Posted on 10/25/2005 6:37:45 PM PDT by SJackson
Before I could write my column this week, I had to take an hour off to watch "Antiques Roadshow" on PBS, locally WHA. It feeds my fantasy of finding or buying an item and have it turn out to be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The show always has a few people who either bought an item at a yard sale for a dollar or two or found it. For example, Monday's show featured a man who went dumpster diving and found a rare print by John Turnbull of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It was worth $700 to $800. That's not a bad find.
A woman on the show had something even more valuable: a Cartier cigarette case worth thousands. It had been given to her mother, who owned a restaurant. The mother took it from a hungry man in exchange for three breakfasts. The woman had kept it in a box under her bed along with other items her mother had taken in exchange for food when people couldn't pay for meals. When she got home, she planned to check through the box to see what else she could find. I certainly would and would seek a good appraiser too.
My favorite antiques story comes from the British edition of "Antiques Roadshow." A woman who was the supervisor for a dumpsite in Britain collected jewelry she found over the years in the garbage. Her collection was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and it had come from garbage.
I'm left with the question of how it got in the garbage. Did someone cleaning house mistake real gems for fake ones and because she didn't like the style throw it in the garbage? Alternatively, did the piece fall into the garbage by mistake and was not missed for so long no one had any idea to where it disappeared? Or, maybe someone with a lot of money got mad at whomever gave her the jewelry and threw it away to flout him.
I think the show has spurred me to haunting thrift stores, flea markets and yard sales. I keep hoping that an item that catches my eye and is cheap will really be worth a fortune or at least much more than I paid. I don't know if this has ever happened, although I have bought plenty from such places. I never take any of my finds to antiques dealers or appraisers. I guess I am not optimistic enough that I will be that fortunate.
If I really wanted antiques, I should go to antique stores and shows. However, they scare me. I'm afraid my knowledge of antiques is too limited, and I would end up either paying more than something is worth, or I would buy a reproduction rather than a real antique.
I should go to some of the reputable dealers in the area, but I really don't have the money to buy antiques. My pocketbook squeezes me into the used market.
Anything we buy for our homes may someday become an antique -- provided not many people keep that particular style. For example, our parents and grandparents bought dinnerware in a style now known as Depression glass. It was cheap and colorful with many intricate patterns. You could buy it at the dime store in the 20s, 30s and 40s for next to nothing.
Many people probably donated it to thrift stores or sold it at yard sales when they got tired of it or their children didn't want it. Perhaps it even went out with the garbage, because nobody thought it was worth much.
Today, Depression glass is highly valued and collected by many people who will pay a hundred times what a piece sold for originally.
My plan is to find nice pieces of anything that might become an antique and hold on to them for years until they become valuable. Of course, I'm still limited by money and by space -- no house is ever big enough if you become a collector and you never have enough money.
If I could just find one item and take it to "Antiques Roadshow" maybe, I'd make some money. I believe my chances are probably as good as buying a lottery ticket and a lot more fun.
I've found lots of personal gems at the thrift store. Just clothes, sports gear, etc. for myself and familly. Trick is to go often! (and quickly!). I work outside so work shirts and jackets are my isle. Of course I'll buy a $2 shirt and it's so nice it becomes my church-going shirt! I think my best deal was a clean (new?) full-length goose down L.L. Bean coat for my wife - about $15. I think. (1/2 price sale!!)
Thanks for the ping to this thread. I LOVE thrift stores. Unfortunately, the ones I've found so far here in upper Wisconsin aren't quite as good as the ones in Denver.
FYI for everyone: ARC Thrift stores are the BEST if you happen to be in Colorado/Denver. They used to have 50% off sales at least once per month on clothes and such (great for families on budgets as some of the children's clothes are in brand-new condition if you get there early enough on sales days).
You roo!
That was my basement circa 1977 =;-)
I bought a jewelers roll-up full of them, from a guy on 14th st in DC, for a grand. It contained a couple of expensive watches, worth a lot more than my thou.
One of them, though, was a ringer, I thought. It had the name "Birks" on it. But, upon inspection, I noticed the name "Rolex" in tiny letters, on the bottom of the face.
At home, I opened tha stainless back. The case was 18k yellow, on this rectangular watch. Inside it was stamped Rolex. The movement also had the stamp Rolex!
It was missing the hands, and had no strap. but I had taken it, along with the rest of them.
I took it to a watch repairman at Fair Oaks mall, in Fairfax, VA. He was from Indian, and had lots of spare parts he had brought from retiring European shops. He looked at it, and suggested we send it to Switzerland, for inspection, or authentication.
I got a letter back from Rolex, offering 10 grand for it, so they could put it in their museum. It was made in the early 1900's, by them, for the Birks jewelry stores in Canada. Birk's had 18 specially made with a stainless back, due to the workmen's lifestyle, of those that bought them.
I asked to have it returned, and my watchmaker set some newer ROLEX hands on the beautiful filgreed face. I wear it occasionally, but it is really too dressy and fragile for everyday use. I have a Seiko, for that.
I ended up with over $85k in value, from that $1K investment, but nothing I bought, is for sale... I collect old watches...
that is the coolest thing i have ever heard! where is the jewelry repair guy in Fair Oaks Mall? i used to go to Root Jewelers in Rosyln to have my watches cleaned and serviced but it is too hard to park over there.
http://www.audiokarma.org
Audio finds and refurbs
Ah, that is the difference between someone who collects for the appreciation of the item, and a reseller who is only looking to turn a fast buck.
A true first edition of Dr. Seuss' "The Cat in the Hat" (with dust jacket) is worth thousands. I found one in my parent's attic!
There are websites and chat boards devoted to the art of dumpster diving, the hows, wheres, legalities, finds, etc.
There is also at least one interesting blog operated by a girl who goes around photographing the trash in her neighborhood each week (what people are throwing out), and documenting what she digs out and repurposes.
Ha! I was just about to ping you. ^-^
(This is how I furnished my first apartment!)
If you like old watches, too, check out the other shops in DC. Famous has many, but I bought these from Sam's...
The key to pawn shopping, is frequent visits. There is a great competition for the good stuff. I make it my business to know the owners, and they put stuff aside for me. I also buy diamonds. I can buy them cheap enought to reset. My wife sports an 8 carat tennis bracelet, made from 1/4 c. stones popped out of engagement rings, nobody wanted any more... I paid about 1/3 for it, after setting them, etc, and then sold the gold for scrap. Her 1 c. earrings cost me about $350 each...
I bought my digital camera, and most of my 35mmm stuff, at them as well. You can find just about anything OF VALUE... It's up to you to decide if it is worth what they ask...
Most of the time, it is... but you always offer less! I like the bazaar type bargaining, that you can't get many places these days...
Thanks for the ping!
Fun thread ping Gabz!
I got started on a camera collection, while living near Rochester, NY, back in the 70's. At garage sales, I found a lot of old Kodaks, from ex-Kodak employees. most had original packaging, and flash bulbs, cubes, etc. Most are worth little. But, the toptality of my collectgion today, is worth several times the sum of its individual parts. Only Kodak has a more complete lot...
I have so many duplicates, that my grandchildren use them as toys...
Boy is your wife lucky!! i have a 7ct tennis bracelet and carat diamond stud earrings, but my poor hub paid retail!! i am extremely impressed with your way of doing things! i have never been in a pawn shop in my life. i know there is one in Arlington, right off of lee hwy, and there used to be one in roslyn also.
These sites are commonly referred to as "The Mall" and are used in phrases such as "I gotta stop at the mall before we had into town." or "Look what I found at the mall."
Most folks shop The Mall when they take their trash to the dumpster.
Thanks for the ping - got some reading to do here :)
"My two best finds included a bakelite bracelet I found at the local Goodwill Store which I bought for $1.00 which, when I put it on eBay, sold for over $300.00 and an old framed print by a famous artist I found in a small thrift store that I paid $25.00 for and sold on eBay for over $800.00!"
I do the same, but sell used/antique/specialty books & music on amazon.com.
My best score was finding an Morgana King 2-CD set. Paid $5, got $199.00 for it. I once found a First Edition, 1932 copy of "Cross Creek" for 25 cents and sold that for $50.
If you know what you're looking for, you can make a tidy little sum on the side doing things like this. :)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.