The Antique Shoppe Editoral Page

	ON THE COVER - May Issue 2007 American Military Illustrations Began with Civil War....by Anne Gilbert Long before there were American photo journalists covering wars at the scene of battles and showing the grisly pictures, almost as they happened on TV, there were the men known as “ pictorial reporters.” They weren’t the first to depict America’s historical battles with pencil and paper, but the first to do sketches along side the fighting armies. Their role in the history of military illustrations began during the Civil War. It also coincided with the changes in printing techniques.
	Q. Can you give me any information on a piano? On the key lid it says "LOUD ESTABLISHED 1812 BUFFALO CABINET GRAND" in gold lettering. The cabinet seems to be of walnut. It is very dark with pretty details to the wood. On the top lid is the imprint "MFTD ESPECIALLY for Rob T. Loud Buffalo New York by Jacob Doll & Sons New York". There are two numbers on the piano. One, #100289, is engraved in the wood on the inside and another, #7328, is engraved in the back under the top.
	Q. We have a dining room set manufactured by St. John Table Co. of Cadillac Michigan. I assume this set of table, 4 chairs, server and china cabinet were made. After 1929 since there is a New York Furniture stamp from 1929 on the underside. Any estimate of the value of the set? H. K. - Hillsborough, NJ
	I recently had a call from a lady inquiring about her pull out sleeper couch. She was so excited because it said right on the couch that it came from a Pullman train car and she wanted me to help her date it. As it turned out though the actual label did not really say it came from a Pullman car, it just said "Pullman." She assumed the rest.
	Go figure this ! There is more supposedly 18th century English furniture now than the population at the time who would have used it. When you see examples at shows, auctions and shops the wood is beautiful, as are inlays and the figured woods and carvings. Antique English furniture has always been something of a status symbol not only to wealthy Europeans but Americans.
	The Great American Hunt for Old Bottles....by Robert Reed The search for treasured old bottles, ranging from hard drink bitters to sofa drink colas, has been a fascinating American occupation for generations. Bottled goods were generally available in the United States from the middle of the 19th century on into the 20th century. They were as varied as their contents and came in a near-rainbow of colors including various shades of amber. Moreover bottles could be round, square, rectangular, or even pot-bellied like old-fashioned stoves.
	Highwaymen On The Road Again....by Carol J. Perry Attending an event featuring the Florida Highwaymen is like visiting a combination Art Gallery, Collectibles Show and Class Reunion! Recently a "Highwaymen Art Exhibit and Event" was held at the Safety Harbor Community Center. The special one-day show gave interested folks a chance to meet twelve or more of the original 26 Highwaymen, along with some of their artistically inclined descendants.

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