Some of Mr. FixIt’s Heirlooms

A friend of Mr. FixIt’s called him the other day, looking for a collectible and hoping he might have one. They worked together at an internationally known tool making plant. Every so often, the plant would create belt buckles or commemorative medallions and people would buy them along with the velvet lined cases to display them in. I tease my sweetheart and tell him he has in his possession everything he has ever owned, and a lot of what used to belong to someone else. This often comes in handy when we need something specific. And, on occasion, it leads us on an interesting treasure hunt.

After supper last night, Mr. FixIt came in with one of his treasure boxes and sat down to sort through. He knows I love those kinds of things so he set aside anything he thought I might be interested in and showed them to me. There were some amazing tintype photos of his ancestors. What incredible treasures these kinds of things are! I could see the family resemblance, even in the grandchildren. There was a small box among the photos and old Cross pen and pencil sets and in it was something interesting.

It looked all the world to be a gold Victorian hair pin, but it had a fine chain with a small clasp on the end to hook onto something. I puzzled over what this could possibly be when I realized…There is a world of information on the internet…just waiting to be found. I Googled “ladies hairpin with fine chain” and…voila…up popped the exact pin I was holding in my hand! The internet can be a marvelous tool. 

In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, there were spectacles called pince-nez (pronounced pas’nay), which is French for “pinch nose.” They didn’t have earpieces and were held on by gently pinching the bridge of the nose to hold them on. However, they often slipped off. These delicate chains served two purposes…they were fashionable and they kept the expensive prescription lenses from falling on hard surfaces and breaking. 

Teddy Roosevelt popularized the pince-nez and fashionable ladies and gentlemen followed suit. I shared this information with Mr. FixIt and he said he might have a pair in one of his boxes. He carried another in and sure enough…there they were! I have no idea if they belonged together. I went back and looked at the tintypes that were tucked away with these treasures, but I couldn’t find a woman wearing them.

Mr. FixIt’s Great Great Grandmother

I marvel at things like this. My ancestors were simple country folk. Their spectacles were gold wire with rimless glass lenses. They were lucky to have one pair that had to last till they literally couldn’t see before they bought new. I have found a couple of old tintypes of ancestors, but I have no idea who they were. I felt like I had a little glimpse into my husband’s ancestry…like peeking through a time machine to days of old…to espy those whose progeny would eventually create the man I know and love.

I’m a little bit of a treasure hunter myself. Our true treasures are not that which we gather here on earth. Those who owned these trinkets couldn’t take them where they were going. Heavenly treasures are the only ones you can keep. But trinkets and mementos are great fun to share and learn about your history. 

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“Don’t store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will always be where your treasure is.”

Matthew 6:19-21 CEV