Antique Back Roads Volume 6

in this issue Fenton Glass

To Restore or not Decorating with antiques

Volume 6

Road Map Collecting

The question that often gets asked by new collectors is “What do you collect?” The answers are usually pretty general—oil company maps, small independent company maps, official maps, auto club maps, etc. Over the past 20 years, I have had the opportunity to deal with many collectors that have a bit more focus to their collecting habits. Trying to make a decision on what to collect? Here are some ideas: The most common is by a specific state. Others collect by one specific oil company - the more common ones are Chevron, ESSO, Shell, Sunoco & Pure.

Auto club maps have increasing interest especially in the California clubs like Automobile Club of Southern California and the California AAA branch. 

Birth year - collectors with the same focus base it on the year of their collectible car and display the maps along with their car at shows.

Scenic cover series can provide a lot of variation and a challenge to complete a set.

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What Does It Take To Be A Dealer?

Of all the questions which have been ask by subscribers, I found that this question the most interesting. As a dealer, I have never thought about what it took. Both my husband and I started collecting as a hobby. The hobby became our passion. Before we knew it, we had a part time antique business.

The description of an antique dealer is a person who has a passion for collecting, has taken the time to study and learn, has invested their money, so that other collectors can buy and enjoy. They will be your friend, mentor and teacher.

So, are you wondering if you have what it takes to become an antique dealer? To get started you have to decide how much time you have to put into buying and selling. Is your goal to be a full time dealer or just part time? Do you have access to garage sales, yard sales, auctions and internet? How much extra spending money do you have to put into the business? Are you willing to take a risk in hopes of selling for a profit? These are serious questions you need to answer before proceeding.

But before you make your decision, you need to know how unique the antique business is.

You need no formal education. Overhead is minimal and you do not need a “brick & mortar” building. It can be started at any age and hours are flexible. It can be a perfect part time retirement opportunity. You can be your own boss or become a boss.

You can find your inventory on line, at auctions, at yard sales or garage sale. It allows you to travel, get exercise and enjoy the great outdoors.

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Road Map Collectoring

Continued from Page 1

Maps showing a favorite personal collectible (horses, lighthouses), Promotional or theme based covers such as the Hy-Finn series done by Chevron, Special Event maps such as Expos, World Fairs, or WWII and maps by a specific publisher.

Maps of a particular highway; the most common is the Lincoln Highway and US Route 66.

Road Map Collectors Association at Indy in September This September, the unique Road Map Collectors Association will be showing at the Indy Ad Show. This group of avid collectors will have tables full of old original road maps for sale or trade. Expect to see a wide variety of categories among the thousands of maps on display when you attend the September show. To learn more, visit the web site at www.roadmaps.org and we are always interested in new members.

Terry Palmer

Hop - Hop - Hop

Artwork covers – probably the best is the Montana officials form the 30-40’s by western artist, Irvin Shope. 

Easter is over, but for collectors “hopping” goes on all year.

Collectors love to hop and find some of their most prized pieces by hopping. Never heard of hopping…let me explain more.

We attended our first Coca Cola Convention back in 1986.

We arrived at the hotel with our baggage, checked in at the desk and picked up our Convention Packet. As we started back to our room, we saw doors open with Coca Cola items laying on beds and sitting on desk. A little confused we proceeded to our room and further read the schedule for the event. There we saw a new word “Room HOPPING”. So, we stopped by the first room we saw with their door open. The folks yelled “Come on in”.

Well, that was all it took and the game was on. Our son, who was 13 at the time, saw the fun and we went to the top floor and just “Room Hopped” all the way down…then we started keeping a record of what rooms we had been in. We brought so much we were afraid we were going to have to buy another ticket to have a way to bring our purchases home.

You will find “Room Hopping” at most Conventions, Swap Meets and some Auctions. So, if you have duplicates to sell and enjoy talking and learning from other collectors, join a club, attend a convention and open your room to a new world of “Fun.”

by Irene Davis

Non-oil company maps issued by banks, chamber of commerce, hunting & fishing maps, airline route maps, insurance companies or food related companies. Special map types for cruising, national parks or forests.

Among official map collectors, there seem to be more collectors who are trying to collect the entire set since the total number issued is only a fraction of that issued by oil companies. While I have not totaled the number of official maps issued in the United States, I doubt that it exceeds 5,000 and there are a few collectors out there that have the majority of these in their collection. In this group, however, we most often find collectors collecting just their home state. What is the most popular state collected? I would have to say, based on my experience, that Michigan is easily the leader.

For those of you just starting to collect road maps, I hope that this might give you some different ideas for focusing your collection.

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Article by Craig Solomonson illustrations by Mark Greaves

Wanted by Collector

Wanted to buy rare gas pumps. Also collection of pumps & signs. Miles Little, 12555 Hwy 601 Midland, NC 28107 PH 704.791.1438 Want to run an ad in our magazine? Submissions should be two lines or a maximum of 128 characters in length (includes spaces and punctuation). Ad should contain what you are looking for. Be specific as to item, date, condition. Include your email address or phone number.

Include your name, if you wish.

Not for Commercial Use – collectors only please.

Cost: $35 per issue, send ad and check to payable to: Donna Weir, 8366 Timber Ridge Rd., Effingham, IL 62401.

Antique Back Roads is not responsible for any of the content of the ads or in any way responsible for the sale or purchase of the items. Antique Back Roads is not responsible and has no obligation to resolve disputes between the buyers and sellers. Any disputes or conflicts should be resolved directly between the parties involved.

Decorating with Antiques

Collectors enjoy displaying their collections anywhere there is room. Here are ideas that will bring you lots of interesting ideas of how to display your special items...or even give you an idea of something new to collect!

Special racks for special collections.

A fun guest bathroom.

A shelf can display lots of collectibles.

Vintage umbrellas ready for a rainy day.

A shoe shine chair is a great conversation piece.

Grouping buckets of many colors add life to a room.

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To Restore or Not to Restore A Paper Conservator’s Perspective The tsunami is coming! I am seeing more and more advertising pieces from the late 1800’s on, coming into my shop on their death beds. I am told “this is the last one in existence”. Sadly, that is often the truth, but it shouldn’t be. And this “last one” is probably in terrible shape. Hopefully this article will explain why, and what can be done.

Advertising art was made to be ephemeral, and thus, was often made as cheaply as possible. Lignin filled wood-pulp paper, and cheap printing inks made for cost effective advertising. To be placed in sunny windows, tacked to walls, exposed to dirt, pollution and heat was their destiny,

and where they would reach their intended target - the consumer. When they were no longer of advertising use, they might be used for target practice, or if lucky, they would make it to a hot attic or leaky basement. How was anyone to know that these pieces would become highly collected, as unique to our American cultural heritage as jazz music, and often with a beauty that can rival a masterpiece? Unfortunately, little is being done to save it for future generations, and now, for the surviving pieces, there are differing views on whether or not to restore them at all.

Collectors who are against conservation treatment (the restoration and/or preservation of an historic artifact) believe that it will affect, or even destroy, the value of a piece. But, what destroys the value of a piece more than its death? Because, if left alone, it will eventually die, even with the best of storage and displaying techniques because the paper on which it is made will slowly self destruct, from the inside out. And remember, the deterioration got a real jump start at the beginning of its life. I have never quite understood the position of never restoring, or that restoration destroys value. After all, even the most valuable artwork, such as the Mona Lisa, has been restored - several times. The work of a professional conservator will do no damage, while no treat-

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ment, or even the well intentioned “preservation” of an untrained collector, can write the death certificate of a valued collectable.

While some collectors may be able to find pieces that are pristine, with no restoration needed, and preservation can wait, it is probably safe to say that most collectors can only afford to buy pieces that are in less than excellent condition, and often in poor condition. They can still often be rescued if the collector is willing and able to have the piece restored and preserved.

When deciding whether or not a piece needs treatment sooner than later, here is what to look for first: Adhesives such as tape, tape residue, or rubber cement; water staining; mold and mildew; acidic cardboard backing

(if it is a cardboard cutout); pieces that are torn or falling off; tears that enter the body of the piece; yellowed, brittle paper; paper that is “bubbling” or separating from its backing. Those are the usual condition issues. But then there are the visual detractions, such as mustaches drawn on, or pigment loss, that many collectors don’t realize can often be restored without damage to the piece. These are the major things I see, and that require attention first. Pieces that appear in good condition can probably wait.

The bottom line is, in order to save a piece, it must get to a conservator before it is dead, not after. Paper conservators are not miracle workers, but what can be done to bring life and years back into a very poor paper artifact is quite remarkable. In part 2 of this article, I will explain what exactly goes into conservation treatment, how to find a conservator, and some tips on caring for your collection.

Bob Inge Inge Preservations www.ingepreservations.com

To Restore or Not to Restore After

Before

After

What Does It Take to be a Dealer?

Continued from Page 1

So, how do you get started?

Yard sales, garage sales and flea markets are your shopping headquarters. After picking up interesting items and antiques you will need to take time during the next week to research your purchases and clean them up. If you are going to sell at a flea market, you will need to rent a space and prepared for any weather. If you are planning to sell on line, you will need to take pictures, do descriptions and have a place to store and ship. This is the entry level. At this point you will either be driven with passion to buy or get bored and decide it is not for you.

The next level will move you into a unique world. You have found your niche for selling a particular type of antique or collectible. Now acquiring inventory has taken on a new life of its own. Your profits will need to pay for a vehicle, gas, hotels, food and time off from your regular job.

If you count the hours that you spend in this part time job, you probably won’t make minimum wage, but the life you are living is relaxing, fun and the people are great.

So, who are these quality dealers who enjoy this unique world? The majority of our dealers on icollect247.com have at least 5 years of experience in antiques and most have over 20 years of experience. They know what they are selling, guarantee their listings; have spent time and money finding items to sell on icollect247.com. They are both collectors and dealers and want to share their passion by passing on their items to someone who will enjoy them.

There is always room for more people like this in this world, so become an Antique Dealer and enjoy life.

Before

Do not hang fine art objects on an East facing wall where the sun can bleach the colors quickly.

icollect247.com dealer Marian Kirby-Ough at the Indy Ad Show

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Attendance and Sales Up at Indy INDIANAPOLIS. The temperatures may have been cool for March, but dealer sales were very brisk at the Indy Antique Advertising Show. By Saturday afternoon, several booths were looking bare – a problem every dealer would like to have. Attendance was up 33% said show promoter Bruce Weir, adding the dealers did a great job of bringing a variety of merchandise. Normally there are a couple one-of-a-kind pieces but this year was exceptional.

Condition and uniqueness are the name of the game commented one dealer. Customers want the good condition items to display in their homes and the more interesting items make for fun conversation pieces.

Bill Powell, from Franklin, TN brought a huge circus canvas with images of Popeye and Olga the Headless Woman. This was part of a circus midway tent used to publicize the side show entertainment. Bill is famous for picking the unique and unusual items that are often large in size, but this was an exceptional piece that had to be hoisted up via ropes to hang along the front wall. Priced at $4500, the piece brought smiles to many of the customers recalling the days the circus came to town.

Clint Conway from Flanagan, IL had a very unusual 3D varnish sign where the container actually was coming out of the picture. From the early 1900’s, John W. Masury & Son company of New York and Chicago, the plaster sign was approximately 3 x 2 ft. The Masury Fine Varnishes sign was picked up at a local auction in central Illinois that had several pharmacy items. It was not uncommon for the local pharmacy to also sell paint during that time period.

A Light House Coffee Dispenser and country store display was offered by Carter & Irene Davis of Onancock, VA. The dispenser, shaped as a lighthouse with red and green glass lenses at the top was approximately 2 feet

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tall and priced at $1750. The house wife would buy the beans then take home and use a home grinder to make coffee for brewing. “It’s rare to find this dispenser in excellent condition,” said Irene, adding “most of the time it is dented, missing paint or the glass lenses are broken or missing”.

Otto Dorris of Bixby, OK displayed two large butcher racks that would have been used in a butcher shop to display the fresh meat. Made of iron, these racks were 5-6 Ft long and are considered to be ornate in design with the figures along the top of the rack. “It’s hard to find these racks in great condition. Most did not survive because they were taken to salvage and the ones that did are usually broken or missing pieces”, commented Otto. The racks are unique displays in the kitchen or above doorways and windows for the western motif.

The Indy Antique Advertising Show is in its 42nd year and remains true to its origin by offering the best in vintage adverting and country store merchandise.

Dealers bring items including but not limited to soda fountain, country store, brewery, tobacco, toys, ephemera, and gas & oil. The next show is September 27-28, 2013 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. For dealer information see the website at www.indyadshow.com or by calling 217.821.1294. Customer preview tickets are on sale for $25 (regularly $40) in advance through the website as well.

Butcher Racks

Over a Century of Fenton Art Glass The Fenton Art Glass Company was founded in 1905 by brothers Frank L. Fenton and John W. Fenton in an old factory in Martins Ferry, Ohio.

Originally, they painted glass blanks from other glass makers, but started making their own glass when they were unable to buy the glass they needed. They moved across the Ohio River to Williamstown, West Virginia, and built a factory in 1906. The first year of

production was 1907.

Frank Fenton was the designer and decorator. From 1905 to 1920, the designs made there were heavily influenced by two other glass companies: Tiffany and Steuben. But the many different colors were the works of Jacob Rosenthal, a famous glass chemist who is known for developing chocolate and golden agate glass. Toward the end of 1907, the Fenton brothers were the first to introduce carnival glass, which later became a popular collector’s item.

During the Great Depression and World War II, Fenton produced practical items (such as mixing bowls and tableware) due to shortages. At the same time, they continued creating new colors. Toward the end of the Great Depression they also produced perfume bottles for the Wrisley Company in 1938. The bottles were made in French opalescent glass with the hobnail pattern.

In 1939, Fenton started selling hobnail items in milk glass. Hobnail milk glass would become the top-selling line and allowed the Fenton Company to expand.

Barber bottles are also popular with the barber shop collectors.

In the late 1940’s, the top three members of Fenton’s management died. Frank Fenton and Wilmer C “Bill” Fenton immediately stepped in and took over the positions of President and Vice president, respectively. Over the next thirty years, they continued to expand Fenton Art Glass.

In 1986, George W. Fenton, Frank’s son, took over as President of the company.

In 1970, the company added their logo to the bottom of some pieces to distinguish them from older pieces. In 1974, Fenton started putting their logo on all pieces they made. Pieces made in the 1980s have the number eight under the “n” in the logo, and pieces from the 1990’s have the number nine.

The Fenton family stopped production of Fenton Art Glass in 2011. The company had struggled with rising costs and declining sales. The Fenton Group, doing business as US Glass Inc., acquired the company’s assets last year. According to the West Virginia Gazette, last month, the West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust provided $100,000 to the Fenton Group to help the company resume production.

by Linda Sowers

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Antique Back Roads

8366 Timber Ridge Road Effingham, IL 62401

Over 85 Quality Dealers Selling On Line

Selling Only Vintage