Posts Tagged ‘vintage’

I recently acquired five older cameras, three 35mm and two that fit in a category I wasn’t even aware of.  After a long online search, I found one of the manuals that someone would happily sell to me.  I wasn’t really looking to use the camera, just couldn’t figure out how to open the darn thing.  Googled one more time and ta-da! the complete manual in pdf format, freely downloadable, print one or all pages if I desired (and really simple to open once you know how).

Collectors, dealers, photographers, and people who tend to lose owner manuals will find Michael Butkus Jr.’s website invaluable.  He’s put a huge inventory of over 3500 camera manuals online – read, download, print – it’s all free.  OrphanCameras.com is about older cameras, no digitals here.

Easy to navigate.  Pick a manufacturer and you get a detailed list of their cameras.  Pick a camera and you get a photo (looks like yours?), then click for the pdf.  Find the info you need, or save to your computer, or print.  Can’t find your manufacturer listed?  There’s another section for the off-the-wall cameras that are non-brand names.

Got a flash you don’t know where it goes?  Need a flash for your camera?  Check out Electronic Flash/Light Meter and you’ll find your manual.

Old Photo Catalogs is awesome. From 1888 on – Kodak, Montgomery Ward, Canon, Sears and more – you can view the advertisements for newest and most advanced for the moment.  Remember your first camera?  You’ll probably find it here.

General info on cameras, photography, film, developing and pretty much anything that has to do with taking a picture can be found in Booklets/Non-instruction.  This database is huge and I can’t begin to tell you what it encompasses.

Orphancamera.com [http://www.butkus.org/chinon/] is the ultimate website for vintage and antique cameras.  I found all five manuals that I needed, including ones manufactured before I was born, and immediately made a donation.  If you find this site useful I encourage you to do the same.

Check it out and you won’t find this information available anywhere else; and for free.  What more could you ask for?

Tell ‘em I sent ‘ya
Victoria

 A Hug . . . isn’t that appropriate?  Lucky Bears Limited is a UK company, understandable since England’s manufacturers of collectible Teddy Bears outnumbered many other countries.  Although Lucky Bears offers a few new bears for children, they specialize in vintage and antique bears for the collector and new collectible bears are available from selected manufacturers.

Steiff is probably the most well-known maker of Teddy Bears and auction prices confirm its collectibility.  But there are several other companies that produced (some still in business) high quality bears.  As part of their Encyclopaedia, Lucky Bears gives us the history, popular bears, and means of identification for companies spanning five countries.  While many may think ‘one size fits all,’ the characteristics of each company’s bears shows just how unique these creations are.

Browsing the antique and vintage bears for sale, one is struck by the personality of each.  Many were created to commemorate events and people.  Paddington Bear is a classic example of bears who were born from storybooks.  And who doesn’t remember Smokey telling us “Only YOU can prevent forest fires”?

Lucky Bears tells you how to care for your bears – storage, cleaning, pests, etc.  Especially important when adding a vintage bear to your Hug.  Not just for antique bears, this is applicable to the numerous bears your children have been given over the years.  The glossary is well done and includes ‘when’ and ‘why’ explanations.  Vastly more understandable than just a quickie definition, which often leaves one no wiser than before.  If you’ve come across a Teddy Bear term not mentioned, Lucky Bears encourages you to email them and they’ll add it to the glossary.

Just as we have a diversified group of friends, Teddy’s circle includes dogs, frogs, rabbits, beavers and more.  Collectible on their own, Teddy would invite them all to a party.  And don’t forget to dress appropriately; from a casual backyard barbecue to the president’s inauguration, the well-dressed bear is ready for any occasion.  You can find accessories here or inspiration to make your own.

How much is your bear worth?  Lucky Bears gives us an in-depth look at what makes a bear valuable.  Condition is primary for any collectible, manufacturer is important, but size, color and other factors also contribute to value.  Take a close look at your Teddy Bear while reading “How Much is MY Antique Bear Worth?” and you may move him from your bed to a glass case.

Lucky Bears Limited <http://luckybears.com> is a friendly, informative, easy-to-navigate site.  They gladly share their considerable knowledge and have superb photos.  And don’t forget to check out the Links page for clubs, current manufacturers, magazines, and more.

Tell ‘em I sent ya’
Victoria

P.S. For those not familiar with the metric system an easy, one-step conversion is http://www.worldwidemetric.com/measurements.html

I’m doing an about face with this month’s featured website.  No photos and limited information.  Common Button Back Marks [http://pweb.netcom.com/~jimyce/bm.html] lists manufacturers of buttons and likely dates when they were made.  If you’re a button collector there are many websites you probably already frequent.   For others, this one-page site can be very useful for dating clothing, handbags, shoes, gloves, and more.

Divena & Vince #20

Suzette, David & Tiger #32

Susan #40

Gail #44

They’ve all appeared on collectible promotional glasses.  And confusing – if you’ve ever tried to figure out who, what and when.  The Promotional Glass Collectors Association has created a remarkable database that they’ve opted to share online.  You don’t have to be a member to view, but if you are interested in promotional glasses or have customers who are, a member is REALLY a good thing to be.  Also, these have such a large cross-over into other collectibles (Disney, Superhero, Pepsi, Character, etc.) and you’ll find yourself returning time and again.

Arranging the information in a database makes this a ‘searching for dummies’ dream.  Type ‘lion’ and you’ll get a list of all the lions who ever appeared on a glass.  Type ‘burger king’ and poof! – all the glasses they used for promotion.  Click on a glass and you get a larger photo.  Glasses are given an ID#, brief description, size, category, name, search keys and additional categories to find similar ones, comments; and year and variations when known.  And the feature you’re going to love – when applicable, each glass is linked to the entire set.  No more guessing if you’ve finally completed a set, with all its variations.  Read Examples and Definitions on the database page before you start searching for helpful hints.  One note: Pepsi and Coca-Cola produced hundreds, if not thousands, of promotional glasses – both too long for a single list, so pick another feature of the glass for your search.

Starting a collection can be fun (especially for children) and reasonable, although if you get really serious the scarcer glasses can put a dent in your pocket.  A rare set of 6 early McDonald’s glasses sold on ebay for $612 last year.  [I visualize everyone heading for the kitchen cupboard right about now.]

Be sure to check out the FAQ page which has a lot more than your usual FAQ, including a glossary.  Articles on different subjects, bookstore, message board, plus a link takes you to PGCA’s Flickr site where collectors share photos, finds, collections and related items.

Club meets are held all over the country, this year in Ohio on the same weekend as the Springfield Extravaganza Flea Market.  Besides being invited to the meeting, some of the benefits of membership are: opportunity to purchase limited edition club glasses (only 144 made); voting on club issues; free wanted/for sale ads; opportunity to meet great people and access to the member list (see who collects what you do).  You’ll find some great deals in the independent auction open to anyone. Just email the auctioneer to get a bid number. You can also consign items for the auction.  PGCA gets a small percentage that helps keep their terrific website up and running for us all.

Who hasn’t had at least a few mismatched, colorful and crazy glasses in the cupboard at one time or another?  Don’t you wish you’d saved every one of them?  Take a walk down memory lane as you browse PGCA’s website (http://www.pgcaglassclub.com/index.php).

Tell ‘em I sent ya’
Victoria

Hi, we’re Wayne and Linda and we’ll be married for 35 years this coming July.  Wayne grew up in Cleveland , Ohio and I grew up here in South Florida.  I’ve been crafting all my life and he trained as a furniture finisher with a prestigous company in the Cleveland area.  I guess it was only natural when we combined our skills and began doing craft shows in the late 80′s naming our business Sweet Dreams.

We did a variety of crafts for the first few years but then I discovered my love of painting and then the fun really began.  Together we produced a line a handpainted children’s furniture for about 15 years. It was a joy and a blessing. 

When Wayne fell and broke his back in 2006, we closed our studio in the Hollywood area and moved to Port St. Lucie.  Now that he is fully recuperated, we try to stick to smaller items of furniture and decorative objects—although, nothing is safe from my paintbrush!

Our work reflects our love of a Vintage, Shabby Chic style with lots of whites and creams.  We love to take orphaned items with great lines and give them new life and beauty.  One of our best selling lines is our Reclaimed Silver, those wonderful old pieces of silverplate that you find scratched and worn and no longer useful.  Wayne has developed a process that enables him to prime and paint them and then I paint on them, roses of course.

We love having a permanent space at Laura’s in addition to the shows we do in South and Southwest Florida.

Editor’s note:  Linda & Wayne’s Booth #17 is now downstairs just as you go through the glass sliding door.

Carol has the wonderful ‘white’ booth (#CLK) at the base of the stairs and just finished decorating it for the holidays.  It’s breathtaking.

Carol is originally from Long Island, NY and worked in her father’s dry cleaning business through her school years.  After meeting her husband of 47 years, she worked part time in his family’s bridal salon, selling and making gowns and veils.  After their second son was born, she became a stay-at-home-mom and a bit more.  When they bought their first home “The Cottage,” the bank said it was uninhabitable.  Ready to ‘get her hands dirty,’ Carol learned how to use a paintbrush, hammer, saw and more.  She even collected 5,000 bricks from a construction site and laid a patio all by herself.

So it was with mixed emotions when they sold their dream house and moved to Florida in 1980.  After being a realtor for several years, Carol missed using her creativity.  She discovered Coral Springs Craft Guild, became a member, and learned so much about crafting.  Over the years she also joined Southern Handcraft Society, and became a regular at craft shows.

When her crafting started taking over her small home, she and a friend launched “The Ivy Cottage” in Wilton Manors.  Only about 800 square feet, but they loved it.  They found that customers wanted to buy the display pieces which were mostly castoff furniture painted white.  With the addition of more and more furniture, they quickly outgrew the shop.  As luck would have it, a 2,000 square foot shop became available just five stores down.  At first concerned they might not be able to fill such a large space, they did, and ended up expanding again!

By this time her two sons and their families had moved to Fort Pierce.  Carol and her husband missed watching their seven grandchildren growing up, so at the end of the shop’s lease, she retired and they moved here.  Her husband was still commuting Fort Lauderdale, the grandkids were in school, and Carol was bored.  What to do??  Lucky for us, she decided to get her hands dirty again, and the results are fabulous.

[You all know Rebecca, she mans the shop several days a week and helps with all our events.  Rebecca and her mom Marilyn (Carol's sister) just moved their Booth #9 with a complete redo to the right at the top of the stairs.]
“My Mom and I have talked for years about opening a little shop that carried a variety of things.  When I got laid off from my corporate job for a local builder my Aunt Carol had just opened Laura’s Emporium, so my Mom and I took a small spot to see how it would go.  I am a confessed shop-a-holic and love clothes, especially vintage!  My Mom is a great crafts-lady and makes beautiful dolls and bears, especially at Christmas time – her Santa’s are amazing!  So our “Little Shoppe of Hodge Podge” carries all our favorite things: clothes, collectibles, vintage, crafts, etc.  We put a ton of love and TLC into the new spot upstairs and are so pleased with how cozy it turned out!”