This is a common Showalter collectible.  It is a half pint cone.  It is usually purchased as is with no cap, but sometimes a seller will “jam” a cap into the unused cone.  They normally sell for $5–$15 but can go as high as $20.  This cones are similar to their older cousin the buttermilk cones in that they were either used in short supply or not used at all.  They are plentiful and often show up at bottle shows, antique markets, and on the web.

This desk was rescued from a garage in the back part of my grandparents property in Phoenixville.  It is slant top and was used to write on when ordering grain or feed or hay at the farm.  (At least that is my understanding!).  It is small to medium in size and features a hinged lid.  I guess it’s over 100 years old and is destined for my son.  He likes it a lot.

This is a valued possession in my parents house.  It connects us to the past.  It is an antique slant top desk that belonged to my great-grandfather Frank Davis Showalter, Sr.  It was probably late 1800’s.  It was stuffed with all types of papers–some of which are pictured on this blog.  It now sits in my parents house and is a real treasure.  Lots of nooks and crannies and drawers full of momentos.  I remember it from my childhood and now my son can treasure it for years to come!

What cool item to find in my parents’ basement on a recent cleaning.  This kitchen towel was personalized by someone with The Showalters on it in red.  Cool Bicentennial item.

We could tell by looking at this thermometer.  It is now in my parents’ house but at one time was on the door frame of Showalter’s Dairy Bar.  I have never seen another like it–most likely one of a kind!  Some rust but color is still bold and lettering is fine.  Picture is fuzzy–but this is a real nice advertising item

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I was Perkiomenville Flea Market about a month ago and spotted this gem.  My wife and I were able to negotiate it from $35 to $30.  When the dealer came over to take our money, he said he recognized me.  Turns out he purchased some Showalter items from me at a yard sale a few years ago.  He recognized me as a “family member” and said this was his last crate.  It is strongly built and wooden all around.  The graphic is sharp and strong and the inside is clean.  He knocked $5 off our price and we chatted.  He remembers fondly going to Showalter’s Ice Cream Store and enjoying it as a child.

Pot holder from Showalter’s Dairy.  A rare collectible–I’ve only seen a half dozen.  Two sided and unused.

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This post tickles me.  When was the last time you saw a flyer advertising MILK and the benefits.  In this day and age with lactose intolerance, soy milk, almond milk, and powdered milk, I can’t imagine a flyer this complex.

But here it is:  straight from the heyday of Showalter’s Dairy.  A fold out advertisement promoting the benefits of drinking milk.  Check out these amazing facts about Vitamin D Milk:

“Nature’s Ideal Food”

“Helps to prevent Rickets” (defective calcification of bones)

“builds teeth and bone”

“aids in the assimilation of calcium and phosphorus”

“helps build skeletal health”

It talks about science and  tests and reports and….it goes on and on!  Even boasts a badge from the American Medical Association.

Real or reproduction–it doesn’t matter–these spoons are unmistakably CREAM TOP SPOONS.  They would be used on a cream top bottle to scoop out the cream that rose to the top.  I have several spoons that are sturdy and say CREAM TOP on the handle and have fancy engraving and decorations.  They are the real McCoy.  Then there are the others that are plain with the words CREAM TOP on the handle.  These are reproductions.  I have dozens of those.  Either way, they command a pretty penny and are frequently found at milk bottle shows.

Sadly my grandfather died in 1980.  As I hear stories from my mother and father, I discover that my grandfather would have been called a “work-aholic” in today’s society.  He lived to work and worked to live.  He spent countless hours on the job and in his office at the dairy.  Some of my childhood memories would be of spending Sunday afternoons at my grandparent’s house in Phoenixville.  My brother and I would play or watch TV or play in the yard.  We liked to climb the big trees, climb on the white fence and look at the cows.  At around 4pm we would ready ourselves to go home.  Shortly before we left, my grandfather would leave the office and walked the twenty or so yards to the back door of the house.  He would mumble a “hello” and go in and eat his dinner.  Unfortunately, I don’t remember having a single conversation with him beyond that.

I was 10 years old when he died.  I didn’t know him well.  My mother said I could take something from the house that I would remember him by.  I took this wallet and one other bill fold.  I also was able to take a candy display from the store as well as many Showalter dairy collectibles mentioned throughout this blog.

RS stands for Russell Showalter.  He never actually used it.  It was still in the box and had the insert in it.  I use it only on special occasions.