The Swizzle Stick Collectors *

* (restored)

 

‘The swizzle stick’s origin can be traced to its first appearance on sugar plantations in the West Indies in the 1600s as a small branch used to stir a refreshing rum elixir called “Switchel.” It seems we’ve never stopped using them. Queen Victoria was known to use a stirring rod to chase bubbles out of her Champagne, quietly avoiding any embarrassment from those pesky fizzy gasses.

‘The Gibson Girls and then flappers of the Roaring ’20s used swizzle sticks made of glass and newly invented Bakelite plastic. They were already a hot item when all they did was stir. But it was inventor Jay Sindler who, in 1934, revolutionized swizzle sticks with a brilliant advertising idea.

‘Two and a half months after the repeal of Prohibition, Sindler sat contemplating his martini at the bar in Boston’s Ritz Carlton Hotel, wondering how he could remove the olive without dipping his fingers into his gin. He sketched the solution to this problem on his cocktail napkin; it was a small spear made of wood with a paddle-shaped handle. The paddle would be used as a miniature billboard imprinted with the establishment’s name.

‘This idea would have been worthless during Prohibition when speak-easies hid from the law, but after repeal, drinking establishments wanted their names and addresses out in public. Swizzle sticks conveyed the information and were cheaper than a book of printed matches and cheaper still than the vanishing ashtrays that also boasted printed logos. Sindler was granted his patent on Feb. 19, 1935, and his invention and his company, Spir-it Inc., are still in business.

‘World War II and then the space race prompted growth in injection molding and plastic technologies that were good for the development of the swizzle. By the 1960s, we’d reached the golden age of the swizzle stick; any form was possible, fantasy designs were limited only by an artist’s imagination and a client’s request.

‘Swizzles became an important part of any lounge’s décor. They were snapped up as soon as they were set out, and the more exciting the design, the faster they were pocketed. As playful representations of their establishments, they became more whimsical and intricate — for example, sporting a lobster for a seafood restaurant or a steer for a steakhouse. Las Vegas casinos all competed to have the most extravagant swizzle in town.

‘Taking swizzles as a memento was assumed and encouraged. They were saved for years. They made customers feel like they were given a gift, and the cheap but magical memories on a stick beckoned them back to an establishment again and again. A Madison Avenue dream come true.

‘It wasn’t until the 1980s that swizzle sticks fell upon hard times. The rise of Jane Fonda workout videos and general health consciousness prompted a decline in cocktail consumption, bars and restaurants tightened their belts, and swizzle sticks practically disappeared. Remaining patrons were left with a flimsy red straw, hardly substantial enough to move the ice around their drink.’ — Los Angeles Times

400 swizzle sticks found in a dumpster.

 

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‘Swizzle sticks are miniature billboards and a very reasonable way to advertize, as 95% of swizzle sticks are taken home. They’re not as much in vogue as they used to be but they’re making a big comeback. Swizzle sticks are a very reasonably priced and easily acquired collectible. My own collection is in excess of 55,000 and is always growing. They can’t possibly be put on display but they’re all mounted on 11 x 14 inch cards (28 x 36.5 cm), and are not only in alphabetical order, but also indexed by color. I’d say I spend at least seven hours a day working on swizzle sticks. In 1985 the International Swizzle Stick Collectors Association (ISSCA) was born. Our first biennial convention was held in 1987 in Las Vegas. To date, we have had 12 such events. Our conventions bring together 30 or 40 members from ISSCA for three days of swizzle stick business including presentations, guest speakers and our huge swap fests. I publish our “Swizzle Stick News” newsletter and my wife arranges the convention planning. I’m extremely proud of what I have and what I have achieved.’ — Ray Hoare

 

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‘This is one of the many things I collect; I hope you enjoy my Suzanne’s Swizzle Sticks Page! You might want to post your trades on the Delphi Collecting Forum or join The International Swizzle Stick Collectors Association below. I went to there biannual convention and had a great time!!! Please feel free to send me swizzle sticks, or other collectibles: P.O. Box 865201, Tuscaloosa, AL 35486-0047. I will reimburse for postage costs. Here are some pictures of some of my best-looking sticks (the rest are sorted in boxes in the closet).’

 

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‘Welcome to Swizzle Sticks International! New to collecting or have tens of thousands? Either way, check out this site dedicated to collecting all sorts of swizzle sticks from around the world. Here are some samples from our collection.’

 

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‘Welcome to the Casino Swizzle Stick Page. Currently the Las Vegas swizzle sticks are being loaded. The guide will be updated on a regular basis as new scans are uploaded. This is a guide to view swizzle sticks, this is not a price guide but I do use a rarity factor to give some idea how difficult some of the swizzle sticks are to obtain. Currently there are 159 swizzle stick examples to view.’

 

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‘Welcome to Swizzle Sticks Collection, a site devoted to swizzle sticks. Generally made of plastic, glass, sometimes metal, swizzle sticks are part of objects which are collected from bars. Next to bottle openers, ashtrays, glass, swizzle sticks have attracted collectors since their creation. Swizzle sticks being very numerous and varied according to the different countries, exchanges remain the best way to increase a collection rapidly. This is why this site has a page showing duplicates. For a clearer view, the collection is classified by themes or per brand. As it is a big collection only part of it has been photographed, that is 3114 pictures altogether.’

 

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‘Welcome to SwizzleDD’s Swizzle Stick Collection! I collect many things, but swizzle sticks are my passion. For many years I have collected them, but really got serious about the hobby eleven years ago. In the past, I would keep one swizzle stick from a cocktail, but now all my friends and relatives collect as many as they can for me. I now have more than 50,000. Here are some of favorite stirrers.’

 

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Leftovers

Shaunessy Swizzle Stick Master Class

A Sculptural Swizzle Stick

Gin & tonic

LED Swizzle Sticks
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*

p.s. Hey. ** Laura, Wow, the poster, cool. I think with the advent of TikTok and YouTube, etc. to some extent as legit platforms for films and art and so on, that the short film form, if the maker accepts those platforms as their works’ only or main context, is currently in its prime. I don’t know, I just don’t feel dancing. It’s not natural for me, and I have no longing to give my body that outlet. One time at a Gang of Four gig in the early 80s, I lost control and pogoed all over the place, but that’s it as far as I remember. I’m more content to stand in place sway slightly. I think my 10 was, relatively speaking, not terribly traumatic. I live for rewriting. It’s all about getting to that stage for me. Nothing so interesting today. Script work, trying to set up RT screenings. I don’t think much of anything will intrude on that, but we’ll see. Your today? ** Charalampos, It is. I did not know that about ‘I Don’t Blame You’. Makes sense. Favorite Car Power songs? ‘Nude as the News’, ‘Cross Bones Style’, ‘Shaking Paper’. ** _Black_Acrylic, Wow, haha, I’ve never heard anyone here even mention Paris FC. I like underdogs, god knows, so I’ll inquire with my futbol friends pointedly. ** Bill, ‘Arrebato’ could have been in an earlier post, sure. Yesterday was Joy Williams’s birthday. How about that? ** DonW, It’s going to take some serious thinking and looking. But fuck knows I like a good blog challenge. I will check for Manchette, thanks. If Pavement play ‘Starlings in the Slipstream’ imitate my voice and yell ‘thank you’ towards the stage. Excellent Paris = coffee, you. ** HaRpEr //, He’s not widely known, so it’s not you. I always imagine an ideal reader, and they do exist, and they’re rare, as it maybe should be. Absolutely, the New York School poets were an unspeakably massive influence on me. I can’t imagine who I’d be if it weren’t for them. See, I knew nothing about Markiplier other than him originating on YouTube. Hm, lowered expectations then, but I’m still hungry. ** Steve, I still have no idea what ‘Iron Lung’ is going to be, which is surely half of the anticipation. Huh, I’ll look for the Claire Simon doc. Curious premise for sure. I don’t know if that dreaming thing is common, but it sure makes total sense. ** Uday, Inexperience can he highly intelligent. At least in your case. I’m pretty good at keeping my irritation to myself, but Bresson is an exception. Luck with the V-Day targeted guy. Oh, the Ukrainian woman. She got kicked out of her apartment because she didn’t pay rent for a long time. This was while I was away showing ‘RT’. Yury let her stay here for a few days, but apparently her schizophrenia was in full swing, and he had to tell her to leave. Social services found her some place to live temporarily for free out in suburbs, and she went there. I have no idea what’s happened to her since, but I suspect things aren’t so great. ** Right. And today I restored a really, really, really old post. But I like it. So there. See you tomorrow.