The Goebel King's Column produced for The World Collectors Net
by Matt a.k.a. "The Goebel King"
We
all know Friar Tuck, the roly-poly monk who kept Robin Hood and his
Merry Men on the straight and narrow especially in keeping their drinking
to a minimum.. Goebel issued a series of approximately 125 different
items forever immortalizing the good Friar Tuck. Other than their Hummel
series, this was perhaps goebel’s most popular and most successful line.
The
line was introduced in the early 50’s and most of the items showed the
good friar wearing sandals. These are called "with toes". About five
years later, some efficiency expert realized goebel could save time
and money by painting the feet all black and they are called "with shoes".
The line was discontinued in the early 80’s when goebel realized they
had been using leaded paint in the brown. Some of the line was introduced
in the mid 80’s with black collars, that is, a black paint where food
or drink might touch. The faces also had a very shiny finish. Like almost
all the goebel items, the line was discontinued in 1988.
Picture
#01 (top right) shows condiment sets featuring
the toes and shoes variations. The sale is P153/1, the pepper P153/0,
the mustard S 183 and an M 42D tray. Picture #02 (above
left) shows the "black collar" mustard and note how much fatter
he is than the older models. The "shiny" salt and pepper sometimes came
in a white basket. As seen in picture #03 (right),
the salt also was produced in the same size as the pepper in both toes
and shoes. The salt always has 3 holes, the pepper has 2 holes. He appears
in a salt and pepper holding a bible. This is P176 and please be aware
that the salt comes in both a tan and a red bible. The pepper always
has a red bible. The musician slat and pepper are 78 088 and 78 089.
Picture
#04 (left) shows a sugar and creamer on
an oval tray with toes and the shiny model. All pitchers come in shoes
only. This set can be numbered as M43A, B, C. Or the sugar might be
found as Z37 and creamer as S141/0 and tray as T69. Identical to the
sugar, is the H9 honey pot. The only difference beside the number is
a hole in the edge of the lid for a spoon. However, many h9’s have been
found without the indentation, and the experts continue to argue as
to whether they came this way or they have a sugar top instead of the
original honey pot top.
Picture
#05 (right) shows the smaller pitchers
beginning with S135, the only Friar to be found with blue eyes. This
is just over an inch tall. Next is S141/3/0 and S141/2/0 and again S141/0
which is 4" tall and used for comparison purposes.
Picture #06 (left) begins again with S141/0
. followed by S141/1. This is the only Friar to be found with the crown
mark. The older models of all the pitchers also have crossed eyes. Next
comes S141/II in the black top and S141/III.
Picture #07 (right) is of S 204 which also
comes with multiple holes in the top. Of course, the reason for the
top was to let the water out while keeping the ice in.
Picture #08 (left) shows us three sizes
of beer mugs, ¼ liter, ½ liter and one full liter. They are T 74/0,
T 74/I and T 74/III
In picture # 09 (below), we have the flask
KL 97, shiny and the older style surrounding a friar stein, T 74/I.
This is exactly the same as the mug, but it has a pewter lid. In picture
#10 (below), we see the difference in the
skinny decanter, KL 95 and the fat decanter, KL 92. Goebel also produced
the fat decanters with a cigarette holder inside the bottom, KL 90,
with 3 shot glasses inside, KL 91, and with a music box, KL 93. Picture
#11 (below) gives us the largest of all
the friars, the cookie jar, K29, made with the black collar as well.
We
all know Friar Tuck, the roly-poly monk who kept Robin Hood and his
Merry Men on the straight and narrow especially in keeping their drinking
to a minimum.. Goebel issued a series of approximately 125 different
items forever immortalizing the good Friar Tuck. Other than their Hummel
series, this was perhaps goebel’s most popular and most successful line.
The
line was introduced in the early 50’s and most of the items showed the
good friar wearing sandals. These are called "with toes". About five
years later, some efficiency expert realized goebel could save time
and money by painting the feet all black and they are called "with shoes".
The line was discontinued in the early 80’s when goebel realized they
had been using leaded paint in the brown. Some of the line was introduced
in the mid 80’s with black collars, that is, a black paint where food
or drink might touch. The faces also had a very shiny finish. Like almost
all the goebel items, the line was discontinued in 1988. 
Picture
#01 (top right) shows condiment sets featuring
the toes and shoes variations. The sale is P153/1, the pepper P153/0,
the mustard S 183 and an M 42D tray. Picture #02 (above
left) shows the "black collar" mustard and note how much fatter
he is than the older models. The "shiny" salt and pepper sometimes came
in a white basket. As seen in picture #03 (right),
the salt also was produced in the same size as the pepper in both toes
and shoes. The salt always has 3 holes, the pepper has 2 holes. He appears
in a salt and pepper holding a bible. This is P176 and please be aware
that the salt comes in both a tan and a red bible. The pepper always
has a red bible. The musician slat and pepper are 78 088 and 78 089.
Picture
#04 (left) shows a sugar and creamer on
an oval tray with toes and the shiny model. All pitchers come in shoes
only. This set can be numbered as M43A, B, C. Or the sugar might be
found as Z37 and creamer as S141/0 and tray as T69. Identical to the
sugar, is the H9 honey pot. The only difference beside the number is
a hole in the edge of the lid for a spoon. However, many h9’s have been
found without the indentation, and the experts continue to argue as
to whether they came this way or they have a sugar top instead of the
original honey pot top. 
Picture
#05 (right) shows the smaller pitchers
beginning with S135, the only Friar to be found with blue eyes. This
is just over an inch tall. Next is S141/3/0 and S141/2/0 and again S141/0
which is 4" tall and used for comparison purposes. 
Picture #06 (left) begins again with S141/0
. followed by S141/1. This is the only Friar to be found with the crown
mark. The older models of all the pitchers also have crossed eyes. Next
comes S141/II in the black top and S141/III. 
Picture #07 (right) is of S 204 which also
comes with multiple holes in the top. Of course, the reason for the
top was to let the water out while keeping the ice in. 
Picture #08 (left) shows us three sizes
of beer mugs, ¼ liter, ½ liter and one full liter. They are T 74/0,
T 74/I and T 74/III 
