"Hendryx Enhanced" #2-Guest Contributor Miguel in Mexico

This is the second visit to my blog for Miguel.  He first contributed in May 2015 and he's done another marvelous job on this first cage.  This is how I introduced him in May:

 Miguel contacted me through this blog and said he collected Hendryx cages too.  He gets them from markets or on the internet.  He repairs them, if needed, then intervenes artistically so they will be more pleasing to the senses.  He has a creative spirit and does all his work freehand.  These belong to a collection that is "an artistic intervention to an ancient object without losing its original function".

Let's get some pictures in here so you can see what I am talking about.

This cage is found in my Hendryx catalogs from the late 1920s to the early-to-mid 1930s.  The seed screen guard has been removed for easy viewing of the floor which is decorated with a crane and a cherry tree.

Note the polished base as well as the enhanced upright to the stand.              The upright pole is wrapped with actual tree bark.

The perches and swing are hand painted and covered with a polyester layer so the paint is protected and is not harmful to the birds.

Look at this amazing art work!!

This bird is a model and does not live in the cage.

Here are several more pictures of another cage of his.

For more photos from Miguel, look at my May 2015 blog post.

Thank you for joining me as we celebrate Miguel's artistic abilities added to the always-great Hendryx cages.  It's always a pleasure hearing from him.

If you have any pictures of Hendryx cages you found over the summer or have any questions, please write to me at tweetthings53@gmail.com.  I will add the pictures as a guest contributor.

Fall is around the corner but the weather should still be good enough for more shopping for and buying of those amazing cages by The Andrew B. Hendryx Co.

Have a blessed day.  Happy Hunting.

Barbara

"Hendryx" in the 1930s

Welcome to the 30s!!  The Andrew B. Hendryx Co. was busy as usual turning out one great cage after another.  They'd been in business with the Hendryx name since 1869 and their reputation was solid.  As in previous years , the inventors were busy and patents were pending. 

Check out this cage from the 1930 Hendryx trade catalog #42.  

I think it is stunningly attractive.  

It also came in a meadow green finish.

Even the unbreakable Pyralin feeders were patent pending.

Also in the 1930 catalog is this uniquely shaped cage.  

This cage would have come with the Pyralin feeders also.  I don't have any so I dress it out with the opal (milk) glass oval feeders.

It also came in a tangerine and ivory finish.

Again, from Catalog # 42 comes this mushroom-shaped cage called 

"The Bower".

It, too, would have had Pyralin feeders.

This cage also came in a green 2-tone finish.

Lou Ann generously offered these guest photos of another patent pending cage.  This time it's from Catalog #43 in 1932.  

It's called "The Nippon"

"A modern development of a popular oriental design"

Here are pictures of some of the patented cages that were also offered in the 1930 catalog:

  

85 years ago, these cages were offered for sale in the 1930 & 1932 Andrew B. Hendryx Co. trade catalogs.  They are still quite popular with collectors.

I hope you've enjoyed this trip down memory lane.  I continue to be amazed at the quality and variety offered by the Hendryx Co.

I hope you are enjoying your summer.  If you've found some Hendryx treasures, please write to me at tweetthings53@gmail.com and include some pictures.  I will post them as guest photos.

The time is ripe for garage and estate sales, and discovering the treasures in attics and collectors' markets.  Happy Hunting.

Barbara

Another great Hendryx cage to identify

Richard wrote to me asking for information about this cage.  Let's see what we can figure out by examining the cage.

Looking at the cage, we can see that it is really reinforced.  It has the heavy rails that arch up and over the top, 4 in all.  Then there is the reinforcement where you can see the concentric arches at the top third of the sides. Richard wrote that it has cast iron feeders.  From this picture, it looks like the feeders are porcelain on the inside.  I don't see a tray in the bottom, but there would have been one originally.  The cage is 18 in. X 16 in. and 21 in. tall.

It has the Hendryx tag

Wires are fairly far apart.  From the size of the cage and the width of the wire spacing, this cage belongs to a larger type bird

Close-up view of the reinforced arches on the ends

Feeders are secured with the posts on either side and a latch on the back.  Must have a pretty vigorous bird inside this cage.

I knew I'd seen it before, while going through my Hendryx trade catalogs, so I started searching.

What did I find out?  

This is called the "Osborn Parrot Cage" in the 1926 and 1930 catalogs, and goes by the number OS84 in the 1932 catalog.  I have no proof but by conjecture and a few cages labeled "Osborn", but I believe that the great cage manufacturer, Osborn, worked with Hendryx for a while.  I believe that is why it carries the name "Osborn".  I don't have a copy of the patent, but it is probably co-patented by both manufacturers.  It is advertised: "This design ranks first among Parrot Cages, having no equal in construction and finish."  The OS84 is described as "Specifically designed for Cockatoos with extra arch on each end to give added strength."  The size for the OS84 was 21.25 in. X 15 in. with a height of 27.25 inches.

It is described like this in the 1932 catalog:  "Solid brass throughout.  Drilled rails.  Moulding type drawer base.  Grating over drawer.  Cast iron porcelain enameled cups.  Perch and swing."

What a great cage!!  This cage is quite different from the other parrot cages we've seen previously on this blog.  As of this writing, it is for sale on ebay.

Thanks to the welcomed information from one of my cage buddies, I am including a link to North Fork Pets and Antiques web site.  The link will take you to the cage like this that they have for sale.  It is a Victorian version that is labeled Osborn and Son, New York, NY.  Very close to this one.  It looks like the cage was modified a bit and the Hendryx name was put on it.  Take a look:

http://www.tias.com/large-victorian-bird-cage-osborn-birdcage-new-york-361209.html

I enjoy doing the research and passing on the information to you.  If you have any mystery cages you'd like me to check out, please feel free to write to me at my email address tweetthings53@gmail.com and include several pictures. You can't add pictures under comments here in the blog.  I will feature the pictures as a guest contributor.

It's getting warm and the garage sale signs are out already.  Keep your eyes open for great Hendryx cages as they get dusted off and see the light of day for the first time in ages.

Happy Hunting.

Barbara

Hendryx seed guard scavenger hunt

There is a reader who contacted me with an item request.  I am passing it on to you.  For all the Hendryx collectors "out there", please look over your surplus parts and pieces.  Keep your eyes open.  I would like you to join a scavenger hunt.

The photo above is taken from the 1949 Hendryx trade catalog.  It shows two chromium cages.  The scalloped cage on the left has glass seed guards with the "fired on" black and white design.  The one on the right has a plain, rounded top and has bound plastic seed guards.

The reader is looking for these seed guards.  They are a thick vinyl-like plastic that are material-bound on the edges, that go on the front, back, and both sides of the cage. 

If you have some that are available for purchase, please write to me at my email address tweetthings53@gmail.com.  Or leave a comment here.  I appreciate your help as this reader continues the quest to complete a Hendryx cage.

Thank you.
Barbara

Hendryx Enhanced

Today I would like to show you some photos from a collector in Mexico. Miguel contacted me through this blog and said he collected Hendryx cages too.  He gets them from markets or on the internet.  He repairs them, if needed, then intervenes artistically so they will be more pleasing to the senses.  He has a creative spirit and does all his work freehand.  These belong to a collection that is an artistic intervention to an ancient object without losing its original function.

Let's get some pictures in here so you can see what I'm talking about.

First to know is that the birds are models for the photos.  They do not live in these cages.

Several things to notice on this first cage.  Note the blue hummingbird wire sculptures on the back wall.  Note the wires that support the swing.  The blue feeders compliment the blue floor and perches and tie the color scheme together.  (Blue is my favorite color and I find this very appealing.)  This is a 1930s cage that is anything but plain.

Look at the back wall of this fine Hendryx cage.  There is  a large bird intricately woven in the cage wires.  The perches and swing are hand painted and covered with a polyester layer so the paint is protected and is not harmful to the birds.

Here is a lovely floral arrangement on the base of the cage.  The bird model is well chosen as it blends with some of the flowers.

The purple in this Art Deco cage adds a little spice to a simple cage design.

Check out this classic beehive by Hendryx.  It looks anything but classic.  More like "classy".  The swing and perches are decorated to match the orange color scheme.  The bird looks to be the best model for this cage!  

Look at the floor to this beehive cage.  What a work of art!!  It is an amazing butterfly painted by hand which covers the whole floor.  The screen seed guard has been removed so nothing blocks the view to this masterpiece.

I have seen cages painted, cages with plants hanging in them, and cages in the back yard without doors so the wild birds have free access to them; but this is the first I've seen or heard about the artistic enhancement of an older object without losing its original purpose.  I think it's great.

I'd like to hear your comments on this.  There is a place at the bottom of this entry where you can comment.  If you have done some creative enhancements to your Hendryx cages and would like to share with us, please write to me at my email address tweetthings53@gmail.com and send some photos.  I will post them as a guest contributor.

Thank you for your time.  And again, "happy hunting".

Barbara