THE COLLECTOR
Dear Collector,
What is the value of this figurine which sits on the edge of a shelf? It has “Trixie” and “11-1-51” on the bottom.
As would be imagined, your small porcelain ornament is called a “shelf sitter.” There’s no record of a Trixie, either as a manufacturer or importer; however, the date (1951) would place this piece in the time period when similar knickknacks were produced in Japan or California. Comparable shelf sitters from that era sell for $35 and up. Modern fabric versions resembling dolls, called “computer sitters,” can be custom made and cost $100 plus.
Dear Collector,
Why should I keep this old doll?
Because it is old and worth more than $200!
Dear Collector,
I remember getting this cannon ring through the mail when I was 6 or 7 (perhaps in 1950), but I can’t pin down which cereal offered it. Here are a bunch of photos; can you help solve the mystery?
Quaker, maker of Puffed Wheat and Puffed Rice (“shot from a cannon”), sent you this brass and aluminum ring for 10-cents and a number of box tops in a 1951 campaign promoting their product and Gabby Hayes, sidekick extraordinaire to almost every Western star in the Hollywood firmament during his 100-film career. Hayes also appeared on Roy Roger’s radio show, and had his own radio and television programs in the late 1940s and early ‘50s. The ring in question is listed in one price guide for $200.
Dear Collector,
Please let me know how old these fancy brass knuckles are.
Bearing an outward resemblance to a “knuckle-duster,” this is in reality a multi-purpose household tool from a bygone era. Dating from the late 19th century, your implement includes a bottle opener, candle holder and stove lid lifter, all combined in a trivet.
Dear Collector,
Do you have some info on my old Pioneer camera which I bought recently for $30; there was no box or instructions with it.
Getting film for this 1940s metal and plastic Ansco viewfinder could be difficult, though you may be able to find a manual online. Not an uncommon camera, which is why retail is usually less than the price you paid.
Dear Collector,
Upon retiring from my job of nearly 40 years, I began collecting inexpensive porcelain knick knacks. While browsing through a flea market, I came across this interesting piece that looks like an ashtray with a handle. What is this used for?
Sometimes erroneously called a candy dish, your Made in Occupied Japan piece is a lemon server.
Dear Collector,
Can you tell me how much this old Manhattan silver plate creamer is worth?
With almost none of its original quadruple plate remaining, the base White Metal (consisting of tin and copper amalgam) of this late 19th century mass-produced article adds neither to its appeal or worth. If it has family history, therein lies its value. If it’s something you picked up at the local second hand store; well, I hope you didn’t pay more than a few dollars.