Clark, Charles Fenstermacher
Charles Fenstermacher Clark (March 30, 1915 - September 30, 1988) was an American author, jeweler, inventor, and publisher. His firm, Tip'n Twinkle, entered business in order to market Clark's device for the easy cleaning of diamond rings (essentially a plastic bottle of detergent with a plastic rod to support a ring in the solution - hence, 'Tip'n Twinkle'). He went on to use the business to sell an array of novelty products, including matchbooks, placemats and humorous decorative placards in the 1950s, '60s and '70s. Most notably these included the 1961 'Colonel Horsepasture's Guide Book and Dixie Dictionary', written in stereotypically illiterate 'southern' dialect. 'The Southerners get a kick out of it... and The Northerners DO believe we talk that way.' He also published a satire on the medical profession, 'Friend or Enema'. In a more tasteful vein, the firm also sold blank picture albums for collecting childrens' photographs throughout their school years. Other novelties of his included a belly button lint brush, a 'Balloon Wine Making Kit,' and a rubber stamp for cancelling mail with the text, 'Republica de Cuba, Sensura, Officia Inspecto, Hi-Jak Par Aeroplano.'
United States from 'Fawt Sumtah' to 'Tinasee Ernie Fode's Home.'
This is a 1966 novelty Tip'n Twinkle placemat map of the United States, good-naturedly lampooning southern language, attitudes, and culture. (more details)