If you like the folk style music of the Appalachians with a bit of gospel thrown in then this new E. C. Ball tribute album, “Face A Frowning World” is a must. Nathan Salsburg devoted a good chuck of time to arrange this beauty. It features Bonnie Prince Billy, The Handsome Family, Michael Hurley, Jollie Holland and others.
Royalties from the sale of this album will be donated to the Blue Ridge Institute, which documents, preserves, and promotes the folkways of the people living in and around the Blue Ridge Mountains.
More info on the album can be found on Nathan’s blog, Root Hog or Die.
Designers, illustrators, photographers, design studios, collectives/crews, agencies, students, visual artists… you are welcome to submit an innovative, creative, exciting, personal and experimental artwork inspired by the theme:
” WHAT DOES USA MEAN TO YOU? “
We are expecting diversity and freestyle: all styles of outstanding visual media are welcome. Selected works will be featured through online exhibit and book (more information soon).
Peterbilt, founded in 1939 by T. A. Peterman, a logging entrepreneur from Washington, turns 70 this year. Mr. Peterman was already buying up old military transport trucks and modifying them so he could haul freshly felled logs from the forest to the mill faster and more efficiently. At that time the best way to get logs to the mill was to float them down the river or by horse teams. So, in 1939, when Faegol Motor Co. went bust he bought up the assets and formed Peterbilt Motors Co. Peterbilt, was of course not alone in this medium and heavy duty truck manufacturing business. There were a number of big outfits like Mack, Kenworth and Ford who had years more experience and were churning out around 100 trucks a day while Peterbilt was only producing around 100 a year. Despite the low numbers Peterbilt quickly gained popularity, no doubt due to Peterman’s insistence of quality over quantity. Likewise, he would send his engineers and builders into the field to assess the wants and needs of the truckers to develop the best rigs. Once they had the valuable data they then went to the designing phase. Peterman died just 6 years later in 1945 and the company was eventually sold to Pacific Car and Foundry, which owned Kenworth in 1958. Peterbilt trucks are made in Denton, TX
Peterbilt’s first truck -1939
What young boy hasn’t been impressed by a huge chromed out semi tractor trailer with a flashy paint job? Back in the 70’s and 80’s when these rigs where mostly chrome and steel they certainly got my attention on our summer vacations to TN and FL from MN. My arm would get tired doing the universal signal for “honk your horn” to all the truckers. My father was also a CB radio buff. His handle was “T-Bone” and he could operate a CB like a seasoned pro. Perhaps I am biased, but I do believe being from the South is a prerequisite for CB radio use, it just sounds better with a thick Southern drawl and my father has one. I recall him talking for hours on his CB. It would generally go something like this, “Breaker, breaker 1/9 this is T-Bone does anybody copy?” “10-4 this is Blue Dog, I copy.” “What’s yer 20 good buddy, over?” “I’m Southbound on the 75 passing mile marker 34, over.” “I’m comin’ up on marker 15 with the pedal to metal, you got any smokies in yer back door, over?” “Bear in the grass around 18, over. “ “Copy that Blue Dog, over and out.” This honest banter amongst big rig trucker and civilian is a lasting reminder of how friendly our roadways can be.
The 1975 novelty song Convoy by C.W. McCall was a big hit in the 70’s and was the inspiration for the 1978 Sam Pekinpah film, Convoy.
This CB and trucker culture saw no bigger time then the 70’s and 80’s. Big budget movies like Smokey the Bandit, Convoy, Cannonball, White Line Fever and The Gumball Rally only further solidified their massive appeal.
Assorted 70’s & 80’s Peterbilt Trucks
More Peterbilt images can be found on these sites:
When we were thinking of a ten year anniversary logo I knew we would design it around an old labor union button. I have always liked the colors, old fonts, and how they could cram all the little bits of info onto that little celluloid disc. Obviously, they held significant meaning to the wearer but the button companies outfitting the unions seemed to take great pride in what they did as well. One such company that proved to be more than just design inspiration for our logo was G.H. (Grays Harbor) Stamp Works out of Aberdeen Washington. I had seen a number of their old political and labor union pinbacks from the 30’s and 40’s and noticed their name written on the side so I thought I would see if they were still around. Sure enough, Ron, Ken and David Windell are keeping the business alive and well that their Grandfather, Clary Windell, founded in 1916.
Besides buttons they can make rubber stamps and a plethora of other advertising specialties to fit anyone’s needs.
Grays Harbor Stamp Works circa 1919.
A sampling of their labor union buttons from the 40’s.
Our “Labor Union” 10 Year Anniversary Button. Note the states abbreviations.
Not only do they do nice work, use old machines/techniques and keep an eye on the small details they still use old receipts, labels, letterhead, neat old boxes and a typewriter to address it all. This is the sort of customer service and pride in what one does that our parents and grandparents were accustomed to and when experienced nowadays feels like you’re living in a different era.
*Give them a ring and be sure to ask for Ken – 1 800 894 3830
In the market for a new pair of winter boots? Schnee’s has a nice alternative to the famous LL Bean Maine Hunting Boots and they are handmade in Bozeman, MT.
Steve Schnee founded Schnee’s Boots & Shoes in Bozeman, MT over 30 years ago and has been serving the needs of hunters and outdoor enthusiasts ever since. Just over a year ago Steve bought the Powder Horn Outfitter that has been a Bozeman landmark since 1946. Besides their boots they also carry some other notable US brands like Danner, Stormy Kromer, Johnson Woolen Mills, Russell Moccasin, Rand Hats, and Filson.
Their pack boots feature 6 1/2 oz. oil-tanned or bison leather uppers, solid brass logger eyelets, liners made out of 400 gram Thinsulate and wool felt for wicking, triple stitched, handmade 100% rubber bottoms and for a nominal price Schnee’s pack boots are completely rebuildable.
Here’s a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee that really can’t be beat:
“Schnee’s products are always guaranteed to provide you with 100% satisfaction. Period. If you are ever dissatisfied with any Schnee’s product, simply return it. We do our utmost to insure that every customer is 100% satisfied with every purchase from Schnee’s. That’s why we only make and sell the very best. We are from Montana: if it’s not right, we’ll make it right.”
I met Nicco from Nauti & Co. at the Hoboken, NJ Art Fair last year and we keep in touch from time to time. He recently emailed me some images of a clever, nautical themed olive spear he recently designed. I am more of an olive fan than a martini fan but these little sterling silver gems were just too cool to keep to myself.
Terrific packaging as well.
Besides designing little cocktail accoutrements he is also fairly adept at building things from salvaged barn wood, weathered pallet skids, old lobster traps, 18th Century carpentry nails, and hemp rope, etc.
All made in his amazing 17th century barn complete with a bunch of big game trophies, including a recent hippo.
Winn Perry of Portland, OR, arguably one of the finer men’s shops in the NW, just got his first shipment of Colchester Rubber Co. high-top basketball sneakers and he sent us a couple of pairs. I am always a bit intrigued when an old brand re-surfaces. I remember meeting Michael Cassel from Stronghold Denimat a Project Tradeshow 5 or 6 years ago and hearing how they found the remnants of an old pair, did the research and were now trying to rebuild the brand that was likely the the first denim brand in LA. Colechester is really no different – a guy finds an old pair of sneakers in a Victorian era trunk at a estate sale for $2, does the research and tries to re-build the brand.
Oddly enough, Gary Pifer, the man who bought the shoes, has received quite a bit of flack because there are some who think the shoes he unearthed are fake and his claiming that these were the first basketball shoes was simply onebig marketing hoax (a) andhoax (b.) You be the judge. Gary, in fact, responds to the hoax allegations with a pretty plausible explanation but does not have proof to just how old they really are:
“I am the owner of the sneakers. Yes they are real. Converse has known about the sneakers for 4 years. Calling them a hoax without meeting me or seeing the actual sneakers is very lame. So I will invite David Prescovitz to come to Oceanside, Ca. to view the Original Basketball Sneakers, and while he is here, I will show him other original Colchester Rubber Company’s 1880’s Tennis Sneakers, Rubber Work Boots, Original, Catalogs, Advertisements. So as a hoaxer, I figured out an old obscure company, hatched a plan, came up with the old Basketball Sneakers idea then with no footwear experience, I was able to create an old looking shoe, by using natural gum rubber, I was able to inject red mold into antique twill and button weave adobe colored canvas along with adding mold to the cotton and celluloid shoe laces and tips. Then I was able to vulcanize the sole into a solid slab of rubber leaving in the impurities, then I poured melted rubber into a hand-carved turkey feather design mold while hand carving the cooling rubber with finer details. Earth to David, I may have a Moderate IQ, but I ain’t that smart. It was much easier, finding the Original 1892 Sneakers.”
It’s a pretty intriguing story and hopefully someone will come along to adequately pin-point when they were made. I tend to believe the shoes are indeed old but seem more modern than what shoe companies were churning out in the late 1800’s especially since the shoes CRC was offering at the same time were quite a bit different. Perhaps another person tried to revive the brand in the 20’s or 30’s. All speculation and hearsay of course…..
An e-mail to Gary has not been anwered as of yet. I will update the post if I get one.
**UPDATE
I received an email from Craig Huck, Strategic Advisor at Sneaker LLC, Inc.
“I oversee operations for Sneakers LLC which holds the license to Colchester and several other heritage shoe brands for Gary. Will see if I can answer your questions to your satisfaction.
Your analogy is a good, regarding the futuristic prototype. These shoes are indeed original, and dated 1892. The working on the sole alone predates technology from the 20’s or 30’s. Regarding the “hoax” theory floating around, we believe that it can be shown to be fueled by a competitor in the marketplace, who made some statements to one of the sites, but failed to disclose his own shoe line which bears a stricking resemblence to what he has denouced as fraud. The uppers to his shoes are a different material but the basic model is very very similar. We have chosen not to respond any longer, rather are letting our shoes speak for themselves.
The shoes actually cost 50 cents, which is one of the best purchases I have ever heard of!”
A couple of posts ago I mentioned an upcoming show at the Hendershot Gallery on 10/15 featuring the works of Joe Fig. Well, I just found out that another amazing artist, Jim Gaylord, has his opening reception on the same night at the Jeff Bailey Gallery. Not to worry, both of these Chelsea art gallery’s are only a couple of blocks from each other.
I got to thinking about my 20 year old Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars recently. That’s right, these were purchased in Mankato, MN in 1989 while visiting my friend Michael’s hometown one weekend during my first year of college. They have been a trusty companion all these years and logged a lot of miles. My wife, myself and my daughter all wore our Chuck Taylors to the latest rainy and muddy All Points West Music Festival in Jersey City. This photo was taken in front of The Black Keys stage.
I am not one to wear shorts with LL Bean duck boots or wellies and we both figured we would just throw them into the wash later anyways. So we slopped through the mud and muck with nary a thought. When all was said and done they came out a lighter shade of black than they used to be but I was fine with that.
Most of us have owned a few pairs. I think I have owned 4 pairs over the years. My first pair came from Sears in the Goldsmith’s Shopping Center in Memphis, TN. I was in 2nd grade and saw these gold canvas shoes with a blue star and remember thinking how cool they were. They even beat out the red, white and blue Bruce Jenner tennis shoes that were also there. That day I am sure I also got a few pairs of Sears Toughskins and some football jerseys. As you can see below, I tend to get good use out of my purchases.
The history of the Converse Rubber Co. (also known as the Boston Rubber Shoe Company) is pretty interesting and if it wasn’t for Chuck Taylor, a sales rep that came on in the early 20’s, the company would be nowhere near it is today. With 800 Million pairs sold it is clearly heads above the rest. Formed in 1908 in Malden MA by Marquis Mills Converse, his first offerings were winterized rubber soled footwear for men, women, and children and soon after also made tires. A few years later they started making tennis shoes then finally in 1917 they started manufacturing the canvas All-Star basketball shoe. In 1921 Chuck Taylor was hired to do sales but ended up being integral in the development of the canvas basketball shoe. Not only did he suggest fabricating the shoe differently for greater flexibility and support, he’s the one who came up with the idea of stitching on a circular patch to protect the ankle.
The All-Star logo went on the patch immediately, and by 1923, Chuck Taylor’s name was on the patch as the shoe became the “Chuck Taylor All-Star.”
Chuck Taylor, a basketball player himself, would take his shoes on the road and introduce scores of Americans to the sport, do clinics with the shoes and pitch them to teams and stores. Sales soared and the Chuck Taylor All-Star became standard issue on pro, collegiate and high school courts nationwide. Oddly enough, Chuck, who catapulted Converse to epic heights never made a dime on his shoes aside from his salary.
During WWII, Taylor became a fitness consultant for the war effort, and soon GI’s were doing their drills in the olive or black high-top Chuck Taylor’s that became the official sneaker of the US Armed Forces. During the war Converse also produced parkas, rubber protective suits, ponchos for pilots and troops and the A6 Flying Boot, which the entire U.S. Army Air Corps wore.
In 1947 white high-tops originated for the 1948 Olympics.
By 1950 virtually all pro players are wearing Chuck Taylor All Stars. Hollywood also helped the wildly popular Chuck Taylor All-Star (a.k.a. “Chucks”, “Cons”, “Connies”) transcend the sport to become deeply entrenched in popular American culture, like Levi’s and Coca~Cola.
The 60’s and 70’s saw Converse producing new athletic performance footwear, apparel and accessories for basketball, tennis, football, track, wrestling and other sports. In 1962 Converse developed the low cut version of its All Star, called an “oxford,” which soon became the shoe of choice for pro players. By the time the mid 70’s rolled around the company was using more leather on their basketball shoes and Dr. J put his stamp on the Pro Leather series.
That’s where I will cut it off. One sad note – in 2003 Nike bought Converse and the era of the 2 ply cotton canvas upper ended.
Modern Painters is a monthly art magazine we subscribe to over at Billykirk and the other day I was paging through the March 09 issue and came across some new miniature artist studio sculptures by Joe Fig. I have always been a fan of smaller scale sculpture work, not the ‘name engraved on rice’ stuff but well executed, detailed miniatures from HO trains to toy soldiers. I have attached a few of his pieces below. He also has a new book, “Inside the Painters Studio” coming out in October. The book includes 24 artist interviews and rare snap shots of the artists studios including Erik Fischl, Chuck Close and Will Cotton. If you are into this sort of work Joe is having a book signing and artist reception at the Hendershot Gallery in NYC on 10/15/09.
