Terry Bond Posted June 10, 2020 Author Share Posted June 10, 2020 Gee-you guys are amazing! I have the LaSalle mascot but that's it! Yes -the seven piece set would be neat to see. I'm absolutely dyin to get out and do some antique hunting!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 Interesting - I've seen several done like that. Collecting construction equipment and framing related fobs is a big deal and there are hundreds of them around. The big watch fob auctions held earlier this year had a lot of them, and they made some pretty good money too. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted June 22, 2020 Author Share Posted June 22, 2020 Nice! Anything on the backs of them? Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMoneyPit Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 Your celluloid one is a very nice example, and the enamel one as well. That last one is a variety I have not seen that I can think of. Can you make out the makers mark that appears above the front of the strap loop portion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted June 23, 2020 Author Share Posted June 23, 2020 (edited) There are some interesting Buick fobs around. Some were produced by dealerships using local resources, and those will be unique to a small local area, perhaps even the specific dealer that had them made. Others were produced in larger quantities and distributed to dealerships from Buick. Those would be marked with the makers name on the reverse. One of the more commonly seen Buick fobs is the "Valve-in-Head" fob shown in my first photo. All the originals I've seen were nickel plated. Reproductions are chrome. Mine is clearly marked on the back as having been produced by Whitehead and Hoag, a prolific manufacturer of fobs, pins, buttons and other types of advertising items. The Buick fob shown with the red background is early and was produced by Schwabs and Son's Chicago. It's marked on the back. They are found with both red and blue enamel backgrounds. Later unmarked reproductions were made and turn up frequently but they are not marked on the back. I have also seen these in chrome plate. Last photo is of my celluloid dealership Buick fob. I don't know which company produced these but I believe they were made by a large producer of such items (maybe Whitehead and Hoag?) using a standard image that could also be printed with the name and location of individual dealerships. These were probably ordered through Buick rather than sourcing them locally. I've seen the same fobs with many different dealership names printed on them. There is a "Valve-in-Head" fob currently listed on ebay, mounted on an old ribbon, but it is a reproduction fob. Yet another unmarked, chrome reproduction with a more reasonable starting bid is listed as a "rare early..." piece. If you look at other items for sale by the same individual there are a load of reproduction fobs for sale-every one of them listed as "rare" and "early." Perhaps they were made earlier that morning! Terry Edited June 23, 2020 by Terry Bond insert photo (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Wetherbee Posted June 23, 2020 Share Posted June 23, 2020 Just added some in the for sale area including a very early Buick fob. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary in MN Posted September 8, 2020 Share Posted September 8, 2020 Hello Terry: Here is a picture of a couple fobs I have. Gary in MN 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted September 9, 2020 Author Share Posted September 9, 2020 Nice fobs! The Mergen and Bock Ford fob is early - it's Model T era. That's a nice one. The little white tire is actually an advertising piece for the tires - believe there is some writing on it telling which company produced it. Nice item as the tires on these frequently deteriorate badly. It's an early piece. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hddennis Posted November 6, 2020 Share Posted November 6, 2020 (edited) I know I'm coming to this party late but just found it and wanted to add my 2 cents. The earlier red white and blue fob was an expensive eBay purchase I just had to have as I've never seen another and the later blue one was a gift for helping a Maxwell owner with parts. Howard Dennis Edited November 6, 2020 by hddennis (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted November 7, 2020 Author Share Posted November 7, 2020 Great fobs, and absolutely authentic. Gondition looks great too. You should be proud to have them. Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMoneyPit Posted November 7, 2020 Share Posted November 7, 2020 Howard, that’s a great pair of fobs! The later one also shows the point made earlier in the design of the strap loop. Here’s a reproduction that was on eBay, notice that scrollwork is an embellishment very common to the reproduction fobs! 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Chandler Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 Here's my contribution to this thread. The back is marked L.F. Grammes & Sons Allentown PA. The ad slogan dates to about 1915 the second full year for Chandler Cars. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted November 15, 2020 Author Share Posted November 15, 2020 That's a nice one, and just perfect for someone who owns a Chandler. I have a small lapel pin, probably worn by a salesman, but not a watch fob. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Chandler Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 Like this one Terry? BTW my other project right now is restoring a 1967 MGB GT 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 Here are front and back photos of my lapel pin. It has a screw-on back and is made by Whitehead and Hoag. Congratulations on the MGBGT - Great cars! Hopefully you have grand-children with small hands who can help with reassembly. Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Chandler Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 I might have grand children in 10-15 years. My oldest is a senior in college this year. Nice pin. I’ll have to keep an eye out for one like that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Barrett Posted November 28, 2020 Share Posted November 28, 2020 After reading all of the great threads in these forums for quite some time, I've decided to join and contribute a bit myself.I have a few watch fobs in my collections, and thought that I might share them here. The first two photos are a REO fob that belonged to my grandfather. Both he and my father worked for a REO dealership prior to WWII. Grandpa was a REO owner exclusively until he bought his last car, a Chrysler, in 1941. The second two photos are a Stewart Speedometers fob. It has a very detailed speedometer face on it and seems to be fairly early. The saying on the backside is still quite relevant today! This one came to me in the bottom of a box full of rusty old auto parts that I bought in the 1960's. The last picture is not a fob, but rather a brass tag that I have always thought to possibly be a tool check or ?. I found a half dozen of them in another box of old parts in the early 1970's. I kept one for myself and sold the rest at Hershey, many years ago. Thanks for looking. Bob 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted November 29, 2020 Author Share Posted November 29, 2020 Thanks for sharing Bob, that Reo fob sure is pretty, and the family history really makes it special. I like that Steward Speedometer piece too. I found one in an antique shop a long time ago, before I ever considered myself a real collector. I think I only had one or two fobs at the time. That Ford piece is great. Sure wish I'd seen them at your Hershey spots. They certainly could be tool checks, although those are usually numbered. I really am not sure what the exact use for it might be but it's well made and I've not seen any others. You have three great pieces - and that makes you an official "collector." Three is a collection - two is just a "pair" and one is just the beginning. Now that you are an official fob collector, have some fun and share your discoveries here. Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Barrett Posted November 29, 2020 Share Posted November 29, 2020 Hi Terry, Thanks for the kind words. I don't anticipate ever collecting fobs on your level, but I do enjoy mine. This thread is a great opportunity to see and learn about what you and others have accumulated over the years. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Wetherbee Posted November 30, 2020 Share Posted November 30, 2020 I think Bob’s tag is either for an inventory or equipment numbering system of some kind. Here’s a very similar tag that was to denote the content of a Gaylord container on the assembly line. E.L.W stood for Electric Light and Wiring, I am assuming ZE-4 is a plant location, and C3-57 would be the first four of the assembly number of the contents or what they made where C3 denotes 1963 model year. The weight listed usually denotes the container empty weight so you could quickly weigh the contents for a count. This was removed from a container that had been damaged to a point where Ford didn’t want it back while I was working for a company that was running off some custom equipment for them in the 1980’s. It’s been my keychain ever since... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Barrett Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 Mark, You and Terry both mentioned the lack of any numbers on my brass Ford tag. Valid points which lead me to doubt that it is a tool check. Further reflection has me thinking more along the lines of “property markers”. Tags that would be fastened to items such as desks, chairs, shop equipment, etc. seem a bit more likely to me at the moment. I’m still not sure if I have an answer yet, but you guys have helped me narrow the possibilities down a bit more. Thanks for your comments. Bob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Wetherbee Posted December 9, 2020 Share Posted December 9, 2020 Here’s one of those “chintzy seventy’s keychains” just for conversation... got to wonder who done it? Found by a friend for my Pierce, but I was shocked to find that someone made this using an original fob! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Barrett Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 (edited) Here are a couple of fobs that are considerably newer than those previously posted. I was a bit unsure whether or not to include them in the discussion. Finally, I decided that they illustrate how fobs have endured to this day, even though their practical day to day usage has almost completely disappeared. Both fall within the present day date guidelines of the club and are auto/motorcycle related, so here goes. The first was received when we bought our 1982 Chrysler LeBaron Mark Cross Edition convertible. Although I am not completely certain, I believe the number on the reverse side was the key code. I do remember that the ignition key had a crystal Chrysler star on it. The second is an anniversary fob from the AMC in 1974. Commemorative fobs are still popular today and reflect one of the interests of the fob collecting hobby. Bob Edited December 10, 2020 by Bob Barrett (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMoneyPit Posted December 10, 2020 Share Posted December 10, 2020 Those are interesting and getting on in age! They also are original items as opposed to some that were made to deceive. Great to see the later aspects of these collectibles and I thank you for showing them. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted January 23, 2021 Author Share Posted January 23, 2021 (edited) Here is one that went quickly on evil-bay before too many others may have noticed it. It's gotta be one of the rarer ones in my collection. I didn't hesitate using the buy-it-know option on this one. Only reason I knew what it was - I'd researched and written earlier about a wonderful Garford automobile pin that I added to my collection. Garford, in their failing moments as an independent automobile manufacturer had introduced a new model with a single headlamp mounted in the top of the radiator. Their "Cyclops" car was a failure and helped seal the fate of the company. While looking for other Cyclops cars, of course the much later Briscoe popped up. Also, I found mention of another company that may have attempted to introduce such a car in 1914 - the F-A-L Motorcar Company in Chicago. The F-A-L was named after founders R.S. Fauntletroy, H.R. Averill, and E. H. Lowe. They had taken over the Reliable Dayton company and operated roughly from 1909 through 1913. When introduced, the F-A-L was actually known as "The car with no name" and identified itself in advertisements only as "a classy, speedy and efficient car from Department C, 19 North May Street, Chicago. (The address had previously been the location where the Reliable Dayton automobile had been built.) You could call it whatever you wished! The idea behind the name, or lack thereof, was that it would allow its buyers of the generic vehicle to name the vehicle as they wished (or as ego permitted), without the expense or bother of setting up their own automobile concern if they wished to re-sell them as a dealer. By 1910 however, they actually named the car "The F-A-L Car." By 1913 the company was having financial problems. They had designed one final model for 1914 introduction, a vehicle called the "Grayhound" which was a cyclops car. That car also was supposed to be a "sleeper" with seats that folded down to make a bed. I've not been able to determine if that car was ever actually produced and sold, but for sure, none survive. In fact, I'm not sure if any F-A-L automobiles survive at all. By June 1914, all assets had been sold to the Puritan Machine Company. The owner of that company was A. O. Dunk, who seems to have specialized in acquiring the assets of defunct automobile companies. (The advertisement for the car below is from 1910.) I love it when there is a story that goes along with stuff in my collection. Terry Edited January 23, 2021 by Terry Bond (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cookie Man Posted January 23, 2021 Share Posted January 23, 2021 Stearns Knight key chain 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted January 24, 2021 Author Share Posted January 24, 2021 That's neat! I have a lapel pin in my collection but have not seen this (or a watch fob) before. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted April 6, 2021 Author Share Posted April 6, 2021 Of course I paid toooooooo much for this one, but it's a rare item. I saw one other sold years ago and I was badly outgunned on it, so was determined not to let this one slip away. It's a very rare Nyberg fob that was produced by Bastian Bros. Rochester, NY. The Nyberg is a rare automobile with limited production between 1910 and 1914. Henry Nyberg was from Swedan. His first efforts in automobile production began in 1903 when he helped found the Nyberg-Waller Automobile Works in Chicago. The first cars built there were one and two-cylinder runabouts. From 1905 until late 1909, he concentrated on automobile repair and sold used vehicles through his garage in Chicago. In 1909 he relocated to Anderson, Indiana and having purchased the building and equipment from the defunct Rider-Lewis Automobile Company established the Nyberg Automobile Works. He also opened a factory in Chattanooga TN. Nyberg Motors specialty was a large, elegant touring car that sold between $1,300 and $2,000. In addition to several touring cars, the company made a roadster and experimented with a firetruck and several other products. The company even produced a race car which Harry Endicott drove in the third Indianapolis 500. The car finished 21st in a field of 23 drivers. The company was under capitalized and by September 1913 was forced into receivership. In 1914, the remains of the company was sold to A. C. Barley of Streator, Ill. Nyberg moved to Canada, and then eventually returned to Swedan where he retired. There are many interesting twists-and-turns in the story of the Nyberg, and even the Regal automobile, as well as Chattanooga Tennessee's history of the early automobile. I believe there are two surviving Nyberg automobiles in Corky Coker's collection. Terry 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMoneyPit Posted April 8, 2021 Share Posted April 8, 2021 I really don’t think you overpaid, it’s a truly great fob! I was watching it too but have too much going on to bid. I think you remember I felt that way when I sprung on the Lozier fob too, but that went away pretty quickly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted April 8, 2021 Author Share Posted April 8, 2021 I try to always refer to one of my "rules of collecting." Anyone can have money, you have to be lucky to have stuff. Yes, looking at that fob again in my display case, the pain of payment quickly goes away and I'm glad I took the chance on it. Next one that turns up is all yours. Happy collecting-Terry 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 On 4/8/2021 at 9:43 AM, Terry Bond said: I try to always refer to one of my "rules of collecting." Anyone can have money, you have to be lucky to have stuff. Yes, looking at that fob again in my display case, the pain of payment quickly goes away and I'm glad I took the chance on it. Next one that turns up is all yours. Happy collecting-Terry Truer words have never been spoken. On 4/8/2021 at 9:43 AM, Terry Bond said: the pain of payment quickly goes away but the pain of regret had you not bought it would linger forever..... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrEarl Posted July 1, 2021 Share Posted July 1, 2021 On 6/23/2020 at 12:03 PM, Terry Bond said: There are some interesting Buick fobs around. Some were produced by dealerships using local resources, and those will be unique to a small local area, perhaps even the specific dealer that had them made. Others were produced in larger quantities and distributed to dealerships from Buick. Those would be marked with the makers name on the reverse. One of the more commonly seen Buick fobs is the "Valve-in-Head" fob shown in my first photo. All the originals I've seen were nickel plated. Reproductions are chrome. Mine is clearly marked on the back as having been produced by Whitehead and Hoag, a prolific manufacturer of fobs, pins, buttons and other types of advertising items. The Buick fob shown with the red background is early and was produced by Schwabs and Son's Chicago. It's marked on the back. They are found with both red and blue enamel backgrounds. Later unmarked reproductions were made and turn up frequently but they are not marked on the back. I have also seen these in chrome plate. Last photo is of my celluloid dealership Buick fob. I don't know which company produced these but I believe they were made by a large producer of such items (maybe Whitehead and Hoag?) using a standard image that could also be printed with the name and location of individual dealerships. These were probably ordered through Buick rather than sourcing them locally. I've seen the same fobs with many different dealership names printed on them. There is a "Valve-in-Head" fob currently listed on ebay, mounted on an old ribbon, but it is a reproduction fob. Yet another unmarked, chrome reproduction with a more reasonable starting bid is listed as a "rare early..." piece. If you look at other items for sale by the same individual there are a load of reproduction fobs for sale-every one of them listed as "rare" and "early." Perhaps they were made earlier that morning! Terry Thank you for that lesson on Buick fobs Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted July 1, 2021 Author Share Posted July 1, 2021 That fake Buick fob in Chrome that's been attached to an old ribbon continues to get listed on evil bay. Although the price has dropped over time, it's still no less a modern reproduction worth only a couple of bucks. Note the back of it has a simple cross-hatch pattern. Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert G. Smits Posted July 2, 2021 Share Posted July 2, 2021 I was at the Tulsa Advertising Show last weekend and only saw one fob for sale. Fake or Real? I thought it looked too perfect but what do I know!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted July 2, 2021 Author Share Posted July 2, 2021 13 minutes ago, Robert G. Smits said: I was at the Tulsa Advertising Show last weekend and only saw one fob for sale. Fake or Real? I thought it looked too perfect but what do I know!!! Photo of the back needed to answer your question. Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert G. Smits Posted July 2, 2021 Share Posted July 2, 2021 Now you know why I don't collect watch fobs. I will leave it to the experts but I do appreciate looking at them. This one was priced at $125 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMoneyPit Posted July 2, 2021 Share Posted July 2, 2021 (edited) At $125 it was quite expensive for even an original to anyone but a major Diamond Reo collector IMO. Here is a great 20’s Oakland fob on eBay is more likely to be under half of that… https://www.ebay.com/itm/203506653532 Edited July 2, 2021 by TheMoneyPit (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert G. Smits Posted July 3, 2021 Share Posted July 3, 2021 23 hours ago, TheMoneyPit said: At $125 it was quite expensive Exactly my thinking. At $50 I probably would have considered it as I had a great day selling. It did not sell. Reading this thread has been a learning experience. Thank you all . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMoneyPit Posted July 16, 2021 Share Posted July 16, 2021 I was very lucky that more collectors didn’t see this one listed on eBay as the seller put it in a Railroad category as a box car item. It’s the car emblem in miniature and as perfect as you could want in a fob. Made by L F Grammes in Allentown and a very scarce radiator emblem let alone watch fob which this is the first original I’ve seen. Every now and then you get exceptionally lucky, it cost just south of 1/4 what I bid! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted July 16, 2021 Author Share Posted July 16, 2021 Wow, that's a beauty!!! Congrats on your find. About a year ago I found a rare stick pin that had been listed incorrectly. It was a pin for the Firestone Colombus automobile but was listed as a "bicycle pin." I have a photo of that Standard fob from an on line auction a couple of years ago. It brought some big $$$. Terry 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now