What’s That?

Over time, there are items that people will just stop using.  It could be for a number of reasons, like a design that might have come along that is better.   It could even be an item that helps you offer a service that we don’t even see much of anymore, like a shoe repair company.

Can you tell what the lid is to in the picture?

Stay tuned to see what the answer is, it just might surprise you.

The Enamel Sign

Enamel signs are a great collectible.  They can advertise anything from a bookstore to an eyeglass shop.  The flanged signs are more easily seen than the regular flat signs that lay flat against the wall.  With the flanged signs coming out from the wall, they are more susceptible to damage, espically on the bottom of the sign, where it could potentially be hit by items being carried or people walking by, espically on the bottom edge of the sign.

Here in the Ozarks, the flanged sign brings more money than the flat signs do (especially if it’s for a company like Western Union, Goodyear, or Wrigley’s Chewing Gum).

One of the ways to help out in figuring if the sign is a reproduction is the fading on the item.  There are quite a few ways to fake fading or even rust, but on an item that is authentic, the fading and rust is not even over the entire piece.

Great Backdrops To Use When You Photograph Your Vintage Items

Ever wonder what you could use for a backdrop when you take a photo of that vintage item?  You could use just about anything, and it will make your item look even better.

One way that helps me is to use a vintage drop leaf table with some paint that is starting to show some paint loss as a backdrop.

Another item that could help are vintage napkins with a pattern that have been applied to it.

Just about any item could be made into a great backdrop.

Super Gigantic Sale!

Here's a great way to save some money in my Etsy store--just use the coupon code STORESALE20 to recieve 20% off on your purchase!

There has been great interest in what's in the shop at Esty, so I have decided to change things up a bit, for the better.  I have extended the sale, it will run through July 22nd.  Make sure that you go and find you a great deals here.

So don't delay, you might miss something very cool!

Hijacked!!

Hi, I’m Jake the dog.  I’m John’s shopping partner in the world of antiques.

Now, I must say, that guy is pretty smart when it comes to spotting a good deal, or even something for me to play with.  My tip for the holidays, especially on a day like July 4th?  I would try to drink as much fluids as possible, especially on hot days like today.

The other thing that you should do is to go with a shopping buddy.  It doesn't matter how big the garage sale of antique mall is, it's always a good thing to have an extra set of eyes with you.

Have a Great July 4th holiday, and make sure that you pass some sweet tea and a hot dog my way!

Hall Pottery

*The Hall China Company was founded in 1903 by Robert Hall, and is currently operating today.

*In the early years, Hall Pottery made institutional pieces like bedpans, toilet seats, and chamber pots.

*Hall pottery made dinnerware for the Jewel Tea Company from the mid 1920’s until 1980.

Hall pottery recently re-issued many of the older pieces that they made.  To help distinguish the new from the old, Hall pottery has different colors for the pieces, and they also have a different mark on them.

Just Jake Jr's Place

Beyond the shadow of a doubt, the best times are spent with a good friend or family member.  Why not have both in the same person…or should I say dog?

When walking my dog in the morning, I often find a garage sale that hasn’t been listed in the local paper, or on the internet.

The best tip that anyone could get is to keep an eye peeled where you live.  You could possibly find that garage sale that has a great haul that is just waiting for you to find.

Harold Bell Wright

One name that has remained popular here in the Ozarks is Harold Bell Wright, an author that wrote books about my area.

One such book that he wrote is called “The Shepherd of the Hills”.  This story is based mainly in the Branson area, and at one time was second in sales only to the Bible.

Even to this day, you can still catch a play at the park that has the same name as the book.

All of his books are still well received here in the Ozarks, and you can still find them in just about any flea market or antique mall you go to here.

The Fourth Of July Mega Sale

With the Fourth Of July right around the corner, the best time to shop at my Etsy store is absolutely right now!

Up until Monday morning on July the 9th, you can get 20% off of anything listed.  All that you have to do is to use the coupon code STORESALE20 when you checkout to get the discount.

So do not delay and check out my Etsy store here for some really great items.

Fun Facts For Coins

Sometimes there are great little tidbits that make you stop and just scratch your head, or even pause in amazement when you hear them.  It’s true for every collectible area on the market.  Here’s a few about coins:

 *Did you know that the cents that we carry around in our pockets today didn’t start out that size?  When the cent was first introduced in 1793, it was about the size of  a modern half dollar.

*The United States Mint produced what is now called odd-denomination coins.  These include the half cent, the 2 cent, the 3 cent, and the 20 cent coins.

*The United States Mint is currently is located in San Francisco California, Denver Colorado, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Did you know that they also had mints in Carson City Nevada, and Dahlonega, Georgia?

*The 5 cent piece, which is commonly called the nickel, didn’t always go by that name.  It was introduced as the Half Dime.  It started in 1796, and was used with a few breaks until 1873.

As you become more and more invested in a certain area of collecting, what kind of fun facts will you come across?

Another Lesson Learned

While shopping at one of the local antique malls in my area, I happened onto something that could be a very good thing. It happened to be an R S Suhl shaker, or even possibly hat pin holder.



With the price being right, and some wear being present on the bottom of the shaker, I went ahead and bought it.  When I went to find out what I could about the mark (so I could list it online), there was a little voice in the back of my head that was saying that something was not right.

And then I found a shaker just like the one that I have.  I was thrilled!  I started to read what was posted online about it, and sure enough, that little voice I was hearing was right.  The thing was a fake.

 
The lesson I learned?  A little research and knowledge can go a long way in the long run.

Handmade Primitives

The great thing about the Ozarks is the great selection of handmade primitives.  Whenever someone has seen an item that has outlived its usefulness, a great idea hits them like a ton of bricks.

Why not turn it into something else?

Take this pitcher, for instance.  The body itself is one complete piece with no noticeable seam, and has an applied handle, probably from another pitcher that has become obsolete, and a lid that is also from somewhere else.

Who ever made it even went that extra mile and made a spout as well.

That’s the great thing about this area of collectibles, you never know what kind of great things that could be used differently.

Collectibles Of A Different Sort

Every area of the country gets the benefit of enjoying collectibles that other areas don’t get to see that much.  In my neck of the woods, primitives are seen here more often than things like Chippendale furniture.

There’s a wide range of primitives here in the Ozarks that you could run into, like this scythe.

 When you travel to another part of the country, it would be fun to see what kind of collectibles you run into.

A Great Way To Start A Collection

When walking through an antique mall as a new person to the world of antiques, you start to form ideas on what is out there for you to collect.  When you start any collection, you quickly become aware how large of a field it could be.

 One way to collect is to focus your collection in a certain area.  It could be a character in a comic book series.

It could be coins from a certain mint.

Or it could be a certain china or glassware pattern.

The best piece of advice that you could remember is to have as much fun as possible while looking for the latest piece to add to your collection.

Maxfield Parrish

Have you ever heard of a guy by the name Maxfield Parrish? 

Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966) is very well known American painter and illustrator for the colors and images that he used.

Some of the illustrations that Maxfield did were used in the books “Mother Goose In Prose” by L. Frank Baum (1897), “Poems of Childhood” by Eugene Fields (1904), and “Arabian Nights”  (1910).  He also illustrated everything from a magazine cover to ads for Jello.

If a print by him should come up at either an antique mall or auction in my neck of the woods, you’ll have to pay a pretty penny for it.

An entry that covers Maxfield Parrish’s life can be seen on Wikipedia here.

You can see two of his covers in my Etsy store here and here (don’t forget to use coupon code STORESALE20 to get 20% off if you would like to buy one).