Antique Shop Finds

[cufflinkmaniac]

So far I've picked up two pair of cufflinks,two razors,and a desk pen.

 

[DeaconKC]

I'm always hunting old razors, shaving mugs and fountain pens.

 

[cufflinkmaniac]

I'm always hunting old razors, shaving mugs and fountain pens.

The DE razor (Gillette) I found was in near perfect condition,no rust or anything.And it came complete with travel case.The straight razor (Beau Brummel) I picked up needed a honing and a bit of steel wool,but was in otherwise great condition.The pen (rollerball,though I'm on the hunt for a nice fountain) has no name on it,and it needed to have the,for lack of a better word ink stick,replaced.Sadly,I broke the stand by accident,but luckily I've been able to glue it (although I have to be very ginger when taking it out or putting it back).The cufflinks,again without a brand,look almost like marble,but without the weight (I'm sure it's a synthetic material,but they look nice),and the bar on the one pair was damaged,so I placed them in the shoebox where I keep mementos.The other pair has been worn twice (to see the National Symphony and to my birthday dinner).Now I'm on the hunt for a pair of vintage MOP shirt studs.

 

[Brinybay]

I mostly only browse antique shops because they usually want too much for their wares. However, I did find this several years ago in an antique shop that was marked 50% off. Like I said, I wouldn't have even considered it at full price. It's ceramic, not a genuine whale tooth. Not sure of it's age.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Oh Jeez, almost all the furniture in my house (built 1883) and lots of other tidbits. I won't bore with photos but here's a partial list.

Over the years I've gotten a Duncan Phyfe dining room set, a great plantation rocker, a joined pair of old wood and iron fold-down auditorium seats, a set of four wooden folding chairs, assorted end tables, a drum table, a big secretary, a gallery table, music chair, 18th century spanish rapier, a ghurka khukri, a chinese court sword, a pair of old fencing foils and mask, an african spear head, various trunks & suitcases, a big beautiful armoir (these old homes want for closet space), quite a few old books, Ronson lighters, an Occupied Japan cigarette case, office/desk accoutrements, and various old woodworking tools including planes and "cordless drills" (egbeater and cam crank style lol ).

 

[RetroToday]

Sad to say this, but usually the only time I buy from actual "Antique" Shops is when they're going out of business.
Here, many of them believe their stock is 400% of what it actually should be worth. :eusa_doh: - And that's usually the reason why many of them eventually go out of business!

Most Antique Shop owners here are hoping that people hired to dress movie sets will come by with their huge budgets, pay the ridiculous prices they set, making them instant millionaires.

Another factor to consider - Usually rents are higher in the area in which antique shops exist, so that is carried over to the price of the goods you buy there.
"Well, let's just add on another 20% to these antiques to cover my rent..."

Wow, I'm bitter! But it's true.
(Well, there are some good ones out there too, getting harder to find)

 

[BellyTank]

Sometimes, "Antique shops" are just crazy. Sometimes it's due to delusions of grandeur, sometimes they misjudge their market and sometimes, they're just lazy.

My family was in the Antiques and second hand business, in New Zealand for more than 20 years. My Dad was on the ball and out every weekend, most days and many evenings, chasing up stock. Sundays, he would usually be in the garage, working on a piece of furniture. He had 4 different shops over the 20 odd year period he was in business and was always located in the suburbs, not in high rent areas but always very visible to locals and through-traffic. He ran the business as a business, not as a dream. He had reasonable prices, huge stocks and a very high turnover, which is not normal for this type of business. Any of the items he considered particularly rare, or precious, or that he had invested a lot of time restoring would be priced accordingly.

The trend that eventuated, was that most of the high-end antique dealers from the posh areas of town, would frequent my Dad's shop, using him as a "wholesaler". Dad would see his items in these shops in the "high-rent areas", with the prices marked up by at least 100%. He was not at all amazed by this. He enjoyed the ground work, the hunting, meeting thousands of folks, who became happy, frequent return customers.
His turnover of goods was so high that the regulars would come in a couple times a week, so's to not miss out on "new" stock. This worked well for him. He had a retail and a trade clientèle.
He even had people leaving wish lists with him. He always liked to be busy, always looking.

This is a contrast to the "high end" dealers, who sit, sit, sit, reading their Antique trade papers and waiting for the big sale.

Antique dealing, minus the snobbery.

But now, eBay and the like and Antiques Roadshow, etc. have pretty much killed Antiquing as a small business- now, everyone is an expert.
I'm glad he got out of the business at the right time.


B
T

 

[DeaconKC]

ANd ebay sure hasn't created very many knowledgeable folks either, much less true experts. Seems like any Gillette razor listed is a Fatboy, lol.

 

[cufflinkmaniac]

I just scored a pair of vintage Coral (anyone heard of this brand?) cufflinkls with matching tie bar for $10.00!I'll post pictures Monday.

 

[Feraud]

But now, eBay and the like and Antiques Roadshow, etc. have pretty much killed Antiquing as a small business- now, everyone is an expert.
I'm glad he got out of the business at the right time.


B
T

Unfortunately everyone is an expert, especially when they are not. I cannot tell you how many times a thrift shop owner has jacked up a price on a piece of junk thinking they are holding gold. With an attitude like that I let them keep it..

 

[cufflinkmaniac]

Unfortunately everyone is an expert, especially when they are not. I cannot tell you how many times a thrift shop owner has jacked up a price on a piece of junk thinking they are holding gold. With an attitude like that I let them keep it..

The shop I go to is very reasonable in most of their prices.They do have some things that are absurdly expensive,but for the things I'm interested in,the prices are fine.One thing I dislike about this place,they sell a lot of modern things,which kind of goes against the principle of "Antique Shop" doesn't it?

 

[ScionPI2005]

While I don't visit antique shops within my home city on a regular basis, I visit them left and right when I'm out of town of vacation. I seldom buy anything, it can be fun just to look and wish you had the funds to afford anything and everything some shops have that you could furnish your home with. Still, every once in a while, I see a good deal and take it.

 

[Forgotten Man]

Antique shops are hit or miss, the one I really loved here in my home town closed in 2005 and things haven't been the same here in Monrovia since! They had good prices and dealers that were willing to do just that, DEAL! And a friendly staff that were always happy to help. Since Monrovia West closed it's doors, the two ladies I knew that worked there moved their stuff over to Kaleidoscope on Myrtle and they work there most of the week... so, I still get to see them when I walk in there.

Most antique shops I visit west of me i e Pasadena, Hollywood, LA are all over priced! They are those who feel the movie industry will keep them in business and happy! In some cases that's true there, but I tend to go further east when I'm shopping and not wanting to walk through a museum. I find great deals out east... not going to give away my secrets, see; but some of you know where my stomping grounds are.

I buy just about anything at antique shops if it's 20s to 40s. Mostly as of late I have been keeping an eye out for kitchen stuff... and refrigerator related items. Trying to get the kitchen all decked out. The next big ticket item is a stove but, that will come in time. I'm looking for more enamel wear, tan and green stuff... and glass refrigerator containers. Also, I need a good set of 30s depression glass mixing bowls... and maybe a nice 30s canister set... haven't seen any as of yet that I like. I always see 50s ones but, never the earlier ones that I'm lookin' for. Also, maybe an early 30s Magic Maid mixer… oh yeah!

Most of the time if I find something like a small appliance or electrical something or other, I'll pick it up if the price is right.

 

[gingermore]

I have an antique shop near me where I often see stuff that is very reasonably priced. Yesterday I was looking for a present for a relative when I found this vase. When I got it home and put it on my mantlepiece I realised that I had to own it. So I was back at the shop today looking for another present.lol

It has #91 etched into the bottom of it, but no name. Does anybody have any ideas about it?

 

[cufflinkmaniac]

Last month: A silver cufflinks/tie bar set from the fifties or sixties with the brand name Coral. $10.00

Last week: Vintage jewelry box and a pair of oblong gold cufflinks. $5.00 each.

The new gold ones are second from the back on the right, in front of the onyx ones. The new silver ones are just in front of the new gold ones. The tie bar is hanging next to the gold one. I probably should have taken a picture of the box while closed, but ah well, c'est la vie.

 

[cufflinkmaniac]

Saturday: Swank tie bar, $4.50, fair condition.

 

[PuLpO]

nice items

 

[Michaelshane]

Antique shop,twelve bucks....

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[Shangas]

I don't visit antiques shops as often as I used to, because the prices are just insane there. I sometimes wonder if the folks who run those places REALLY know what something is worth.

Aaaanyway...When I DID go into antiques shops, I used to look for pens and watches. After discovering how much they try and sell these things for, I now search for pens and watches in the local flea-market instead.

 

[Foofoogal]

I have found many items at antique shops. So funny as sometimes the thing worth little will have a large price with the thing worth much with a little price. You have to know your stuff.
Many garage sales now have bigger prices than antique shops.
I have found stuff everywhere and I mean everywhere including a chicken coop. lol