Tiki Finds

Oh man, that lamp is tha' shiznit.
:tiki:

On 2004-01-12 12:43, Tiki Royale wrote:
Oh man, that lamp is tha' shiznit.
:tiki:

Shouldn't that be the Schlitznit?

ouch! ho! dat lamp is a good one!

That lamp is way cool. I have always wondered how to combine a certain beer signage into the tiki bar. I have been wanting one of those rotating Miller champane bucket signs for a while... This is a new quest! Very cool.

Wowee-zowee!

[ Edited by: filslash 2008-09-10 13:41 ]

Here's the lastest finds. We went to Quartzite, Arizona this weekend and actually scored a few, cool Tiki Items. I got an old OMC Trader Dick's Mug (complete with designer plant inside), a Trader Vic's Ashtray and a Bali Hai Ashtray. I also found these really cool Tiki Swizzle Sticks. Overall, I think I spent a total of about $10 for everything.

Who says you can't get a great find on ebay? Picked this up for $10, including shipping!

Hmmmm My coolest tiki finds arent that obscure but lots of fun and cool, least to me.
My wife loves going to Marshalls, and I usually browse their crap section and look at junk, However I did find 2 Clay Art peices there, A large green Tiki Pitcher, and a Bright orange Tiki cookie jar.
Back in NJ I found a really cool large ashtray, It resembles the round green westwood mug, but has a blue glaze in the deepr parts and a brown glaze around the edges and down the center (nose ridge and mouth) at the base of it it reads "Aloha Hawaii".
I promise to post some pics soon!
JAy

I was working on a project when the mounds of falling snow outside inspired me to drive out into the weather and buy myself a Slurpee because I'm just not cold enough already. On the way to 7-11, I decided to stop at a thrift store, not really expecting to find anything...

I know some of you may roll your eyes at the Leilani's, but I have not owned one until today. And at least I didn't find another Karate Punch mug. I'm diggin' the Al Harrington, the CocoJoes, the Orchids R-76 & the salt & pepper shakers.

Now, can anyone tell me anything about the carving? the label on back reads, "Waikiki Woods. Monkey Pod. Hawaii" Any idea on how common this item is? or its' age?

-Z

Here is a months worth of searching.
a little tiki box not marked, OMC sugar pineapple sugar dish, daga surfer mug, nice little carved tiki not marked, pineapple s&p shakers no marks, Tall tiki cylinder not a mug has a little hole in the bottom? says by Donna on bottom, orchids fumanchu, Hilton Hawaiian village bowl looks kind of like the one on the menu I found that on ebay so not really a find but cheap and a Witco horse magazine rack. All for $1.00 to $2.00 each except the Witco which was $28.00.

An original Mr. Bali Hai mug with lid in excellent condition (no chips, one scratch) at a local thrift store for a buck. WOOHOO!

Aloha!

I wanted to share my current tiki finds with the rest of you. I am quickly approaching my first year anniversary and my finds just keep getting better and better.

Many thanks to you all for answering all my questions and providing insight to a world previously unknown to me!

Here is some of what I picked up

The brown Scorpion Bowl is from the Islander, Stockon CA

The Lidded Moai is Aku Aku, Las Vegas as is the Bamboo mug. They had another lidded Moai, but 40 bucks more was a little too steep this week...:)

I think the plate is from the Islander in So. Cal. Its corningware, but that's all I can surmise. (any info is appreciated...:) )

The Triangle Diamond Head mug is from the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

The black Moai is from Leilani Luau in Fresno, CA.

The green Moai is unmarked, but has a Hoffman look to it (any info would be greatly appreciated).

The skull is from Trader Dick's, Sparks Nevada.

The other green Moai is of course from Mark Thomas' Outrigger it seems to be of a slightly different shade than the ones I have seen before (once again, they had more of these, but 20 bucks each kept me from getting those...).

The Fu Manchu mug is marked in Cantonese on the back, with on OMC sticker on the bottom. I have no idea where this one is from....

I also picked up some Daga Luau glasses for 50 cents each and a set of Steve Crane-esqe tiki Salt and Pepper shakers that say "Luau" on the front.

Thanks again for helping me feed the beast that has become my tiki urge...:)

Aloha!
-CMC

[ Edited by: Cool Manchu on 2004-01-18 22:24 ]

Nice finds CMC. Where did you find 'em?
Aloha,
:tiki:

Let's see, I found a couple at the antique fair in Alameda, I found most of them today in Gilroy in an antique store. I found some in Moss Landing and some at the local flea market in Santa Cruz.

I also found a black Sneaky Tiki at the Goodwill in Santa Clara.

It killed me to spend 40 bucks on the Aku Aku mug. Its the most I ever spent on a single mug. I hope I didn't pay too much!

Wow...cool finds everyone...I need to peek here more often!

Here's a pic of my finds in the last month or so. Mostly Goodwill & flea markets. I did score the Ports O'Call swizzle at an antique store in Dallas.

The funny thing is I used to complain about how hard it is to find Tiki stuff in the Dallas area. I've figured out that the more I find, the more I keep finding...still not much in the way of mugs, though.

[ Edited by: Juno on 2004-01-19 12:33 ]

Here is a new pick up. It's about 4 inches tall from the travelodge in Tahiti. It has the words "P. Nino Sculpteur". It has a hole in the top that goes all the way thru to the back, not sure what it would be there for...those mosquito repelent sticks maybe?


Anyway..I was pretty happy to get it.

Erich

Juno! You got an original Vernex!

(do a search :wink: )

I finally got an LP of Adventures in Paradise and also Ports of Paradise along with some Don Ho album yesterday. Anyone know if tapes/DVD's of the ABC show Adventures in Paradise are available?

Hey Erich,
Looks like it was probably part of a key-chain for the TraveLodge.
Aloha,
:tiki:

...I try to avoid to be a downer...but I do feel the weight of responsiblity for some kind of quality control in Tikidom, and sometimes I just can't sit quietly by the wayside musing "Aaah, those crazy kids, let them have their way, they'll see..." and it brakes out of me:

Juno. I appreciate the hardships of non-coastal Tiki collectors. BUT...

Those Tikis there. They are the WORST kind of tourist massproduced crap (I can not call them carvings) from Asia that started lining the ABC store shelves by the thousands, the kind that Paul Theroux refferred to as "nameless pieces of hacked wood".

Now the smart ones here can start to theorize endlessly on how ALL Polynesian Pop Tikis would be judged in comparison to the real temple carvings, but I do not care, these soulless machine-sliced gnomes are not allowed to pass as Tikis with me!

Sorry for this emotional outpour, Juno, certainly not to be taken personal, as I appreciate all your contributions, but these guys were on my sh#%list for some time...

OK, I am calm now.

I went to the Long Beach Swap Meet over the weekend and I found this OMC Mr. Bali Hi mug. The funny thing about it is someone took the time to add the rope handle to the lid.

these soulless machine-sliced gnomes are not allowed to pass as Tikis with me!

Well, Sven…

First, let me just say that I value your opinions on all things tiki and treat them as The Gospel…my copy of BOT hasn’t had time to gather dust on the bookshelf and a day rarely goes by that I don’t have it out to look something up. The whole reason I became so fascinated with tiki was because of that book. I bow down to YOU and am honored that you took time to reply to one of my posts (grovel grovel grovel).

BUT SERIOUSLY, I know those tiki’s are crap and I’m sure you understand the crap I’ve been through just to find this kind of crap. Finding ANYTHING tiki where I live is as rare as you could imagine. Still, I get some personal satisfaction bringing home my trophies after a successful hunt and proudly displaying them like shrunken heads. I do have some much nicer tiki’s, a few Coco Joes, etc. but most of those came from Ebay. I usually don’t post those as “tiki finds” because I didn’t really “find” them as much as I “won the auction.” But I really liked them and the price was right so I bought them. I seriously doubt I’d ever find anything similar floating around at a Goodwill store where I live…but I do keep looking. I’m sure that as my collection grows the crap will be weeded out and unloaded on someone else who’s dying to find something tiki.

SO…I posted another pic of some recent EBAY finds. I think you’ll find these to be much nicer than the “"nameless pieces of hacked wood." I’d appreciate ANY feedback on these, even if you think they’re sh*t.

AGAIN...my thanks

:drink:

Thanks Juno, as I said nothing personal, and not doubting your Tiki taste. I just wanted to warn the flock of these...abominations!!!

Ah, sorry, I just can't hold back...

I know how Tiki-less existence feels, having worked in Europe for extended amounts of time, and how one takes anything Tiki-like as as a gift from heaven. And yes, I admit it, these ARE supposed to be Tikis.

That black one in your last post is real fine, what is he made out off and how tall is he? And is that a Witco or a Keigs20 behind the palm? (I like both)

Thanks again for taken my rant so calmly.

On 2004-01-21 18:00, johnnievelour wrote:
I went to the Long Beach Swap Meet over the weekend and I found this OMC Mr. Bali Hi mug. The funny thing about it is someone took the time to add the rope handle to the lid.

I think someone tried to turn him into a little tea pot. Looks just like the one I picked up two weeks ago (sans rope). The top on mine is a lot darker than the bottom. I wonder if that's the way it was designed or is the top & bot a mismatch. HMMMM. Still looks great on the shelf though, so who cares.

I just noticed, but Cool Manchu popped it like a shoeshine rag on that last batch...There's some tough-to-find pieces in there.

Aloha BK,

Yeah, I haven't even been collecting Tiki for a year yet and I am quickly approaching 100 different mugs. But if you consider the amount of time that I dedicate to finding this stuff (at least 3 to 8 hours a week) I guess it all adds up.

I was very happy with my current purchases and hope I didn't over pay for any of them. The most expensive (as noted previously) was the Aku Aku lidded mug for 40 bucks. I picked up the Islander Scorpion Bowl for 27 bucks and everything else was less than that.

I am still on the lookout for a Don the Beachcomber's Rum Barrel for you. Once I find another one I will let you know. :)

• Aloha

And is that a Witco or a Keigs20 behind the palm? (I like both)

Actually it's neither. I picked this tiki up in Myrtle Beach, SC last summer at a roadside stand. He's a little over 3 feet tall. I pasted a better pic of him below.

The black tiki above is 23 1/2 inches tall. Not sure about the type of wood but it is pretty light weight.

[ Edited by: Juno on 2004-01-22 14:05 ]

Great finds Juno!

And I humbly agree with Sven, those tikis are awful in appearance. But in an area where tikis are becoming more scarce by the day (Vintage and Antique dealers are to blame, not that i wouldn't buy from them.. i like finding them for a cheaper price) I persoanly pick up anything that's tiki. Since I started collecting, I have never turned down anything that I would consider tiki or tiki related.
Infact if I come across anything tiki that is either in abundance of or out of my price range I promise my Tx Brothers and Sisters (and fellow TC'ers) to post about it.
I'm not trying to start anything, just validating both of your claims. You see Juno, your response to Sven was very intellegent. No "f- yous" and such, alot of class.. That's why I like this board.

Oh what was I going to say... OH I got a great find. There is a little vintage market in the small town of Forreston (10 miles up the road from me) I bought me a Ratan Tiki bar for $225. It's still at the store because I was in the car, and last sunday was raining and tomarrow will be raining.
Soooo... be looking for the pics Sunday evening here in this thread.

-one man aspiring to be everyone’s favorite unkle.
http://www.unklejohn.com

[ Edited by: Unkle John on 2004-01-23 08:24 ]

Thanks Unkle John. Look forward to seeing the pics of your new bar!

Here's my week...not too bad... Three Orchids mugs, a Daga dockpost and anchor mug, some "tourist trash" :) tiki S&P's but in the original aloha package with cheesy fake orchid, a monkeypod tiki along the same lines, another Trader Vic's coconut mug, a neat aloha pineapple S&P set, another copy of Trader Vic's Pacific Island Cookbook, Two Kuai Beachboy Mai-Tai glasses, a Kon Tiki Hotel postcard, a neat grocery store card featuring a Witco Tiki Fountain! Seems like there was something else.... Oh, yeah-I also found these old things...he he...

good lord in heaven! you have the mana.
never have scores like that here in the valley. think my trip to the south next time will call for some thrift and flea market shopping.

On 2004-01-24 18:53, Basement Kahuna wrote:
a neat grocery store card featuring a Witco Tiki Fountain!

Wait a minute here! Got to talk to you about that! The Witco carvings are fine, but a vintage image of Witco in Situ is much more interesting for my book! What does the caption read? Can you make me a color 8x11 xerox of the card?

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki on 2004-01-24 22:32 ]

Wiked cool Coco Joe's bookends ($2.00). Fish trap (free), Black velvet Matador($10.00)
Mahalo,
Al

[ Edited by: Alnshely on 2004-01-25 01:03 ]

On 2004-01-24 22:30, bigbrotiki wrote:

On 2004-01-24 18:53, Basement Kahuna wrote:
a neat grocery store card featuring a Witco Tiki Fountain!

Wait a minute here! Got to talk to you about that! The Witco carvings are fine, but a vintage image of Witco in Situ is much more interesting for my book! What does the caption read? Can you make me a color 8x11 xerox of the card?

[ Edited by: bigbrotiki on 2004-01-24 22:32 ]

      Sure, Bigbro....I'll even let you borrow the card if you want so you can get a top-knotch scan for the book. I posted the caption on the card as well as a close-up scan on the "Classic Tiki Postcards" thread on Main Discussion. If that scan is okay then capture it and I'll scan the back for you as well.

BK I think you could rent yourself out like a divining rod for tiki! Travel around the world in the process you never know...

as promised my newest find:

damn cropping agent

-one man aspiring to be everyone’s favorite unkle.
http://www.unklejohn.com

[ Edited by: Unkle John on 2004-01-25 17:10 ]

BK, I was just going to post about finding nothing here in Georgia, and then I see your finds. I just need to get off my ass and search. Great stuff brother!

West Atlanta? You're in one of my happy hunting grounds! The antique malls are great there!

as promised my newest find

Nice score Unkle..hope you brought it inside before it rained.

:drink:

[ Edited by: Juno on 2004-01-25 20:07 ]

Sweet bar...I missed an all bamboo job like that last year for 150.00...by about ten minutes!

BK, I'm actually west of Atlanta.
I fixed my profile.The only antique markets I've been to were on the eastside of Atlanta (it has been a few years though ).
Thanks for your help.

Yeah I brought the bar home yesterday (sunday) it was sunny and nice :) but not for January :(
Anyways, I talked to the owners of the Bon Ton there in Forreston. they will keep their eyes peeled for any tiki items for us, they do have a CoCoJoes leaf "dish" with the sticker still on it (explaining the leaf but not what the bowl is for). I left it there for any other collector that may stumble apon the place. That and I have the dish.
I need to get more of my mugs and tiki finds shot so I can add them here.

here are 3 coco joes pieces I picked up today. All 3 are "coco joes made with Lava 64". Each one has the number on the bottom too. I paid seven bucks each, which is more than I like to spend, but the old Lava ones are becoming harder to find these days..we'll for me anyway.

Out of the 3 this one was the coolest to me.

Erich

[ Edited by: ErichTroudt on 2004-01-27 17:11 ]

Those are three scarce CoCoJoe's as well. I've never seen the Marquesan style one or the flat one in my travels. Nice score! Remember how we all thought these would be the next great sleeper? Check out the E-bay prices on them right now!

Here's a good esample BK - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3269747580&category=29460 Yikes, it's only a 5-incher too!

em.

Well while I was out doing a sign install, I took my lunch afterward. I stopped into a local junk store that my wife and I haunt. And for the puny price of $1 I picked up these two OH beautes....

then I looked at the bottoms to identify them...

Apparently some idiot drilled a small hole in one for water to drain out for a plant. Although it had no dirt in it, but residue (and a few dead bugs) from what ever it held. No dirt. The other, I thought possibly had a candle in it, but no wax or burn marks inside. The bottom of the left one appears to have been cut with a dremel tool. I say that because the cut edges are ground smooth and there is surprisingly no cracks.
I felt sorry for these two gals so i knew they would cut me a deal, and I brought them home, cleaned them up and placed them with the other mugs. Usable or not, they are still a catch for me seeing that it's a rarity I find them in this county.
I have found a few "Trader Vics" style coconut mugs, but where unmarked.

Who could have mutilated these poor gals, bastardos.

-one man aspiring to be everyone’s favorite unkle.
http://www.unklejohn.com

[ Edited by: Unkle John on 2004-01-28 21:38 ]