Things of my Dad

 

 

Below are three things that belonged to my

 Dad.

Top is a special handmade knife

Left-middle is a small transistor radio.

Bottom-right or opera glasses.

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I LUV these!!!  They are...

French opera glasses.

 ...probably made around the beginning of the 1900's

They were given to my father when he

was a young boy of about 10 or 12 (1911-1913) by a

"grandma" lady that had taken a fancy to my dad.  He

told me she was always very nice to him and gave him

candy and other little things.  He was very poor and she

was a lady of "Upper-middle class".  When she was becoming

sick from some "old age ailment", she told my dad to "take

care" of these opera glasses for her that someday they might

become valuable.  They are made of "mother of pearl" and

brass.  They still work perfectly. 

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This was quite a "pride and joy" to my Dad.  He would

take this radio almost everywhere.  It would travel with

him in his coat pocket.  Or set very close to his favorite

chair at home.  Along with the radio would always be

the wired earplugs so that he could listen to sports

and not bother other people.

The cost at the time of purchase in the early 60's...$25.

This is equivalent to about $200 - now prices

It came with this leather snap-on case with a small

attached handle.

There was a turn dial on each side of the radio.

One changed the channels and the other turned

it on and adjusted the volume.  Sadly, this radio

no longer works.

It sure looks fancy dressed only in it's shiney "gold"

vest-like speaker.   I remember my Dad sitting in the

chair at home with his little radio sitting on the arm

of the chair.  The boxing/fights were being broadcast

on the little radio, his ear leaned down close to listen.  He

wasn't using the earplugs because...he was also watching

and half listening to a baseball game playing on the TV.  Boy,

did my mom have more than a few complaining words to say

 about this little scenario.  =P

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This is a knife with a STORY to tell...

See how when the knife is tipped up it is like the curve

on a rocking chair leg?  That is exactly the purpose

for which this blade was made... to rock as it was

tipped up and then rocking back down it would cut food.

Many times it was a piece of filet steak (my Dad's choice of

meat).  Sometimes it would be vegetables or fruit.

This knife was special made by an iron smith/woodworker.

... just for my Dad.

The wood and metal of the knife are made from

old California railroad wood and metal of the 1940s.

I'm sure it could tell some historical tidbits,

if it could talk!

The man made the knife so it would be easier to cut food

with one hand.  Usually, we hold the fork with our left hand,

and cut with a knife in the left (being we are right handed).

But, if you don't have a left hand to put a fork in, it's almost

impossible to cut your food.  It is, however possible with a

... really sharp rocking knife.

My Dad lost his left arm, half way between the elbow and shoulder,

 when he was 17.  He had an accident while working at one of

the early California oil derricks.

He used this knife at every meal at home.  When we went out to

dinner or over to someone's house to eat, my Mom would carry

the knife in a cotton hankie in her purse.

If he didn't have the knife, someone would have to cut

most of his food for him.  The knife gave him a way to do for

himself and avoid the attention toward his only having one arm

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Thank YOU so much for your patience in reading through

the many words that describe how some special vintage items

are woven through my life...