Questions and Answers
 

QUESTION:  I inherited an oak table with two leaves and five chairs that my aunt purchased in Chicago.  At the time, the dealer told her the table and chairs dated from the 1920s.  An old label on the bottom of the table and a chair reads: “Mersman Bros. Brand, The Table Makers, Celina OH.”  What information can you provide about the company and potential value of my table?  --  JM, E-mail Question

ANSWER:  In 1876 J. B. Mersman founded Mersman Tables, initially located in Ottoville, Ohio.  Previously Mersman operated sawmills in Angola, Indiana, and Kendellville.  When the timber supply in Ohio grew scarce, Mersman switched to manufacturing headboards, footboards, and slats for beds.

Shortly after the turn of the twentieth century, Mersman was approached by representatives of Celina, Ohio, and offered incentives to build a plant in that city.  Within six months, a new plant was built employing over 25 people.  The company’s product inventory expanded to include library and dining room tables.

J. B. Mersman sold his company to his two oldest sons, Edward H. and Walter I., and Henry Lenartz, a local banker.  The inclusion of Albert Mersman, J. B.’s youngest son, when he became of age was part of the deal.  J.B. Mersman moved to Arkansas and went back into the sawmill business.  The new company was known as “Lenartz and Mersman Brothers.”

In 1906 the Mersman brothers along with Edmund Brandts, bought out Henry Lenartz.  The company became “Mersman Brothers, Brandts Company.”  When the company was incorporated in August 1906, it employed close to 125 workers and ten traveling salesmen.  The company now focused almost exclusively on the manufacture of medium- and high-quality dining tables.

In October 1927, Walter Mersman, now president of the company, announced yet another name change, this time to “Mersman Brothers Corporation.”  During the depression of the 1930s, the company expanded its product line to include bedroom suites and radio cabinets.  During World War II, Mersman Brothers made wooden desks for the Treasury Department, benches and mess tables for the Navy, and plywood for the Lend Lease program.  When the war ended, Mersman Brothers Corporation shifted to the production of living room tables.

Congoleum Industries acquired Mersman Brothers Corporation in 1963.  In 1977, Congoleum sold the company to Somers Corporation, a group of private investors.  By this time, the company’s name had changed to the Mersman Tables Company.  In the 1980s Mersman manufactured occasional tables, wall units, and curio cabinets.  By this time, some of its products were made at a southern plant in Eupora, Mississippi.  Mersman Tables Company ceased operations in 1995.

A constant change in a company’s name is very helpful in dating a company’s products.  I want you to take another look at your label.  I suspect it really says “Mersman Bros. Brandts…”  If I am correct, this means your table was made between 1906 and 1927.

Mersman Bros. Brandts had a full-page advertisement in the Furniture Dealers Reference Book, 1927, compiled by the American Homes Bureau.  The advertisement pictures a number of Colonial Revival Davenport and occasional tables in Tudor, Chippendale, and Hepplewhite styles.

While I found no evidence that Mersman Bros., Brandt Co. made chairs to match its tables, it makes sense that it would.  The fact that your table and one of the chairs have the same label strongly suggests that they did.  However, I am not dismissing the possibility that they contracted out the manufacturing of the chairs.

Obviously, there were six chairs initially.  Americans purchase dining room chairs in even, rather than odd number sets.

I note your table and chairs are oak.  Unfortunately, you did not provide me with their design style.  I am going to assume a generic oak dining table and matching chairs and that no restoration work is needed.  The value of your table and chairs is between $500.00 and $600.00.

QUESTION:  I have two Star Wars action figure carrying cases, the first a rectangular case with images from Episodes IV and V and the second a diecast model of Darth Vadar.  The cases are filled with action figures.  Do they have any value?  --  BB, Chicago, IL

ANSWER:  A variety of action figure holders, i.e, carrying cases, were issued between 1979 and 1983.  These included three black vinyl cases with illustrated covers, one for Star Wars, one for Empire, and one for Jedi. Each held twenty-four figures.  In 1980s a black plastic bust of Darth Vadar holding thirty-one figures was issued, followed in 1983 by a gold plastic bust of C-3PO which held forty figures and a Chewbacca Bandolier Strap that holds ten figures plus two containers for accessories.  In 1984, a laser rifle case holding nineteen figures was sold.

There are two major categories of Star Wars action figure—unjointed (of minimal interest to collectors) and poseable.  While most collectors want figures still in their period blister packaging, there is a market for early individual figures.

Condition is critical.  The tiniest flaw affects value.  Loose figures must have all weapons and equipment appropriate to the figure in order to maintain value.

It also is important to understand that the same figure often was sold in several different blister packs.  Once the packaging no longer exists, it is nearly impossible to identify the series from which the figure originated.

Obviously, production count was highest for the most popular figures, e.g., Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, C-3PO, Hans Solo, and Princess Leia.  It is for this reason that secondary characters such as Yak Face command premium prices.

After examining the photographs that accompanied your letter, I concluded (a) almost all your figures are the ones most commonly found and (b) most accessory pieces are missing.

The overall value of your two cases and the figures they contain is between $60.00 and $75.00.  Should you every wish to sell, my recommendation is to make the buyer purchase the entire lot rather than allowing him or her to cherry pick the collection.

QUESTION:  I own two swans.  The first is approximately 5in wide and 5 1/2in high.  It has a gold body and is marked on the bottom: “Holly Ross / Distinguished China / 22K Gold / LaAnna, Pa.”  The second measures 13” wide and 10” high and has a white body trimmed with gold.  It is marked on the bottom “41.”  I am curious as to whether there is any value to these two swans.  --  DM, Allentown, PA

ANSWER:  I believe your first swan is marked “Holley Ross.”  Holley Ross is a pottery outlet located in LaAnna, Pennsylvania.  Its website is www.holleyross.com.  Besides manufacturing its own products, Holley Ross also buys discontinued merchandise from other manufacturers and offers it at discount prices.

Gold decorated ceramic accessories and dinnerware were extremely popular in the late 1950s and early 1960s.  Examples still are being made today.  The Holley Ross website pictured a full display of gold decorated ceramic accessories that the company is offering for sale.

Do not be fooled by the 22K designation.  It is a sales gimmick.  The value of the gold used to decorate the object is worth only a fraction of a cent.  You cannot remove it from the piece and take it to the bank.

QUESTION:  I found a Goebel figurine featuring a young boy and two sheep.  The base is marked “Goebel / W. Germany / 200/0 / 1948.”  Is it a Hummel figurine and what is its value?  --  LR, E-mail Question

ANSWER:  Hummel 200 is a figure known as the Little Goat Herder.  Master sculptor Arthur Moeller first modeled the figure in 1948.  Initially, the figure was made only in the 5 1/2in to 5 3/4in size and given the number 200.  In 1956, a smaller size, measuring 4 1/2in to 4 3/4in, was introduced and numbered 200/0.  The large size figure was reduced slightly in size and renumbered 200/1.

The Little Goat Herder has been restyled over the years, albeit the changes are minor.  Older models have a blade of grass between the hind legs of the small goat.  Newer models do not.  Newer models have an incised 1948 copyright date.

As always, “I. M. Hummel” needs to appear on the base of the figurine for it to be an authentic Goebel Hummel.  Based upon mark, your Little Goat Herder was made after 1979.

Although the book value of this figurine is around $200.00, its real secondary market value is closer to $50.00.  Examples sell regularly at this price and less on eBay.