Stagecoaches, lithography and my grandma.

Stagecoaches, lithography and my grandma.

 
Something got me thinking about my grandmother's TV trays this week.

Some of you might remember that most excellent product, circa 1970's, the humble TV tray! For those who don't remember them they were basically a miniature folding table for one. They had scissor action folding legs (x-shape) made of wood or tubular steel and had an articulating (folding) plastic or wood top. The tray could fold flat such that a person could stack them tight against metal or wood folding chairs -in a tight space.

I ate many a breakfast using Grandma B's TV tray's. It is such a vivid singular memory sitting in the front room with cereal and milk. The tray was placed smack in front of Sesame Street which was shown on a small black-n-white television (note the TV was literally made of black-N-white plastic case parts and had a black-N-white picture to boot!). Ah the good ole days before first grade!

My grandma's TV trays were extra special because they had wild west cowboy scenes printed on them. These intricate prints stood proud of the whitish plastic surface. The scenes were literally wild, wild west with high drama in action! The tray/scene I remember most had a stage coach racing through a mesa with cowboys on horses galloping near by. I don't know if the scene in my minds eye is an accurate depiction or if it's the figment of a five year old's imagination but for some reason I remember the illustration being full of raw power with horse nostrils flaring and chiseled arm muscles flexing under rolled up white sleeves!