important job. Basic four food groups: Start by planning every day's meals to include the amounts given below in every group for every member of your family. Meat: two or more servings, poultry, fish, eggs, peanut butter, dried beans or peas. Vegetables and fruits: four or more servings, one dark green or yellow vegetable every other day and one citrus fruit every day. Milk: 2 or more cups for adults, 3 or 4 cups for children and teenagers, including cheese and ice cream'. Ooh, ice cream. That's good. It's in the food groups. 'Breads and cereals: 4 or more servings. Make sure they are whole grain enriched, restored or fortified. Fat, sweets, and extra servings from the four groups provide additional food energy and other food values'. I really like how they justify the fat, sweets, and extra servings. 'To help you keep your family healthy, we've written a new book, How to Feed Your Family for Health and Happiness, No Matter What, look for it, won't you?' That's a cute little card. It really inspires me to keep going on this journey. And also, I'd like to mention that I will be using my Pyrex when I cook. So we usually use the Homestead and the Black Snowflake dishes on a daily basis for serving and cooking and baking. So those will be showing up in my videos, and I'm also going to try and incorporate a few of the other pieces that I have that are mostly either on display or might be in boxes right now, just to add that extra Pyrex element to it.
Bex Scott: [00:09:58] And if any of you would like to make the recipes with me, feel free to find the full recipe in written format in the show notes, and please let me know if you do decide to cook them and if you enjoy or don't enjoy any of them, because you'll definitely be hearing the feedback from Rex and my family. But I'd love to hear feedback from you as well. And as a side note, this wasn't my idea that I came up with. I have seen multiple other people on Instagram and on the internet do this with their partners or spouses or family, and it looked like so much fun that I thought I would give it a try with my family. So let me know if you have any recipe suggestions in between these as well. If you have a family member that had a beloved recipe, I know that when I went to family dinners with my grandparents, ambrosia salad was always on the table, especially at family reunions. There's also a Best of Bridge potato recipe that my mom makes every now and then that has cream of mushroom soup and little hash browns in it. I can't remember the exact name of it, but that one has always been a favorite of my kids and myself. And I hope you enjoy following along on this new segment, and I hope to see you on my Instagram @PyrexWithBex.
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| 19 Jan 2024 | The Rarest Pyrex | 00:19:25 | |
It’s all about rare, hard-to-find, and one-of-a-kind Pyrex pieces on the show today. Bex Scott dares to wade into often-times controversial waters to discuss some of the rarest Pyrex that collectors avidly pursue. Personal feelings on what is rare and what is hard to find may vary, but these pieces are all frequently difficult to find and coveted by Pyrex lovers. Bex focuses in-depth on eight so-called Pyrex Unicorns based on an article from WorthPoint. The article says that scarcity of Pyrex depends on “condition, popularity, whether it’s a complete set, a pattern in unusual colors and shapes, a trading stamp exclusive, or a test piece or prototype” and by those laid-out guidelines Bex talks about everything from the beloved Lucky in Love pattern to the Blue Dianthus to the Starburst Cinderella serving casserole. She shares facts about how certain test pieces came by their names and what colors are most infrequently found. She also lists some rare pieces that real collectors have found in the wild. Collectors all have favorite patterns and pieces, and definitions on rarity may vary, but all can agree that the Pyrex gems in this episode are truly unique and worthy of hunting down. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast, where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:31] Hey everybody, this is Bex Scott and you're listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. On today's episode, we are going to talk about a topic that is a little bit scary to me. I am by no means a Pyrex expert. I'm an avid collector. I love learning about it. And today I thought I would talk a little bit about rare and hard to find Pyrex pieces. Now, this is a topic that I know has gotten a lot of people in trouble on Facebook groups while talking to other collectors and kind of voicing their opinions on whether they think something is rare or hard to find. And I myself once asked in a popular Facebook group what the difference was between something that's rare, something that's hard to find, and something that's like a one of a kind. And the post caused so much trouble that the owner of the group had to take it down. And it just goes to show that there are true definitions of what is rare, hard to find, and one of a kind and what people believe it to be.
Bex Scott: [00:01:43] And what kind of sparked this podcast episode was an article that I found on Worthpoint. So most of the information that I'm going to be talking about is based on this article. So it may or may not be true. Take it with a grain of salt. But I did learn a ton from reading it and digging through the different parts of what they talked about in this article. And it's called Pyrex Unicorns: Eight Elusive Patterns Collectors Pursue. So factors that affect rarity, this is the first part of the article that they talk about. And it says "the scarcity of Pyrex pieces depends on several factors: condition, popularity, whether it's a complete set or if it's a pattern in unusual colors and shapes, a trading stamp program exclusive, or a test piece or prototype that wasn't produced. Some patterns that were promotional pieces or didn't appear on any standard production dishes weren't given an official name. So as these pieces have been discovered, collectors have made up names for them" and they give the example of the Golden Thistle. And this is something that's really cool to me because I actually didn't know this. I know that most of the Pyrex pieces out there have names, and that they were given these names at production, but it's really interesting to read that collectors have given other pieces names over the years.
Bex Scott: [00:03:16] Other patterns, like Angelfish, that was a name that was given by collectors. So it says, according to Shiny Happy Pyrex People, a site that I'm new to after reading this article, it's actually really cool. So head over to Shiny Happy Pyrex People, she has a book that you can buy, but she also has informational blogs that you can read, and she talks about her Pyrex friends and collectors that she knows who have found these rare, one of a kind pieces. They send her pictures and then she talks a little bit about them. So if you're interested in the really cool, kind of less known about pieces, check out her site. So it says "a site that documents rare finds, this 475 angel dish was found in New York in 2022, and it's only the second known dish of its kind". It says as well that there is an alternate color of gold on white that was discovered in 2021.
Bex Scott: [00:04:21] Next up in the article, they go into the eight patterns that collectors dream about, and the first one is Lucky in Love. This is one that I'm sure all avid Pyrex collectors know of, and it says that it's elusive because it was either a test or limited production piece. And according to the article, the price for it ranges between $1,800 to $9,000. And just a reminder, this is just what I'm reading from the article, what I've learned through my research, so it may or may not be accurate. So it says "nearly everyone in the Pyrex collecting community agrees that the most elusive piece ever created is the number 473 Lucky in Love casserole dish from 1959". It has little pastel pink hearts and green clovers and was a prototype. There's also a prototype of this dish without the pink hearts as well. And several of these have sold for four figures, including over $4,000 in 2015, $5,994 in a Goodwill auction in 2017, $9,000 in 2018, and $6,700 in 2019. And it was so loved by Pyrex enthusiasts that the company reissued it in 2018 as a modern pattern on clear glass in darker colors.
Bex Scott: [00:05:51] Next up we have the Blue Dianthus piece, and this one is pretty cool because I remember not too long ago in one of the Pyrex groups that I am a part of, somebody mentioned that they found one of the blue Dianthas Cinderella bowls at their local goodwill for something like $6.99, and if in fact it was true, which I'm sure it was, that would be a once in a lifetime find and super amazing for them to have that in their collection. So the Blue Dianthus remained a mystery until 2014, when a collector acquired a boxed set from the estate of a Corning employee. I went on to the Pyrex passion site and found an article from March 19th, 2014 talking a little bit about this Blue Dianthus, and it says that it in fact was produced as a sales test piece in 1963. And they discovered this because a collector acquired numerous vintage Pyrex items from the estate of a 50 year employee of Corning. And this is all information from the Pyrex Passion website, and one of the items they purchased was the three piece 480 casserole set in the original box. The box reveals the date of production as 1963. It shows that Blue Dianthus was a sales test pattern, so this was considered a Pyrex mystery that had been solved. And if you go to the Pyrex Passion website, you can see that there is a photo courtesy of a Flickr member, and it's the box with the stamp. It says 480 of one sales test. Kind of an awesome piece of history to see.
Bex Scott: [00:07:40] So for those of you who have never seen the Blue Dianthus, it came in the Cinderella bowls 441, 42, 43, 44 and the 483 piece casserole set 473, 74 and 75. Based on the backstamp, items dated before 1974, which we know it was now produced in 1963. So for those of you who haven't seen the Blue Dianthus before, it featured a blue floral design on opal that resembled the dianthas, which is why it was given its unofficial name by collectors. And the pattern is on pieces in blue on white and then there's a reversed white pattern on blue as well.
Bex Scott: [00:08:25] Next up is the Duchess casserole set, which is hands down my unicorn Holy Grail piece. And this was a promotional piece with prices ranging from $520 to $4,326. It was produced in small numbers and was made as a hostess party gift for Stanley Home Products. The set includes a Cinderella casserole with a matching lid and a warming stand. It featured gold flowers on a pink background, and it included a Perk King coffee pot with a warming stand, a sugar and creamer set with a holder, a juice carafe, and glasses in three sizes. And so far, the only thing I have of this set is four of the juice glasses. I found them when we were in Portland, Maine for my cousin's wedding in the summer and I was so excited to find them. It was hands down a no-brainer to purchase them, but one day I will definitely need to find this Duchess casserole. Next up we have the Eyes chip and dip set. It says price range $56 to $1,476. If I found this set for $56, I think I would, I wouldn't even know what to say. $56 is crazy. So it says Eyes circa 1950 to 1959, is another pattern name made up by collectors and is also known as Atomic Eyes. It's a turquoise and white design, and it was one of the first hot and cold chip and dip sets. Some of the bowls have a Pyrex stamp, while others are unmarked. The pattern was also printed on a coffee carafe in gold and a juice pitcher with a turquoise lid, which can sell for hundreds, as can individual bowls. And this is one that I've seen pop up in collectors groups quite often. Never in the wild. I've never seen it here. It is an amazing set though.
Bex Scott: [00:10:31] Next up we have Gypsy Caravan mixing bowls and it says here the Gypsy Caravan bowls are valuable and seldom seen. There's a picture of one that a collector has. "This large mixing bowl with the fanciful horses sold in 2023 for $4,750", and this one is believed to be a prototype or promotional item, ranging from $2,500 to $4,750. And this is another example of a pattern that was given its name by collectors. It didn't appear on any standard production bowls, and it's believed to have been made between 1968 and 1971. For those of you who have never seen one, it's red on a white background with a horse and a caravan, and it can be found as a one and a half quart bowl, a 442 and a four quart bowl, a 444. So the bigger bowl's design has a horse in fancy attire, and a complete set is a holy grail for sure. It says that there's record of only one selling in 2019 for $5,010.
Bex Scott: [00:11:48] Next we have the Hex Signs casseroles, and this was made as a promotional item and was also given its name by collectors. Says prices range from $10 to $4,050. It was manufactured between 1958 and 1960, and it has alternating snowflake-like symbols with leaf circle symbols, and it can be found on a tan 404 bowl with a rack and a clear lid, and the 473 and 475 Cinderella casserole dishes in gold on white and a white 475 Cinderella casserole with the design in turquoise. The 475 casseroles had clear lids with gold and turquoise patterns that matched their corresponding design colors. Lids alone can sell for $100 or more. Particularly scarce is the 475 Cinderella casserole in white and turquoise, with a matching under plate that collectors especially seek. Huh? They don't have a picture of the under plate here, but I bet that would be a really neat set to see together.
Bex Scott: [00:12:57] Next up we have the Pink Stems casserole. Little is known about Pink Stems, and it says that the one that they have pictured in this article sold in 2023 for $2,399. It's elusive because it was a promotional item, and according to the article, prices range from $300 to $2,399. It was released in 1962 and including whether it has an official name, collectors gave it this moniker. This pattern of white, leafy stems on a pink background has only ever been found on an oval 043 with a large, clear glass lid and cradle. Next up we have the Starburst Cinderella serving casserole. This is one that I've seen a lot of arguments break out over on Facebook as well, because there are collectors who have 6 or 7 of these, and there are the people who that seems to aggravate because they don't have any. But I think it's awesome if you can afford to buy 6 or 7 of them, and this is your jam, and you want to collect the Starburst Cinderella all day long, I say go for it. Because if I could, I definitely would as well. This one was a promotional item and it says prices range from $275 to $4,000. And you know where I am in Alberta these ones sell for around $1,200 Canadian. And that's without the stand. So better known by its unofficial name Starburst or Atomic Starburst, Pyrex released the Cinderella serving casserole in 1960 and produced it for only a year. It has become one of the most wanted Pyrex patterns. It's the iconic mid-century 575 two quart space saver casserole, and it originally came with a cradle, double candle holder and clear glass lid. And it came in three colors, black, cream and tan, and turquoise. And I can't decide which one I prefer. I think it's probably going to be the black. Each was decorated with an atomic gold starburst. The rarest color of the three is the cream, as only a few are known to exist, but collectors most prized the classic turquoise. That wraps up the Worthpoint portion of the article, where they went through the eight rare dishes that they thought were coveted by collectors.
Bex Scott: [00:15:41] Next, I thought I would go quickly through a fun section on the Shiny Happy Pyrex People site where they talk about the rare finds in the wild as of December 3rd, 2022. So it's a little bit outdated, but it's pretty fun to see what people have been finding. It says "the good news for all of us is that rares and hard to finds are still being found in unknowing thrift stores and antique stores for great prices, and there are still new Pyrex shapes, sizes and patterns being discovered". The first one is the Green Foulard, found in August 2022. Next up there is a Brittany Yellow quiche dish. I think I prefer this one over the Brittany Blue dish found in August 2022 as well. This one's pretty cool: Pink Grapes 441. I've never been a huge fan of the Grapes dishes, but I think if I had the pink set, I would definitely display that one. Next up is a 404 Woodland found in October of 2022 in the UK. A prototype Red Heinz hostess-like dish found in October 2022 as well. This one's really cool because it does look like the Green Heinz dish, but it has the red color and shape of the hostess dish with the hostess looking lid. Next up is the Clouds space saver, found in October of 2022. This one always reminds me of what you might see on the wall in a baby's room. It's like baby blue with little clouds and stars.
Bex Scott: [00:17:28] 441 Bright Stripes found in November of 2022. A Zodiac chop plate. Super cool. It has little zodiac signs with the starburst in the middle, found November 2022. The 475 Angelfish found in New York. As I mentioned before, this is the second one known and a third alternate gold on white was found as well in 2021. This one I really like. It's a really nice light blue color with the Angelfish and a ton of detail on it. And to finish off, the last one is an 043 Pink Tulip, and it looks like it's actually gold tulips on the pink background. And this one was found in November of 2022.
Bex Scott: [00:18:20] So I hope you guys have enjoyed this episode talking about the rare, hard to find, and one of a kind Pyrex pieces. I know this can be a bit of a difficult subject, depending on people's opinions and what information is still being found out there by collectors today, but I hope that you enjoy your hunt. I know I'll always be on the lookout for maybe one day being able to find one of these one of a kind pieces out in the wild. And I'll keep adding to my collection. And I'd love to know if any of you have any of these pieces in yours. Feel free to find me on Instagram at Pyrex with Bex. Thanks, everybody!
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| 24 Nov 2023 | A Vintage Christmas with Bex | 00:27:07 | |
Bex Scott is ready for Christmas and talks about her favorite Christmas traditions, collecting vintage decorations, and the beautiful vintage Pyrex Christmas pieces she loves and is searching for. Bex shares cute throwback ad copy - with mind-blowing vintage pricing - and investigates rare Corning employee gift holiday designs worth seeking. Some of Bex’s Christmas memories were made by watching her mom decorate their tree with vintage decorations passed down from her mother and grandmother. Holiday music and decor started in November when she was little, and it’s something she still enjoys. Now, though, Bex has the added pleasure of adding to her own vintage and Pyrex holiday piece collection. She describes the excitement of finding a Red 024 Holiday Casserole from 1960 in the wild and how she immediately snapped it up. Pyrex didn’t make a lot of holiday pieces but the ones they did make are rare, charming, and unique. Fellow enthusiasts and collectors will love exploring the festive vintage designs with Bex in this holiday episode. Resources discussed in this episode:
— Contact Rebecca Scott | Pyrex With Bex: — Transcript Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat.
Bex Scott: [00:00:30] Hey everybody, this is Bex Scott and you're listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. On today's episode, I'll be chatting all about Christmas. That includes Christmas themed Pyrex, some of the traditions that I had with my family as a kid, and just everything that I love about the season. So growing up, my family, especially my mom, really loved Christmas, and November would roll around and Christmas carols would be playing. She would start decorating right after Halloween ended, and I remember growing up, I wasn't super excited about having Christmas carols playing that early, but now I absolutely love it. And I've become a little bit like that where Christmas starts early in our house, for me at least, where I'm humming Christmas songs, I'm starting to play them on the radio, and I'm thinking about decorating the house. And this year especially, I've gotten really into vintage Christmas. And growing up I remember my mom had all of her granny's and her mom's Christmas decorations on our tree. They were super delicate little vintage Christmas balls and lights, and they were some of the most beautiful ornaments that we had and my mom still has.
Bex Scott: [00:01:50] So every year when we go over to their house to decorate their big tree, I see the little vintage ones and pull them out and of course, there's still some that my brother and I have made over the years. There's some with sprinkles, some with markers, and they're definitely not the highest quality decorations, but they still have a place on that tree, which is really amazing. So I've kicked off Christmas this year with a ton of vintage Christmas shopping, and I should probably cut myself off at some point. But I was looking on Facebook Marketplace and there was a lady selling her full mid-century Christmas decoration collection. She was selling just the regular part of her collection as well, which included a ton of Holt Howard and Lefton and everything. Unfortunately, I didn't buy that portion of it, but I did buy the Christmas side, which I'm still unboxing. And the reason I've gotten so big into buying the Christmas this year is because I have a huge Christmas sale coming up. I've recently started selling on Whatnot. If you haven't heard of Whatnot, you should check it out, but beware, it is super dangerous because it's very easy to shop on there. So essentially, Whatnot is a platform where you can download it on your phone or on your desktop, and sellers go on there live and it's a live auction and a live sale.
Bex Scott: [00:03:23] So you're talking to the buyers and chatting and they're writing comments and purchasing from you while you're showing all the items that you have. So I have this big Christmas sale coming up, and it's going to include a ton of the little vintage flocked deer and Santas and elves, as well as ceramics. And I'm going to even be selling a ceramic Christmas tree. So that's one of the things I promised I would do. We were going through all of our boxes in the basement and cleaning up a bit, and my husband said, Hey, I noticed you have three of these ceramic trees. I said, Yes, yes I do. There was an awkward pause and I said, okay, I guess I have three. I'll get rid of one of them, but I'm keeping these two for sure. So that one's coming up in my sale next week. So aside from all of the amazing mid-century vintage Christmas pieces I managed to pick up, finding vintage Christmas Pyrex is always one of my goals. There are so many amazing pieces, and at least where I am in Canada, in the wild they don't ever show up, very rarely, if you do find something, you're super lucky. So I've been looking online, trying not to spend an arm and a leg on these items. And I think I mentioned in a previous episode of my podcast that I do have one of the Christmas mugs, but I thought it would be really fun in this episode to go over some of my very favorite Christmas Pyrex pieces, and then some of my favorite Corning employee Christmas pieces. Because I have to say, Corning treated their employees right with those gifts. I wish I could go back and work for them just to get the amazing Pyrex that they gave at Christmas time.
Bex Scott: [00:05:13] So I thought I would start off with a pretty cool ad that I found when I was looking into Pyrex, Christmas, and Corning. So this ad was in the Saturday Evening Post and I believe it is from December 9th, 1939. So this is before there was the nice colorful Pyrex. This was the clear Pyrex that you got the ovenware for baking and cooking. So it says, 'See these Merry Pyrexmas bargains at your favorite store'. There's a little Santa, and he's pointing out all the black and white photos, and he's saying 'Pyrex ovenware prices reduced 30% to 50% in the last two years'. And on the right, there's a housewife holding her casserole wrapped with a red ribbon, and it says, 'Here's a gift that gives double, and it's catching on fast. Rich, wholesome fruit cake baked in a Pyrex casserole offered by leading bakers. Look for it in your favorite store or bake shop, or use that pet recipe of your own'. And then they go into all of the different items of Pyrex that you can buy for Christmas.
Bex Scott: [00:06:27] So number one, 'Mother will be upset if she doesn't get this cup set. Six Pyrex utility cups for custard, storage, or tidbits. Only $0.39'. And these are the little V shaped custard cups, the glass ones that you can get that stack really nicely on top of each other. Next, 'Let them eat cake, breads and meats look tasty too in this gleaming Pyrex loaf pan. Now only $0.45. Pyrextra'. Pyrextra. It actually says 'Pyrextra special for modern cooks, this round casserole is a honey. Knob cover keeps food hot on table. Quart sized $0.50'. 'Flakier pie crust all year round with this Pyrexmas pie plate bargain. Only $0.20'. Imagine a pie plate for $0.20. 'Cooks as good as it looks. Oblong utility dish for cornbread, desserts, cake, meats, baked stores serves. Now only $0.50'. 'A 2 in 1 pyrexmas surprise. Round casserole does double duty with pie plate cover. Three quart size $0.95, two quart, $0.75'. That's a pretty good deal. 'Give her this round cake dish with handles. She'll give you cake, gingerbread, Brown Betty cobblers. You can't lose. Only $0.35'. 'Deep dish meat and chicken pies taste yummy in these individual Pyrex baking dishes and apple pie. Wow. Eight ounces now $0.10'. Any woman'd get excited over this deep oval casserole. Knob cover. At new low price. Popular quart size now only $0.50' and they spelt woman would as w o m a n apostrophe d. 'It's not only a gift, it's a give away. Nine pieces of sparkling Pyrex ware. Six gleaming custard cups in a handy wire rack. An eight ounce measuring cup and a 9.5in pie plate. The whole combination can be yours for only $0.89'.
Bex Scott: [00:08:34] Oh, no. Okay, this one's going to kill you guys. 'She'll go into Pyrextacies over this beautiful set. Ten pieces, including bread or loaf pan, casserole with knob cover, utility dish, pie plate, and six gleaming Pyrex custard cups. Now only $2.15'. Pyrextacies. Remember that one, guys. Oh, this one's handsome. 'A handsome 15 piece set, six custard cups, nine and a half and ten and a half pie plates, six cup flameware teapot, two piece casserole, utility dish, eight ounce measuring cup, loaf pan and one quart open baker, only $4.75'. And then on the bottom left it says 'There are few gifts that go to a woman's heart like gleaming Pyrex ware. And this year, you can make your gift all the more exciting because in many cases, a dollar will buy twice as much of this modern cooking, storing, and serving ware as it would have a couple of Christmases ago. Buy Pyrex ware singly or in sets. And remember, sets are attractively gift boxed at no extra cost. Look for the trademark Pyrex stamped on every dish and the famous replacement offer'. And then on the right it says 'It's different. Pyrex flameware. Three new designs, flameware saucepans, glass handles detach for serving, storing, lock on covers only $1.65'. 'Flameware seven inch one pint frying pan for use directly over open flame, complete with detachable chrome handle, $0.90'. 'Grand for cream sauce and icings, one and a half court flameware double boiler $3.95'. A Christmas morning eyeful, 2 new flameware percolators, stainless glass pumps. Nine cup size. $2.45'. And last but not least, we have 'New low price, sturdy Pyrex all glass tea kettle. Smart for table use. Full year replacement offers two and a half quart size. Was $3.25, now only $2.95'. And one of the last pieces of Pyrex that I actually bought was this sturdy Pyrex all glass tea kettle. I definitely did not pay $2.95, but it's very interesting to see. It's quite a wide tea kettle, and it has a little lid that I'm looking for on the top. So very interesting ad to find.
Bex Scott: [00:11:02] Next we have a more modern ad, and this was when all of the beautiful colored milk glass came into play. So this next ad is from an unknown periodical in 1955, and it says 'Solve your gift problems right here with beautiful, durable Pyrex ware'. And it has four different sections. We have gifts under $2, gifts under $3, gifts under $4, and gifts under $10. And the gifts under $2, we have the Pyrex oven roaster. 'The Pyrex round baking and serving dish comes in desert dawn yellow or desert dawn pink. The Pyrex covered bowl casserole lets food brown more evenly in desert dawn yellow or pink as well'. Gifts under $3. 'The Pyrex colorware bowl set has lots of different uses for baking, serving, storing, and mixing. Bowls nest to save space. Complete set of four only $2.95'. And that's the primary set they're talking about. Gifts under $4. We have the Pyrex Colorware oven and refrigerator set. That's the primary fridge set. 'For baking, serving, storing. Yellow dish holds one and a half quarts. Blue dish one and a half pints. Red dishes one and a half cups. Get the complete set of four for only $3.25'. Then they also have the percolator and the double boiler and the flameware for under $4. And then the gifts under $10, this is the Pyrex dinnerware sets. And I love these. It says, 'They're beautiful enough for entertaining, yet durable enough for everyday family use'. And they have a blue, pink, green and red.
Bex Scott: [00:12:54] And one last ad that I really liked. This one says, 'Just in time for Christmas giving. New Pyrex ware decorator casseroles. Any woman who cooks will be delighted with these beautiful and practical decorator casseroles. Their famous Pyrex ware in new oval shape, and the cover becomes an extra baking and serving dish on hot pad. Choose from four smart designs and color combinations, each packed in attractive gift carton. 48 ounce size $4.50'. And this is talking about the turquoise snowflake on white, the white snowflake on turquoise, the white snowflake on charcoal, and the white daisy on pink. And then on the right they have a new Pyrex instant coffee maker and warmer. And I actually just came across tonight the warmer. I purchased it from someone and it's pretty cool. I'm excited to use it because I do have the carafe as well. And the one in this ad is the starburst carafe, which is beautiful.
Bex Scott: [00:13:58] So I know that Pyrex didn't make a ton of Christmas dishes, but the ones that they did make, I think they did an amazing job on. And there are three that are my absolute favorites. And the first one is the holiday casserole. So this one was made in 1960 to 1961. It's an 024. It's a two quart round casserole with a clear single knob lid. And it came with a brass cradle with two large plastic handles. And it's a wreath design on it with little pine cones. And I found this one in an antique store in British Columbia two summers ago for about $20. And I remember walking into the store, looking around, not expecting to find any Pyrex, and I came across this display and saw this red bowl, this red casserole, and I grabbed it, and I ran to the till as fast as I could, and I wasn't paying any attention, I probably ran down a few people during this whole process, but I was so excited to find a piece of Christmas Pyrex in the wild that it was going to be mine no matter what.
Bex Scott: [00:15:11] So next we have the Golden Leaf casserole with cradle, and I don't have this one yet. It's a 404 mixing bowl with a clear single knob lid, and this one came with a brass cradle with flat walnut handles. And it's similar to the holiday casserole, but the pattern is more of an ivy leaf. It's gold metallic, so it's a really beautiful bowl. Next up I have the deluxe buffet server with candle warmer, and this one is the Golden Poinsettia. And I remember I bought this one off of Poshmark about three years ago. It was posted as a beautiful dish with no condition issues at all, and I remember opening it in the mail, getting it from Poshmark, and there was a huge scratch on the side and I was so upset. But this one, it still has a place in our house. It's displayed with our other dishes and it's so pretty. I especially like the top of the lid because it does have the golden poinsettia pattern on it. And it included a brass cradle with flat walnut handles and a dual candle warmer on the bottom. There's two sizes of matching carafes as well, an 8 cup and a 12 cup. And they both have the really pretty poinsettia design on the outside.
Bex Scott: [00:16:37] So next up, I have a feeling that this one is a little bit harder to find. I've never seen it in real life. It's the Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Bowl from 1971 and Corning employee holiday gift, it says, with the text Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. And in Pyrex Passion, where I'm getting all my information from, my Pyrex Bible, it says other versions existed in green with orange holly and one with the design printed on opal. It was a Cinderella Bowl. The date estimated is based on 1971 Crazy Quilt promo, which includes the same background color, which I thought was pretty cool. Next up we have Merry Christmas and Happy New Year too, late 1960s. So this Christmas themed item was produced as an employee holiday gift for the Charleroi plant. A matching mug, 1410, was also created. The date estimate is based on the backstamp of matching mugs, and it's a round casserole with a clear lid that had the text Merry Christmas and Happy New Year on one side. Definitely one of my all-time must-have pieces here. I don't know how many were made, but who knows if I'll find one one day.
Bex Scott: [00:17:56] Okay, so next we have more employee Christmas pieces. The first one is a Merry Christmas plate from 1965. This one I don't know how I feel about. If you guys have seen this one in the Pyrex Passion book or in real life, let me know your thoughts. So this was produced as an employee holiday gift. It's a luncheon plate and it has a flamingo pink solid border on the outside, and it has a green and red design of a snowman with a holly on the inside. And below the design is the text 1965 Merry Christmas. It's cute, it's cute. The snowman is a little interesting looking, but I'd love to see one of these in real life. Next up we have the Green Castle Christmas party bowl from 1964. For the 1964 Christmas party at the Green Castle plant, employees received a one pint bowl as a holiday gift. The maroon text reads Corning Christmas Party, Greencastle, 1964. The bowl includes eight Christmas images around the circumference. Christmas mugs with matching images exist, but were produced in the mid to late 1970s and include the microwave backstamp. Next up we have Merry Christmas mug, mid 1960s. So this was a nine ounce mug. And I love this mug because I have a Santa addiction. Anything Santa, especially vintage Santa, I need. I don't have this mug. Another one on my list. My list is pretty long. So this one was nine ounce mug with red text and graphics. The mug includes the text Merry Christmas along with an image of Santa on each side. The backstamp says Corning, along with the mold number produced as an employee holiday gift. Next up we have Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year mug from the late 1960s. This one has red text and a bluish green and red graphic. The text reads Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. The mug includes green holly leaves with red berries and a red ribbon, likely produced as an employee holiday gift, and it matches the casserole that I mentioned earlier. Another late 1960s was the Rum Pum Pum Pum bowl and mug. This was produced as an employee gift as well, and they included red text and graphics of a drummer boy and a lamb. The red is the same color used on the Red Circus Child feeding set, and the backstamp reads Pyrex brand tableware. So there was a ten ounce bowl and a nine ounce mug, and they're really cute. They have a little Drummer Boy walking in a circle around the mug and the bowl.
Bex Scott: [00:20:41] Now we're into the early 1970s, and this is the Merry Christmas Santa mug. And this is the mug that I was able to find in Portland, Maine. And it cost me $54 US and I'm in Canada, so increase that by however much you need to to get the actual price that I paid. It was worth it though. I have no regrets. So this mug is a nine ounce mug with all red, all green, or alternating red and green graphics. It includes the text Merry Christmas in a Christmas Tree design, along with holiday images produced as an employee gift. And I have the all red version of this one. And the last one I have is from the mid 1980s, and this one was a flared handled mug, ten ounces with red and green printing. One side includes a graphic of Santa riding a candy cane with holly leaves, while the other side says Season's Greetings, produced as an employee holiday gift. And this one is pretty cute, but you can definitely tell the style change of the mugs that were in the 60s. And then you fast forward to this one. The graphics look different and even the mug style is a little bit different, but definitely still cute and would love to add it to my collection.
Bex Scott: [00:22:06] And while I was doing my research, I came across this blog post. It's from Corning Museum of Glass Pyrex Potluck, and if you haven't checked out that site, make sure you do, because there is a huge amount of information for Pyrex collectors and lovers on there that'll be a really interesting read for you. And it's from the Chronicles and it's called A Very Merry Pyrex Holiday. And it talks about how during the Christmas season, Pyrex advertising was focused on one side consumers and one side store buyers, and the marketing was totally different for them. To the store buyers, it was important for Corning Glass because these were the people who were responsible for closing the final sales with shoppers, and they offered different promotions like counter cards and display kits to make stores into what they called gift headquarters. So they periodically sent out inserts called the Pyrex Sales Maker. And it was a little publication read by store buyers such as Home Furnishings Daily. Many publications offered display setup ideas to increase sales, and I found an example of one of them online. And it's actually really cute. The illustrations are amazing. There's little drawings of Pyrex and ladies behind the the desk or the tills selling their Pyrex, and it gives ideas of how the department store should be setting up their Pyrex for people during the Christmas season to hopefully buy them.
Bex Scott: [00:23:47] So, idea number one, 'Show the seven advertised items sitting on top of their gaily designed Christmas packages, set in front of a small Christmas tree. Add a theme sign reading New Pyrex Holiday House gifts'. And in this little illustration, there's a tiny little Charlie Brown-looking Christmas Tree, and they have a carafe and a bunch of casseroles on their beautiful boxes in front of this tree. Second idea, 'Set up a Christmas party table in a traffic location, and show the items featured in the Pyrex ware ad. On a tea stand, mount the Pyrex ad along with the copy line The Holiday Look for the Christmas Cook'. Idea three, 'Mount a copy of the ad on your regular Pyrex display fixture to remind shoppers that Pyrex ware is needed for holiday entertaining, and makes an ideal Christmas gift for homemakers'. Idea four, 'Promote the glamor of Pyrex for Christmas entertaining by grouping the items featured in the Christmas ad next to mannequins dressed in party frocks. Sign reads Hostess ideas for holiday entertaining, today's look for today's cook'. Idea five, 'Brew coffee or tea in your Pyrex beverage makers and serve to Christmas shoppers on Christmas shopping nights in your store. Mount copy of ad near the serving table', and there's two little Christmas decorations with a holly or a Garland and two women in cute little dresses serving coffee out of their Pyrex carafes. And the last idea, 'In outpost locations, use Pyrex casseroles and beverage makers as containers for holiday greenery. Show a mounted copy of the Christmas ad beside the arrangement'. This one I can actually see people doing in their displays of Pyrex. They have a Pyrex casserole full of greenery and then they have one on the side, it's the pink scroll, and it's full of Christmas balls, which is pretty neat.
Bex Scott: [00:25:49] So these promotions all came to the stores in, it looks like a package, and there's an ad below that says 'Pyrex Ware Christmas promotion to make your store gift headquarters. Your Pyrex Ware Christmas Display kit contains these 12 counter cards', and I wish I could find these in real life because they are adorable. There's little Santas and Christmas Trees and a Santa with his sleigh, and these are all just the pop up cardboard stands or the ads that they would have in the store while you're shopping and it says will arrive before November 15th. Pyrex collectors and lovers out there, I would like to know what your number one Pyrex piece would be on your Christmas list this year. I know for me it would be the Pink Gooseberry fridge set. That's definitely on my list to complete, and I hope that you guys all find some amazing Pyrex under the tree this year.
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