M.I. Hummel figurines, or “Hummels,” have been an incredibly popular collectible since their introduction by the porcelain maker Franz Goebel in 1935. It may be surprising to know that the first Hummels were not actually porcelain figures but rather paper …
Unlike today’s automatic washers, where the processes of both soil removal and water extraction (wringing) are done in the same device, early clothes washing required the use of a washer and separate extractor. We can trace the history of today’s …
Long before digital cinematography, computer-generated imagery and other modern motion picture technologies, the mainstay of editors in movie house “cutting rooms” was the Moviola. Originally invented by Iwan Serrurier in 1917 as a home movie projector, the name itself comes …
Miniature models of automobiles began to pop up shortly after the first cars were introduced in the early 20th century. They were originally developed, not as toys for children or as models for hobbyists, but as promotional tools and design …
Billiards is a cue sport that includes a variety of games that generally include a cue stick that is used to strike billiard balls on a table bounded by elastic bumpers known as cushions. Generally regarded to have evolved from …
Elephants are adorable plant-eating creatures beloved by most all. Seen as intelligent and family-centric, the admiration for elephants, and their perceived abuse documented by animal rights activists led to the recent closure of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey …
Enservio Select was recently called in to determine the retail replacement value of a claimed Remington conversion rifle. The insured stated the claimed musket was built in 1812 by Remington Arms Co. and used in the Civil War (1861-1865) by …
As a founder of the Cubist movement, Pablo Picasso is widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. Today his works are ranked among the world’s most prized and expensive paintings. In 2015, his “Les …
Lavish, private aquariums have become a fashionable trend in recent years amongst the rich and famous. Many celebrity enthusiasts ranging from Chad Ochocinco to Lady Gaga, and even Steven Spielberg (appropriately the director of Jaws) have fueled interest in this …