Of 2010 that is.... It's safe to say that we barely had a spring this year. We had come of a long winter where we actually got a decent amount of snow one day and then basically by April we were already in summer. Oh I went through my usual diligent spring planting of annuals, but they didn't make it long in the Texas drought and 85 days of 100 degree weather this year (usually we have 12 days of 100 degree weather). I don't know why, but I failed to take any pictures of the spring flowers while they lasted. That's too bad really because I have acquired 6 more Alamo pots for begonias since the last time I took a picture of them back in spring of 2010. You can get an glimmer (or is it Gilmer,...haha inside joke) of an idea what my Alamo collection looks like from this picture, but you'll have to wait until next time to see the whole kit and caboodle. Trust me you do not want to see it right now, everything that is left is barely hanging on. 
But onto to sing the praises of Alamo. CollectoratorOne first discovered Alamo pottery several years ago, and I bought a large yellow one for the sake of having one. Well my mistake came when I bought the pink one and left them alone together. Now for some reason I have 19 pastel colored scalloped pots from both Alamo and it's step-brother Gilmer Pottery. CollectoratorOne and I mainly collect the scalloped pots they produced, but we have several other pieces from both Alamo and Gilmer as well. Such as this little tulip shaped pot and deco-ish ashtray. This is Texas-bred pottery, one of several companies I have been learning about and collecting over the years. Alamo Pottery only operated from 1945-1951, but Gilmer came in tweaked the colors and molds and continued on with the scalloped goodness until 1965. You can tell the scalloped pots apart because Alamo Pottery is right, down to the right. Gilmer is down to the left. We used to despise Gilmer because we thought they were knock off pots, until we learned the full history. Now we embrace them equally which is good because they have some super cute items in their line including little scalloped pots with a scalloped base hooked on of which I have two! Can't be that. You can tell a piece of Alamo or Gilmer when you pick it up. It's super heavy for it's size as it was made out of vitreous porcelain of the ilk that is used in bathroom fixtures, not surprising given they also made bathroom fixtures! What we'd give to find a pink Alamo sink and toilet. egads.... It's safe to say that I've drank the Alamo koolaide, and I think that I need one more pot because 19 is just not a round number...Oh before you go, Check out CollectoratorOne's Alamo/Gilmer collection here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/collectoratorone/sets/72157615605309033/
I'll amend my ealier statement that we have had 85 days of 100 degree weather. Yesterday made 86 and we are on track for 88 this week. Egads. This has to stop at some point.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Gilmer, TX, in the heyday of the Gilmer Pottery. I was feeling a little nostalgic and decided to do a post about their products and found your blog. I love it! I'm now a new follower.
ReplyDeleteI included a couple of your images, but I gave you full credit and plugged your blog in my post. If you'd like for me to take them down, I'll certainly do so, since I didn't ask permission in advance.
We now have a mid-century store in Dallas, and I write a daily mid-century blog. I'd love to have you stop by.
Welcome!!! I am glad you found me. I would love to hear more about Gilmer, TX and Gilmer Pottery! My friend and I are completely obsessed with both Alamo and Gilmer Pottery as you can see from my post. It's so beautiful and unique and of course so Texas! Thanks for sharing my photos and blog with your world too. We often come up to Dallas so we'd love to stop into your store.
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Because of your interest in Gilmer Potteries, I thought you might get a laugh out of these links.
Gilmer has an annual festival honoring the sweet potato. It's a big event called the Yamboree, which has yam pie contests fairgrounds and the town square blocked off with rides. There's a barn dance and a coronation crowning the year's Yamboree Queen. The locals consider it the highlight of the year.
Jack "Spot" Baird and Dick Potter (one of the founders of Gilmer Potteries) decided to promote the Yamboree statewide, so they came up with a slapstick act for the Folklife Festival in San Antonio. Spot (the father of my best friend in high school and an exec with Acme Brick) played "Professor of Possumology." Dick played "Dr. Potter, Director of Research and Taste Deflector." Every year these two serious businessmen hammed it up in overalls and tattered hats and made people laugh.
@Mid2Mod...yamboree.....that sold me alone! This is too good!!! I love it!!!! I am really curious how the possum got a role in the act?? I love the connection to Gilmer Pottery too! Thank you for sharing such fun memories!
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