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Tuesday, April 23, 2013

TV Land

 What's It Wednesday #71

I want to thank Ashley so much for stepping in last week and posting while her mother, Patti, was  out of town and I recuperating from pneumonia. Ashley has been the Ivy & Elephants silent third partner since it's inception. 

The other day my husband expressed that his favorite piece of furniture in the house was his television, of course. Then I remembered my favorite piece of furniture.


This beautiful piece of furniture has been passed down for generations. It originally belonged to my great-grandmother. Even as a little girl I loved the wood. 


So as it turns out, my favorite piece of furniture is also a television. 


As the story goes, my great-grandparents were the first folks in their neighborhood to own a television. The neighbors would gather on the front porch and watch the evening shows with the family.

The Philadelphia Storage Battery Company, also known as Philco, was known for their beautiful radios, televisions and phonographs.


 The craftsmanship is amazing and the knobs are even a work of art. 
This television console is full of wonderful surprises. The knob at the top is to select the phonograph (PH), radio (BC-broadcast), or the television.

When you pull out the speaker on the left you access the phonograph and as you open the speaker on the right it is an open cabinet. My mother said that that is where her grand-mother kept the records for the phonograph. When I opened it I found an old antenna and a super old radio that I had no idea was there. Oh how I love surprises. 
How cool is this old ad? Apparently this model was state of the art for the times. 
Hey when was the last time you saw a 45 adapter? Some of y'all are like...what is that?

What is your favorite piece of furniture in your house?

xoxoxo
Paula


“What's It Wednesday” Linky Party!
Don't forget to add a featured button.


Ivy and Elephants

HERE ARE THIS WEEK'S FABULOUS FEATURES.

Love & Lilac

Charm Bracelet Diva

Art and Sand

Penny Wise

Art of 66

Shabby Loco

Come show off your whatchamacallits, what is its, what it once was, and "hey, look what I just did" posts. In other words, what you created, organized, designed or re-designed, found, purchased, transformed, inherited, re-purposed, renovated, are selling, or giving-away.
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39 comments:

  1. Penny @ Penny's Vintage HomeApril 23, 2013 at 10:06 PM

    Thanks for hosting another great party! Have a wonderful week...hugs, Penny

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  2. Shenita @ Embellishments by SLRApril 23, 2013 at 10:09 PM

    What lovely features! Thanks so much for hosting!

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  3. MegApril 23, 2013 at 10:26 PM

    A beautiful console....I LOVE it Patti!

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  4. Faye April 23, 2013 at 10:31 PM

    I Love it! I just love old TV's and yours is one of the best. The nice memories! Ours wasn't as nice as that but I do wish it was still around and I do remember the adapters well. Thanks for posting this!

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  5. Nellie's Cozy PlaceApril 23, 2013 at 10:53 PM

    Paula,
    so sorry to hear you have been so sick with pneumonia......hope you are feeling much much better and better yet over it completely.
    Like your furniture pick.........It was really neat, I so remember those old tv's and phonographs and those 45 rpm adapters, used to use them all the time. Nice walk down memory lane.
    Blessings, Nellie

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  6. Deborah@Green Willow PondApril 23, 2013 at 10:59 PM

    Thank you for hosting. So glad you are feeling better! My grandmother had an old Victrola record player that was so cool. Your TV is awesome. Have a great week!

    Hugs,
    Deborah

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  7. Heirloom treasuresApril 23, 2013 at 11:25 PM

    Paula,so pleased you have recovered,that can be a debilitating illness.
    I so love your Great Grandmothers piece,what a treasure to still have it. The wood is lovely.
    My favourite piece is an antique sideboard given to me by my dear daughter to store for her while she was in between homes. She new I loved and gotten attached to it,so gave it to me. I store all my tablecloths and doilies in the lovely big deep drawers. It fits in the fireplace recess in the living room.x

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  8. xinexApril 23, 2013 at 11:30 PM

    Wow! I haven't seen one of those for so long. Good thing you still have it. Beautiful features!...Christine

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  9. UnknownApril 24, 2013 at 12:29 AM

    I'd have to say my favorite is my bed. It's nothing special, just a bed, but it's my sweet escape sometimes.

    My favorite furniture for design reasons is my vintage tanker desk, which I painted teal last year. It's such a huge piece, but is so sturdy and is also in my fave color.

    Thanks for hosting the party!

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  10. UnknownApril 24, 2013 at 12:39 AM

    Wow Paula, that is one fabulous television.Our early TVs weren't nearly as beautiful but I remember that they had wood cabinets and really were a pieces of furniture. Okay, so in my home? My favorite piece(s) of furniture has got to be my mom's king and queen chairs. They are hand carved, very old and gorgeous. I think my older sisters are probably a little jealous that I ended up with them.

    Thank you for hosting this week. I hope you are regaining your strength. Blessings, Patti

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  11. BiljanaApril 24, 2013 at 2:11 AM

    Great Grandmother piece, thanks for hosting:) Paula, have a beautiful week, hugs Biljana

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  12. Collar City BrownstoneApril 24, 2013 at 3:54 AM

    OMG That Tv cabinet is one of the most beautiful pieces I ever saw. I absolutely LOVE IT!!!

    I do know what a 45 adaptor is since I had quite few. Of course I was just a baby at the time...LOL

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  13. toko baju muslim murahApril 24, 2013 at 5:18 AM


    Beautifull photos and great blog!especially for me thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble ChristmasApril 24, 2013 at 6:47 AM

    What a beautiful piece!! The wood on it is stunning!! A beautiful treasure with so much history to have!!

    Thanks so much for hosting!!

    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  15. Natasha in OzApril 24, 2013 at 7:46 AM

    Thanks so much for having me today. Hope you are well!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha in Oz

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  16. Diane | An Extraordinary DayApril 24, 2013 at 8:07 AM

    What a fun 'entertainment' unit. Your family was sure on top of the latest everything. Great memories to learn about and cherish.
    Wishing you An Extraordinary Day!

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  17. Jemma@athomewithjemmaApril 24, 2013 at 8:28 AM

    Paula,

    Such a darling piece of furniture! I love these vintage pieces-I remember a wash tub that Momma had!
    So glad you are feeling better and gaining back your strength!
    Sweet Hugs!
    Jemma

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  18. bjApril 24, 2013 at 8:43 AM

    What a treasure you have there. Gosh, I must be about the age of your great-grandmother....:(
    I so remember these...our family bought a Philco tv when I was 16...our first tv...ever.!! :)
    I had so many 45 records and a stack of the adapters...wish I still had all the records and the tv.....
    Thanks so much for hosting this fun party.
    xoxo

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  19. Barbara @ 21 Rosemary LaneApril 24, 2013 at 9:00 AM

    I love your tv console...we have something similar only it is a radio/turntable. And now that you've pointed out the space used for holding records, I now realize I have the same space too for records in my piece!Thank you lovely ladies for hosting once again this week and wishing you a wonderful day!
    XO Barbara

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  20. Curtains in My TreeApril 24, 2013 at 9:30 AM


    Oh Paula
    that brings back great memories. My grandparents had a new RCA TV back in the 1950's that I can remember
    It wasn't til I was married I seen beautiful TV's in a closed case, piece of furniture like you have. remember my neighbors having a blond set console set

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  21. Sarah CollerApril 24, 2013 at 10:06 AM

    How fun! Yeah, I was introduced to the 45 adapter a year or so ago when my uncle was cleaning out a shed. He thought it would be funny to make me guess... I didn't have a clue!

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  22. Grandma Barb's This and ThatApril 24, 2013 at 10:15 AM

    What a beautiful piece of furniture that old TV is! Love the wood.
    My favorite piece of furniture is an old desk that belonged to my grandmother.

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  23. Stan and Jody GabaraApril 24, 2013 at 10:42 AM

    Thanks so much for hosting a wonderful party! Love all the photos and stories of TV Land.


    Jody

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  24. Jeannie and LindaApril 24, 2013 at 11:02 AM

    I love your television! I wish they were so pretty now! Thank you for inviting us to your party today, Paula. So glad you are feeling better. Have a beautiful week.

    Peace,
    Linda and Jeannie at The French Hens Nest

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  25. TrishaApril 24, 2013 at 12:33 PM

    What an awesome piece to have! So glad to be joinin in this week!

    ~Trisha

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  26. Our Hopeful HomeApril 24, 2013 at 12:34 PM

    Thanks so much for the feature ladies! Love the console, and yes, I remember what a 45 adapter is!

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  27. Blue Creek HomeApril 24, 2013 at 1:12 PM

    Hi - love your old Philco! You don't see too many of those for sale these days - it's lovely.
    Thanks for hosting!
    Rhonda

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  28. loveandlilacApril 24, 2013 at 1:33 PM

    What a wonderful piece of furniture. It reminded me of an old radiogram we had when I was a kid - it used to take an age to warm up!

    My favourite piece of furniture would be my armoire - it's not vintage, but it's very pretty.

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  29. Judy at GoldCountryCottageApril 24, 2013 at 3:11 PM

    Hi Paula, glad you are feeling better. Ashley did a fine job. Thanks for hosting again and it reminds me when we would go to my grandparents to watch TV. We didn't have one for awhile. Your cabinet is really a beautiful work of art..Happy Wednesday..Judy

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  30. AlessandraApril 24, 2013 at 3:21 PM

    I love this console and i love its memories. I hope you feel better.
    Kisses
    Alessandra

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  31. Julie MarieApril 24, 2013 at 3:57 PM

    Hi Paula... first off, so happy you are feeling better!... and how sweet Ashley was able to fill in for you and Patti... love love love your treasured Philco... and the secret treasures you found inside... how fun!... when I was just a little girl, we had the first television in our neighborhood as well, and all of the neighbors would come over to our home too... my how times have changed!... thank you for sharing your favorite piece... my favorite piece of furniture is my daddy's little rocking chair he had when he was just a tiny little boy... through the years, it was painted black... many have told me I should repaint it... but... I wouldn't change a thing about my daddy ( who passed away at age 91 several years ago) so I won't change his little chair either... surprisingly, I can still fit in it and when I rock I am flooded with happy memories from the past... I'm sure you too are flooded with happy memories with your beautiful television... wishing you a beautiful day, hello Patti!... xoxo Julie Marie PS I still have all of my old 45's and adapters!... I am going to be 64 on my birthday in May and not ashamed to say so... life is good!... I am young at heart and will never grow "old"... and I myself never, ever call anyone old... no matter their age... it is what's in your heart... a state of mind...

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  32. UnknownApril 24, 2013 at 5:14 PM

    I am happy that you are fine now Paula! What fabulous furniture! Definitely to be treasured. My favourite furniture at this time is a big display unit with my bird figurines. Thanks for hosting and enjoy the rest of your week.

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  33. Ethereal PLUS what I LoveApril 24, 2013 at 8:35 PM

    Thanks so much for hosting !
    Francine

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  34. lynn cockrellApril 25, 2013 at 10:10 AM

    I am so sorry that you have been sick and hope that you are much improved by now. Your television is a wonderful piece and such a treasure to have belonged to your family and passed down. I love the story about family and neighbors gathering on the porch to watch TV. We have my husband's parents old stereo record player, which also has a radio. It still works! The built-in speakers are covered with fabric, like your TV. It is french prov. style and I am considering painting it this summer. Thanks for sharing this treasure, Patti!

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  35. AnonymousApril 25, 2013 at 3:48 PM

    Wow I love this post.You know I can remember when we got our first TV,it was a hand-down from my Granny also,I guess we were so proud of it that we have black&white photo's of us children
    (6-two girls & four boy's)posing with the TV,boy we sure had some big happy proud grins on our faces.

    Love this TV and the cabinet is so pretty,our's was similar but the wood was not as lovely.

    Thanks for hosting and these are some awesome features.I enjoyed!

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  36. Auro @ Add that Xtra in the OrdinaryApril 26, 2013 at 6:12 AM

    oooh what a treasure you have redeemed,my own childhood memories are back.One day my dad came home, followed by a group of people who were carrying a big piece of furniture.I thought it was a piano,no it was Radiogram made of polished wood with a push slide which caves in and the valve radio and a record player comes out!Thanks for reviving old memories.
    Hugs Auro

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  37. AnonymousApril 29, 2013 at 9:48 AM

    I say this all the time but it bears repeating. You have the most wonderful things! :) My Mom still has her old turntable housed in a monstrous cabinet. I am sure it will probably never be used as it's intended purpose again but it would make a beautiful piece of furniture for storage and to settle a flat screen tv on, I think. Have a wonderful week and I hope you are feeling better.

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  38. The Liberty BelleApril 30, 2013 at 11:10 PM

    A beautiful piece of furniture! Thanks for sharing.

    Wishing Patti a full and speedy recovery!

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  39. Red Rose AlleyMay 6, 2013 at 1:22 PM

    What a beautiful piece of furniture, and so special that it belonged to your great grandmother. I just posted a few of my mother's things recently, as it is almost mother's day. The memories that we have of our loved ones will never be forgotten. I love the story behind the tv and record player.

    Have a happy week.
    ~Sheri

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Thank you so much for your comments! We enjoy hearing from you.