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Old 08-16-2017, 06:18 AM   #1
xrundog
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Ashtray stands

I got interested in ashtray stands about 15 years ago. It took me a few tries to figure out the best technique and materials to use. But once I hit my stride, over the course of about 5 years or so, I think I made some ashtray stands look better than when they were new.
Stripping off a crappy repaint was usual. Often I was amazed to find perfectly good plated parts or even solid cast and polished bases.
There is virtually nothing out there about who made all these ashtray stands or how they were made. I've made some suppositions based primarily on style.
The earliest stands have a solid cast base. It may be cast iron or a polished brass type alloy. These have smaller (4 inch) ashtrays, but are always stylistically interesting. Later stands have a separate base weight screwed to the center shaft and covered by a stamped metal piece.
The metal and plating on the later versions of these get progressively thinner.
And some ashtray and smoking stands are chrome plated. No point in messing with those so I left them alone.

I'll start by posting one of the older ones. Probably late 19th century. This one has a solid brass or bronze bass that was polished. It was painted. I stripped it and used 0000 steel wool to bring back the shine. That works on all the shiny parts.
It has, or had, a smaller one of a kind fitted ashtray. Shortly after selling it I was contacted and told that the (probably) 100+ year old ashtray had been broken. Did I have another? I did not. And I looked for awhile and never saw another.

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Old 08-16-2017, 08:43 AM   #2
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I have one from the 50s that is a combination of end table, ashtray and floor lamp that belonged to my grandparents. Real space age design. I suspect that the ones you are working on are much more attractive.
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Old 08-16-2017, 09:27 AM   #3
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Sounds interesting Jason. I might buy something like that if I saw it in a thrift store. I like the 50s-60s aesthetic. The early Art Nouveau and Art Deco pieces are more ornate and interesting to look at. I did do a few wooden stands. One of them may have been a close cousin to what you describe. Here it is:

This is one of the few wooden stands I did. My guess is it's a late 40s-50s product. Has an Eames era look to it. I stripped the crappy factory spray varnish. It was in bad shape. The walnut didn't need any stain. I used the tung oil varnish. Nice simple design.

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Old 08-16-2017, 06:45 PM   #4
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Anhhhh here's what I like . Quality workmanship for sure!
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Old 08-17-2017, 04:55 AM   #5
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Here's an example of the stamped metal over a cast weight base. Maybe a 1920s stand. The ashtray is the larger 8 inch version. This type is really my favorite. My Grandfather had a similar one.

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Old 08-17-2017, 09:21 AM   #6
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I have one like that with a ram (I think) running with the horns pulled back as a handle. Got it at a local antiques dealer
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Old 08-19-2017, 11:40 AM   #7
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Here's a picture. It's not fancy. It's the sort of ashtray that would have been common in offices and public places in the 80s.


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Old 08-19-2017, 12:21 PM   #8
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Looks like it could have been made in the 50s or 60. Very sparse in design. Utilitarian and very modern. Fits the ambience of the room you have it in. Nice piece!
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Old 08-19-2017, 07:45 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xrundog View Post
Looks like it could have been made in the 50s or 60. Very sparse in design. Utilitarian and very modern. Fits the ambience of the room you have it in. Nice piece!
I don't know much about it. My Dad bought it for next to nothing. I'm sure they were quite common at one time in offices and other such environments. But the ashtray is designed to hold cigars.
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Old 08-20-2017, 04:47 AM   #10
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As late as the 70s when people still smoked in buildings, it was more common to see cigarette floor ashtrays. I'm thinking of the ones with the button to open a trap door and dump your ashes and butt into the can. Frequently the innards would catch fire and create a pain in the ass for someone.
And the big cylinder floor ashtrays were pretty common as well.
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