Clock holds up over time
Dear Collector,
This clock has been in our family for more than 60 years. Could you please tell me the approximate value?
Even though it bears a patent date of 1881 (which is for the works alone), this Ansonia figural clock was probably made closer to 1900 or 1905. Appropriately named “The Violinist,” after the seated musician, it’s not a common find today. In working order, value would be close to $300.
Dear Collector,
I bought an “Elsie, the Borden Cow” cookie jar in 1970. When was it made?
This Pottery Guild product dates from no later than 1946, which is when this New York company went out of business. I’ve seen listed values from $175 to nearly $250.
Dear Collector,
The Stanley tool in the enclosed photo has been hanging around my garage since I purchased the property in the late 1970s. I do not know what it was used for or how old it is. Can you answer both questions?
Described in an old catalog as a box scraper “for removing stencils and markings,” it originally sold for $1. Now nearly a century old, its value is probably $25.
Dear Collector,
How much is this cook book copyrighted in 1896 worth?
First published in 1896, your copy of “The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book,” then authored by Fannie Farmer, can be dated by its latest copyright date: 1934. Editions from that printing are currently valued at under $25. By the way, what is the difference between a cook book and a cookbook?
Dear Collector,
I think these hand-me-down clear glass plates are called “Gazebo,” after the small building etched onto the surface. Would you place a date and value on them?
Correctly termed “Crystal,” this transparent Paden City pattern was also available in blue, green and several other colors when it was manufactured circa 1930. Your 10-inch plates have a listed value of $40 each.
Dear Collector,
This Italian fifty-lire bill belonged to an uncle who served in Europe immediately after WWII. Is it worth anything now?
Bearing the likenesses of Rome’s traditional founders, Romulus and Remus, on the reverse, and printed in 1943, this note lists for $15.
Dear Collector,
Is it possible for you to identify the object in these photos? I can’t give you its history, having recently found it during an old bottle dig. I can however state with certainty that it is not made of iron or steel, as it does not attract a magnet.
I’m taking a guess on this, so cut me some slack if I’m wrong, but I think it is an old ID disk, made of brass or bronze. Whether it’s a dog tag or whatever should be determined after you clean it up. Please get back to me once you have solved this mystery.
Dear Collector,
I have 96 baseball cards, all different, and have been looking for a venue to sell them. All my attempts have been futile. What sage advice can you give me?
Sorry that this effort will be futile, too. To maintain an ethical distance, I cannot help readers buy or sell things. That’s the sagest advice I can give.