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The Antique Kodak “Brownie”

By Hugh Shorty  |  2012/02/05 10:50 Posted in Uncategorized  |  Comments Off

File:Kodak Brownie Target Six-20.jpgWhen I was a kid growing up there seemed to be all kinds of Kodak commercials on television.  Usually on Sunday evenings it seemed (around the time of Ed Sullivan and Walt Disney) I always looked forward to their upbeat ads.  A lot of the times they would advertise their new line of Kodak Instamatic cameras…cameras for the everyday person where you could record Aunt Martha or Uncle Bob.  Wow…how times change.  Kodak is struggling to remain in business.  This wasn’t always the case.

One of the earliest models that Kodak released to the public was the “Brownie”.  The early predecessor of the popular Nikon D5100 DSLR, it took the masses by storm and popularized “low budget” photography.  Now if you could get your hands on one of these originals you would have quite the antique collectable on your hands.

It was first introduced back in February, 1900.  Basically a cardboard box with a simple lens it took 2.25″ square pictures.  It had very simple controls and initially sold for only $1…so the general public could easily afford one.  It was named after a popular cartoon of the time.  Kodak’s idea was that you take the picture and they do the rest (and make tons of money in the process I might add).

Soon people were taking their Brownie cameras with them everywhere and recording everyday events like birthdays, and vacations and trips to see the relatives.  The age of photography was amongst us…and Kodak was cashing in on it all quite handsomely.

Well, as is the case with a lot of things that are cheaply produced and sold to the masses…they are easily disposed of as well.  As Kodak released newer and more technologically advanced models the older Brownie’s took the backseat and started to disappear from the scenes.

Kodak has hit some real rough times as of late.  The pioneers of film photography has not been able to adapt to the digital age.  They stopped production of their famous Kodachrome film (yes, the one Paul Simon wrote a song about) and and moving their business to the area of digital print.  It looks like there will be no more successors of the Brownie coming our way.

Keep your eyes out when you go to your next yard sale or auction.  Someone might be cleaning out their attic or garage and have had an old Brownie camera sitting about that they are wanting to get rid of.  Snatch it up…you will have a great antique and a part of photographic history at the same time.

Save Money with a First Generation Karaoke Machine

By Javier Redfearn  |  2012/01/08 23:53 Posted in Uncategorized  |  Comments Off

Antiques can come in many shapes and sizes, and some more valuable than others. In the world of music, people still appreciate old phonograph players and original audio devices. We live in an interesting time with things have expanded exponentially in terms of musical technology. What some people might consider old might be absolutely ancient for the current generation. Thanks to things like iPods and a YouTube, elements like old record players and long-play albums are now considered antiques. This is good news for anyone who happens to own this type of equipment and wants to unload it for a profit.

If you are old enough to have owned a first generation karaoke machine, you might also have an antique on your hands. You have to remember these devices came out over two decades ago, and it’s extremely rare to find them in regular circulation. Fans of karaoke will remember what it was like to use these devices to sing songs in their own home. They serve their purpose wonderfully, although they would be considered obsolete by today’s standards.

The great thing about these devices is they can still be used in your home for personal singing. There’s no reason why you have to upgrade to an expensive machine that costs over $1000. If you want to reclaim your past and rediscover how fun it was when you first started, an antique karaoke machine will do the job nicely. As long as you understand that you’ll probably be dealing with a cassette-based system with simple stereo features, you’ll know what to expect.

karaoke machine

Finding these machines might be a bit of a challenge but any treasure hunters should be able to get their hands on a decent model. There are use machines in all categories that you can find online these days. Some modern karaoke machine makers might also have older models in stock that you can purchase online. And of course there are sites like Craigslist or eBay where you can find perfectly preserved machines that are still usable today. It’s also a good idea to network with other karaoke fans to see if they are willing to share their old equipment.

It’s important to remember the exact trade-off you’re making when you purchase an antique karaoke device. You’ll be saving money but at the same time, it will be difficult to find music or compatible accessories. That’s why you should always look for something that comes in a complete package with a variety of songs and an extra microphone. Even if you don’t end up using it, you can make a nifty addition to your home entertainment room that will serve as a nice centerpiece for your antique music collection.

No Antiques just my Zapf Creation Baby Annabell Doll

By Tia Garr  |  2011/11/16 03:23 Posted in Uncategorized  |  Comments Off

We were recently clearing our house out because we were moving and we had to go into the loft and help mum and dad clear it. It was an absolutely huge task, a mammoth excavation just like an architects dig. It was like going back in time looking at all the things that were up there, real journey in a time machine stuff.

We found some amazing artefacts and even some old vinyl records that we thought might be worth something because of the cover art. Another thing that we found that sparked my interest was my mother’s old doll collection. Nothing like the baby Annabell doll I had downstairs in my room, but it was very interesting. My doll you have to feed and change and comfort but with mums the best thing available to them at the time was maybe some rolling eyes that were closed if you tilted the baby back into a lying down position, funny really how things change and move on and improve and progress.

There were some really scary looking dolls that they used to make, quite scary for a child to have in their room I should think, but maybe the craftsman back then, well certainly some of them could’nt have been as skilled as others because some of them were just ghastly.

That reminds me I keep meaning to look into when exactly the first dolls were brought out and if there are any companies that started back then that are still running today, my zapf creation baby Annabell doll version 5 had to start somewhere. I wonder how long that companies be running for?  I bought mine through Gifts UK!

Well we kept on looking and hunting and searching for any items that we thought could be considered antiques and even worth some money, but all is not lost because there is another half to to search through at a later date.

Are Modern Toys Really Collectible?

By Saundra Zuckerman  |  2011/10/30 05:48 Posted in Uncategorized  |  Comments Off

We are the generation of people stung by the knowledge that we once help a fortune in our hands but never realized its potential.

Why is that?

Because we are the generation that played with the original Transformers, the original Star Wars toys, maybe even some of the first ever Barbie toys (although I’m not that old I hasten to add).

But the problem is, we played with them. We didn’t just leave them safe in their boxes, up high on a shelf and admire them from a distance.

As children no-one ever told us these were collectibles, and that’s because at the time they weren’t really considered to be collectible. Besides, if everyone had left their original Millenium Falcon or Luke Skywalker carefully bubble wrapped in the attic, then they wouldn’t be rare and they wouldn’t be so valuable today.

But the concern that we missed the opportunity to make a bit of money seems to haunt so many parents who remain on the look out for collectible toys today.

Many toys are marketed as collectible. Take for example the Lalaloopsy Collector’s Doll – Suzette La Sweet. From her launch she was marketed as a limited edition collector’s item. But the only thing that differentiates her from the rest of the Lalaloopsy clan is shiny hair.

So can a toy that is marketed from the beginning as ‘collectible’ every really gain in value? I would wager that it is not possible, since many people will buy the toy and keep it in boxed condition in the hope to sell it at a big profit at some point in the future. But because so many people will be doing this, there will be plentiful supply of this toy, maybe even more supply than there is demand, and this logically will keep the price down.

So perhaps if you are looking for collector opportunities, you should spend more time reading antiques and collector’s guides and less time looking at marketing pitches and product details.

Cat Figurine Collectibles

By Javier Redfearn  |  2011/10/05 07:32 Posted in Uncategorized  |  Comments Off

I admit it I’m a cat lover through and through. And if you are as well, then you’ll love having one of these adorable and playful cat figurines in your home decor. Cat figurines capture the cat antics that we can all spend hours watching as our cats entertain us.

You’ll find both big cat and little cat figurines to love. From Siamese cats and tabby cats to lions and tigers to include in your home accents and accessories. All of the major figurine brands include cat figurines in them. It’s also common for figurine designers to show children playing with their cats and kittens.

While porcelain cat figurines are very common, you’ll also find beautiful blown glass cat figurines. More exotic cat figurine materials include beautiful red jasper.

Cats love to celebrate the holidays. Cats dressed up as Santa Claus are very easy to find. During the Halloween season cats love their costumes and dress up as witches, ghosts, and even vampires. For Valentines Day they’ll wear big and bright red hearts to show their affection.

So as you can see, you’ll find a myriad of ways to enjoy your love of cats in your home decor. You’ll also love giving fellow cat lovers a figurine as a gift.

Vintage Lladro Figurine

By Clinton Stehle  |  2011/07/15 20:31 Posted in Uncategorized  |  Comments Off

I love homes that look like they’ve been lived in for decades. It gives them that comfortable and known ambience. But when you move into a home and furnish it all at once, it is difficult to create instant collections. That’s where buying antique and vintage items come in. A vintage figurine often will have a different color because of its age. That subtle difference can add a real depth to your curio cabinet collection or visual interest to your fireplace mantle.

Then there’s the design of the vintage fugurine as well. The lines will be different and if it’s a person, you can bet that the clothing will be a different style. While folks might not say wow, there’s a vintage Lladro figurine, their subconscious minds will pick up the subtle difference and they’ll know that they’re looking at an older object. These often bring a sense of comfort to a room.

LLadro figurines were first designed and handcrafted in the 1950′s, so the early figurines have the long flowing modern lines that is currently called mid-century retro or mid-century modern. If You Love that vibe and would like to add more to it, then be sure to take a look at these vintage Lladro Figurines