I Found A Dummy....No Not Me!

[Bell-Two]

I went to a park this morning and found this piece of jewelry; it is a fur clip that was used to hold a ladies fur stole together. Fashioned as Charlie McCarthy the famous dummy of Edgar Bergen it was made in the late 1930’s and first advertised in Women’s Wear Daily in October 1937. It turns out that it is a collector’s item and imagine my surprise when I found this listing for it. Other listings are similar in value. The one I found is in excellent condition. The mouth still works on it.

Coro Late 1930's Charlie McCarthy Mechanical Figural Fur Clip Book Piece $224 USD (http://www.rubylane.com/ni/dialog/currency.html?amount=224&c=USD) SALE



http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/AddCh_zps9a9bbbb6.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/AddCh_zps9a9bbbb6.jpg.html)
Ventriloquist Edgar Bergen and his sidekick Charlie McCarthy were real superstars in the late 1930’s and 1940’s. This wonderful fur clip has a little lever that can be used to make Charlie McCarthy’s mouth move. Charlie is absolutely charming, from his top hat to his monocle!
Condition: Excellent, with a 1mm area of enamel wear on the upper edge of Charlie’s monocle. Both the mechanical lever and the fur clip mechanism work well.
Measurements: 1.25 by .75 inches (3.2 by 1.9 cm)
Marks: “Pat 2038343” and “MF’D UNDER EXCLUSIVE LICENSE FROM EDGAR BERGEN AND CHARLIE MCCARTHY INC.” The utility patent was issued to Gaston Candas in 1936. According to the Brunialtis (see below), Women’s Wear Daily of Oct. 29, 1937 carried an advertisement stating that the piece was produced by Cohn & Rosenberger (Coro).
Reference: “American Costume Jewelry: Art & Industry, 1935-1950”, Brunialti, page 94, where the clip is pictured along with the utility patent, the 1937 advertisement, and a photo of Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy.
This piece was advertised in the October 29, 1937 Women's Wear Daily. The showed a drawing of the clip, and the following text: "Charlie McCarthy, the dummy of the radio, enters the jewelry field in this amusing clip with a press clip which moves the lower lip and chin exactly in the fashion of the original."

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/CMac_zps1d5477d4.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/CMac_zps1d5477d4.jpg.html)

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/Cmac02_zps2aa0e54b.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/Cmac02_zps2aa0e54b.jpg.html)

[OxShoeDrew]

That is in GREAT shape. I wonder if someone lost it more recently? I know you won't sell it :)

[Digger Don]

That is an AWESOME find. It seems to be in really nice condition. Great Job.

[aloldstuff]

Great find, never saw one before. The value sure is amazing and I hope that it stays in your collection.

:congrats:on a fantastic find.

[The Rebel]

That's just awesome!

[Lodge Scent]

Never saw one of those dug before. Very cool !

[buck57]

Now that's one you won't see every day. Great find :thumbsup01:

[Timewarpdigger]

A truly unusual and interesting find. Thanks for all the info about it too. Safe & HH

[Bell-Two]

That is in GREAT shape. I wonder if someone lost it more recently? I know you won't sell it :)


Great find, never saw one before. The value sure is amazing and I hope that it stays in your collection.

:congrats:on a fantastic find.

No plans on selling it, I am still amazed by the things we can find in this hobby.This was found in a very old park and was about 5" deep I think the enamel on it kept it looking nice.

[HEAVYMETALNUT]

that is freakin awesome! i dug a charlie mcarthy spoon a few years back

[Bell-Two]

Here is a reference I found to this Charlie McCarthy fur clip, it is from a reference book on American Costume Jewelry.

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/CmacBook_zps25a97246.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/CmacBook_zps25a97246.jpg.html)

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t184/Tony_Mantia/Mobile%20Uploads/CmacBook01_zps080437a3.jpg (http://s160.photobucket.com/user/Tony_Mantia/media/Mobile%20Uploads/CmacBook01_zps080437a3.jpg.html)

[MangoAve]

I agree about the enamel keeping it in nice shape. I believe parks get fertilizers and week killers put on grass at times which leech into the ground. That's why on farm fields and parks the finds are more toasted. Why else would a copper in the ground for 200 years still have some detail yet a zincoln in the ground for less than 10 years literally has a big chunk gone. However, great find. And as u said, u never know what you will pull up.

[Tony Two-Cent]

Wow, that is an INCREDIBLE find, Tony! :notworthy:

I have never seen anything like it, and it's in such beautiful shape! I'm not surprised that it has some value. Character items from that era are really in demand.

Congrats on the unique find! :thumbsup02:

[coinnut]

Beautiful piece!!! It must be all that lead paint that we are not allowed to use anymore that made it survive :lol: Some of the Barclay soldiers have a similar paint on them.