John Rodgers on fri 12 dec 03
I talked to Mike Stanelle not long ago and learned he had sold out. Left
the mold business altogether. He told me the last he knew of his mold
line was that the buyer had stored them in a barn, and there they sat.
The new owner of the master molds never put them back in production .
This was a sad story about the end of the Alaska Molds line. I used them
extensively in my shop in Alaska for 12 years, as did many other shops.
Most of the Mikes original molds were first produced by Charles (Chuck)
Anthony, an incredible and prolific Alaska artists. He created large
numbers of designs, made master molds and sold the molds to the many mom
and pop shops that existed back in the 60's, 70's. He produced 50
different mug designs that stayed in production for years. Of them all,
the Alaska Moose Mug was most famous. The mug by itself was popular.
Handsome it was, with a bull moose head done in relief on one side and
the bull moose in the woods on the other side. Then one day ...... and
heaven only knows who... it was just one of those things, some creative
soul in a mom and pop shop decided to put two coffee colored "Moose
Turd" ceramic facsimiles (the real thing is called moose nuggets in
Alaska) in the bottom of the mug and write on the front of the mug "
May your cup always be two turds full!!" It became the biggest seller
ever, for all the little Alaska Shops.
Chuck eventually sold out his mold line to Mike Stanelle, who hailed
from Colorado, and whose dad had been a mold maker there. Mike
maintained the mold production of Chucks designs for years in Alaska,
and sold to all the shops but eventually the market changed and he sold
out, going into the wind chime business and making it a real success.
For my shop, we bought many molds from Mikes mold line, plus a lot of
custom molds. He taught me a lot about the mold making business. And
that is how I got my start at mold making.
As for Salmon I never saw one in the Alaska Molds line. I think I saw
some once that came from a mold shop in Washington state, but other than
that I don't know where they came from.
If your friend would like to have a mold created, drop me a note
off-list. Would be glad to talk the particulars.
Regards,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
Anne K. Wellings wrote:
>A friend of mine who makes slab-built raku fish is looking for a
>slip-casting mold for a large, free-standing, 3-dimensional fish such as
>a salmon or other of that general shape. The end product should be around
>1.5- 2 feet in length and would sit on a tabletop. It needs to be simple
>and realistic, no frills or embellishments, and would ideally have a bit
>of a curve to the body. She will also consider similar molds for
>wall-hung pieces.
>
>She is aware of such a mold that was made by an outfit called Mike's
>Molds which has since been sold to another company which apparently no
>longer
>carries that product. So if anyone has such a mold that they no longer
>need, and would be willing to sell, or has a lead on such a product, my
>friend would greatly appreciate the information.
>
>Anne
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
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>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
>
Anne K. Wellings on fri 12 dec 03
A friend of mine who makes slab-built raku fish is looking for a
slip-casting mold for a large, free-standing, 3-dimensional fish such as
a salmon or other of that general shape. The end product should be around
1.5- 2 feet in length and would sit on a tabletop. It needs to be simple
and realistic, no frills or embellishments, and would ideally have a bit
of a curve to the body. She will also consider similar molds for
wall-hung pieces.
She is aware of such a mold that was made by an outfit called Mike's
Molds which has since been sold to another company which apparently no
longer
carries that product. So if anyone has such a mold that they no longer
need, and would be willing to sell, or has a lead on such a product, my
friend would greatly appreciate the information.
Anne
pdp1@EARTHLINK.NET on fri 12 dec 03
Hi Anne,
One could resort to one of those obnoxious "Take me to the
River" singing 'fish' (mounted on the 'Plack' to be hung on
a wall, and, as lean or tilt out to sing to you...) as are
( or were) sold in the more tasteless giftshops or other.
Seemed for a while everyone was getting them for
christmas...likely, a poll would turn up some from previous
years for which a new location would be welcome...
Phil
Las Vegas
----- Original Message -----
From: "Anne K. Wellings"
To:
Sent: Friday, December 12, 2003 10:50 AM
Subject: fish mold wanted
> A friend of mine who makes slab-built raku fish is looking
for a
> slip-casting mold for a large, free-standing,
3-dimensional fish such as
> a salmon or other of that general shape. The end product
should be around
> 1.5- 2 feet in length and would sit on a tabletop. It
needs to be simple
> and realistic, no frills or embellishments, and would
ideally have a bit
> of a curve to the body. She will also consider similar
molds for
> wall-hung pieces.
>
> She is aware of such a mold that was made by an outfit
called Mike's
> Molds which has since been sold to another company which
apparently no
> longer
> carries that product. So if anyone has such a mold that
they no longer
> need, and would be willing to sell, or has a lead on such
a product, my
> friend would greatly appreciate the information.
>
> Anne
>
>
____________________________________________________________
__________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached
at melpots@pclink.com.
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