Umbrella

[hosman321]

Won this umbrella, trying to determine an approximate age. I have no idea if it could be 1920's or 1970's. Ideas? Afifi shriners have been in Tacoma since the late 1800's. Going to pick it up today or tomorrow.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rt=nc&nma=true&item=110634450533&si=cwgtvqOmS7zeG7E%252Febp7koPohzs%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT

[waywardangler]

The painted handle reminds me of the handles from carnival canes of the 1920s.  What does AFiFi stand for?  It was not explained in the listing, whic is odd.

[hosman321]

Here's some info wayward.
http://afifishrine.org/history/
I think the handle may be glass or something rather than painted. I'll see if I can get it today to find out.

[hosman321]

Picking up tomorrow at 5:00. Let ya know more tomorrow. I am hoping it could be from the 20's. I have been searching through the parade photos on the library website hoping to see something similar but no luck. Oh, maybe I'll try searching circus ones.

[hosman321]

My husband picked it up for me tonight, I really love it. The woman told him it belonged to a clown in a shriner's parade. The handle is painted wood, like wayward said. So, do you guys think it is from the 20's? Anything else I can take a picture of to determine age or not really? Thanks!

[waywardangler]

I believe it is from the 20s.  I would be surprised if you could not locate a photo with that umbrella being used in a Tacoma parade.  The AFIFI group should have some pics in their archives or photo books.  Maybe they have a historian?

[hosman321]

I'll send them an email. I also emailed the library archives a few days ago about that parade photo but I don't think it went through properly. It said an inquiry confirmation would be sent to my email but I never got it. But I didn't want to send another one and be pesky in case it did go through. So, I'll give it a few more days.

[hosman321]

Ok, I emailed the Shriners but I don't know if it went through either.
It said it will not send without all the information filled in. I didn't put my home address and when hit send, it just went back to the blank form. Sigh. I guess I'll just wait and see if it went through.

[talesofthesevenseas]

Where it requests your address just put "123 No Address" then "No City" and then select the state. The server will never know the difference and your form will go though.

[hosman321]

Worked.