Piano Lodeon

I never shop Antique Stores, but . . .

I purchased the Piano Lodeon below for $25.  It's a miniature Player Piano manufactured by the J. Chein Co. in the late 1950's and early 1960's.

Below is from Wickipedia:

One of the final original Chein toy products, and one of its most complicated, was the electromechanical "Piano Lodeon", a child-sized player piano.  It utilized a combination of plastic and tin, and a mechanism that used spooled rolls of punched paper with well-known songs programmed onto them. A total of approximately 50 tunes were available.  The piano's keyboard was actuated by a vacuum produced by an electric fan, with a rubber tube connecting each key with a corresponding hole in the front of the piano's housing.  When a hole punched in the paper passed over one of these holes, it caused the correct key to strike tuned tines inside the case, producing the desired tune.  The keyboard could also be played manually.  The device was never financially successful for Chein due to its complexity, high price and the rise to dominance of purely electronic musical instruments.

They were also manufactured in a dark maroon color.  It's in good condition with a few minor problems, but I've restored several player pianos and even a vintage Ampeco reproducing grand.

The rolls in the photograph are: No. D-3 'The Old Piano Roll Blues'; No. P-1 'Alexander's Ragtime Band'; and No. P-3 'Frosty the Snowman'.

I find it interesting that there's no number on J. Chein's street address.

I've found old post cards with nothing more than the intersection of two streets as an address.

Thrifty Chinese

Everything in these photos is from thrift stores except the pajamas.  Apparently, I purchased the last set 'Lovebug' had in stock.  They're really beautiful (Are guys allowed to say 'cute'?).

School Days

You've already seen one of these desks (from an outdoor flea market) in another post. I found the second one in a thrift store ($5). At first I thought they would be identical . . . not so.

Wicker Reunion

Well, I'm back.  I'll start with a post about thrift store finds. 

The two identical wicker chairs were purchased (cheap) a month apart at two different stores. The cushion on the second chair has a small tag that reads 'Made in China / PLEASANT COMPANY / 2008'. The couch is a separate find. I'm going to attempt coordinated cushion(s).

I imagine these as furnishing a porch or sun-room.

All of the dolls are 18", but I'll let you guess who they are.
Two of the dolls are wearing dresses from 'china' dolls.

The Saddle Club

My 4-year-old grand-daughter is a fan of the 'Saddle Club', a video originally made for television.  She and I were in the basement (the 'Doll Cave') introducing her to my extended family of dolls.  She wanted to play and take photographs.  She picked out a Battat horse and two dolls.  The choice of clothing was hers, but I had to show her how to dress them. 

"I can do it myself!" (sigh) "Help me Papa John!".  I prefer to let her try first, with a bit of 'complementry' instruction.  The boot zippers were a special, if minor, challenge.

She only weighs 28 pounds, so when the horse fell on it's side, I had to help her stand it upright (but only after she asked).

We alternated taking photos.  The best results are shown below.

This Riding Bareback scene appears in the video, but I have to apologize for the absence of riding helmets (Kids, don't try this at home!).

It was fun listening to her create stories about her two new friends and their horse.

The Pleasant Sailor

I visited my favorite thrift store last week and discovered two more 18" Pleasant Co. dolls.  You'll notice on the soles of their feet, the current price is $2.50!  The tags on their bodies read 'American Girl'.  One doll has 'Pleasant Company' in large letters on her neck, the other has small letters.  The strings are uncut.

Their rather short hair is two different shades of blond, but they share the same freckles and deep blue eyes.

 



The dolls' faces are not alike.  Notice the width and shape of their heads.  The doll on the right has upper eyelids.  Plus their eyes, noses, lips, and chin are shaped differently.

One doll was wearing a 'sailor suit' with an 'American Girl' tag.  I added the red turtleneck and shoes.

I looked up the three alphabet flags in my father's old (1940) 'Bluejackets' Manual'.  What a Surprise!

Int

Love

Unit

Pleasant Surprise

Everything in the two photographs below is from thrift stores and flea markets.  The desk was a jewelery box and the bust of George Washington originally held Avon men's after-shave.

The doll was an exciting find!  Saturday morning, Gail and I had dental appointments (just cleaning) on the north side of Columbus.  As we were leaving I asked Gail if we could stop by my three favorite thrift stores on the way home.  This was her first time 'round and she wasn't all that excited.  I promised her lunch at her favorite resturant. 

We entered a large independent store and I walked to the rear to check out the dolls.  The 18" dolls sell for $3 (The price is always written on the bottom of one foot . . . with a black permanent marker).  I usually find a Battat doll, although I once found an Alexander.  I removed a doll from the shelf and began my inspection . . . hummm . . . excellent face and hair . . . a rather nice dress too.

Then I turned her over, lifted her hair, and read "PLEASANT COMPANY" molded into the back of her neck!

I didn't explain my find to Gail until we were back in the car.  She said, "You enjoy the search and discovery, don't you."  Well, she understands a bit more about me and my dolls.  What is more difficult for someone else to understand is why I feel so happy when I'm working with my 'girls'.

Anyway, the tights and shoes are from Dori's Doll Boutique, my favorite place to shop for AG.