Archive for August, 2010
Boo’s Countdown to Halloween
Jack O Lantern on Cat Blow Mold – Bayshore Industries
Saturday, August 14th, 2010 in Blow Molded Figurines, Garbage Finds
What: Blow mold jack o lantern on a black cat, 14 inches tall. Has 2 triangular eyes with raised circles in the center, a pronounced triangular nose and a smile with 2 buck teeth. Sat upon a rather freaked out looking cat.
Why: I always thought this blow mold pumpkin was the most unique looking (out of the dozens of other blow mold Halloween characters out there), I sort of found it down right ugly when I was a kid thanks to the buck teeth, and that’s why I think I like it so much now. It’s kind of cute because it’s so awkward looking.
Bayshore Industries blow mold Halloween Pumpkin
I wondered about this blow mold pumpkin because unlike a few others I have he has no production stampings and no trademarks of any kind. I do know now it came with the light, which I suppose makes sense. It turns out there are a few floating around out there with the original stickers (yes, stickers) still in place that give a little bit of manufacturing information.
Read on:
The ONLY production markings on the entire thing.
Diamond shaped (sort of) yellow sticker with black border. Reads “BAYSHORE HALLOWEEN LIGHT-UP DECORATION WITH BULB/BAYSHORE INDUSTRIES, INC., NY, NY, 10010, a subsidiary of Miner Industries, Inc. Made in USA”
Bayshore Industries opened in 1946 by Alvin L. Gursha in Elkton, Md. They ran into financial problems and were absorbed by Miner Industries, located in New York.
Fulfilling the acquisition, 1961 saw production moved to Amsterdam, New York, Bldg. 65 on Willow St., which formerly housed a plastic production company (Larc Products Co.) that folded in 1956.
According to Eugene Swee, president and chairman of the board of Miner Industries, Alvin L. Gursha was to be president of Miner’s Bayshore Division.
Bayshore produced such novelties as Halloween masks, hobby horses, balloons, bowling sets and more.
The bits of information I did find about the business deal are from the Amsterdam Evening Recorder, July 24, 1962.
I could find little else about Bayshore. From what I’m led to believe, Miner Industries, whose offices were located at 200 Fifth Avenue, Room 234. NY, NY 10010, filed chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1978.
This makes it pretty difficult to contact the company for any sort of history or patent sketch like I was hoping for, but it was interesting digging up the history nonetheless.
Judging by the fact that Bayshore had become Miner’s subsidiary by 1961/1962, that must mean this jack o lantern/cat blow mold is POST 1962, and since I believe Miner went under completely nearly 2 decades later, pre 1978.
Bayshore blow mold and some friends hanging around.
I’ve found many of these on eBay so they are by no means rare at this point in time. I had one as a child and actually found the one I have now in the garbage, looking very sad. Ones I have found on eBay with the old price tags in place said they cost a little over a dollar, retail, when new.
The jack o lantern/black cat blow mold can easily be found on eBay for about $10 before shipping. Or if you have a very keen eye on garbage night.
Interesting website FULL of stuff about not just Bayshore blow molded figures, but all the big names, Union, Empire, General Foam and more. Check it out if you’ve got a couple of hours to spare: http://www.blow-molded.com/Bayshore_Industries___Archive.html
1 Ghouslish Gasp
Tags: bayshore indutries, blow mold, jack o lantern, miner industries, pumpkin, retro, vintage
Mars Halloween Candy Containers
Friday, August 13th, 2010 in Blow Molded Figurines
During the Halloween 1989 season, the Mars candy company sold (I believe) 2 plastic characters full of fun size chocolate bars. In 1990 there were 3 sold.*
*I am completely guessing here. In my travels, I’ve only found the goblin stamped 1990. The 1989 ghost and pumpkin are different from each other.
I had all three, and I remember hanging them up every year, because they were good sized and had nifty faces. I got them from Twin Valu grocery store in Euclid, Ohio, long before I actually lived in Euclid. They came filled with candy bars.
Like I said, there were 3 different containers. The Snickers ghost, who was a white ghost with a typical ghosty expression. You know, he looks like he’s moaning and being otherwise scary.
Then comes the Milky Way pumpkin (Jack o Lantern), who in contrast is quite happy looking. And he was filled with Milky Way, so he automatically wins.
Anyway, the third was a green guy who I assumed was some sort of goblin, as what else is green really? He had 3 Musketeers bars.
To make a very long story incredibly short, I moved and had to leave them all behind with a lot of other things. So in my eBay stalkings, I’m very slowing starting to get things back, and last year (2009) Guy and I were able to track down the 1989 Snickers ghost and the 1989 Milky way pumpkin. This year I was able to get the 1990 versions of the Snickers ghost and my 3 Musketeers goblin!
I’m not posting this so much as a happily ever after type thing, but because I googled last year extensively and this year as well, and I actually found even LESS about these premiums this year, so I wanted to put it all together in one spot, along with all the information I know (Mars Inc., 1989, lids are removable and have a thin rope in place so they may be hung or used as trick or treat pails, I would assume) and some pictures. These were really neat little Halloween critters and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one out there who remembers them.
Here’s a shot of my two guys:
My Snickers ghost, being quite ghostly.
My Milky Way pumpkin. Very jolly dude.
And if you have a goblin to sell me at a reasonable price, feel free to drop me a line at jen at euclidboo dot com. I bought mine on eBay on September 12, 2010, 2 for $5.50!
I don't know where this is from, if it's yours, please let me know and I will credit accordingly.
ETA: I contacted Mars about these, hoping to get some information, anything really, but I didn’t get too far:
In response to your email regarding SNICKERS BRAND, MILKY WAY BRAND, and 3 MUSKETEERS BRAND.
Thank you for your email.
Unfortunately, the information you requested is not available.
Have a great day!
Your Friends at Mars Chocolate North America
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Tags: 1989, 3 musketeers, ghost, goblin, jack o lantern, mars, milky way, pumpkin, retro, snickers, vintage
