Monday, September 14, 2009

"Classical Music" - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – I'm becoming a long hair.


My New Music



I am beginning to change my passion for music and to my surprise there seem to be many of us that are doing that very thing. No longer do Rock and Roll or Jazz and Blues hold my interest but classical music puts me in a a mood of reflection. Is it because I am getting older? No, I think it has more to do with how I am seeing the world.

With classical music I can feel and hear the different instruments as they contribute to the overall piece. This music seems to speak to me the way no other is at this moment and it gives me a sense of peace. Maybe that is because the world is swirling around me and at every turn I feel confusion and frustration. But playing some classical music seems to allow me to put all things in prospective.

For my own interest and the possibility of picking up a few albums for myself, I typed in "classical music" on the eBay site and I was amazed at what I found. When other collectibles are having a hard time selling on eBay and maybe only one out of ten listings are even receiving a bid, classical albums are receiving almost 100% sales ratings. This is why I stated earlier that I must not be the only one interested in this music. Yes often the sales were for multiple albums, but I don't care because when I can purchase 100 albums for under $25 at most garage and house sales, my investment will be very limited at best. In fact I was offered a 50,000 album collection not long ago for under $5000. I didn't purchase them at that time because I thought that the work to sell them wouldn't be worth my effort but today I believe I would reconsider my decision.

What I found on eBay was that there were a lot of groups of albums selling for over $300 with most of the groups containing less that 40 albums. It didn't take me long to do the math and this is what I came up with: most albums, if you purchase them in groups, will cost you on average 10 – 50c apiece. If you purchase 40, even at the high end your investment will be $20. Then as you sell the group of albums for $300 I would say that they meet and exceed of goal of compounding our money, wouldn't you agree?

One of the rules that I have shared with you so often is to buy what others are willing to spend their money on at the present time and I think that I have found that perfect item, classical albums. In fact here is the reason I believe this is happening. People love music and the outlay of cash for a decent collection of music compared to anything else you might wish to purchase is very small. Turn off the radio and television along with the computer and music seems to me to be a great alternative for keeping our sanity in the confusing world. God Bless.



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Sunday, September 13, 2009

"The Seasons Are Changing" - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Amusement Parks.


Me On the Front Row - Thanks to www.joyrides.com



Where is the time going? I have to say I don't know. I remember when children were preparing at this time of year for winter by taking their last fling on a roller coaster or merry-go-round at their local amusement park. The one I remember best was Beach Bend in Bowling Green, Kentucky. I also remember the different fares that were offered such as the cotton candy or candied apple that I seem to be tasting as I write this blog. Children today want to go to the movies or watch television. The rest of their time is spent with radios blaring in there ears or having their eyes stuck to the computer screen playing video games. What lasting memories will they be left with for their summer, I wonder.

The question that I ask myself is if ipods, computers and video games were available when I was young, would that have been where I would have spent my time? I sincerely hope that it wouldn't have been and I have to admit that the old time amusement park still holds an allure for me as I daydream about them, even today. I could never get enough time at the parks and I always hoped that my parents would take me just one more time before school started.

I would ask my parents for just one more trip to the park where I could spend those last magical days and hours of the year before going off to school for the new year, which I never looked forward to. It has been almost fifty years since I have enjoyed all the amusement parks offered but I believe that I could recall almost ever ride I rode on and every game I played at the last park I attended. Even the smell of the old park comes back to me as I envision waiting in line for each ride or trying my hand at the arcade games. These memories must be the same for a lot of people because memorabilia from amusement parks are eagerly sought after by collectors.

To give you some examples, I will list a few from Coney Island. How would you like to own a horse gambling wheel for $4500 or an original bumper car from the park for $4000? If these don't fit the bill for you, maybe a wooden shop sign for $1600 or a pamphlet at $200 would do the trick. Coney Island was just one of the amusement parks that drew national attention years ago. There was also the Boardwalk in Atlantic City and Riverview in Chicago. Items from these parks are just as collectible as those from Coney island. There is money to be made with these collectibles and there will never be a time that you will have to search very long to find your buyer.

If you never had to opportunity to visit a real amusement park I hope that this blog will encourage you to at the next chance you have.



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Saturday, September 12, 2009

"Watch that Black and White Cat"“ - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – You won't believe.


My Friend - Thanks to www.pointtoviews.bluehighways.com


It all started out like a normal day, Joshua going to school early for tech club, me preparing for the opening of the stock market and Vickie heading downtown for work. The mid part of the day was uneventful with me picking up Josh from school and heading to a friend's house to assist in preparing for a party.

But then everything changed and I may never be the same again. You see Josh's little friend Nick appeared at the door and wondered if I could let him play with our dog Katie until Josh got back from soccer practice. Seemed like a reasonable request to me so I said sure. It had been just a few minutes until I heard Nick scream and I rushed to the door fearful that something horrible had happened. Nick looked rattled and said that Katie had run off so I reassured him that I would get her back. Yelling at the top of my voice that dog came a runnin' straight past me and into the house where she quickly ran through every room in the house.

Being close behind her, I began to smell a very familiar aroma. She had been skunked. With no time to spare, I hustled her out of the house and started treatment, washing her in a mixture of peroxide, baking soda and detergent. It was then that the kids of the neighborhood began running around laughing and holding their noses. This is the point where the situation got serious.

Vickie, my wife, returned home, entered the house and said she was going to divorce me. Her question was “What are we going to do now because you know we are going to have company?” To make matters worse I began to laugh. Opening every window in the house and putting fans in the windows didn't help a lick so it was off to Meatheads where we went for our burgers. Returning home with our guest, the smell had even gotten stronger. Now we even took more drastic measures like putting scented candles in every room. Finally, not being able to stand it any longer, we attempted to go to bed with burning lips and eyes from that wonderful aroma.

Even this can be turned into an opportunity, however, because did you know there are skunk collectors? I found where a Steiff skunk sold for $400, a windup toy skunk from Japan brought $260 and last, a stuffed real skunk fetched $235. Yes, you may make money with skunks but be sure they aren't the real things.


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Friday, September 11, 2009

"Cookie Jars" - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Old favorites make com


Cookie Jar - Thanks to Flicker.com


The tide is turning slowly for collectibles but the old reliable items always return to their past values first. I believe the reason for this is that there will always be a hard core of collectors for the best of each collectible and when the values drop too far they are the first to step in and buy the bargains.

To give you an idea of what I'm talking about, let's examine the market for cookie jars. For the last two years no matter where I went, antique malls, second hand shops or house sales, there have always been a generous supply of cookie jars being offered with no takers. This trend of rejecting cookie jars seems to be abating. I have noticed a significate interest again in the cookie jars and now they seem to be the first items that the purchasers are picking up and, guess what, not many of them are being set back down on the table.

I believe that if you keep your eye out for the rarer cookie jars, you will find it easy to reach our goal of doubling our money by purchasing them. These jars never seem to lose popularity, even if their market value drops for a short period of time. Too many little boys and girls slipped into their grandmother's kitchen and put their little hands into the cookie jar without asking for the cookie jar to ever pass from our memory.

But you know we are talking about making money so I will give you a short list of jars that I believe will do that very thing. Bubbles the Hippo by Metlox will always be a winner, Dino by American Bisque will also never leave you with a frown on your face if you stumble across one. The horse by American Bisque and Little Red Riding Hood with a full skirt by Regal should put $500 and more in your pocket if found. Then you have Mammy, the Mohawk Indian, Pink Cadillac and many others that should pad your pockets. There are many Cookie Jar guide books that you can buy on Amazon or Abe Books for very little money, but only use them for identification not current value. Their values should be obtained by searching for current prices.

I would suggest that you browse the completed auctions on eBay and I believe then you will agree with me that this market is back into an uptrend. Now is the time to strike this market before everyone realizes that there is a change happening.


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Thursday, September 10, 2009

"Lesson Well Learned" - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – Pat me on the back.


I Took My Own Advise


If you remember, a few blogs back I told you that if the buyers weren't available to you to find a dealer to whom they were. Well I took my own advice and when a dealer emailed me about my prints on eBay that didn't sell, I was all ears.

I pursued him as a buyer because I had received no bids on eBay and thought that he was talking about buying the prints straight out. He had a different idea, however, about how we would work together than I did. Like I stated in my previous blog, he assured me that I could double the money on my prints that were posted on eBay by dealing with his buyers. This morning I received a call from the dealer asking if I would sell all six prints at one time and my answer was “Are you kidding?" “There is just one hitch” he said. “The buyer wants to pay for one each month." We have now made the sale and if the buyer agrees, the prints are his. All the buyer has to agree to is that only one print will be delivered to him each month.

If I could find half a dozen dealers like this one I wouldn't need auctions or eBay at all. I sort of enjoy doing business like this and I can assure you this is just the first of many transactions that I will be doing with that dealer. I often have the same arrangement with Cecil and if today wasn't already good enough, Cecil gave me the news that he has sold a painting that we partnered on that brought several thousand dollars. I am beginning to see a pattern here, aren't you? We are creating our own markets by networking together. There will always be room for more members to join our close knit circle and that has been my vision since I began thinking about the Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club. Soon we will be set up to make it much easier for you to be within the club circle so stay tuned. I would like to hear some stories about how you have started your circle.

By the way, I was asked to view the painting that I sold for $25,000 in the person's house that bought it. I couldn't wait to see it because the proper lighting now has been attached to the painting. I was sure that it would be an art lover's dream and I wasn't mistaken. The painting took my breath away and I have to state that in all my years in this business I have never seen a painting that was of better quality than this one. If it were displayed in the Chicago Art Institute, I can assure you that it would put most of the offerings there to shame. The frame in something that you can only dream about because I have never seen one to match it. Over eight inches in width and perhaps six inches in depth and holding a painting that measures over five feet, this frame commands the attention that it deserves. Totally hand carved and the most detailed caving that I have seen, plus being gold guided doesn't hurt either. I just had to share this with you because when you find a true treasure it makes all the hard work worth it.
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Wednesday, September 9, 2009

“EBAY “ Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Blog – eBay could be your bread basket.


Van Briggle


One of the first blogs I wrote was on eBay and my experiences with it. If you read that blog you will remember that when eBay started I was one of its first users. I was a buyer because everyone was afraid to purchase anything on that site. Some of the best buys I have made were purchased off eBay in those early years. I couldn't sell anything there but “wow” were there bargains to be had.

I believe that we have come full circle and because of the economy people for all practical purposes have stopped purchasing items on eBay . Why do I say that you are asking? Well this week I found a small piece of Van Briggle listed but out of place. Due to its size (under two inches) I thought it would be a great addition to my miniature collection and it was priced under $15. While I was on the eBay site for Van Briggle I decided to just scan what other pieces were being offered. Let me tell you the prices for pieces I think are fairly good Van Briggles were selling for nothing. I haven't seen prices that low for over 25 years and you would have to make money on them at these prices regardless.

Tonight I got a call from Cecil my friend in Owensboro, Kentucky and before I could share with him about the Van Briggle he started talking about Rookwood. That shouldn't be surprising considering his email is rookwood2@aol.com. “You wouldn't believe the prices on eBay for Rookwood” is the way he started the conversation. “What do you mean?” was my response. "Well I just offered a person $75 for an artist signed piece of Rookwood, do you believe that?" This is where I couldn't resist and I told him about the Van Briggle. We must have talked an hour and after looking up some other items it was apparent that the prices on eBay have hit lows not seen as far as I can remember.

Here is a little strategy, pick four or five companies that in the past have held your interest and go to eBay completed sales and look up the items produced by these companies . If you find items that are rather nice but received no bids, email the seller and offer ½ of their starting price. Since there were no bids, if they relist these items at an even lower price, the chances are they still won't receive a bid. But here is the secret. If you can purchase them for 1/2 price, you will be able to sell these items to collectors directly or even put them in local auctions where you should still be able to double your money or more.

I am finding it difficult to believe that I am writing a blog and telling the reader to purchase items off eBay but the opportunity to make money by doing so is just to great. Happy shopping.


{ For some reason the images won't upload}

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Tuesday, September 8, 2009

“ Fostoria Glass Company “ - Daryle Lambert's Antique and Collectible Club – Great Finds

Fostoria - Thanks to www.maxframe.com



The Fostoria Glass Company was founded in 1887 in Fostoria Ohio but soon moved to Virgina in 1891. They were successful form the beginning however their heydays were in the 1920. This beautiful crystal was made in clear and colored glass with the colored pieces the most sought after today. The factory closed in 1983 but was later purchased and some patterns are be produced today from the old molds. The company that owns the name today says that the new pieces can be easily identified.

Because Fostoria glass was made over a rather extended period of time therefore there are large amounts of pieces available to the collectors and this makes it quite popular. The most popular pattern of Fostoria glass remains American but there are many other patterns that quick the collectors interest. Some of the patterns of glass made by the Fostoria company that are sought after are Baroque, Century, Chintz, Coin, Colony, Fairfax, Hermitage and Jamestown. I have owned many pieces of Fostoria but to the best of my memory the piece that I sold for the most money was a Versailles Vase that brought just over $500.

If you have purchased the Kovels' Antique and Collectible price guide as I have suggested you will fine a generous listing of Fostoria by pattern and price. Here are a few pieces to look for: American biscuit jar $800, American covered bowl $1000, American wash bowl $2000, Colony punch bowl $1000, Minuet decanter $2200, and Versailles vase $825. However The Fostoria Value Guide by Emily Seale and Milbra Long should be a part of your permanent library and it will give you more information than the Kovels”. Fostoria usually came with a paper label but since most of these have been removed pieces can be identified through your guides.

In these periods where people are unsure of their financial well being they often sell their everyday items and you will find no shortage of Fostoria being offered a house and garage sales. Consignment shops and goodwill store are other great places to find Fostoria and it can usually be purchase rather reasonably.
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