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The Collectors Newsletter #646 -- October 2008

The Collectors Newsletter #646 -- October 2008

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1. Featured Collectors Club
2. Stories From our Readers
3. Antique News
4. Your Classifieds
5. Newly listed items
6. Funny Old Stuff
7. Wanted ads. Can you help?
8. A Vintage Recipe
9. A Vintage Recipe Request from a Reader
10. New On line Merchants
11. Helpful Resources For Collectors
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Some Wonderful Things Just Listed at TIAS.com

Antiques and collectibles make wonderful thoughtful gifts. The merchants at TIAS have been adding new inventory as we approach the Holiday shopping season. We carry over 600,000 quality bargain items offered by reputable merchants. Get your Holiday shopping done early this year, with antiques and collectibles from TIAS.com. What's new at TIAS? Checkout - http://www.tias.com/showcase/browse.fcgi

Also be sure to checkout all the new merchants at TIAS - http://www.tias.com/news/
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1) Featured Collectors Club
Highlighting clubs of interest to collectors.

Homer Laughlin China Collectors Association

Whether you are a collector, dealer, student, or historian ... if you have an interest in any of the now-collectible wares that were produced by the Homer Laughlin China Company, the Homer Laughlin China Collectors Association is for you! Formed in the summer of 1998 as an all-volunteer, member-operated organization, HLCCA is dedicated to providing a serious educational forum and communication tool for all those who are interested in the important contribution that HLC has made to American culture, from 1873 to the present. HLCCA is a non-profit organization, with IRS Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Our membership is drawn primarily from the United States and Canada, but we welcome international members as well. We conduct an annual Conference during which we offer seminars, workshops, multi-media presentations, auctions, exhibits, and other opportunities to share and exchange information about HLC products. The Dish, the official publication of HLCCA, is a quarterly magazine that contains a wealth of information on topics relevant to anyone interested in HLC. For more info on this club, click here: http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/clubs.cgi?OIKey=501&listByKey=501&groupKey=1

Are you interested in seeing some samples of Homer Laughlin China? Take a look at: http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/China_and_Dinnerware/Homer_Laughlin/1.html

2) After you read these stories, tell us your interesting story. Send your story to newsletter@tias.com and we may publish it here . We want to hear any interesting or unusual stories you would like to share with us
that are related to collecting or anything vintage.
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By 1958, we all got those cute "black with white fringed cowboy or cowgirl outfits" to go to COWBOY CITY. This was a amusement park. It was the East Coast's small reflection of DISNEYLAND. Not so big, or so colorful, but still a child's place of pure enjoyment! It was in Asbury Park, New Jersey. I was about 5, when mom dressed me in the outfit. I was thrilled. I was feeling so original and cute and different from the NEW YORK CITY BROOKLYNITE. The dungarees and striped shirts were put away that day!

We traveled for hours in dad's big car, I think it was a big old BLUE BUICK!.... and finally pulled into the huge parking lot. There were so many people in the distance on line waiting to get in. Expecting to have a
wonderful day, we walked all the way across the lot to the main entrance, where my emotions, the excitement and feelings of being so "SPECIAL" were suddenly replaced with feelings of disappointment! Every single little kid, no matter the size or age, was dressed in the absolutely same goofy COWBOY OUTFIT! I wasn't in a special outfit..... I was dressed in a uniform!! I started to cry!!! We were just a bunch of clones! At five this was traumatic!

(Today, if I should run into someone wearing my same outfit, I stop and giggle remembering how mortified I was at 5!)

Anyhow the reason we all wanted to go to COWBOY CITY was because of the once a week "COWBOY DAYS" episodes on the MICKEY MOUSE CLUB! They had SPIN and MARTY and the "Mouseketeers" vacationing on a dude ranch, and the episodes always included some cute kids riding a pony, and learning to rope! Plus the singing and dancing, the cowboy songs were so unique to us New Yorkers! We
all wanted to ride those ponies! The only real horses I ever saw had big policeman riding on them!

Thanks to Walt Disney for his years of entertaining us! I still love MICKEY and MINNIE and have many of the 50's style ones in my personal collection!

Thanks for the memory! Candy E. -Now in California

--Another Story--

The question regarding a business slow-down has a very simple answer. In one word - economics. There has been a slow-down in the real estate market, higher fuel costs and numerous areas have experienced rises in local taxes and insurance costs. U.S. productivity is high, but wages are barely keeping pace with modest inflation. These forces put pressure on household budgets and expendable income shrinks. Necessity items will always come before luxury and the antique business falls into that category. The economy may hurt the flea markets to some extent, but they, like the discount retail stores, will retain most of the business. Bargains are always a survivor. Bill, Fla.

--Another Story--

I use to own two stores from
1998 to Aug.2001. Both were in small towns in SW Washington State. I think there are various factors involved in the decline. Up and into the '90's, you could go to any garage/estate sale and find antiques galore, at cheap prices. As various TV shows started to educate people of possibly owning valuables increased, so did the price of buying, limiting room for mark-up. eBay was #1 to start the decline as I saw/talked to store owners closing due to cost of overhead vs. eBay, decline in product availability, & increase of customer base on-line. Poor quality customer service and thrift store vendors in malls being #2, turning their space (and your store) into a devalued blow-mart style of junk and crap items with outrageous prices. Way too much glass, old & new, everywhere #3 (along with #2), and decorating trends being #4 with "less is more" and new is better. My most successful dealers dealt with a knowledgeable/specific theme/item (niche), mostly true primitives, vintage and 50's style, and those that had the ability to mix/decorate like kind with new and retro. - working their space continually, offering quality items, w/affordable prices. Repeat customers continually came back. Design styles/trends/prices/availability change and as a business owner you need to adjust with it. Look at what Martha Stewart & Ashley did to price/availability of Jadeite and Shabby Chic, as an example. Look at what's hot at eBay and you'll see New/Repro items abound. The only other successful antique stores I know of, that have/continue to stand the test of time, selling $20k + per month, are sole owners that offer very unique/specialty, difficult-to-find, and latest popular trend items in a high end well-established money district (store location/display is the key). I can't tell you how many times I spent with customers that don't know how to decorate, offering ideas/suggestions on how-to, with a specific piece, while making the sale. Most people coming into your store don't have a specific item in mind, they buy on impulse, or the latest decorating trends (the "LOOK"). Why do you suppose decor magazines are ever popular - it's the look and ideas of items used. Granted the internet has made buying more convenient and cost effective, shipping is becoming cheaper than gas. Susan, La Center, WA

--Another Story--

My story is about a lovely set of china, found at a yard sale. My sister and I were 'treasure hunting' in a yard across town one Saturday when she called to me, "this is really pretty china, but $50 for one place setting is kinda high." I went over and turned the plate over and noticed "Occupied Japan" on the bottom of the delicately flowered and gold-rimmed piece. Still a little expensive but understandable; I put it down. "Oh....wait...." she said, "$50 for 8 place settings and serving pieces". I turned and ran to her and said, "cover it with your body till I can get my $$ from the truck." I had n
fine china and was thrilled, to say the least. Brought it home, unwrapped every piece and washed and inspected it that afternoon; two missing soup bowls, one missing sugar bowl, and 1 or 2 chips; beautiful serving bowl and platter. That's probably my best find. Another great find was at the Good Will when I found a darling set of silverplate flatware, service for 8, for 29 cents apiece. I enjoy your stories and thanks for letting me share mine today. Judy in Texas

--Another Story--

A number of years ago we made a special trip to Trenton, NJ to visit the Lenox China factory. They had a small museum displaying some of the early and more unusual pieces they had made along with samples of White House china. Soon after our visit the company was sold and now most of their things are made in other countries. Does anyone know of a Lenox China Museum still in existence? Bill

--Another Story--

Hello, yes i have a story. My mama used to have a wonderful antique store here in Queensland Australia and one day an elderly lady came in with a jar full of plastic beads for mama to buy. Mama disliked plastic beads but bought the jar from the lady anyway... Mama was very sweet like that. Mama put the bottle away and forgot all about it. then a few weeks later she found the bottle and emptied it all out on the counter. There in the bottle was a beautiful 22 carat gold and diamond broach. Mama took it to the jewelers across the street and had it valued... $ 15000.00 ! Mama kept the broach hoping that the lady would come back but she never did. Mama even put a notice in the local newspaper. That happened over 20 years ago. I wonder what the broach is worth today ? Hugs, joey in Australia.

--Another Story--

To all of you out their asking what would you take if you had to leave in a hurry. With all the people leaving their homes here in California it seems not much. It seems many people here just take there wallets, hand bags children and a few clothes homes here are being left with family photos bibles personal papers furniture toys and the like houses full of memories. A company is then is hired to come in and are under contract just to clear it all out so there it goes to the landfill, it must be cleared nothing can be left. Employees can take what they like but it is so over whelming they even pass on all things left behind this is not junk but collectables, antiques, life times of thing all gone left behind they are valuable or could be but they are just being left behind.. Charities that are contacted can not react fast enough to fit the time line the company has been given and some charities will not take it all so it goes to the landfill. Memories, collectables, their past so what would you really take? It makes me wonder was it like that during the depression when people left many thing behind in there homes for other to find but here there is know here to find it just goes to the landfill. Are they so broken so sad they do not have the heart to take it with them or was it really important? I have the few pieces my family brought with them to California when they left Texas during the Great depression and I cherish them as much as they did. I wonder what could cause a generation to be so different to leave so much behind. This is just a thought. You may not print this but I was just wondering if any one else had seen this and had any thoughts. I love to collect I cherish the past and today I hope these people will again. From a Saddened Collector.
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DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL? SEND IT TO PHIL@TIAS.COM
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We collect interesting stories about collecting. Things like your best find, unusual collections, bizarre collectibles. Anything and everything that is interesting that has to do with collecting. We may publish it here. Send your story to newsletter@tias.com
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3) Antique News
News-Antique.com is now the #1 search result on Google for antique news. If you want to tell the world
about your antiques & collectibles business, auction, club or upcoming event related to the antiques and
collectibles trade, you can post it for free at http://www.News-Antique.com and we may post it here.
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Here are the latest news headlines about antiques and collectibles from http://www.News-Antique.com

1. LONG BEACH VETS STADIUM HOST HUGE ANTIQUE SALE
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785174&keys=antiques-fleamarket-collectibles-swapmeet

2. Top Drawer Accoutrements Has Moved
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785173&keys=Antiques-Art-Polish-Pottery

3. Kate Moss Art Market Mess 2 - artmarketblog.com
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785170&keys=art-artist-market-investment

4. Guide to International Art Markets - artmarketblog.com
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785169&keys=art-artist-market-investment

5. Kate Moss Art Market Mess 1 - artmarketblog.com
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785168&keys=art-artist-market-investment

6. Halliday House Antiques Offers First Dutch-style Web Auction of Americana!
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785167&keys=Americana-Auction-Antique-Boxes

7. Don't Miss Babylon Mall's Vintage Halloween Sale
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785166&keys=vintage-clothing-retro-antique

8. iTaggit Introduces Premium Service to Assist Collectors, Artists and Merchants with Online Sales
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785165&keys=itaggit-sales-merchants-online

9. Holiday and Christmas Gifts are at Dinnerware Replacements
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785164&keys=Dinnerware-Christmas-Collectibles-Gifts

10. Antique Stoves Tell History
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785163&keys=antique-stoves-appraisal-online

11. An Online Vintage Jewelry Store Celebrates the Holidays!
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785162&keys=Jewelry-Costume-Jewellry-Vintage

12. Important art and antiques auction in October
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785161&keys=Jordaens-Auction-Claus-Schelfhout

13. Sports Collecting Social Network Launched
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785160&keys=sports-collectors-memorabilia-sportscards

14. Autograph Collecting and Purchasing
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785159&keys=autographs-collectibles-celebrities-gifts

15. Monmouth Pottery Company
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785157&keys=Antique-Sale-Collectibles-Porcelain

16. T206 Honus Wagner card to be auctioned Nov. 22-23
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785155&keys=honus-wagner-baseball-card

17. American Ammunition box hits $6,859 at SoldUSA.com
click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785154&keys=shell-hunting-fishing-ammunition

18. SHOW PROMOTER ANNOUNCES ACQUISITON OF FLORIDA WEST COAST SHOWS
click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785153&keys=antiques-shows-Sarasota-collectibles

19. WEST PALM BEACH ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES SHOW
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785152&keys=antiques-collectibles-show-sale

20. Antique CARtober Fest October 5th, 2008 at Collinsville Antiques Company
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=785151&keys=Antique-car-vintage-Connecticut
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MANY more stories are added several times a day. You can read the latest news now at:
http://www.news-antique.com
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YES! you can put the latest DAILY news about antiques and collectibles on your Web site.
It's easy to do. Go to: http://javafeed.news-antique.com/ to get the code.
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4) Your Classifieds...

Shelley China Specialists Time Was Antiques
http://pages.tiasexchange.com/1410506/PictPage/3923479751.html

Do you have antiques or collectibles you are just itching to sell? A simple classified ad in this newsletter might just be your answer. Over 17,000 readers subscribe to this newsletter. One of them just might be able
to help you out. Place your ad today at: http://tinyurl.com/39eulu

Want to know what our advertisers think? Check out the testimonials at: http://tinyurl.com/8xqyw
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5) Newly listed items for your online shopping pleasure for Tuesday October 07, 2008 Stop by and check out today's fresh inventory at:
TIAS - http://www.tias.com/showcase
CollectorOnline - http://cgi.tias.com/showcase/?groupKey=7
AntiqueArts - http://cgi.tias.com/showcase/?groupKey=3
Earthling - http://cgi.tias.com/showcase/?groupKey=6
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6) Funny Old Stuff
This is our humor section. These are humorous family stories and comments that are sent in by readers. If you have a submission you would like to share, please send it to newsletter@tias.com and we may run it in the next issue.
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On a recent visit to her OB Gyn, my dauthter -in-law was on the table as the Dr. was locating the baby's heart beat. My granddaughter, who just turned four was delighted to hear the heart beat and with eyes big as saucers said, "Mommy, you do have a baby in your belly!" The Dr. laughed and asked her if she wanted him to listen to her belly for which she promptly replied, "No, I don't have a baby. My Grandma says I have a bullfrog in my belly."

After she eats, often times she will pull her shirt to show me her full tummy, so I always act surprised and tell her, "Oh, my goodness, you have a bullfrog in there." It always makes us laugh.

And the Dr. said it was the best laugh he had all day. Ruthann G.

--Another Story--

I don't know about the rest of you collectors, but I've also been adding to my collection of new relatives in the past 10 years or so. What started my genealogical quest was the diary of a great-grandmother that I ended up self-publishing. Lately though, since we moved to the home state of my husband's lineage (CT) I find that I've been stumbling across people who turn out to be descendants of his grandparents and earlier relatives. The latest discovery was made when Adam W., who had come to the US from New Zealand, was researching his own grandfather's lineage here in this area. He contacted our church, then talked with me, and it turns out that he and my husband are fourth cousins once removed. Not a close connection, as you can see, but I'll long remember the look on his face when I "introduced" him to his great-great-great grandfather, whose portrait we have hanging in our living room! Carol in CT
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We need stories for our humor section. Tell us some funny, family related stories and we'll share them with our readers. Send them to newsletter@tias.com
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Do you have a funny family story you would like to share? Make someone feel good by sharing it with us. Send it to newsletter@tias.com and we may publish it here.
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7) Wanted ads. Can you help?
Here are the latest wanted ads from the TIAS Exchange. Can you help someone out?
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WANTED: POSTCARDS, CALENDARS PAPER EPHEMERA
http://pages.tiasexchange.com/1355837/PictPage/3923479490.html

WANTED: Old Vox Guitars
http://pages.tiasexchange.com/1355837/PictPage/3923480748.html
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GET YOUR WANTED AD HERE! Just $10 and we'll send it out to 17,000 people who get this newsletter. Go to http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/submitClassified.cgi
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Looking for something? Place a "Wanted" ad in this newsletter. Over 17,000 subscribers will see it. It's easy, go to: http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/submitClassified.cgi
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9) A Vintage Recipe
Be sure to check out our vintage recipe archive online at: http://www.tias.com/newsletter/topics/A%20Vintage%20Recipe.html Over 1200 wonderful vintage recipes are listed.

In our last issue a reader requested a recipe for "featherweight biscuits". We had one response for this recipe.
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Featherweight Biscuits

2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup chilled buttermilk
Preparation
Preheat oven to 450°F. Sift first 6 ingredients into large bowl. Add butter and rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk and stir until dough forms. Turn dough out onto floured surface; knead until smooth, about 8 turns. Roll out dough to 1-inch thickness. Using 2-inch-diameter biscuit cutter or cookie cutter, cut out biscuits. Gather scraps; roll out to 1-inch thickness and cut out additional biscuits.

Transfer biscuits to large ungreased baking sheet. Bake until golden, about 12 minutes. Serve warm.

Submitted by Dorothy/Ohio
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If you enjoy these vintage recipes, you should buy a vintage cookbook from us. They make great gifts too. Take a look at: http://www.tias.com/cookbooks
Buy a Vintage Kitchen collectible from us. We've got lots of them here: http://www.tias.com/kitchen
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10) A vintage recipe request from a reader
As with collectibles, people also have very strong feelings about foods from their past. Sometimes these special recipes get lost. This section is to help people who are looking for lost recipes from their past. If you
submit a request, please include the geographical region where you had this recipe.
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My grandmamy come from Elba Alabama, I remember dearly her homemade Alabama Red Pepper Relish,, Elba is a small town 2 hours north of Montgomery. I have had a few recipes and none ever like hers, not to sweet and slightly jelled as I believe. I sure would love it if anyone could help me out with some native Alabama recipes.
Thanks, E. Danielle King-Williams -South Carolina
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If you can help this reader with this recipe, please forward it to recipes@tias.com . If you have a vintage recipe request send it to recipes@tias.com and we might just publish it here.
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Be sure to check out our vintage kitchen collectibles section online at: http://www.tias.com/kitchen
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11) New Online Merchants
Be sure to check out all of the fresh inventory offered by these new merchants at TIAS.
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Scottish Borders Antiques and Dog Collectables.
http://www.tias.com/stores/sbaadc
Large and growing inventory of dog breed paper collectables with darners, pie birds and other quality items. Selling worldwide for many years we have a 30 day money back guarantee and FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING on purchases over $10.00.

Carolina Galleries
http://www.tias.com/stores/carolinas
Exquisite gifts, antiques, modern and studio art pottery, dinnerware and china replacements, restaurant ware and collectibles. We guarantee accurate descriptions, prompt, courteous customer service, FREE US SHIPPING and your complete satisfaction.
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This year, open your own online Antique & Collectible Shop. If you have one or a few items to sell, try our classifieds at http://www.tiasexchange.com. If you have more than a few items to sell, open your own store at TIAS. It's easy and fun. Over 160,000 customers visit us on an average day. It costs you nothing to get started. Take a look at: http://www.makeashop.com
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12) Helpful Resources:
1. Find an antiques or collectibles club. Nearly 2000 different clubs listed. Take a look at: http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/clubs.cgi

2. What's it worth? Try Kovels' free online price guide to over 600,000 antiques and collectibles. It can be found online at http://www.kovels.com

3. Make money with your Web site. Join the TIAS.com affiliate program today. Go to http://www.tias.com/affiliates/

4. Looking for prices for antiques and collectibles? PriceMiner.com has millions of them. Most items listed include color photos as well. Sign up today at: http://tinyurl.com/c6oqc (Not affiliated with Kovels.com)

5. Get an online appraisal. For just $9.95 from "What's It Worth To You?" http://www.whatsitworthtoyou.com/tias.htm (Not affiliated with Kovels.com)

6. The Latest News regarding Antiques & Collectibles Take a look at http://www.news-antique.com
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Thanks for reading. Feel free to forward this to a friend. To subscribe to this newsletter go to: http://www.tias.com/subscribe Please note that stories and recipes from readers are not checked for accuracy. They may be edited prior to publication. For questions or comments, you can reach us at newsletter@TIAS.com ©1995-2008 TIAS.com Inc.

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