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Minnesota Seniors Antiques &
Collectibles Online Archive!
If you missed any of Ms. Chesley's very
informative past articles,
you can access them here:
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Missing Pieces
Are you missing one piece of china, or one crystal glass, or 2 forks from your set?
I hear these requests most often in the antique shops:
1. "I broke one cup from my 1940s china set - help!"
2. "My mother gave me her silverware, but it's missing three butter knives."
3. "I bought my dishes 5 years ago but now I want to get the large serving pieces."
4. "I want to buy the matching gravy boat and larger platters/serving bowls that I could not
afford before."
Where do you begin
to look for replacement pieces of these older patterns?
You can try hunting from one antique store to another. That may be fun for a while, but it is very difficult or near impossible to find one specific piece of one specific pattern in your specific color. This hunting game at antique stores soon becomes very time consuming and frustrating.
A much easier solution is a company called Replacements LTD. This company sells both old and new china by the piece. Plus, everything from dinnerware, stoneware, crystal glasses/stems, silver/stainless flatware, to collectibles-- again, in both old and
new patterns! They have a large stock that changes daily, plus a knowledgeable customer service staff to assist you. Replacements LTD can help you complete your set much quicker than you can going from antique store to antique store. I have used this service myself with much success. They also BUY product by the
piece or set. Personally, I haven't done this because I am also a reseller.
To see examples of older patterns that you can obtain
through Replacements LTD:
Click Here.
You can contact Replacements LTD by either going online:
www.replacements.com or by giving them a call: 1-800-737-5223.
Good luck hunting for your treasures! Remember, each and every antique has its own attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
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How To Sell Your Items:
There are several methods of selling old items, antiques, and
collectibles. Each method requires additional information and precautions that are not all included below, plus each has its pros, cons, and possible fees/risks that you should evaluate for
yourself. This article is by no means all inclusive of information and risks. This is my personal opinion and is meant to be a starting point of information to assist you. Good luck! You can sell your items successfully!
Methods To Sell:
1. Sell to an antique dealer.
2. Sell items yourself at an
online auction such as eBay.
3. Hire a service to sell your
items at an online auction.
4. Have a garage sale.
5. Have an estate sale yourself -- or hire an estate sale company.
6. Donate items for a tax
write-off.
Let's look at option one in more detail -- Sell to an antique dealer.
First you should find a dealer you can trust and feel comfortable with. A dealer who will offer a fair price for items and/or information. I have 5 to 10 customers who sell items to me on a regular basis. We've built a buy/sell relationship where we can each profit. I trust them and they trust me. Seek to build this
type of ongoing relationship.
When talking to an antique dealer, you
should not just ask, "What is this worth?" That is too general of a question. Narrow down what you want to know. Be specific -- what type of price do you want to seek? A reputable dealer should also want to pre-clarify this point. If the dealer doesn't first ask YOU specifically what you seek, then walk away.
There are many types of prices a dealer can provide. You should pre-clarify what type of price you seek and what the information will cost, if anything. Let's take a look at the types of prices below:
Types of Prices:
1. The price the dealer will pay now to buy straight from you.
2. The estimated price you can sell it yourself at a garage sale.
3. The estimated price the item will retail for at an antique show.
4. For a fee, a dealer can research and evaluate your items and provide written
documentation if requested.
5. For a fee, some dealers can provide a written insurance appraisal value.
Where can you find an antique dealer? You can begin by asking questions at antique stores that you respect and like to shop. Ask for a dealer who has knowledge about your items. Once you find a dealer, ask him/her questions. Be specific with exactly what information you want, what the charge will be for the dealer's service (if any,) and in what format you want the information (writing, verbal, now, researched.)
Each dealer's knowledge and experience varies, as with any other service industry. When speaking with a dealer, ask yourself this: Does this dealer seem to be straightforward and open with answers to your questions? Does he/she seem a little hesitant or "shifty"?
Is he/she seeming to guess, or perhaps lie to obtain a service fee, or even worse, to obtain your valuables for next to nothing?
Example #1: You have an antique Tonka brand toy truck to sell -- it might be worth $25 to $150 to $600 retail in an antique shop -- you need to speak with an experienced and reputable dealer who specializes in toys. Visit antique shops or shows and ask who specializes in toys. The person behind the counter at the average antique shop may say he/she wants to help you but they might also just want your treasure. That's why you want to talk to a dealer who specializes in toys. Be specific when talking to the people behind the counter. Trust your instincts, if it doesn't feel right
to you, simply walk away. You can also call antique shops and inquire about dealers who specialize in your item.
Always speak with a dealer who specializes in your type
of item!
Example #2: Let's say you have a rifle or military item that is 100 years old -- you need to speak with a dealer who specializes in antique guns and military items. I am a dealer, but I don't know anything about guns, and I would tell you that flat out! I don't
joke around to try to buy your treasure at a low price. I could not tell
you if it was worth $50 or $5000. My advice would be to seek a gun/military specialist and if I knew someone, I would refer you to them. A good dealer always knows another good dealer!
Example #3: If you have valuable vintage jewelry, you should seek a dealer who specializes in vintage jewelry. I wouldn't be able to
tell you if it was 18K or 24K or if the red stone was a ruby or garnet. You need to find a person who can. I do deal with some jewelry, but my knowledge is still limited. I will not buy a piece of jewelry
worth over $1000 from a stranger unless he has a written appraisal from a local jewelry store that I know and trust. This customer can then come back to me with his/her vintage gems and a written appraisal. Then, and only then, will I offer a price. This protects you and it protects me. Most antique dealers behind the counter often cannot provide information on expensive vintage jewelry. I can't emphasize this enough:
Not all dealers can help you in all areas!
If you have coins, seek out a coin
dealer -- either through an antique shop or a coin shop. Remember, don't trust everyone!
Your best defense is to ask questions before agreeing on a selling price!
Selling your items can be complex. You don't want to be
conned into selling a treasure for just a dollar. You need to protect
yourself by doing some research and asking a lot of questions.
Many dealers give free advice for simple/quick requests. For example, a customer may bring in 2 boxes of items and wants to know if he should garage sale it or sell to an antique store. I will give the customer 10 to 15 minutes of my time for free. He has to bring the items in clean, sorted, and organized. I can then do a quick scan, and say "this is worth $5," "this is worth $1," "this is worth researching," "this could be valuable," or "I want to buy this." This is a fun scan of your items
that dealers should enjoy offering for free.
For a pre-set fee, a dealer can drive to your home and provide a quick overview of your items. You both should first agree on the specific information requested, type of price, fee, and specific block of time beforehand. The dealer can then spend the allotted time evaluating your items, giving you verbal "off the top of my head" prices that you can either record on tape or write down. This information can also be written by the dealer but this usually costs more because it's more time consuming for the dealer. The bottom line is you as the customer want to know if the items are valuable or not, what they are worth, and if you should sell it at a garage sale.
If you want specific research done on items for sentimental reasons, insurance, or monetary value for determination of future inheritance, etc., you need to know that this is more time consuming and requires extra time for proper research, whether it would be by computer, reference books, or other sources. You need to work out the details and price with the dealer.
In closing, I would like to recommend a book for further reading that's brand new on the bookshelf titled "Buy, Keep or Sell? - The Insider's Guide to Identifying Trash, Treasure, or Tomorrow's Antiques" by Judith Miller, who is an authority on collectibles and price guides.
Coming soon: How To Research An Item Yourself
Happy hunting and selling! Remember, even a Red Wing bowl has its own attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
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How To
Research An Item Yourself
There are several different ways to
research an item by yourself. All methods,
however, take time and effort on your part, but can be done if
you are diligent. Here are 4 basic methods:
1. Shop Antique Stores
2. eBay or other online auction sites
3. Google search
4. Reference Books
Method 1 -- Shop Antique Stores
Visit a local antique store with the single purpose of
looking for a similar item -- you are NOT shopping for yourself, but rather you are searching
for similar items. Take a note pad, pencil, and tape measure. Sorry, no cameras are
allowed in any antique store. Jot down specific notes on items found that are similar,
identical, or to compare. Include color, condition, size, draw a sketch, if needed. Also
include information on the sales tag: the price, any key words such as who
made the item, years made, etc.
Example: You own a pottery vase, but don't know how
old it is, the value, or even the pottery company that made it. What to do: Shop
several antique stores, looking for all pottery vases. Search every shelf and every locked
case. Read the price tag or label to see if a pottery company (manufacturer) is listed.
Bring a tape measure to measure the height of similar vases.
Method 2 -- eBay or other online auction sites
Log into eBay and browse items for sale. You
can also do an "advanced search" on recently closed auctions back to 15 days. Search by
different key words. The key words you enter to search are important as they draw in
what items you will see. Look at the pictures of items that are similar to yours.
Read descriptions looking for words that will help you identify and value your own item.
(If you want to sell your item, you can list it.)
A second website you can use is
Artfact.com.
Craigslist.org is a
third website that can be used to compare items.
SAFETY WARNING: When using websites for
searches, selling, or communicating with others, PLEASE BE CAREFUL about how much personal
information you offer! Scammers hide on the internet.
Method 3 -- Google Search
Use Google or another search engine. Try typing in
various key words to what assistance you can find.
Example: Google search "price of a red wing vase".
Several sites about Red Wing Pottery will appear for you to check out. Related
reference books for sale will appear. Of course, you could also see Red Wing shoes, Red Wing
city information including hotels in town, etc. Sort through your search results
to get the information you need.
Method 4 -- Reference Books
As an antique dealer, I have learned to heavily
rely on and use reference books. I probably own 200 such books, plus all antique shops
keep reference books for dealers and customers to use while in the store.
There are a few different types of reference books:
1. Price Guides -- Offer dollar value information
2. Information Only -- No pricing, just the history.
3. Combination of both.
There are books that only cover one item specifically,
such as JUST Red Wing Pottery. There are "general" books that cover all types of one
area such as "all kitchen items", "all types of depression glass patterns", "all toys",
or "all pottery makers."
Lastly, there are general reference guides that cover
every type of antique from Apple Peeler to Zaneville Pottery, in alphabetical order.
Kovell's of Schroeder's are the most common of this type.
You can view reference books at an antique store, local
county library, buying from a book store, or you can even buy reference books online.
When using a reference book, the first thing I do is
identify what year the book was published so I know how old the pricing information
is. For example: I am pricing a depression glass plate. If the reference book was
published in 2000, that is important for me to know that the prices in the book are 7 years
old. I would then look for a reference book published closer to the current year.
Reference books are a wonderful resource for not only
pricing data but also for detailed information about when your items were made and by
whom.
As you can see, researching an item yourself will take
some time, patience, and a little work on your part. But it can be done!
Remember, every antique has its own attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
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Experience
Late 1800s Farming and See Antiques in Action!
There are several farms in the Twin Cities area
that offer a hands-on tour and learning experience of farming from over 100 to 150 years ago. They basically tell
the story of agriculture in Minnesota. These are working farms that show what farm
life was really like in the past. Plus you get to see numerous antiques in their natural
setting and actually working!
Here are four such farms:
1) The Oliver H. Kelley Farm in Elk River on the
Mississippi River: This is an 1800s tranquil living-history farm. It is a museum,
owned and operated by the Minnesota Historical Society. Dressed in period clothing,
staff members perform daily farm activities of rural life between 1850 and 1876.
Visit their website for hours and admission prices, or more information:
Oliver H. Kelley Farm
or call 763-441-6896.
TRIVIA QUESTION: When did Minnesota achieve
Statehood? The answer is at the end of this article.
2) The Eidem Farm in Brooklyn Park: This is a restored
1894 Homestead with a Norwegian heritage. Visitors
can ride the hay wagon, drink fresh cider, collect hen eggs, tour the old kitchen, and roast
marshmallows at the bonfire. Volunteers in period dress work the farm, the kitchen, and
answer all your questions. The farm is open through mid-December. Visit their website
for hours, admission cost, or more information:
Eidem Farm
or
call 763-493-8367.
3) Murphy's Landing in Shakopee: This is a museum and
living history village set in the 1850s to 1890s with an emphasis on the settlement
period and Civil War era. See a blacksmith, print shop, millinery, and more...all
operating as they would in the mid to late 1800s. Visit their website for more info:
Murphy's Landing
or call 763-694-7784.
4) The Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life, also
known as The Heman Gibbs Farmstead in Falcon Heights: This is a museum
that educates visitors on the lives of 1800s Minnesota pioneers and the Dakotah people (also
called Dakota) who lived in southern Minnesota. This is a living museum with
a farm house, barn, school house, sod house, bark lodge and tipi -- all from about
the 1850s. There is also a Dakotah medicine teaching garden and Dakotah vegetable
garden. Visit their website for more information:
Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and
Dakotah Life or call 651-646-8629 and/or 651-222-0701.
TRIVIA ANSWER: In 1858, Minnesota achieved Statehood.
These farms are like traveling back in time. There are
antiques everywhere! Plus you get to see many of the antiques actually being used. I encourage you and
your family to visit an 1800s era working farm. Ahh...you can FEEL, SMELL, and TASTE our
past!
Remember, even a wooden spoon can have attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
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Sell Your Gold For Cash
This is a trend seen all over the internet and on
TV commercials. The companies ask that you send them your unwanted, broken, or mismatched
gold, silver, and jewelry. Does it work? Can you make money? The answer is YES, you can receive
cash for your unwanted gold items. Gold, silver, platinum - any amount - any color
- any karat weight. Even dental gold, charms, coins, and silverware.
The company asks you to drive to their store location,
to call their 1-800 phone number, or log onto their website to order a free packet that they mail out to
you. You then place your old gold into the free mail packet and send it back to them. The
company then sorts through the items. They conduct normal testing and an assaying
process. The term "karat" indicates the purity of the gold, such as
10 Kt or 14 Kt. They then weigh your items and mail you a check.
Some websites offer you a grid of the price per ounce
offered and update that price daily based on market value. Some companies suggest you hold a party at
your house and party guests brings their old jewelry. A rep is sent to your home to
analyze the items guests bring. Checks are given that day to your party guests.
If you prefer selling your gold in person, there are
local places that you can drive to such as pawn shops or jewelers who may buy your old items. Below are just a
few of the many places you can contact to sell your gold.
NOTE: I do not recommend or endorse any of these
companies. I have not personally used any of them. I have talked to people who have sold their gold (both
in person and through the mail) and they were very pleased with the cash received.
Places to mail your gold to:
1. Cash4Gold.com - Phone: 1-877-GOLD-590 (Mail only,
located in Florida)
2. USGoldBuyers.com - Phone: 1-877-977-GOLD (Mail
only, located in New York)
3. EmpireGoldBuyers.com - Phone: 1-888-949-3674 (Mail
only, located in New York)
4. TopDollarGold.com - Phone: 1-877-GOLD-097 (Mail or
FedEx, located in Colorado)
Places you sell your gold in person:
1. 952-GOLD-GUYS: Bring your items to their store
at the Mall of America. They also offer a "gold selling party" right in your home.
They send the rep to you. (Contact them for more information.)
2. HotelGoldBuyers.com - Phone: 1-877-721-8033. They
buy gold at certain hotels every weekend in Eden Prairie, Maple Grove,
Bloomington, and Edina. They also offer the in-home gold selling party.
3. Pawn America Stores, call 952-646-1760 to get the
location closest to you.
4. Wedding Day Diamonds, 5 store locations. Call
952-513-0030.
Here is an example of what you can expect based on the
weight. If you have $20 worth in WEIGHT of GOLD, they will offer you between $4 - $7, not the full $20.
As with any business dealing, please do your own research on any company you do
business with.
Remember, even a wooden spoon can have attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
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Christmas Gift Ideas For An
Antique Lover
Your spouse, friend, mother, or boss collects
antiques. What should you give them for a gift? Below are a few points to consider:
a.) Gift Certificate from an antique store.
b.) A shopping spree/day with you.
c.) Buy the item they collect -- pros and cons to this
option.
d.) A reference book
e.) Start a child/teen collecting
Gift Certificate From An Antique Store
Most antique shops offer gift certificates for sale in
common dollar amounts such as: $25, $50, $100. Just ask a sales clerk. Of course, the gift certificate is
good at this one location only. This makes a wonderful gift!
A Shopping Spree/Day With You
I like this idea: Give a gift of a day or an
afternoon of antique shopping with you. You don't need to buy them everything they like or want, just set some limits
and what you want to pay for.
I give this gift often -- something like:
Example 1: My gift to you is A DAY OF
ANTIQUE SHOPPING: I will drive, we leave at 9:00am, hit the stores in Stillwater. Lunch is on me,
and you have all my attention all day as we browse from store to store. I
won't complain that you are looking at fishing lures too long. I promise,
no complaints from me. That is my gift to you. I will buy you one item of
your choice up to $40 dollars. So let's go antiquing together!
Example 2: My gift to you: Let's go
antiquing! I will buy you one Red Wing Crock of
your choice. Put on your walking shoes and let's hit
the antique stores!
Trust me, this is a wonderful gift for a person who
like antiques, collectibles, or just browsing for them at the shops!
Buy The Item They Collect -- Pros And Cons
Unless you are knowledgeable about the item or the
category of item that the other person collects, I would probably not buy it for someone else for a
gift. Why? The policy at nearly all antique stores is "no returns and no exchanges -- no exceptions."
Example 1: Your husband collects antique fishing
lures. You know nothing about them,
then visit the closest antique store and buy 2 lures for
him. When he opens
the gift, he tells you that he already has one of them
and the second one is a reproduction and worth a fraction of what you paid. The
receipt is stamped: No returns.
Example 2: Your mother collects Hall Pottery.
You buy a vase at the local antique shop
thinking it's Hall Pottery. Your mother opens the gift
and immediately knows it's not made by Hall Pottery, but rather by Hull
Pottery. The receipt is stamped: No returns/No exchanges.
Therefore, I warn against giving a specific antique
item as a gift unless you have some knowledge about the item they collect. If you've shopped with this person
for years and know the ins and outs of the item, then by all means, shop for and buy the
item with confidence that it's just what they do collect and it's
the item they need for that collection.
A Reference Book
A reference guide OR price book makes a wonderful
gift! You can buy them at some antique stores, at all book stores, and online...or give a gift card from
a local book store.
Remember, every antique has its own attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
Start A
Child/Teen/Adult Collecting
A hobby, a collection, an early passion. You can start
a child, teen, or adult onto a lifelong path of
collecting. Start by sharing your knowledge and
enthusiasm at home. Share and show what you collect and
have a passion about.
Then:
a.) Take the child/teen/adult shopping at an
antique store
b.) Buy a reference book
c.) Buy an item to start their collection
As the new collector's knowledge in the area grows, so
will their passion for finding and learning more about
that item.
I am always pleased to see a new and blossoming
collector develop. Many new collectors enjoy collecting
items such as coins, foreign bills, comic books, paper
dolls, cameo jewelry, stamps, collector Barbie dolls,
Tonka brand trucks, Hot Wheels cars, board games,
fishing lures, wood golf clubs, sewing bobbins, hankies,
aprons, military helmets, and so much more.
Another common type of collection is to collect anything
related to one topic:
1.) Example: collect anything related to John Deere
tractors -- a framed picture of a tractor, a mug
picturing a John Deere store, a t-shirt with a John
Deere tractor/logo.
2.) Example: collect anything related to strawberries
-- a collector plate picturing a porcelain strawberry, a
strawberry cookie cutter, a Strawberry Shortcake doll.
3.) If your child is interested in hair design or
fashion, start her collecting anything related to a
salon shop or hair dressing, such as antique scissors or
hair clippers, old hair clips, men's shavers, shaving
cream brushes, books or magazines about fashion or hair
styles, an old barber shop sign.
4.) If your child likes firefighters, start him
collecting anything related to that, such as an old
copper fire extinguisher, an old "rule book on
firefighting," fireman's helmet, photographs of a fire
truck, toy fire trucks, a novel with a picture of a
firefighter on the cover.
Searching for items and learning about them is quite an
experience! Once a new collector catches the
"collector's bug" and begins to feel the passion for an
item, their fun will begin. Good luck and enjoy shopping
those antique stores!
Remember, every antique has its own attitude!
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector |
Tips For A
Successful Garage Sale - Part 1
I love garage sales!! I love having one! I love to
shop them! Garage sales are a great way to get rid of
your items and make a few dollars. Since spring is
literally around the corner, many of you are shifting
gears for spring cleaning and garage sale season. All
month long I will feature ideas that you can implement
to help you put on a successful garage sale. Some
things you may already know, while others you may have
never thought of or never tried before.
Keep this point in mind during your preparation: The
purpose of your sale is to make money and get rid of
stuff -- a plain and simple goal.
WARNING: It takes work and time to hold a garage sale,
there is no way around that. You need to commit your
time, but I can make some suggestions that will make it
more fun!
Keep it fun and short: Approaching a
garage sale can seem like a lot of work, and it is. Keep
the process: 1.) Fun & simple and, 2.) short.
1.) FUN & SIMPLE: I think about my sale as a fast and
fun project. Get it done this week - 7 days total
time. Make it a family affair -- involve others. Ask
your neighbor, kids, or grandkids to help in both the
set up and during the sale. A reward for them is that
they can bring items from their own home to sell at your
sale, plus they can have first look at your items
for sale. The first buyers get the best stuff.
2.) SHORT: Set up your entire sale in 7 days. Keep the
time frame short for preparation. You can get a lot of
work done in 2 hours a day for 5 - 7 days. That's your
preparation time. Do not take 3 weeks to set up -- that
would disrupt your life and your garage. Remember your
goal: sell your stuff and make some money.
Antiques With Attitude,
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector
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Tips For A
Successful Garage Sale - Part 2
Next, it's time to determine what days to hold your
sale. The most popular days are Thursday through
Saturday. That's what I would suggest as well.
You can expect that the first few shoppers who arrive at
your sale may seem to walk in and then leave without
buying anything. Why? Thursday mornings from 8:00 to
10:00 are times that collectors and professional dealers
go out and buy. These shoppers are often looking for
one very specific item. They walk in your garage
do a fast scan and then leave. Don't be discouraged.
Your sales should begin to pick up at 10:00 am or noon
when the average garage sale shoppers wake up and start
to drive.
The average shoppers start to arrive at 10:00 am, but I
always open at 8:00 am for those people driving to work
who might see the signs and decide to stop for a couple
of minutes.
Another thing you can do to boost your sales is to
invite your neighbors and friends to your garage the
night before your sale opens...even if you are still
pricing and working in your garage. Just tell them to
come on over and shop!
Now that you determined the days of your sale, the next
thing is advertising your sale.
I am probably unique in this suggestion, but it works
for me. I have never once placed an ad. I use
signs...a lot of very well placed and daily monitored
signs. If you don't have the luxury of living on a main
thoroughfare, you begin by placing signs directing them
off the main thoroughfare to your sale. Your signs
don't have to be elaborate. Just a simple "Garage Sale"
with an arrow pointing them the way. Keep your signs
the same color...if you start with a yellow sign, keep
using yellow signs throughout the route to your sale.
In contrast, most people tend to place an ad in the
local newspaper. Use your local shopper. It's
delivered to every household in the area every week. I
happen to live in Anoka, so my local shopper is the
Anoka County Shopper.
These are the two most popular advertising options for
garage sales. You can use one, the other, or a
combination of the two. There is no right or wrong
option, simply go with the option that you feel most
comfortable with.
Antiques With Attitude,
Deb Chesley
Antique Dealer/Collector |
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