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Discover Mid-America - December 2007

What drives today’s collectors?

I had mixed feelings after reading an article in the Wall Street Journal about collectors not even in their teens, which were buying art as “investments.” Their affluent parents felt it was important that they learn how to collect and select art at an early age. One child reportedly had made a profit on one painting, sold it, and bought another.

Currently “hot” butter churn can sell for up to $200 at auction. (photo courtesy of James Julia Auctions)

When I was a child long, long ago, my friends and I used to collect for fun. Money seldom changed hands as we eagerly traded movie star Dixie cup lids, radio premium objects, i.e. decoder rings and Cracker Jack charms. With a few pennies and a little imagination youngsters could build up a collection. When my sons were growing up one collected comic books, the other movie posters. Little did they know those collections would be worth thousands of dollars when they grew up. That wasn’t their motivation. And then, there is sports memorabilia that players used to sign for free.

Since the 1970s, collecting and the reasons for doing it have changed. Everybody wants to know value.

What used to be “second hand” became “vintage” clothing. Salvage yard rejects became “architectural antiques.” Wooden toilet seats and old claw-foot bathtubs, 1930’s stoves all became collectible and expensive. Now, there are dealers and auction houses specializing in them.

So what goes? According to psychologists, collecting has become yet another addiction of our times.

Indeed, look at antique TV shows devoted to collectors and their collections. Basements, rooms and closets filled to overflowing with objects that were often once throwaways. And then there are the people buying the newest toys, games and dolls, putting them away as hopefully, future investments. Maybe they saw Gordon Gekko, played by Kirk Douglas, who said, “Greed is good.” They apparently took it to heart.

This tin lunch box kit with Barbie art, c. 1962, will find buyers who are either Barbie collectors or lunch box collectors, for as much as $200 at auction. (photo courtesy of Hake’s Auctions)

If you don’t subscribe to the “everything is collectible” theory, just look at the plethora of Price Guides being ground out by publishers. When I think they have covered every subject from salt and peppershakers to men’s hats, another one hits the bookstores.

Where do you put a collection of old refrigerators? How do you display the metal waffle machines and toasters from the 1930s?

Many years ago “Billy” beer cans and glass insulators were “hot.” Ask a collector in the 30s or 40s about these objects. They probably not only won’t know about Billy Carter, the former presidents’ brother, much less the beer cans.

And “what is an insulator?”

CLUES

For those collecting movie and rock star memorabilia for the future, and paying big bucks, consider some once famous movie stars and singers. Ever hear of Clara Bow?

Twelve souvenir spoons with sterling silver, could sell at auction for $150-200. (photo courtesy James Julia Auctions)

Famous in silent films as the “it” girl, her photos and memorabilia were widely collected. A popular collectible of the early 20th century was cigar bands. People framed the colorful items and put them in scrapbooks. Back in the 1920s and ‘30s, pressed pattern glass was one of the most popular collectibles. Reproductions all but killed the markets and it is no longer in fashion to have a display cabinet of it. The same goes for souvenir spoons. If they sell at all, the prices are rock bottom at auction.

Fast forward to a new generation. Will they be interested in your collection of tin lunch boxes? If you are lucky they may sell to a “theme” restaurant like Cracker Barrel. It’s one thing to buy those lunch boxes early in their discovery for a couple of dollars. But think twice about $100 and up unless you love them.

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