sunguar Report post Posted July 11, 2018 I should preface this by saying I'm not a big World's Fair collector. Some people get pleasure out of collecting napkins, coasters, and paper bags, but as they say, "that's really not my bag". And some can argue what was intended as disposable really isn't a collectable. And I don't have room for a white trash bucket. That being said I thought I'd head out to the Brimfield Flea Market (which is huge) today to see what the day would bring. After poking around in the goods of the first ten or so vendors, something caught my eye. Something large that had rings. After moving a few boxes and things around to get a better view, I said to the vendor, "So, how much you want for the globe?" (Notice I said globe) "Twenty bucks, but I'll sell it for fifteen" "Would you do ten?" "I think it's from the World's Fair. Twelve, and it's yours" "Which World's Fair?", I asked, knowing exactly which one it was. "I think it was 1964, twelve and it's yours" "Okay, you have a deal" And with that I brought home my latest coffee table or dining room table piece. BTW, I should have posted before I left that anyone who has anything they wish to have me look for, let me know. I saw a lot of '39 World's Fair stuff, and some Expo '67 stuff. In fact, I offered a guy $5 for a Expo '67 keychain, but he wouldn't budge at $10. If I got it for 5, I was going to post it here for whoever wanted it as long as they paid for shipping. (I have no idea what shipping costs today) So, any guesses what I brought home?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MacDaddyRico Report post Posted July 11, 2018 (edited) We know it's a Unisphere... Is this 20 Questions..? 1) Is it made of metal..? 2) Is it a bank..? 3) Is it a foot tall or taller..? 4) Is it marked appropriately (USS STEEL, etc)..? 5) Will you post a picture soon..? Edited July 11, 2018 by MacDaddyRico Add question Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunguar Report post Posted July 12, 2018 Correct, it is a Unisphere, and in the spirit of those great old shows--To Tell the Truth and What's My Line: 1) Yes 2) No 3) Yes 4) Not that I could find 5) Yes, I've just got to clean it up a bit To be continued...…………….. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunguar Report post Posted July 22, 2018 Okay. I probably gave this more TLC than the manufacturer of it ever intended. But after a good cleaning and a little polish, here it is: It actually comes apart into 4 pieces, and the globe rotates independently of the rings and the rings rotate independently of the globe. Any idea of its worth? I may keep it or sell it depending on value, but I think it looks good on the dining room table. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waynebretl Report post Posted July 22, 2018 Interesting! No continents - I wonder if it had some paper advertising material associated with it at one time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunguar Report post Posted July 26, 2018 Thought I take a bit of a break from the films and get back to this. On 7/22/2018 at 5:43 PM, waynebretl said: Interesting! No continents - I wonder if it had some paper advertising material associated with it at one time. As you see it, is how I found it (pre-cleaning). This is pretty big for a souvenir sold at the Fair. I imagine it must have come in some kind of a box. Where else could you buy a brass Unisphere? Does anyone know where this was sold at the Fair? And has anyone spotted this in the souvenir stands? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waynebretl Report post Posted July 26, 2018 My guess is that it is not a souvenir, but part of an advertising display for the Fair provided to travel agencies. That's why I asked if it had any graphic material associated with it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Cotter Report post Posted July 27, 2018 That's a new one on me. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Report post Posted July 27, 2018 I'm not sure I would have even thought of the world's fair if I had found that thing. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Craig Bavaro Report post Posted July 28, 2018 I've seen one before, I think maybe on eBay. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunguar Report post Posted July 30, 2018 On 7/26/2018 at 4:07 PM, waynebretl said: My guess is that it is not a souvenir, but part of an advertising display for the Fair provided to travel agencies. That's why I asked if it had any graphic material associated with it. Interesting. On 7/27/2018 at 12:19 AM, Jim said: I'm not sure I would have even thought of the world's fair if I had found that thing. But as Jim stated above, if people didn't recognize it as having to do with the World's Fair, what's the point? I'd still like to find out where it was given out or sold. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Craig Bavaro Report post Posted August 1, 2018 I knew I had seen this somewhere recently! It was on the Facebook group titled "The New York World's Fair (1964/1965)" from a post by Dorothy Condon on 5/16/18. Dorothy posted that it's called a "Salute to the World's Fair Flower Arrangement" according to the box. Her post has three photos of this same piece. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
waynebretl Report post Posted August 1, 2018 Ten pics from ebay cached here: https://picclick.ca/1964-Worlds-Fair-New-York-Unisphere-Model-Award-153008636039.html Wow - without any indication of continents, I never would have guessed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunguar Report post Posted August 1, 2018 16 hours ago, Craig Bavaro said: I knew I had seen this somewhere recently! It was on the Facebook group titled "The New York World's Fair (1964/1965)" from a post by Dorothy Condon on 5/16/18. Dorothy posted that it's called a "Salute to the World's Fair Flower Arrangement" according to the box. Her post has three photos of this same piece. Wow. At least that explains what it is. I found the posts, and there is no indication of where it was found. 15 hours ago, waynebretl said: Ten pics from ebay cached here: https://picclick.ca/1964-Worlds-Fair-New-York-Unisphere-Model-Award-153008636039.html Wow - without any indication of continents, I never would have guessed. Interesting. The only way I identified it was by the three rings. What catches me is this quote: " made by United Statez Steel." Well, I doubt that. It's made of brass. and quote: " these were sent as an awards to florists that were doing arrangements for the fair,I've heard about them but have never seen one," If this is true, who did the judging, and from where? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
speedwell Report post Posted August 2, 2018 If I remember correctly, FTD was at the 1939 fair, but not the 1964 fair. Did FTD have an agreement with the 1964 corporation to be the "official florist" and sell NYWF themed arrangements (possibly orange an blue flowers in a Unisphere-shaped wireframe stuffed with florist's moss?) I could then see this being an award for florists that sold at least some number of those arrangements. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunguar Report post Posted September 11 Well, I returned to the Brimfield Flea Market again this year, returning with my usual cache of 1964-1965 World's Fair goodies. What was surprising was the amount of 1939 World's Fair memorabilia. At one stand, a woman had a stack of 1939 World's Fair stuff, which had to be about 6 inches thick. It consisted of a Guidebook, official photographs, official Pavilion brochures, schedules, maps, etc. It was a load of stuff, but I was looking for 64 stuff. But about 30 feet away, at a crossway was a fellow selling another 39 item. There was no big lettering saying "World's Fair" but it was the Trylon and Perisphere that caught my eye. He was selling portfolios titled "World's Fair Art" or something similarly titled. Each consisted of 12 (I believe) reproductions of art that was displayed at the Fair. He had one portfolio and had the twelve pictures prominently framed and displayed. He was selling them individually or as a set (he had three sets, including the one framed). So far he had only sold 1 picture. But one item I did purchase led me to believe it was something else. I immediately recognized the slogan (who wouldn't?). We all know about this pin: So when I saw this pin with others in an estate sale find, I was sure it was a different version of the 64 one. Only when I got home and looked at the back, I found a paper tag. Only then did I realize it was from a different Fair. I knew there was a "Futurama" in '39 and a "Futurama II" in '64 but-- I never knew that General Motors had "repurposed" the slogan from the 1939-1940 Fair. However, now they make an interesting pair. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jim Report post Posted September 12 I still have my GM Futurama tag from 1965. I haven't found a 1939 Futurama pin, however. It would appear GM made a better souvenir item in 1939. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bill Cotter Report post Posted September 13 Yes, the 1939 and 1940 buttons were nicer, but even still, I imagine GM spent a fortune on all of those metal tabs for 1964-65. I have a pile of them! Nice find!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ragaje Report post Posted September 13 Since it was called "Salute to the World's Fair Flower Arrangement" maybe a florist could arrange flowers in it some way??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sunguar Report post Posted September 14 On 9/13/2019 at 9:19 AM, Ragaje said: Since it was called "Salute to the World's Fair Flower Arrangement" maybe a florist could arrange flowers in it some way??? I never seen pictures of this Unisphere (with or without flowers) in any pictures of the Fair. Coincidence of the Day (regarding the pin): There was a author on C-SPAN today giving a lecture on the history of the automobile. He touched on the 1939-40 Fair, and on the GM exhibit, saying they gave out these pins (showing an example) and then stated, "I want one of those pins!" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
