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.
