Sunday I gave you a (perhaps not-too) brief over-view of the history of paint by numbers. Today, I bring you the reasons why such paintings were created in overwhelming numbers and are collected today.

Many will spout-off the notion that paint by numbers have always been the kitschy works of silly suburban conformists, but that’s simply not the case. Postwar life left the average person with more leisure time than ever before — and more money too. While passive spectator opportunities, like television, were a-plenty, the old “idle hands” mantra left many people equating leisure with laziness and wishing for something to do.

Karal Ann Marling, Professor of Art History and American Studies at the University of Minnesota, has written several books about the sensibilities of the 1950s. In As Seen on TV: The Visual Culture of Everyday Life in the 1950s she paints the PBN trend as an outgrowth of World War II hobby-ism rather than an a sign of conformity:

National surveys taken in the 1930s, when the Depression curtailed spending on equipment and travel, disclosed a sedentary pattern of recreation: respondents were reading magazines and listening to the radio and visiting with friends. What they really wanted to do, however, was to play tennis and golf, plant a garden, go swimming or skating. In the 1940s, wish became reality. Between 1947 and 1953, revenues for spectator sports and amusements showed a marked dip, despite increases in population and income and the insatiable demand for TV sets. …Market research proved that it was the heaviest TV-watchers who were liable to be most interested in painting a still life or reupholstering the living room sofa. Power tools and other do-it-yourself accessories were a $12 billion industry by the end of the decade; $30 million more went for amateur art supplies. “There seems to be a major trend away from passive, crowd amusements toward active pursuits that people can carry on independently,” concluded a highly regarded study of this “Changed America” with plenty of time on its hands.

More than other pastimes which grew during this time (such as collecting!), the do-it-yourself spirit was also a way for man, woman and child to find his or her way in this new world. It was non-conformist:

Do-it-yourselfism, in particular, was the last refuge for the exercise of control and competence in a world run by the bosses and the bureaucrats. It was a throwback, a rebuke to a buy-it-in-a-box world of TV dinners and ready-made everything.

As Michael Kimmelman wrote in Art View; Painting by Numbers: How Bad Was It?, “Paint-by-numbers enthusiasts and Abstract Expressionists alike were affected by the same 50’s Zeitgeist: the tension between social strictures and personal freedom.”

And Klein knew it too. He was very selective in choosing the designs for Craft Master paint by number kits. Dan Robbins, Craft Master’s head designer, said this to The New York Times in 2001:

“Mr. Klein placed his bets instead on the postcard scenes and calendar art of barns in Maine, and fair-faced collies, pigtailed Indian princesses and coolies in China-the pictures that America saw and smiled at when it closed its eyes to the realities of a nuclear age, urban sprawl and a growing multiculturalism. And masterpieces: though 90 percent of the art was original, reproductions likeda Vinci’s “Last Supper” were best-sellers.

Painting now could be an enjoyable pastime, a therapeutic outlet; not only reserved for the trained and talented.

However, painting by a kit was a very American idea.

Marling says paint by numbers were, “the most American thing you can imagine in that you package up everything you need in a box instead of going through lengthy instruction in how to paint or how to mix colors. It was a personal experience for the painter.” She continued, “You could almost call it supermarket Freudianism.”

But you don’t have to take our word for it; in 2001, the Smithsonian had an exhibit on paint by numbers.

While PBN collecting began in the 80’s, the Smithsonian exhibit has given quite a boost to PBN collector cred — and to the prices of paintings themselves.

Naturally, the original designs of Dan Robbins are the most valuable. Printed on canvas (actually material made for window shades), these 36 designs are gaining respectability in the fine art world. But other works by artists such as Adam Grant can fetch hundreds of dollars too. Paint by numbers can also be collected by theme, with nudes, ballerinas, French scenes & celebrity paintings typically bringing the highest dollars.

Some collectors are in love with paint by numbers for the historical reason; others for the artistic ones.

Yes, artistic.

Does the fast rate automatically negate the possibility of first rate? Pletan collectors would have to say, “No.” And as Marling said, “It doesn’t make a damn bit of difference if they made a million of these sets; each person had an individual experience painting them.” And it shows.

While some object to the stamped boards of sameness which are to be painted according to ordained rules, we PBN collectors know that many did paint outside the lines, adding images, painting over what they didn’t like, or otherwise personalizing their works. And even when folks didn’t, they still produced unique folk art pieces. The kits may have been mass produced, but individuals created each painted piece.

Some of us PBN fans collect for both the history and the art itself. Which is why I’m not certain of the fate of this 1963 Craft Master paint by number we scored at a garage sale earlier this summer. We might paint it; we might not.

Many say that the paint by number hey-day is long over. They claim the it’s-not-art-it’s-conformism of the 60’s marks the official time of death for paint by numbers; yet the kits continue to be painted — and continue to be made. Check out kits by Bubbles The Artist (additional kits at Bubbles & Cheesecake), and the personalized paint-by-number kits from your photos, available at 1-2-3 ART. Paint by numbers even inspired fabric design.

And we collect them with a passion. We don’t hide them either. Why would we?

Can’t get enough of paint by numbers?

Along with the links here and in part one, check out the following resources:

• Le Salon de Paint By Numbers
• The new Paint By Number Museum
• Paint By Number: The How-To Craze that Swept the Nation by William L. Bird, Jr., curator at the National Museum of American History and organizer of the 2001 Smithsonian exhibition of paint by numbers.
• Larry Rubin is PBN collector who puts out a quarterly newsletter called Paint-by-numbers. An annual subscription is $20. For more information, contact him at: Larry Rubin, 2100 N.E. 52 Court, Ft.Lauderdale. FL 33308; 954-267-0408: E-mail: rubin@pstcomputers. com

And if you are a PBN collector, why not show them off in the Collectors’ Quest Community? I’d love to see ‘em!

All images are photos from my small collection — I’ll be adding more, soon.

Once upon a time it was unheard of to hold a rummage sale if you didn’t have a record turntable for sale; I believe some families had to go down to a thrift shop and obtain one just to sell it, just to get the tag-sale credibility. For that reason, for many years I would only buy a turntable in absolute prime condition — and it was usually dirt cheap. As time went on, much like the ubiquitous Apple ][e, those sellers who had one to part with had already sold it. Supplies of old turntables dwindled to the point where in the past two years we started to buy any turntable we saw, just out of fear that eventually they’d be no more. This tactic, however, means we bought a bunch of junk over the years…which ended up being used for spare parts (which I may write more about in the near future), but we’ve gotten pretty good at only buying valid record players these days.

First, let’s look at a couple ‘eras’ of turntables:

1. Pre-1960s: This was the time of 10″ 78rpm records, and a lot of custom turntable construction. These are often very stylish by modern standards, designed to be a piece of decorative furniture rather than an audio accessory. Collectors of old electronics are happy to put the time and effort into restoring these vacuum-tube-driven machines, but a vinyl collector should stay away. Even if an old turntable has a 33-1/3 rotation speed, a 78rpm needle is going to tear up your albums; these are for the collector who knows what they’re looking for.
2. 1960s-1970s: The advent of microgroove vinyl and new cheaper mechanics brought out machines with more interchangeable parts and broader speed capabilities. The “drop-in” turntable is the most common to be found — an audio manufacturer would produce the electronics (amplifier, radio, etc.) but the actual turntable would be manufactured separately by a company like BSR and ‘dropped in’ to their stereo system. These tended to be cheaper quality than the high-end audio, but were often built with durability in mind. Don’t be surprised to see turntables with speeds from 16rpm up to 78 rpm; many had a ‘flip needle’ that accommodated both the smaller microgroove needle and the larger 78rpm needle.
3. 1980s and up: Before CDs took complete hold, cheap stereos included a record player for completeness sake…but most were of such poor quality and relied on so much plastic that they were of little use to an audiophile. On the other end, high quality turntables with variable speed control and strobe rpm indicators were available even in mid-range equipment. This period, however, dropped all speeds but 45 and 33-1/3 rpm. Modern vinyl collectors without need for 78s are going to be much more satisfied with a 1980s Pioneer turntable than a BSR drop-in from the 1970s.

As you can see, collectors of 78rpm records should stick to eras #1 and #2, while modern vinyl should stick to #2 and #3…but switch hitters are stuck with #2 to get a useful turntable. Collectors of 78s wishing to actually play back their lacquer disks should probably look for a turntable from the 1960s, though; the older turntables were often quite hard on the records played back on them due to primitive needle materials, but about the time that vinyl records began to dominate the market turntable manufacturers had improved on the earlier machines significantly. The flip needle is a must for collectors of both 78s and 33rpm albums: it was possible at the time (and quite often with modern ‘78rpm’ turntables) that the needle had to be physically replaced depending on the groove width. The flip needle ingeniously had two needles mounted opposite each other, and the cartridge was designed to allow the needle to switch sides via a little lever. Even if your turntable doesn’t have a flip-needle, the entire cartridge can be replaced for relatively low cost.

Replacing the cartridge may be a good idea no matter which turntable is purchased, even newer ones. A rummage-sale turntable needle may have been use well beyond its intended age, and could potentially damage your albums. A visual inspection can help identify severely damaged needles, but such an inspection cannot always be trusted. When picking out a rummage sale turntable, examine the tonearm head to see if the cartridge looks replacable: if the needle and cartridge is molded into the tone arm, or if there are soldered-on wires, skip the turntable; it may be harder to find a needle that fits than to get a new cartridge. Because the cartridge does all of the work of changing the vinyl’s groove into sound, being able to replace or improve it can be the difference between a junky record player and a high-quality turntable. I’ve also found that even similar-looking needles are not interchangeable — but if you buy the cartridge with a needle, not only are you certain you’ve got the right needle, but you’re certain what cartridge you’re using for ordering replacement needles in the future. While the cartridges are more resilient than the needle, at the age of most used turntables I’ve found more damaged cartridges than I ever expected to encounter. If you’re going to replace the cartridge, you can expect to spend from $10 to $30 for the low-end, but as with most audiophile equipment if you’ve got deep pockets you can always find something better.

After checking out the needle, the next important part is the turntable motor. Best bet is to ask the garage sale proprietor if you can plug it in. You don’t need a record album, you don’t need speakers — you just want to turn it on, see if it spins up smoothly and quickly, and if it switches speed when selected. Unless you know your turntables well, it may be difficult to tell if a turntable is direct-driven or belt-driven. A belt-driven turntable may just need a new belt if it doesn’t turn, but a direct-drive platter that doesn’t turn can be a more serious repair. I have bought slow-turning turntables that just needed a cleaning and greasing to bring back to speed, which might not be too bad if you’re comfortable disassembling a turntable, so it is always best to spend your money on one that requires the least amount of work. Aside from replacing a belt, the turntable mechanism is the most important aspect of buying a second-hand turntable, because replacing it basically means buying a new turntable. A good turntable platter and motor can be improved with a new cartridge and needle with little effort or cost, but no cartridge can improve a bad motor or damaged platter. If there’s any hint that the turntable motor, speed control, or other mechanical mechanisms aren’t working, the turntable should probably be left where it is.

One more consideration is the player’s accouterments. A turntable can come in two main forms: as part of a self-contained stereo system, or as a component. A component system is the simplest machine — in fact, they rarely contain any electronics at all. With these, however, you will need an appropriate amplifier that can handle a turntable’s signal. Modern amplifiers quite often lack a turntable input, so a separate preamplifier may be required. Record players that are part of a stereo system can be handy if you want simplicity, but the additional electronics can make it more trouble than it is worth if something like the volume knob has a noisy connection or there’s a short in the radio switch. The all-in-one stereo systems are more likely to end up in my parts pile than the component turntables do. If you are going to buy a console system, avoid ones without a recording output — a “tape out” connector on the back of a console stereo can still be connected to another stereo system, or to your computer for recording.

Because the basic structure of a turntable hasn’t changed much in the past fifty years, a nice, working turntable from the 1960s can rival the quality of a modern one, as long as care is taken to make sure to buy a sturdy, working, repairable turntable.

 
We had a wonderful Father’s Day celebration at our home and invited a few folks who had not been here before. So, they got the 25 cent tour (we gave them credit toward the cost of their drinks – Ha!) One of the ladies asked me about my mermaid collection and how it started. I was perplexed, I had not thought of this as a collection. But as hubby says, more than three…

So I wracked my brain to recall my first mermaid item. Then it hit me! My mother-in-law gave me a pin about 25 years ago. It’s sterling and has an abalone center and detailing around the rim. When you look closely, you’ll see a fish and there she is, a mermaid! I think she is charming and wear her often.

Another time we were traveling with friends to North Carolina and stopped at an art fair. The ‘artiste’ had a lot of sea-worthy items and this mermaid pin in metal was a must-have item.

A vacation in Florida netted me a pair of silver earrings and matching ring. They are a lot of fun as well.

Then I came across this lovely Bing & Grondahl plate. It shows a mermaid perched on a rock with a sailboat in the water. Marked Den Lille on the back. This is Danish for “Little Mermaid” and was from a story by Hans Christian Andersen, first published in 1837! It’s the lovely fairy tale of a mermaid who wants to give up the sea, gain a human soul and the love of a human prince. It sure has a familiar ring to it – ahhh, that’s because Walt Disney made it into the movie with Ariel as the star!

A short time later I found this little mermaid on a rock (at a yard sale) and you must admit, they truly complement each other.

We took an “antiquing” trip to Illinois recently and hit a few rummage sales. That’s where I found this beautiful figurine It has the look of expensive glass and ivory, but it is a simple plastic but so nicely done. She sits next to my shell collection in the sun-room, the light shining through the ‘waves’ at her back.

And just a few days ago, I came across this little ‘treasure chest’, actually a trinket box, made of medal and featuring an anchor and heart and mermaid on the front. How cool is that?

Before writing this article, I checked Wikipedia and found out a lot more about the enchanting sirens of the sea. Said to be a legendary aquatic creature with the head and torso of human female and the tail of the fish; the male version is called a merman. The first known mermaid stories appeared in Assyria circa 1000 B.C. The story goes that Atargatis, the mother of Assyrian Queen Semiramis, was a goddess who loved a mortal shepherd and in the process killed him! Ashamed, she jumped into a lake to take the form of a fish, but the waters would not conceal her divine beauty. Thereafter, she took the form of a mermaid-human above the waist, fish below. There are numerous other stories from one in the Arabian Knights to some in British folklore. Makes for fascinating reading.

They say they are mythical, but some of us, who still await a viewing of a unicorn, are not sure. What I AM sure about is that they would be friendly, not vengeful as some are thought to be. You can find fantastic paintings on the subject, such as this one by John William Waterhouse entitled “A Mermaid” Maybe I should drop a hint for the next ‘gift-giving-occasion! Probably won’t get the original, but a print would be lovely!

Mermaids are such charming creatures, very sexual! I’ll continue to reel in more mermaid collectibles whenever possible and that’s no “tall tail.” Love to hear about your mermaid collection!

Being a soft-hearted collector with limited space and an even more limited wallet, it often becomes necessary to limit yourself.  Failing that, it’s time for the spouse to play Bad Cop and place the limits on you.  (It’s OK, because I do it in return.)

A recent example was a trip to a local thrift shop.  I spied this old plastic terrier figurine.

An inexpensive model — literally.  With snap-together plastic pieces, obvious hand-painting, and a foil label stating the breed (because sloppy painting may render the dog unrecognizable), it must have been made from a model kit.  I imagined it to be a child’s craft kit, perhaps even a scouting project.  Very charming.

But at $5, I just couldn’t justify it… Especially once hubby & I had already reached our agreed upon budget.  (Not that it stopped me from mentioning it at the check-out counter — just in case…)

While I waited for our items to be wrapped up, I made one last pass at the (usually uninteresting) domestics isles near the counter.  There, amid the typical mugs and vases, was a mate (as in a friend, nor for actual breeding purposes) for the terrier.

An adorable little basset hound, clearly from the same modeling kit or series.

I again whimpered, hoping my brown eyes would be as beguiling as a real basset’s; but he was taking his role as Bad Cop seriously.

:sigh:

Again, I couldn’t argue with him.  This doggie was $8 (though I could see no reason why he’d be priced higher), bringing the pair of pooches to $13 (half our day’s budget).  But I did argue, in that muttering under-breath way to no one in particular, why the two dogs had not been placed together.  If they had, I might have spotted them earlier — before selecting other items and spending my meager allowance.

Oh well, today it was not to be.

On the way home, I pondered how the two vintage plastic dogs would fare sitting on my shelf of doggie items… Like a trip to the kennel, I couldn’t take them all home and I missed them already.

Hubby tried to cheer me up, reminding me that I don’t really collect dogs (debatable) and that they weren’t very nice or particularly valuable.  He meant that in the sense that they were inexpensive knick-knacks which were supposed to have a small, temporary, life in a kid’s room, and that they weren’t very old, made perhaps as recently as the 60’s.  While I half-heartedly argued the fact that they would be at least 40 years old (too close to my own age for me to feel comfortable pronouncing them “old”), I was more passionate about the fact that their very value lay in their short life-expectancy — and their crude, childish paint-job.

He knows this; I was preaching to the choir. Worse yet, I was preaching to the designated Bad Cop, making him The Bad Guy, and myself a petulant brat. He was trying to make me feel better; I was making him feel worse.  ‘Cuz it’s not like he doesn’t indulge me most of the time… As often as our collective wallet allows.

Like my $3.50 “must have” purchase (rescue) of this vintage red plastic Electric Eye Doggie called “My Pal.”

A broken, vintage red plastic dog.  For as you can see, he’s not only missing his switch of a tail, but his tummy-plate (& possibly additional electronic guts).

Which is exactly why he was priced at just 10% (or less) of his supposed collector’s value.

But I had to have him, imperfections and all.  He makes my tail wag.

Call me barking-mad; I love thinking about the parents who entrusted him to watch over their children — children who in turn enjoyed and loved him.

I cannot help but think he’d like to sit with those other less-than-perfect pups discarded by now-grown children… Maybe we’ll go back again this weekend & they will still be there — with lowered prices, yet.

As many of our readers know, I am an active seller on ebay, have a booth in an antique mall and set up at flea markets. I love to find unique items, especially advertising pieces, unusual bits of metalware, watch fobs, and jewelry. Ah, jewelry, that’s always difficult because I get attached to it and have a hard time divesting myself of its loveliness. But, most of the times I do let go. There are times that I wear it for a while, then sell it. But please do not tell my friends who think I have an ‘endless supply’ and copious amounts of “bling.”

The values of gold, silver and platinum have skyrocketed as of late and we see ads all the time saying ‘we’ll buy your old jewelry, watches, coins’ – followed by testimonials from old ladies who sold their unwanted ‘family jewels’ for a lot of money. They boast of huge profits from selling off brooches that had not been worn for years, long-forgotten pocket watches and rings that were sitting in the drawer. While I do understand that in today’s economy we can all use some extra money, it still makes me sad to think that most of it will be melted down for the precious metal content. It makes me recall my inheritances from family members that have passed on and how I love wearing them and sharing stories of family to anyone who will listen.

My first piece of ‘valuable jewelry’ was from one of my favorite aunts, Aunt Marion. Her husband, Fred, was my dad’s brother and when I graduated from high school, she gave me a beautiful aquamarine ring! Marion had an ‘elderly/spinster’ aunt who was perceived as being dirt poor. Marion and Fred would take her groceries every Sunday and have her over for dinner on a regular basis. She lived in a small one bedroom apartment and when she died, they went to straighten things out. It turns out that she was not that ‘destitute’ after all but had squirreled away a lot during her lifetime. Included in her ‘estate’ were two mink coats, one with tags on it, numerous expensive ball gowns and box after box of jewelry! Many of the pieces were top quality. Marion and her sisters were the only heirs and items were distributed equally. I treasure this stunning ring to this day and always smile when I retell that story!

Another piece that was passed on to me was this gorgeous ring from another aunt, my mom’s sister, Molly. This was her engagement ring, which we were told was made especially for her by her husband-to-be’s uncle, who was a jeweler. The little cameo has been replaced because it cracked and crumbled, but it has a truly beautiful setting and the heart always reminds me of her. She was a charming lady!

This ring came from my husband’s Aunt Dayla. She had a very interesting life. She married very young and hubby died in the military service in WWI. She remarried and he, too, passed on quite early. He left her an insurance policy which was the first real money she’d ever had. So, she bought a mink coat, this diamond ring, and a few other baubles, then, alas, was ‘poor’ again. She married a third time and that lasted over 50 years. The great irony is that when he saw her all ‘gussied up’ in her mink and jewels, he thought she was rich and began courting her – only to his surprise down the road! She was always very nice to us and when she became sickly, at age 90, she told my mother-in-law that I should have the ring. And I wear it proudly, often with a smile for the lady with the three husbands.

My plan is to pass these on to my daughters and will be sure to include the stories!

I had a decision to make a while ago regarding a cane I purchased at an estate sale. It had a gold-filled top with a well-known symbol of the Masonic Fraternal Group. It was dedicated to a Lodge Member, a presentation piece, with a date from the early 1900s. A friend in the business said I could get $250-$300 for the top by selling to a coin shop. I was tempted, but instead listed it on ebay. I wanted it to go to someone who would appreciate it for the fact it was from the Masons. While I did not realize the top-dollar my friend suggested it was worth, I found out it was going to a Lodge member and that made me very happy.

I recently purchased this incredible Victorian slide necklace. As is common, I thought I would wear it a few times, then list it on ebay. But when I got it home, I noticed the dedication on the back. It reads “From Theodore July 3 ‘78.” And that was 1878! I wondered about Theodore and his girlfriend or wife. Were they married? Was this an engagement gift? Was July 3^rd a special date for them, perhaps a birthday or anniversary? How could someone sell this rather than passing it on to the next generation? And also, how can I sell this knowing it will be put into a melting furnace and lost forever? These are questions I will never have the answers to. This purchase has presented a bit of a dilemma. In actuality, it means nothing to me or my family. I have no ‘moral obligation’ and should have no problem with selling it for profit. And yet, I am reluctant do so.

So, while I appreciate that I can make some money from the sale of this necklace, I think I’ll hang onto it – maybe I should make up some incredible, epic love story for the ‘folks to follow’ about this being a gift from a great-uncle to his fiance. They’d enjoy that.