Plastic Swizzle Sticks

Skeleton Key Vintage Swizzle Sticks from Etsy RetroChalet, $5.25 set 

Plastic Fantastic: A Look at Swizzle Sticks 

Plastic fantastic, from car parts to computer keys, plastic is all around us, but what about the vintage swizzle sticks? Many people don't stop to think about the little uncanny designs that once were bartenders and 1950's entertaining diva's friends. You know, much design went into such a think. Note the skeleton keys above, so lovely in design and each and every curve.  To think that back then, they developed something that you could re-use over and over again, sort of makes them Eco friendly years ahead of their time doesn't it?

Editor Pick: Vintage Animal Swizzle Sticks 6 pc $18.00 Wonder Cabinet Arts

This little fella never gets old, these are getting harder to find, $14.00 @ jaczko2

Red, White and Blue from Rascals Rarities on Etsy  $3.50

Swizzles were big from the 30's to the late 60's and essential for the hostess to the mostess. Whether on the airlines or in a hotel, they were cheap marketing gimmicks. Companies hoped people would take them home and remember their product, and surely they did.  Above, and below, the red white and blues would look great for a 4th of July cookout!

Vintage Sailboat Boating Swizzle Sticks, $16.00 SunnyDayVintage

Golf Caddy Swizzle Sticks $19.75 ShellysSelectSalvage

Above, the golfer's dream as the drink stirrers came in their own caddy for use.  Probably hard to find now, as over time many caddies have gotten broken. This is a great gift for dad.  Well, I sure hope you enjoyed looking at some of my favorite plastic swizzle sticks. These are all from my favorite website Etsy, and would make great re-usable stirrs for the party gal or guy who loves to invite over the gang for a few drinks.  Even if you live an alcohol free life these would be cute stirring tea, or cocoa in the winter or coffee in the morning (I personally am hooked on Coldstone Creamer's Ice Cream creamer , drat you Coldstone!).   Enjoy!

Collection of Plastic Swizzles include Cattemen, $10.00 MillCityVintage

Collecting Plastic Salt and Peppers

These lovelies available at Cedar Run Vintage on Etsy.

There is a whole world out there of vintage plastic salt and pepper shakers just waiting to be found or collected. So many varieties, and some extremely collectible and rare.  You never know what may crop up out of someone's attic or cabinet.  For instance, these lovelies may have been purchased for sale individually in stores. You just never know.  What does their history tell us? Without investigation or research, we may never know!

This rare set is available on Etsy at the CedarRunVintage shop for $50.

For a short time, Texas Ware melamine introduced a line of ice cream cups and sherberts with melamine bases. These salt and peppers I spotted on Etsy (below) look almost identical. It would be strange to find out these were a sample or rarity of sorts--did someone put the lids on, could they have been mini shebert cup samples?  Especially since they don't really match. Or were they made this way, and just look like the Texas Ware stuff? You just never know really, what you may find n the world of salt and peppers.

Buy these at RustyCow shop on Etsy!

Then certain designs, patterns, figural shakers can go for lots of money depending on who made them and how scarce they are.  Let's not mention salt and peppers make cute gifts and novelties for that special someone. These Venus styled figural shakers (below) are a real treat for only $7.50 at ShopatGeris on Etsy.  These would be a great topic of conversation wouldn't they?  The front of the box says Gay and they date back to 1948!

Courtesy: ShopatGeris on Etsy

For the sake of all things plastic fantastic, I just have to add in that sometimes the plastic maker will be a part of history. Look at these older and harder to find vintage plastics  dating back to 1929-1940s era from Carvanite. (below) which had ties to Eastman Kodak. These are pure deco styled and look much like a bakelite material. Just lovely in color and preserved all these years.

These are available at CollectMemories on Etsy at $55 a true gem in the vintage plastic world.

Whatever kind you like, the possibilities are endless. There's a whole world of salt and pepper shakers out there just waiting for you to be had. Especially for the collector who likes to keep things under control, a small curio on the wall may be just the ticket.

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