Collectors Weekly Website - New Daily Blog, More Categories

I love the Collectors Weekly site -- so much good FREE info and CLOSED eBay prices -- I refer to the site all the time. And it just keeps getting bigger and better. Here's the latest email update I received, with all the new categories, articles, and new Daily Blog info:

New
Categories Added

---

We've recently added several new
categories, including: Mid-Century Modern; US
Paper Money; US Coins (half dollars, quarters, dimes, nickels, cents); Wristwatches (Cartier, Longines, Breitling, Vacheron Constantin, Mickey Mouse, and military watches); Music
Memorabilia (including Michael Jackson); hanging
lamps; Moser art glass; cigarette cases; cigar boxes; mandolins; banjos;
left
handed vintage guitars; Coro
costume jewelry; swimwear; science fiction books; biographies and memoirs; wax packs
and boxes; inkwells; ballpoint
pens; cabinet cards; and American Girl dolls. We now have more than 800 category pages
and counting (see the complete list).

Recent Collector Interviews Check out these recent in-depth interviews with experienced and passionate collectors... there's a lot of great stuff here! By the way, if there's someone you think we should interview because of their deep knowledge in a specific collecting area, please let us know. Bonhams Director of Clocks and Watches Jonathan Snellenburg Marble Collector Alan Basinet Pattern Coin Collector Andy Lustig Sewing Machine Collector Harry Berzack Lighter Collector Urban Cummings Victoria & Albert Museum Curator Noreen Marshall Tramp Art Collector Clifford Wallach US Stamp Collector Bob Allen Sewing Thimble Collector Sue Gowan Pocket Watch Collector Tom McIntyre Tractor Collector Frazier Dailey 19th-Century American Clock Collector Dave Weisbart Cowan Art Pottery Museum Curator Carol Jacobs Wristwatch Collector Jeff Hess Motorcycle Author Darwin Holmstrom Football Card Collector Mike Thomas Poster Collector Sam Sarowitz Decoy Collector Steven Lloyd Know someone who'd like these interviews? By the way, we're constantly publishing new collector interviews. If you have a collecting-related blog or newsletter and would like to do a post about one of these interviews, that would be great. All we ask is that you link back to the full article... thanks!

New Hall of Fame Collector Sites We've added several new sites to our Collectors Hall of Fame ('Best of the Web'), which includes more than 500 great reference and educational sites. If you know of a site we should include (see our criteria), please let us know. Recent additions include: OnTheDash - Beer Tray Information Site - CollectLamps.com - Museum of Childhood - California Bicycle Museum - The NeedleBar - Universal Ship Cancellation Society - The Coins of Colonial and Early America - Liberty Nickel Collector Society - Blenko Museum - The MZTV Museum of Television - R.A. Siegel Auction Galleries - TackleCollecting.com - Complete Guide to American Girl Doll Collecting - Hyman's National Cigar Museum - Private Die Proprietary Stamps - Two Cent Revenue Stamped Paper - Corkscrewsonline.com - Cameras and Co - Magic-Lantern.eu

The Collectors Weekly Goes Daily! Why weekly? People always ask us that, so we created a daily blog to showcase the new and interesting things we learn and write about every day. From personal narratives and commentaries to breaking news and category round-ups, we think it will be a good read... hope you'll bookmark the main daily page, or subscribe via RSS. Another new feature we've launched is called "My Favorite Pages." If you regularly look at several different Collectors Weekly pages, you can now bookmark them using a handy pulldown menu at the very top of each page on the site. Read details here about how this works.

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com

Good economy news for vintage sellers

Good economy news for vintage sellers -- the 1st DIBS antiques site has posted this info: the Sales to Listings Ratio for the second quarter of 2009 has returned to the level of the second quarter of 2008.

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com

Huntington Beach Postcard Books - Video Preview

Arcadia Publishing's latest email has a great vintage pix of beachgoers, and says "Beat the summer heat with over 100 historic BEACH BOOKS".

They pictured a few, including one of my old stomping grounds -- Huntington Beach, in Orange County, California. I clicked on it to check it out, and found that one of the authors has a You Tube channel, where he's uploaded several videos that peek into history, and his Arcadia Publishing postcard/photo books.

Vanishing Orange County



Huntington Beach - new book just out



Huntington Beach Then & Now - his earlier book



You can check out historian and author Chris Epting's other you-tube videos on his You Tube Channel.

His "Forgotten Disneyland" series made me misty-eyed for the place of my childhood memories. Well done!

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com

Big Antique Bottle Show in Pomona CA This Weekend

I am the website editor/writer for the Findlay Antique Bottle Club, and I just did a few posts about this weekend's National Bottle Show in Pomona, California. I hope you'll pop over to the club's website, and give it a read- thanks!

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com

National Tequila Day -- Ole!

Friday was National Tequila Day. I tried to find out who decided that, but could find no exact culprit. Logic says it was a liquor company. So I guess we can't blame this one on Hallmark.

Fortunately I didn't hear about it until the next day, so I didn't get tempted into honoring the Tequila Gods, and indulging in a little Jose Cuervo, because we all know there's no such thing as a little Cuervo -- I mean, crack open the bottle and throw away the cap, right?! At least that's what I'd have done (did) "back in the day". But these days my first thought was "No way, Jose -- me no wanty hangover!"

My second thought was "Hey, wonder if I have any tequila collectibles?"

I wish I could say I pulled out my copy of:



The Champs' 1958 recording of their R&B grammy winning TEQUILA, but no, I don't own it. Yet.

I did dig out my one and only tequila-related item:




It's a ceramic jug with raised design that once held HUSSONG'S Tequila. Hussong's is a great bar down in Ensenada, Mexico. When I was in high school, we spent many a summer night there, after long days on the beach. Ah, good times. Enough said there.




Hussong's Cantina is still there, and still the place to go in Ensenada. Established in 1892, Hussong's is the oldest cantina in the Californias (California in the United States and Baja California in Mexico).

Why I didn't take, or buy any souvenirs, I don't know. But thank goodness for ebay. That's where I bought my jug, even if it does have a Zanesville Pottery (Ohio) sticker on the bottom. I doubt if it was ever even in Hussongs ...



Here are a couple of items that were on ebay recently -- the cool ashtray, and a metal bar tray. Maybe I'll watch for more Hussong's items... or maybe I'll just enjoy my memories of the good times I had there....



Just in case, here's the ebay search widgets -- one for Hussongs, and one for Tequila!

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com

More eBay Changes Coming - Brace Yourselves, Sellers!

Aaargh! I cannot even write how frustrated this announcement makes me!

As always, Auctionbytes.com brings us the latest news and I thank them -- I just wish it was good news.

You can read Ina Steiner's AB article about eBay's latest announcements, happening on Monday, July 27th.

She titled it: "eBay Sellers Should Brace for Monday's Major Announcement".

I am in amazement at what they are pulling on us (sellers) this time. Just off the top of the list, here are 3 that irk me the most:


1) Major changes to the Power Seller program -- changing the DSR ratings needed (higher, of course), and creating a new "Top seller" tier, as well as penalizing the part-time seller in search/sort.

Auctionbytes writes "The changes to the PowerSeller program appear to be, in effect, a fee increase, given that eBay is reducing discounts for many sellers."

2) The removal of the ability to list with a separate fee for shipping insurance - you can only lump it in with your shipping charge -- which doesn't take into account final auction prices affecting said insurance fee, not to mention they'll penalize you in the search/sort for having too-high shipping charges -- you can't win!

They also will likely say "When offering free shipping, no other fees related to shipping, handling, insurance or packaging can be charged."

3) The 3rd thing that Auctionbytes alerted readers to was something that paypal announced, but I missed. Here's what AB wrote about paypal's new change:

"... Online sellers were incredulous on Friday when they received notification of PayPal's new policy updates: If a seller loses a PayPal claim, his or her liability will include the full purchase price of the item and original shipping cost, and in some cases, they may not receive the item back. And if a seller loses an eBay claim, he or she agrees to allow PayPal to remove funds from their PayPal Account in order to reimburse eBay for the liability - Seller Protection does not cover claims filed with eBay. ..."


I know -- it's just amazing stuff, isn't it?! Read the article for more info -- yes, more bad news... sorry to say. And be sure to read Ina's Letter from the Editor, too.

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com

Morphy Auctions - Next Sale Has Over 3000 Items!

Morphy Auctions has another one of their huge online auctions coming up. I love to check out the variety of their items - and dream! I've added a few pix from their catalog, but there are over 3000 more items! You should check it out.

"...Morphy Auctions August 2009 Sale will be held live August 13th, 14th and 15th. This sale begins each day at 10:00 AM EDT. Thursday includes over 350 Doll Lots, over 300 Pottery & Decorative Art Lots, over 250 Jewelry Lots, and over 150 Silver Lots. Friday includes over 90 Marble Lots, over 50 Advertising Lots, over 250 Kentucky Long Rifles, over 200 Powder Horns, over 200 Music Boxes & Phonographs, and over 150 Gold Coins. Saturday includes over 300 German Hand-Painted Toys, over 150 Figural Cast-Iron Lots, over 250 Mechanical & Still Banks, and over 350 Cast Iron Toys. ..."

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com

Google Finds Missing eBay Items - Use Google Shopping to Find More Antiques

AuctionBytes Blog's Ina Steiner did a search experiment, ebay search vs google products -- and -- surprise! Guess who won!

You can read her post here, and read the interesting comments from the AB readers.

I've been a long-time proponent of teaching shoppers to use google shopping search (aka google base and/or google products) -- you get more results from more sales venues, so are more likely as a shopper to find what you are looking for. And seller's should be sure to list their items via google base, to increase the likelihood of making a sale!

Be Sure to Shop For Your Antiques Through Google

The NEW and IMPROVED way to search and shop for Antiques online is through Google Shopping's search engine.

I want to help promote the concept of doing your antiques shopping through Google, not just through eBay. It has a few names, but whether you call it Google Products, Google Base, or Google Shopping, it's the way to find more vintage treasures for sale on the internet.

Google Base indexes the FIXED PRICE items that are listed all over the web - everyone from Ecrater and Bonanzle, to Tias, and Rubylane, as well as eBay and 100's more sites -- AND it includes individual shops/websites, too.

So you will see more of the items that you are searching for, all in one search results list. You don't have to go to each individual site and enter your search terms over and over. Once is enough. And you will find items from sites you didn't know existed, hadn't thought to include in your daily quest, or just didn't want to hassle with clicking on.

So, next time you are looking for antiques, that special item for your collection, the perfect gift for a vintage fan -- just be sure to go to Google.com, click on their SHOPPING link, and you'll be shopping all the Vintage and Collectibles sites at once.

For sellers, your success at selling antiques/collectibles doesn't depend as much on which site you use, as long as the listings get indexed by Google. Simply make sure that your listings get uploaded to Google BASE.

Try it now! Go to Google Shopping's search engine.

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com

40th Anniversary of Apollo 11 -- History and Photo Books

One Giant Leap Back in Time: Revisit 40 Years of Space Discovery History with Arcadia Publishing

Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Apollo 11
and Earth's First Lunar Landing

Arcadia Publishing honors this historic anniversary -- check out these wonderful U.S. Space Program and NASA history books that are illustrated with vintage photos and postcards.

• Building Moonships: The Grumman Lunar Module, NY
• Cape Canaveral, FL
• Downey's Aerospace History: 1947-1999, CA
• Flight Research at NASA Langley Research Center, VA
  

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com

Greenspot Antiques Innovates by Using Social Network NING Group to Sell Antiques

Just finished reading the latest issue of Antique Week, and enjoyed Kat McKerrow's ANTIQUENOMICS column. She discusses dealers who are using innovative ideas to market antiques, and to stay competitive in today's economy by using the latest the internet has to offer.

I was pleased to see one of my online-pals profiled: Vince Jelenic of GREENSPOT ANTIQUES, as being an innovator in the online antiques selling/shopping arena. He has all the bases covered.

Besides his website, he has:

• Twitter: GreenSpotting where he "tweets" secret discount code words and advertises his new items.
  

• A blog: Green Ink Diary , which Vince writes is: "about learning to print money online with sales venues that work. No whining here allowed. If you have comments, ideas, or criticisms, go ahead and post them, we can discuss them thoughfully and honestly." I enjoy his unique writing style, and always learn something about marketing, SEO-ing, eBay, and new online advents.
  

• And the most novel item in his sales arsenal -- a Shopping NING Group Site -- http://greenspot.ning.com/ -- where you can join, interract with Vince and his wife Wanda, as well as other shopper/members, and of course see all their interesting merchandise. You can mark your favorites, ask questions, see lots of pix... and make purchases. Members get to take advantage of special promotions. It's free to join, too.
  

Click the pix to enlarge.

I wish Vince and GreenSpot continued success. Check out his websites to learn more. And check out Kat McKerrow's ANTIQUARYKAT Ning-blog group, too.

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com

Aladdin Lamp Show / Convention / Gathering is July29 - Aug. 1

I was visiting with a friend recently, at the Muncie Fruit Jar show, and we got to talking about his collection of Aladdin lamps and glass figurines. He shared some of his special finds. He brought out a different Aladdin Lady figurine to show me, but this is the one I want to find someday! Isn't she gorgeous! She's pictured on the Aladdin Collectors website.

It just so happens that annual lamp collector's show, 20th International Antique Lamp Show & Sales is coming up the end of this month.

Public Invited

Crowne Plaza, Louisville Airport, 830 Phillips Ln.Louisville, KY

July 29 - August 1st, 2009

9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

It is sponsored by the "National Association of Aladdin Lamp Collectors", and is held in conjunction with their Gathering (convention) which begins July 29th. The lamp show is open to registrants on Friday, July 31st.




It's your chance to enjoy:

"... Largest display of antique coal-oil lamps in the world manufactured from 1870 to 1940. Victorian hanging lamps, student lamps, GWTW lamps, table lamps, wall lamps, bracket lamps--lamps of all kinds including the world famous Aladdin kerosene and electric lamps! Plus shades and parts galore! Several antique lighting clubs will be present. Dealers from U.S., Canada and England. ..."

• Information:(270) 488-2116 Bill Courter, Kentucky, brtknight@aol.com

The Gathering activities include:

Opening reception: on Thursday evening.

Room Sales: Registrants display their lamps and items for sale in their rooms and keep their door open. This fun event is friend-making throughout the Gathering.



Auction on Thursday: The auction is the first official event of the Gathering where price trends are often established. All items must be Aladdin which are sold to the highest bid without reserves.

Educational Seminars: on Friday and Saturday; cover various subjects such as repairs, tips on reproductions, rare items, talks of other kinds of lighting, how to light a kerosene Aladdin lamp, and much more.

Display Room: The Display Room is devoted to different Aladdin themes and usually shows the rare and scarce Aladdin tems, and often with short "how to tell" talks.

International Lamp Show & Sale: The Show opens to registrants on Friday afternoon and is open to the public on Saturday from 9 - 3. Noted dealers from many states as well as from England and Canada feature outstanding antique lighting of all kinds.




Community Table: The Community Table in the Show is manned by volunteers. Registrants can put up to 5 lots to be sold on this table. This is a service to those who do not have enough to warrant Show table or do not want to sell out of their room.


Raffle: Raffle tickets are sold throughout the Gathering for $1 each. Income helps pay the Gathering expenses. Everyone is invited to donate items. The greatest raffle prize is the Aladdin Quilt.



Aladdin Quilt: There is a group within the Aladdin Knights who are lovingly called The Ladies of the Knights and a select few men called The Knights of the Needle. These ladies and men volunteer their talent and countless hours to hand embroider Aladdin lamps on squares that make the annual one-of-a-kind, handmade Aladdin Quilt.

Banquet: Saturday evening is enjoyed by a delicious meal, program, raffle winners, and camaraderie with friends we may not see for another year.


These lamps aren't bottles, but they are glass, and oh so pretty, too! I have some other friends who collect Aladdin glass lamps, too, and I've seen some of their collection. They are beautiful, especially when there is a group of them. I am sure the show will be breathtaking.

My favorite info resource site, Collectors Weekly has an ALADDIN LAMPS page -- lots of info, pix, and eBay completed prices.



A little info about Aladdin Lamps from CW:

"... Originally founded in Chicago in 1908 as “The Mantle Lamp Company of America,” Aladdin Industries Inc. was considered the maker of the finest non-electrical lamps in the world. Their oil lamps were so bright, the company offered a thousand dollars to anyone who could show them an oil lamp that matched the brightness, and no one ever did. Aladdin was unique in its use of so-called “moonstone” glass, a milky white glass that shone like the moon when the lamp was lit. ..."

Here's the ebay search widget for Aladdin Lamps:

And here's the Most-Watched List, for items in ebay's Collectibles>Lamps, Lighting> Lamps:Non-Electric category.

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com

Collecting Holt Howard Pixie Ware

The Antique Trader has a really informative article about vintage Holt Howard collectibles, by Walter Dworkin.

The author covers the Pixie line, as well as the cute Holt Howard Cats line, and he discusses the Lefton look-alikes, too. It's a great article to introduce you to collecting these fun pieces. Definitely worth reading, and seeing the other pix.

Here's an excerpt:

"... During the late 1950s, with almost perfect timing, a most creative and clever company named Holt-Howard was developing a revolutionary new concept in deep-glazed ceramics called “Pixiewares.” These containers included covered condiment jars featuring whimsical pixie heads on top.

Due to the huge success of Pixiewares, other novelty companies such as Davar, Lefton, Lipper & Mann, and Napco, all began to copy Holt-Howard’s style. While each company made creative condiment jars, the Davar Company practically copied the Pixieware copyrighted design. Although many other companies’ jars were different, they were all competing for sales around the same time—the 1950s and early 1960s. Today, many of these condiment jars have also become highly collectible and some are commanding top dollar at antiques and collectibles shows.

These cute condiment jars and related household imps have truly stolen everyone’s heart and turned out to be one of the hottest collectibles in America today.

How many Pixies were created in the 1950s, and how many are needed to complete a set? The total number of vintage Pixieware pieces is 64. The 64 include the solid-colored and striped Pixieware liquor decanters, and the cocktail Cherries, Onion and Olives. ..."

They are such cute retro items. Even though the vintage pieces are adorable, my absolute favorite is the new PIXIE Cookie Jar. I honestly think it will be the last cookie jar that I sell from my collection - it's that cute!

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com

Roller Coasters and Amusement Parks = Summer Fun - Reading, That Is!

Summer's in full swing, and that means it time to have some fun. I used to enjoy roller coasters and amusement parks, but these days I'd much rather read about them.

Here's a link to Arcadia Publishing's list of boooks about U.S. amusement parks history, illustrated with lots of wonderful vintage photos and postcards. Use their search function to find your favorites.

Arcadia's website is now using Google's "search inside the book" function -- so you can get a great preview before you buy.

Here's the cover of their Orange County, CA book - Early Amusement Parks of Orange County - what a great carousel photo. Followed with a pic of the Balboa Fun Zone - a place that holds special memories for me. My better half used to sell frozen bananas there!

And they have one book all about vintage roller coasters -- The Golden Age of Roller Coasters with the best old photos! Here's a tiny taste -- there are dozens more amazing photos:

Have fun!

____________________________________

Here's a reader's comment:

MrCachet said... "My very first amusement park was Columbia Gardens, erected and maintained by the Anaconda Copper Company in Butte, Montana - until they needed to dig more copper out of the hole in the ground that used to be a mountain. All that's left of it now are photographs."

So I thought I'd add a photo and some info about the amusement park of Dave's childhood, from the Roller Coasters of the Pacific Northwest / Defunct Roller Coasters page.

They write:

"... Columbia Gardens Roller Coaster was built in 1906 as a three level, side friction Figure 8 coaster then was reduced in size to two levels in 1918. Around 1928, the Anaconda Company, who then owned the park, completely refurbished the ride. It was rebuilt into an out and back style coaster. The cars, known as velvet chariots, didn't ride on rails but rode on hard maple runners and would bump-steer the ride's corners as they went around. Many locals who rode Roller Coaster thought it was terrifying, violent, and fun. ..."

There's more info and pix on their nostalgic site.

__________________________________________

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com

Collecting Vintage Glass Candy Containers -- Auction Report

Winking Cat Candy Container Sets Record Price at Auction

The Old Barn Auction house, in Findlay Ohio, recently had one of their regular Candy Container auctions. The report is in this week's edition of the Antique Week tradepaper.

The top seller was a rare Winking Cat with original paint, and it sold for $8250.00 -- wow! I'd say the price is because of scarcity, condition, of course, but also because of THEME - it has the candy container and toy factor, as well as the Halloween and Cat cross-over collectibility factor.

The AW article shows several other rare candy containers, with realized prices. You can still see (but for how long, I don't know) the entire Old Barn Candy Container auction catalog online.

They had several I would love to get some day, to add to my Easter collection. Here's my wish-list pic.

If you want to know more about collecting vintage glass candy containers, go to the Candy Containers Collectors of America great website. Lots of pix and info, and even pix of repros so you know what to watch out for. View their great Candy Container Scrapbook to see some really cute candy containers.

And to learn even more, see lots more pix, and track eBay auctions and prices for Candy Containers, be sure to go to Collector's Weekly's Candy Container resource page -- you can also subscribe to their Candy Container newlsetter. Here's an idea of what their page looks like.

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com

Just released my new e-book - Start 2 Blog Now

I have written my first e-Book -- titled START 2 BLOG NOW by Marianne Dow -- and have set up another blog with the same name to sell the book, and support the new-bloggers.

You can check out the blog, and read all about my book, at start2blognow.com

I am so happy to have this e-book finally ready to unveil -- just in time for Independence Day! This holiday weekend is the perfect time for anyone -- you? -- to start your new blog!

I have written the manual that will take you step by step through the entire process of setting up your first blog. It's 115 pages, with screen shot illustrations and detailed instructions.

Please have a look at the page. It will tell you so much more. And feel free to email me with any questions.

Then click on the page if you've decided that it's time for you to START 2 BLOG NOW!

I can't wait to see everyone's new blogs!

And please tell your friends about this -- thanks!

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com