Glass Victor Needle Tray

[Phono-Phan]

A collector friend is downsizing and offered me this glass Victor needle tray for free. I said no to free and gave him what he paid for it years ago. I was back up bidder when he got it. I always loved it. I have never seen anything like it.

[Roaring20s]

That's a treasure!

James.

[phonogfp]

I hate to be "that guy" but I remember seeing a couple of these at Union about 25 years ago. These are glass pipe holders which had the silk screened lettering added to them at the behest of a collector. This is the problem when fantasy meets excellent workmanship.

I suspect some other "old timers" like me may remember these.

George P.

[JerryVan]

I hate to be "that guy" but I remember seeing a couple of these at Union about 25 years ago. These are glass pipe holders which had the silk screened lettering added to them at the behest of a collector. This is the problem when fantasy meets excellent workmanship.

I suspect some other "old timers" like me may remember these.

George P.

I don't have the background to refute this, but any of the pipe holders I see, seem to have a place/groove to support the pipe stem as well as the bowl. This does not have that feature. Could it be that the fantasy pieces you saw were indeed converted pipe holders, but done to copy an authentic piece?

[Roaring20s]

I hate to be "that guy" but I remember seeing a couple of these at Union about 25 years ago. These are glass pipe holders which had the silk screened lettering added to them at the behest of a collector. This is the problem when fantasy meets excellent workmanship.

I suspect some other "old timers" like me may remember these.

George P.

They went to great lengths to make it look good, but dam!

Look here ...
https://www.google.com/search?q=Frank+A ... =730&dpr=1

James.

[Phono-Phan]

Thanks for all the information. Fantasy piece or not, it is pretty neat.

[phonogfp]

I don't have the background to refute this, but any of the pipe holders I see, seem to have a place/groove to support the pipe stem as well as the bowl. This does not have that feature. Could it be that the fantasy pieces you saw were indeed converted pipe holders, but done to copy an authentic piece?

Beats me, Jerry. I've seen no period Victor documentation of such an item, nor any mention made in periodicals such as The Talking Machine World. I can't remember who was showing one around at Union, but he brought it around to many (all?) dealer tables asking if anyone had ever seen one like it. At the end of the day, he admitted that he had a few of them made up. I don't recall him saying that it was a reproduction.

In any event, it is a cool item.

George P.

[JerryVan]

I don't have the background to refute this, but any of the pipe holders I see, seem to have a place/groove to support the pipe stem as well as the bowl. This does not have that feature. Could it be that the fantasy pieces you saw were indeed converted pipe holders, but done to copy an authentic piece?

Beats me, Jerry. I've seen no period Victor documentation of such an item, nor any mention made in periodicals such as The Talking Machine World. I can't remember who was showing one around at Union, but he brought it around to many (all?) dealer tables asking if anyone had ever seen one like it. At the end of the day, he admitted that he had a few of them made up. I don't recall him saying that it was a reproduction.

In any event, it is a cool item.

George P.

Thanks George. It seems James found the source of the glass, and you're correct in that it's a fantasy piece. But yes, it is a cool piece. I would display it and use it.

[phonogfp]

Thanks George. It seems James found the source of the glass, and you're correct in that it's a fantasy piece. But yes, it is a cool piece. I would display it and use it.

So would I.

George P.

[OrthoFan]

Apparently, it started out life as a "salt cellar":

FROM -- https://www.ebay.com/itm/185890876279

........for a three handed person?