Damage. The unfortunate side of collecting.

[putrid]

I've been collecting Christmas stuff for years. Every once in a wile I'll buy a box at an auction to take it home and see what's in it. For .50 to a buck it's not a bad gamble. Over the summer I bout a box without going threw it. There were 2 Shiny Bright blue 'stars and planets' at the top of the box. Worth the price just for them. Was hoping the rest of the set would be there. Unfortunately what was in the box made my heart sink. Evidently the box had been stored for years in a barn, garage or wet basement.

1 complete set of Shiny Bright stencils. Three different trains with Merry Christmas wrote out in the steam from the engines. I've never seen these before.

Ten or so hand blown balls. All are irregular and have the nipple at the bottom where they were pulled away from the rest of the glass.

Plus and assortment of other older but non descript ornaments.

Most of the silvering and mercury is spotted, damaged or all but missing. Most of the coloring is marred and water marked. All hand painting is all but gone. Most of the metal caps are rusted in place or through. As a collector I feel like I should take them out back and bury them. That's why antiques are so expensive. You don't always know what you have when you have it. I'm just as guilty. Years ago my dad brought home a box of ugly paper, wax and crinkle wire looking things. We threw them all out. At today's market I'd safely estimate about $2000 worth. And how many of you had the original Star Wars action figures?.....and still have them? LOL Mine and my brothers didn't survive they're first 4th of July.

I'll continue the hunt. I've gotten plenty of cool stuff from the bottom of boxes so it's not all bad. And the few totally cool and unexpected make up for the unfortunate disasters.

[Mummy deer-est]

Do you go to auction houses, putrid? Or to estate sales? I would love to go to things like this, but I am such a novice, I think I would get scared away!

[putrid]

Mainly consignment auctions done indoors ( auction houses ) but do hit a few real-estate sales over the summer when I can. Good auctioneers go fast so it can be a bit intimidating at first. Best rule of thumb is set a price your willing to go up to and stick with it.

Avoid 'bidding wars'. That's were 2 or 3 people really want that one item and the price skyrockets very quickly. I watched a toaster oven in an open box go for a few bucks less than you could have bought it at Wal marts with a warranty. At an auction there's no garentee it'll work when you get it home.

Never think 'at any price' because that's what you'll end up paying for it. Way to much. Speaking from experience. LOL

Expect to be out bid and you wont be disappointed when it happens. Can't tell ya how many times I've been outbid. Sometimes so quickly I don't even get a chance to get my number up. LOL

Most items you'll see over and over again. A lot of stuff gets saved and used year after year. Stuff like that can go both ways. Most folks already have one or will inherit one so the item will go cheap. OR a few folks never had one and want it badly. Put your number down quickly and let them fight for it. LOL

If you know it's something special chances are other folks will too. Look at it but don't draw attention to it. Believe it or not folks are watching for that. That Nativity set I won is a good example. Knew when I saw it what it was. Glanced at it and walked on by. On my second loop around I picked one piece up to look at the bottom. Put it down and picked something else up and never looked back. ( always look at everything twice. First time you'll only see the things that catch your attention. Second time around try to look at everything else. You'll be surprised what you missed.)

Actions are about three types of people. Bargain hunters, collectors and dealers ( store owners, resale shops, antique dealers and the like.) Most are the bargain hunters who aren't willing to spend much. ( me LOL) I'd say go for it. They can be addictive. When you buy a full size truck just to go to auctions you know you need help. LOL

[CaptnJackSparrow]

We're fortunate?? to live within a couple miles of 5 or 6 LARGE retirement communities.. It's terrible in the winter as the snowbirds come to roost and jam up the roads(my apologies in advance to those in that group) and make the normal residents a living h..l tryingto get around.. but thats for another thread.. what we get as a benefit are countless yard and estate sales(the dark of retiremement communities) and plenty of booty to be plundered... er..I meant... many heirlooms, trickets, and period knick-knacks to peruse and obtain.. many like Putrid described, in various states of ..decay. Some make it to auction and commercial estate sales but a lot just yard & garage sales..
Sometimes you find some terrific pieces, most times you dont..

If someone could have instilled the mindset of the early half of the 1900's(Depression era) to the generations AFTER the 50's.. (yes, mine included) there would be a LOT more original GI Joes, StarWars, Lionel trains, Tinkertoys, Lincoln Logs, Erector sets, single-wire Christmas lights, tinsel, AM radio, Howdydoody, Lone Ranger, the Flash, cars with fins, pompadores, Brylcreme, RedRyder 200shot Range model BBgun with a thing on the side that tells time.. Yep, we wudda been a lot better off...

TJ

[Mummy deer-est]

Thanks for all the info guys....I'm going to get brave about it, b/c I have just fallen in love with thrift shops and antique places....love a bargain and a find!

[putrid]

Totally cool! Auctions are a lot of fun. Be great to hear about the cool stuff you find and win. And the stuff folks with to much money fight over. LOL

I need to go to the antique and thrift stores you shop at Mummy deer-est. Places around here are higher than Ebay's shipping and all. Even some of the yard sales I've been to. Some of the stuff leaves ya scratching your head wondering why that price.

[Mummy deer-est]

I just love our church thrift shop. People donate all sorts of things b/c they just are trying to help the church. It is like a treasure hunt to go in there! And the antique store is more like an antique mall with a bunch of shops together. That is a full days worth of shopping, at the least!

[Sickie Ickie]

I like them thangs.:happyfatsanta: