Tuesday, December 2, 2008

AUNT JEMIMA & UNCLE MOSE KITCHEN SET

Aunt Jemima and Uncle Mose Kitchen Set Aunt Jemima & Uncle Mose Kitchen Set


Q: When I was a child, we had a set of Aunt Jemima and Uncle Mose plastic salt and pepper shakers in our china closet. I have no idea what happened to them, but I found a set a few years ago and the rest is history. I now have two sizes of salt and pepper shakers, a 6-piece spice set, a syrup pitcher, and a sugar and creamer. What is the history of Aunt Jemima and Uncle Mose? What other pieces were made by the F & F Mold & Die Works?


A: Aunt Jemima and Uncle Mose shakers and other items were Quaker Oats premiums made by the F & F Mold & Die Works of Dayton, Ohio, in the late 1940s, but the characters have a long history. Aunt Jemima pancake mix was first made in 1889 by Pearl Milling Company. It was the first pancake mix. The name "Aunt Jemima" was based on a song performed in vaudeville. Pearl Milling Company was sold to R.T. Davis Mill and Manufacturing Company in 1890 and Nancy Green, a former slave, was hired to represent Aunt Jemima. The company name became the Aunt Jemima Mills Company in 1914. Quaker Oats bought the company in 1926. Uncle Mose is a character based on the song "Old Man Mose" written by Louis Armstrong and Zilner Randolph in 1935. You are missing the Aunt Jemima cookie jar. Your 13-piece set retails for about $250. Beware many reproductions have been made.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Didn't they also have a recipe box? Are these plastic?

Anonymous said...

My Grannie had a Aunt Jermima that held note paper It had a hole or something at tha back so it could attach to the wall. this was in the 1950 that i remember it but she could have had it for longer than that.
Judy

Anonymous said...

I have 37 different ones, all are repros. Some are ceramic, some cast iron and some plastic. The antique ones are out of my reach but someday won't all mine be worth a nice sum?

Anonymous said...

I have an Aunt Jermima cookie jar that I would like to sell. It has a small hairline crack on the back of the top. How much is it worth?

dingy said...

Two weeks ago a compleat set of this Aunt Jemima and uncle Mose kitchen set went up on Ebay with a reserve. The bids went as high as $650 but went unsold as the reserve was not met.
Sandy

Anonymous said...

I have 'Dancin Mistah Sunshine'. He is from the post civil war period. He has a ceramic head. And he still has his label. He's a wind up toy and he still dances. I think he's the only one in the world. He's in fine condition. Has anyone ever heard of 'Dancin Mistah Sunshine'? He's about 10 inches tall. Given to me by my g'grandfather. I've always loved him.

Anonymous said...

I have the plastic Aunt Jemima cookie jar by F & F, what is it current worth? Thank you,

Anonymous said...

I collect these pieces as well..unfortunately only one at a time, as that's all I've been able to locate. You mention the fact that many reproductions have been made, which doesn't surprise me. Anything in particular a potential buyer might look for to spot a fake?
Debbie

Anonymous said...

YES on the recipe box! I own one that I would love to sell! It is yellow plastic with Aunt Jermina's
face on the front. Same maker too!

Anonymous said...

My husband & I have the complete collection including the cookie jar. Although many "mammy" items are out there the plastic recipe box was made by Fosta & was not made by F&F Mold & Die Works nor are the plastic "mammy" note holders. There were other premiums given away by Aunt Jemima Mills with your box tops & cash. We have original coupons & premium catalog. We also find that the reproductions are not marked F&F & are of poor quality & the cream & sugar are marked Aunt Marthas reproductions which makes it easy. We love our collection & get many comments. The plastic cookie jars are very fragile & hard to find without damage. -Debby Locke

Anonymous said...

They also made a spice rack, it's copper was an Aunt Jemima and was not made by F&F. It has a old river boat picture on the back. You can find them on Ebay but not very much, you may have to pay up to $200 for one in mint condition.

Bootsie said...

That set is worth a lot more than $250. I've seen the spice set alone, whose condition wasn't as good, and the asking price was $550,

Anonymous said...

I bought an old small,plastic salt and pepper set 3 yrs ago from a store that was selling real old stuff - he said they when these sets were made, they only made so many and stopped because at that time not many people would buy these - I bought them for my mom because she loves salt & pepper sets and doesn't have one like this and she has many - alot of the paint is wore off but there are no chips or cracks - but they look like glass I'm not sure -I can't seem to find them online anywhere - does anyone know anything about these?