The Aluminist: $1786.82 for my book?

The Aluminist: $1786.82 for my book?: I couldn't stop laughing when I was told there was one of my books on Amazon for $1786.82. It had to be a joke or a mistake so I se...

$1786.82 for my book?

I couldn't stop laughing when I was told there was one of my books on Amazon for $1786.82. It had to be a joke or a mistake so I searched and found nothing but ordinary prices.

But the listing is really there! Google 'Amazon Dannie Woodard', and it appears—and it's not only one listing, there are two.

Neither one shows a  photo of the book, which seems a little strange, considering the price. However,  according to the title shown, it appears to be the first book, Hammered Aluminum - Handwrought Collectibles but it mistakenly shows only my name as the author. Billie Wood's name, the co-author of that book, is  not shown. There is no description of the contents.

It's a bit strange, don't you agree? Someone must have misplaced a decimal. Surely those sellers don't expect to receive that price,   although it was very popular, and is now out of print. So what is the purpose of these listing? An off- chance gamble like winning Lotto? A fun competition to see who has the nerve to ask the highest price?

I took the above photo as proof of the listing, but I'll make-do with my old copies, and leave my shopping basket empty.

Have a good laugh and enjoy the puzzle.


Dannie

1. Follow up: a friend has made an inquiry. Expect a lower price to be listed soon. Hope none of you have placed an order.

The Aluminist: Hello all!!!The Aluminist has been in hibernati...

The Aluminist:
Hello all!!!

The Aluminist has been in hibernati...: Hello all!!! The Aluminist has been in hibernation, but has answered numerous questions and received a few photos of interesting piec...

Hello all!!!

The Aluminist has been in hibernation, but has answered numerous questions and received a few photos of interesting pieces of aluminum. These were neatly filed until an upgrade in my system made a mix-up in my  records that I'm still working on.

The Aluminist has mainly featured decorative aluminum of the hammered style, but aluminum has been so widely used that collecting possibilities are endless. Some very modernist furniture made more than 50 years ago, is the choice of some; smaller items such as kitchen tools and utensils are collected by others.And the list goes on.

Many years ago, when a group shared their  interest is preserving a sampling of all things made of aluminum, a very large collection of aluminum items resulted. Recent correspondence discloses the problem many l. arge worthwhile collections are facing. My response was not much help, I fear, but perhaps some of you might have some idea, so I'm passing on two letters from the Massena  aluminum collecting group.  

The letter:

As you may recall, I corresponded with you a couple of years ago regarding the collection of the Massena Aluminum Historical Association (past emails appended below).  Recently, I have learned that we will be losing our display/storage space in the Town of Massena Museum.  I have just about 100 hammered aluminum items, as well as many other aluminum items.  I was hoping that since our last emails, you might have some thought of a museum, historical society or other that I could donate our hammered items to.  I assume that they are not particularly rare or valuable, but do show some variety of manufacturers, designs and types of items.  I would like to keep them together if at all possible and preserved (and hopefully displayed).  If I am unable to find a place to donate them to, or (less preferable) sell them, I will have to scrap them.  I would appreciate it if you had any ideas of any place that would be interested at all in a donation of this collection, or even a few items.  Thank you. 

Joseph Savoca

josephsavoca@hotmail.com

sites.google.com/site/massenaaluminum

What could I say?

Despite ten aluminum shows, two books that followed mine, and numerous articles, and hundreds of collectors hunting aluminum items, we have failed to establish this product of the 30s-50s in its rightful place as an unique craft of our country; one whose roots reach back to the metalworking skills of ancient times. It is a product of the Depression years; began as completely hand made, survived WWll, and entered the industrial age where its quality was reduced until it  gradually lost it charm and beauty.

Aluminum is not a precious metal. The quality of the items produced in its final years resembled cheap souvenir items. Those two things have marked it. No one but its collectors remember the artistry, the perfection of its hand work, or its history. The letter below was an earlier one, and gives some background information on the organization. 

From Joseph Savoca:

 I represent.  The Association was started 26 years ago by my father.  Massena is the home of the       longest continuously operating aluminum smelting plant in the world.  A canal and associated hydroelectric power dam were built in 1903, with Alcoa operating here ever since.  Additionally, with the construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway and hydroelectric power dam in 1959, Reynolds Metals and General Motors located in Massena.  My father wished to preserve the history of these three aluminum industries since they were vital to the employment and economic development of the area.  He was able to collect product samples from Alcoa, including wire, rod and bar, cable and cable accessories, company and plant newsletters, employee records, and other memorabilia;  ingot and billet slices from Reynolds;  and aluminum automobile parts from General Motors, including complete Corvair and Vega engines.  Additionally, the Association has collected a variety of consumer products (although not made at Massena) including many Wear-Ever and Kensington and other manufacturers;  and even some aluminum items made by machinists at Alcoa in their "spare time" at work.  The Association has a declining membership and funds and we are looking to donate our entire collection to the local municipal museum to ensure its continued existence.  I am afraid that the museum may accept the collection but dispose of much or all of it.  We have never done a rigorous inventory of our collection and the museum may not wish to take on the work necessary to completely catalog it.  Therefore, I am attempting to gather as much background information and reference material as possible to help the museum catalog the collection if they choose to accept it.  I am hoping that you (or your readers) may be able to offer some advice on procedure or additional information sources concerning the consumer products.

I thank you for your consideration and any advice that you may be able to offer.

There you have it—another worthwhile collection in trouble. It appears there may be some items that that might of interest to some of you, or you may have a helpful suggestion. I wish Mr. Savoca luck in completing his inventory and getting this collection protected. Also well deserved thanks for all he and his group has done toward preserving part of aluminum's history.

Dannie Woodard

The Aluminist: The Hook

The Aluminist: The Hook: Everlast Motifs When I bought my first piece of aluminum I had no intention of buying more. But I did. Again and again. Fifty ye...

The Hook

Everlast Motifs

When I bought my first piece of aluminum I had no intention of buying more. But I did. Again and again. Fifty years later I can still be tempted, but not easily.

This group of plates below, is another happenstance. I saw one, liked it, and since the price was right, bought it.  Look what happened!

These do not represent all of the Everlast Company's motifs. Spring Flowers, Bali Bamboo, Jack in the Pulpit, Sports  and several versions of Rose are missing. On the other hand, one or two of these plates have motifs I have not seen on any of the company's other products. Are there more plates with other motifs? I'm curious. Has anyone else been hooked by these unique old plates. I'm curious

A stack of these fifteen plates are heavy! Although these are of a heavier gauge aluminum than later products, and the style of the plates looks like they might belong to the 40s, that is speculation on my part. The are not rare, although some motifs are more plentiful than others. The unnamed one, top row, left, is my latest addition.

Buttercup or Primrose

?

Berry-in circle

Berry

Siesta

Waterlily - Lotus

Pine

Fruits

Apple

  

sometimes called Parrot Tulip

Dsisies

                            

Wild Flowers

Rose Bouquet

Sails

Oasis - ?

The Aluminist: Starting again

The Aluminist: Starting again: Quadruple this and imagine what my collection  looked like over a year ago when I started taking pictures and selling on eBay. Then in the...

Starting again

Quadruple this and imagine what my collection  looked like over a year ago when I started taking pictures and selling on eBay. Then in the midst of all the clutter I fell and broke my hip. Fortunately, with a good supply of photos on my computer I was able to continue listing pieces for sale, and almost all my sale items are gone - and even better, I am  walking unassisted most of the time. Life is certainly easier when a you're able to navigate without wheels.

Ebay has been interesting. There have been a number of interesting items appear. It has also been depressing to see the low prices. Now is the time for new collectors  to accumulate a nice collection.

I have been contacted by numerous heirs to large collections, needing advice on the best way to dispose of their inherited collections. Somehow, these will gradually find their way into the marketplace. In fact, I was supposed to inherit the collection of one of our long-time Aluminist subscribers, but his heirs fired  his lawyer, disregarded the will, and did as they pleased. As I recall, there were some nice pieces and I hope they were not sold as scrape.

NOTES FROM COLLECTORS: Can anyone help with answers?

We have a coaster set with 3 acorns on a triangular shaped coaster. A group of 9 in a holder. Have not been able to find anything related to that design.

 I have a Palmer Smith aluminum shelf that is a wheat pattern Regency ? number 621

it has a hammered half circle shelf with 6 balls attached underneath Three small , three medium and three large wheat shafts support the shelf and gather togeather at the bottom with a ball then two small (3 1/2" ) pieces of wheat. It measures app 17" long 14" across inside half circle shelf is 11" X 5 1/2" Has 2 2" applied decorative brackets for hanging

Can you tell me anything about it?    

 I recently purchased on Ebay a hammered aluminum ice bucket, unsigned, but clearly Rodney Kent with the tulips and handle design.  The seller said the handles were black, which he thought was unusual, so he tested them for silver and they were positive for sterling .925.  I obviously can have the handles tested myself to verify upon its arrival, but have you ever known a Rodney Kent aluminum piece to be mixed with sterling silver handles?

*** Has anyone seen the prices on a complete Continental punch bowl set-bowl, tray, ladle & 12

       cups? The last one I saw was $500 in the leaf and acorn pattern. I’ve heard of one in the Wild

      Rose pattern for $285 that slight damage to the tray.

*** How about the price on Continental goblets in Chrysanthemum?

***Did Rodney Kent produce tumblers?

YOU MAY ALREADY KNOW THIS

William Freeman passed away at his home in Granada Hills, CA after a two-decade struggle with chronic renal disease.

Anne Sutherland, wife of Doug Sutherland passed away recently in Maryland.

Our condolences to the families of these old friends.

Hoping to be back soon,

Dannie