Show us your TIES

[Widebrim]

I'm guessing this tie came out around the time of the movie, or the broadway play, "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, (1949 or 1953). Why else the "Gentlemen Prefer Blond Tone Ties?" The "eyeball" on the label is incredible...who the hell thinks these things up??

Great label!

 

[Widebrim]

I brought home my first find in Buffalo. I assumed there would be more vintage in the seven or so thrift shops covering the city, but I was disappointed. I did come across this tie in a Salvation Army. The tag reads, "Resilient Construction Towncraft Deluxe Cravat, Fabric Loomed in USA." I'm thinking early 50s? The picture doesn't do it much justice, but it is a deep purple with the shell-style design in white and a burgundy strip running through the white snaking pattern. The white "shells" have very fine light purple accents inside. I thought the purple had bled over, but it turns out they are little offshoots from the base of the shell.

It has a discolored stain drop toward the bottom and some nipped threads where a tie bar rested, but I think it will do with a vest on. For 99 cents, I couldn't pass it up, although the Woolite bath I gave it turned out to be the filthiest water I've ever seen!:eeek:

It might be from an earlier period, Annixter. Any chance of posting a photo of the rear of the blades?

 

[Widebrim]

A nice one. I think it's a representation of the Camelot story? I also got another one from the same seller by the same maker and sold in the same store (no doubt bought at the same time) that features a Mermaid flanked by shells, and a Unicorn flanked by trees, continuing the mythology theme.

bk

Really fine example, Baron. I have one Medieval-themed tie with a lancer on horseback.

 

[Shangas]

Had a chat with a local antiques dealer at the flea-market today. He once had a couple of tie-presses for sale. The same style as this one:

Unfortunately at the time, I didn't have the presence of mind to buy it from him when it was on offer.

He said he'd have a scrounge through his shop, and if he still had a couple, he'd bring them for me next week!

Here's hoping I don't really have a proper way to store my ties, so as a result, they get rather crinkly. So a tie-press would be really handy.

 

[Widebrim]

^^Tie presses do the job, but they flatten the sides of the blades, something that you would likely wish to avoid...

 

[Tommy]

Wasn't there a song or something about meeting at Hollywood and Vine Streets?

you might be thinking the lyric "Twelfth Street and Vine" from Wilbert Harrison's Kansas City.

 

[Shangas]

^^Tie presses do the job, but they flatten the sides of the blades, something that you would likely wish to avoid...

Widebrim, what is your experience with tie-presses? Are they effective in smoothing and de-wrinkling/de-kinking ties? Are they worth the money?

And what do you mean by flattening the 'blades' of the tie? I admit my tie-entymology is not that great.

I sincerely hope Bill (that's his name) finds the tie-press and that he hasn't sold it yet! Although it's going to take him a long time to find it. I rather unwisely paid a visit to his shop once. BIG mistake.

That place is PACKED to the RAFTERS with THOUSANDS of antiques. You literally cannot walk two feet without tripping over something. At the time, the shop was a total mess because he was busy salvaging things from another shop of his (which had been badly damaged in some recent floods). Hopefully, his shop is in better order this time and he'll be able to find me the tie-press!!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Someone asked about these a while ago. Palm Beach fabric ties with checked patterns.

 

[Gene]

^^Tie presses do the job, but they flatten the sides of the blades, something that you would likely wish to avoid...

I was thinking about this last night, and when I press my ties, I usually just go by the "three F's" which are the rules for my favorite ties: fat, flat, and floppy!

 

[Feraud]

Here's hoping I don't really have a proper way to store my ties, so as a result, they get rather crinkly. So a tie-press would be really handy.

How are you storing your ties?
Ties hung in a closet or rolled and stored in a drawer should prevent crinkling.

 

[Shangas]

My dad's closet has a dedicated tie-rack, as does my brother's closet. Mine doesn't. I keep them neatly folded inside a shoebox. I did used to roll them up, but that got too troublesome with nearly a dozen ties (my brother, whom I pinched the majority of them from, has a huge tie-collection). So yeah, having a tie-press would, I think, be beneficial.

 

[Feraud]

Shops like The Container Store or Bed, Bath & Beyond sell inexpensive tie hangers that secure either behind a closet door on the hangar bar itself. They will easily hold a couple dozen or more ties.
These might be a better first investment than a press.

 

[Dinerman]

And vintage wall-mounted tie racks can be had for dirt cheap.

 

[Widebrim]

Widebrim, what is your experience with tie-presses? Are they effective in smoothing and de-wrinkling/de-kinking ties? Are they worth the money?

And what do you mean by flattening the 'blades' of the tie? I admit my tie-entymology is not that great.

Well, if you look at the sides of your ties, you'll see that they are rolled and not flat (or at least that's the way they should be). If you use an iron or tie press on them, most likely the sides will become flat, something which you should avoid. There are tie rods available which solve this problem; they are metal rods which are inserted into the blades, so that when you iron over them, the rods prevent the sides from being pressed down flat.

 

[Feraud]

And vintage wall-mounted tie racks can be had for dirt cheap.

Absolutely!

 

[Travis Lee Johnston]

I had a skinny tie from the late 50's or early 60's and it had gotten so badly wrinkled and scrunched from summer wear(it was rayon, acetate, and fiberglass it said) that I ended up having to just iron it back into shape. I ironed it on the side with the seam and covered it with a paper towel using very low heat and not much steam on an ironing board. And it was like new when I was done. The tie was already flat so it was no biggie.

 

[jamespowers]

I had a skinny tie from the late 50's or early 60's and it had gotten so badly wrinkled and scrunched from summer wear(it was rayon, acetate, and fiberglass it said) that I ended up having to just iron it back into shape. I ironed it on the side with the seam and covered it with a paper towel using very low heat and not much steam on an ironing board. And it was like new when I was done. The tie was already flat so it was no biggie.

Interesting. 60s ties made of that kind of fabric generally don't need ironing---even after washing.
Believe it or not, in the 50s and 60s they made many fiberglas fabrics. I have fiberglas curtains in my summerhouse. One of these days those will have to go.

 

[Travis Lee Johnston]

It wrinkles very easily, which is probably why someone left it to Good Will. Kind of a bad move on their part, but I guess it was just too old fashioned for them. It has a kind of futuristic look too it in the pattern. It's one of my favorites. The ladies seem to go for the skinny ties more[huh]

 

[jamespowers]

It wrinkles very easily, which is probably why someone left it to Good Will. Kind of a bad move on their part, but I guess it was just too old fashioned for them. It has a kind of futuristic look too it in the pattern. It's one of my favorites. The ladies seem to go for the skinny ties more[huh]

Those late 50s ties usually have interesting patterns---the patterns got more minimalisitic as the era progressed.
If women like them then that is a plus too.

 

[Widebrim]

Those late 50s ties usually have interesting patterns---the patterns got more minimalisitic as the era progressed.
I women like them then that is a plus too.

Is that actually a plug for thin ties, JP?! :eeek: