Discover Fascinating Stories behind Vintage Objects

At North Shore Senior Center on any given day, not only will you encounter many people who have led interesting lives and have great stories to share, but you can also find unique objects with fascinating histories. These objects have been donated to North Shore Senior Center for the annual Vintage Marketplace antique sale, an annual fundraiser for the Center.

One intriguing tale came in the form of two middle school textbooks. Published by Golden Press in New York, The Animal Kingdom and The Golden Book of Biology are both basic in content, yet the illustrations are quite advanced. The images in these pages are the work of illustrator Charley Harper. Known for a style called “minimal realism,” Harper’s technique was to capture the essence of his subjects with the fewest possible visual elements. The results are colorful images that are often bold and whimsical. What a wonderful learning experience for a generation of children!

Another item donated for the sale with a story to tell is a rather sleek-looking, heavy, and cool to the touch vintage clock. Named the Zephyr after the success of the Burlington Pioneer Zephyr train this streamline design by Lawson Time, Inc. remains one of the most memorable, inventive and sought-after digital clocks of the machine age. However, its designer remains uncredited to this day.

Originally, the Zephyr (pronounced seh-fuh) was thought to be the brain-child of German industrial architect, Kem Weber, but no patents or design drawings from Weber or Lawson Time have ever been discovered for the Zephyr, or for any clock the company produced.

This has led to a debate among clock enthusiasts who have speculated about the genius behind the digitized time piece. In 2013, after decades of research and analysis, a writer for “Modern Magazine” posted a note that the Zephyr was actually designed by two men: Paul Feher and George F. Adomatis. Though Feher’s later work would be considered by many art experts as the pinnacle of American Art Deco, many collectors still cannot agree if it was Feher or Weber who pioneered this digital masterpiece.

Hundreds of other vintage objects have been donated to North Shore Senior Center, and like the Zephyr and the Golden Books, these objects have hidden stories to be revealed. From the Zuid Holland vase that hails from Gouda in the Netherlands, to the gold bracelet from the 1920’s that captures the light just right. Like a person, each one of these items has a history of its own, a story worth telling, just waiting to be discovered and shared.

Join us for the Vintage Marketplace at North Shore Senior Center on April 24 and 25. Who can say what stories await you? For more information and schedule of events, click here or call 847-784-6030.