Customer Reviews

Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, and 50s

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I couldn't wait to get this book so I put it on reserve until it was released. Though I sell vintage kitchen collectibles in my online store Yesterday's Kitchens and Collectibles, I am also a collector myself. I was able to identify some obscure pieces I have through Dianne's photographs and descriptions. But the book is just a joy to read. The photographs are so bright and clear, and larger than you usually find in collectibles books. This makes it very easy to see fine detailing and patterns that oftentimes don't show up clearly in other books.

The book is also a pleasure to browse through if you were a mother, grandmother, or child during these eras. My own mother found it so much fun to look through and point out all the items either she or her mother had during those years. And fun to look at all the things she had forgotten about! This is going to be one those books that gets dog-eared quickly!

This is absolutely more than a reference book. The photography and script drew me into the actual era and times and made me want more. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It's absolutely wonderful. I've read it three times now and each time I come away with new information and different feelings. I can honestly say that I have never felt this way about any other reference book I have read. I do hope you'll be writing more.

Not just for collectors, though the photo quality and layout make it a breeze to find your area of interest. This is a delightful peek into the parlor (and magazines) of the era, fun for anyone who used a kitchen in the 30s to 50s, or anyone trying to explain to their grandkids what a breadbox looked like. Bright, accessible, comprehensive, nostalgic and entertaining. A great book to spark a flood of memories from the grandparents.

This book is absolutely gorgeous in its photography of the items, and a pleasure to look at. However, there are two reasons I gave four stars instead of five. One is that the majority of captions identify an item using only generic words such as "canister set" and leave out the name of the manufacturer. For a book on collectibles, the biggest help to collectors would be in identifying the company that made an item, not just giving a generic description and a subjective price range. This is especially true for beginning collectors who are just learning the companies and the names of the product lines. The second reason for the four-star rating is that the photo on the cover shows kitchen items -- my area of interest that prompted the purchase of the book. However, the book includes a LOT of non-kitchen items, such as clocks, figurines, advertisements, tables, birdfeed, playing cards, toys, moth balls, baby planters, greeting cards, wrapping paper, sewing patterns, children's books, candy boxes and wedding cake toppers. Whew! Bottom line: if you are looking for a book that is about kitchen collectibles and you want specific, detailed information on them, then be forewarned that you will have to wade through a great deal of other items, and you still won't end up knowing the manufacturers of most products. It's a beautiful book -- I just wish it was more like what it appeared to be from the cover and description. I would instead recommend "Spiffy Kitchen Collectibles" by Brian Alexander, if you want something that is full of detailed info on kitchen items from the 30s/40s/50s.
EDITED TO ADD: Unfortunately, it is true that that binding is defective on this book, as other reviewers have noted. I read 100 pages, and each one fell out of the binding as I turned the page. I gave up on the rest of the book, and returned it to Amazon for a refund. It's a shame, because it's a nice book.

Very good book showing kitchen items from days gone by. I would recommend, lots of good photos.

If you weren't a collector before, you will be after you read this delightful book!! It will spark memories for anyone who used or saw Mom or Grandma use the items so wonderfully pictured, and spark the desire in all to collect them now. Information presented is easy reading, informative and fun!

The binding was bad and had to be returned. I would have liked to have seen more kitchenalia as the cover shows.

We want to find more goodies from this era for our vintage kitchen, and this book is helping us develop a sharper eye. There's space left on the Hoosier cabinet to display a few more vintage kitchen wares...

I've rated this book good, but I've got mixed feelings about it. On one hand it's wonderful! Lots of good info and interesting items featured. It really is a fun read with lots of cool items photographed. But my main concern is the execution of the book. The lighting on many of the photos is very poor for example. They look like they were taken with nothing but regular room lighting, not special lighting I would assume a professional photog would use. So, I'm sort of split down the middle. But I would definately say I'm glad I bought it, even with the split decision!

Love, love , love this book. It was exactly what I wanted and so much cheaper than the book store. It arrived very quickly and was in excellent condition.