Jeff Nixon's Memorabilia
A 2010 Display Case Exhibit - About the Display Case Committee


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Photos by Mike Carrell

Jeff Nixon, who is an electrician in the Maintenance Department of Medford Leas, loves old things and likes to collect. Jeff grew up on a farm and h's father ran an appraisal and auction business. We would like you to see what you can identify in our display. Some of the things here are not recognizable even to Jeff - and they are marked with a question mark. If you have a guess for them, please tell a member of the Display Case Committee.

This is not all Jeff has collected. He has some old cars, a gas pump, but most surprising the old Birmingham Railroad Station built in the 1800s which had to be moved down the street to his back yard. He rebuilt it with the idea of making it into a mini-museum for his collectables. Jeff has always liked the station and he has done a fantastic job in refurbishing it. In 2002 there was a splendid celebration of the completion of the repairs which several Medford Leas residents and staff attended.

QUIZ - Following the picture of the entire case there is a picture of each shelf. Some of the things are not easily identifiable so they were marked with question marks.

Following any shelf with a question mark there is a closeup of the mystery item and information about it..

Top Row
Left Column

This is a toaster.

A steel camp toaster from REI looks identical.

Middle Row
Left Column

..
Two views of the optical device. Don Davis says he thinks that prisms like this were used to look down at the street from an upper story window to see who's at the door. So far have not found anything similar on the Internet.

Bottom Row
Left Column

To the left we can see the mystery object that was displayed in front of the nut grinder. This kind of ear trumpet is called a "Miss Green Hearing Horn." Sears Roebuck advertised a large one like this for $1.32 in 1902. In 1908 the price had dropped to $1.25.

Top Row
Center Column

 

Middle Row
Center Column

The plastic apple is a clue. This is an apple corer.

Here's one from 1898 in good condition, supposedly worth $100-$300.

This one has rust, estimated at $20-$40.

Bottom Row
Center Column

.

This electro-magnet is smaller than the gelatin mold. But how was it used? Was it a toy demonstrating the wonders of electricity? It looks similar to the electric machine below but without brass parts, a fancy box, or medical claims.

Top Row
Right Column

 

A rammer like this was recently auctioned through the Internet. At the beginning of this YouTube clip on foundry casting, you can see a rammer on the right side of the shelf behind the homemade molding bench. In this 2nd clip in the series on foundry casting the hobbyist demonstrates the use of both ends of the rammer, starting about 1'45" into the video.

Middle Row
Right Column

Below there's a closeup of the box

Like snake oil, this electromagnetic device cures everything.
Many of them are for sale on the Internet. Here's one in good condition. $150.

Bottom Row
Right Column

no mystery items on this shelf

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2010
2010 Hmong
2010 Hanukkah
2010 Jeff Nixon's Memorabilia
2010 Warren Reeves' Trains
2010 Lois's Art Pottery
2010 Alex's Bird Carvings

2009
2009 On the High Seas
2009 Cobalt Blue Glass
2009 Murakami Collection
2009 Turquoise & Amethyst
2009 Antique Inkwells
2009 South of the Borderw

2008
2008 Toby Jugs and
Character Mugs
2008 Diane Seely's Eggs