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Antiques! => Antique Questions Forum => Topic started by: marcylove on October 30, 2010, 11:22:12 am

Title: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: marcylove on October 30, 2010, 11:22:12 am
Hubby's dad gave us this a while ago, and we have no idea what it is.  Hubby thinks it's a candy mold, but it is SOOOO heavy I'm not sure...I though maybe for pressing patterns into fabric?
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: Sara Finn on October 30, 2010, 11:32:35 am
I think it's a fondant/marzipan mold.
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: KC on October 30, 2010, 02:14:41 pm
Can be used for candy/fondant/butter/chocolate!!!!  AND with the construction that it is....it could also be used to heat up/bake pastry leaves!

Ding-Ding-Ding!  The right answers from all!!!!

(http://www.amazing-animations.com/animations/dancing12.gif)
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: fancypants on October 30, 2010, 08:56:23 pm
Cool item !

Could also be used as a paper-press (with paper pulp) .

I bet they'd make some very unique tortilla bowls , or a 'hella' cool S'mores' .

... Then again , a bit of green felt & some starch might make something neat for the 'crafter' ....
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: KC on October 30, 2010, 09:23:43 pm
That pic just made me laugh out loud fancypants!
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: fancypants on October 30, 2010, 09:34:45 pm
 :D
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on October 30, 2010, 09:37:47 pm
Totally love it! Very nice mold!
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: marcylove on October 30, 2010, 09:56:00 pm
hahaha, fancypants i love allthose ideas AND the mask!  Thanks for all the input guys! ;D
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: mariok54 on October 31, 2010, 02:02:16 am
Putting my practical hat on ... if it were used to press marzipan etc into shapes, how would you get the shapes out afterwards without distorting them, as is it maybe not a little too deep and intricate a design for that? and as Marcy says ... 'Soooooo heavy'.
Possibly whatever went in shrank away from the sides on setting?
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: cogar on October 31, 2010, 03:46:24 am
The pattern is slighly different between the top n' bottom so it can't be a press but would have to be a mold.

My queston is, what is the thickness between the top n' bottom faces of the two halves when they are joined together.

Whatever it was that is being molded it would hafta be non-adhesive to the cast iron or one would never be able to get it out of the mold.

Could it be a glass mold.

Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: waywardangler on October 31, 2010, 08:33:47 am
An old mold for full relief fern leaves?  Whatever it was used for, the material being molded must have been somewhat liquid or malleable, must shrink from sides to release, and must not stick to top or bottom.  Maybe lead, plastic, glass, brass, rubber or ?  What were fern leaves of this size used in?  

I am adding aluminum, brass sheet, and wet leather to the mix.
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: regularjoe2 on October 31, 2010, 10:29:07 am
I'll toss in the thought that this item could also be a soap mold , for 'new' bars , as well as pressing old ones (soap-saver) .
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: KC on October 31, 2010, 10:58:47 am
Someone got rid of this "useless" item.......and now.....it has so-o-o-o-o-o-o many uses.  So many uses, so little time!

The top and bottom have different designs....much like a real leaf!

In order for molds to not stick for the food items....a little lard (in the olden days) and a little pam (in the later days) works wonders!  I eve  helped my grandmother mold soap/lard/etc.

Being a retired chef I would have used this in a heart beat!!!!!
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on October 31, 2010, 11:27:55 am
Another trick for getting candy and chocolate out of the molds is to put them in the ice box. The chocolate pops right out!
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: marcylove on October 31, 2010, 11:50:37 am
hubby and i do fused glass, he's all gung ho about trying this for glass.

My FIL had a bunch of these that he ended up selling, all different shapes.

How would I go about trying to clean it? vinegar is what I'm reading on the kitchen gadget page...
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: cogar on November 01, 2010, 12:43:10 am
Quote
My FIL had a bunch of these that he ended up selling, all different shapes.

Ah so, then there is a good chance that they were ... Cast Plaster Molds ....... for making decorative ceilings, etc. Like these leaves, to wit:

(http://www.victorialarsen.com/Plaster%20Molds/Pages/Spring%20LeavesPaintedsml.jpg)

Here is where one can buy that plaster mold.

http://www.victorialarsen.com/Plaster%20Molds/Pages/plaster_Spring_Leaves_Mold.htm (http://www.victorialarsen.com/Plaster%20Molds/Pages/plaster_Spring_Leaves_Mold.htm)
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: mariok54 on November 01, 2010, 05:50:13 am
I'm definitely with you there, Cogar ....  ;D
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: KC on November 01, 2010, 11:27:01 am
Okay.....I remember seeing these in the past.....

In the late 1800's to early 1900's it was still a REAL TREAT to get ice cream.....(before the modern refrigerators/freezers).
They made all kinds of ice cream molds to impress at gatherings!
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-PEWTER-ICE-CREAM-MOLD-S-CO-203-DISH-ANTIQUE_W0QQitemZ170559299965QQcategoryZ13926QQcmdZViewItem (http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-PEWTER-ICE-CREAM-MOLD-S-CO-203-DISH-ANTIQUE_W0QQitemZ170559299965QQcategoryZ13926QQcmdZViewItem)

You will find all kinds....

I like the plaster idea....but wouldn't it take forever to dry without any air holes to allow for evaporation?
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on November 01, 2010, 12:15:59 pm
I agree that it's for edibles. They used to do a lot more decorative things with food than they do now, particularly with desserts. We have an old chocolate shop in San Jose CA called Schurrahs where they still use the old chocolate molds from back in the day and you can get an easter bunny riding a 1920's motorcycle and all kinds of neat stuff. There's also an antique store here with a whole shelf full of ice cream molds. These are now very collectable and you can get pretty good $$ for them. Hmmm... I'm hosting Christmas dinner this year, maybe I should look a little closer at those molds... ;-)
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on November 01, 2010, 12:19:41 pm
Correction, it's Santa on a motorcycle. Here he is:

(http://www.schurrasfineconfections.com/prodimg/105011.jpg)
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: waywardangler on November 01, 2010, 12:24:16 pm
I am not with you on the edible ice cream/chocolate mold for this object.  They were made differently and did not need the weight concentrated in cast iron as in this fern leaf mold.  JMO.  What were the other shapes your father had marcylove and what did he say they were used for or where did he get them?
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: KC on November 01, 2010, 01:01:29 pm
I don't believe it was for ice cream either....but just had to throw it out there wayward!  :P  Gets people lookin' for new items!!!!  Naughty me!
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on November 01, 2010, 01:04:09 pm
True, the ice cream ones are different, they usually have about a half inch edge on them and a ring that clips to the edge to keep them closed, but I really thought this was a candy mold. Darn!
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on November 01, 2010, 01:10:29 pm
Here's photos from the local antique shop and turns out they are listed as chocolate molds, not ice cream. I think someone must have told me that in error when I was in there or I misunderstood and these are quite different from Marcyloves:

(http://www.antiquescolony.com/Resources/molds02.jpg)
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: waywardangler on November 01, 2010, 01:15:17 pm
I think marcylove's item falls more into the category of a combination press and mold.  

BINGO!!!!

Unusual Small Flower / Leaf Irons  These are the tools that were used in the antique millinery, dressmaking, costume-making, and other assorted fabric trades to make beautiful silk and velvet flowers that adorned the fancy hats and clothing of the day.  After the fabric was starched it would have been pressed between the two heated halves of these pressing molds to emboss the design.  Typically these brass and iron tools are found in much larger sizes.  The smallest one here measures about 1 inch and the largest one about 2.5 inches.  All three of these small leaf irons are intricately detailed and make for a great display.
Good . . . . .  $85.00  Each       SOLD

From  http://www.antiqbuyer.com/All_Archives/IRONS_ARCHIVE/flower.htm

Larger ones are also pictured and go for $100-$200 each.
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: CuriousCollector on November 01, 2010, 02:07:34 pm
Wayward -- well done!  And what a nifty item!
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: mariok54 on November 01, 2010, 02:23:50 pm
Well done Wayward ... and what did Marcy suggest in her very first post!!!! :D
Well done Marcy!!
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: marcylove on November 01, 2010, 02:37:47 pm
HA! I was RIGHT!  should've bet hubby something!

I broke out the playdough, a tortilla, and a wet paper towel...here's what happened...
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: marcylove on November 01, 2010, 02:44:46 pm
and this one...
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: marcylove on November 01, 2010, 02:47:18 pm
Thanks wayward and everyone else!  I love these threads!!

 ;D
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: marcylove on November 01, 2010, 02:48:47 pm
HA!  I should've bet hubby something....

Thanks wayward! ...and everyone else's ideas!!  I love these threads..

sooo i broke out some playdough, a tortilla and a wet paper towel... here's what happened.
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: KC on November 01, 2010, 03:05:56 pm
Like your photos....if they were mine I would be making leaves out of everything.....pie crust.....

great job wayward.  If I had only enlarged the last pic she originally posted I would have noticed a open notch on the end!!!!!

I am going to be looking for some of these!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on November 01, 2010, 03:23:00 pm
Good job Wayward!

You say there were a bunch of these- I wonder if someone in your early family was a milliner or if they were just something your FIL collected?
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: marcylove on November 01, 2010, 03:34:07 pm
Pretty sure they were just something he bought to re-sell...
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: KC on November 01, 2010, 06:13:51 pm
The big name in making these molds was Molla.  Here is an auction and it's values realized.
http://www.jacksonsauction.com/Mar06_catalog/catalog/pages/MAR06_DAY2_18.htm (http://www.jacksonsauction.com/Mar06_catalog/catalog/pages/MAR06_DAY2_18.htm)

Interesting site! Shows how to make the material flowers:
http://cottagewayoflife.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-must-have-flowers-always.html (http://cottagewayoflife.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-must-have-flowers-always.html)

Shows what a glass maker did with a mold!
http://www.glassblower.info/glass-flowers.html (http://www.glassblower.info/glass-flowers.html)

By-the-way Talesof....I think there are a variety of molds in your pics!  Different uses.  See many cake/candy molds that I have seen over the years!
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: marcylove on November 01, 2010, 08:45:41 pm
VERY cool KC...I love that everyone is helping me look!
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: fancypants on November 01, 2010, 08:46:30 pm
Thanks for being such a good sport (& hostess o' this thread) , marcylove .....

(and another one for all the science-experiment work & photos) !!
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on November 01, 2010, 10:34:51 pm
Cool millinery site! I'll have to share that one on my reenactors forum. The ladies will love it!

Can you clue me in as to which types of molds are which KC? I'd like to know more about these!
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: marcylove on November 01, 2010, 11:59:03 pm
haha! no problem!  LOVE being a hostess!   ;D

So I put the thing in vinegar, and cleaned it with a toothbrush.  I had NO idea the bottom was copper!  What more can I do to clean it?

Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: KC on November 02, 2010, 01:50:57 am
Hijack again.....Ice Cream Molds - are generally made of pewter!
http://www.antiqueweek.com/ArchiveArticle.asp?newsid=1275 (http://www.antiqueweek.com/ArchiveArticle.asp?newsid=1275)
Ice Cream Molding History.....they even molded pistachio to look like asparagus and lemon to look like the hollandaise sauce!
http://books.google.com/books?id=rLVa2zMvCiUC&pg=PA66&lpg=PA66&dq=Schall+%26+Company+made+molds&source=bl&ots=lWYXcve4Jp&sig=BXTPgWjMXx8Kc3lxTEQXiVsEEO4&hl=en&ei=Cb_PTNvbLYWglAeU3YjPBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CDwQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Schall%20%26%20Company%20made%20molds&f=false (http://books.google.com/books?id=rLVa2zMvCiUC&pg=PA66&lpg=PA66&dq=Schall+%26+Company+made+molds&source=bl&ots=lWYXcve4Jp&sig=BXTPgWjMXx8Kc3lxTEQXiVsEEO4&hl=en&ei=Cb_PTNvbLYWglAeU3YjPBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CDwQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=Schall%20%26%20Company%20made%20molds&f=false)

Great collection of ice cream molds:  http://www.dadsfollies.com/icecreamholidays.htm (http://www.dadsfollies.com/icecreamholidays.htm)

Big Mold Makers:  Schall & Company, Eppelsheimer & Co, Krauss, V Clad & Sons
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: marcylove on November 02, 2010, 09:30:48 am
i wonder if you could use those for glass too...time to go check my books on melting temps....
Title: Re: another game of "what is it?"
Post by: talesofthesevenseas on November 02, 2010, 10:54:19 am
Thanks for the links! There's an asparagus ice cream mold on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Chocolate-Ice-Cream-Pewter-Mold-ASPARAGUS-489-/220618885577?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item335de909c9 (http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Chocolate-Ice-Cream-Pewter-Mold-ASPARAGUS-489-/220618885577?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item335de909c9)