Florences’ Swan Song: Final Editions

BOOK REVIEW

Gene and Cathy Florence, long-time authors of books on glass of the Depression and mid-20th century years, are retiring from the book-writing business. Their most recent – and last – editions of several of these popular price guides are now available from Collector Books.

The 19th Edition of the Collector’s Encyclopedia of Depression Glass, which gives an alphabetical listing of the Depression patterns from Adam to Woolworth. (The Woolworth pattern is actually a grape design, but because it was promoted heavily by the Woolworth stores in the 1930s, and no other name has ever officially surfaced, it has come to be called Woolworth by collectors.) The book concludes with special sections on the 13 patterns which have been most heavily reproduced, and identifying characteristics to help differentiate between the new and old. Prices have been adjusted to more accurately reflect today’s market, which in most instances represents a decrease in value from three or four years ago.

The 10th edition of Collectible Glassware from the 40s, 50s, 60s… includes both machine-made and hand-made glassware from these decades. This encompasses everything from Fire-King Ovenware to some of the fine Fostoria and Heisey patterns. Again, they are listed in alphabetical order. Jeannette Glass Com pany’s  Anniver sary leads off and Lancaster Glass’s Yorktown concludes the list. As mentioned above, prices have been adjusted to today’s market, which is generally a lowering in value.

The 4th edition of Fire-King & More concludes this group of books on glass and covers the products made by the Anchor Hocking Glass Co. The book is sub-divided into three main categories. The dinnerware and pattern lines comprise the first group. In the second section, items are grouped by topics, which include advertising pieces, ashtrays, mixing bowls, children’s dishes, range sets, pitchers and more. The last section contains listings of ovenware items, by color and/or pattern.

Each of the three books comes in hard-cover and is priced at $24.95.  They are available from Gene and Cathy Florence at PO Box 22186, Lexington, KY 40522 or PO Box 64, Astatula, FL 34705. They are also available from local booksellers or online at www.collectorbooks.com. If ordering, there is an additional small shipping charge.

Donna Miller

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Photographer Chronicles
North American Rails

BOOK REVIEW

Railroad buffs will enjoy Iron Trails of North America, 1978-2008, a recent Schiffer publication written by Robert W. Burns. The book contains 450 color photographs taken by the author along today’s railroad lines, over a period of 30 years.

Beginning in the 1950s, many railway lines were abandoned, as the then-new interstate highway system began to criss-cross the country and make truck-hauling of goods more feasible. The railroads had been hampered since 1889 by the fact that all rate changes had to be approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission.

However, in 1980, the Staggers Rail Act was passed by Congress; it enabled railroads to set their own rates. It also made procedures easier for railroads to either merge or abandon lines. The net effect was a resurgence in the use of trains for hauling goods.

While trains will never compete with trucks on a time basis, their ability to haul bulk shipments at an affordable cost gives them a distinct advantage for some types of hauling. The author uses a coal train heading from Wyoming’s Powder River coal region to Chicago as an example. A 130-car train, with each car hauling the equivalent of 5 truck loads, takes the load of 650 trucks. With the necessary crew and crew changes, about 50 people would be required, instead of 650 truck drivers. When fuel costs and the extra wages are considered, clearly trains are a more economical method of transport than trucks for this type of shipment.

The photographs of trains and railroad tracks cover the entire United States, from Skagway in Alaska, to the Santa Fe and Rio Grande, and east to the Pennsylvania and Maryland. And of course, there’s the Union Pacific Railroad, which connected the Midwest to the West Coast in the late 1800s. (It also has the distinction of being the only major railroad in the country to retain its original name.)

The book is full of interesting tidbits of history, as well as train pictures. It is priced at $49.99, available online at www.schifferbooks.com.

Donna Miller

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New Version Of Antiques
Price Guide Released

BOOK REVIEW

The 28th edition of the popular Schroeder’s Antiques Price Guide is now available. Encom pas sing 730 categories, it draws its information from hundreds of advisors nationwide, as well as auction results, dealer lists and the internet. The intent is to make the prices realistic in today’s market.

Since the economy has impacted antiques as well as every other aspect of American retailing, you will find that prices in some collecting categories have decreased. Although no one likes to see the value of their treasures decrease, the advisors have tried to be as honest as possible in the prices they give.  There are also a few categories which have actually seen price increases, and these are also reflected.

The book is illustrated with one or two color photographs on each page, an introduction to each category, up-to-date pricing information, and listings of the advisory board, collector clubs and auction houses. Whether your collecting interest runs from Kew Bas art glass to Griswold cast iron skillets, you’ll probably find it in Schroeder’s Antiques Price Guide.  However, some of the newer collector interests may be found instead in the companion volume, the Garage Sale & Flea Market Price Guide.

Schroeder’s Antiques Price Guide (ISBN: 978-1-57432-632-1) is priced at $19.95. Check with your local bookseller or contact Collector Books, PO Box 3009, Paducah, KY 42002; online at www.collectorbooks.com.

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