The Early Peonies

Old-Time Aprons

The following came from an email that I received awhile back. I don't know who wrote it, but it's worth passing on. There aren't many women today who'd consider an apron to be a necessity, but most of us can probably remember someone who did. Reading this made me glad that I have some of my Grandmother's old aprons. In fact, I think I'll go tie one on!

Enjoy!

Aprons

"I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven. It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears. From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids. And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms. Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove. Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes. "

Listening to the Past: Antique Phonographs

Looking back over his long career, Thomas Edison once said, "Of all my inventions, I liked the phonograph best." Well, Mr. Edison, your light bulb was pretty amazing, too, but I have to agree with you. There is nothing that quite compares to cranking up the old phonograph and listening to the music of another era, hearing the sounds as they were meant to be played.

My father had a large collection of 78 rpm records that he would pull out from time to time and play for us. He always played them on his stereo turntable, but would tell us about the crank phonograph his mother used to have, always giving a little sigh when he'd talk about it. A few years ago I received one of his albums, and my quest for an antique phonograph began.

It turned out to be easier than I expected to find one in working condition. These machines were produced in large numbers in their day, and many were lovingly preserved over the years. Others have been carefully restored by people who enjoy and respect the charm and nostalgic value these machines possess. Of course, just as many were stored in attics and barns, used as liquor cabinets or, inevitably, as plant stands, so you need to make sure of what you're getting before you hand any money over.

It's extremely important to do your homework before investing in a phonograph. There are several brand names that come to mind, such as Victor, Columbia and Edison. These are probably the most common machines available today as they were produced in the greatest numbers. However, there are many off-brand machines that offer high quality and can often be found for lower prices. My machine is a Silvertone, which I found listed in the 1927 Sears catalog for $45. I purchased it a couple of years ago for $282.00, definitely on the affordable end of the scale; and it works perfectly.

There are many ways to find a phonograph. Antique shows, antique and estate auctions often have them pop up. We purchased ours through eBay, which can be a great source if you're careful. There are a lot of fakes out there. Plus, many people do not know the actual value of their machine and list it as "rare" when it's not...with a price to match. I once saw a fairly common machine with a price in the thousands because the seller claimed it came with a ghost!! Yikes! So, as I stated before, do your homework.

I strongly recommend the book The Compleat Talking Machine by Eric L. Reiss. This gives valuable information on the history of the machines, tips on where to find them, and how to spot fakes. The book mainly focuses on the repair and maintence of phonographs, which is the reason I purchased it. I wanted to know how to care for my little piece of the past. A well cared for machine will continue to entertain for many years.

Thanks, Mr. Edison.

A Streak-Free Shine!

It's spring cleaning time! Even if you don't go all out for this old-time seasonal ritual, you probably have some windows that are looking a bit grimey after withstanding the winter months. Several years ago I came across the following method for washing windows. I believe it was in an old copy of Hints from Heloise that I found in my mother's house. There is nothing easier, and I've never found anything else that leaves the glass so sparkling clean. I even think it resists dirt and streaks longer than other traditional solutions.

*** 1/2 cup of Corn Starch mixed in 1 gallon of warm water

That's it! You can add a teaspoon of mild dish detergent if you absolutely must have soap, but it really is not necessary. Use a clean, low-lint cloth (old cotton flat-fold diapers are perfect) to wipe down the glass. Allow the solution to sit for a minute or so, and then use a clean, dry cloth to rub the glass. At first it will seem to be streaking, but keep rubbing and it will suddenly dry to a sparkling, streak-free shine that no store-bought cleaning solution has yet to match, in my opinion.

Give it a try and leave a comment to let me know what you think!