How to Identify Any Vintage Object

The clock obsession continues here on BackGarage.  No doubt you’ve seen this fine specimen and thought to yourself, “How do I get me one?”

We think this about a lot of vintage stuff — we don’t know what it is, so mainly we ignore it, and hope we’ll one day stumble across it for under $200.  But it’s pretty easy, no matter what you’re trying to identify, to use to interwebs to pinpoint it so you can search it out and get it cheap.

Once again, it’s a matter of keywords.  In the case of this clock:

I don’t know the maker, so I start with trying to identify parts I can describe using terms common to everybody.  Besides the obvious (clock, retro, etc.), I start with the one identifying feature: the base.

The base is similar to that of an iconic staple of mid-century design.  Do you recognize it?

Ah!  Pedestal base!  So I try searching “pedestal clock” or “pedestal base clock” on eBay and Etsy and while I’m close, I come up empty handed.  There are a few things on eBay, but all contemporary, Disney stuff.  Nothing on Etsy, at least today.

So I try another stab at the hive mind: Flickr.  And BAM!  I search “pedestal clock” and immediately find pictures of exactly what I’m looking for here.  Only one problem: that’s all I find.  There’s no other identifying information about these clocks.  So I try one more keyword stab, based on the Saarinen hunch: “tulip clock.”

And from that stab in the dark, we get this Flickr photo set:

Filled with information about these clocks, including a couple of their makers’ names: Goldbühl and Blessing.

So now I go back to Etsy and try again: Blessing Clock.

And this is what comes up in the search results:

The clock we’re looking for!

eBay also has at least one result under “Blessing clock” for just what we’re looking for:

So now you know a little bit about searching for vintage items when you’re not sure where to start.  And don’t worry, if you’re not able to immediately find the eBay search results you’re looking for, you can always set up eBay alerts so when Blessing pedestal clocks are listed on eBay, you’ll be the first to know about it.

Read my post about setting up eBay alerts.

Object Lesson: Vintage Space Age Clocks

I’ve talked quite a bit about clocks on BackGarage, which is funny, because except for this Sony Dream Machine which I’ve owned since 1987, I don’t actually own any.

I think it’s because I keep seeing cool clocks on Flickr and design blogs and I want, want, want.  But you know me: I hate to spend.  So how do we bring these uber-fashionable retro timepieces into our homes without spending a fortune? As I do with any Object Lesson or What Is It? post, I’m here to school you.

And as always, it starts with keywords.  Knowing what keywords to search for is paramount when looking out for bargains.  Why?  Because the more ways you have to search for something, the more search results you’ll find.  The more results, the more potential bargains.

Here are some excellent keywords to use when searching for space age clocks (hyperlinks will perform the eBay search for you):

• Goldbuhl
• Blessing
• Wedgefield
• Westclox
• Bradley
• Caravelle
• Westclock

Of course not every clock made by these companies is space age or retro-chic, but when you search by these keywords (rather than generic terms like “retro” and “mid-century”) you find sellers who are more interested in the maker than the style. Which means you will be finding hidden style at lower prices.

And don’t forget: check out my (newly updated!) related post on How to Set Up eBay Alerts so you can save your search results and keep tabs on them without having to manually check every day.

Want more clocks on BackGarage?  Check out these posts:

eBay Roundup: Vintage Clock Radios
What Is It?: Brionvega?

What Is It?: Blanc de Chine

White lamp. That’s what you want to call it. And if you search eBay for “white lamp,” you’ll come up with a plethora of items that look like they came from JC Penny in 1984, or belong in a Rachel Ashwell decorating book.

But really, you’re looking for one of these Hollywood Regency-style white lamps, either the pierced kind or the pineapple one in the middle.  (And who can blame you, they’re awesome!)  What you need to search for: blanc de chine.

Some purists are going to balk and exclaim that no, in fact, blanc de chine is only this certain type of Chinese porcelain, blah, blah, etc.  But for your purposes — which is to use keywords to locate things on the cheap so you don’t have to buy them at retail — a keyword search for “blanc de chine” brings up exactly what you’re looking for.  And not just lamps, but all kinds of big, white, fancy sculptural objects for that oh-so-Domino aesthetic on an oh-so-BackGarage budget.

Wondering how to describe a certain object so you can use keywords to search for it better?  Email me pictures and I’ll see if I can help out.

To see more What Is It and Object Lesson posts, click here.

What Is It?: Crinkle Glass

Reader Emily recently sent me this photo.

Are you able to help me find the best words to describe this style of tumbler?  I see them all over the place but haven’t really gotten to know them intimately.

- Emily

In case you weren’t able to determine from the post title, this rocky-surfaced vintage glassware (that look like the cups you get at Pizza Hut) is called crinkle glass. Much of it was made by Anchor Hocking. (Then again, what awesome vintage glassware wasn’t?)

These particular glasses could be in the Anchor Hocking “Lido” pattern (like these glasses, currently on eBay), or they might be the “Milano” pattern, which looks almost exactly the same (see here).

Thanks for the picture, Emily.  Hope that helps!

Got something you need help identifying or describing?  Email me a photo and I’ll try to help you out.