Below are three things that belonged to my
Dad.
Top is a special handmade knife
Left-middle is a small transistor radio.
Bottom-right or opera glasses.
====
I LUV these!!! They are...
French opera glasses.
...probably made around the beginning of the 1900's
They were given to my father when he
was a young boy of about 10 or 12 (1911-1913) by a
"grandma" lady that had taken a fancy to my dad. He
told me she was always very nice to him and gave him
candy and other little things. He was very poor and she
was a lady of "Upper-middle class". When she was becoming
sick from some "old age ailment", she told my dad to "take
care" of these opera glasses for her that someday they might
become valuable. They are made of "mother of pearl" and
brass. They still work perfectly.
====
This was quite a "pride and joy" to my Dad. He would
take this radio almost everywhere. It would travel with
him in his coat pocket. Or set very close to his favorite
chair at home. Along with the radio would always be
the wired earplugs so that he could listen to sports
and not bother other people.
The cost at the time of purchase in the early 60's...$25.
This is equivalent to about $200 - now prices
It came with this leather snap-on case with a small
attached handle.
There was a turn dial on each side of the radio.
One changed the channels and the other turned
it on and adjusted the volume. Sadly, this radio
no longer works.
It sure looks fancy dressed only in it's shiney "gold"
vest-like speaker. I remember my Dad sitting in the
chair at home with his little radio sitting on the arm
of the chair. The boxing/fights were being broadcast
on the little radio, his ear leaned down close to listen. He
wasn't using the earplugs because...he was also watching
and half listening to a baseball game playing on the TV. Boy,
did my mom have more than a few complaining words to say
about this little scenario. =P
=====
This is a knife with a STORY to tell...
See how when the knife is tipped up it is like the curve
on a rocking chair leg? That is exactly the purpose
for which this blade was made... to rock as it was
tipped up and then rocking back down it would cut food.
Many times it was a piece of filet steak (my Dad's choice of
meat). Sometimes it would be vegetables or fruit.
This knife was special made by an iron smith/woodworker.
... just for my Dad.
The wood and metal of the knife are made from
old California railroad wood and metal of the 1940s.
I'm sure it could tell some historical tidbits,
if it could talk!
The man made the knife so it would be easier to cut food
with one hand. Usually, we hold the fork with our left hand,
and cut with a knife in the left (being we are right handed).
But, if you don't have a left hand to put a fork in, it's almost
impossible to cut your food. It is, however possible with a
... really sharp rocking knife.
My Dad lost his left arm, half way between the elbow and shoulder,
when he was 17. He had an accident while working at one of
the early California oil derricks.
He used this knife at every meal at home. When we went out to
dinner or over to someone's house to eat, my Mom would carry
the knife in a cotton hankie in her purse.
If he didn't have the knife, someone would have to cut
most of his food for him. The knife gave him a way to do for
himself and avoid the attention toward his only having one arm
======
Thank YOU so much for your patience in reading through
the many words that describe how some special vintage items
are woven through my life...
