I like to go to antique stores with my friend, Cathy. We poke around, reminisce about the things we grew up with that are now 'vintage', and look for bird cages. With me being a Hendryx Hoarder, my eyes can usually find a cage from 20 ft. If I miss it, Cathy calls it out. There are usually only one or two in the store at a time and mostly they are the brass beehive style.
I recently went North to Grants Pass, OR with Cathy. We hit a few shops and spent most of the time in our favorite one. I'd thought about renting a space here for my cages but it was too expensive as well as 30 miles away from home. Anyway, we wandered and looked and chatted. We had a great time.
I saw something that I don't understand. I nearly backed into a h-u-g-e Hendryx globe cage. It was probably 15" at least in diameter. I kid you not. It was on a stand which made it about eye level, maybe a little lower. I didn't recognize it, at first, as a Hendryx, as it had been painted. Not only painted, but painted and wiped off. I don't understand it at all. Why take a perfectly good brass treasure, paint it with creme puffy paint, and then wipe some of it off until the brass shows through? Is that shabby chic? I don't get it. I stood there, jaw dropped, and stared. I couldn't believe what had been done to it. Without the paint, the cage and stand would have been in my car in a flying second. I have two globe cages, but this one was different. Maybe it was the height, or the stand, or the tray around it...I'm not sure.
It's disconcerting when cages scream at me in the store. I'm sure that I'm the only one that hears the voices, and certainly I'm the only one who talks back to the cages. "No, I've got 10 beehives. I don't need another one, even though you are in remarkable condition." Things like that. Cathy just shrugs and goes on. I examine, I look, I handle, I talk...then I go on my way, ignoring the pleas I hear. This cage didn't talk very much. It just sat there. It was like it whispered "save me" or some such thing. My logic was quiet. Everything was quiet around us. I heard the buzz of others in the store, but I stood and just stared at this masterpiece with it's dreadful 'do'.
I know me. I have the best intentions. I will get this cage. I will remove the paint. I will... I will... It would never happen. I don't have the space or the inclination to get elbow deep in paint remover. And what would paint remover do to the old brass underneath? Important question that one. Very important.
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Margaret Wolfe Hungerford (née Hamilton), is widely credited for coining the phrase in 1878 according to the internet. It literally means "the perception of beauty is subjective". Whoever 'improved' on this Hendryx cage must have thought it would look neat. Cool. Great. Chippy. Whatever. But why is it here now? Did it not work out as expected and was left here to find a good home? I saw no beauty in it except what I knew was underneath the puffy paint and streaks.
In my early days of trolling ebay for Hendryx cages, I didn't have enough knowledge to ask appropriate questions of the buyers. Needless to say, I received some real shockers. There were two that really stick out in my mind and on my shelves. One is a mission style Arts and Crafts cage. I bought it cuz it looked in good condition, clean brass, intact wires, etc. What I got was a cage that had been spray-painted gold. The paint was bumpy. Maybe with texture? Or maybe a terribly horrible job of painting. The seller hadn't offered that it had been painted. I hadn't asked. Stuck. Close to the same time I saw a drop-dead gorgeous Victorian cage with crimped wires that had the most wonderful shape. I bought it. Did I ask appropriate questions? No. Did I get another cage that had been spray-painted gold? Yes. It even had globs of paint in the seed guard. Definitely didn't want to stay on my shelf. Ugh!
I don't understand. I know I'm a purist. I want my cages to be Hendryx. I want my feeders to be Hendryx. I want my stands to be Hendryx. I'm pretty rigid on those points. But I don't want to look under gold spray paint or creme puff paint and streaks to see my cage.
You may think that I only collect brass Hendryx. That is not so. I have painted Japanned cages. But the paint is intended and original. No added touches. I have painted stands. But the chipped paint is the original paint. No added touches. And I have painted feeders. Once again, the original Deco finish. Intended. No added touches.
If anyone reading this can help me understand the idea of 'added touches', I'd really appreciate a comment. I did just sell a red and a blue painted cages on ebay. They were mid-century metal cages that had been well painted and designed by a previous owner. They sold quickly. But that didn't seem, to me, to be the travesty that this cage was. Or my other aforementioned cages. Maybe because they were metal and not brass? Or Chrome. I don't know. I don't like the painted late Deco Chrome ones either.
Maybe it does all just come down to Margaret Wolfe Hungerford and the saying that allows for individuality and expression of such. "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder." I'll take mine plain, please.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Switch 'n' Run
Hi, I'm back. It's hard to believe that it's been almost 6 months since I wrote something on this blog. It's not because I'm not 'into' Hendryx, it's because I've been trying to feel my way along with this obsession. I didn't feel that my stumbles and falls would be of interest to you so didn't write.
I'm pretty much an 'all or nothing' kind of person. I make a decision, paint it in black and white (no gray allowed) then run full force in the direction I have chosen. When I acknowledged my obsession with The Andrew B. Hendryx Co. and admitted that I was taken by it, I jumped full force into collecting.
My goal, initially and unrealistically, was to own one of everything that Hendryx made. I started driving up and down the I-5 corridor in WA and OR, stopping at every antique store I could find. Most of the time, when I asked if the store had any Hendryx cages, I was met with a blank face. How could anyone NOT know Hendryx? I was living and breathing it at the time. I was consumed. What cages I found, I snatched up and toted home. I set them in my living room and looked and looked at them. Then I started planning the next place to buy them.
I discovered ebay last Fall. The cages were out and available, and I was in hog heaven. I didn't know enough, at that time, to choose and shop wisely so I ended up with some real train wrecks of cages. I quickly realized that all sellers don't spill their guts with everything about a cage. Some of them describe a little and leave the rest for questions from the unknown audience. I didn't know enough to ask "Has it been repaired?" "Has it been painted?" "Are all the clips present and functional?" "Are the perches original?". I certainly didn't know enough (or have the guts) to ask for more pictures. There were cages advertised as Hendryx that weren't Hendryx. They were Hendryx style or type. Not Hendryx. I had a steep learning curve.
So...60 cages and a storage shed later, I decided that enough was enough. By early Spring I realized I was in over my head and needed to start selling, not just collecting. I had some repeats that I decided I could part with. But with my headlong pace into this collecting path, I hadn't come up with a 'plan B'. How do I sell?
I did a 'switch 'n' run' onto another path. I decided I would have a booth at antique shows. I started creating ideas, page after page of design and plans. "Tweet Things" was my name. As you read on previous notes, this didn't work out. I PLANNED for it to work. I EXPECTED it to work. I WORKED for it to work. I bought bird cage feeders, bird baths, bird statues and other accoutrements that would round out my booth. No go. It just didn't work. I realized that just because I had a passion for something didn't mean others did. Oh, I got the raves, the oohs and aahs, and the "I remember when"s at my booths, and there were plenty of lookers. But the money didn't come in. It just went out and out and out.
So, there I am. No plan C. I floundered. I was paying storage fees for things I couldn't move. I had cages in several booths that weren't moving. I floundered some more.
I am not a flounder-er. I don't do it well. As a NICU nurse, I was queen of my castle. I was in control of what happened to my baby during my hours. If the unexpected happened, as it often does with neonates, there was backup available. I was in control. I worked 30 years of nursing in control. My personal life was predictable and controlled. Not a lot of surprises.
Now, there's no control. No backup. It was me and me on this journey. It was time for another switch 'n' run but I fought against Plan C. My only option that I could see was to return to ebay. I was amazed at the packaging creativity that I saw as I unpacked cage after cage in my buying spree. There was a LOT of work to selling cages and stands. I wasn't sure if my arthritic hands would be up to the task. I'd sold my boxes of bubble wrap, recycled the stryofoam worms, and recycled all the boxes I'd received from my ebay sellers. How would I start?
I didn't switch 'n' run...I kinda turned in a direction and took a few steps. I posted my best, my most unique, and some of my most prized items. I wondered if 'someone' out there cared enough about Andrew B. to buy something with the Hendryx name and history attached to it.
I've been amazed. There are quite a few 'someones' out there who appreciate Andrew B and the creative inventors who worked for him. There's a doc in Texas, an architect in Florida, a computer guy in New Jersey, and a woman in Alaska who all appreciate Hendryx. They, and others, have their stories, their collections, their 'looking for's. I've been selling on ebay for a month. That's all, but I'm at a full run again. I post new items and for the most part, people buy them. Economically, I'm making a quarter for every dollar I spent last year. The prices have dropped that much!! What I was in a bidding war for last year doesn't even sell this year.
There is side conversation that I appreciate on ebay. Buyers share their stories. I like to share mine. That's why I started this blog, to share stories, but I haven't been consistent enough to make others want to be a part of it. So I get the stories on ebay.
I know, for example, while I am wrapping a box, that this is the 4th cage this person has purchased. I know the feeders I've sold to him, and I know what he's looking for. I have a name. And I have an imagination big enough to envision others' homes and what it will be like to have my items there. It's good.
I don't have a need for another switch 'n' run at this time. I'm here for a while. If you want to check out my items, search on ebay for 'Hendryx vintage', or 'Hendryx antique', or 'bird cage feeders vintage'. I'm bkv5353.
I'm looking through my items to see what I have that you might want. Who knows...you may just push the "BID" button. And we can share our stories and the fascination we have with the Andrew B. Hendryx Co. of New Haven, Conn.
I will return. Sooner than the last time. Maybe in just a few days or a week. I'm interested in visiting with you.
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Catch up
I've not written for several months. I have been discouraged at the lack of sales of my cages and felt there was nothing to write about. It's time to catch you up on what's been going on.
I have four cages in a shop in Medford, OR. They are more of my unique cages: round; stainless steel/chrome; early rectangular brass; and I can't remember the other one. Three of them have feeders; two of them have stands. When one adds up the cost of the stand, the cage, and the feeders, it's enough to give one pause. They can be sold separately, of course, but to have the Hendryx 'full meal deal', a person must be willing to pay $250-$350. It's just not happening. Not in these economic times. Not in such a specialized market.
I had two stands, cages and feeders in Vancouver, WA. They didn't sell, and the owner of the booth was ready to change her booth around and for me to take the cages. Once again, for the 'full meal deal', the price had to be paid. The cages attract people to the booth, but once the price is seen, the attraction is gone and the viewer moves on.
I can lower the prices. I can sell them for what I think they will go for. I would practically be giving them away and would be recouping about $0.15 on the dollar. Not worth it to me. I feel that it is undervaluing the product for what it really is.
I have a copper circle 'hat box' Art Deco cage with the original feeders. I don't know of any other like it. There are chrome ones out there. Not copper. Can you appreciate the value of it as a rare piece of art? Can you imagine it in the corner of an Art Deco living room? Can you imagine the workmen making this cage, with a non-soldered patented production; with feeders raised off the floor to avoid the attraction of vermin; with patented perches that fit the feet of the bird, (kind of like a flat figure 8 instead of completely round)? Can you see the Art Deco glass seed guards that have the definitely Art Deco circles and lines in black and white? Can you see the plastic, Hendryx-embossed feeders that signal the end of the glass feeders and are just the beginning of the 'explosion' in plastic production? Can you imagine the gleaming copper on the base of the stand, arching upward to hold the cage in a gentle arc and hook? Can you imagine paying $450 for it? That brought you up short, didn't it? The chrome ones, without/with the glass inserts, without the feeders, and without the perches are going on eBay for about $200-$250. I will get some pictures of it and add them soon so you can see if the reality is the same as what you imagined.
To change the tone of this, I recently received a copy of a 1903/1904 Andrew B. Hendryx Co. Catalogue. Here is a picture of the front of it. Isn't that wonderful?
I have several of the cages in this catalog and I will show them to you.
The first one is on the left above. It is a mocking bird cage so it's on the larger size. I don't know if you can see them or not, but there are the swivel, cut-metal feeders, 2 on either side. There is also a drawer for cleaning at the bottom. It is finished in a specific way that is called "Japanned". It is metal, not brass.
The next one is a little carrier cage. I believe it was used to bring the little fellow home from the pet store. It's in the picture above in the top right corner. It's Japanned also. It's probably no longer than 6". It has two opal glass cups inside that are embossed Hendryx. It's just cute.
The last one is a unique cage with metal, looped 'ruffle' along the roof line that I just unpacked today. I've never seen another one like this. It's in great shape. It's on the right page above, in the bottom left corner. Can you see the 'ruffle' on it? It's great. And being the Hendryx 'purist' that I am, I have a set of feeders like the ones above that will go on this cage to make it complete.
Thanks for spending some time with me. Next time I will add a few more pictures of some of the cages in this catalog so you can see the creative genius behind the inventors and skilled workmen at the Andrew B. Hendryx Co. of New Haven, Conn.
I have four cages in a shop in Medford, OR. They are more of my unique cages: round; stainless steel/chrome; early rectangular brass; and I can't remember the other one. Three of them have feeders; two of them have stands. When one adds up the cost of the stand, the cage, and the feeders, it's enough to give one pause. They can be sold separately, of course, but to have the Hendryx 'full meal deal', a person must be willing to pay $250-$350. It's just not happening. Not in these economic times. Not in such a specialized market.
I had two stands, cages and feeders in Vancouver, WA. They didn't sell, and the owner of the booth was ready to change her booth around and for me to take the cages. Once again, for the 'full meal deal', the price had to be paid. The cages attract people to the booth, but once the price is seen, the attraction is gone and the viewer moves on.
I can lower the prices. I can sell them for what I think they will go for. I would practically be giving them away and would be recouping about $0.15 on the dollar. Not worth it to me. I feel that it is undervaluing the product for what it really is.
I have a copper circle 'hat box' Art Deco cage with the original feeders. I don't know of any other like it. There are chrome ones out there. Not copper. Can you appreciate the value of it as a rare piece of art? Can you imagine it in the corner of an Art Deco living room? Can you imagine the workmen making this cage, with a non-soldered patented production; with feeders raised off the floor to avoid the attraction of vermin; with patented perches that fit the feet of the bird, (kind of like a flat figure 8 instead of completely round)? Can you see the Art Deco glass seed guards that have the definitely Art Deco circles and lines in black and white? Can you see the plastic, Hendryx-embossed feeders that signal the end of the glass feeders and are just the beginning of the 'explosion' in plastic production? Can you imagine the gleaming copper on the base of the stand, arching upward to hold the cage in a gentle arc and hook? Can you imagine paying $450 for it? That brought you up short, didn't it? The chrome ones, without/with the glass inserts, without the feeders, and without the perches are going on eBay for about $200-$250. I will get some pictures of it and add them soon so you can see if the reality is the same as what you imagined.
I have several of the cages in this catalog and I will show them to you.
Thanks for spending some time with me. Next time I will add a few more pictures of some of the cages in this catalog so you can see the creative genius behind the inventors and skilled workmen at the Andrew B. Hendryx Co. of New Haven, Conn.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
My Second
Two weeks after my first antique show, I was in another one, this time in Roseburg, OR. Roseburg is just 2 hours North of me and an easy drive. The show was smaller than Portland, so I chose to rent a UHaul van instead of a truck and display on tables instead of bringing up my portable booth that I'd made. A friend of mine, Bonnie, gave me hints and drawings on how I should display the cages so that it wasn't such a regimental and boring booth. I purchased the items she asked me to, and headed North.
The vendors I met were wonderful and very helpful. It was obvious I was a 'newbie' and others were willing to help and give ideas. Encouragement was plentiful. I put pink and yellow shred paper on all the tables, wound Apple Blossom garlands around, wrapped empty boxes in pink and yellow paper, and arranged the cages in all of this. I had an open design instead of having a table in the front, and with the cages on the stands, the colorful paper and accessories, it turned into an appealing booth.
Plenty of folks dropped by to look and visit and walk down memory lane with cages previously owned by them or family members. I had several purchases by workers at the show, several purchases of bird cage feeders, and I sold one bamboo cage. I didn't sell any Hendryx despite the fact I didn't bring my high-end cages and dropped the other prices.
It's hard to sell much when a vendor has only one product. That is what I have. I have things related to birds-wrought iron birds, cast iron bird finial, cards, book marks, porcelain figurines, but my main display is the cages from all ages from 1875 up to the 1960s. I have "shabby chic" to "rusty rustic" to "WOW! is that in great condition". No takers.
I've decided that antique shows are not the venue for me. Not to say that I am an expert after 2 shows, but I would have thought that I would have seen some real interest (and purchases) if this was the correct venue. I've got to think of other ways to get the cages out and seen.
I am enjoying the ones I have in my home and rearrange them often to get each into a better place of emphasis. Right now I have 15 Hendryx cages in my living room. They are tastefully displayed and no, I do not live in a mansion. Just a two bedroom apartment. But I have wonderful cages that I enjoy looking at.
I believe I will add some pictures of cages I have for sale and see if there is any interest from this blog. Bonnie, who gave me display hints, took 4 of my cages to a booth she has in an antique store here in Medford. I just got a call from a woman I met at the Portland Expo offering me the opportunity to put 2-3 cages in a show she's in later this month, and then into a booth she has in Vancouver, WA. Opportunities are knocking in answer to prayer and networking. I look forward to sharing my treasures with those of like mind and interest.
The vendors I met were wonderful and very helpful. It was obvious I was a 'newbie' and others were willing to help and give ideas. Encouragement was plentiful. I put pink and yellow shred paper on all the tables, wound Apple Blossom garlands around, wrapped empty boxes in pink and yellow paper, and arranged the cages in all of this. I had an open design instead of having a table in the front, and with the cages on the stands, the colorful paper and accessories, it turned into an appealing booth.
Plenty of folks dropped by to look and visit and walk down memory lane with cages previously owned by them or family members. I had several purchases by workers at the show, several purchases of bird cage feeders, and I sold one bamboo cage. I didn't sell any Hendryx despite the fact I didn't bring my high-end cages and dropped the other prices.
It's hard to sell much when a vendor has only one product. That is what I have. I have things related to birds-wrought iron birds, cast iron bird finial, cards, book marks, porcelain figurines, but my main display is the cages from all ages from 1875 up to the 1960s. I have "shabby chic" to "rusty rustic" to "WOW! is that in great condition". No takers.
I've decided that antique shows are not the venue for me. Not to say that I am an expert after 2 shows, but I would have thought that I would have seen some real interest (and purchases) if this was the correct venue. I've got to think of other ways to get the cages out and seen.
I am enjoying the ones I have in my home and rearrange them often to get each into a better place of emphasis. Right now I have 15 Hendryx cages in my living room. They are tastefully displayed and no, I do not live in a mansion. Just a two bedroom apartment. But I have wonderful cages that I enjoy looking at.
I believe I will add some pictures of cages I have for sale and see if there is any interest from this blog. Bonnie, who gave me display hints, took 4 of my cages to a booth she has in an antique store here in Medford. I just got a call from a woman I met at the Portland Expo offering me the opportunity to put 2-3 cages in a show she's in later this month, and then into a booth she has in Vancouver, WA. Opportunities are knocking in answer to prayer and networking. I look forward to sharing my treasures with those of like mind and interest.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
My first
I decided to buy booth space at an antique show and see how the public responded to my cages. I was hoping to sell quite a few of them. I chose a large show in Portland, OR and rented space for a 10X20ft booth. I figured that since Spring was showing up, this would be the time to display the cages.
I built (with a carpenter friend) a wood frame with 2X4s and 4X4s that spanned the 20ft back and 10ft sides. The wood was stained and looked nice. The trick was to make it portable since I had to transport it 300 miles. It had white rack shelves, uprights for hanging cages, a place in the center for a curio cabinet, and plenty of floor space for cage/stand combos. I rented a table and would place that in the front center of the booth. I had it mapped out and diagrammed on paper...to scale. I rented a UHaul, my carpenter friend, Brian, loaded it (since I can't climb into the back of the truck due to balance issues), and prepared to head out the next day. Well, a storm swooped in, chains were required over the pass, and, since I wasn't about to buy UHaul 2 sets of chains, I hunkered down for a day and left the next day. The drive was good, wet but clear roads, and I reached my destination late at night. I slept over at friends' home, then headed to the Expo center.
My ability to get lost 'in a paper bag' is notable in my family, and it was frustrating to drive a UHaul (14ft) as I wove in and out trying to find my way in Portland traffic. The Lord was good to me, and I made it without nary a scrape. My son drove down from Seattle and met me at the Expo. We spent the next 6 hours unloading the UHaul, assembling the frame (I absolutely love battery-powered drills) and sorting and arranging the displays. My son, Jared, did all the heavy lifting and carrying. He helped me arrange the displays for the feeders, bird baths, etc. and before we knew it, we were at closing time and had to leave. He drove me to my friends' home since I'd parked the UHaul in overnight Expo parking where it would stay the length of the show. He ate a quick sandwich and headed North at 7:30pm for a 3hr. drive home. There is NO WAY I could have done it without his help.
Being my first show ever, there were lots of glitches, mistakes and partially completed tasks. Saturday morning saw my sister and me unpacking glass figurines, doing last-minute pricing, and trying to figure out what we were doing. She'd worked booths before, so she knew about the smiling, greeting and showing the wares. I finally thawed and relaxed several hours into the show and could converse with those who stopped by to see the unique booth.
I entered the show with the idea of sharing my knowledge about Hendryx, his construction and patents, and help people choose their favorite cages for home. Little did I know that Hendryx is not a commonly known word in my neck of the woods in Oregon. People looked at the cages, but weren't really interested in the history of them. They strolled down their own memory lanes as they gazed at the Victorian cages that resembled Grandma's in the kitchen, or at the Art Deco ones that they grew up with. There were comments about the 'uniqueness' of the collection. Several folks bought feeders for their cages at home. One fellow talked with me on Sat. and returned Sunday with feeder in hand, looking for a match. I have quite an array of feeders and was able to find one for him. Many folks stopped by to chat or share stories or to browse.
Several women stopped by and gave suggestions for booth improvements, which I greatly appreciated. My big downfall is that I think more like a man than a woman. Although I am left-handed, I spend a LOT of time in my left brain. My booth was setup and displayed more like a hardware store than a boutique. The boutique, homey look is what people expect and are looking for, I was told. I had no lace and table cloths, no flowers or candles, no potpourri or 'soft' items to enhance the cages. I had a hardware store (complete with battery powered drill under the table!!). It was very efficient and completed the task of displaying the cages. Nothing 'foo-foo' about it.
Sunday night saw us packing up and loading the UHaul. Each cage has to be boxed individually since each is so fragile. That takes a lot of time and space. Then the drill comes out to unscrew 40ft of lumber. Then all is hauled back into the UHaul to be strapped down and secured for the return trip. My brother-in-law and I pulled out of the parking lot at 10pm, after 5 hours of packing and loading. There is no way I could have done it without his help. No way.
A short night's sleep, and I was on the road again, trying to beat the second wave of snow that was coming. I got home 6+ hours later, exhausted. Brian and I unloaded the next day, and the UHaul was returned. My first antique show was under my belt with many lessons learned.
The most important lesson learned (reinforced) was that I have a sizable network of family and friends that support me and my endeavors. I could not have done it at all without cage cleaning and packing help from my sister, Marcia, and my friend, Cathy (who you met in a previous entry), loading/unloading help from Brian, unloading and set up help from my son, booth assistance from friends, Linda and Jeryl, and another sister, Margie. Tear-down/packing/loading would still be going on without the help from my friends and brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Jennifer. Jennifer designed my business cards and price tags. My daughter, Beth, advised me to purchase a device which would accept credit cards. When I made the commitment to 'do' the show, I didn't expect to need all this help, but as I failed in areas, others were there to support, encourage, train, teach, lead by example, and lift up weary arms. It was definitely a group effort. "I" didn't 'do' the show..."WE" did.
Second lesson learned is that I am there to meet the goals and needs of the public in the show. My goals are secondary. I must meet their needs (whether it's advice, guidance with their own cages, and question answering) before they will meet my need by purchasing items. You may be shaking your head and saying "duh!", but it wasn't that easy for me to see. Coming from a non-sales employment history, with a passion for the "Hendryx" part of the cage, I didn't have a clue. I won't say that I know it all now, but I can say that I am not clueless.
My initial thought when I got home was one of desperation. "What am I going to do with all my Hendryx cages if no one wants them?" I classified my booth in the show as a failure and 'knew' I wouldn't 'do' another show. After 3 days of rest and recuperation, of calculating and pondering, of reality instead of feelings, I began reasoning again and became logical (very left-brained).
I am entered into another antique show in 2 weeks. I've modified a lot, thanks to the lessons learned with #1. I have a smaller booth space, and I will rent a UHaul cargo van instead of a truck so I can load it myself. I will come with cages/stands/feeders/lace/tablecloths/flowers/candles and other 'foo-foo' items. I will present the cages for what they are...works of art...in a way that a passerby can see, appreciate and hopefully want in his or her home. The history lessons will be on the back burner unless a Hendryx-lover approaches. I will relax, chat, and enjoy those who stop to visit. I will share with them the wares I love; the crafted pieces of art, many over 100 years old, from a company known for its vision, knowledge, and hard work. The Andrew B. Hendryx Co. of New Haven Conn.
I built (with a carpenter friend) a wood frame with 2X4s and 4X4s that spanned the 20ft back and 10ft sides. The wood was stained and looked nice. The trick was to make it portable since I had to transport it 300 miles. It had white rack shelves, uprights for hanging cages, a place in the center for a curio cabinet, and plenty of floor space for cage/stand combos. I rented a table and would place that in the front center of the booth. I had it mapped out and diagrammed on paper...to scale. I rented a UHaul, my carpenter friend, Brian, loaded it (since I can't climb into the back of the truck due to balance issues), and prepared to head out the next day. Well, a storm swooped in, chains were required over the pass, and, since I wasn't about to buy UHaul 2 sets of chains, I hunkered down for a day and left the next day. The drive was good, wet but clear roads, and I reached my destination late at night. I slept over at friends' home, then headed to the Expo center.
My ability to get lost 'in a paper bag' is notable in my family, and it was frustrating to drive a UHaul (14ft) as I wove in and out trying to find my way in Portland traffic. The Lord was good to me, and I made it without nary a scrape. My son drove down from Seattle and met me at the Expo. We spent the next 6 hours unloading the UHaul, assembling the frame (I absolutely love battery-powered drills) and sorting and arranging the displays. My son, Jared, did all the heavy lifting and carrying. He helped me arrange the displays for the feeders, bird baths, etc. and before we knew it, we were at closing time and had to leave. He drove me to my friends' home since I'd parked the UHaul in overnight Expo parking where it would stay the length of the show. He ate a quick sandwich and headed North at 7:30pm for a 3hr. drive home. There is NO WAY I could have done it without his help.
Being my first show ever, there were lots of glitches, mistakes and partially completed tasks. Saturday morning saw my sister and me unpacking glass figurines, doing last-minute pricing, and trying to figure out what we were doing. She'd worked booths before, so she knew about the smiling, greeting and showing the wares. I finally thawed and relaxed several hours into the show and could converse with those who stopped by to see the unique booth.
I entered the show with the idea of sharing my knowledge about Hendryx, his construction and patents, and help people choose their favorite cages for home. Little did I know that Hendryx is not a commonly known word in my neck of the woods in Oregon. People looked at the cages, but weren't really interested in the history of them. They strolled down their own memory lanes as they gazed at the Victorian cages that resembled Grandma's in the kitchen, or at the Art Deco ones that they grew up with. There were comments about the 'uniqueness' of the collection. Several folks bought feeders for their cages at home. One fellow talked with me on Sat. and returned Sunday with feeder in hand, looking for a match. I have quite an array of feeders and was able to find one for him. Many folks stopped by to chat or share stories or to browse.
Several women stopped by and gave suggestions for booth improvements, which I greatly appreciated. My big downfall is that I think more like a man than a woman. Although I am left-handed, I spend a LOT of time in my left brain. My booth was setup and displayed more like a hardware store than a boutique. The boutique, homey look is what people expect and are looking for, I was told. I had no lace and table cloths, no flowers or candles, no potpourri or 'soft' items to enhance the cages. I had a hardware store (complete with battery powered drill under the table!!). It was very efficient and completed the task of displaying the cages. Nothing 'foo-foo' about it.
Sunday night saw us packing up and loading the UHaul. Each cage has to be boxed individually since each is so fragile. That takes a lot of time and space. Then the drill comes out to unscrew 40ft of lumber. Then all is hauled back into the UHaul to be strapped down and secured for the return trip. My brother-in-law and I pulled out of the parking lot at 10pm, after 5 hours of packing and loading. There is no way I could have done it without his help. No way.
A short night's sleep, and I was on the road again, trying to beat the second wave of snow that was coming. I got home 6+ hours later, exhausted. Brian and I unloaded the next day, and the UHaul was returned. My first antique show was under my belt with many lessons learned.
The most important lesson learned (reinforced) was that I have a sizable network of family and friends that support me and my endeavors. I could not have done it at all without cage cleaning and packing help from my sister, Marcia, and my friend, Cathy (who you met in a previous entry), loading/unloading help from Brian, unloading and set up help from my son, booth assistance from friends, Linda and Jeryl, and another sister, Margie. Tear-down/packing/loading would still be going on without the help from my friends and brother and sister-in-law, Jim and Jennifer. Jennifer designed my business cards and price tags. My daughter, Beth, advised me to purchase a device which would accept credit cards. When I made the commitment to 'do' the show, I didn't expect to need all this help, but as I failed in areas, others were there to support, encourage, train, teach, lead by example, and lift up weary arms. It was definitely a group effort. "I" didn't 'do' the show..."WE" did.
Second lesson learned is that I am there to meet the goals and needs of the public in the show. My goals are secondary. I must meet their needs (whether it's advice, guidance with their own cages, and question answering) before they will meet my need by purchasing items. You may be shaking your head and saying "duh!", but it wasn't that easy for me to see. Coming from a non-sales employment history, with a passion for the "Hendryx" part of the cage, I didn't have a clue. I won't say that I know it all now, but I can say that I am not clueless.
My initial thought when I got home was one of desperation. "What am I going to do with all my Hendryx cages if no one wants them?" I classified my booth in the show as a failure and 'knew' I wouldn't 'do' another show. After 3 days of rest and recuperation, of calculating and pondering, of reality instead of feelings, I began reasoning again and became logical (very left-brained).
I am entered into another antique show in 2 weeks. I've modified a lot, thanks to the lessons learned with #1. I have a smaller booth space, and I will rent a UHaul cargo van instead of a truck so I can load it myself. I will come with cages/stands/feeders/lace/tablecloths/flowers/candles and other 'foo-foo' items. I will present the cages for what they are...works of art...in a way that a passerby can see, appreciate and hopefully want in his or her home. The history lessons will be on the back burner unless a Hendryx-lover approaches. I will relax, chat, and enjoy those who stop to visit. I will share with them the wares I love; the crafted pieces of art, many over 100 years old, from a company known for its vision, knowledge, and hard work. The Andrew B. Hendryx Co. of New Haven Conn.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Andrew B. Hendryx Co. Catalogue
I wrote to the New Haven Museum in Connecticut to see if they had any catalogs or magazines concerning the A.B. Hendryx Co. I received an affirmative answer so I paid to have copies. I received a box tonight.
I opened the box and pulled out about 50-60 or more pages of pictures, diagrams, measurements, specifications, etc of his cages/stands/feeders/springs/hanging hooks/and whatever else. It contains the information I have been searching for concerning which feeder goes with which cage. It has the most interesting shapes of cages!! OH, how I love the Victorian age cages!!! There is a review of the different finishes available, including brass and the Japanned finishes. It offers the option of having a pull-out drawer for cleaning, or not having one. It offers removable seed guards and feeder cup guards.
I just paged through the catalog copies once. I found I was holding my breath and treating each page as if it was an original. What an opportunity to have all this information. I still can't believe it.
Along with the cages, the Hendryx company offered a pamphlet called the 'Feathered Philosopher' which told of a wise bird in a family who helps solve a crisis as well as instruct the family on canary care and best housing for this said canary. Hendryx of course. I received a copy of two of these pamphlets. They are very cute. I own one pamphlet with the same name, but with another saga and it's double the amount of pages of the ones I just received. It would have been quite a gift to accompany the cage purchases back in the day.
I don't know what I will do with them. I will certainly protect the pages but am not sure if I will have them bound or not. Must ponder that. But for now, I have a box full of informational history that puts me many steps forward toward my goal.
I needed to share this with you. It is a wonderful addition to this hoarder's library of information and memorabilia concerning the Andrew B. Hendryx Co. I will see if I can figure out how to add a picture of the cover so you can see what it looks like.
Thanks for joining in.
Barbara
I opened the box and pulled out about 50-60 or more pages of pictures, diagrams, measurements, specifications, etc of his cages/stands/feeders/springs/hanging hooks/and whatever else. It contains the information I have been searching for concerning which feeder goes with which cage. It has the most interesting shapes of cages!! OH, how I love the Victorian age cages!!! There is a review of the different finishes available, including brass and the Japanned finishes. It offers the option of having a pull-out drawer for cleaning, or not having one. It offers removable seed guards and feeder cup guards.
I just paged through the catalog copies once. I found I was holding my breath and treating each page as if it was an original. What an opportunity to have all this information. I still can't believe it.
Along with the cages, the Hendryx company offered a pamphlet called the 'Feathered Philosopher' which told of a wise bird in a family who helps solve a crisis as well as instruct the family on canary care and best housing for this said canary. Hendryx of course. I received a copy of two of these pamphlets. They are very cute. I own one pamphlet with the same name, but with another saga and it's double the amount of pages of the ones I just received. It would have been quite a gift to accompany the cage purchases back in the day.
I don't know what I will do with them. I will certainly protect the pages but am not sure if I will have them bound or not. Must ponder that. But for now, I have a box full of informational history that puts me many steps forward toward my goal.
I needed to share this with you. It is a wonderful addition to this hoarder's library of information and memorabilia concerning the Andrew B. Hendryx Co. I will see if I can figure out how to add a picture of the cover so you can see what it looks like.
Thanks for joining in.
Barbara
Friday, January 27, 2012
The cage that 'got away'.
My friend, Cathy, and I like to walk through our favorite antique stores as often as possible. It is usually every month or two that we make a sweep of them, both in this town and a town 30 miles away. I would like to tell you about the cage that 'got away'. Keep in mind that this was before I was looking at bird cages, much less looking for them.
One day we came upon the most unique thing I had ever seen. It was a piece of art hanging from a stand. It was the most gorgeous bird cage I've ever seen. I honestly can't remember what the shape was-whether dome or rectangle. It was brass. But what I remember is the wires. They weren't just brass wires, straight off the top and down to the base. NO!! Each wire was twisted around and around. Intricate twisting wires all around this cage. It reminded me of 'back in the day' oil lamps with the oil dripping along wires around an enclosed statue. Delicate little wires everywhere.
My jaw probably dropped, and I just stood there. There was a note about 'original feeders' and some such thing, but I didn't even look at those. I checked the price and decided it was w-a-y out of range of reality. 'Who would pay that for a decorative bird cage?' I asked myself. HA! Now, knowing what I know, and seeing what I've seen, it was a steal at the original price.
Every time we went back, it was still there. Each time, I would stand and look, think, analyze, and talk myself out of it. For months, it called out to me. The price inched down, but I never took the leap to buy it. One day we went in there, and it was gone! I mean gone! Not just moved when the booth was rearranged, but someone had actually bought "my" cage!!
I don't know the manufacturer, but it was definitely Victorian. It could have been a "Hendryx". It could have been Lindemann. Maybe an Osborn. Whoever made it knew art and the 'grab' it would have to the bird cage shoppers of that day. Little did the artist know that 100 years later, the 'grab' would still be in the item.
I wish I had a picture to show you. I just have a fading memory of that cage in my mind. My, it's been over a year, but I still think of that cage, my reluctance in purchasing it, and the regret I carry. Cathy and I still talk about it. Isn't that funny? That cage made a lasting impression on both of us. It's still hovering in the back of my brain in the "only if" section.
Maybe that's why I snag pretty much any "Hendryx" that crosses my path! I can't stand to be haunted by another one that 'got away". I love the Victorian ones; the cages with the carefully formed wires in interesting shapes. This is before the smooth lines of the Machine Age. Before the chrome of the Art Deco era. WAY before the plastic.
If, by chance, you see a Victorian cage with delicate twisting brass wires, that is calling my name and is for sale, please email, call, blog, or come running to my home. I am interested. Very interested.
Thank you. Barbara
One day we came upon the most unique thing I had ever seen. It was a piece of art hanging from a stand. It was the most gorgeous bird cage I've ever seen. I honestly can't remember what the shape was-whether dome or rectangle. It was brass. But what I remember is the wires. They weren't just brass wires, straight off the top and down to the base. NO!! Each wire was twisted around and around. Intricate twisting wires all around this cage. It reminded me of 'back in the day' oil lamps with the oil dripping along wires around an enclosed statue. Delicate little wires everywhere.
My jaw probably dropped, and I just stood there. There was a note about 'original feeders' and some such thing, but I didn't even look at those. I checked the price and decided it was w-a-y out of range of reality. 'Who would pay that for a decorative bird cage?' I asked myself. HA! Now, knowing what I know, and seeing what I've seen, it was a steal at the original price.
Every time we went back, it was still there. Each time, I would stand and look, think, analyze, and talk myself out of it. For months, it called out to me. The price inched down, but I never took the leap to buy it. One day we went in there, and it was gone! I mean gone! Not just moved when the booth was rearranged, but someone had actually bought "my" cage!!
I don't know the manufacturer, but it was definitely Victorian. It could have been a "Hendryx". It could have been Lindemann. Maybe an Osborn. Whoever made it knew art and the 'grab' it would have to the bird cage shoppers of that day. Little did the artist know that 100 years later, the 'grab' would still be in the item.
I wish I had a picture to show you. I just have a fading memory of that cage in my mind. My, it's been over a year, but I still think of that cage, my reluctance in purchasing it, and the regret I carry. Cathy and I still talk about it. Isn't that funny? That cage made a lasting impression on both of us. It's still hovering in the back of my brain in the "only if" section.
Maybe that's why I snag pretty much any "Hendryx" that crosses my path! I can't stand to be haunted by another one that 'got away". I love the Victorian ones; the cages with the carefully formed wires in interesting shapes. This is before the smooth lines of the Machine Age. Before the chrome of the Art Deco era. WAY before the plastic.
If, by chance, you see a Victorian cage with delicate twisting brass wires, that is calling my name and is for sale, please email, call, blog, or come running to my home. I am interested. Very interested.
Thank you. Barbara
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Self-confessed Hoarder
I am the first to admit that I am a "Hendryx" Hoarder. I am fascinated with his work, his creations, the inventors working at his company, the trademarks, the patents, the 'everything' that goes along with the Andrew B. Hendryx Co. of New Haven, Conn.
I don't remember when this 'obsession' hit, but it's been within this last year; more specifically, last 9 months of 2011. Could it have started with the bird cage 'that got away'? (More about that in a later post.) Could seeds of interest been planted when I saw the delicate work in my friend's two "Hendryx" cages? Could it have been at an antique show when I started on my initial quest to find a "Hendryx"? I honestly don't know the answer to these questions? Or could the Lord have drawn me to this as an interest since I am on disability and not working? Possible income? I can't say.
I only know that I live, think, and breathe "Hendryx". I want someone to talk with who has similar drives and interests. I want to share items that I have found, and post items that I am looking for. I want to be able to glean whatever information there is out there that I don't have, and I want to be able to share information I do have with anyone who wants it. I want my incorrect information corrected.
I know there are at least several of you out there. I have enough ebay contacts to know that there are people out there, right now, with the same "Hendryx" goal. I lose auctions to you when you are better bidders than I am. I am in awe at the prices you pay for "Hendryx" items. I am shocked at the prices I pay for "Hendryx" items. All with one goal in mind.
What is this goal that I keep alluding to? It is very simple. I want to own a "Hendryx" cage and outfit it the same way the Andrew B. Hendryx Co. did when it left the factory. I want the same feeders, the perches, the swing, the seed guards, and the same stand. Put it all together, and I have a piece of historical art that takes my breathe away.
THAT is what I want. My initial goal used to include owning one of each "Hendryx" cage made. 40-50 cages later, reality has arrived, and I know it is not going to happen. My goal takes networking, researching, researching, networking, time, more time, money and more money. It takes someone willing to share a piece of information that he/she has. It takes that someone finding this blog and being willing to read, make an entry, and enjoy the conversation and info exchange. I want this place, this blog, this area of cyber space, to be a fun place to be. I want us to laugh, to 'ooh' and 'aah', to be eager to return to our common interest and friends. To sit and chat a while.
As you can probably tell from this simple design and initial post, I have no clue what I am doing with this blog. I am stepping out, in faith, that there are those of you out there, not only hoarders and fanatics like me, but regular folks who are interested in my latest find, who are willing to share your latest find, latest tidbit of info, maybe have something for sale, maybe not, maybe just a note of encouragement. I am looking for people to talk with, share with, and fill the drive within me that sometimes 'screams' for someone to share the creative artistry and vision of the man named Andrew B. Hendryx, his company, his inventors, his creations.
Thank you. Barbara
I don't remember when this 'obsession' hit, but it's been within this last year; more specifically, last 9 months of 2011. Could it have started with the bird cage 'that got away'? (More about that in a later post.) Could seeds of interest been planted when I saw the delicate work in my friend's two "Hendryx" cages? Could it have been at an antique show when I started on my initial quest to find a "Hendryx"? I honestly don't know the answer to these questions? Or could the Lord have drawn me to this as an interest since I am on disability and not working? Possible income? I can't say.
I only know that I live, think, and breathe "Hendryx". I want someone to talk with who has similar drives and interests. I want to share items that I have found, and post items that I am looking for. I want to be able to glean whatever information there is out there that I don't have, and I want to be able to share information I do have with anyone who wants it. I want my incorrect information corrected.
I know there are at least several of you out there. I have enough ebay contacts to know that there are people out there, right now, with the same "Hendryx" goal. I lose auctions to you when you are better bidders than I am. I am in awe at the prices you pay for "Hendryx" items. I am shocked at the prices I pay for "Hendryx" items. All with one goal in mind.
What is this goal that I keep alluding to? It is very simple. I want to own a "Hendryx" cage and outfit it the same way the Andrew B. Hendryx Co. did when it left the factory. I want the same feeders, the perches, the swing, the seed guards, and the same stand. Put it all together, and I have a piece of historical art that takes my breathe away.
THAT is what I want. My initial goal used to include owning one of each "Hendryx" cage made. 40-50 cages later, reality has arrived, and I know it is not going to happen. My goal takes networking, researching, researching, networking, time, more time, money and more money. It takes someone willing to share a piece of information that he/she has. It takes that someone finding this blog and being willing to read, make an entry, and enjoy the conversation and info exchange. I want this place, this blog, this area of cyber space, to be a fun place to be. I want us to laugh, to 'ooh' and 'aah', to be eager to return to our common interest and friends. To sit and chat a while.
As you can probably tell from this simple design and initial post, I have no clue what I am doing with this blog. I am stepping out, in faith, that there are those of you out there, not only hoarders and fanatics like me, but regular folks who are interested in my latest find, who are willing to share your latest find, latest tidbit of info, maybe have something for sale, maybe not, maybe just a note of encouragement. I am looking for people to talk with, share with, and fill the drive within me that sometimes 'screams' for someone to share the creative artistry and vision of the man named Andrew B. Hendryx, his company, his inventors, his creations.
Thank you. Barbara
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