5 comments about Post 86 Fiesta: Identification and Value Guide.

1. Great learning tool about fiesta dishes. Good pictures showing colors and their names. Quality book.



2. I'm both a collector and a bibliophile, and this is the first time I've ever thought it necessary to this say about any collector's book: In my opinion, this book stinks. A shame, as it's clear that the author has in-depth knowledge to impart. Unfortunately, it's clouded by the author's apparent dislike of dealers, fellow collectors, and the Homer Laughlin China Company itself.

   The book designer's work is exuberant and cheerful, much as is Fiestaware; however, the author's text is mean spirited. I don't think I've ever seen an odder combination. I hope for better things from the obviously knowledgeable author in the future.




3. The idea for a book dedicated to Post-1986 (P86) Fiestaware® is a terrific idea and I was pleased to order it.

   What a poor execution! Racheter's attempt is inconsistent, sophomoric and diseased with his unceasing attacks on Homer Laughlin China Company. (Who cares why he hates Homer Laughlin? Not me!)

   The (little) new information and price guide for some P86 colors - the book's innovative features - are overshadowed by the pointless commentary.

   Unfortunately the book isn't worth keeping for the pictures either... Don't buy this book!...




4. This book is a good start, but so much has changed in post 86 Fiesta... items, colors added and discontinued, prices. An update is desperately needed. Also a bit less "filler" as far as stories and dramatic exposition and more emphasis on actual introductions and discontinuations in the new line. Also, so many competing lines are similar... a back of the book section showing other contemporary dinnerware lines that currently compete with Fiesta.

   My biggest suggestion would be a chapter showing comparison of old versus new items to show the evolution of design...1.e. the old casserole versus the new one, old cup next to new one. Many collectors of the new do not appreciate where the design evolved from

   Also, the only decaled ware shown is...well.. the less said the better about what is shown... where are the artistic and popular patterns like Sunporch, Happy Pumpkin and Moon Over Miami?




5. This book is better than the Collector's Encyclopedia of Fiesta. So save yourself about $... and buy this book instead if you want informations on POST 86 Fiesta.
   It is full of pictures and has easy to use information boxes with every mold/piece. You know what colors they came in, mold and item numbers and lots of detailed informations.
   The downside to this book is that you only find one picture per item (mostly) limiting your view by only offering one angle.
   The price list is extensive enough to not leave colors out.
   I personally enjoy the authors style of writing thoroughly with his light humor. Mocking Martha Stewart a little, because he seems to think that she's a stuck up snob that only wants the Super Old stuff and abominates the new colors for the most part. He tells funny stories about TV and where he's seen fiesta. However, a little more history and facts would sometimes be nice. I assume, people buy this book for information not funny short stories.
   I thoroughly enjoy that fact that he includes uses for some odd pieces. Looking at some candle holders they could be anything. He explains what the item was meant for and what else it is commonly used for.
   LAst but not least... unfortunately it seems like this author was not given the same acces to limited pieces and photographs in is therefore lacking some details on limited ed. pieces.

No comments about Cake Stands & Serving Pieces.

4 comments about Restaurant China : Identification & Value Guide for Restaurant, Airline, Ship & Railroad Dinnerware (Volume 1).

1. I was very disappointed in this book. The colors in the photographs are beautiful. But as a reference for china patterns, it is seriously lacking. Except for a select few companies, the author seems to offer only one example rather than a more complete listing of the different china patterns used by each company over the years. There are some very nice photographs of railroad dining cars, steamship dining rooms, and airline meals being served, but again as a reference, the pictures do not show the china in these photos very clearly at all. In addition, the listings and descriptions of company logos as well as time-frames for china patterns are sometimes inaccurate and other times incomplete. As always, price guides become outdated quickly and would have been better in a separate addendum instead of being placed with text and captions throughout the book. I feel the book was too generalized. As a new collector I wanted help in identifying the different china patterns used by these transportation companies, when each pattern was used, and who manufactured them. All this book provided were scattered bits and pieces of that information. I do not intend to buy Volume II.



2. I was referred to this book for price and identification and was sadly disappointed to get the book and look up the china I had to find that it had some of the pieces and history but by NO MEANS is a complete guide. The China Company I had was in there but it didn't have the history from the year the company started but it did have the identification stamps from the year the company started go figure. The price guide consisted of showing a few pictures of china this particular company producted and gave a few prices. I couldn't believe it. The only reason I kept this book is because I was so busy I didn't get to return it before the 30 day return was over. Oh well I'll know better next time.



3. Barbara Conroy shares her extensive personal experience as a collector in this invaluable reference work. The photography is exceptional, with hundreds of examples of dinnerware pictured in each of the four main categories, along with copies of period advertisements and brochures. Each section also includes a painstakingly assembled collection of hundreds of logos to assist the collector in identifying the company the dinnerware was produced for. A must-have reference book for the serious restaurant, airline, ship and railroad china collector! Pair this book up with Volume 2 of the series and you can push all your other books to the back of the shelf, you won't need them anymore.



4. Barbara Conroy's new volume on restaurant china is a welcome addition to the growing body of literature regarding this largely American genre of utilitarian ceramic art.

   Restaurant china represents an age of americana where restuarants cared enough to invest capital in individualized ceramic pieces that would advertise and represent their establishments. It is a practice that is being undertaken with less and less frequency in our time. Many manufacturers are no longer in business. It is accordingly a genre of increasing interest to collectors.

   Conroy's book chronicles this fine craft form well. It offers a fairly exhaustive listing of topmarks and backstamps of interest to collectors. Substantial full-color illustrations are both informative and entertaining. Historical information as well as primer material about production processes are welcome inclusions.

   The book's title is a bit midsleading, however. It is really a volume focusing primarily on airline, ship, and railroad china... with some coverage of military, western, government, oriental, sports-related, casino, department store and corporate pieces. Logo china manufactured for restaurants and diners receives is afforded little coverage. And non-logo pieces in stock patterns receive virtually no mention at all; the topic is beyond the scope of the book (though Conroy plans, I believe, additional volumes which may address these areas in further detail.)

   Future volumes may benfit from incuding information on how to read backstamps to determine date of manufacture, information on stock patterns, and changes in ceramic form and decorative practices from the 1950's and 60's to the present day.

   No one volume, however, can be expected to exhaustively cover all facets of this increasingly valued utilitarian art form. On the whole, Conroy's volume enriches the literature currently available to growing number of restaurant china fans and collectors in our culture.

No comments about Fiesta: Warman's Companion (A Warman's Companion).

No comments about Collectible Corkscrews (Collectibles).

5 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia Of American Dinnerware: Identification and Values (Collector's Encyclopedia of American Dinnerware).

1. I really love this book. I've used it many times to find the names of patterns I have from years of estate sales to sell on e-Bay. Great work.



2. A wonderful beautifully done book.This is a great book for looking up patterns. There are plenty of color photos which show great detail. I plan on buying the previous and subsequent volumns of this book.



3. While the book was somewhat helpful with listing the various companies, it was very short in pattern names, examples and pricing.



4. Other than the photos, there isn't much here. It's very amateurish. Whole categories are missing -- there is barely a mention of "Fiesta" at all. Makes you think the publisher had an arrangement so as not to infringe on sales of their Fiesta books. There is no mention of Metlox. Also, while there is a price guide, it only lists the specific pieces that are shown in the photos, not all the pieces in the line. This is a major shortcoming. There should be some mention of pieces not shown. The book is also poorly organized, with ads from old magazines interspersed with original writing. It reminds me of an 8th grade book report. Spend your money elsewhere.



5. The title of this book implies that it is an all-encompassing American dinnerware reference work. However, it is sadly lacking in both breadth and depth. Any collector would be well advised to look elsewhere. This work is so superficial that it is virtually useless.

1 comments about 5000 Open Salts: A Collector's Guide.

1. This is a must have book for what you are collecting. If you have collected salts in the past or present, this book has the best and the largest variety of salt(s), in picures! Love it!

1 comments about Black Memorabilia for the Kitchen.

1. I take this book with me every where it is a great help for my passion of collecting black memorabilia

2 comments about Antique Trader Salt And Pepper Shaker Price Guide (Antique Trader).

1. I waited over 6 months for this lazy excuse for a guide, listing only 1000 shakers. I have about 70 from the 1940's-70's in my collection, and only found 4 in this book. By the authors own admission, he owns over 3000. Why aren't they listed? The pics are nice but the book is very poorly done. Save your money.



2. I am extremely disappointed. Following my mother's recent death, I came across her old collection of over 80 sets - at least 90% of which are over 50 years old. I thought this book would be of help in learning about them. NOT EVEN CLOSE!
   
   While it says it lists "More than 1,000 salt & pepper shakers...." there is no index & no table of contents. Only 1 set that I have was in this book. While there are great color pictures, and similar types are together (sort of), you have to thumb through the entire book to try to find a particular item. Then do it again... and again.
   
   This is a total waste of money and a poor attempt to "Get the Shakedown on Your Collection"! I am the one who got Shook Down.
   
   I recommend trying to find a copy to look through before buying this. I wish I had.

4 comments about Collector's Encyclopedia of Salt and Pepper Shakers: Second Series (Figural and Novelty 2nd Series).

1. One of the first (and one of the best) books I bought on S&P collecting. It has a wonderful section of S&P Condiment Sets, from those I have & can afford, to those I hope to find at a bargain basement cost. The Black Americana section is also very good. The value section has sent me back to antique shops to buy S&Ps I thought too costly, but were a good deal in the long run. High recommended for all.



2. I guess the book is ok if you like ugly salt shakers. It sure wasn't worth the $20 to me that I paid for it. 90% of them, I wouldn't take for free.



3. This is my favorite book on salt & pepper shakers, and I have quite a few! There are so many sets pictured, I keep finding a set I hadn't seen before every time I look through this book. The pictures are great, as are the descriptions! Definitely recommend!



4. This book is definately for anyone who is looking for a wealth of information about novelty salt and pepper shakers. Since this book was published in 1990, the values may not be as up to date as later books, but I have yet to see another shaker book with so much other information about the shakers themselves. The shakers are photographed in related groups sitting on 4-5 glass shelves with a solid-colored background. The pictures are excellent. The entire first page of each section contains a detailed description of the shakers pictured with the values for each listed at the bottom of the page. The description are truly wonderful and must have been thoroughly researched. That is the best part of this book. Ms. Davern talks about the background of many of the shakers as well as of the company that made them. She also mentions other related shakers that are not pictured in some cases. There are very few collectible salt and pepper shaker books that one can truly say is enjoyable reading. However, this is a wonderful book to just sit and read through due to Ms. Davern's descriptions, personal views, and beautiful pictures. This book is a must for any novelty salt and pepper shaker collector.