“Doesn't Have to be Expensive” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club - Way to Go, Lou Ann.

Looking for Bargains - Thanks to www.flicker.com

Have you noticed that some people just keep plugging away? Lou Ann is one of those people and I knew it from the first email I received from her. No, I don't expect to her to call me about that $100,000 painting, but who knows? What I do know is that she continues to come up with items each week that make her money. She seems to be able to pick small treasures from sales that others overlook. What she finds are listed artist paintings and pottery and glass by the better known companies and artists.

Let me give you three examples just in the last three days, First was a painting by a listed artist on Askart named popowski from California. Yes this artist did sign her name with all lower case letters and her first name is stella. Lou Ann asked me what she should pay for the painting and I said under $100. Well she bought it for a good deal less. Here is the exciting thing about stella popowski. She was a very well known jewelry designer. This should make her paintings valuable to the collectors of her work. I suggested that she search out markets in California for the painting and she may well be surprised with what it brings.

Not long after receiving her first email there came another one asking about the artist Frans Jacob D. Boers . She started by stating that it wasn't anything special. I think she said it cost her $5 but he was listed in Askart and the Netherlands is his home. I could only find one painting for him but it sold for over $900 and it was rather small. I don't believe Lou Ann will have any problem making a nifty profit on this painting. Now she had a double and a single in baseball terms and I wondered what was coming next. It didn't take me long to find out.

Why should I have been surprised when the next email was about a signed Peter Max poster. Checking the signed posters by Peter Max on eBay there have been ones sold from $250 - $350. I tried to figure what Lou Ann had made for herself today and the best I can come up with is about $2000. I have to admit that I would work for that pay check. Congratulation Lou Ann and I would have to say you are one of the leaders in the “Million Dollar Race.”

I have been very sick today and haven't gotten much accomplished but I would sure appreciate your prayers.

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“The Eye Can Serve You Well” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – See What Others Don't

The Finish Line is Near - Thanks to www.flicker

I receive many emails each day asking me to identify something someone has found. Most often if the item isn't marked the value can be negligible but once in awhile I get a surprise. It's like the look that Simon had on his face when Susan Boyle began to sing. This happened to me two days ago when Vicki H. sent me a picture of a painting and mentioned that she had also bought a pottery vase for just a few dollars. The painting didn't set me on fire but when I opened the attachment showing the picture of the vase I said, “Oh my.”

You see she has a wonderful eye and that is what, through studying, you will also develop. Even though the vase wasn't marked she knew it was special. I tried to identify it but wasn't having much success so I emailed the picture to Cecil and he soon emailed me back saying he didn't have a clue. Not being deterred, Vicki kept searching for a clue to the identity of the vase and soon responded “I believe it is Pewabic pottery.” Sure enough I agreed with her because of the distinguished glaze that is a metallic lava. Also Pewabic used paper labels and that could be the reason for no mark. I believe she has found a vase worth $1000 - $5000 and I don't think she will be disappointed with either price.

How often have I said knowledge is king. Vicki first knew that the appearance of the vase was special and she didn't let the piece not being marked convince her not to buy it. Then when she couldn't get the answers she wished for, that didn't stop her in the search because she knew it was special.

Pewabic Pottery was founded by Mary Chase Perry Stratton in 1903 in Detroit Michigan. The company closed in 1961 upon Mary Stratton's death but was reopened in 1968 by Michigan State University. One of the best references to Pewabic pottery is American Art Potty by David Rago. This would be a great book to add to your library and it may be found on eBay, Abe Books or Amazon.

I will continue to share the members' stories with you because this should give you the encouragement to continue in your search when it often feels that there isn't anything out there for you to find. I was given a framed poem many years ago and today when I was feeling a little discouraged I noticed it on my wall and read it again. It energized me and I would like to share it with you. The name of the little poem is “Don't Quit.”

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“What Makes Us Do This?” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog - The Satisfaction.

Crossing the Finish Line - Thanks to aaacerticates.com

I have wondered for a long time why I spend so many hours searching for that great treasure that might only be an arm's length from me? “Could it be the money, I ask myself?” Yes, the money is nice, but I have been fortune enough to have made a lot of money in other ventures that I have participated in. Those seemed to have only provided me money but never the real satisfaction that I receive from what I am doing today. If they did, I would still be doing them today. So what is the intrigue about antiques and collectibles that seem to grip us and never let go?

You may have reasons that are different than mine and that is okay, but for me it is the satisfaction of making something happen that is competitive. I enjoy competition and in this game I get to compete with the whole world. Where else do you have this opportunity to use your mind in such a way that it makes you an entry in the greatest game on earth. I watched Lebron James last night as he took over the basketball game in the last quarter and you could see this intense expression on his face with every shot. He was not going to let his team lose and that is the feeling that I get not only from my personal transactions but also from those of our club members. We are in a competition with the whole world and I promise you that I will do everything in my power to see that we win.

Even though I might not get to hold the trophy long, still for a moment, it is mine and I am the winner. I know you're asking yourself what am I talking about. Here is an example. As you know I enjoy dealing in Kentucky Art and over the years I have had my share of wonderful paintings by Patty Thum, Harvey Joiner and Carl Brenner but never did I believe that any of my paintings were the top few paintings by that artist so I just kept on searching. Well here is why I think that I keep doing this. I found the Carl Brenner painting that I believe is as good as any painting he ever did. I more than likely will only own it for a short period of time but I will always be able to say I owned it. Just talking about this painting makes the feeling of excitement swell up inside me that I have never felt before in anything that I have done.

I ask, where else can this joy happen to you just from reaching a goal that you have set for yourself? I talk to hundreds of people and believe it or not when I get an email or call from one of you and you have just purchased a treasure, I usually can feel the excitement you are feeling as you share your find with me. That is what keeps me searching and I believe the same can be said for most of you.

Remember that great quote of Martin Luther King “I have a dream”? I believe that each one of us in this sometimes crazy business can say the same thing he did and finding the Carl Brenner painting was the fulfillment of one of my dreams. I would like to hear if any of your dreams have been fulfilled in this business?

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“The Trend is your Friend” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Pottery vs. Glass vs. Paintings.

William A. Slaughter - The Best of the West

Money that you have to invest into inventory should seek the greatest returns possible. What do I mean by this? First, if you are buying items to resell, your cost has to be low enough for you to get the return that will satisfy the rules of buying set out in our guide “31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles.” You will find this very difficult if you are trying to buy items that are in a downtrend because most people don't want to sell their items for less than they have sold for in the past. Yes it is easier to make a profit from items that are trending upward. This is another reason that we don't have to buy everything we see that might be a bargain.

Let me give you some examples. I was attending the sale at Arlington raceway and ran across several Roseville pieces. I thought that if I bought them all I would make a niffty profit. However, the market trend for Roseville had already turned down and when I began to sell those pieces there wasn't a market at the level I thought they should bring. I continued to list these pieces as the market for them continued to slide and at the present time I still own two pieces and hopefully when they are sold I will have broken even. Thank goodness for the rules we use in buying because if I had not negotiated at my price and bought them near where they were priced by the dealer I would have lost my shirt. In Chicago a man without a shirt could get very cold. It would have been best for me if I had passed on these pieces because I knew the market was already declining for them.

Then you must be asking what should we buy? For the past year my major focus has been paintings and I feel the market for art is still very stable and even going up in these treacherous times. During this year I haven't had to sell a single painting for less than a 100% gain. Yes there have been times where I have purchased a painting for $500 that I valued at $3500 or more that just reached $2500 when sold but who would argue with that return.

I just recently purchased a group of paintings that I believe will make the first half of my year a success. This is a market [ Art ] where time works on your side and even if you find that the price you wish for a painting is difficult to achieve just wait awhile and it may even bring more than you thought it would. I do hang a few paintings on my walls at home, in fact Vickie my wife says that there is a painting on any vacant spot in our home. To share with you what can happen, I purchased a painting by a well known artist for $1000 within the last five years and hung it on the wall. Since I use this to decorate with I made very little effort to sell it, but if I had been given an offer of $5000 I am sure it wouldn't be mine today. But let's look at what the art markets have done to its value. I just got a call yesterday and priced it at $12,500 and really don't care if it sells or not. This is the type of market that we want to spend our money in and not those that are in decline.

Let's give thumbs up and down. Art, some glass, toys are differently up while most pottery, figurines, porcelain are down. If you are interested in how I rate other fields just send me an email asking for my opinion and I will be more than glad to give you an answer.

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“Things in Sets” - Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Club – They will make you money.

Doulton Bull Terrier - Thanks to shop.pascoeandcompany.com

Yesterday we talked about how to make money with broken items and today our subject is things that come in sets. For you that have read my book “31 Steps to Your Million in Antiques and Collectibles”, you will remember where I talk about the person that is a completist. This is a person that has to obtain everything within his collectible area. Here is where you can take advantage of this collector by knowing the key pieces in each set of item and providing it to complete a collection for that individual.

Within any set of collectibles there is what is known as the key. For example in Royal Doulton there is a series called the K series, that is miniature animals dogs, ducks, pigs and birds that measure two inches or less. The key piece in this series is the Bull Terrier lying down K-14. You may be able to sell the more common pieces in this set for $75 but I have sold the Bull Terrier several times for $500. This same rule applies to coins and you will hear people talking about a key coin in a set and it is usually the most rare of the set with the fewest minted. If you have a common Lincoln cent it may bring you a few cents more than its face value but may fate smile on you and there in that group of pennies on the table is a mint 1909 S – VDB penny. Need I say more. You have just found a treasure. I did my research just a minute ago and found where it could bring you up to $7000. I paid my way through college by selling my coin collection but that is a story for another time.

Several companies make annual pieces like Lalique, Royal Copenhagen, Hummels [Goebels] and then you also have the annual calendar plates. I personally have purchased a Lalique annual plate for $50 and sold it the same day for $500 and likewise with the 1971 Hummel plate that once sold for over $2000. I have purchased several of these and turned them rather quickly. I never sold one that high but I did get $1000 for one once. Often the key piece in a series is the first year that it was made like the 1971 Hummel plate.

Calendar plates from the early 1900's or late 1800's can bring you $5000 or more if they are the right ones. For instance the 1907 Bristol Steel fishing rods and outdoor scene is listed for $5000. I believe you have the picture now but unless you study and know what the key pieces are, they will look just like all the rest of the pieces made by any other company.

I have heard it stated another way by the educated people in this industry. They call the pieces that are highly sought after the "Holy Grail".

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"Is It Broken?" - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club – You Buy It.

Mechanical Artillery Bank - Thanks to www.toyzine.com

This may seem strange to you but I was just browsing the “ I Antique On Line ” site and came across a gentleman's listing on the "I Wanna Buy" section for a bell yoke. Believe it or not he was willing to pay a fair amount of money for it. You could tell that he was very eager to purchase this part of the bell because more than likely the original yoke had been broken. This got me thinking about how this could help us?

Once I began to think about this I discovered that we may be able to make a lot of money by helping others complete an item that they own that is missing a part. How often have you run across that rare and unusual piece but part of it was broken or missing? This has happened to me more than I would like to think but my attitude has changed. I used to only feel pain because I thought that I had just missed a treasure by a fraction. But no longer is that my feeling. Now I wonder how cheaply I buy that damaged piece.

You see there are two outcomes that can come your way if you buy a rare or unusual item that is damaged for a pittance. First, if you find the person that needs a part on the item that you purchase to complete the item he has. The price that he has to pay for your part may not be relevant to him because your part might increase the value of his item by ten to twenty times. Let's take a mechanical bank as an example. You buy a very rare bank that has some damage for $50 when everyone else thinks it should be thrown away. You, however, know that if it were perfect, its value could be from $3500 to $9500 and to a person needing a part on your bank that isn't broken to make his complete, that fifty dollars could become a thousand very quickly. You may even reverse this situation. Maybe you could find the broken part to fix your bank and then it would be the one that was worth big money. Either way you could come out smelling like a rose.

Where else might we put this to use? How about toys that need a wheel or fire trucks that need a ladder? Both these items could bring top dollar if there is a need for them. Just recently I found a tin toy that was in the shape of a building that had attached signs to it. This was about a $5000 toy I found out as I began to research it. But guess what? When I went to eBay to check the value for this toy, one of the first items listed was one of the small signs that attached to the roof. Are you ready for this? The asking price started at $500. If you were fortune enough to find a horribly damaged item like this but the sign was intact you might be able to be purchase it for under $10.

Some things that people will be looking for to complete their items: cookie jar tops, churn tops, lamp shades, tureen tops, pedestal bases, musical instrument parts and the list could go on and on forever. Yes the value of an item can be reduced to almost nothing when it is damaged but if there are still parts that aren't damaged that can be used to complete another item, those parts can have great value.

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“ Use Your Time Wisely “ - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible blog - God Blessed My Trip.

Family First - Thanks to www.flicker.com

I had promised my brother Roger who lives in Bowlingreen Kentucky that I would visit his church camp for over 15 years but this year I meant it. So as the plans came together I realized that this also would be a great time to take several items to Cecil in Owensboro Kentucky to sell for me. Packing 5 paintings 2 pieces of pottery plus my personal effect that old truck of mine was fairly well packed. I called Cecil to tell him I was leaving and he said” Daryle you won't believe this but I think that I already have two of the items sold.”

I didn't get to do much shopping on this trip but I did have time to further think about the new changes that are in the works for the club. I believe that we are finally getting to where our club should be and also all the special programs that come with the membership will soon be functional. I know that it has been a long time coming but anything worth its salt takes time. Hopefully this week I will be announcing new members of our staff that will take over the technical side of our club.

My stated goal when I began the 31 Club [ Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club ] was to provide away for people to have a better life for themselves without having to give someone else thousands of dollars that might not every be returned to them. I hope you remember that verse “ Teach someone to fish is better than giving them a fish “ that way they will never have to go hungry again. That is what the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible club means to me.

I just received this weeks Antique Trader and there are several auctions listed and I haven't heard from many of you asking for advise on items at auction. Take this time to use the club for your reference sources so you can start the summer off right. Also you have the Askart resource for paintings at your finger tips by just calling or emailing us at the club about any artist that you need information on.

This blog isn't meant to be information about items to add to you search list, that will start tomorrow, but I would like to conclude it with the blessing I received this weekend. Over twenty years ago I had a friend in Owensboro Kentucky that stood beside me during some very difficult time and at the church camp we were reunited. It was if we had never be separated. For apart of two days we talked about the blessings that God had given us since we last saw one another and without a doubt those blessings have been numerous. My friends name is Max and he and his wife are an example of what a marriage should be and he reminded me that God had to be the center of a marriage. Being with them inspired me to come home and double my efforts to help others.

Being with my brother Roger and his children and grandchildren also reminded me of what family is really about and I hope that in coming years that maybe I will be a better family member than I have in past.

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“ Flash ! New Opportunity “ - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club – What is Hot and What is Not?

Collector Clubs - Thanks to www.news-antiques.com

I have mentioned to our readers that it is often the case that the successful people strike when the iron is hot. There might be an opportunity out there right now that you could capitalize on. Remember when I shared with you about me and my friends starting a Canine magazine and how I made so much money from dog figurines that I was almost ashamed of myself. Yes you heard that right almost. Warner took the Bull by the horns and started the Lotton Club and the rest is history. He is mister Lotton whether anyone likes it or not. Well what do you think about this?

Why doesn't someone start an American Idol Club and handle all the items pertaining to this show and its cast of characters.. As long as the public continues to have a love affair with this show the interest in the memorabilia from it will gain in value. Yes at first most of the items will be fairly cheap but as they are promoted and the common is separated from the rare the values will escalate. I searched but didn't really find anyone taking advantage of this opportunity. Most of the people that are following the show are only interested in what is happening with the characters but I could find very little about the money making opportunities that the show presents.

Here is what I am thinking. Personal items from the hosts would be great. Just think about having tickets signed by Simon Cowell or Paula Abdul don't you think they will appreciate over time. Personal effects such as clothing and even cars that they have owned might fetch a pretty penny in todays markets. Let your mind loose and think of all the things that followers of this show would like to own.

The best part doesn't stop there but continues with every new series when the list of contestants are reduced until there is a fevered pitch to see who the final one standing will be? Now you have an entirely new flood of memorabilia to provide the collector. How about this time when the winner was already basically crowned but Adam Lambert didn't get the crown because he was nosed out by upstart Kris Allen. More things for the collector were just created and you can be the the big dog. My question is who is going to step up and grab this golden ring?

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"From One Little Worm" - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club – Silk and its Value.

SILKWORM - Thanks to www.everythingabout.net

Why is silk worth so much today and why has it remained the most expensive material for the production of clothing and rugs for thousands of years? That is a great question and I will attempt to answer it for you. Most things that we buy are priced by the amount of time that it takes to produce them and the cost of the materials they are made of. It isn't any different with silk.

It is no wonder that items made from silk are highly sought after today as collectibles and, as a member of Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club, you should be keenly aware of this because it can make you a great amount of money.

Before I share the history of silk with you I want you to hear this little story of a woman who had just started her search for treasures. Since she knew clothing, she decided that this might be her best bet to making money. Attending a house sale and rummaging through some clothing in the master bedroom she came upon a silk dress. At first she was shocked at the price, but should she have been? It was less than $200. Having some knowledge, she recognized that it was a silk designer dress and just had to take it home. Not really knowing what she had, the best thing to do was make some calls which she did. It ended up being made by a very famous designer and sold for over $3000 which I am sure was a bargain because it sold on eBay. At a celebrity clothing auction it is feasible that it could have brought in the tens of thousands. Even though she did well, it might have been in her best interest to do a little more research.

I hope that you will check eBay for completed sales where you will find garments and rugs selling from $1000 to $500,000. While others are seeking to find that special painting or piece of glass the dealers who are knowledgeable on silk are quietly making a killing on silk items because there are so few dealers that recognize the most expensive pieces.

But now the reason why silk is so expensive. The story was that silk making started about 3000 years ago when a lady by the name of Hsi-Ling started raising silkworms and also created a loom. The Chinese were able to keep the secret of silk making to themselves for almost 2000 years but then other cultures developed their own methods of producing silk. Not until recently was it discovered that silk had been produced for 5000 to 6000 years. The Chinese chose a variety of silkworm that was blind and flightless to use and they fed them mulberry leaves. Once the worm gets large enough it spins itself into a cocoon. This takes 8 to 9 days. The worm is then killed in the cocoon by baking it and the cocoon is then unwound. One cocoon will produce 600 to 900 meters of silk which is wound onto a spool.

Here is a little secret for you. All silk was produced for the emperor and his friends and when producing a garment that included a dragon, only the ones with 5 toes went to the royalty. If anyone else who was not royalty was discovered with a garment having a dragon with 5 toes, they were put to death. It was all right, however, if the dragon had 3 toes. I have read this several places and hope that it isn't just an old wife's tale.

Take the time necessary to check garments and rugs to see if they are silk and if they are, give them special attention

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“ Is it from Outer Space ? “ - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Golf from Outer Space.

Scotty Cameron - Thanks to www.a1golfclubs.com

I was going through my garage and saw some instruments that have the appearance of something from outer space. After closer examination I was able to identify them but it wasn't easy. These items seem to appear out of nowhere about this time each year and they seem to have mutated over the winter each time. You may have guessed what I found because if you are an avid golfer there is no doubt I am talking about a putter.

Yes the humble putter that brings the mightiest men and women to their knees. I have seen putters with shafts that reach over my head and designs that would challenge it best of engineers but often they land in a lake after a missed putt. I have seen men that looked like the hulk that could hit a golf ball 400 yards but couldn't get the ball in the cup from 12 inches. This is an instrument of great proud when the curling putt from 50 feet settles in the bottom of the cup but don't speak to a golfer that has missed one from under 3 feet. It is no wonder that these misshapen instruments have become some of the greatest of all collectibles.

This being said there can be a good deal of money made by finding the rare and unusual putter. I would like to give you some examples of putters that could bring a huge smile to your face. Often the worth of these clubs can be attributes to a special player that use this model or maybe it is the model that won a tournament for and unknown golfer, either way collectors want to own them.

Lets start with putters made by Scotty Cameron because he seems to be the man of the hour. Scotty Camerons putters can reach over $8500 but here are a few that have records on eBay. Kombi Cicle T $4000, Titleist Prototype Tour $2500 and Select Tour Hula Loops $2000 , not bad for something that is hard to figure what it is but someone must like them. Just to mention some others you will find the Ping Scottsdale coming in at $3000 and the Jack Nicklaus Slazenger not far behind at $1500. Even Tiger Woods is in this group that use these strange weapons and one of his favorites is the Bettinardi selling for $1500. This should make you look into ever corner of the basements and garages where you are looking for treasure.

Since Scotty Cameron is the man here is his Biograhy.

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“ Going Home “ - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club – Things are different in the South.

My Old Kentucky Home - Thanks to neilsgallery.com

This will be my first time back home in awhile and I hope to make the best of it. I know for sure that I will visit Nashville and the shops, malls and markets there. It will be interesting to see if I can keep my record alive because I have never come home without treasures when I take these trips. A must is to stop and visit my 90 year old mother and also deliver a few paintings to Cecil that will sell very quickly there in Kentucky. This will be a very interesting trip because I feel like I am doing interstate commerce. Taking things to the Southerners that meet their fancy while returning hopefully with pottery, glass and painting there that aren't as appreciated there but they meet the Northerners pallet just fine.

There are several lessons to be learned here the first is try to find things where you are that would be better served in another local. Second you should know the differences in value for items from one location to another. In the South primitives can bring price that would knock your eyes out but in the north often you can't give them away. I just wrote about the Jackson press, sugar chest and sideboard that a member is going to be selling soon. These pieces in the North would struggle to bring a modest price but in the South I can assure you they will be sold at a very heavy premium. But often in the South a painting that isn't a regionalist from that area can be purchase for a song. I have long since stopped enjoying these long buying trips but if I am traveling anyway so why not pick up a few shekels.

It is going to be difficult keeping up the blogs because I will be traveling but the biggest problem is that my partner is having a knee replacement this weekend. Ondre Huston has been my solid rock by keeping me on schedule but she will be out of pocket the same time as I am traveling. I would ask that all our members keep her in prayer for her well being and also her families. I have to admit I will be praying harder than most because I don't think I can do without her.

The new plans for the 31 Club are beginning to shape up and I am keeping my fingers crossed that within two weeks you will not be able to recognize it. The name change alone will make a whale of a difference. I just want to thank every member for their patience during this transition period but I don't think you will be disappointed. I also ask for your prayers for my family and me as I travel. You know I am celebrating my birthday today and since I am now 68 I hope that I will be able to find my way home.

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"Wish upon a Star" - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – But what can it be worth?

Maxfield Parrish Stars - Thanks to sandowart.com

I haven't been a big fan of prints but there can be exceptions. The Maxfield Parrish prints would fall into this category for me and for pure beauty I don't think they can be surpassed. I believe that Parrish was a true visionary and wanted to have the best art in the world present in every home regardless of the family's wealth. On many levels I think that he was successful in this endeavor because during his years of producing prints of his outstanding paintings there was hardly a home without one being represented in it.

I began to be educated in prints and other paper items when Cecil Roeder took me under his wing even though I am twice his age. He taught me that people would pay big bucks for certain prints, document, signatures and watercolor paintings when I had shied away from them for years. The first time I had my eyes opened by Cecil was at a antique mall when he spotted a very large Maxfield Parrish and said we should purchase it. To me the asking price of $250 seemed rather high but I gave in to his knowledge on the subject and offered $200 which was accepted. If you ever have the privilege to meet Cecil and ask him about me, this is one thing he will share "Daryle will always offer less than I tell him the item is worth and usually he is successful with his offers." This piece was sold later for close to triple our purchase price. Lesson well learned and I will never forget it and neither should you.

This was brought back to my mind today when I received an email from a gentleman asking about the value of a Parrish print “Stars.” I immediately went to my Parrish book by Coy Ludwig and found the print but not much about its value. You guessed it. I called Cecil and he re-educated me about this print. Asking questions about its size, condition and other questions that would be relative to its value he said that it had a range from $1500 if it were mint a year ago to only a few hundred today if there was foxing, fading or other damage. It turned out to be the largest size for this print and collectors are always on the hunt for it in mint condition. Again you can see what Daryle Lamberts Antique and Collectible Club can offer you. I have found that all our members are more than willing to share their knowledge with other members and when you send in questions to me I often go to others in our group to check my answers.

If you aren't utilizing these resources it is a shame because it is there for your taking. Working together we will be set ourselves apart from the usual dealers and this will keep us ahead of the trend. That is where we want to be if success is our goal.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the Daryle Lamberts Antique and Collectible Club . Join Us Today!
Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.

"Use your Noggin" - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – They belong together.

Great Look - Thanks to www.brittanicantiques.com

I try every day to lead you in a direction that will ensure your success. Yesterday one of our members of the "Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club" shared something with me that I just have to pass on to you. He had a vision that most wouldn't have imagined and it had to do with selling several pieces of furniture at the same time.

If you were lucky enough to buy a wonderful cherry sideboard from the mid 1800's how would you merchandise it? Would it end up in an auction where the auction house would receive up to 50% of the selling price or maybe on eBay where most likely it wouldn't come near the true value of the piece because of the depression on the online auctions today? This isn't saying that these auctions don't serve a purpose but today it is difficult to get top prices on them when people are holding on dearly to every penny that crosses their palm. Even less attractive is putting it in a mall when their traffic has been reduced to a dribble. I don't think that any of these alternatives are particularly inviting today. So what then?

Well let's make this scenario even more intriguing. Let's say you also have a cherry Jackson Press and an early sugar chest. Are you beginning to get the picture? Yes, this extremely innovative dealer will set up a room in his house or building that takes on the look of when these items were originally used and invite upscale buyers to see them together as they would be in their homes. Wow! This sale would be a great beginning to the year and someone will have greatly enhanced the appearance of their home.

You see when times are difficult it is time to think outside the box. Don't do the things you have always done because that is what everyone else will be doing and guess what, their success will suffer because of it. If you have great merchandise it will sell at great prices if your presentation is different than what they see every day. Even when the collector is saying to himself, that's a great piece but maybe if I wait it will be cheaper, he will change his mind if your presentation sets your merchandise apart from everything else he has seen.

The greatest part of the strategy that is mentioned above is that each sale completed in this manner will return you twice as much money as any other way of disposing of your merchandise. We don't mind that do we? Twice as much money and no more work. That sounds like a winner to me, how about to you?

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"What is It Worth?" - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club- Have you readjusted the values?

You have to Know.

I have written many times that we as members of the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club need to know when and how to adjust to market conditions. The first thing I would tell you is that you don't want to get behind the curve in the different markets. If you do you will soon be out of these businesses. But what do I watch for?

First how long does it take you to sell rare or unusual items compared to earlier times? Why is this important? Because it should show you that the market for those items is decreasing if the time between sales has increased. Also watch to see if sellers at the Antique and Art shows are displaying new merchandise or are the same things being shown at each show. How about at the flea markets? If the dealers are carrying merchandise from week to week it might mean they have overpaid but won't reduce their prices and take a loss. Their only hope and prayer is that someone will come along who doesn't know that prices have dropped and overpay them for their items.

I think that I may fall into that category some of the time and not want to admit that my treasures have decreased in value. The only advantage that I have over most people is that I try to follow the rules set out in our club. I look to buy at 25% of what I think the retail should be for an item. This has saved my skin on many occasions when I ended up making a profit when others would have suffered a loss.

Our old standby eBay is also an excellent source to judge markets by and I think you will agree that prices as well as number of bids on that site have dropped. Some of this can be attributed to competition but not all. Be sure to check prices for the better items like Rookwood, Grueby, Newcomb in the pottery lines and Tiffany, Lalique, Daum Nancy, Galle, Steuben and Quezal in the glass lines on eBay to see if there have been any price movements. Also check the art sites like Askart, Artprice and Artnet to see if current sales by the better artists are increasing or decreasing in value.

Last but not least, go to the websites of the better auction house and see if prices at their auctions are decreasing or increasing. Over the last 6 months I would have to say that prices have declined but the members of “Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club" don't hold their items more than 90 days so these moves shouldn't affect them, right? Don't be fooled. I too have gotten caught with some merchandise, but not like most. Since we turn our inventory it is much easier for us to adjust to the moving markets. Our upward journey to success should never depend on the market conditions because we will stay ahead of the curve and use that to our advantage.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the 31 Club. Join Us Today!
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“Foreign Markets can be Happy Hunting Grounds.” - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog.

Kiwi for Me - Thanks wwwchem.cmu.edu

It is never too late to expand your vision into other markets. I just received an email from Michael, one of the members of our 31 Club. He shared with me how he made several great trades on eBay UK. In one case he spotted several photos by Richard Manard listed on that site. Due to most of the bidders not being familiar with Mr. Manard's work, Michael was able to pick these photos up for a song. The one he listed for me to see brought $355 but due to its historical value the picture should bring many times that when sold here.

I have also been very well rewarded by dealing in antiques and collectibles from other countries. Back when I thought I had to own every piece of Royal Doulton ever made, I often was able to purchase rare pieces of Kingsware from sellers from Australia. I would purchase these pieces from there but then list them back on eBay with my address in this country. They would sell for sometimes three times what I had to pay for them. Why was this, you are asking? The reason I think was because people were fearful of sending money out of the country. I have to admit that I never made a bad trade overseas and every person I dealt with was honorable. The only bad trades that I have ever had were from people here at home and there have been very few of those. I find most people that deal in antiques and collectibles are honest.

Believe it or not Canada is a terrific market for us here in the United States. I am not sure of where the currencies stand today but I have often made trade in Canada where the difference in the exchange rate assured me a more than fair return on my money. I have purchased several paintings by American painters from Canada and I have never failed to at least double my money. There isn't a reason to fear dealing with others that live outside the USA and I would encourage it because I find it very profitable. Once I purchased a Rosenburg tile in Florida and the next day sold it in Canada for a $3500 profit. You just can't do better than that and I had established a client for life because I would deal with him, even though he didn't live in the U.S.

I have bought and sold items from Japan to South America and the people seem to be more gracious than most because they felt trusted. So don't hesitate to bid on something that you think will meet your requirements for purchase just because of where it is located.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the 31 Club. Join Us Today!
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"Papa's Pride" Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club - “ Joshua is the best.

" Very Proud Papa "

I am just going to take this blog and dedicate it to my 10 year old son. There is no amount of writing that I could do that would fully express my gratitude to God for giving me a son at my advanced age. In the process of trying to find people that would help me extend the reach of the 31 Club, I have been told that I needed someone who could produce and edit film for us and that is a must. I think that I have found that person.

Yesterday I was working on the end of the market day and Joshua said “Dad, will you come downstairs? I want to show you something.” Really feeling that I didn't have the time, but wanting to show my son that he was important to me, I followed him to the living room. Wow! To my surprise he had set up a complete studio for the filming of sections for our website. I had purchased professional equipment for Cindy to use, but, through no fault of hers, we never got around to using it. We have the lighting, sound systems, camera and other components that are required to do a very complete film that will enhance our site even though it has sat idle for awhile.

Joshua started directing me as to how I was to position myself and he also made sure the indirect lighting fell in the proper places. The most exciting thing for me was when he gave me the count down to start filming. I had to take a second glance to be sure that this was truly being done by a 10 year old. After I had completed a few sequences and thought I was through, he told me that he wanted to film a few of the stories that he had heard me tell over the years. So back into the chair I went and enjoyed recanting, as my wife Vickie says, my old war stories.

If these first attempts work out there should be many more to come and it will even be a better way to communicate with our members. They will not only be able to read the information that I share but also see the items being discussed. This will only be one of the many additions that are coming to our site and hopefully I will be able to reveal more of them to you in days to come.

I tried something new on you in this blog and I hope you will respond with your opinion about the change that I am considering. All of us make mistakes even if we have the best of intentions. The name for the Club was my idea and I wanted to follow one theme throughout the site and that was the number "31" which related to the 31 steps to success. Many have told me that was a mistake because it had no reference to what we do but I was hard to convince. Finally I can see the wisdom in this advice that I received and today I am inserting a new name to try on you: Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Club. Please send me your thoughts because I will be looking to you for the proper direction in this matter. The most recognized image that is being picked up by the search engines is Daryle Lambert so using the name should increase our traffic to the site and that is the most important thing that we need at the present time as the site is improved.

Please, as we transform the site, give us your ideas because we are becoming a family and every person's opinion in this family is important.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the 31 Club. Join Us Today!
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"Proud of Your School" - Daryle Lambert – Name of School Can Mean Money.

Notre Dame - Thanks to www.gnu-bee.com

I was just wondering what the name of a school could be worth? Are you a graduate of a college that the public easily recognizes? If so, this could put money in your pocket. You may just be a follower of the school's sports programs and want to have a collection that represents its sports history. You wouldn't be alone. There are many collectors that specialize in these schools' sports memorabilia.

Let's take Notre Dame for instance. Who doesn't know the name of the Rockne. Knute Rockne, I mean. He was perhaps the greatest coach of all time. Yes Notre Dame had other great coaches such as Ara Parsegion, Lou Holtz and also great players like the Four Horsemen but who can forget the Gipper speech? George Gipp was a player for Notre Dame under Knute Rockne and at half time, when they were in trouble, Rockne gave a speech and in it said, "Let's win one for the Gipper." This has to rank right up there with one of the greatest sayings ever in sports history.

Why have I told you all of this? It is because of the history of this school that almost anything associated with it is collectible and will bring big money from the collector. Let's just mention a few items to look for that represent Notre Dame: signatures, helmets, jerseys, programs, photos, footballs, banners, rings, flags and so many other items that it would just take me too long to list them. You can be sure that if you find any item associated with this school or its players there is someone wanting to add it to their collection.

There are other great schools that have traditions that transcend the norm and a few of them are the University of Kentucky in basketball with their bigger than life coach Adolph Rupp, UCLA and their coach John Wooden, Duke and North Carolina with their successful programs and the list goes on and on. As a member of the 31 Club you can build your entire business on items from the schools mentioned above and their players. This market has already been created and you can join it at any time.

The greatest thing about being a dealer in items from your favorite school is that the market is wide open. For instance the Heritage sports auctions would be more than glad to auction anything that you run across and they have an excellent following. There are many other auctions that specialize in these items and they can be found by searching the internet.

It is great to watch sporting events but I prefer to make money from dealing in items from the greatest sports events of our time rather than just being a couch potato.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the 31 Club. Join Us Today!
Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.

"What Can You Get For a Dollar?" - Daryle Lambert – A Lot.

Is this a Treasure ? - Thanks to www.forums.civfantics.com

I have found that reading the articles in the trade paper has become of little interest to me and they seem to all become blurs in my mind in a relatively short time. Unless there is information in these articles that increases my knowledge, it seems to almost be a futile effort on my part and a waste of time reading them. But there are articles that I still enjoy and these stories usually contain examples of where someone has found a true treasure that others have overlooked.

Here is a story that I would like to share with you that I received just this week. One of our readers was shopping at a local flea market and spotted a Rookwood Standard glaze vase sitting on an outside table. Hurrying over to where the vase was being offered, another gentleman arrived at the same time. The question was asked, "What is the price of this piece?" "$1.50 if that isn't too much", came the answer. As the story was related to me our member and the other gentleman lunged for the vase but the gentleman was the successful one. Trying to negotiate a deal with the successful buyer to purchase the vase from him, our reader offered a price of $125 for the vase but it was quickly rejected and my friend stated that it was just another one that got away.

You are asking about the true value right? Well after researching it I believe that a conservative value would be $350. Here is the point of this little story. There are many dealers that would have paid $300 for the vase hoping to receive $50 profit on it but to me that isn't finding a treasure but merely being a buyer. I want us to be treasure hunters and that way the excitement will always stay fresh with us and we will never burn out like people that are just working at a job. Remember I have stated many times that if what we're doing isn't fun and profitable don't do it, because life is too short.

If you have been with me for awhile you will remember the story where I bought a Saturday Evening Girls' plate for 25 cents and sold it for $375 on eBay. Now that was a treasure. Yes, a dollar treasure can be more satisfying to you than the 10% profit that some dealers are satisfied with on their transactions.

By using our skills in buying, we protect ourselves from the few mistakes that we make. It is obvious that both these sales far exceeded our 25% rule (We at the 31 Club try to buy our items at 25% of their retail value) and therefore would be classified as treasures.

Yes, it is easy to share with you the stories of $1000 plus profit on a transaction, but they don't all qualify as "satisfying" just because of the amount of the transaction. I have forgotten many great stories of where I made considerable amounts of money but I will never forget about that SEG plate. The story behind the plate makes it a true treasure find for me and you can bet I will be sharing it with my grandchildren if God gives me the opportunity. Yes, a dollar can still make life exciting.

My 220 page book about how to make money buying and selling antiques & collectibles is FREE with your membership in the 31 Club. Join Us Today!
Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.

"New Treasure for You" - Daryle Lambert – E. Radford Pottery.

Edward Radford Vases

I have found that this business of Antiques and Collectibles never gets dull. About the time I feel comfortable that I know most of what I want to search for in my quest for treasure, up springs a surprise. This happened this weekend at a house sale.

Getting there late about 12:00 I encountered something totally new for me. They had closed the sale for 15 minutes and then it was going to reopen with all sales at ½ price. The people standing in line were as surprised as me because they had never heard of this practice either. In fact some in the line got rather irritated. I decided to try it even though my patience was thin at the time.

Entering the home I found very little of interest, as I had expected, but there by the cashier was a vase that looked like Weller or Roseville if you were comparing the vase to a piece of American pottery. It was about 9 “ high and 4 “ across with a floral decoration across its middle. I couldn't stop myself from picking it up since the tag read $32 and now it would cost only $16. Turning it over to expose the bottom I found something that I hadn't expected. The mark read E. Radford England printed in blue with a very distinctive appearance. I was in a quandary. Should I or shouldn't I purchase it for the $16, since I knew nothing about it? Not buying it won out and later I found out what a mistake I had made. This vase could very easily been worth $300 to $500.

I believe you know the practice by now. When I don't know something I usually call Warner or Cecil. This time, because it was pottery, I called Cecil and sure enough he had the answer, "Radford Pottery made in Ohio". Yes there is a Radford pottery in Ohio but not the E. Radford Pottery that made this vase. I can't recall when Cecil was wrong before. But this time he was, so I began to research on my own and here is the result.

Edward Radford Jr. was the son of Edward Radford Sr. from England. Senior worked for Wedgwood and Pilkington potteries. His son was born in 1883 and joined him at Pilkington in 1905. After the war around 1930, the son formed the Radford Handcraft Pottery which is the company that I am telling our members of the 31 Club to keep their eye out for. He primarily made hand thrown vases, jugs and bowls in a matte finish. Most of his production was floral but he also made some very rare scenic pieces with trees. He died in 1965.

Rather than trying to tell you about all of his production, I found a site that I would like to direct you to E. Radford pottery. Be sure to spend some time on this site and familiarize yourself with Mr. Radford's work. The rarer pieces can be rewarding to the finder.

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“Warning That Can Save You Money" Daryle Lambert – Be selective as you have never been before.

The Lambert's Wish You Success

Some of the 31 Club Members are beginning to scale the higher levels of purchasing power through the compounding of funds and it is time to issue them a stern warning. Yes, the higher end of the Antique and Fine Art markets is where the real money will be made in this market, but haste can make waste. Remember, we are not in any hurry to reach our goals and the rules for the club members are to try to compound your money at least twice a year. So there is no need to rush and make mistakes when you need make only two purchases and sales a year.

Here is some great advice for those individuals who are purchasing items with prices over $1000. Don't guess or assume that just because a certain item brought big money last year it will again this year. Prices have changed dramatically and you need to be aware of this. With the higher end items today you can make mistakes that will take you a long time to work out of if you aren't cautious. Be sure to take the time necessary to know what the item you are purchasing should bring in today's market. Even if it takes leaving the item where you found it and then returning after you have assured yourself of its value.

Many have asked me why the 25% rule [purchase your items at 25% of the retail value] is so important. Let me share with you where it has saved me big time. I purchased several pieces of Roseville pottery for about 4 or 5 thousand dollars. At that time I thought they should easily have brought 15 thousand or more as in years past. To date, I have only sold one of the pieces at what I paid for it and I am hoping to make a little bit of money with the rest. What would have happened if I had paid even 50% of the retail? I will let you answer that. I sent a Rookwood lamp to Cincinnati Art Gallery's auction with a $3500 to $4500 estimate that was placed there by the auction house. It didn't sell but, thankfully, I only had a fraction of the amount invested so I still will not lose money. William and I purchased a painting for $600 that was shipped to Christie's where they gave it a $5000 – $7000 estimate. It didn't sell and has been re-entered at $3000, so there is still profit to be made if it sells this time, thank goodness.

I try faithfully to stick closely to the rule about buying prices and this has kept me in the business when others have failed. I wonder every day where those people are that told me I was foolish and they worked on 10% margins. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that most of them are no longer in the antique and fine art business. This may be a great time to re-read the "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles" because the truth is between the cover and back page of those 224 pages and even the best of us need a little refresher now and again.

***** We are finally making progress on the future developments to our site but in the meantime there may be a few glitches. I know that the Gallery, Million Dollar Race and Archives are not functioning but they will be back soon and even better than before. Patience is mine saith the Lord and I have to admit that my patience have been sorely tested over the last few months but I hear the cavalry coming. God Bless. ******

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Check out the new Paintings and new items in our Gallery and Marketplace here.

“Birds of Spring Can Make You Money" Daryle Lambert – Remember who was released to spot dry land in the Bible? A bird.

Heade Hummingbird - Thanks to www.oceansbridge.com

Old Noah knew who his friends were and when he released the doves they spotted dry land and didn't return to the ark. Since that time the bird has been man's friend throughout our history. But how can this make the members of the 31 Club money?

To start let's consider jewelry. There is perhaps no subject more visible than birds in the jewelry market. Gold and silver pins of birds with eyes and feathers of precious stone adorn the most fashionable ladies' coats and blouses today. How often do you see a necklace with a beautiful hummingbird or a parrot being featured? These exquisite items can cost from a few hundred to over a million dollars and are designed by the leading design studios in the world. I had a friend that found a 24 karat gold pin with real diamonds, rubies and sapphires in a box lot of costume jewelry, so it still can happen and maybe it will to you.

But what other bird items bring good money, I hear you asking? How about painting and prints of birds? One of the greatest print makers in history was John W. Audubon. The thing to remember about his prints is that there were just two original sizes. First the elephant portfolio which were 26 1/2 x 39 1/2 inches and then the book page size 11 by 7 inches. Later additions can come in all sizes but they have very little value. If a print is trimmed from the original size it takes a tremendous amount of its value away. But what could an Audubon print be worth? Hold your hat because they range from a few hundred to over hundred thousand dollars. The Wild Turkey used to be the most valuable but I think today it might have been replaced by the Blue Huron.

Paintings are another thing all together. These paintings of birds are usually valued by the reputation of the artist. Remember the story I shared with you about the young man I know that bought a painting from a lady for $25 because he felt sorry for her and did nothing with it for many years. One day he decided to try his hand at cleaning it and discovered that it may have value, so he sent it to Christies and it proved to be by Martin Heade and sold for over $675,000. Sporting paintings of Quail, Pheasants and Ducks also bring unexpected rewards in these markets.

These two areas of collecting bird items barely scratch the surface, however. There are French and German music boxes that feature little birds with real feathers that I have seen bring $5000 or more, antique birdhouses selling in the hundreds of dollars, bronze statues bringing $25,000 or more and these are still just a start to the items featuring birds that you will find.

When you hear the beautiful songs produced by the birds in your yard you will know why they bring so much joy to people. If you have never watched as a hummingbird feeds itself from a feeder you have missed one of the true pleasure that you can have today. Yes, the birds do represent something special in God's creation.

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“Mother's Day" - Daryle Lambert – Nothing else really need be said.

You Only Have One Rose

I would just like to ask all the readers whether they are mothers or have a mother to take the day off in honor of this special event that we celebrate once a year. My mother is 90 years old and she never fails to tell me that her children are the most important things in her life. I know, as her eldest son, that there is no way I can do justice to her for all that she has given me. From the early days when she would tend to my scrapes and bruises, till today when I need encouragement and she is always there, I just want to say to my mom thanks for always being there for me. God knew what he was doing when he selected you to be my "MOM.”

Next, I would like to share with you the most wonderful lady in the world, my Vickie, who is the mother of our 10 year old son Joshua. In the Bible, God told a lady she was going to have a son even at her advanced age. She laughed but God knew the truth. Some of the time I feel like that when I think of what God provided for me. I was 58 and Vickie was 40 when our son was born. I don't believe that God could have given me a greater blessing.

The Bible tells of the pain of childbirth but I have never heard of a woman that wouldn't do it all over again for her children. Yes, we as men have a special place in God's heart, but I doubt that it compares to the love he has for mothers. For far too long mothers have been the unsung heroes but not on this day. Let's ask that all the bells in heaven will ring for mothers today.

Be sure that you call, visit and communicate any other way you can with your mother. Yes, some of your mothers may have passed on but if you offer up a prayer for them, I promise you they will hear it. Nothing that is could be without mothers. Their endless work is never completed but they continue to do it unselfishly.

Here is just a little poem I found on the Internet :

Another Mother's Day is here, Bringing joy and pleasures new, On this special day, Mother dear, I want to remember you. I cannot give you costly gifts, And I've told you this before, No matter what I give to you, You give back much, much more. I'm giving you a pure, sweet rose, Gathered in the early morn, This rose you planted in my heart, The day that I was born. In kindly, loving thoughts of you, And with the faith you still impart, The rose I give to you today, Is the love that's in my heart.

Be thankful this day that God knew who would be the perfect mother for you.

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“Some Men Rise to the Top” - By Daryle Lambert – Jack Kemp was one of those men.

The Real Thing

I have had an interest in sports from my earliest years and can rattle off statistics from the early 50's to the present day, but few men have had the impact on me that Jack Kemp has had. He was the true competitor in whatever he entered into, and after you challenged him you knew you were in for a real battle.

It is with great honor that I suggest that any member of the 31 Club that searches for memorabilia featuring Mister Kemp will be rewarded while researching the life of this man. He was the definition of what a true American should be. Yes, I think that anything bearing his name will became a valuable collectible, but in this case the dollars are only the secondary value, the first is that by owning them you honor this great patriot.

Let's just look at a few facts concerning his life. There is no doubt he was a gifted athlete playing quarterback for both the San Diego Chargers and the Buffalo Bills over a period of 13 years. Chosen captain on both teams, he proved his leadership ability. He is in the American Football Hall of Fame. He lead the Buffalo Bills to two American Football League Conference championships in 1964 and 1965. In 1965 he was chosen player of the year by the League.

But Jack Kemp knew that there was a life for him after football, so he entered politics where he was in the United House of Representatives for 18 years. I personally had the pleasure of meeting him on numerous occasions and there is no doubt he was always a true gentleman. After my Dad's death Jack was a true friend of my mothers and often encouraged her when she was sad. Jack was one of those rare individuals that never got the big head with his success and had a wonderful marriage of fifty years to his college sweetheart. Both members of his own party as well as the opposing party respected his judgment and conviction. Jack Kemp left a great and honorable legacy and he will long be remembered in the halls of Congress.

There are many things that I could suggest you look out for that bear his name or picture but I will list just a few. Early football cards, programs where he is listed as quarterback, advertising, jerseys, posters, signed helmets, photos and signed footballs. These are important to those of us that love sports but his real contribution was to his country and the service he gave to it. Just think of all the items that cover his life while he was in the political spectrum. I won't try to list all of them but your imagination will help you there. No! When I think of Jack it won't be about what the items just discussed are worth, but about the true worth of the man. God's speed Jack Kemp.

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“Goodwill pays off for Leslie" - Daryle Lambert – Trash or Treasure, you be the judge.

Leslie's Vase

I continue to encourage all who read my blog to expand their horizons in their search for treasure. I know that some have heeded my advice because of the emails I receive. These new finds will prove to be valuable as the members of the 31 Club advance in the Steps to the Million. The compounding effect on the money you have in your account will set you on the sought-after course to financial freedom.

Here is an email that I received from Leslie and guess what? Not only did she buy right but she immediately did her research as can be seen by the email she received. Spotting a beautiful vase among so many average items isn't always easy but if you practice you will find it happening to you more and more.

Hello Daryle

I was doing some research on a Steuben vase that I have and came upon your website. After reading how you enjoy Steuben pieces I thought I would share a photo or two with you. I did e-mail the Carder Steuben Club and they were kind enough to send me some info. on it. This was his reply:

Hello Leslie,

Thank you for contacting the Carder Steuben Club. You have what is called a Grotesque vase from the early 1930's in a color called Wisteria. It is a dichroic glass, that changes from purple to blue, depending upon the source of light. The shape number on the website is 7090 but I do not have one posted. May I use you picture. I hope this information helps.

Regards,

Mark Buffa

Now this is all wonderful but the best part of the email is the part that I am going to share with you now:

The best thing about it is that I bought this at goodwill for $2.09. It was light blue when I bought it and when I walked outside it turned such a beautiful color of Purple. That's when I know it was a very special vase.. Thanks and Have A Great Day... Leslie A.

Wow! Does that make my heart beat faster because I know someone is listening to what I share with my readers. Just think a few more trades like this one and Leslie will really begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel and that million dollars in her future.

The plan that I created for the 31 Club is so simple that even I can do it and in the near future I will be sharing some exciting results with you. You will see that the 31 Club is very serious about the “Race to the Million”. However, I do believe that there is a person reading this that perhaps will beat us to the finish line.

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“The Restorer and his Magic" - Daryle Lambert – When restoring can make you money.

R Agass Baumgartner - Conservator

Seldom do I take a day off from the 31 Clubs work I do at home but yesterday was the exception and what a learning experience it was. A wonderful young artist by the name of Gretchen visited me and brought several paintings from Kentucky for me to purchase. We agreed to meet in the office of R. Agass Baumgartner who happens to own one of the premier restoration studios in the United States.

Having talked to Gretchen about the paintings I knew that they would have to be restored, even if it were just a cleaning, because the owner had been a heavy smoker. While we were in his studio, Mr. Baumgartner gave us a wonderful study of restoration. The first lesson he shared with us was that it is always best to do as little to a painting as is needed. He said the purpose of restoring is to take a piece back to the condition that it was in when the artist painted it. “My work is not to enhance a painting or make it better than when it was painted but to bring back the original beauty of the piece and prepare it for many years of being admired in the future “ he said.

We continued to ask questions because where could we receive better answers than here so one I asked was, “When do you reline a painting?” His answer surprised me, “Only as a last resort. If the edges of a canvass are damaged, we strip line the painting, which is just adding a small strip of canvas so that the original canvas can be properly tacked to the stretchers.” He also shared how it is possible to reduce cracks in the paint and how waxing a canvas gives it more stability.

I was utterly amazed by the amount of knowledge this gentleman has at his command. You could see the love that he has for each work that was restored. Also what a pleasure it must be to work with your son every day and in such a beautiful studio overlooking Michigan Avenue. I would highly advise anyone that has a painting worthy of restoring to contact Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration at 1006 South Michigan Avenue Chicago Illinois.

Last but not least was his advice that if you are going to restore a painting be sure to have it done by a qualified restorer. Don't have a person attempt to restore your painting just because they say, “I will do it cheap.” In that case it is better to leave it un-restored and let the new owner decide what he wants to do with it. Undoing a bad restoration can be very expensive

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“Pontiac is a Name to Remember" - Daryle Lambert – Made for speed.

Now that is a Car - lhmopars.com

I wasn't around at the beginning of the Pontiac legend but I was there for their heyday. Oakland Car Company of Pontiac Michigan started this great tradition for the Pontiac brand in 1907 and it was founded by Edward Murphy. However, it was only two years later that it was gobbled up by General Motors in 1909.

General Motors didn't really expand the Pontiac brand until 1926 when it introduced the “Chief of the Sixties" series. For around twenty five years Pontiac was known as a family car but that was soon to change in the fifties. Street racing and movies featuring James Dean created a new era for car enthusiasts.

My first car was a Chevrolet Bel Air two door hard top from 1955. If you are familiar with the fifties then you know my car had to be pink and gray, like everything else that year. Cars, kitchen appliances, clothing, furniture and even your underwear and socks had to be pink and gray. I thought that this car made me the cat's meow. My friend David Cox, who later became the mayor of a major eastern city, owned a Pontiac at the same time and we raced on the streets on many occasions. I'm not sure that I can really tell you who won most of the time but I think that I did and he probably would say he did.

The name that most older citizens would recognize as a Pontiac brand would be the Bonneville and I am sure this name came from the Bonneville salt flats that were used for testing the fastest cars of the day. But people that have a need for speed remember when Pontiac equipped a standard car named Tempest with the high powered engine and called it the GTO. This car was a real racing streak. The 389 cubic Inch V-8 was like nothing before it. In fact today it is known as the first muscle car. Later came the Firebirds and Trans Ams. Why am I telling you all this? It is because this fantastic line of cars is going to be put out to pasture. There will no longer be that image of young men testing themselves by driving a car at speeds that should only be achieved by professional drivers. No longer will you see Pontiac in the NASCAR series.

You are asking how this information can make us money, aren't you? I have shared with you in past blogs for the 31 Club that the mean age for collectors is about 45 years and that collectors attempt to re-capture their past. So people in their 60's will remember all the hubbub that surrounded the Pontiacs. But what should we look for? Anything associated with the Pontiac automobile. Advertising, manuals, hood ornaments, hubcaps, photos, ownership papers, trophies and there must be hundreds of other items that you will find if your search includes Pontiac memorabilia.

Isn't it interesting how the events of history create new collectibles almost everyday? There should never be a time when there isn't something exciting coming forth in the collector market and you should always be prepared for it.

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“UND – University of North Dakota Pottery" - Daryle Lambert – Most Unusual

University of North Dakota Test piece - Julia Mattson

I continue to search for items for the 31 Club that I haven't seen before and it happened again last week with a piece of UND pottery. I have been interested in anything Western since I started going to the Eaton's ranch in Wyoming several years ago. It really didn't matter if it was a painting, pieces of pottery or Native American items. They became my new first love.

But back to this unusual find. I received a phone call from this wonderful lady asking if I would be interested in purchasing a few pieces of UND. Without hesitation my answer was yes. She sent me pictures and descriptions of five pieces but only one really peaked my interest. I have to admit I had never seen anything like it.

This small vase was 5-6 inches tall and was decorated with irregular lines of color. There didn't seem to be any rational reason for the pattern or special design but just random lines as if the person was doing finger painting as a child. Even though I didn't understand it I found that the vase was strangely appealing. Not being able to get the piece off my mind, I called my sidekick, Cecil Roeder, to get his opinion.

Wow is he good because the first thing that came out of his mouth made complete sense to me. “It is a test sample for different glazes when they are fired,” he said. As I sat there I wondered why I hadn't thought of that? Yes it is still attractive to me and maybe even more so because it is a one of a kind. When you add that it is made of red clay, which I believe makes it an early piece, and also is marked with Julia Mattson's initials, I believe it is a special piece.

I once found a plaque of a lady playing tennis and when I turned it over the inscription told me it was presented as a trophy and it gave the winner's name. I had hoped to find the owner but was unable to so I sold it on eBay where it quickly quadrupled my money.

There is a serious group of collectors for UND and most are looking for examples by Margaret Cable, Hildegarde Fried, Flora Huck and Julia Mattson. The better pieces to be found are carved western scenes or animals. There is one example that I am still looking for and it will be a piece marked “Maggie Mud” which designates that Margaret Cable made it.

You will find that the buyers will flock to you if you are offering a better piece of UND and the price should bring a huge smile to your face. I have found the most information on UND in a book by Darlene Hurst Dammel by the name Dakota Potteries. You may find it on Amazon or Abebooks.

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“Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder" - Daryle Lambert – Remember these names: Cluthra and Cintra.

31 Clubs Steuben Cintra Bowl - www.31corp.com

Several months ago I was asked to do a blog for the 31 Club on Steuben and I believe that request was honored. However I just received the prices from Early's Art Glass sale and was somewhat surprised by the Steuben prices that were much stronger than I thought they would be.

The more common pieces didn't set the world on fire but still did quite well. The Steuben Blue and Gold Aurene mostly fell within the range of their estimates but get this. A Yellow Jade bowl, 10 ½ inches in diameter with an estimate of $200 - $300 was hammered by the auctioneer at $2500. I wish I had been there to see the people's eyes in the audience as this prize continue to climb in price.

However, these aren't the pieces of Steuben I want you to concentrate on at the moment. I have to admit that, until recently, I wasn't familiar with the names Chuthra and Cintra but you can bet that now they are a part of my vocabulary. Yes, they are seldom mentioned in discussions of Steuben, but be assured that every Steuben collector is aware of them. Most of the pieces carrying these names will command over $1000 if you are fortunate enough to find them in a dealer's booth. However, since the public is usually unaware of them, they may be found at much more favorable prices.

Here is my story and why I had to educate myself on these names. I had been called in to buy items that were for sale by a wonderful lady for her elderly father. There were paintings and glass, porcelain and pottery galore. She, however, had done her homework and most of what she was offering was out of my price range. But not wanting to be deterred in my search, I asked if I could visit her basement and she agreed. There were racks and bins of mostly worthless junk stacked from floor to ceiling.

My eye quickly scanned from wall to wall but then fell on this sort of ugly centerpiece. It was a very unattractive piece and had a matte surface, but for some reason I just had to pick it up. The first clue was that it had a ground pontil. This is where the piece had been snapped off from the rod it was attached to. Usually only the better pieces have a ground pontil. Then the real search began for the signature. The mark wasn't easy to find but finally there it was, Stueben. I asked the price and it seemed reasonable at $25. Getting home and looking in my glass books to my anazement the true value was closer to $2000. There was a piece no larger than mine that was listed in the Early's last sale ande it sold, even in this market, for $1400. By the way, I also bought a Daum Nancy perfume bottle from that home.

The beauty is in the eyes of the beholder as I mentioned before. But this can mean major bucks for you. So keep those eyes open and if in doubt about the value of a piece be sure to pick it up and look.

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“Give me Liberty or Give me Death” - Daryle Lambert – Not meant to offend.

My President

I have tried very hard not to let this blog be composed of just my religious and political views but I hope that you will forgive me if today I break that rule. It is becoming more apparent every day that our President Barack Obama has lost his way or is definitely on a path that is different than what I believe our forefathers planned for this country. The quote “Give me liberty or give me death” exemplifies what our forefathers believed but they even carried this further to include all people that seek freedom around the world.

I received an email yesterday and I couldn't agree with it more so I am going to share it with you. Yes, President Obama's memorabilia will be worth tremendous amounts of money in the future but will it be because of his greatness or his failures?

Arrogant Americans, Mr. President? Peter Heck - Guest Columnist - 4/14/2009 7:50:00 AM As I was sitting in church waiting for the start of the service, my grandpa came walking towards me pointing his finger. No matter how old I get, and no matter how long he has been out of the U.S. Navy, that's still an intimidating sight.As he approached me, his voice quivered as he said.... "We saved that continent twice... how dare my president apologize for this country's arrogance." My grandpa is right. Americans need not apologize to the world for their arrogance; rather, Americans should apologize to their forefathers for the arrogance of their president. Barack Obama's first foreign trip as President of the United States has confirmed the naiveté so many of us feared during the election cycle. But worse than that, it has also demonstrated that our president suffers from either a complete misunderstanding of our heritage and history, or an utter contempt for it. Neither is excusable. Garnering cheers from the French (of all people), President Obama declared: "In America, there is a failure to appreciate Europe's leading role in the world. Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive." Consider that Obama spoke these words just 500 miles from the beaches of Normandy, where the sand is still stained with 65-year-old blood of arrogant Americans. Indeed, columnist Mark Whittington observes, One should remind Mr. Obama and the Europeans how America has shown arrogance by saving Europe from itself innumerable times in the 20th Century. World War I, World War II, the Cold War, and the wars in the Balkans were largely resolved by American blood, treasure, and leadership. But all that appears lost on the president's seemingly insatiable quest to mend fences he imagines have been tarnished by the bullish George W. Bush. If Obama wishes to continue trampling the presidential tradition of showing class to former office holders and publicly trash Bush for his own personal gain, so be it. But all Americans should make clear that no man even if he is the president will tarnish the legacy of those Americans who have gone before us. Ours is not a history of arrogance. It is a history of courage, self-sacrifice, and honor. When abusive monarchs repressed the masses, Americans resisted and overthrew them. When misguided policies led to the unjust oppression of fellow citizens, Americans rebelled and overturned them. When millions of impoverished and destitute wretches sought a new beginning, Americans threw open the door and welcomed them. When imperial dictators were on the march, Americans surrendered their lives to stop them. When communist thugs threatened world peace, Americans bled to defeat them. When an entire continent was overwhelmed with famine and hunger, Americans gave of themselves to sustain it. When terrorist madmen killed the innocent and subjugated millions, Americans led the fight to topple them. This is the legacy that generations of Americans have left. If President Obama seeks stronger relations with the world community, perhaps he should begin by reminding them of these very truths, rather than condemning his own countrymen on foreign shores. This obsessive need to put down his own country, has caused blogger James Lewis to call President Obama a stunningly ignorant man who has evidently never spoken to a concentration camp survivor, a Cuban refugee, a boat person from Vietnam, a Soviet dissident, or a survivor of Mao's purges. Unfortunately, I can no longer bring myself to give Mr. Obama that benefit of the doubt. Not after looking at the pain in my grandpa’s eyes...a man who still carries shrapnel in his body from his service to this country. As a student and teacher of history, I recognize that America has made mistakes..plenty of them, in fact. But one of the great things about our people has been their courage and humility in admitting and correcting those mistakes. God willing, they will prove that willingness again in four years and correct the mistake that is the presidency of Barack Obama.

I still have hope that our President will see what a great country this is and that the people that voted for him wanted change but he may have misinterpreted what that change was to be.

“Rare and Unusual Musical Instruments” - Daryle Lambert – Do you have an old xylophone?

Xylophones aren't for Everyone - Thanks to www.flicker.com

Believe it or not there are collectors for every musical instrument you can think of. I was just thumbing through the Antique Week and came across an ad for xylophones. { God makes the most beautiful music but man isn't far behind } Now how many of them would you like to own? If you are able to locate the rare and unusual of anything then the market is wide open because of the limited opportunities these collectors have to acquire new items for their collections. When was the last time you saw a xylophone?

I carry a gentleman's card in my wallet because he has ask me to call him anytime I find an accordion. The thought never crossed my mind that I would ever be buying accordions but now I would never pass one by without calling him. I don't even know how to Polka. There are other instruments to search for. Did you know that harmonicas can sell for as much as $5000 or more? Neither did I but I do now.

It is easy to identify with guitars and violins because reading the auction records you know they can bring from $10,000 up to $100,000 or more for Gibson or Martin Guitars and Fender Stratocastyers aren't bad either. Violins can be in a class of their own like the Stradivarius that sells for millions. Even a medium quality violin can sell for $10,000 or more. Here is a story you will like. A man brought a violin to an appraisathon and was told the violin was worth about $1000. You could tell by his expression he was disappointed. As he began preparing to leave, the appraiser asked if he had any idea what the bow was worth? Since the violin was worth only $1000 his answer was "maybe $100". The appraiser almost made him have an heart attack when he announced that the bow's value was $25,000.

Here is another one. I was at a local auction and saw an early Martin sell for $12,500. The crowd went crazy but at the next auction two weeks later I asked him what he had done with the guitar. “You won't believe this but I hung it in my shop the next day and it sold for $25,000", he said. The stories keep coming. Have you heard of Bill Monroe? Probably not, but he is the father of Blue Grass. In fact he is from a small town, near where I grew up, called Rosine, Kentucky. His mandolin sold for $1,000,000 and I can assure you that never in his mind did he think that old piece of junk that he played music with could ever sell for over $1000.

If you think hard enough I am sure that you can come up with some strange instruments that have been used for making music and today it may surprise you what they are worth. Let's see if we can come up with some of that foot-stomping music like I remember from back home and make a lot of money at the same time.

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“Spring Has Sprung for the Antique and Art Business” - Daryle Lambert

Spring has Sprung- Thanks to www.photozo.com

I was just beginning to enjoy the spring flowers and the return of the Robins and Redbirds. There didn't seem to be any reason to get in a hurry because nothing was happening anyway. That was until this week, when regardless how hard I try, I simply can't catch up. First, however, let me share with you a story from one of the members of the 31 Club and I believe you will agree things are happening for her too.

This is an email I receive from Vicki H. that will let you know she is in the “Million Dollar Race.”

Hi Mr. Lambert,

I wrote to you several months ago regarding the large Silver Candlesticks I bought from an estate sale for $600. Well, they just sold at Dumochelle's auction for $2500.00! I am so excited about it! I am also frightened by the prospect that my earnings which amount to $1819.00 will now need to be re-invested. I don't know what to turn to now?

I thought perhaps more silver? But am unsure. Also, I wondered if you would be interested in purchasing that Cowboy painting I got back last year. It didn't sell on ebay for $25. And has now been sitting in my antique booth for months and won't sell for $150. I don't know where else to try to sell it. The biggest problem with it I think is what shipping costs would be, because of the large frame. Any help with this is appreciated.

I am re-energized now and am looking forward to finding more treasures! I am taking the trip to the spring longest yard sale next month and hope to find lots of good things! If all goes well Colleen and I are going on the August Longest yard sale too. By the way - Loved the blog on Art Glass and I joined Warner's club. It looks fantastic!

Best Wishes, Vicki H.

Those are the kind of stories I like to share and I hope that I will be receiving one from you soon. Back to my week. First, I had an email from a woman who wanted to sell me a Quezal vase which I immediately accepted. Second, I completed two sales on eBay: a painting and then a Weller Jardinière and Pedestal. But this was just the start of things to come. I have been offered paintings by Ellen Farr and William Horton. The gentleman that offered the Horton was representing a client and when he told his client that he had offered it to “Daryle” in Chicago the man started to laugh. You see the seller and I are great friends but over the last few years we had just sort of drifted apart. He lives in California and we have had many great deals together. I am sure that we will keep in touch from now on. What a small world.

Just when I thought that things couldn't get better, are you ready for this? I was offered $50,000 worth of art work by an artist that I search for from two seperate sources. There are a total of eleven different paintings and I feel certain that many of them will be mine tomorrow. Here is the greatest part. Several of these pieces will go to present customers of mine and will never see the auction market.

The number of inquires that I am receiving each day is also on the rise so that tells me that our members are getting more active also. With this season starting off like this, I can only imagine what the summer is going to be like for us as this business gets in full bloom.

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