Added a few new art deco lamps to my inventory.

Here is a nice art deco lamp that I purchased at an antique center in Pennsylvania.

ANTIQUE PAPER - EPHEMERA SHOW

For many years my wife and I have attended these antique paper shows. The past few years I have lost some interest in the paper shows because the paper I am looking for is more oriented toward the mid-century rather than older merchandise. As a result, I could stroll through for 1-2 hours and then I am finished. I do find, however, that these shows offer a wealth of history.
On the other hand, my wife can stay at a paper show for 3+ hours. One thing to discuss are prices. Today we attended a paper show at Allentown, PA. I did find a few radio brochures that I could have purchased for the right price. Now, I don't like to only use Ebay prices but that is what I can use to compare between venues. The prices at the show were so high on the few items I would have bought that it was not worth negotiating 10-20% discount. ************************
Another dealer at the show has been going out of business for the past three shows. He had a nice big sign out (as usual) referring to his generous 25-50% retirement discount sale.
Yet, the few items I found of interest were so EXCESSIVELY over priced that the dealer would have to offer me a 90% discount just to get the price in the approximate neighborhood.
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On thing that I have been noticing over the past 5-6 years was the lighter overall attendance at these very nice shows. Especially after the first on rush of buyers, who are usually on line to gain entrance at 9:00am. By the time noon time rolls around many buyer-customers have flown the roost. I am pleased to report that I observed many new customers paying to enter the show even though it was afternoon. These shows are like museums to me and are always worth a walk through to observe the most interesting photographs, old books, advertising paper, post cards, and interesting documents, such as stock certificates. I do hope the day does not arrive when the internet has taken full control over the antique market. I will surely miss these shows.

ART DECO SHOPPING -

It seems I have a weakness for art deco styled antiques, especially lamps. I like my collectibles to have two functions. First, it must be pleasing to the owner's eye in style or design. Second, the item should have some other function besides its beautiful design (in the eye of the beholder, of course). My antique radios play and my art deco lamps light. My wife will add art deco candlesticks to our collection pointing out to me that they have a second function of holding candles. Just yesterday she added a Frankart art deco ash tray item (we don't smoke). Anyway, finding art deco items from the 1920s is becoming quite difficult- and I live in the New York City area, too. ***********
Recently I have discovered a small antique shop not too far from Newport, Rhode Island, that has so many art deco items that it is evident to me that this dealer, along with a small number of other dealers across the country, have a "corner" on this market. These dealers/collectors must own 50% of all the available art deco items available in the market place. The dealer's shop and home are one of the same. Throughout the shop and house are mostly art deco items in which, the dealer states, ". . .was accumulated over 12 years." There are many Frankart and Nuart lamps, ash trays, figures, mirrors, jars, glass globes, pen holders, and most anything else one may seek in the art deco field. My wife and I have visited the shop twice and have left spending more than originally planned. The dealer and his wife are very congenial and love to discuss the art deco collectibles they have on display. The buyer is not rushed and may take some time browsing the shop. What a great and enjoyable experience it is visiting this antique store that most people would just drive by and miss.

ANTIQUE SHOW ATTENDANCE

Recently I drove about 50 miles and paid about $10 for round trip tolls to attend an antique radio show. The admittance fee for two was $10.00. Add in $20.00 for gasoling round trip and the total could cover the cost of another collectible that could have been purchased over the internet. The show was held in a large building which gave me some hope that there would be a healthy supply of dealers with a good number of radio related objects for sale. The show had about 20 dealers of which a few were selling non-antique radio items, such as toys or computer accessories. There were no major tube, knob, or catalin radio sellers as was common in the past. Some dealers were selling test equipment and radio magazines. This is good, except that the overall dealers selling radios was so limited that I now need to consider whether it is worth attending anymore of these shows. They are becoming quite disappointing to me. However, the real blame for a lack of a large numbers of dealers is the internet. It seems most of us who buy and restore these items are buying and selling over the internet. I have also noticed a much smaller attendance when visiting antique paper and book shows, too. Sometimes, I count the dealers and the customers and find that there are obviously more dealers that buyers. Interestingly, when I attend these shows I often buy an item that I may not have purchased if I was home browsing over the internet. Why is that?

PHILCO FLYING WEDGE RADIO MODEL 48 230

This photo reveals one of the top collectible tube radios from the 1940s.

PHILCO BOOMERANG 49 501 (1949)

Here is a photo of a beautiful all American five tube collectible radio from the 1940s. It is known as the Philco Boomerang. Highly collectible and prized by tube radio enthusiasts.

THE CONVENIENCE OF PAYPAL

Some internet sellers will only accept payment in the form of check, money order, or credit card. If payment is by credit card one needs to telephone the credit card number to the seller. These sellers refuse to sign up to be part of the paypal crowd. I always hesitate to purchase an item when a money order or check are the only methods to pay. Paypal protects me in a number of ways. I do not need to send my credit card number or show my bank account number to a total stranger that could be a shady character. If an item is paid for and the item is not received, paypal assists the buyer recover from the seller. In addition, my hobby money is kept neatly in my Paypal account drawing a money market rate of return. Paypal also offers a Paypal Debit Card that can be used as a credit card. All purchases receive a 1.5% rebate credited to one's paypal account. I calculated that the hobby money earns for me enough each year to buy one extra collectible for myself.
Where am I going with this, you say. About two weeks ago I purchased an item on the internet paid via a money order. As of yet, I have not received the item. I have made two attempts to contact the seller without hearing anything back. Here, I could add another poor experience with a seller who only accepts a money order or check. For me, this has now become a "red flag" issue when making an internet purchase.
UPDATE. UPDATE.
The seller contacted me and advised that the item was shipped on Friday, two weeks after it was purchased.
4/5/08 It is now Saturday, one week after the item was shipped and still no delivery. Hmmmm!
4/13/08 Still no package. A dispute form with Ebay was initiated.
4/15/08 Shipment arrived. Dispute ended.
I will no longer purchase anything on Ebay using a check or money order. I'll stick with PayPal deals, only.

SHIPPING HEADACHES- OH BOY!

Purchasing antiques and collectibles over the Internet has certainly made the search and enjoy aspect of this hobby more fun. Unfortunately, it has opened a window where additional problems may develop. How many times have we received a beautiful collectible damaged in transit? It is almost routine to expect 1-2 damaged items per 10 shipments. Many of the items that I purchase are made of Bakelite, plastic, and could have some form of glass incorporated within the design. In almost all instances the item damaged was due to insufficient packing methods by the shipper. First of all, newspaper crumpled is a poor cushion for a delicate object. Yet, there are still Internet shippers that use this form of protection for our collectible. Secondly, our objects require a little air space between itself and the side of a box to give it some protection from the possibility of rough handling in transit. Interestingly, when I write a seller in regard to this challenge I sometimes receive a snappy response in which the seller writes, "Don't worry, I know how to pack."
Personally, I have reached the point of disappointment with damaged items in transit where I now offer the seller/shipper a few extra dollars for their effort to provide better packing and double boxing for my item. Some sellers insist that I purchase insurance if the package is going to be shipped by the US Postal Service (UPS and FedEx automatically offer a minimum amount without additional cost). Heck, if I filed every insurance claim for items received damaged by the USPS my local Post Office may become suspicious of my activity and suspect fraud.

WHAT I DISLIKE ABOUT ANTIQUE CENTERS

Antique Centers are a fine way to shop for antiques and collectibles because it offers a wide range of merchandise and contains a good healthy inventory due to the many dealers under one roof. There is, however, one negative I have found when shopping at an antique center. When prepared to make an offer on an item the discount limit at a center is almost always 10%. Yes, some centers will permit a potential buyer to offer a price that gives a greater discount than 10%, but this may require the center telephoning the dealer and relaying the offer. In more cases than I may count, the antique center owner will inform me that he/she could not make contact with the dealer and therefore cannot reduce the price more than 10%. There are many items that are substantially overpriced at antique centers that could be 50% discounted and still be in the overpriced category. So, what's with this 10%? Additionally, suppose I wish to purchase more than one item from one dealer. Why not receive 15% off? Well, in more cases than not, I have walked out of antique centers without purchasing an item as a result of this firm 10% limit rule.