Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Aunt Jemima and Me


As a little girl growing up in Parma, Ohio I have some very vivid memories of places my folks would take me and my brother out to eat.


One of them was a pancake house and at the door there was a lively woman dressed as Aunt Jemima. I always thought she looked like she would give good hugs!’ I was pretty little and she seemed really big. :)


AuntJemima


I thought it was called Aunt Jemima’s, but I don’t think so…..maybe Uncle John’s????? I have no idea….


When my Mom passed she had a set of cute salt and pepper shakers that were Aunt Jemima and Uncle Mose. I often wondered where she got them! And then looking thru a wonderful book on kitchen collectibles that I have, I saw this ad from 1951…


AJ Pancakes 1




I have always been a huge fan of food company premiums. They are the different items you can save labels, boxtops, etc , add less than a dollar in most cases and you get a fun premium! They were very popular in the 40’s, 50’s 60’s and then again in the 80’s.


So this is where my S&P shakers came from! According to this same book, this is what they can be worth:


AJ Pancakes 2


Yes, that’s right $55-$75.00!!!! Now I don’t think that is accurate, but I am pretty sure mine are in good shape…very little paint loss, and never used that I remember.


And who wouldn’t just LOVE a set of those birthday candle holders!


Here is my set….


AJ4


AJ5 BACKS


As you can see, they look pretty good! It states on the back of them, Aunt Jemima and Uncle Mose. I wonder if that is suppose to be Moses??? If I have a “mistake” set they could be worth thousands!!!! NOT! I have never used these, and don’t plan to…somehow it seems wrong that a condiment should come out the top of a person’s head! LOL


Do you have some favorite premiums that you have collected over the years? Maybe that would be a good weekly group to start up.! :):)


The name of the book I own is Spiffy Kitchen Collectibles by Brian A. Alexander. I am not sure it is still for sale, but I am sure Amazon would be the place to start looking, or Ebay! :)



29 comments:

Lisa said...

So cool! I love them too, esp. 50's ones!!!Enjoy yours!
Hugs, Lisa

Heidi Ann said...

To this day, I still love sending away for things. My favorite recent one is a wonderful little stainless steel colander from Nature Sweet Tomatoes. I use it every day!

Pink Roses and Teacups said...

Sandy,

You have the coolest stuff!! I have never heard of these. That would be a fun party with all the premium things.

Debbie from NJ

Angela said...

I have seen those sell for that in the past. With the economy like it is and with the changes is popularity of some collectibles, I'm not sure what they would go for now. I recently bought a pair at an estate sale for 50 cents. Whoo-hoo!! And a matching recipe box a couple of years ago for 10 cents! It's book value is $135. They are cute and fun.

NanE said...

First OMG, my Grandma had a set exactly like those! Oh how I would love to have them now!

Second OMG, I did not know you grew up in Parma! Do you remember Gouhlardie? (sp?) The guy on TV that played the old movies, wore the white lab coat and the wild wig and blew up toy cars with firecrackers?

Cherry Chick said...

Sandy,
What a great share for Rednesday. I remember my my collecting S&H Greenstamps I think it was. I don't recall what she ever got with them though. I just remember putting them in the stamp books for her. Soooooo....Looonnnnggg...Agoooo.
´*•.¸(´*•.¸♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´
♥•.*.Thank you.*.•♥
♥•.*.from Vicki.*.•♥
¸.•*´(¸.•*´♥´*•.¸)´*•.¸

nannykim said...

Oh I just love this post!!!! It does bring back memories! Man oh man, I would use them!!! (hey, you could pretend it was dandruff and lice!) Ha, just had to say that! nannykim from spindlecottage etc

nannykim said...

ps it is Uncle Mose --you can read about it at amazon . Here is a link, but I am not sure it will work: http://www.amazon.com/Mammy-Uncle-Mose-Collectibles-Stereotyping/dp/0253208815

craftyles said...

Sandy,
I love those and it does bring back memories of saving box tops from cereal to send in for some little toy that I had to have! Thanks for the memories!

Unknown said...

This congers up tons of memories! We so looked forward to those pancakes every Sat./Sun. as wee ones. The vintage treasures are quite valuable now.

TY for sharing, love it.
Have a beautiful day ~
TTFN ~ Hugs, Marydon

Ann said...

What a lovely set of salt and pepper shakers! Sounds like you have some wonderful memories attached to them. Glad that you could find the history of them, too.
Fondly,
Ann
@
The Tattered Tassel

Marigene said...

I remember those salt and peppers from long ago when I was a kid!

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Very cool Sandy!
"Black" items can go for very good prices.
How nice to have the set with good memories.
Deb :)

LV said...

All you shared today are great treasure. Especially, the salt and pepper shakers. They are rare. So hang on to them. Enjoyed visiting with you today.

Bunnym said...

I collect Black Americana and my kitchen is chuck full of it. I will post some pics of some of it on more of Rednesday. It's good to know there are people who enjoy Red as much as me. Nice to have met you.

tootles,
bunny

Anonymous said...

Oh, these are adorable. How special. I just couldn't give them up regardless of their worth, unless, of course, it was an extreme necessity. I'm glad you are keeping them.

Thank you for stopping by my little corner today. Your blog is GORGEOUS. Love the colors. Happy Rednesday!

SueLovesCherries said...

Wow, Sandy, those are in great shape! It's a great thing that you found the ad, too!

Lemon Lane Studio said...

I remember going to the pancake house with the Aunt Jemima hostess. I can't recall the restaraunt name either. What a wonderful memory.

Susan Freeman said...

What adorable S&P's!!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Tamera's Craft Palace said...

I love them!!! I see these all the time locally for BIG BUCKS!!!

Anonymous said...

Fun! I recall seeing those growing up, too!

As a young bride, I cashed in my S&H Green Stampsand it made being a new little wifey so much fun!

I have some dishes that were like my moms- they were either grocery store or gas station premium dishes!

Twyla and Lindsey said...

Oh what a great set! I always loved the little glasses that came in the box of oatmeal. Have a nice day! Twyla

vivian said...

what a great set of shakers! I have a set of shakers that is a black boy (pepper shaker) eating watermelon (salt shaker). NOt very politically correct I'm afraid. I think some people might be alittle offended by them. In cany case, I love them and they are in my china cabinet... where I never see them!
hugs
vivian

Celestial Charms said...

Cute little shakers. That book looks mighty interesting. As a child, I always ate pancakes made with Aunt Jemima's boxed mix. Fond memories, of course!
Maureen

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

Very cool ! When I was young , Aunt Jemina Pancake mix & syrup was what my Mom used .
Blessings,
~Myrna

Diann said...

What a fun post to share today! Love it.

Jenny said...

Really, really cool! I loved these. But mostly I love the story attached to them.

Anonymous said...

What a great find and story to share.
I would make a copy of the ad to display along with the S&Ps.
We send away for all kinds of things with boxtops or UPCs, as well as hang onto prizes from inside.

Sandy at Teacup Lane said...

Oh, Sandy, I'm Sandy, too. I didn't know you grew up in Parma, OH. I grew up in the Cleveland area too. Back in the 50s and 60s when it wasn't "cool" we use to say only people from Parma wore white socks or had flamingos in their front yard. I don't know why but if I remember lots of folks had flamingos. Oh, one of your readers mentioned "Ghoulardie", a late night movie TV host from Cleveland. My oldest brother made all of us go down to the lake front and watch him jump out of an airplane back in the early 60s. My folks and my oldest brother worked at the General Motors plant in Brookpark, Ohio. I went to high school in Elyria. My hubby is from Westlake. We still have family there so we go "home" at least once a year sometimes more. I loved your post. Come over and visit me sometime.

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