Getting The Scoop On Spoon Collecting

First – Let me clear up one point on these souvenir spoons; while they are in my possession I do not collect spoons. They just seem to gather in a box down in my basement, between the hundreds of playing card decks, and the advertising ashtrays.  I’d sell them but that requires lots more work than just leaving them in the box.

As with many collectibles, spoons have a great following and several individual categories to fixate on.  I’ve identified a few examples to show you that are in my possession.  Most souvenir spoons are inexpensive, and very simple to display, making them an easy choice to start to collect.  I’ll limit this discussion to spoons specifically designed and sold as souvenirs. Sterling and silver plate collectors are for another time and another planet.

My first examples are World’s Fair spoons, with the bottom one from the 1939 New York Fair and the rest were 1933-34 Chicago (Century Of Progress). Well designed, with location illustrations in the bowls and other features on the handles.  Because I have so many of these, accumulated with no concentrated effort, they must be very plentiful, at least in the area around Chicago.

The next grouping represents historic figures from Actors to Presidents, and no, I have none with Ronald on the handle. These represent several series of spoons and full collections would be quite the adventure in detective work to locate. The spoons are Left To Right: 1)George Washington, Father Of The Country; 2)Norma Shearer, famous screen star and Oscar winner -1930, The Divorcée; 3)Ramon Novarro, Silent Screen Actor, The Latin Lover; 4)Thomas Jefferson, Third President; 5)Gene & Glenn, Quaker Early Birds, 1930s Radio Stars; 6)Richard Dix, Actor in Silent Films; and 7)James Madison,the Fourth President.

The third grouping,  most common and diversified are the location spoons. While I have some early examples, this catagory of spoons gained great popularity with the automobile traveling public especially after WW-II.  Many examples were very cheaply made and sold at every gift shop and gas station along major routes.  Look for the best quality examples, or from lesser known attractions and off the beaten path locations.  Here is my assemblage from a “states” collection: Top:Montana,  Left To Right; Connecticut; Maine; New Jersey; Ohio; Texas; Michigan; Nebraska; and Georgia. 

My last collection, and I have grouped together some oddities here. In No Order: India Tea (Advertising Scoop) Continental Hotel Fork; The Golden Door pickle fork; Hilton spoon; London House Spoon; Bell System Spoon; Karp’s forkand on the Right is Puss & Boots. Also there are flatware pieces from several airlines, spoons and knives and a fork from when airlines served real meals, and used metal utensils, back when airlines flew on time and you didn’t remove your shoes till after the plane was in the air.

As with any good collectible, collector clubs are dedicated to the cause of helping individuals gain knowledge of their specialty and foster comradeship among the faithful.  Here are some sites for your inspection and include links to further help your collecting quest.

I’ll look forward to hearing from our readers if spoons are on your collecting plate.

http://www.souvenirspoons.com/scsc/index.htm

http://www.campanian.org/americanspoon.html

http://www.souvenirspoons.com/nscg/