A rare and magical Art Deco Napier Tells-You-How cocktail shaker, circa 1930s. Truly a cool piece. Patented in 1935, this wonderful silver-plated cocktail shaker is a true classic. Shaker shaker is heavier in weight and consists of four pieces - the shaker body with 15 classic cocktail recipes engraved on it, an outer covering which turns to show the corresponding recipe, strainer top piece, and domed lid. Just dial it to your favorite cocktail recipe, and shake away! The cocktail recipes (listed in red font) are a Side Car, Tom Collins, Whisky Sour, Alexander, Bacardi, Between The Sheets, Bronx, Clover Club Dry Martini, Dubonnet, Gin Rickey, Manhattan, Old Fashioned, Orange Blossom and Palm Beach.
A quick bit of history on Napier: The Napier Company was named after its president, James H. Napier, who led the company from 1920 to 1960. But the company's history can be tracked back to 1875 when it was founded as Whitney and Rice in Attleboro, Mass., manufacturing silver products. The firm changed hands and name in 1882 and became Carpenter and Bliss and shortly thereafter, E.A. Bliss and Co., Inc. After rapid expansion in the late 1880s the company moved to Meriden, CT in 1890. After WWI, the firm shifted emphasis from silver products to production of modern jewelry. James Napier became president in 1920 and the company adopted the name Napier - Bliss Co. In 1922, the name was changed to Napier Company. Like many jewelry companies Napier got into lines of art objects and other utilitarian objects like cocktail shakers. In the early to mid 1930s they started producing several cocktail shakers (most notably this 'Tells-You-How" shaker (also referred to as "Dial-a-Drink" shaker) and other pieces of barware including their well-known graduated/stepped jigger and the mechanical/valve jigger.
Maker/year: Napier, 1935
Hallmarks: "Napier" / "US Patents Pending 2013618 2013616" / "Also Foreign Patents" is embossed on the bottom of the shaker
Condition: Very good vintage condition with signs of age/wear inline with a silver-plated piece that's 90 years old.
We're pretty Type A about summarizing the condition of our vintage pieces so here's a complete summary:
1) All pieces work perfectly (the cap/top fit snugly, the body spins to each recipe easily).
2) There are 3 tiny, superficial digs on the lid area (that are so small, as in the size of a pinhead) they were impossible to capture in a photo
3) The red lettering/font (of the recipes) has faded quite a bit. You can still see a red tone, but it's not a vibrant red.
4) There's a good amount of tarnish that may or may not polish away
5) The interior body of the shaker is clean, no rust or tarnish
6) There's one very tiny ding on the bottom/edge of the shaker (that isn't visible when the shaker is on a surface but can be seen when looking directly at the bottom of the shaker.
7) There's some tarnish in the lid/strainer area.
Again, we're a bit over the top when it comes to describing every detail our vintage pieces, but in short, this antique shaker is in good vintage condition with wear in line with a piece that's 90 years old. This shaker displays beautifully; truly a magical antique piece of barware. *Please note: this piece has not been polished as some buyers are very particular about "as is" condition.
**Please Note: we typically do not test our shakers for leakage. We offer a variety of vintage shakers (both usable as well as collectible/display only). We are happy to put our shaker through a thorough leakage test (which involves filling it with liquid and rigorously shaking it) -- please message us if you'd like us to test this particular shaker. Cheers!
Measurements: 11" tall
**On shipping: We take our packaging very seriously and carefully wrap all pieces to ensure safe delivery.
****Important to note pre-purchase: Buyers, please examine all photos carefully as we cannot accept returns due to the fragile nature (the possibility of breakage when being shipped back) of our vintage/antique pieces. Our items are true vintage pieces that might have manufacturers flaws, flaws from age, or imperfections in general from being vintage. We try to explain the condition/description in an accurate and thorough manner but we ask that you please examine all photos carefully and ask all questions before purchasing an item as we are unable to accept returns due to the risk of breakage.
A quick bit of history on Napier: The Napier Company was named after its president, James H. Napier, who led the company from 1920 to 1960. But the company's history can be tracked back to 1875 when it was founded as Whitney and Rice in Attleboro, Mass., manufacturing silver products. The firm changed hands and name in 1882 and became Carpenter and Bliss and shortly thereafter, E.A. Bliss and Co., Inc. After rapid expansion in the late 1880s the company moved to Meriden, CT in 1890. After WWI, the firm shifted emphasis from silver products to production of modern jewelry. James Napier became president in 1920 and the company adopted the name Napier - Bliss Co. In 1922, the name was changed to Napier Company. Like many jewelry companies Napier got into lines of art objects and other utilitarian objects like cocktail shakers. In the early to mid 1930s they started producing several cocktail shakers (most notably this 'Tells-You-How" shaker (also referred to as "Dial-a-Drink" shaker) and other pieces of barware including their well-known graduated/stepped jigger and the mechanical/valve jigger.
Maker/year: Napier, 1935
Hallmarks: "Napier" / "US Patents Pending 2013618 2013616" / "Also Foreign Patents" is embossed on the bottom of the shaker
Condition: Very good vintage condition with signs of age/wear inline with a silver-plated piece that's 90 years old.
We're pretty Type A about summarizing the condition of our vintage pieces so here's a complete summary:
1) All pieces work perfectly (the cap/top fit snugly, the body spins to each recipe easily).
2) There are 3 tiny, superficial digs on the lid area (that are so small, as in the size of a pinhead) they were impossible to capture in a photo
3) The red lettering/font (of the recipes) has faded quite a bit. You can still see a red tone, but it's not a vibrant red.
4) There's a good amount of tarnish that may or may not polish away
5) The interior body of the shaker is clean, no rust or tarnish
6) There's one very tiny ding on the bottom/edge of the shaker (that isn't visible when the shaker is on a surface but can be seen when looking directly at the bottom of the shaker.
7) There's some tarnish in the lid/strainer area.
Again, we're a bit over the top when it comes to describing every detail our vintage pieces, but in short, this antique shaker is in good vintage condition with wear in line with a piece that's 90 years old. This shaker displays beautifully; truly a magical antique piece of barware. *Please note: this piece has not been polished as some buyers are very particular about "as is" condition.
**Please Note: we typically do not test our shakers for leakage. We offer a variety of vintage shakers (both usable as well as collectible/display only). We are happy to put our shaker through a thorough leakage test (which involves filling it with liquid and rigorously shaking it) -- please message us if you'd like us to test this particular shaker. Cheers!
Measurements: 11" tall
**On shipping: We take our packaging very seriously and carefully wrap all pieces to ensure safe delivery.
****Important to note pre-purchase: Buyers, please examine all photos carefully as we cannot accept returns due to the fragile nature (the possibility of breakage when being shipped back) of our vintage/antique pieces. Our items are true vintage pieces that might have manufacturers flaws, flaws from age, or imperfections in general from being vintage. We try to explain the condition/description in an accurate and thorough manner but we ask that you please examine all photos carefully and ask all questions before purchasing an item as we are unable to accept returns due to the risk of breakage.