Tepees, #47H: Type 1
1940-1944
Frankoma produced the Tepee shakers very soon after the first fire. The plant was back in production by the summer of 1939. The royal blue pair shown here marked 1940 at the point of retail may have actually been made in 1939.
All of the shakers in this group share two undesireable mold features. First, the pole tips were frail and easily broken during production. This resulted in a variety of pole tips as workers repaired damage caused by mold removal. Then of course the tips were still easily broken during daily use.
Secondly, the shallow rounded depression on the base of the shakers did not allow enough room for corks. Even today those shakers still with corks often wobble on the cork rather than sit flat. The shallow bottom depression, however, allows for easy identification of the Type 1 Teepees on pieces where it is not otherwise obvious.
Most of the Type 1 tepees are marked with the impressed Frankoma with the oval “o.” This is unusual as for the most part Frankoma shakers are unmarked. You will also encounter shakers marked with a black ink mark. Two versions of this mark were used. “Made in Oklahoma, U.S.A.” is the most common. The mark "Made in Sapulpa, Oklahoma" is rare but authentic. The first time I saw it I though it to be a forgery! John Frank never marked his wares for export, but used these special marks on a very limited number of items during World War II, probably as a show of patriotism.