What’s the value of a vintage telephone?

Q: I have an old telephone that is in working order. I would like to find out how much it is worth and, perhaps, sell it. — Joe, Payson, Ariz.

A: A good source might be Ron and Mary Knappen, owners of Phoneco, a shop that both buys and sells vintage telephones. The address is P.O. Box 70, Galesville, WI 54630. One of the better groups for enthusiasts is the Antique Telephone Collectors Association, P.O. Box 94, Abilene, KS 67410.

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Q: I have a Popeye doll that is probably from the 1930s. I would like to know if it is a collectible. — Eunice, Greenville, S.C.

A: According to the 4th edition of “Hake’s Price Guide to Character Toys” by Ted Hake, Popeye was introduced to the world by cartoonist E.C. Segar in his comic strip, Thimble Theatre, in 1929. Within a year, Popeye had become the strip’s most popular character.

To find out the value of your doll, I suggest you contact an expert. Judith Katz-Schwartz is an appraiser who buys, sells and appraises dolls of various types, including ones based on cartoons. Write to her c/o Twin Brooks Antiques, P.O. Box 6572, New York, NY 10128. You should expect to pay for this service, and always include a SASE when writing experts and sources mentioned in this column.

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Q: I have several Hallmark Keepsake ornaments from the 1980s. Who can I contact to sell them? — Ardie, Johnstown, Colo.

A: The California Ornament Collectors Club might be able to help you. Its address is 105 Halstead Road, Marietta, OH 45750.