Victorian easel frame w/ beveled mirror

This is an 8-1/2" x 5-3/4" beveled mirror in an ornate Victorian cast iron easel frame that measures 13-3/4" x 12". Frame retains its original black paint, with hints of gilding remaining on the front surfaces of the filagree work. The 9-1/2" x 8-3/4" tin back plate is held in place by six small screws that appear to be original. The 4-1/2" scrolled easel arm swivels 90 degrees. Frame is in excellent condition. Mirror shows some streaking and loss of silvering, and the tin back plate has some scratches. (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Price: $150.00 + s/h

Art nouveau vanity mirror

The base of this marvelous antique cast iron vanity or shaving mirror features a tall slender lady in a flowing dress so characteristic of the Art Nouveau period (1890-1914). Her upstretched arms support the framework for the 7-1/2" x 5-1/2" oval mirror in its ornately sided bronze finished frame that vertically rotates a full 360 degrees. The back mirror piece is green painted tin, held securely in place by four metal clips. At a whopping 18-1/2" tall and weighing one ounce shy of 5 pounds, this very substantial piece has survived virtually unscathed through three generations (at least) of constant use by the men of Ol’ Swaphos’ family. From his earliest childhood, he remembers watching first his grandpa and later his papa use this mirror every time they shaved, and it’s ready to become a prized possession of a new family for many more decades to come. (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Price: $175.00 + s/h

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Coca-Cola delivery wagon

This delightful antique cast iron Coca-Cola horse-drawn delivery wagon is a pure shot of nostalgia from days long gone by. Four separate iron pieces: the 9-1/4" x 3-1/2" x 4-1/2" tall red wagon that says “Drink Coca-Cola in bottles” in white lettering on the sides; the 8-3/4" x 3-3/4" x 4-1/4" high front wheel assembly and two brown horses with white socks; the 2-1/4" tall driver dressed in green who perches on the wagon seat; and the 3-1/2" diameter red and white Coca-Cola umbrella with long pole that fits into a little hole in the seat. From the shape of the driver’s hands, I’ll bet this toy originally included some kind of reins that have long since disappeared. Eight little plastic cases, 2 red and 4 yellow, feature divider inserts that allow them to hold 12 bottles apiece, but as you might expect from such an old well-loved toy, many of the tiny 7/8" tall brown plastic bottles have also been lost. 26 of them remain, each the classic Coke bottle shape, complete with red cap! There are even four remaining flexible plastic case lids, two of which are cracked, but two of which are astonishingly intact! One of the yellow cases has a chipped place and another has lost its red lettering on the side. When all the parts are fitted together, the piece measures 13-1/2" x 3-1/2" x 8-1/2" tall and weighs nearly 6 pounds! No rust at all, and the large spoked wheels turn freely. What a marvelous addition to your Coke collection! (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Price: $35.00 + s/h

Cast iron crab inkwell

This vintage 3-3/4" x 7" x 1-1/2" tall black cast iron crab flips his lid (upper shell) to reveal the 1" deep inkwell. Or I suppose he could also be used as an incense burner. Or maybe he’s “just” a decorative old conversation piece accessory for a nautical or beach themed room. Whatever he is, he’s in excellent condition, but hey, you can’t harm cast iron! (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Price: $25.00 + s/h

Cast iron miniature anvil

This vintage heavy cast iron miniature anvil is 5-1/2" long and stands 2-3/4" tall on its 2" x 2-1/4" base with concave sides. You sometimes see these mini anvils with advertising on their tops or sides, but this one is completely plain and retains what I’m assuming is its original black paint, a bit of which has worn away in spots, producing a delightfully rustic appearance. Makes an attractive substantial paper weight, but at over two pounds, it can also be used as an effective but unobtrusive doorstop! (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Price: $15.00 + s/h

York 2-pound dumbbell

This is one of the classic York cast iron dumbbells made by the York Barbell Company. The story goes that Bob Hoffman, a partner in an oil-burner business that had its factory on North Broad Street in York, PA, invented the barbell in 1923. By the early 1930s, his oil-burner business had evolved into a barbell business and Bob Hoffman became the “Father of World Weightlifting.” By 1946, York Barbell employed 150 people, sold 50,000 barbell sets, and was grossing $1 million annually. The company also published its own magazines and sold health and food supplements. For years Hoffman was the dominant figure in U.S. weightlifting, coach of the Olympic team, and the most vocal advocate and salesman for the sport. But trouble started brewing when York Barbell Company became linked to anabolic steroids, first used by weightlifters in the early 1960s. Hoffman died in 1985, the extent of his knowledge about his company's links to steroid abuse still unknown. York Barbell Company survived both the bad publicity and its founder’s death and is still in business today. And in case you didn’t know – I didn’t until now – a dumbbell is a single-weight device, whereas a barbell is actually a circular weight mounted on a bar, so you can put several barbells together on the same bar to vary the weight. At only two pounds, this dumbbell is the perfect weight for light home exercise or power walking, but it also makes a great paperweight! It’s 5-1/4" long with 2" diameter knob ends, one of which is marked “2". The crosspiece is marked “YORK.” (Click on picture for more images.) Tell a friend.

Price: $10.00 + s/h