Tag: monument

Buildings, Events, People, Upcoming event

A “WOW!” of an added benefit to SBCS Membership

Bookend Collector

Front Cover of Bantrico Buildings, Then & Now
Front Cover of Banthrico Buildings, Then and Now by Lance Oldham
Photo of Book Covers
Back Cover

Lance Oldham, author of the definitive Banthrico Buildings: Coin Banks and Souvenir Buildings, Monuments, and Landmarks Manufactured by the Banthrico Co. and Successor Companies (2004 – 6) is making available electronic copies of his book, Banthrico Buildings, Then and Now, to all members of the Souvenir Building Collectors’ Society, as a benefit of membership.

SBCS President, Joe Kopitz, states “I think that this is such terrific opportunity for our website and the SBCS. It adds such great value for our members and makes Lance’s hard work available to those who seek it most. Such a win-win.”

Lance has been a member of the Souvenir Building Collectors’ Society since 1995 and a member of the Still Bank Collectors Club of America since 1990. He is a frequent contributor of articles to the journals of both organizations. In writing Banthrico Buildings, Then and Now, Lance says, “My primary intent was to develop a database that could be used in writing comprehensive, detailed articles for collectors’ journals.”

In accomplishing his objective he not only provided the souvenir building and still bank collector communities with the specifications relating to the miniature replica building, but has conveyed the historical context of the actual building. For example, the Coast Federal Savings and Loan Association of Los Angeles issued a bank in 1961 that was a Rabbit looming over a replica of their building on Hill Street in Los Angeles. Lance’s data sheet not only covers the issue date and dimensions of the replica, but also supplies pictures of bank advertisements utilizing the Rabbit or “Bunny Bucks” as it was later known. There is even an advertisement depicting the Rabbit Bank, itself.

 

Coast Federal Savings & Loan, Assn. Banthrico Bank Data Sheet. Pg. 1 of 3 Pages.
Coast Federal Savings & Loan, Assn. Banthrico Bank Data Sheet. Pg. 1 of 3 Pages.

The book illustrations are colorful, informative, and instructive. The organization is outstanding. If you ever want to develop a catalogue of your collection, Lance has laid out a format that makes you want to start doing it today.

SBCS Members can download the electronic file in the Members Only section of this website.

Buildings, Events, People, RECENT FINDS

2014 Convention Finds

Bookend Collector
Stadhusett - Stockholm (City Hall - Stockholm), Sweden, height - 3”, Cast Metal. Sticker on bottom reads, “Washfobik, Konsthantverk, Varby, Sweden.” The City Hall was designed the National Romantic style by the architect Ragnar Ostberg and was completed in 1923.
Stadhusett – Stockholm (City Hall – Stockholm), Sweden, height – 3”, Cast Metal. Sticker on bottom reads, “Washfobik, Konsthantverk, Varby, Sweden.” The City Hall was designed the National Romantic style by the architect Ragnar Ostberg and was completed in 1923.

Russell K. shares the following: “These are two acquisitions that I consider as the most unique added to my collection as a result of the SBCS event in Nashville. Both represent major architectural monuments in Stockholm, Sweden. My wife and I have visited them during our travels to Sweden. I had not previously seen these souvenir buildings. They were formerly part of the collection of Pat Smith. Based on the number of other Swedish souvenir buildings I purchased at the swap meet that were part of her collection, I would assume she bought both pieces in Sweden. Joe K. had also brought a large number of pieces of travel literature that Pat had collected and my wife and I were pleased to be able to take a number of them that related to Scandinavia.”

Kungliga Slottet - Stockholm (Royal Palace), Sweden, height - 1 1/8”, Cast Metal, Maker unknown. Since completion 1974 it has served as the official royal residence of the Swedish Royal family.
Kungliga Slottet – Stockholm (Royal Palace), Sweden, height – 1 1/8”, Cast Metal, Maker unknown. Since completion in 1774 it has served as the official royal residence of the Swedish Royal family.
Buildings, Monuments, People, RECENT FINDS, Upcoming event

More Convention Finds!

Bookend Collector

Steven C. and son, Ethan C., returned home from Nashville with lots of great additions to their collection of souvenir buildings and monuments.  Check out these photos!

Steven C. finds
Tecumseh Monument, Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD; Polar Circle (Polarcirkel 1937) Monument, Norway; St. Pauls’s Cathedral, London; Shrine Peace Memorial, Toronto; Lucy the Elephant, Margate, NJ; Ricordo Di Padova; Temple of Saturn, Baalbeck, Lebanon.

 

Ricordo Di Padova
Ricordo Di Padova, with St. Anthony Icon, Basilica of St. Anthony, Padua, Italy
Steven C. finds
Peace Arch Memorial, US-CN border, Blaine, WA & Surrey, BC; Fountainhead Chiropractic Hospital, Davenport, IA; Tower of America, 1968 HemisFair, San Antonio, TX; Lighthouse, Portland, ME; Sacre Coeur, Paris; Irish Cottage.
Steven C. finds
Fountainhead Chiropractic Hospital, Davenport, Iowa.
Steven C. finds
Winged Victory of Samothrace, Louvre, Paris (Nat’l Fed. of Business and Professional Women’s Club); State Capitol, Montgomery, AL; Trolley, San Francisco; St. Peter monument, Vatican.

And finishing off with a collectible Beer Tap Handle.

Steven C. Finds
Heidelberg, Germany depicted on a Heidelberg (Tacoma, WA brewery) Beer Tap Handle
Buildings, Monuments, RECENT FINDS, Upcoming event

Convention Finds!

Bookend Collector

SBCS’s 2014 Convention is over. There were some good souvenir building and monument finds associated with the attendees’ travel, Nashville antique-ing, SBCS swapping, raffle and auction. Here are the first pictures sharing some of the take-homes.

Carolyn C. found the David sculpture, in perfect condition, at the “Big One” Nashville Flea Market on Friday. She was happy to grab it for $15.

Photo of David. Souvenir Monument.
David, Michelangelo, Italy, 5” tall, pot metal. Onyx base 2.5 “

 

Wynn W. scored one from his wish list at a flea market on his way home from the convention. “On the way North I made a few stops, including a flea market where I found this treasure. It has been near the top of my want list since I saw a photo of it well over 15 years ago. The finish is in excellent condition, but It looks like the Washington Monument was glued on at one time, and put on a bit crooked. I look forward to doing some major rearranging on my Washington DC shelves to make room for this piece. “

Washington DC cityscape
Washington DC cityscape, 4 1/2 inches tall, made in Japan, makers mark – Initials KT in a circle with wings, MM #246.

 

Many attendees left Nashville with a pocket full of refrigerator magnets that featured buildings and monuments. They were a final gift to members of SBCS from Pat Smith, who passed away earlier this year.

Refrigerator Magnets from Pat Smith
New York, Asturias, Maltese House, Wells Cathedral, HaNoi, Ellis Island, Museo Chillida, Unknown, Quebec CN.

 

SBCS President, Joe K did quite well and sent the following pictures of the loot with which he returned home.

Joe K. Souvenir Building Finds
Top row – United American Bank; Singing Tower – Mountain Lake, FLA; Havoline Tower – Chicago World’s Fair 1936 – 1934; Metal Sunsphere, Knoxville, TN; St. Jacob’s Stone Church, Brodbecks, PA; Statue of Liberty. Bottom Row – Oil rig – Wellington, TX; Locomotive Pencil Sharpener; Mount Rushmore; Neuschwanstein; oil rig on State of Texas outline; Befreiungshalle

 

Joe K Finds
Top row – Capitol Records 45 record sleeve (great graphics); Singing Tower – Lake Wales FLA; Knox County Court House; plastic Sunsphere, Knoxville, TN; Jefferson Standard Life Ins. Co., Greensboro, NC; R do Sevilla; Park Bank thermometer; United Nations cup & saucer. Bottom row – State Capitol, Harrisburg, PA (ceramic bank); Royal Manchester Exchange (porcelain box); Steamtown – Bellows Falls, VT (ceramic bank); Castillo De San Marco; The Hermitage (metal letter holder); Pikes Peak or Bust (S&P metal tray).

 

Joe K. Finds
Top row – Buckingham Palace; SBCS 1994-2014 Parthenon; 3 monkeys on Savings Bank. Bottom row – Seattle Space Needle pen; Blackpool S&P set; 2 unknown metal buildings; Rehberger basketball player statue

 

Buildings, Events, News, People, Upcoming event

READY, SET ………. SHOW & TELL! October 24, 2014

Bookend Collector

Are you ready to share a special souvenir building (or two or three) with the “heavy grazers” at our Nashville Convention Host’s home?   Show & Tell is scheduled for Friday evening, October 24.

One highlight of  Show & Tell in 2012 was David S. and his cork replica of San Giovanni Eremite, Palermo, Italy. He told how  “when he paid his entrance fee to visit the church, the monk in the the ticket booth had several replicas of San Giovanni made of cork. The monk whittled these little gems from wine and other corks, giving him something to do while in the ticket booth.” It turns out that David likes to collect souvenir buildings when he has met the person who made the building.

Photo of San Giovanni Cork Replica
Cork Replica of San Giovanni, Palermo, Italy

David’s  Show & Tell  evolved into a full article in Souvenir Building Collector, Fall-Winter 2012. Click here to view the full article.

Have you made your reservations for the Souvenir Building Collectors Society Annual Convention – October 24,25,and 26, 2014?

Click here for Program Highlights.

Click here for  Registration Materials.

Buildings, Events, Monuments, News, Upcoming event

SBCS 2014 Convention

Bookend Collector

October 24, 25, and 26, 2014, Nashville, Tennessee

It’s time to start planning! Which souvenir buildings will you bring to the Auction or donate to the Raffle?  Do you have enough buildings to have a half table or a full table at the Swap Meet? Or are you just going to add to your collection? Do you have a couple of favorite buildings  you just can’t wait to share their stories at Show and Tell?

Photo of Swap Meet
SWAP MEET. Gettysburg 2003

The 2014 SBCS Convention is just around the corner. The program is set, the excitement is building (pun intended), all that is needed is your registration and enthusiasm.

The program includes a walking tour and a driving tour, a visit to a SBCS collector’s home, swap meet, business meeting, and a southern-style dinner in an 1840s, residence. and, of course, the Auction.

Click Here to view the program.

Click Here for Registration Form.

Buildings, Monuments, Upcoming event

Charms, Spoons, Bells

Bookend Collector
sbcharms
sbcharmspoons
Charms, Spoons, Bells

“AREN’T THESE CHARMS, SPOONS, & BELLS SOUVENIR BUILDINGS, TOO?” asked Bob Kneisel in the Spring 2003 edition of The Souvenir Building Collector. He wrote:
“To many souvenir building collectors, charms in the shape of buildings are not, well … very charming. So size does matter! Many collectors draw the line at miniatures smaller than an inch or so high, and casually dismiss charms as nano-buildings (an aside here – in 2003 not many of us had yet included ‘nano’ in our vocabulary). But many other collectors accept (dare we say “seek”) these most miniature of buildings.
Here are a few reasons why:

  • Charms can have great detail
  • Charms are the only 3D versions of many buildings
  • Some charms are big, for their size
  • Charms are cheap
  • Charms don’t take up much room
  • Charms may be the only building you find at a swap meet …..”

Bob’s article went on to describe charms singularly and those that have been placed on the handle end of spoons or those that serve as handles on bells.

His Listomania Categories with some examples:

Souvenir building spoons
Souvenir Building Charms, Spoons, Bells

Click here to view Bob K’s 2003 Listomania.

 

 

Buildings, Monuments, WHAT IS IT?, WHERE IS IT?

WHAT IS IT??? WHERE IS IT???

Bookend Collector

Debuted in Volume 1, No. 1 (1994), of the SBCS Journal, the first publication of the feature “WHAT IS IT??? WHERE IS IT???” resulted in a quick identification. By the next issue of the Journal, 2 collectors’ had identified the pictured nameless monument as the monumental statue of Ferdinand I atop a column surrounded by four Moorish slaves. It stands in the square near the harbor in Livorno (Leghorn), Italy.

Photo of Ferdinand 1 Souvenir monument
The first “What Is It??? What is It??? photo from Vol 1, No. 1 of the SBCS Journal.

In the same article that reported the identification of Ferdinand I, two more buildings were posited for identification: St. Botolph’s Church in Boston, England and a penholder desk set labeled “Addressograph-Multigraph Corp.” Also, at this time, “the mystery gift for a mystery solved” tradition began. It was suggested that the collector looking for information provide a mystery gift to the first person to solve the puzzle.

Carol D. has shared the background on the St. Botolph’s quick identification.  She had a friend who came from Boston, England and Carol had visited her there and had actually climbed the “stump” as the tower is affectionately known.  Her “mystery gift” arrived 6 months later from knowledge seeker, Dave F.. a set of S&P shakers of the Watchtower on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.  They are still in her collection.

By the 3rd issue of the SBCS Journal, the identification of little buildings and monuments was well underway. In that issue the desk cigarette smoking set of the Dahlstrom Building was featured. Bill T. tracked down a VP of Dahlstrom Manufacturing Co., Jamestown, NY who confirmed the replica was of the administration/office building, built in 1926.

Dahlstrom Manufacturing Co Administration Bldg., Jamestown, Ny
Dahlstrom Manufacturing Co Administration Bldg., Jamestown, Ny

Do you have a Souvenir Building or Monument that needs identifying? The members of SBCS are very knowledgeable and are happy to help you identify your building. If it is one that is not readily recognized, such that SBCS cannot quickly respond to your request, it may be a candidate for a “WHAT IS IT??? WHERE IS IT???” post.

Click here to send a request for identification of a building or monument.

Buildings, Monuments, RECENT FINDS

European Acquisitions December 2013

Bookend Collector

Hello, folks.  I thought you might like to see some of the current souvenir buildings offered at Central European tourist destinations, and some older ones we found in antique shops and flea markets.  We spent a month in Germany, Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary.   We visited Munich, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, as well as Salzburg.  On a cruise up the Danube we visited Melk, Linz, Passau, Regensburg and Nuremburg.  We also visited Rothenburg and Newschweinstien.

A photo of the souvenir buildings we collected is attached.  Some are produced in metal, but resin predominates. Here’s the list of what we found.  Harry M.

Collection of SB from European Trip
Collection of Souvenir Buildings acquired in Europe in December 2013

Row 5 (back, L – R) Rothenburg Cathedral, Rothenburg Cathedral, Newschwanstein Castle, Statue in a Budapest Park, Sphinx

Row 4 (L – R) Vienna Opera House, Regensburg “Sausage Kitchen”, Prague City Hall, St Stevens Cathedral

Row 3 (L – R) Munich Town Hall, Passau Cathedral, St Stevens Cathedral, Salzburg Cathedral, Nuremburg “Beautiful Fountain”

·Row 2 (L – R) Munich City Hal, St Vitus Cathedral, Hungarian Parliament, Melk Abbey, Schonbrun Palace

Row 1 (front) Rothenburg Cityscape, Newschwanstein Castle

·