JET CITY MAVEN - VOL. 5, ISSUE 12, DECEMBER 2001

Copyright 2001 Park Projects. Please feel free to use the article and photos below in your research. Be sure to quote the Jet City Maven as your source.

What's It Worth?

By TINA SUTHERLAND and CHARLIE BAILEY

Dear What's It Worth,

My aunt always said this was her favorite piece of glass. It's pretty tall, 22 inches. Can you folks tell me anything about it?

Answer:

You have a really nice decantor made by the Blenko Glass company. You might have seen a public television special called "Hearts of Glass." This four-generation American glass company opened in the 1890s to make church windows, but it is its colored blown-glass pieces that collectors watch for. Here in Seattle, we are lucky to have the newly opened Blenko Glass Museum (call them at 206-628-3117). Your piece is No. 6212 and should sell for about $400.

Dear What's It Worth,

This book "The Waterbabies" has pretty illustrations and is dated 1937. How much is it worth?

Answer:

You have a later edition of this popular childrens classic. What's extra nice about this is that the illustrations are done by Jessie Wilcox Smith, who was known for her charming children's pictures in Ladies Home Journal and Good Housekeeping. That helps this book value at $50.

Dear What's It Worth,

My house was built in 1960 and I believe this Youngstown Kitchens' "Cabinet Sink" dates to at least then. The brochure says "for beauty, utility, serviceability," "the most exciting and latest contribution from Youngstown Kitchens toward making your kitchen the 'Happiest Room in the House.'" It's a steel, baked enamel finish one-unit kitchen sink plus cabinets. I have all the original paperwork: user's manuals, installation instructions. Youngstown Kitchens was a division of American-Standard in Warren, Ohio.

Answer:

At last someone wants to know about the kitchen sink! We are ready for you. This "glamorous Servi-Center" that is so well taken care of should sell for $300. We know you have followed the instructions like "This smart girl is pouring fat from the pan into a container - NOT down the drain." After all this allows you to "Get a complete meal without taking a step." If that's true, well then, the sky's the limit!

Dear What's It Worth,

My mother left me a quilt which is hand-woven. She has the name on it as Henry Miller, which is some far-off relative of mine. It was made in 1852. On one side it is real dark navy blue on white and on the other side it is white on the real dark navy. It fits a double-bed, and it has a seam down the middle of it. It also has a paper that goes with it telling who made it. Someone told me not to sell it for anything less t

Answer:

You have a Jacquard Coverlet that is very typical of the era. The indigo and white combination was made to be reversible. Sometimes the name in the corner was of the weaver, but often these would be made to order and then the customers name would be woven in. The seam down the middle was due to the size of the loom. A value of $800 would be the low end with some pieces fetching $1,500.