Dress to the 9's: Tincan Mailman By Grace Lee HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Transplanted from Kauai, the vintage Hawaiiana store Tincan Mailman has moved to downtown Honolulu. Kathryn Drury Wagner, the executive editor for Honolulu Magazine discovered the store for Dressed to the 9's. The store is filled with rare, old books, hand painted guitars and one-of-a-kind ceramics. They have been lovingly restored and saved by owner Chris Oswalt. One of The store opened in 1941 and was renown for its fine hand carved pieces. After the owner shut its doors in 1999, a cult following developed for the pieces, according to Oswalt. What drew Kathryn, were the Bakelite bangles. Far superior to the cheap intricate designs. With cool names like butterscotch, pea green and applesauce, they are appealing to the girlie girl. They're also fairly light to wear and perfect for those who may be allergic to metal. Manager Raul Sanchez showed us the vintage aloha shirts for men. The oldest are from the 1940's. Most are in near perfect condition. These are prints that you don't see in the stores today. Super vibrant and unique, Sanchez said they look for the aloha shirts that may have been worn by a tourist once, before being discarded when he returned home. They are mostly larger sizes. Tincan Mailman is also a great source for ephemera which is pretty much any kind of old paper. That includes old postcards, print ads, and pin-up girls. They come in all sizes and designs. They're great to frame in order to add some flare to a home or office. You can find the store at 1026 Nuuanu Avenue in downtown Honolulu. |
| Aloha Antiquing Join Country Living on a visit to Honolulu and the annual Hawaii All-Collectors Show. By Monica Michael Willis What Is It Worth? Vintage Hawaiian souvenir dolls generally fetch between $75 and $300. Although the Hawaii All-Collectors Show offers one of the largest collections of Hawaiiana under one roof, there are plenty of fun non-island offerings, including a round smiley-face carry-on, embroidered tea towels, and a black sequined swing coat for just $30! If your dream getaway involves warm weather, tropical beaches, and a few days of exceptional antiquing -- no passport required -- pencil in July 18 and 19 and make plans to visit Honolulu, site of the 18th annual Hawaii All-Collectors Show. The event, which features more than 180 dealers offering everything from mid-century koa furniture and appliqué quilts to vintage resort wear and tourist souvenirs from the 1950s and '60s, pulses with aloha spirit as well as out-of-the-ordinary Hawaiian antiques and collectibles -- many of which don't often make it to the mainland. Ming's Jewelry, a prized collectible in Hawaii, was sold exclusively at Ming's Jewelry in Honolulu from the 1940s to 1999. Carved ivory pins, bracelets, and necklaces number among the most-sought-after pieces today (Jewelry courtesy of Tin Can Mailman). Pristine vintage Hawaiian ephemera was for sale at the Tin Can Mailman booth. |
By Coco Zickos - The Garden Island Published: Saturday, April 4, 2009 7:32 PM HST Walking into the Tin Can Mailman in Wailua or Collectibles & Fine Junque in Waimea can make one feel as if time has been standing still. Antique, authentic products, with a slice of history locked away inside each item, fill every nook and cranny. As corporations continue to entice customers with inexpensive, mass- produced items from overseas that people crave during hard economic times, it is apparent that vintage Hawaiiana and unique collectibles are becoming a fading commodity. “At this time in Hawai‘i, it’s really important that people buy local to keep the small businesses alive,” said Christopher Oswalt of Tin Can Mailman. “In Hawai‘i, especially Kaua‘i, a lot of things are outsourced, and we’re not really a self-sustaining island anymore.” He hopes that more individuals will re- consider shopping for unique products at local businesses like his or Collectibles & Fine Junque, rather than purchasing merchandise at larger stores, where profits are typically sent to corporate headquarters instead of filtering back into the community. “Chances are, if you buy a piece of jewelry here, you’re not going to find another one like it,” said Raul Sanchez, the “jack-of-all-trades” for Tin Can Mailman. Sanchez especially touts the store’s Hawaiiana collection, which includes rare, out-of-print books and hard to find items that were created on the islands long before airlines even had a chance to make their presence. “We try to emphasize the history of Hawai‘i, the history of the people, the monarchy, as well as the landscape before it got so commercialized,” said Oswalt. “The out-of-print books, vintage postcards, it’s all a glimpse back into time.” To “help stay afloat,” Tin Can Mailman is also tempting customers affected by the recession into its store by presenting an assortment of discounted products. For more information on Tin Can Mailman call 822-3009 or visit www. tincanmailman.net • Coco Zickos, business writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com |
| Friday, October 23, 2009 Calling all Hawaiiana Collectors by Kathryn Drury Wagner Courtesy of Tin Can Mailman Tin Can Mailman, a beloved collectibles and antiques store on Kauai, is pulling up stakes and relocating to Oahu. The new store, slated to open November 6, will be at 1026 Nuuanu Ave., in the space that previously held Bonnie’s Closet. Tin Can Mailman specializes in vintage Hawaiiana paper, such as sheet music, ads from 1920s, ’30s and ’40s, pineapple labels, postcards and movie posters. “I have a lot of clients on Oahu already,” notes co-owner Christopher Oswalt. I’m excited about the store’s large selection of vintage jewelry, including Bakelite and Ming’s, as well as the tiki collectibles. If you’re interested in vintage aloha shirts from the 1940s to 1970s, you’ ll find them as well. Prices at Tin Can Mailman run from as little as $10 to $2,500. One note for previous fans of the store: Oswalt says he plans to no longer carry old books in general, only books that deal with the Pacific and Hawaii, particularly rare ones. Store hours will be 10 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and “will be a bit hit-and-miss the first few weeks,” says Oswalt. He expects to have new inventory arrive every week. |
| From Star-Bulletin News: Business Briefs POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 03, 2009 Kauai art dealer to move to Oahu Tin Can Mailman, a Hawaiiana arts dealer, is moving to the Chinatown arts district in Honolulu. The boutique, which has been on Kauai for 17 years, will occupy the former Bonnie's Closet site at 1026 Nuuanu Ave. in time for the next First Friday celebration. Besides artifacts from the era of Cook to the territorial period, Tin Can Mailman offers furniture, decor, vintage souvenirs and a library of new, used and rare books on Hawaii and the Pacific islands. |
| City Wise In Chinatown Good news for vintage shoppers Emily Hobelmann Dec 23, 2009 | Bookmark and Share TIN CAN MAILMAN Image: Emily Hobelmann TIN CAN MAILMAN / A recent addition to Chinatown’s collection of locally owned small businesses is Tin Can Mailman, a smallish shop on Nuuanu Avenue. The store, which houses a gold mine of classic Hawaiiana, is a recent transplant from the sleepy town of Kapaa on Kauai. Part-owner Christopher Oswalt ran the Kauai location for about nine years before making the big move to Honolulu. About a month ago, the team brought the operation here, shedding what was once a focus on used book offerings in order to concentrate on selling an impressive collection of jewelry, art, vintage clothing, first-edition autographed or otherwise rare collectible books and a number of other items. A big proponent of locally run businesses, Oswalt champions a sort of pay-it-forward attitude. “All your little stores,” he says. “Everyone needs to be shopping them right now.” Oswalt seems overjoyed to have relocated to Honolulu, and cites an appreciation for the shift he’ s seen in customer demographic from tourist-centric to mainly local residents. As customers wander through the small space, many have the same awe-struck reactions about the merchandise. One woman, a return shopper, enthusiastically points out some of her favorite items in the back room. Two keen younger ladies asked eagerly about plateware, jewelry and even potential employment, while an older gentleman marveled at the vintage book selection. Oswalt hunts his merchandise down from a variety of locations–he says much of it comes from the mainland, including most of his well-preserved Hawaiiana. Indeed, one of the store’s crown jewels is the impressive collection of Hawaii-related ephemera including old ads, calendars, brochures, stationary and sheet music. The shop keeper has obviously put some work into his way of purveying. Giving gifts from local stores is like gifting twice–to the gift receiver and to the community itself. And if you’re aiming for uniqueness and quality, Tin Can Mailman has options a’plenty. Tin Can Mailman, 1026 Nuuanu Ave., Mon–Fri 11am–5pm, Sat 11am–4pm, closed Sun, [www. tincanmailman.net], 524-3009 |
| In Honolulu, Chinatown’s Revival Christopher Oswalt, left, and Raul Sanchez at Tin Can Mailman. Marco Garcia for The New York Times By BONNIE TSUI Published: February 14, 2010 HONOLULU’S Chinatown is livelier than ever, thanks to the street cred that has come along with the neighborhood’s latest reinvention as an arts hub and a gritty, up-and-coming place to shop and eat. A handful of older shops have closed their doors in the last year, but a spate of cafes, boutiques and bakeries have sprung up in the last few months to take their place. Close to the waterfront is Tin Can Mailman (1026 Nuuanu Avenue; 808-524-3009; tincanmailman.net), which Christopher Oswalt opened in November when he relocated from Kauai to Oahu. The shop sells vintage Hawaiiana, including a many- hued collection of midcentury Bakelite bracelets, delicate antique ivory jewelry and rare Hawaiian books and prints. “They’re definitely trying to gear Chinatown to be like New York’s SoHo — the hipster and trendy vibe is growing,” Mr. Oswalt said, referring both to locals and city developers. He was recently found selling kitschy postcards, a picture book called “Hawaiian Mother Goose: The Nonsense Rhymes of Tutu Nene” ($20), and delicate prints of fish from a 1903 government survey ($85). (continue reading...) |
| Tin Can Mailman collectibles store at the Kinipopo Village Shopping Center in Wailua. Photo by Coco Zickos/The Garden Island |
Raul Sanchez (left) and Christopher Oswalt, moved Oswalt's store, Tin Can Mailman, from Kauai to Honolulu. Photo: Rae Huo Editors' Pick Vintage Hawaiiana store Tin Can Mailman made Oahu collectors smile when it relocated here from Kauai last November. Run by Christopher Oswalt and Raul Sanchez, the new location on Nuuanu Avenue has been carefully composed as an homage to the tightly packed general stores of yesteryear. Tin Can Mailman is known for the quality and selection of its ephemera, such as old menus, sheet music, calendars, postcards and pinups. You can also browse vintage books about Hawaii and the Pacific, shop for aloha shirts and find the perfect 1950s lamp or 1960s cocktail shaker set. And don’ t miss the Lucite, Bakelite and ivory jewelry. 1026 Nuuanu Ave., 524-3009, tincanmailman.net. |
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