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Wes Cowan, Antique Week

In the January 11, 2010 issue of Antique Week, Wes Cowan discusses how “2010 will be a great year to buy antiques for the home,” for collectors who like to ‘buy low.’

While insisting he’s “bullish on the business” of antiques, Cowan says that now’s the time to buy antiques for your home because prices are low and “dealers are eager to make a sale.” He credits (if we can use that word) the low prices to three factors, “the triple play of economic woes, eBay, and demographics.”

I probably don’t need to comment on the economy. And Cowan’s thoughts on the subject of eBay affecting supply and demand (you can click the scans to read them) echo my own. But the matter of demographics is an interesting one.

When we met Wes, he accurately and kindly noted that our kids were weird — for being collectors, that is. So I’ve heard Wes’ thoughts and discussed issue with him; but his column in Antique Week he puts it it more succinctly than I ever could:

Demographics continue to play another major role in the diminishing value of many antiques. If you’re a collector who visits shows and auctions, you already know that the average age of most antique collectors continues to climb. There simply aren’t enough young folks in the market.

I’ve written before on the values of collecting, how we’ve bonded with our children over games, vintage vinyl, books, and shows like History Detectives. In this economy, it also makes sense to teach children the values of money, of recycling and using previously used things, of decision making, and how to be good consumers; but it also makes sense to encourage and allow children to enjoy the hobby of collecting so that there’s younger people looking for older stuff.

Children aren’t just our future, they will be the guardians of our past; they have to start learning to value it now.

So take them out to the auction, the flea market, to antique shops, etc. and let them help you snatch-up the bargains. (And tell the dealers that Wes Cowan and Deanna Dahlsad sent you!)

All scans from AntiqueWeek, Vol. 42, Issue No. 2112.

Wes Cowan Article, Part Two

While it would be more than enough, Mary Ann Cade doesn’t only discover, preserve, and collect silent film history presumed lost, she also collects props from television and movies. Now she’s back again with some tips for other collectors — including photos of her most recent prop jewelry acquisitions.

On the desirability of jewelry props: The items are one of a kind and cross collectible because if they are a prop from a show or film, they are sought after by prop collectors of that show or film, fans of an actress, etc., as well as collectors of jewelry.

Brooch From Meet Joe Black

Necklace From Meet Joe Black

On why she loves jewelry props: The neat thing about collecting jewelry worn in films, is that, like wardrobe, one can wear it too instead of it sitting on a shelf collecting dust and taking up space.

Earrings From Sex & The City

Earrings From The Titanic

A few words on the pricing of film and television props: The beauty of prop collecting is that most of the props I buy are pretty inexpensive. Most brooches or earrings sell from $24.99 to $39.99. There are some props that are more expensive, but it has to do with size or if the item was worn by a specific star and sold as a star worn item. That can drive the price up quickly.

Brooch From Designing Women

Earrings From Bewitched

On selection, Mary sounds a lot like CQ’s very own Val Ubell: The best thing to do is check out the items and buy something that takes one’s fancy, either the color of the stones in a piece of jewelry, I look at size of items (I like large brooches for example) with lots of colors and I also like white diamondesque things too.

Earrings From Somewhere In Time

Pin From I Love Lucy

On the additional fun and challenges of collecting movie memorabilia and television props: I urge anyone who collects props to watch a film or show and pay close attention to the set and what the actors are wearing and make a mental note of something because it may show up for sale sometime in the future!

Pin From Practical Magic

Little Van Goes, By Tomy Corp.

I grabbed this Little Van Goes kit (Tomy Corp., No. 2524, circa 1978) at a rummage sale this past summer. I needn’t tell you the price as the seller committed the horrible sin of placing the price sticker right on the box. *sigh*

I suppose I should consider the fact that a seller ignorant to such harm to a collectible is also the seller who places the value of such an item on a buck — but frankly, I see this done with fragile antique ephemera by dealers who should know better as well.

So, before we get into dishing on the discovery of such retro goodness, lets talk about how to get rid of such sticker sins.

Now, if the icky sticker, tape, or it’s residue is on a figurine or some-such, you can use liquid soap to remove it; but when it’s on paper, liquid anything isn’t an option.

Instead you use air — not, not the hot air of ranting about the seller’s stupidity, the air of a blow dryer.

There are two principals at work here: heat and humidity.

Using A Blow Dryer To Make Sticker Removal Easier

With newer stickers and/or glossier paper, a bit of heat usually moistens the adhesive, allowing you to peel it back gently. In some cases, it comes off in one nice slow peel; in others, it’s a bit by bit process, stopping and starting as the adhesive warms enough to slide. (You’ll be tempted to pick or prod it when it’s not ready — but don’t, that’s when the sticker will lift off and remove part of the paper with it.)

It can be helpful, especially in the later cases, to have one person hold the blow dryer while another attempts to peel.

With older stickers, older paper, and/or less glossy paper, the blowing air itself decreases humidity and the old sticker or tape is so arid it virtually pops off. However, the older the paper, the more you need to worry about heat actually scorching or discoloring the paper. Your hands are a generally good guide though; your hands are near 98.6 degrees while the paper is room temperature. So if your hands feel too warm, stop. It’s too hot for the old paper.

Unfortunately, there are no magic numbers here in terms of temperature, length of time, etc. It’s an individual process and the more often you do it, the better judge you’ll be at how ready the tape or sticker is to be peeled or lifted away. Remember, that’s “peeled or lifted away,” so don’t pick or scratch as that will remove paper too.

Original Little Van Goes Box Without Rummage Price Tag

In this case, neither the slick box cover nor the “newish” sticker made for the sticker to be so easily removed so you can see a few spots where the paper was lifted off. (Probably the worst job I’ve done in years, but that’s because I was showing you, right?) Anyway, it’s a heck of a lot better than the half or full circle with jagged tear I’d have gotten without the blow dryer.

OK, now that the sticker’s gone, I’ve got a decent original box for my retro Tomy toy.

This set is not complete. I’m missing one of the four middle section van plates and the plastic crayon holder. But that can’t stop this “van fan” from making “wild van creations.”

Retro Little Van Goes Set

Being a girl, I never had the pleasure of one of these Little Van Goes before — I was stuck with the Barbie Fashion Plates. Which are not nearly so much fun, I think. Of course, we’re talking about rockin’ 70’s vans, man. What could really compare? It’s basically a lost art form. Like album cover art.

So, no, it’s not for sale; you’ll have to look for your own Little Van Goes on eBay.

I Made This Little Van Go-es

OK, I don’t know why a girl who can’t understand the math-y appeal of the backs of baseball cards, let alone tolerate a game that moves slower than molasses in January in Fargo (seriously, any so-called sport which you can leave, visit the ladies’ room, wait in line to take care of your business, buy a hot dog, meander back only to have nothing have happened while you were gone is insanely slow!) would buy a wooden box full of old baseball cards.

I take that back.

I know exactly why I bought the box — and how I ended up with the cards too.

Wooden Box Covered In Old Baseball Stickers

See, I spotted this beauty of a wooden box, covered in retro baseball stickers, at a rummage sale. I was a typical chick times two: #1, girls love boxes and things with drawers & hiding places, and #2, the image of a little boy decorating the box that held his prize possessions was too sentimental and sweet for this mommy. Combined, they made a one-two sucker punch. And this sucker had to have it.

But I’m cheap, remember.

Wooden Box Of Retro Baseball Cards Open

So after gushing and cooing to the male seller that he really should keep his childhood mementos (he said something about having more; his wife rolled her eyeballs loudly), I noted the price: $15. Then, assured he really wasn’t going to rescue it and take it back into the house, I made a ridiculous offer: $5 for the box. Just the box; no cards.

The guy said for $10 I could have the box and all the cards. By this point, hubby came over. We exchanged looks. I reminded him I know nothing about baseball cards… Trailing off like that at the end to let him know it was his call. I think we paid $10, but maybe it was less. I was too busy fondling the delicate stickers, making plans to preserve it with Perfect Paper Adhesive (the perfect project for the endless Fargo winter; not that I need more projects to put off for “someday”) to pay attention.

Have I learned anything? No, not really. I already knew that getting around to preserving this time capsule of a little boy’s life would take as long as it takes for me to get to any other project. I still know nothing about baseball. Or the cards.

If you want to learn more about baseball collectibles, I suggest you check out my friend Cliff’s baseball collectibles info. Personally, I prefer another post of his. A nostalgic coming of age story in which little Cliff learns a lesson about baseball cards and collecting — and friendship. That’s the sort of sucker-punch article that this chick cannot resist. I may just print out a copy and put it in the box. It completes the collection.

Retro Stash Of Sports Cards & Stuff

Corset Art Book By Tamar Stone

Conversing with artist Tamar Stone, several times, I’ve not only become quite smitten (especially with her corset and bed books), but have more than a sneaking suspicion that she’s got a lot of stuff… With all her projects and interests, she must have a lot of stuff! So I had to ask her what she collected…

Over the years, my collections have changed, and in some ways, I’ve kind of cut back somewhat. But what I have collected are: cameras and photography “how to” consumer guides to better photography, postcards, travel guides, cooking pamphlets and food display things.

I used to collect all kinds of dishes, glassware, kitchen appliances, which is ironic – I don’t even cook.

One of my favorite things I got in the past few years was at an auction — a corset box, but inside was someone’s blonde hair “fall.” I was the only person that day who stepped up and yelled I’ll take that — for a $1.00 — and they were glad to get rid of it… It’s sort of disgusting, yet amusing I guess.

Back to my collecting — cow things. (I love cows, I like to get out of the car just to pet them. A reason to travel with Wet Ones — which we do.) Although I do not collect Hallmark cow things… I’m sort of picky — I prefer folk art cows to butter packaging with nice illustrations etc.

Stone's Art Studio

I collect salesman sample things, although they have gotten expensive, so now I just look at them or take photos of them here and there.

Although I work with the doll beds, I don’t collect dolls or anything like that — except for some corset stuff, but I’ve never been a doll person. Although I really love the metal doll houses — I have a few of those. I wish I had the wall space to take them apart and open them up to put up on the walls… There’s just something intriguing about having the walls of a doll house as simulated walls in wood grain and brick — in tin — up on your home wall.

Shadow Box By Tamar Stone

I love Joseph Cornell etc. and I wish I was more 3-d mechanically inclined…

I have a bunch of these old clock boxes I got at an auction. A whole cart of them for $1.00. Sure I had to scrape out some dead animals and their nests, but it was worth it — once I got past being disgusted. But now I have a whole bunch of clock workings, springs and such and these old wood boxes — and I’m sort of stumped of how to use them… I made this first shadow box and haven’t really gotten to working on the others. I wouldn’t mind selling it, but it’s not something my dealer handles… So I seem to have it, and all the other ‘parts’ for now.

For more on the artist, check out her website.