Mary and Ken's Antiques

February 2002

Below are three collections of antique items that are not for sale.

If you have questions about any of these collections, please feel free to contact us at marygrun@netins.net.

Click on one of the folllowing categories to go directly to those items, or simply browse down the page to see all of the collection items.

| Mary's Marble Collection | Ken's Tool Collection | John's Antique Collection |

When I first began collecting marbles at the local auctions I did not know much about them. I bought jars of marbles that contained very few if any good marbles (mostly new machine mades). Over the years I have purchased quite a few books on marbles (something that I would highly recommend to anyone just starting out collecting), and have attended some marble conventions where I was able to show my marbles, and learn from the experts what makes a good collectible marble.

Most of the marbles that I collect are hand-made (these marbles are identified by the "pontil" which marks the spot on the marble where the glass was connected to the glassblower's rod). I prefer hand-mades since these where the marbles that I grew up with (though none of the marbles that I played with on the farm were quite so expensive as the ones I buy now).

Now that I have a more decerning eye for marble collecting I buy fewer marbles, but I still enjoy making a find at an auction, or in an antique store. I even have a few rare marbles that we keep in the safe. (They tend to roll off if you don't keep them tied down). Happy collecting!

If you have any old marbles that you would like to sell, or would just like to show off your own collection, please write me at marygrun@netins.net. I am always happy to see someone else's collection.

Here are a few of the marbles that I have collected over the years.

* For a closer look, click on the picture.

Clambroth.

Contemporary.

Contemporary Natl Geographic.

Crockery.

Marble display made by Ken.

Gooseberry.

Indian Lutz.

Large SCM Swirl.

Lattacino.

Lutz.

Mica.

Multicolor Swirl.

Onion Skin.

Peppermint Swirl.

Red Ribbon Lutz.

Ribbon Swirl.

Solid Core Swirl.

Ken is very proud of his E.C.Simmons Keen Kutter collection and is known to go far and wide to obtain these rare tools at various auctions and antique stores around the country. While mainly found in the Midwest [ see history of E.C.Simmons and the Keen Kutter warehouse ] near St. Louis, Missouri, Kansas many items can be found through out the country.

Ken does not sell many of the Keen Kutter tools in his collection, but often comes across Keen Kutter items that he already has. He would be happy to chat with you and keep an eye out for any item that you are looking for.

Wall of Ken's Keen Kutter and Shapleigh Tools.

Since Shapleigh and E.C. Simmons were in such keen competition,
Ken delights in collecting both .Diamond Edge and Keen Kutter.

Shapleigh's General Hardware Catalog.

This is one of Ken's most prized possessions. It has 3098 pages and
many of the special pages appear to be Gold Leafed.

Title Page of Catalog:

Reads: 80 Years of Progress.

Pages Within the Catalog.

Reads: "Facsimile of our 1920 Holiday Greeting
(possible gold leaf) to the Trade" second pg. 1922 greeting

Diamond Edge Postcards.

Diamond Edge Postcards: Two views of Salesmen's postcards sent in 1909, 10, 11 to Hardware Stores in Fremont, IA to inform them of the next date of arrival. Post marked and stamped. The cards that have Black people read: Tools and the Man, East Africa, and Tools and the Man, Blacksmith-Congo, Africa.

Ken's Porch Collection.

These are just some of the collection, many
more inside KK cabinet and other shelves.

Our son John goes to many of the local area antique auctions with us. He has gathered quite a a collection of items during the past few years, and even has some of his antiques for sale at our shop.

John says, "Mom and Dad have a great little antique store and I enjoy going to auctions with them here in the mid-west. My favorite story involves the entire family traveling to Cape Cod, Mass. to attend my sister's wedding. The morning of the wedding Dad found an auction just down the road from our hotel. Soon, most of the family was at the auction (including my uncle and his daughter). Though we were almost late for the wedding, we did pick up an antique oak ice-box. We ended up hauling this an several other items home to Iowa. It was quite a trip."

Here are a few of the items that John has collected.

Various walking sticks and rulers purchased at auction and antiques stores.

The studded black hickory walking stick came from an antique store in Dennis, Cape Cod.

Antique firehouse chair from original Wilton fire station. (covered by woolen blanket).

Folding box, wooden egg crate, and Keen Kutter finish saw (don't tell Dad I have this). The Keen Kutter saw came from an antique store in Denver, Colorado.

Railroad station wall clock with hourly and half-hour chimes.

This unusual wall clock was purchased at auction in Cambridge, Illinois.

Brass cigar humidors and expresso maker.

The humidor on the left came from an antique store in Dennis, Cape Cod.

General Electric Radio.

This antique radio belonged to my grand parents, Kirk and Edith. Many mornings were spent at my grandparent's home when I was younger, listening to this radio while eating toast and homemade strawberry jam.

Late 1950's era TV/Radio Mirror magazines.

These magazines were purchased at auction in Sigurney, Iowa.

Double Nugget candy dispenser.

This unusual double chamber steel and glass candy dispenser was purchased at auction in Wellman, Iowa by my parents and given to me as a present for Christmas. The 1 cent machine is one of my prize possessions.

Marble collection.

Though my collection of marbles is not as extensive as my mothers, I am proud of the marbles that I have collected. They include a couple peppermint swirls, a pink clambroth, an onionskin, an oxblood, and a cat's eye. Many of these marbles were purchased at the annual antique marble convention held each summer at the Amana Colonies, Iowa.

SteamerTrunk from the Musser family in Muscatine, Iowa.

The Musser's were a wealthy family that lived in Muscatine, Iowa during the late eighteen hundreds and early nineteen hundreds. The large steamer trunk indicates that they travel extensively both here in the states, and through-out Europe.

Corn huskers from grandparent's farm outside Wilton.

These corn husking tools were used by my mother Mary, my grandmother Margaret, and my grandfather Fred on their farm outside Wilton were they raised corn and chickens.

Milk chest with green patina.

This antique metal milk chest was given to me by my mother who got it from her aunt Dottie. For years this chest contained my grandparent's farm records.

Iron bank and ice-cream scoops.

This bank was purchased at auction in Sigurney, Iowa. The ice-cream scoop on the left was purchased at an antique store in Fulton, Illinois.

Picture with leather thong hanger.

This painting was purchased at auction in Sigurney, Iowa.

Copper pitcher bucket.

This item was purchased at auction in DeWitt, Iowa.

Antique parlor chair, art-deco lamp, and record cabinet.

These items were purchased at auction and at an antique store in Moquoketa, Iowa.

Miscelaneous.

Various items including ice-cream scoops, coffee jar, peanut jar, and Bix commemorative beer bottle.

Mom and Dad.

Ken and Mary Grunder, proprietors of Mary and Ken's Antiques have inspired me to collect as many antiques as I can.

They were recently honored by their home town as Grand Marshals of the Wilton Founders Day Parade. The whole town came out to watch.

They also recently celebrated their 50th wedding aniversary.

Thanks Mom and Dad!

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