Now It’s Lux Clock Time

Miniature Lux Clown Clock Sold by Dan Morphy Auctions
$350.00

What are we all doing in the Estate Sales Business, or even in the Antiques Business, but having the time of our lives. Out on a daily basis, searching the various auction house byways, reading Craigslist ads, and following up on leads of one kind or another. To this writer, this is my life, one that I embrace wholeheartedly.

Lux Clocks fill one of my primary collecting objectives: To have and or sell items which are unique and not often seen…

Lux Clocks: Wimsey Posing as Fancy

Lux Bull Dog Clock Sold by William J. Jenack
$1,800.00

I take my time, sometimes an extraordinary amount of time to research an item that I have recently purchased. When I do an estate sale, as part of our set up, I often find myself looking up as many as 100 items. I need to be sure. I want to know. I am vigorous on behalf of my clients and my businesses financial interest.

Lux Clocks, create a bit of humor for your walls: Take a chance, spend a bit of dough, take time out for your sense of humor…

Find a Lux Clock and Make Your Wall Very Happy

Cat Face Lux Clock Sold by Dan Morphy Auctions
$400.00

If you want to read up on Lux Clocks, I think the best site out there, not only for its deep exploration of the subject of Lux Clocks, but also for its rich pictorial depictions of these amazing clocks, is a website created by Dan & Diana Lockett: Lux Clocks. Give them a visit, get their take on time…you’ll be glad you did.

Lux Clocks, if you are going to be at the mercy of time …You might as well have a smiling face telling you where to be and when…

Lux Clocks! Good Old Fashion American Fun…

Lux Clown Clock Sold by Gene Harris Auction
$120.00

Take your time, and shop wisely, decide which kind of Lux Clock you are going to collect. Lux Clocks of Waterbury Massachusetts made every type of clock you can think of: Alarm Clocks, Lamp Clocks, Clocks with Thermometers, Clocks with Pendulums, Wall Clocks, Shelf Clocks and More…

Once you start looking for Lux Clocks…You’ll start to see them everywhere, at auctions, estate sales, and antique stores…

Me? Which kind of Lux Clock would I collect? I think the above clocks should make that pretty obvious…

Martin Codina

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Quack Medicine Machines: Diagnosis of Fact or Fiction?

Remedy Advertising Thermometer Dirk Soulis Auctions
(Sold $110.00)

Since the dawn of time, people, even primitive people, have tried to better their odds at overcoming sickness…

But it wasn’t until the late 1800′s and early 1900′s that they succeeded in fusing the future with the past in such a way that they produced a machine or the look of a machine, that could cure anything. Pills and potions, and little witch woman, had been the go to solutions for most people when they were ill, needed love, or some kind of extra curricular mind expansion. But those days were pretty much over once we all got the notion that science and technology could cure anything.

Quack Medicine Machines = Today’s Better Living Through Chemistry…

Ducks May Quack But Still Can’t Play Violins

Rare Violin Vibrophone Dirk Soulis Auctions
(Sold $2,400.00)

But those old time woman and bearded men, who once ministered to the ills that ailed us, those kind mothers and our helpful fathers, as nice and as practical as they were, more and more have been replaced by the ideas of science, of men and their machines…of electricity, of some sort of gadget. There must be some kinda magic, rather then right and clean living – I know! If we could only make some kind of machine.

Quack Medicine Machines: Attempts at jump starting hearts through circuitry…

My Eyes! Now They’ve Seen Everything!

Ideal Sight Restorer Massager Dirk Soulis Auctions
(Sold $60.00)

People, all of us; well face it, we are fairly gullible when we are in pain – especially when we are in pain. Panacea…give me a panacea…My entire paycheck for a Panacea! Oh this won’t hurt a bit…let’s just plug one of these in, wind that puppy up, and get a jolt of some of that new fangled health.

Quack Medicine Machines = Antique Better Mousetraps…

Quack Instruments, Cheaper Than House Calls

Terpezone Junior Model  Dirk Soulis Auctions
(Sold $100.00)

All of the above devices have now come to be known as Quack Medicine Machines or Instruments. But in their day, each had its proponents and detractors, people who swore to their effectiveness or decried against the quackery of Quack Medicine, and all its machinery.

Quack Medicine Machines = Shiny, and metallic objects hoping for health…

Martin Codina

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…to ask about the value of Antiques, is better than selling too impulsively…

Who Wore These Gold Dentures Contest Winners

I knew these Antique Gold Dentures were unique, that they would prove to be interesting, But Hey! Did I know that they would cause such an internet sensation…? Well, I hoped they would, and indeed they did. (Read More Here)

Estate Sales? Better Than any business I know…!

It’s 6:00am here folks.

Getting up early, starting the day before the first roosters crow, well it’s all part of the estate sales business. If you are afraid of hard work, getting your hands dirty or rising before the sun does, then the estate sales business is not for you. (Read More Here)

Mickey Mouse: Poor Church Mouse Makes Good

My first exposure to Mickey Mouse was like millions of Americans, through the Wonderful World of Disney or through The Mickey Mouse Club. Being so young, I didn’t know that at least one of the reasons I was attracted to that furry creature of a mouse, was that he had already become linked to the American ideal of – Local Boy Makes Good.” (Read More Here)

Who Knew Skittles Were Worth So Much? I didn’t

My most favorite activity is learning about antiques and collectibles, and though I have been doing this Estate Sales and Antiques Business thing for a while now, it’s like almost everyday that I find myself surprised by what’s collectible, and how much it’s worth. (Read More Here)

Smoke em if ya got em: Cigarette Collectibles

There is no better time than now to collect Cigarette and Smoking collectibles: All over America people have gotten the hint – smoking ain’t exactly as healthy or as elegant as it once upon a time was – ex-smokers and family members not knowing the value of their smoking paraphernalia are clearing out their cupboards. (Read More Here)

Gene Autry Cowboy Guitar by Emenee Industries

Although these five famous guitar players won’t admit it in public, each of them cite Gene Autry as a musical influence… (Read More Here)

When Is A Dinner Bell Worth More Than A Costly Meal?

A long time ago, in cottage, house or a mansion, not every one was tied to a time piece to let them know when it was time to do whatever it was that was so important to do: there were other ways to indicate comings and goings…

My favorite was the dinner bell… (Read More Here)

Have a Great Week Out There,

Martin Codina

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Like it or not Mickey Mouse Collectibles are Hot!

Mickey Mouse Master Porcelain Mold c.1928 Sold by World of Decor
($6,500.00)

My first exposure to Mickey Mouse was like millions of Americans, through the Wonderful World of Disney or through The Mickey Mouse Club. Being so young, I didn’t know that at least one of the reasons I was attracted to that furry creature of a mouse, was that he had already become linked to the American ideal of – Local Boy Makes Good.”

In other words, I liked Mickey because somehow no matter what he did, what calamity that befell him, he always survived to be a good mouse another day.

Warhol Understood That Mickey Was An Icon

Andy Warhol Mickey Mouse Sold by Sotheby’s
($1,912,000.00)

Mickey Mouse, not Donald Duck or Goofy, rose through the ranks of comicdom, and succeeded at the highest levels of animation, making both robber barons and poor itinerant truckers alike laugh, and for just a moment or two, to forget their troubles and woes.

Happy to be himself, Mickey taught us how to laugh at ourselves, and not take our troubles too seriously…

Mickey, Because He Traveled, Showed Us The World!

Tippco Mickey and Minnie Mouse Motorcycle Sold By Bertlia Auctions
($56,000.00)

He traveled, he saw the world, and we saw the world with him – with him we learned. I know this sounds a bit crazy, but with Mickey Mouse we as children had the validity of our parents morality confirmed, or dis-confirmed. In a Mickey Mouse cartoon, the good guys almost always won. And even though Mickey wasn’t really an educated Big City Mouse, he seemed to do alright.

Mickey Mouse Is Still Collectible

Mickey Mouse Mechanical Bank Sold by Dan Morphy Auctions
($42,500.00)

But don’t buy Mickey Mouse Collectibles that are being made today which are for the most part being made in such a staggering verity, and in such quantities, that they will never hold their value. Hold onto your money, don’t throw it away – collect only what is vintage, and be sure of the items condition. Condition is everything…

Mickey, Like any Good Mouse, Loved a Barn Dance!

Mickey Mouse Barn Dance Poster Sold by Dan Morphy Auctions
($25,000.00)

Mickey Mouse Collectors Tip: Look for Tin Litho Toys, they seem to be leading the pack for value. They were created in more ways then you can imagine. From still banks, to Motorcycles, Mickey as a jumper, or even Mickey as a peanut vendor…

Sometimes Mickey, Influenced by Felix – Smoked Cigars!

Mickey Mouse and Felix Cigar Smoking Sold by Bertoia Auctions
($11,500.00)

Oh My! I guess even Mickey had to find a way to quit smoking.

Dang!

How American is that? Very…

Sign Me – A Fan Of Mickey Mouse…

Martin Codina

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Who Knew Skittles Were Worth So Much? I didn’t

Set of Pre-Button Steiff Skittles Sold By Christie’s
£6,000 ($9,750.00 US)

My most favorite activity is learning about antiques and collectibles, and though I have been doing this Estate Sales and Antiques Business thing for a while now, it’s like almost everyday that I find myself surprised by what’s collectible, and how much it’s worth

These Are Pre-Button Stieff Skittles

Set Of Pre-Button Stieff Cat Skittles Sold By Noel Barrett
Date: 2004 ($8,000.00)

As usual it’s scarcity that adds dollars to the value of a collectibles…these Pre-Button Steiff Skittles are scarce, first because of their limited production, and because of how they were played with. I didn’t know what a Skittle was: It’s kinda like a bowling toy, you tossed a wooden ball toward these Skittles in much the same way you would roll a bowling ball towards bowling pins.

It’s a wonder that any of these in any condition survived.

Sometimes Steiff Skittles Hide In Atics

Steiff Pre-Button Bear Skittles Sold by Bonham’s
Date: 2004 ($4,400.00)

So as we do, us pickers, or collectors, now armed with better collecting knowledge, we will be on the look out for these. I know I will. I am thinking small regional auction houses or estate sales. How about you?

Here Are 8 Steiff Skittles Hiding On Ruby Lane

For Sale Now In The Ruby Lane Shop of SteiffGal
($10,000.00)

I got the inspiration for this post while of course looking for something completely different. Somehow I landed on the Ruby Lane Page of SteiffGal Turns out she’s like a Stieff Guru – Find Her on Face Book – Find her on Twitter …she basically must live and breath Steiff because she’s all over the net…

Visit her and Follow Her For Information

Sign Me,

Martin Codina

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