  Krawlspace Member Username: Krawlspace Post Number: 262 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 69.246.59.170 |
I have been collecting Detroit memorabilia for about 15 years now, and during that time I have acquired several items I assume to be souvenirs from the MCD gift shop. What interests me is the fact that they all carry the identical image of the depot somewhere on them. Some of the items are useful like the paperweight or sewing kit and others are downright hokey like the ship's wheel or change purse. I also have found several variants of cups and saucers, with slightly different designs and one "bullet" pencil. I know there is also a thermometer, but I am not in possession of one. I am curious if anyone has any of these or similar items, or if anyone can shed any light as to their history. Binoculars  Bottle Openers  Glass "Beer Bottle" S&P Shakers  Plastic S&P Shakers  Glass Paperweight  Pocket Mirror (on reverse side)  Sewing Kit  Glass Ashtray  Pin Cushion  S&P Shakers with "Nautical" Themed Stand  Tape Measures  Glass Ashtrays   Glass & Plastic Ashtray  Change Purse (my personal favorite)  Letter Opener & Ruler  Small Plate  "Bullet" Pencils (top one has the repeated image)  Plates and a cup with slightly different designs   | ||
Dougw Member Username: Dougw Post Number: 1216 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 136.1.1.101 |
Cool! The only MCS souvenir we have is a lousy postcard. (although I think the postcard may be the same image as these items) | ||
E_hemingway Member Username: E_hemingway Post Number: 810 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 69.242.215.8 |
Cool picts. My great aunt, a lifelong city resident, just moved to a retirement home. We had to clean out her home, which was full of clutter dating back to the late 1940s. We're talking piles of reciepts from Hudson's, old cashed checks from banks that don't exist anymore. In the middle of all this stuff there were some real diamonds in the rough. My personal favorite is this letter opener, I dug out the bottom of an old box that probably hadn't touched in decades.  It's about the size of a thin rifle bullet. It's made of what I think is brass with an aluminum (?) crest wrapped around it. The inscription at the top of the crest reads:
It appears to be a scene of what Campus Martius once looked like. I think the old City Building is on the left with an old hotel (I can't remember the name of the one the 1001 Building replaced) on the right and Michigan Avenue running between them. I believe Woodward is running in front of them. It's easier to see this when holding it rather than showing it in photos, but I'll try.   If you press the button on the top, where the ring is attached, a small, dull blade pops out of the bottom.  My aunt didn't remember anything about it. Has anyone here ever seen a letter opener like this before, know who made it, any story behind it? It's one of my favorite knick knacks and I would love to know more about. | ||
Krawlspace Member Username: Krawlspace Post Number: 263 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 69.246.59.170 |
Ready for the irony, E_hemingway? Check this out:   As you can see it is the exact same image. Just came across the box on eBay today. Here is the link as I am sure you'd be interested. The building to the right of the Old City Hall is the Majestic Building, built for Mabley's Department Store, an early and fierce competitor of J.L Hudson. | ||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 4041 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 67.171.136.201 |
It is actually a Detroit Torah Pointer used on Shabbos. The reader and an assistant point while they read the weekly portion. The Bar Mitzvah bukkor has a part to read while his father points. The artifact could be 5,000 yrs. old. Hang on to it. We refer to it as MCS yet the items mostly say Michigan Central Depot. Why the change of name? jjaba, Westsider. (LOL) | ||
Burnsie Member Username: Burnsie Post Number: 501 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.242.39.114 |
The station never had an "official" name, literally, nothing ever set in stone. Railroad workers typically just called it "MC Depot." | ||
Rustic Member Username: Rustic Post Number: 2612 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 130.132.123.28 |
that campus martius stiletto kicks ass ... ime stilettos were popular with girls from Highland Park ... |
