Vintage

XRF Test Results for Vintage 1972 Blonde Quick Curl Steffie Barbie Doll: Not Safe For Kids

August 3, 2023August 4, 2023

Published: August 3, 2023 Thursday Below are the full XRF test results for the Vintage Barbie Doll pictured. I do not know if this is an original / period vintage dress for this doll. The doll was purchased on eBay. Note: There was no warning on eBay – nor is one required – that this…

Is your Barbie safe for your kids to play with? A discussion on the concern for unsafe levels of Lead (& other toxicants) in vintage Barbie dolls

July 18, 2023September 28, 2023

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For those new to this website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead-poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used by…

Vintage Corelle “Meadow” dish — positive for FOUR poisons (Lead, Cadmium, Mercury & Antimony) on the food surface, including 16,700 ppm Lead (90 ppm & up is unsafe for kids)

April 30, 2022April 4, 2024

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For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama,…

Vintage Anchor Hocking amber thumbprint style glass: Lead-free, Cadmium-free, Arsenic-free, Mercury-free, Antimony-free.

February 11, 2022March 28, 2023

Published: February 11, 2022 – Friday Some additional reading for those new to this website: To learn more about the testing methodology employed for the test results reported on this website, click here. For a quick menu to explore more categories of tested items on this website, click here. For a quick video tutorial showing…

Vintage dinner knife with red and yellow Bakelite handle — 760,500 ppm Lead in the join point

July 19, 2021December 26, 2023

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For those new to this website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method used…

“If the Lead is only on the OUTSIDE (… of my dish, measuring cup, mixing bowl, etc.) why does it matter?”

July 26, 2020February 27, 2024

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For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama,…

This 1976 Bunnykins baby plate contains 77,900 ppm Lead. This would be highly illegal if made for use by kids today.

July 13, 2020January 24, 2024

Test results published on July 13, 2020 Updated: September 2022 Test result set #1) On the center of the plate’s food surface (decorative design): Lead (Pb): 77,900 +/- 3,600 ppm Barium (Ba): 306 +/- 98 ppm Chromium (Cr): 1,977 +/- 202 ppm Antimony (Sb): 72 +/- 36 ppm Silver (Ag): 30 +/- 12 ppm Tin (Sn):…

1976 Bunnykins bowl: 59,000 ppm Lead (anything above 90 ppm Lead is illegal in items made today for children’s use)

July 13, 2020January 24, 2024

Test Results Published on July 13, 2020 Updated: September 2022 When tested with an XRF instrument, the 1976 Bunnykins bowl pictured here had the following readings: On the center of the bowl’s food surface (decorative design): Lead (Pb): 59,000 +/- 2,400 ppm Cadmium (Cd): 36 +/- 14 ppm Chromium (Cr): 475 +/- 126 ppm Tin…

This 1976 Bunnykins baby cup tested positive for 40,200 ppm Lead on food surface. This would be illegal if made for use by kids today.

July 13, 2020January 24, 2024

When tested with an XRF instrument, the 1976 Bunnykins baby cup pictured here had the following readings: On the decorative design of the cup: Lead (Pb): 46,200 +/- 1,800 ppm Barium (Ba): 179 +/- 74 ppm Chromium (Cr): 410 +/- 116 ppm Antimony (Sb): 61 +/- 28 ppm Tin (Sn): 137 +/- 28 ppm Zinc…

Read the full XRF test results for the Aladdin Vintage 1985 Strawberry Shortcake lunchbox here.

March 28, 2020July 24, 2024

For those new to the Lead Safe Mama website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her four sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Tamara owns and runs Lead Safe Mama,…

What is vintage? What is antique? Some definitions to help you determine if your cherished items are likely to be toxic or not!

March 3, 2020March 4, 2020

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What do you mean by “Vintage” here on this website? Many of the objects I test and write about on this blog are noted to be either “vintage” or “antique” I especially use these terms when I don’t know the exact year of production for the specific item tested – but can “guesstimate” the age,…

1961 P.D. Eastman’s “Go Dog Go?”: 131 ppm Lead + 11 ppm Arsenic! Are your kid’s books safe? Are they vintage?

January 30, 2020November 22, 2023

2 Comments

For those new to this website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method…

Folks have been asking if Lead in vintage books is a real poisoning concern. Here’s my response.

January 30, 2020November 20, 2023

21 Comments

This is an ad-free article. To make a contribution to help us keep our most widely-read articles ad-free, click here. Thank you. For those new to this website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety, and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of…

1960 P.D. Eastman’s “Are You My Mother?”: 58 ppm Lead + 971 ppm Antimony! Are your kid’s books safe? Are they vintage?

January 29, 2020January 29, 2020

8 Comments

Introduction (for those new to this website): Tamara Rubin is an independent advocate for consumer goods safety. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children. She began testing consumer goods for toxicants in 2009 and was the parent-advocate responsible for finding Lead in the popular fidget spinner toys in 2017. Tamara uses XRF testing (a scientific…

1960 Book Club Edition Dr. Seuss’ “One fish two fish red fish blue fish”: 97 ppm Lead. Are your kid’s books safe?

January 24, 2020November 22, 2023

4 Comments

For those new to this website: Tamara Rubin is a multiple-federal-award-winning independent advocate for childhood Lead poisoning prevention and consumer goods safety and a documentary filmmaker. She is also a mother of Lead-poisoned children (two of her sons were acutely Lead-poisoned in 2005). Since 2009, Tamara has been using XRF technology (a scientific method…

Vintage restaurant-style salt shaker: Lead-Free. These are my favorite & just 75 ¢ each at a restaurant supply store.

December 10, 2019December 10, 2019

1 Comment

Salt Shaker Test Results This is my favorite style of salt shaker and I have never tested one that looked like this that was positive for Lead. It’s simple and relatively nontoxic – plus you can see the contents so you know exactly how much you have left (and I don’t know why anyone would…

Vintage golden porcelain Stouffer brand salt shaker: Lead-Free, Cadmium-Free, Arsenic-Free, Antimony-Free.

December 10, 2019December 10, 2019

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Salt Shaker Test Results When tested with an XRF instrument this vintage golden Stouffer brand porcelain salt shaker (with a cork stopper) had the following readings: Golden finish of the shaker: Barium (Ba): 1,344 +/- 214 ppm Gold (Au): 2,293 +/- 59 ppm Iron (Fe): 2,105 +/- 92 ppm Bismuth (Bi): 137 +/- 16 ppm…

Cut crystal salt shaker: 15,100 ppm Lead + 1,502 ppm Antimony. What kind of salt shaker do you have?

December 10, 2019December 10, 2019

Salt Shaker Test Results When tested with an XRF instrument this vintage crystal salt shaker had the following readings: Crystal base of the shaker: Lead (Pb): 11,500 +/- 300 ppm Barium (Ba): 2,628 +/- 125 ppm Antimony (Sb): 1,502 +/-63 ppm Bromine (Br): 64 +/- 7 ppm Zinc (Zn): 4,582 +/- 179 ppm Iron (Fe):…

Hardcover 1946 children’s book – “Fun with Dick and Jane”: 1,045 ppm Lead [90 ppm is unsafe for kids.]

November 10, 2019January 24, 2020

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When tested with an XRF instrument, this 1946 hardcover edition of of “Fun with Dick and Jane” had the following readings: On the painted part of the cover (yellow area): Lead (Pb): 839 +/- 24 ppm Mercury (Hg): Non-Detect (negative) Cadmium (Cd): Non-Detect (negative) Arsenic (As): 76 +/- 17 ppm Antimony (Sb): Non-Detect (negative) Barium…

Vintage Pepsi Glass: 64,100 ppm Lead (a neurotoxin toxic at 90 ppm+) & 296 ppm Cadmium (a carcinogen toxic at 40 ppm+)

October 16, 2019April 14, 2022

In newly-manufactured items that are “intended for use by children” today, 90 ppm Lead (or higher) is considered illegal in the paint, glaze or coating; 100 ppm Lead (or higher) is considered illegal in the base substrate. The commemorative Pepsi glass pictured here also tested positive for unsafe levels of Cadmium (Cd) in the paint. There…

1995 Franciscan Desert Rose China, Made in England: 47,800 ppm Lead on the food surface! 90 is unsafe for a child.

July 25, 2019October 23, 2021

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When this Franciscan Desert Rose Pattern China (Made in the England by Johnson Brothers in 1995) was tested with an XRF instrument it came in at 47,800 +/- 1,400 ppm lead. It is negative for Cd (cadmium), As (arsenic) and Hg (mercury), however that is one heck of a lot of lead to be found…

Grace’s Teaware Purple Flower Saucer: 30,000 ppm Lead [For Context: 90 ppm Lead is unsafe in children’s items.]

June 16, 2019

2 Comments

When tested with an XRF instrument the Grace’s Teaware saucer pictured here (with purple flowers with green leaves – additional photos below) had the following readings: Green Leaves: Lead (Pb): 30,000 +/- 800 ppm Chromium (Cr): 3,060 +/- 170 ppm Antimony (Sb): 157 +/- 29 ppm Tin (Sn): 84 +/- 23 ppm Zinc (Zn): 11,100…

Blue Willow (c. early 1990s) Churchill Bowl: 57,100 +/- 1,600 ppm Lead. More than 90 ppm is unsafe for kids.

May 16, 2019May 16, 2019

8 Comments

The markings on this piece are as follows: “Fine English Tableware” – Churchill – “Made in Staffordshire, England” To see more “Made In England” pieces I have tested, Click Here. To see more Blue Willow pieces I have tested, Click Here. The woman who sent me this bowl told me she purchase it at a Publix Supermarket…

#AskTamara: How can I tell if my vintage Tupperware plastic cups are toxic? By Color? By Shape? By Age?

March 17, 2019December 28, 2019

84 Comments

New post! First in a series of four that I will be doing to try to draw some distinctions between the Tupperware pieces WITH toxicants (Lead, Mercury, Cadmium and Arsenic) and those without. If you have any information or links to help inform this conversation (for example information about years made for certain model numbers?)…