A mandolin produced by Wilson Bros. Mfg. Co. in Chicago, Illinois. The mandolin is small, light brown and features eight steel strings. The body has minor damages, a worn tarnish and is missing the pick guard. Additionally, the face has a worn signature--"G. Rass"--possibly short for Gus (Constantine) Rassogianis who the mandolin was reportedly used by. He, reportedly, played it while on vacation at the family's vacation home in Michigan while their neighbor blayed the lyra.

Holder, Thread (2011.7.135)

This item is a string dispenser used for when wrapping chocolate boxes or any packages at the shop. It has a green base from which rises three arms. The fist two of these come to an equal height and hold between them a spool of string. The last arm rise up higher and has a notch to slip string into. At the bottom of this notch is a razor to cut the string. There are two holes on the bottom to attach to a countertop. In between the holes, there are instructions "For Best Service." The front is labelled with "Chicago Printed String Co." on a red plaque. There is a spool on the spool holder, also labelled with "Chicago Printed String Co." The inside of the spook is made of cardboard, whild the rims are metal.

Cover, Rolling Pin (2011.7.136)

A large, wooden rolling pin. The pin has the standard two handles and the rolling portion is ribbed. There is also a piece of cord tied to one of the handles. It was used to create equal, flat strips of candy.

Mortar (2011.7.166A)

Small wooden mortar from a mortar and pestle set. This is the bowl and it appears to be lighter than the pestel. The outside of the bowl is rougher than the inside and not as heavily stained. The natural grain of the wood is visible as are the nicks that are commonly present in this material. The inside of the mortar is darker in the very center due to use and staining of the wood. In one area there are also scratches in the wood, presumably from the pestle scraping directly against the surface. The bottom is completley flat and the entire thing is its natural color, without any staining or ingravings.

Pestle (2011.7.166B)

Small wooden pestle from a mortar and pestle set. The pestle has a rounded handle. It is worn and dirty, particularly around the handle and on the base used for grinding substances. There are many stains at various intervals, pretty much covering the whole object. The wood is a lighter wood, but it might have been the use that made it darker compared to what its original color would have been.

Plaque (2011.7.185)

This wooden plaque has two sides with an edging marking the front of the block. Mounted on the front is a one dollar bill with the identification number A54957770A. It has been adhered to the wood with a clear substance, or wood stain, so the bill is visible. There are remnants at the top of the bill of tape and they are a little rougher. The dollar itself is ripped at the top and bottom. The upper rip has a little piece missing so part of the word at the top is no longer legible. The bottom rip is directly across from the top one, right below the world "One." The dollar is closer to the wood color and the middle of the bill, surrounding Washington's head, is darker, almost a purple color. The wood itself is nicked in a couple of places on the front. There is a larger gauge in the upper right corner that appears right next to the bill. Another larger dent is on the bottom and extends into the dollar where the bottom piece is missing. There is a thrid dink on the right side just from use. On the back there is an inscription centered and carved into the wood. It reads "This is the first dollar taken in on the first day of business in opening the Alex's Sweet Shop 6823 W. Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn ILL on August 1928-" In the lower righthand corner it is signed "June 10, 1972, Gus Rassocianis." Around the edges of the wood are areas of stain that dripped and some blue substance on the left. Attached to the top middle is a metal fixture so the dollar can be hung.

Poster (2011.7.186)

This is an advertisement, mounted on a wooden plaque. The plaque has decorative ridges along the edge in a scalloped design. It appears to be finished with a stain. The edges have been sanded down so that they are smooth for the most part. In the scalloped edges themselves a faint texture of the grain of the wood is palpable. The advertisement on the front of the plaque is for a "Two-in-One Automatic Ice Cream Freezer." The paper itself is now a forest green color due to the stain adhering it to the wood as well as age. The finish on the paper mostly runs vertically but there are some splotches from air bubbles caught undersneath. The advertisement has "Two-in-One Automatic Ice Cream Freezer" printed largely, in bold, at the top of the poster with the "Two-In-One" being a larger font than the rest. Printed smaller underneath that is written, "(Patented) in U.S. and Canada. April 27, 1928 - September 23, 1930, Patent No. 1,776,451. Other Patents Pending." Right below that is a very small, circular decorative design in the center of the plaque and directly above the words "The First and The Original." This phrase is printed largely, in bold, in the center of the poster. On the bottom of the advertisement, the manufactoring information is provided, it was "Manufactured by Two-in-One Automatic Ice Crem Freezer Co. Geo Richards and A. Russ." Right below this is the address of Alex's Candy Shop, 6822 W. Roosevelt Road Berwyn, Illinois. On the back of the piece of wood there is a horizontally oriented inscription written by Gus Rassogianis on November 9, 1973. His name is carved into the lower right corner but the main area of the wood is inscribed at the center with, "This is the advertizing of an ice cream making machine invented and patented by Alex Rassogianis (Russ) and George Richards (Dritsas). In about 1935 - It is called Two in One because the gas used in circulating arround frezer in making the ice cream, was also used to cool brine which was used to keep ice cream in storage box - all the present ice cream freezers are following this invention - " (spelling errors intentional). The wood itself on the back has remnants of newspaper along the bottom edges and stain and glue along the right edge. There is a metal ring mounted on the left side of the inscription in the center of the wood so the piece can be hung on the wall and the front of the plaque would be vertical.

Plaque (2011.7.187)

This is a rectangular wooden plaque with a top of a candy box cover mounted on the front. The cover is a blueish hue because it was attached with a wood stain which changed its color. The top has a grid-like patterning in the background covering the whole thing. It also has a decorative, dark blue border made of squares, within other squares. Centered in the middle is written "Alex's Sweet Shop" in bold dark blue type, with "Homemade Candies and Delicious Ice Cream" printed slightly smaller in the same color and font directly below the first phrase. Along the bottom left corner, it reads,"Net weight two pounds," centered along the bottom is "Phone Berwyn 6782," and printed in the bottom right corner "6823 Roosvelt Rd Berwyn, ILL" is printed. The top iteslf has been ripped from the box so its edges are uneven. On the back, written in pen, centered horizantally is written "This is the top of the cover of candy boxes used by Alex's Sweet Shop on 6823 W. Roosevelt Rd Berwyn, ILL on the 1930's." Along the left edge of the wood "12-B" is written in pencil. There is no known meaning for the number. The wood is fairly clean, there are some green stains in various areas such as right below the main writing and in the right lower corner. Above the writing a circular metal hanger is attached with a bent nail to the center of the plaque. Along the top of the plaque there is a brass, circlular piece of metal attached which stands straight up into the air so the object can be hung.

Contract (2011.7.188)

This is the original lease for Alex's Candy Shop. The lease is framed in a dark-stained, wooden frame and is lined in an inner, red framing. The lease begins with "This Agreement," printed large, in bold, in the top left hand corner, with the rest of the lease a mixture of typed generic lease wording and written, specific information. Information on the Lease: Signed on May 1, 1906 between Joseph W. Filetz and John Rassogianis for the discussed property in Chicago, IL in Cook County. The lease exptends from May 1, 1906 to May 1, 1911 for the sum of $3,600 payable on the first of every month to the office of Joseph Filetz. At the bottom of the lease, in the right hand corner, both Joseph W. Filetz and John Rossogianis signed their name. On the back of the frame is a wire attached on both ends of the frame by two small rings, used for hanging purposes, in addition to a silver sticker in the bottom, right hand corner, that reads, "Carlson Paint & Art Stores Quality Printing."

Stick, Mixing (2011.7.194)

This is a small, short and largely unimpressionable stick that may have been used for mixing. It has no apparent details other than that on one end it has a small hole through which is looped a metal hanger and the other has been or worn to a dull point. The wood is a light color and has darker spots from dirt and wear.

Spoon (2011.7.195)

This is a large, flat wooden spoon. The entire object has been made from one solid piece of wood and seems well worn--as if it had been used a lot. The curves of the edges are asymmetrical as if this was made by hand. It is not readily apparent what this object was used for.

Scoop, Ice-cream (2011.7.198)

This ice cream scoop is made of metal and wood. The handle is the wooden part and is made of a smooth black wood with a ridge near the top of the wooden piece for an easier grip. There is a gold attachment that connects the wood to the rest of the scoop and it is perfectly round. The metal of the actual scoop part is silver and very smooth. There is some tarnish from being used, but it could still be used easily in the state it is in. The scoop's shape is somewhat rectangular and one of the sides is bent in a little. This is because of an indentation into the metal to label the makers of the scoop. This mark has words inside a small circle which say "Wagner MFG. Co. Sidney.O," with the "MFG Co" in a smaller font than the rest. This indentation is the only marking of decoration on the piece.

Paper Dispenser (2011.7.26)

A two-legged, black and red wax paper roll holder. The item has no determinable maker but does have "CMC" printed down the sides of its two legs.

Wax Paper Roll (2011.7.27)

A large roll of paper and the spindle upon which is rests. The paper is a light greenish color with a faint pattern. The spindle for the roll is polished wood and besides being slightly worn (from rolling in the metal dispenser) at its ends is in normal condition.

Paddle (2011.7.34)

A large, long wooden stirring padle. this item was used to mix and stir candies and popcorns during their cooks processes. Likely used with the large copper pot, this item gave the user a long enough reach to avoid the severe heat of the candies being prepared.

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