It was an ordinary day. Reading about a new bobblehead that will be out soon that features the likeness of President James Buchanan. For those reading this story that have no idea what a bobblehead might be, it is also known as a nodder or wobbler and is a type of collectible doll whose head is usually oversized compared to its body. Instead of a solid connection, its head is connected to the body by a spring or hook in such a way that a light tap will cause the head to bobble. I have several bobbleheads already, some that have been given to me by my brother who buys and sells items on eBay as well as swaps and trades with just about anyone for just about anything.
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| My Robert Fulton and Thaddeus Stevens bobbleheads |
My two latest bobblehead collectibles have been Robert Fulton and Thaddeus Stevens. Robert Fulton was born in Lancaster County and spent the early part of his life as an artist. He eventually went into engineering and invented numerous items; establishing the first successful steamboat being one of his greatest inventions. The other bobblehead of Thaddeus Stevens shows Stevens with his walking cane and his hand in his jacket. Stevens dreamed of a socially just world, where unearned privilege didn't exist. He knew the difference between people should not be feared or oppressed but celebrated. Lancaster, Pennsylvania is home to the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology and is a living monument to our founder's legacy. The college provides underprivileged individuals with opportunities and creates an environment in which individual differences are valued and nurtured. Mr. Stevens is the father of the 14th Amendment, the single most important amendment in the Constitution requiring equal treatment under the law. He also spearheaded the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. Stevens was the most powerful congressman during and after the Civil War and was the chief architect of Reconstruction. He was active in the Underground Railroad and the savior of public education in Pennsylvania for a speech he gave in 1835 that turned back a repeal effort of public education. I have written many stories about both bobblehead figures in the past and you can find them by typing their names in the white box at the top left of my blog. The new bobblehead of James Buchanan has already been made and is one of the 18 "Neglected Presidents" who've never had a traditional bobblehead made of them.
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| President James Buchanan bobblehead. |
Mr. Buchanan was the 15th President of the United States who was originally from Franklin County, but called Lancaster home. His longtime home, Wheatland, is now a museum at 1120 Marietta Ave. in Lancaster, PA. The new Presidential bobbleheads are eight inches tall and part of an individual numbered edition of 500. They sell for $30 with a few having already been "Sold Out"; but President Buchanan can still be purchased. One of the James Buchanan bobbleheads will be in the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum's Presidential Exhibit. I am searching right now for a bobblehead of professional golfer Jim Furyk. Haven't been able to find one yet, but perhaps I might find one soon. I had Jim when he was a high school student. When he was an early teen and not playing golf all the time, he was a good baseball player who was the catcher for my oldest son on a team in Lancaster County. Collectibles can be fun as well as interesting to collect, but I try and limit my collection to those that I can get for a good price or receive as gifts. That way I can also have other hobbies without breaking the bank. It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.
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