Browsing Category: "Vintage"

Buy a Vintage French Pedal Car This Summer

Thursday, July 23rd, 2009 | Antiques, Vintage with No Comments »

The Vintage Pedal car - the earliest environmentally-friendly car!

There are different schools of thought regarding the “vintage” designation for cars. Some people think the end of world War I defined the end of the vintage era while the British insist 1930 was the year up to which a vintage car could be built. On the other hand, Americans prefer 1925 since it is the pre-classic car period as defined by the Classic Car Club of America. Some consider the start of World War II to be the end of the vintage period.

 Vintage French Eureka Fiat Pedal Car
Vintage French Eureka Fiat Pedal Car

A Vintage Pedal car is powered by the feet and legs of the rider which is why they are the earliest environmentally-friendly cars. The late 1800s brought a two-seater horse and buggy version of Pedal cars, complete with functional pedals and a set of reigns to steer the horse. In 1930, an enclosed bicycle called the Velocar was invented in France, as the first human-powered car for human transportation.

A pedal car is a quadracycle. The Mochet Velocar seems to be the earliest example. Though originally designed for adult transportation, they were more popular with children and for adult recreation. A vintage Pedal car was usually built for racing. A “Surrey” is a four-wheeled, canopy-covered quadracycle, usually rented to vacationing adults. A racing Pedal Car is a four wheeled human powered single seater sports car used in Pedal Car Racing. Pedal Car Racing is a circuit racing endurance sport where teams of up to six drivers race single-seater human powered sports cars in races of up to twenty-four hours duration.

Vintage French '40s Bentwood Roadster
Vintage French ’40s Bentwood Roadster

In Original Condition

The design of a vintage Pedal car was not limited to an automobile body, here are some other examples:

  • Tractors and dump trucks for a farmer or a construction worker
  • Motorcycles
  • Fire trucks
  • A helicopter-style vintage pedal car
  • Tugboats, speed boats and cruise ships made into pedal cars

Vintage Pedal cars are very popular with antique collectors and sports enthusiasts Whether it is a vintage pedal car, retro or modern, a pedal car stirs childhood memories and nostalgia.

France circa 1940: A Vintage French ’40s Bentwood Roadster: in original unrestored condition it would make a dynamite prop or the perfect gift for an auto enthusiast of any age.

OldPlank.com offers an incredible collection of Antiques and Collectibles imported from France and England. Antiques on Old Plank Road, 331 East Ogden Avenue, Westmont, IL 60559.

Author: Meshaal McLean

Finest Antique Cupboards Collection at Old Plank

Thursday, June 12th, 2008 | Antiques, Vintage with No Comments »

In early 18th and 19th centuries, almost every house had some sort of built in shelves for the display covered with gold plate or silver plate and cupboards with ventilated doors known as almeries, and the term cupboard became more generally restricted to the storage of food and plate. This cupboard became popular and has become the most opulent pieces of furniture, which was also called as ‘Tridarn’ in early 18th century and sometimes called as pewter or dressers cupboards.

In this modern era, most of the people like to have custom made furniture in their home with special styles of cupboards with or with out doors. A pretty way to show of your collectibles such as crafts, photos, books, files, crockery etc, which will combine the style and functionality for your every day storage.

Oldplank.com has high quality antique furniture’s with unique collection and hand carved furniture to buy, where they have many stylish and functional antique cupboards made in a wide variety of woods such as pine, Oak, Mahogony, cheery, walnut, redgum, maple etc.

Antique cupboard is usually attractive because of its age, rarity, condition, utility and design. Small antique pine cupboards with a beveled glass door from the Victorian era are very popular. Also popular are antique Chinese butterfly cabinet, Vintage french walnut confiturier, Antique Mahogany corner cupboards, Antique french oak bow front corner cabinet and antique court cupboards.

Antique Pine Cupboards

Antique pine cupboards The pine cupboards can be used as medicine cabinets, or bathroom cabinets for storing towels and napkins. To have a look and feel you can either paint in various colors. Dressing tables, side tables, wardrobes, kitchen tables, side tables, blanket boxes etc are made in various styles and sizes.

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Vintage French Walnut Confiturier

Vintage French Walnut Confiturier This piece of furniture is a special cabinet used for storing and preserving fruits. It has only one large door opening into an interior space with one drawer at the top. This cabinet can be used in almost any room with other furniture styles.

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Antique Mahogany Corner Cupboards

Antique Mahogany Corner Cupboards These corner cupboards made by Mahogany is an outstanding quality, which is made either small or any useful size. It is fitted with drawers and a bow front accented cupboards and interior was originally fitted with one shelf.

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Antique French Lady's Cupboard

Antique French Lady’s Cupboard A beautiful antique french walnut and mahogany lady’s cupboard is one of the common furniture used .This pieces are used for storing items such as perfumes, stationery and personal mementos.

There are other types of cabinets used for keeping valuable things for the house keepers made of pine, clothes cabinet for keeping the clothes made from Elmwood with 6 hand dovetailed drawers, food cupboards with four doors featuring gem cut raised panels and two center drawers, which is used to preserve the food in cupboards.
Want to enjoy the style and atmosphere that is brought into your home through antique cabinets, then make a list of your favorite antique furniture and purchase the things that fit your design and take a choice of materials your furniture is made off.

Perfect Chandeliers For Your Home

Saturday, May 31st, 2008 | Antiques, Chandeliers, Vintage with No Comments »


Antique Chandeliers

Chandeliers enhance the beauty by hanging light fixtures that add charm and style in your home. A chandelier is defined as a lamp which is poised from the ceiling directly or simply from a hook in the ceiling. Most of the chandeliers use three or more low voltage bulbs from 100 to 400 watts of total light, with perfect finish usually shaped in the form of candle flame.

Crystal chandeliers are perhaps one of the most popular to seem to be in homes of wealthy by conveying an elegant and wonderful radiance to any room. Most of the Chandeliers are made of brass material or gold plated which hang creating a beautiful spectrum of light. Depending on the size, color, style and function of the home you can choose the perfect chandelier.

The room of today is normally used for entertaining with less formal chandeliers which include everything from those with exposed bulbs that are made of wood, ceramic, wrought iron, stained glass and even deer antlers. In particular, white ceramic chandelier adorned with pastel blue and green enamel flowers will look suitable in little girl’s room or a sunny tea room. Light fixtures hang over a pool table or game tables as simple with a glassy chandelier. Many people consider the most beautiful mountain cabins to accent with items including wrought iron or antler Chandelier to add a whimsy feel.

Finding the perfect chandelier for your room depends on the function of the room, the size, the color and the style of the home that you are working with. In general, a smaller room with dimensions of 10 x 10 ft (3.05 x 3.05 m) would comfortably house a chandelier no more than 20 inches (50.8 cm) in diameter. A 12 x 12 ft (3.66 x 3.66 m) room will hold a chandelier up to 27 inches (68.58 cm) in diameter. A special large chandelier with a diameter of 36 inches (91.44 cm) or more should only be hung in a room that is 14x 14 ft (4.27 x 4.27 m) or larger.

Normally a decorative chandelier fixture over the dining room table should be hanged atleast 30 inches (76.2 cm) from the surface of the table and 12 inches (30.48) narrower than the table’s width. These guide lines should be followed when choosing a chandelier for your room, which helps you create a tasteful and elegant home décor.

In general chandelier is a decorative ceiling mounted light fixture with atleast two or more arms to hold. In early 18th century, wax candles and gaslights are commonly used as source of illumination.

There are many varied appealing luminaries. Out of which the crystal chandeliers are the most apt which includes cut glass, dangling from the arms and some times the suspended in swage between the mounting area and the arms to reflect light which creates a glittering affect. These crystal chandeliers fixtures were popular during 18th and 19th centuries and were considered as very stylish in Europe. Since then it became the accessory who seek style and old charm.

High quality lead crystal, decorative beaded and shell chandeliers are similar to crystal counterparts. A contemporary design made from capiz shell is a favorite element, which includes the collection of mother of pearl. This beaded or shell chandelier will have the same glossy affect to that of crystal, whilst the significant feature is it tones down its formality and reduces its weight.

Metal chandeliers are simple and will have several streamlined arms that are left plain, which are placed under the lampshades or inside glass cups. More over the arms are S- shaped or otherwise curved with one or more geometric lines with popular finish. These classic light fixtures are a staple of decorating and there are styles to cater to any home’s décor.

Murano glass chandeliers, was created in the glass blowing mecca of Murano. This hand-blown glass vases showoff into a variety of curvy, tabular forms pre equipped with designs of floral motifs and also adds interest to your room with variety of colors.

In early 20th century Americans used Mission chandeliers for arts and crafts style. These metals often have a central metal ceiling mount branches, angular arms and downward facing milk glass lampshades. These lampshades are often inflated with metal or stained glass segments.

Antler chandeliers are made from antler animals like deer, elk, moose, white tail and mule deer. In hunting and mountain lodges large-scale versions are popular fixtures, whilst modest varieties make an equally impressive in rustic residences.

With this artistic chandeliers right from the middle ages have existed in various forms. Where most of them have been fitted with electric lights designed mostly with metal, crystal and glass, which add beauty and charm by conveying elegant and wonderful radiance to your home.