4 comments about Mountain Dew: The History.

1. An excellent source of information on Mountain Dew and the history surrounding this much loved lemony citrus sugar and caffeine drink.



2. As a major collector of Mt Dew bottles and items, I was glad to see such a comprehensive account of the Mt Dew soft drink. Most of this history has been unknown until now. Dick has gone to great lengths to research and interview those who were involved with the formulation of this brand. The many pictures and personal accounts add to the overall enjoyment and add great interest to the reader. All three of Dick's Mt Dew books are a must have for anyone interested in Mt Dew or the post WWII development of the soft drink industry in general.



3. This is a fascinating story, especially for those of us that live in the East Tennessee & Western North Carolina area. This book leaves no stone unturned in the search for the origin of what is now one of the most populat beverages in the U.S. Before Coke & Pepsi controlled most of the soft drink market, there were several regional bottlers in this area. This book is a great history lesson, as it brings you back to the time when drinks came in a bottle that you returned to the store, where there was often a cooler filled with ice cold water & the drinks were hung by their neck and you had to rearrange some of them to get to the flavor you wanted. Excellently researched, this is a fun read for just about anyone. It'll tickle your innards!



4. WOW !!! This book was long overdue. What a fascinating story of America's
   third best selling soft drink. The book calls the story "a Hatfield and
   McCoy feud of the braggin' rights to Mountain Dew" and now I understand
   exactly what they mean. This could easily be the basis for "Oh Brother How Art Thou II".
   
   A true story where the main characters were hard working, hard drinking bottlers ... but they are also some of the quirkiest, funniest hillbillies I've ever met.
   
   The book is an extremely interesting read whether you care about Mountain Dew or not. I would recommend it to anyone. The story, Mountain Dew, could easily pass as one of the most entertaining case studies I've read. The book is very well researched, well documented and includes great old B/W pictures from the early years of bottling.
   
   Oh yeah ... I also wanted to know more about how Pepsi markets Mountain Dew today. And I did. I learned all about Code Red, Livewire, Amp etc ... I even learned what happened to Mountain Dew Code Blue.
   
   Overall, a great read !!!

1 comments about Collector's Guide to Vintage Tablecloths (Schiffer Book for Collectors).

1. I LOVED this book, it's beautiful, well researched and great reference book for dating your collection. A must have for all collectors....

5 comments about Antique & Collectible Fishing Rods: Identification & Value Guide.

1. While Homel's book is helpful in giving a general idea of a fishing rod's value, there are some gaps in information. For one, the material is four or five years old and collectible rods have skyrocketed in price in that time frame. So the dollar amounts placed on rods are not very realistic. Secondly, I have found that there are sizes and models of fly rods that are not included in the listings of the various rod makers or manufacturers. This can be a little frustrating when one has purchased, or is about to purchase a rod and cannot find any reference to it in the book.



2. This book was perfect for the avid rod collector. The photos and detail were great and easy to compare your own rods to theirs listed in the book. Highly recommend.



3. I have 7 antique/vintage fishing rods and none of them were in there. Also, the prices were separate from the descriptions so I couldn't tell what I was pricing.



4. This book is a great reference for the serious rod collector or antique dealer that is in need of expert information about evaluating old bamboo rods. The author includes a good sampling of close-up B&W photographs covering many of the historic rod makers. Old patent drawings are used to explain various rod designs and component functions. A comprehensive chapter is devoted to common rod defects to look for and how each one might lower the collectible value of a rod. The back of the book contains a 32 page rod price guide listing which is helpful in formulating an approximate appraisal of value. A very worthwhile addition to any tackle collector's library of reference materials.



5. Got this book to help me understand more about a number of rods bought at auction. Although helpful, it spoke more about what a perfect rod should be. It has a price guide, but limited pictures to cross reference to. Most collectors will not run into the perfect rod so it was hard to compare. Book is not tailored for the person new to collecting rods. It would be better for the new person with more pictures and more educational background.

4 comments about The Genealogist's Companion & Sourcebook.

1. When I first set out to buy a book on genealogy this was the first book I purchased and am I ever glad I did! Ms. Croom's book is probably the most well organized, intelligently written and yet easy to comprehend titles on the subject of genealogy. Ms. Croom incorporates illustrative examples from her own research as well as very helpful tips and techniques. As a largely self-taught researcher this book taught me the fundamentals of what I needed to know and the greatest testimony I can give is that I still regularly refer to it seven years after buying it. I was initially skeptical of her particular emphasis on "Cluster Genealogy" but seven years of research have proved she is absolutely correct. To be honest I've been so particularly absorbed by this book I haven't bothered to pick up any of her other titles but frankly I probably should!



2. In The Genealogist's Companion & Sourcebook, genealogist Emily Croom presents the novice with a practical, effective, step-by-step instruction to the use of primary and secondary sources for genealogical research. Croom shows how to overcome such commonplace research obstacles as public records being lost to fire or flood which often frustrate family searchers. She shows how to use "cluster genealogy" effectively, as well as how to utilize church and funeral home records, government documents, court records, newspapers, and maps. To help illustrate her beyond-the-basics advice Croom employs bibliographies, case studies, appendices with census forms, a family group sheet, and information on major archives, libraries, lending libraries, and publishers. The Genealogist's Companion & Sourcebook is an invaluable addition to any personal or genealogical society reference shelf. Also highly recommended is Emily Croom's earlier guide: Unpuzzling Your Past: A Basic Guide To Genealogy.



3. I own all of her books and refer to them constantly! She offers the best information I've found on where and, especially, how to write for records. It's been my experience to find that other "how to" books all offer the addresses (which I can usually locate on the Internet anyway), but don't offer actual examples of the correspondence! Mrs. Croom does! I recently attended a local seminar where I had the opportunity to chat with her. She informed me that her next book will be coming out in the near future and it will focus on giving assistance with where to go when you've reached a brick wall in your research. I can't wait! Also, last but not least important, Mrs. Croom is a very nice lady!!



4. I bought this book when I first started doing genealogy, and I wouldn't be without it. It is a concise and thorough explanation of the basic research tools we all need to use. Even after having researched for several years, I find myself re-reading chapters to remind myself how to do particular things -- and I always "remember" some valuable information that I would have forgotten without this book. A bonus is that it is paperback and can be easily toted to the library or on research trips.

No comments about Classic American Costume Jewelry.

2 comments about Cracker Jack*r Toys.

1. After my grandmother passed away, we found a shoebox full of cracker jack toys. It was her special treat for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We took them and mounted them for memory reasons, but this book brought our love of the little toys to a reality of why we loved them as children and the precious value that they have for us today. A great part of our childhood in a great book!



2. This is an amazingly comprehensive collection of Cracker Jack prizes, with HUNDREDS of detailed photos showing THOUSANDS of prizes. While this book is a must-have for the serious collector of Cracker Jack prizes, it will delight anyone with pleasant memories of those special prizes.

   The accompanying prize lists with descriptive and historical information are presented chronologically, with prizes grouped by series where applicable. An elaborate identification system reflecting the prizes' date, composition, marking, type, size, color, and description is utilized, with estimated value for each prize given.

   Searching through CRACKER JACK TOYS for that fondly remembered surprise can be almost as much fun as originally digging for it in a box of Cracker Jack!

3 comments about Wristwatches: History Of A Century's Development.

1. ....A thorough explanation of both the history of the wrist watch as well its mechanical evolution. Direct, easy, approachable, yet thorough, with a significant number of illustrations and photos of every description of watch from all the major European manufacturers from the early years thru modern times. If you collect wrist watches, this book is the Gold Standard.



2. Now in a newly revised fifth edition, Wristwatches: History Of A Century's Development by Helmut Kahlert, Richard Muhe and Gisbert L. Brunner, is an extraordinary, high-quality, in-depth guide meant especially for collectors but also filled with fascinating information for lay readers curious about the technological, sociological, and economic factors that have not only contributed to the development of the wristwatch, but made the portable clock an important part of world history. Over 1990 black-and-white and color photographs abound throughout this lavish compendium, which includes extensively detailed essays on the origin of the wristwatch, its distinctive features versus the pocket watch, its basic construction and function, self-winding watches, special types of wristwatches, preservation and care of wristwatches, and much more. Express focus is given to various name brands and types of wristwatches throughout the past century, with many photos, capsule descriptions, and sample prices for classic watches. Wristwatches: History Of A Century's Development is truly an outstanding reference for hobbyists and historians alike.



3. Wristwatches' is an excellent survey of the huge variety of watches that been developed this century. Highlights includes a consise history of the changes in design over the last 100 years and brief insights into how particular complications are constructed. However, for the english reader, for this is a translation from the original German editions, it has a few faults in it's germanocentricity. All of the historical advertising material displayed in the book is in German. It would have been more appropriate to include at least a few english language advertisments as it gives a lot of flavour to such a book. In addition there is a complete section on German wristwatch development which is a bit dry if this is not your particular interest. A major editorial fault is that the vast majority of photos have lost their numbering and you are left trying to match up the descriptions to each picture. For such a book this fault is a pity. However it is still one of the best guides for vintage and modern watch enthusiasts as it covers a vast range of models with a very useful, and fairly accurate, price guide.

2 comments about Bakelite Jewelry: Good * Better * Best.

1. This is a very good book for collectors of bakelite. There are lots of pictures of unusual and creative bakelite jewelry that is so hard to value. The pictures are big and easy to see and most include dates which is so important. I especially like the big collection of crib toy brooches that are not often seen. Most of the pieces are from the 1920's, 30s and 40s. None are from the more modern bakelite designers. Still, it is a rich reference for early bakelite jewelry.



2. I am a total novice who is just starting to learn about Bakelite jewelry, and even though this book is expensive, it's the best one I've seen and well worth the money. (I also have Tony Grasso's book but don't think it's quite as helpful.) Not only does Wasserstrom's book have loads of beautiful color photos (hence the high price), but it is VERY clear and answers every single question that has occurred to me about Bakelite. It is just loaded with valuable and easy-to-reference information. (Like charts about which styles correspond to which dates, the differences between Bakelite and other types of plastics, etc.) My only tiny complaint is there's no index (true of the Grasso book also). If you're interested in learning about or collecting Bakelite, buy this book!

1 comments about Fenton Art Glass Colors and Hand-Decorated Patterns 1939-1980: Identification & Value Guide (Fenton Art Glass).

1. This is a very informative book with a detailed picture guide. Each type of glass design is expained and color pictures help in the identifcation of the glass.A price guide is also included. An excellent tool for identifying Fenton Art Glass. This book is worth the price.

3 comments about Tiffany Stained Glass Windows: in Full-Color (Post) Cards: 24 Cards (Card Books).

1. Was looking for good color photos of some of Tiffany's work. This book did not disappoint. The illustrations here have excellent detail that I didn't see for some of the works published elsewhere.



2. This is a companion book, as it's glossy postcards. I spent an afternoon at my local frame shop & framed 6 of the cards, they are very attractive as smaller framed images. The images are sharp (although small) & the colors seem to be pretty true to what the windows would actually look like. I'm pleased with the results of my afternoon & glad I had a chance to read the previous review to know these were postcards.



3. It isn't at first apparent from the listing that this is a book of postcards. I found it very valuable because I also bought Eaton's "Tiffany Windows: Stained Glass Pattern Book". Although colored examples were given for them, the Tiffany designs are complicated. 15 or 16 of the postcards were duplicate designs that were in the Eaton book. I use the images for computer application and they helped me a lot to choose the right colors.