Category Archives: antiques & collectibles

The Tickling of The Old Ivories

Posted on by

I have always held in high regard folks that know how to tickle the old ivories. My grandfather was always playing his piano and I grew up with a family that played and enjoyed a lot of live music and I treasure those memories. We don’t get the opportunity to hear the piano playing very much these days, which to me is a tragedy and real shame.

I still have some of my grandfather’s piano sheet music tucked away some where. He not only could play the piano but the sax, the base, the guitar and the banjo. He learned the banjo later in life, some thing that he always wanted to do and he managed to do just that. My favorite piano sheet music that I found, last time I looked, was “I’ve Got a Loverly Bunch of Coconuts” and “Let’s Have a Quiet Time Tonight, All Right” two of my grandfathers favorites that we could always count on him to play for us at a gathering.

I’m sure that some of the piano sheet music that I have is worth a pretty penny, many of them from the early 1900′s, but I wouldn’t dream of selling any of it. It’s something that will be passed down and kept in the family, or that’s the plan as I see it.

Grandfather Clocks Remind Me Of Back Home

Posted on by

During my childhood years, there didn’t seem to be a house that did not have some sort of a grandfather clock in it, our home wasn’t any different. These days you don’t see all that many large clock works in people’s home’s. On my trips back home now and again I’ve yet to notice any decline of grandfather clocks there, but I have noticed an increase in the number of grandmother clocks out and about.

I have to tell you that I was surprised to see that there is a demand for clocks to be used for outside purposes, but it does make sense with so many people building patios, decks and outdoor kitchens, that one would need a way to be able to tell time and why not enhance the area with a nice looking clock that matches their outside decor. And this company has a good selection of those particular types of clocks to choose from. Another good thing about their site is that they have a blog that is kept up to date and is full of good information to take advantage of. One particular blog post that I enjoyed reading was about the subject of decorating seasonal rooms with such clocks. It certainly made for interesting read.

 

 

iOldies – Music and Movies

Posted on by

The Eagles had a hit song way back, called, “Life in the Fast Lane.” I just heard it on the radio – an oldies/classic rock station that I find myself listening more and more to as of late. It made me feel old knowing that a song I grew up with is now considered an oldie. I miss the good songs of my younger days. We had such great groups and the songs had good lyrics. To me an “oldie” is the music of the fifties. Elvis, the Beach Boys and all the wonderful Motown that came along back at the beginning of rock and roll.

One of my favorite movies about the life and music of the fifties is American Graffiti. I must have seen that movie a dozen times since it’s release back in the 70′s. Finding “oldies” music was a difficult task back then. We only had two stores that carried a decent supply of records and there “oldies” section was seriously lacking, but once in a while they would get something in that we would get excited about. It wasn’t so easy getting the opportunity to listen to the music of your choice back then. Now-a-days, with just the push of a button or two we can listen to just about anything we want in the 21st century.

I still listen to some of the records that I have held on to all these years. It’s good to see that records players and records are seeming to make a come back. I found a great site to order some great music, specializing in the oldies. iOldies has some great music but they also have some wonderful old classic movies out on DVD now. A nice stroll down memory lane.

 

 

Little Car Fever

Posted on by

I met up with one of my long time colleagues and we sat around shooting the bull and engaging in a little trading and buying. He brought along the red line hot wheels cars he’d been telling me about. I was pretty close in my original estimate as to how many he might have.

I made a deal with him for about 75 or 80 of them and have already moved about a fifth of the lot! Seems a nearby neighbor that I’d met at the local market collects them and I just happened to have quite a few that he didn’t have, including one or two that are pretty rare according to his price guide that he just happened to bring along with him. Simply as a reference, then he tossed it in on the deal. I do believe I may have done rather well, if I can sell them that is. But it does look good so far! Believe me right before Christmas isn’t the best time to try and sell items such as these, so I’m surprised that I’ve done as well as I have so far. The extra money in my pocket at this time of the year is always welcome.

 

The Selling of Items Online

Posted on by

At times I enjoy reading other blogs that I run across while spending time on the PC and I ran across a design blog that I enjoyed looking at the other evening. I found it on a website by the name of Stylishdesign.com, which is about web designing, as if you couldn’t tell by the name.

I have a few friends who are deep into flea marketing and thought that we’d ask them about maybe selling their goods online through their own website, sort of like having your own store on the web, so to speak. It seems like a better idea then having to list their items on eBay one at a time hoping that someone bids on them and praying that they can at least get the cost of the item. With the right web design to attract viewers who surf the web, they could establish a world wide clientele while still being able to set up at flea markets.