Howdy Doody remains popular figure

Many collectors say they are searching for their childhood memories when they buy at flea markets. Today, shows and shops sell many items made and used as late as the 1980s.
Comic-book, movie and TV characters are especially popular.
In 1947, the children's TV series with Howdy Doody, a marionette, and Buffalo Bob, a person, appeared on the air. The series lasted until 1960. Howdy Doody was a redhead with 48 freckles -- one for each state.
Other live characters on the show included Princess Summerfall-Winterspring, Chief Thunderthud and Clarabell Hornblow the clown.
In the late 1970s, the children who remembered Howdy from their younger days enjoyed hearing Buffalo Bob lecture at their college campuses. There was new interest in all things Howdy Doody.
Many of the old toys and games were bought and sold, and new Howdy items were created for the giftware market. He is still a popular character for collectors.
Q. I bought a large Early American pine desk many years ago for $100. One of the drawers is marked "Link-Taylor" with a stamped picture of a log cabin. Can you tell me how old the desk is?
A. In 1936, Henry T. Link and Frank Taylor took control of the former Dixie Furniture Co. of Lexington, N.C. Link introduced mass-production techniques, and the company expanded to form four separate firms during the 1950s and '60s. Link-Taylor was one of those four. It specialized in high-quality, solid-wood bedroom and dining-room furniture. In 1987, the four companies merged into Lexington Furniture Industries. Today its name is Lexington Home Brands. Your desk was manufactured no earlier than the 1950s.
Q. My ceramic dresser set was given to me more than 50 years ago by my great-great-aunt. The painted violets on the pieces are all the same design, but the factory marks on the bottoms are different. Some are marks of German makers, and some belong to French companies. How can that be?
A. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, American companies imported thousands of pieces of undecorated china from all over Europe. China-painting was an extremely popular hobby, especially among women. They bought the china blanks and then hand-painted flowers and other designs on dishes and dresser sets.
Q. I was born in 1940 and lived in my childhood home until 1964. All that time, we had the same light bulb on our front porch. I have that bulb today, and although the glass bulb has darkened, it still gives off a brilliant light. The bulb is 5 inches long and has a GE logo on it. The globe is also embossed with the words "Edison" and "Mazda." The filament is one continuous piece of curving wire. Can you give me some information about this old bulb?
A. Thomas Edison patented his incandescent carbon-filament lamp in 1880. Two years later, the General Electric Co. was formed. The familiar GE logo was introduced on its light bulbs in 1907. Two years later, GE adopted the name Mazda as a trademark for bulbs with the latest improvement -- tungsten filaments. GE helped American manufacturers standardize the size of bulb bases, and also licensed the use of the Mazda trademark by other manufacturers, including Westinghouse and National. GE discontinued its own use of the Mazda name in 1945. While some collectors search for old GE light bulbs like yours, there are many more collectors who hunt for the Mazda ads designed by American artist Maxfield Parrish during the 1910s and '20s.
Q. Can you tell me what a creamware mug picturing King Edward VIII of England is worth? The king's head is pictured on the mug. The head is surrounded by a blue circle with a crown at the top. On the bottom, the mug is marked "Official Design of the British Pottery Manufacturers Federation, Made in England."
A. King Edward VIII, a great-grandson of Queen Victoria, was born June 23, 1894. He was given the name Prince Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, but was called David by his family. He succeeded to the throne of England when his father, King George V, died in January 1936. His coronation was scheduled for May 12, 1937, but on Dec. 11, 1936, he abdicated to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Manufacturers of commemorative plates, mugs, bells and other items had made the souvenirs ahead of time. After King Edward VIII abdicated, the souvenirs were sold as collector's items. Your mug is not uncommon. It sells for about $10 to $40.
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