James L. Dundas provides his readers with a sweeping survey of the shooting toys that gladdened the hearts of children from near the turn of the twentieth century to the 1990s. Concentrating heavily on the decades from the 1920s to the 1960s, over 420 color photographs display a dazzling array of BB guns, cap shooters, marble shooters, squirt guns, and more. Reminding us all of the long car rides and rainy days of our youth, when shooting was impossible, are a selection of colorful key chain puzzles that round out the presentation. Included in the text is a brief history of the Daisy BB Gun--complete with a Daisy BB gun chronology, instructions for determining whether a BB gun is functional or broken, and valuable advice for dating shooting toys with patent numbers, area codes, and zip codes. Price ranges are also provided for the toys shown.

Bridle rosettesfunctional objects that stabilized the bridle headstall, beautifully decorated and often imbued with family, political, or social symbolsare roadmaps of America, spanning the last 200 years and reminding us of the major contribution of the horse to the development of the country. Over 10,000 different varieties were produced between c. 1850 and 1930. In over 800 vivid color photos many of these varieties are shown. Chapters explore glass and metal rosettes and related hardware, composition rosettes, and rosettes representing various organizations, businesses (advertising), and the military. Two later chapters present information and photographs of rosette pins, and contemporary (post-1960) and recycled rosettes. Historians, horse enthusiasts, collectors, and dealers alike will all treasure this book.

Hanging, wall and standing lamps for domestic, store and outdoor use, from the 1920s and 1930s are featured. Long descriptions from period catalogs have pattern numbers and dimensions. Classic and Art Deco styles are included.