New Finds and Disappointments

A cautionary tale .....

While checking out EBay recently I came across an item that I had never seen in Rodney Kent. It was a food warmer. It looked very much like many of the food warmers that I had seen before but it had a box and this strange white bowl. It was obviously never used. It still had the original packing and the number  stamped on the box. It was like a smaller version of #475.

Introducing 495 Food Warmer.

 

 

So I was really excited when I won this item. It arrived today........

 

The bowl was smashed. This is not uncommon. First, when shipping an items with a glassware item that has been in a box, maybe sitting in an unheated garage for 50 years... or maybe even 75 years, it may become brittle. You cannot pack it nested with the original base and lid. Each part must be significantly  protected with bubble wrap or several layers of newspaper and then  individually packed in a STURDY box. When the original box is available, it is a part of the collector package and it is not meant to be the packing box. It should sit inside another box. In this case the items were sipped in the original box with no additional packing other than what you see here. It's amazing that the other pieces weren't damaged also.

 

Fortunately, not only did I have access to the original  photos to see what the bowl looked like, the crushed bowl had the original stamp inside, assuring me that it was indeed the original bowl for the set and I now had the makers mark

 

The bowl shape is very distinctive.

 

 

This was the tag on the inside of the bowl.  Federal Glassware with the shield  and it says Heat Proof. Pressed into the glass on the other side is the logo with the "F". It didn't take me long on eBay to find the bowl. I opted for a nested set of four, because I figured one of the sizes would be correct. I was really happy when I found that the 8" diameter bowl was the perfect fit. And I have the nested set for other things.

 
Above the box before it was sent to me. Below, a little worse for wear, but it did survive

A little comparison below of #475, the 2 quart food Warmer and the new one on the right. It is considerably smaller. I was quite surprised. I am also going to rethink the FoodWarmer/Chafing dish I have with the decorative bowl that is pressed with "Manufactured Exclusively for Rossakov Co. Chicago." I always thought of this as a marriage, but maybe it's just department store special. Ah! Every piece invites more questions.

Next blog will be posted in less time than this one took. I have several more items to review. It's been a busy fall for me, not only with Eastern Star, but also with Rodney Kent. Stay tuned for  a review of several  breakfast sets. Maybe one on tidbit trays, too. Or the No Stamp chip'n'dip tray. Or maybe the Food warmer or chafing dish sets.....When you have 175 pieces, there's a lot to select from.

Next time, folks.





Enigma Resolved

If you read my Enigma blog last week, then you know that I was on to something. Yes, I won the bid on Ebay and I am now the proud owner of a tray, #716. Given in 1956 as a wedding present to the sellers mother and never used. Still in the original box, which is the only reason we have a number because there is no stamp, it is on its way to my collection. Here is a sneak preview from the seller's post

 

The tray, a polished steel with a rope edge, it is the floral stamp in the center that is identical to my recent find of a casserole holder with a brass colored tulip final and brass handles.

 

 

 

Above, the box that it was shipped in.

 

 

 

Another view of the central stamp. Compare that to the stamp on the casserole lid.

 

 

 

 

On the down side, I lost a bid for something I had wanted. A butter dish with the lid that matched the catalog page I had from 1955. Below is a picture that some lucky collector acquired while I couldn't make a connection to the web from inside my place of employment. I so need an emoji right now.....

 

 

Well here is what I was outbid on.

 

 

Check out my earlier blog of the catalog page and you will see this breakfast susan. I own #400, with the traditional finial on the butter dish. I don't know if this carries the same number.

 



 

 

Rodney Kent ... NAKED

All these no stamp items are missing the tulip bouquet on the front. They do have a stamp on the back. It is the KnightHead stamp and the number is distinctly stamped. This is a late 50's or 60's era  item. The Stamp was the last logo used in the line. All the pieces are very heavy metal. All have thick picot edges. None have tulip stamps or handles. Many have a  soup bowl rim.

 

My latest finds in the no stamp category.

 

Number 401 No Stamp

 

402 No Stamp

 

 

 

 

406 No stamp

407 No Stamp

 

 

 

Number 408 No Stamp

 

 

 

 Number 409 No Stamp

 

 

Number 506

This has the weight and size of 406 NoStamp but a new stamp is introduced. It is the Sunflower Motif. I have only seen 1 other piece floating out there. I'm pretty sure there is a full set that goes to at least 509.

 

 

 

 

As the holes for identification  fill up, new ones open. Stay tuned. I just bought a chip dip plate from the No Stamp collection which should arrive any day. If you act fast, #401 is on eBay NOW. Happy hunting.

 

I don't own this one, but this is 503 with the sunflower stamp.

The NO STAMP collection
400
401	12 3/4" Round bowl, soupbowl rim	KNIGHT
402	12 3/4"  round bowl, soupbowl rim	KNIGHT
403
404
405	oval bread tray	KNIGHT
406
407	rectangle bread tray	KNIGHT
408	16" square  tray with  1" rim	KNIGHT
409	16" Diameter Salad bowl with rim	KNIGHT
410
411
412	16 X12 Rectangle tray with 1" rim	KNIGHT
462	charger plates with rim	KNIGHT
463
464	Chip and dip plate	KNIGHT



 

 

This isn't an advertisement but this is what I have found that brings back the polish and shine of Rodney Kent. It is the only thing that consistently works and it may be because the aluminum in Rodney Kent, as maybe with other pieces too, is not pure aluminum but aluminum and magnesium. Used for Mag Wheels and easily fount in the auto department of many stores, it is what I polish my pieces with. I never polish the backs. that way the age shows.

 

Rodney Kent Enigmas

While I haven't written much this summer, it hasn't stopped me from acquiring new Rodney Kent that I've never seen. Now it is possible that like one of my previous blogs, some finds could be copies. SO I have been ever more diligent in examining them before I made a pronouncement.

Exhibit A

 

I picked this up on EBay recently. It came complete with the tag. The person who sold it told me that the tag was on at the estate sale she purchased this from. She has owned it for 12 years. The tag is stamped so that if I am to use it as a marker, it would be pre-1943. Almost nothing on it matches design-wise. I have never seen that decorative  stamping. I have never seen Brass  or gold colored trimmings. It definitely is not hammered aluminum. Yet, the tulip finial is exactly Rodney Kent. The petal detail is all there. I don't know what to think. Anyone have an opinion?


HOT UPDATE!!!
 This may indeed be the real thing with a production date of around 1956 and a number in the 700 series. More on this in a few days

Some Oddities of Rodney Kent

My summer has been busy with little time to write so here are photos of some of the rare pieces in my collection.

 

#447  the Breakfast Utility Set

Notice the plastic spoons, which are the correct spoons for many of the condiment jars.

 

 

 

 

This lovely was used to hold citronella candles.

 

This is the 5 pc table buffet set with Frying pan and lid, serving container (note the lack of handles) and snuffer for the

 

 

The only teardrop shaped glassware for Rodney Kent

 

 

The Rodney Kent Ashtray.

 

 

 

Sometimes, the box is the only way to find out what the number is.

 

 

 

Square candy dish ... also sold with two rectangles

 

 

 

And when there seemed that there were no more things they could do with tulips, they moved on to  Sunflowers. Below is #503

 

 

And the same bowl shape as 405 is used for 506

 

 

 

 

 

 and the most recent find, #407 with the 4 tulip display instead of the ribbon display. Since the stamp on this is the triangle Rodney Kent Silver Co stamp this is an early offering.