The Exchange for Antiques, Artists, Collectors & Samples
March 2015
Some Turkey Hunters Have Turned Collecting Calls into a Passion All Its Own
Ken Mummert sits in the small room on the third ûoor of his Wake Forest house. A pronghorn shoulder mount stares down from one wall. A body mount gray fox is on the other side of the room, while a mounted crappie and a drake mallard hang on other walls. There’s a gun cabinet against a wall with mostly shotguns in it. There’s even a turkey call CD on a boom box. It defnitely qualifes as a man’s man cave. Against one wall there’s a display with a couple of dozen box calls on the shelves and next to it stacks of cartons and boxes. A visitor asks why they’re seemingly on display. “Overfow,” Mummert says with a laugh, and points to the cartons and
boxes, all filled with various turkey LM Sporting Goods, distributing calls. camouûage socks, hooded t-shirts, Mummert has been an avid turkey handkerchiefs and calls, as well as hunter since his teenage years in region-speciûc shirts, hats and Pennsylvania. Today, the tools of his patches. He also sold calls handmade hunting passion, simple wood and by his brother and a rebranded slate bone instruments, have turned into a call made by the famous Neil Cost. A new passion all together. The big seller was a patented ‘make your possessions became an obsession and Mummert is one of the stalwarts in the world of turkey call collecting, having been in the game since the late 1970s. Mummert “gets The Lynch "Turkey in the Pines" box call, a BGI "shorty" yelper, and the Chalkley's push-pin call. All three, highly collectable. it honest,” as we say in the South. His father was the own’ diaphragm call kit. president of the local gun club. One Mummert was introduced to uncle served in the Pennsylvania turkey hunting by his uncle Lee Game Commission. His father also Mummert, who Ken credits as his owned a turkey hunting specialty Turkey Call Collecting wholesale business in Pennsylvania, continued next pg Note from Editor It’s March and in NC that means turkey hunting season will commence soon. For those non hunters out there, believe it or not, there are many turkey hunters who are also big collectors when it comes to turkey calls. We wanted to reach out and recognize all out there who love collecting various 1
turkey calls since they are really no different than any other antique and collectible enthusiasts. Thanks to Mike Zlotricki for permission to reprint his wonderful article on this special niche of collectors. Photograph Heeding the Calls by Melissa McGaw.
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handmade—not machine made,” says Booser when asked what drew him to Hornstra’s calls. “The playability. With a trumpet you have to draw air in. With a mouth call you push air out. It was the easiest call when I put it to my mouth to perform all of the vocal- izations of the wild turkey. I can take them to the woods, hunt turkeys with them and get them made in just about any material you
N.C. Hunter Supply, cooking for his wife, helping run a hunt club and a greatest influence in turkey hunting, bass club, and collecting calls. He has instilling such basics as full about 15 years of “serious” collecting. concealment, not over-calling and But his story has a Mustang in it. patience. “Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s I had In his youth Mummert spent hours the notion to restore a ‘69 Mustang,” upon hours in his basement he recalls. “I went to every pole barn assembling Uncle Lee’s Diaphragm in eastern North Carolina to ûnd one. Call kits after school. It was his afterI knew how much money I was going school job. “Dad died when he was to put in it. Then I found calls and 49,” Mummert says wistfully. “He redirected from the was living the dream.” Mustang to calls. I’ve Mummert, 51, who works ended up spending more in commercial printing, and on calls.” two other men, Craig Koeûer, His start was like many 66, of Raleigh and Jason others. “I bought a turkey Booser, 36, of Franklinton, call on eBay and that’s how originally “met” on Internet it started, he says. “It was forums and eventually met in a Roy Wilson wingbone for real life. Mummert (whose $20. I used eBay as my board “handle” is NCBigShot) learning tool to see what and Booser (Turkeyfanatic) people were buying and discovered on the forums that what people were paying. they had a lot in common and Then I met people like Ken eventually met and developed Mummert and Tony Gallo a friendship, while Mummert and Koeûer (Longbox) had Reproduction of a Neil Cost boat paddle call made by the late Dick Kirby, in Memphis. Then I found Orchard Park, NY. an online forum, Custom been friends for a while after Calls Online.” connecting on eBay and meeting at a want to have them made in. I have Later, Koeûer helped spin off local gun show. nine of his calls.” some forum readers to form the Booser, an elementary school According to one reference book, Custom Call Collector Guild that teacher, got into trumpet calls through the Hornstra calls can start at a couple “met” on conference calls. Since then some hunting friends who piqued his of hundred dollars each. Does Booser he’s become disillusioned with the interest in them. He differs from the fear hunting with them? message boards due to the others in that he collects from one “I’m very careful,” he says. “I have “backstabbing and anti-social maker and one type—the trumpet some custom-made leather cases that behavior.” call. A native of Brookville, Pa., he go around my neck, and it’s going to Koeûer collects all types of calls, moved to North Carolina in 2004. His take a pretty good fall or something but has more box calls than other ûrst custom call was a $65 call made for them to break. I’m not going to types. He’s not in it to make money, by Ted “Pete” Peters of Ohio. lie; there’re a few that I wouldn’t take rarely sells a call and has about 600 “I was looking for a call that took into the woods. It doesn’t matter what at any one time. At first he collected a little more effort and dedication,” they’re made of or the price behind production calls from Olt, Lohman he said. “It’s a challenge. It was frusthem, they’ll all kill turkeys and they and Quaker Boy. Now he tries to trating at first but I stuck with it.” will all speak the turkey language. I collect good examples of individual Eventually, Booser got bit by the use these Hornstra calls probably 80 custom calls. collecting bug and discovered trumpet percent of the time.” Koeûer buys both playability and callmaker Herb Hornstra of Eugene, Koeûer, of Raleigh, is retired from aesthetics, but says that some pretty Oregon. Delta Consolidated Industries and “Resale value, artistry is Turkey Call Collecting now spreads time between a gig at phenomenal, everything is continued next pg 2
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calls “sound like crap.” His advice for newbies: “Read some reference books. Check eBay,” he says. “The National Wild Turkey Federation Convention in Nashville is probably the best place to see current call makers and purchase calls. It’s
In his view, an antique call is probably at least 50 years old and is often a production call made with the use of machines. Lohman, Herter’s, and Penn’s Woods are examples of call companies, many of which are no longer in business. Mummert said that when he
Collectible Feather Touch box calls by Lee Mummert, Marysville, Pennsylvania.
not a cheap proposition. It can run anywhere from $75 to $5,000. I know of one $35,000 private transaction.” Koeûer’s most cherished call is one made by Archibald Rutledge, former poet laureate of South Carolina and prolilfc author. He found it online and paid $50 for it. Rutledge named and signed all of his calls and this box call was “Delila,” signed A.R. It’s been appraised at $5,000. Is it for sale? “Hell no, I won’t sell it!” Koeûer scoffs. He picks a Neil Cost box call as another favorite, one worth about $1,300. Mummert classifies calls into loose categories such as antique, investment, decorative or type specific.
moved away he wanted to reconnect with his hunting heritage in Pennsylvania. To that end, he started collecting calls he grew up hunting with, like the Penn’s Woods and the Lynch calls. Eventually, he says, he learned that these were not just pieces of nostalgia, but investments as well. He then bought the Earl Mikel book and learned more about the makers. He spent most of the ’90s buying calls and started to sell some in the 2000s. When asked about North Carolina makers, Mummert mentions Fred Cox of Reidsville (Grand Slam Turkey Calls) as one of the finest. One of his specialties is a custom threebone yelper crafted from a wing you provide, complete with your bird’s stats. 3
Another is Jonathan Payne of Asheville, a violin maker by trade whose push-pin calls are “deadly in function and beautiful in appearance,” Mummert said. Michael Buckner of Forest City makes trumpet calls and crow calls and is a National Wild Turkey Federation call contest judge as well. Mike Battey (aka the Call Dr.) of Pineville owns Wildtalker Calls and is also known for innovative components that large companies utilize in their calls. Mummert says Dave Hagerman of Rolesville isn’t as well known as some but will be sooner rather than later for his friction and box calls. Mummert doesn’t mention it, but he himself makes pretty nice cane yelpers and sells them. Investment calls are just that. There’s money in calls if you want to play that game. The day after interviewing Mummert and Booser, a Gibson box call sold on eBay for $25,000. That’s a good bit of scratch. Neither Mummert nor Booser has ever lost money on a call they have sold. “You have to be savvy and you have to know what you’re buying,” Mummert says. By his own estimate he’s bought about 1,000 calls over the years and sold about 300 or so. Personally, Mummert doesn’t consider himself a trader. He has 600 to 700 in his collection. Sentimental calls, for Mummert, are calls made by his family members and old Lynch box calls. He picks up an old Lynch Fool Proof as an example of a sentimental favorite. His Uncle Lee copied the design for one of his calls. “He likes to think he improved it,” Mummert says with a chuckle. He pulls one from a drawer and shows an example with nicer wood—curly walnut—than the Lynch.
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Decorative calls are often beautiful and functional, but not always. Box turtle shells are an example of a slate call component that can be painted. Mummert reaches in to one drawer and pulls out a round friction call with the top of a turkey tail feather under the clear surface. Painted on the feather is a gobbler in full strut. It seems too pretty to hunt with, but it’s fully functional. Every collector seems to have a favorite story about a call, and Mummert is no different. “My favorite turkey call is a small wood and horn yelper made in the late 1800s by a company called the Bridgeport Gun Implement Company (BGI) of Bridgeport, Conn.,” he remembers. “This particular call is highly valued in the world of collectors for its age and scarcity. I happened to be cruising eBay one evening and noticed one for sale by a fellow who mistook what it was for a vintage cigarette holder. I ended up purchasing that call for a whopping $10 plus shipping. On average these BGI yelpers (when properly identifed) will sell on eBay for anywhere between $400 to $800, depending on variation and condition. So, yes, I was thrilled at the purchase and the luck I had finding this treasure.” In the collecting world, Mummert says many shy away from production calls and concentrate on custom calls. He doesn’t. “I think many of the older mass-produced calls are iconic,” he says. “There are such a variety of calls from makers who are no longer in business. These Herter’s calls, they quit making them years ago but they’re highly collectible.” Getting a call in the original box with instructions can sometimes double the value of the call, no matter how bad the condition of the box is. Provenance calls—those that have a
An assortment of collectable 'peg and slate' turkey calls.
letter of authenticity, are more valuable than those without. “Once I get a custom call, I know what I’m getting when it comes to sound quality,” says Booser. “If I don’t like that sound quality, nine times out of 10, I can call the callmaker back and he’s going to send me something else back or try to fix it. If I go buy a packaged call ... I could buy three Lynch Fool Proofs and get three different sounds.” “Age, packaging, graphics on the call, things that make it look special, those add value,” says Mummert. Like anything else, call collecting has a learning curve. Mummert has some advice for the inexperienced collector. “Many newbie collectors start out by collecting every call in sight,” he says. “That may be a good way to start building a collection, but eventually many collectors start to focus their sights on a particular type of call—box calls, trumpet, etc. or calls from a speciûc source, a favorite maker, production company, or 4
region of origin. In any event, when buying to collect, try to buy calls in the best condition possible, and preferably with original packaging or maker’s provenance.” Mummert says many older calls were never signed by the original maker, making it difûcult to validate their authenticity. These unknown (or no-name) calls are often diamonds in the rough that could be significantly more valuable if you were able to trace their origins and obtain some actual documentation of authenticity. When starting to build a collection Mummert highly recommends creating an inventory spread sheet documenting crucial information such as maker, model, vintage, special notes, date of purchase and purchase price. “I have kept a running inventory in this manner for about the last 10 years and it has come to be a valuable resource in determining values, dates and place of manufacture for a variety Turkey Call Collecting continued next pg
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Ken Mummert’s list and commentary on favored turkey call reference books: “Turkey Callmakers Past and Present: Mick’s Picks” (1994), Earl Mikel: In 1994 Pennsylvania native Earl Mikel published his first book on call makers and arguably caused the greatest boon in the callcollecting world. A bible, if you will, covering the history and details of the bulk of the greatest names in the call-making world. Since this book is only available in its original printing it is now considered rare and highly collectable. “Turkey Callmakers Past and Present—The Rest of the Best” (1999), Earl Mikel: Mikel’s second book picks up where the first left off, covering the biographies and details of more notable call makers. Once again, only available in its original printing, and highly collectable. “Longbeards, Callmakers and Memories” (2005), Earl Mikel: Mikel’s last book in which he blends his anthology of call makers and their wares with his personal goal to hunt a turkey in every state of the U.S. using a custom built call by a call maker native to each state. Earl succeeded in accomplishing this goal and included hunt stories
in this book. These books were produced in higher volumes than the ûrst two and are more accessible to call enthu- siasts, but are certainly going to increase in value and scarcity. Mikel passed away in 2007. “Turkey Calls, An Enduring American Folk Art” (1994), Howard Harlan: An excellent resource book covering more than just call makers. Howard Harlan literally covers the history of the turkey call in the U.S. Special emphasis on the earliest innovators, from Native Americans utilizing wild turkey wing bones to the ûrst makers of friction and box calls. “Neil Cost; Magic with Wood” (2004), Michael F. Marks: A pictorial anthology and tribute book to the call-making mastery of Neil “Gobbler” Cost. The book features beautiful photography of the gamut of calls produced by Cost, from his earliest works to his crescendo call, “The Fat Lady.” “2013 Turkey Call Collectors’ Guide; Calls, Call Makers, and More” (2013), George Denka: This book by South Carolina native George Denka was compiled as a resource guide for call collectors. Based on observed selling costs on eBay and at NWTF
of calls,” he says. “It’s through this method I’ve been able to discover an array of variations particularly in vintage production calls. Believe me; it is better to start one of these when you’re starting to collect, as opposed to going back and documenting a couple hundred calls and guessing how much money you put into the collection.” Mummert says to not be afraid to
contact a call maker or call company to ask questions. “I have gleaned a lot of information over the years by personally calling or emailing companies such as M.L.Lynch, Quaker Boy or Primos to ask about obsolete makes of calls,” he says. “By doing this I’ve been able to learn what years an older call was produced and the number of calls produced. You 5
auctions, Denka includes a scale for collectability and low to high price ranges for calls and turkey hunting related books. “Today’s Call Makers Keeping The Tradition Alive: Made in America” (2013), John D. Hood II: Hood compiled his book to cover current duck and turkey call makers. Many new call makers previously undocumented are in this book, but there are a few familiar faces as well. Hood’s purpose in this book was to showcase only call makers that do not mass produce or use computerized technology to pro- duce their calls. Mummert and Koeûer referenced these websites as popular with call collectors. • oldgobbler.com • osageroost.com • grandslamnetwork.com • wildturkeyzone.com • customcalls.com All photos of turkey calls supplied by Ken Mummert. may not get all the answers, but for the most part everyone I have dealt with over the years gets a kick out of talking about the older calls.” Mike Zlotnicki is the associate editor of Wildlife in North Carolina. He may be reached at 919-707-0175 or at mike.zlotnicki@ncwildlife.org.
One Man’s Trash becomes Another’s Treasure...
Man sells watch he found at secondhand store for $35,000 PHOENIX -— A watch collector spotted a rare Swiss timepiece in a Phoenix secondhand store, bought it on sale for $5.99 and then sold it for $35,000. Zach Norris said he went to a Goodwill store in January to look for a golf cart but took some time to peruse the watch section. It proved to be time well-spent. Norris said he was excited when he recognized the 1959 JaegerLeCoultre diving watch, he told KTVK-TV (http://goo.gl/EvU1to ). “I’ve found some stuff in the past that I have been really excited about and stoked, but this is one of those things you’re like, ‘One day, one day it will happen,’ and it happened for me,” Norris told the TV station. Norris took his purchase to a dealer for the brand, Oliver Smith Jeweler in the Phoenix suburb of
Scottsdale. The business’ watchmaker authenticated the timepiece, Vice President Paul White said. The watch was “worn, but not badly worn, certainly wearable,” White said. Norris announced his find on a website for watch collectors, and a San Francisco enthusiast gave Norris $35,000 plus a less valuable watch. Asked about the price tag, White said it was “marketdriven.” The watch was part of a production run of about 1,000 and “a rare enough Cited from http://www.wral.com/ piece” that it would have garnered man-sells-watch-he-found-atinterest among collectors, White said. secondhand-store-for-35-000/ Norris says the proceeds will help 14456018/#96OxlFzoqjY18fXW.99 Photo cited from http:// pay for his wedding. www.hodinkee.com/blog/foundThe discovery shows there are vintage-lecoultre-deep-sea-alarmdeals to be had at the thrift stores, worth-over-35000-for-599-at-phoenixGoodwill spokeswoman Summer goodwill (and folks, this site tells the Dunham said. tale of Zach’s lucky find and is worth “We’re happy for him,” Dunham reading) said. Gotta’ love stories like this one which proves it does pay to shop at thrift stores because you never know what you might find.
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Remembering the Late Dean Smith A Reflection by Jim Snyder “Hi, I’m Dean Smith” I turned and said, “Hello”. His hair was dark and shiny as he stood in suit and tie with his assistant. I had been there in the bowels of Carolina’s aged Woollen Gymn the summer before for Boy’s State. We played daily on the floor on which four years prior the champions played. I liked the smell of the gym, or, rather the smell of the warm towels wafting up from the laundry room below. They smelled a mixture of warm flour and detergent. The smell was comforting. The pale blue in the center of the floor, from its countless frictions with Chuck Taylors of young men breaking to the basket, was powder blue, not the deeper Carolina blue we know today. I liked the former better. The old gym didn’t look the same with bleachers out, the other courts and cementious beige tiled walls stretching to somewhat dark archaic gym equipment (circa 1930’s) attended by no one. My tennis racket, a Jack Kramer, wooden and heavy, strung to sixty pounds of gut for a powerful first serve, a dink second serve, and a smashing net game, just had been grasped when I made the turn to meet a man who would retire with twenty six consecutive twenty with seasons; thirty two consecutive top three finishes in the ACC; twenty two NCAA tournament teams back to back; and, two national champions. (1)
Note from Editor The people behind this e-zine are all North Carolinians, some of us current residents, some of us who passed through our wonderful state and now live elsewhere. That being said, it should not surprise our out-of-state (and overseas) readers that we pay respects and thanks to one of the best collegiate basketball coaches to ever set foot upon a court. All due to the fact that one of the biggest passions here in the Deep South is how so many of us are college basketball fans. My coach and best friend, Bob Callicutt, did the honors. “Jimmy, this is Dean Smith.” “Welcome to Chapel Hill,” the coach smiled and pointed to his left, “My Assistant, Ken Rosemond. Coach Rosemond played on the ’57 National Championship team.”
If it is possible, Ken Rosemond was even more pleasant than Coach Smith. We became fast friends. The following summer, in his capacity as ad hoc E.M.S. driver, he drove me in the front seat of his ’52 two door Ford to the old campus infirmary to repair my third broken nose, brought about 7
When Coach Smith passed away recently, all North Carolinians mourned his passing as true Tar Heel fans united in sadness. Love him or hate him, Dean Smith set the highest standard of getting the best out of his team and mentored many a player. We thank Jim Snyder of Lexington, NC who shares with us an excerpt out of one of his books regarding his relationship with Dean Smith. by putting my head in places and in front of elbows which occasioned fractures. Beside and behind was C. Lee. We met at age six. He lived up the hill from my house. We were preparing to play the finals match for the State 4A doubles championship against the Stallings twins from Goldsboro. We had ridden to Chapel Hill that morning in Coach’s old station wagon along U.S. 64 from Davidson County to Orange County, through the ancient green Uwharrie Mountains and by Siler City, later to be the home of Aunt Bea, yes, Andy’s Aunt Bea. I had been down that road many times before on the way to Papa’s farm in Olive Chapel. We often stopped at Ruth’s for fresh lemon pie. On every trip, Mama would tell of buying that cedar chest at the little shop by the Remembering Dean Smith continued next pg
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side of the road while she was a teacher in Pittsboro near her farm in the community of the Olives. As we circled the roundabout and the old Chatham courthouse of which it was hub, instead of going East to Papa’s house, Coach turned due North up 15/501 toward Chapel Hill where ultimately we would play a three setter with those bopsy twin boys from Lee County. “Jimmy, I understand you’re a rebounder.” “Yes sir” ... thinking to myself, “It’s all about scoring Coach.” At that time I didn’t realize the fix in which Coach Smith found himself. At no fault of his own UNC hoops was on probationbut more about that later because I was not aware of it then. “Jimmy, I’m starting a basketball camp, and I want you to attend. Do you think you could?” “Yes sir.” It was a year and half later. They “put us up” in the Carolina Inn across the street from the Beta, Kappa Sigma and Pika Houses along old fraternity row. It was the weekend of the ACC Tournament and the finals for the Morehead Scholarship competition. John Motley Morehead, then in his 90’s, had ordained fifty scholarships in an attempt and lure to Carolina future leaders. At the time it was awarded most automatically to the two most outstanding boys from prep schools of the East, primarily selected by their administrators. The other twenty-five scholarships were awarded to North Carolina boys from the public high schools of our state. Much had happened over the year and a half since I met the thirty two
year old precocious coach with the shiny dark hair. I wasn’t all that concerned about the Morehead, because football and basketball scholarships had been offered. So the weekend was all fun. My family was in Raleigh at the Sir Walter Hotel, with rooms provided by the legislators who were home for the weekend. My father was serving his fourth term in the General Assembly. A weekend at the ACC spiced by parties and functions with John Motley Morehead... not a bad weekend.
The young coach from Kansas, now of Carolina, had recruited for my class future All-American Bob Lewis to join with All-American Billy Cunningham, later to joined by AllAmerican Larry Miller to propel North Carolina’s basketball future to an unparalleled half century of preeminence. While recruiting, Coach Smith had shown me the model for Carmichael Auditorium, the new blue palace for future Tarheels. This model was on display in the “narthex” of Woollen Gym to encourage young athletes to join the University’s athletic future. My first game in Carmichael would be two years later. As I warmed up that night, the rims were bright orange, 8
the backboard positioned so that the glass appeared to be black against the light blue crowd milling in for the game against the Demon Deacons. I didn’t expect to start or even to play, was a bit ill and hadn’t told Coach... so basically I walked through warm-ups not thinking that this could be a night to play. The pregame dunking exhibition on the Carolina end of the floor was something for the crowd to behold. More like a Russian ballet, the twists and turns, pirouettes and explosions to the basket brought “oohs” and “aahs” from the crowd. The UNC pep band... there is no better for pregame warm-ups... whipped the crowed to a lather of enthusiasm. Through the bleachers of the student section I could see those old beige tiles on a wall of Woollen, now a part of Carmichael Auditorium, the first house that Dean built. Two minutes into the game the whistle blew, a hard foul, and to my utter amazement I was thrown into the fray. But first I was to shoot the free throw for my injured teammate. Off the back of the rim it went; down the court we raced. The court seemed two miles long. The crowd was a blur. I was unprepared, and within fifteen seconds was devoid of oxygen, as anoxic as in the days when my sister and I would run in the cold air only to wheeze and gasp from exercise induced asthma, our heads thrown by our mama over steaming bathtubs as we sought the elixir of oxygen for starving cells. As Larry Miller faked right and drove left I was Remembering Dean Smith continued next pg
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stunned and confused. The Tarheel crowd roared its approval. It was then that I looked at my jersey and realized that it was gold and black, not blue and white. In short order I was dispatched to the Wake Forest bench in dazed amazement at my introduction to Dean Smith basketball on Dean Smith’s floor against Dean Smith’s players. Across the court I recognized the beautiful red headed cheerleader who had caught my attention when we were welcomed off the bus that morning. She seemed to gaze at mew in pity ... that anyone would be so audacious as to stand in the way of Carolina’s All American. You see, I had left Carolina for Wake Forest. The year before, Bones McKinney had left Wake Forest, and the Demon D e a c o n ’s declivitous and precipitous journey into basketball oblivion was just beginning as Carolina’s star was ascending toward the Final Four... during my very own senior year. “How smart does a young boy have to be,” I later asked myself, to eschew the good graces of a top university and decline the most prestigious academic scholarship in America, and then to compound my felony by accepting and the reneging on the invitation of one of the greatest basketball coaches in American history to play on his championship team and in the Final Four. It was at that point in my life that I began to question my judgment. Why? And
how did this boy with dreams of big time basketball get there anyway? “Coach Dean Smith” In 1957 U.N.C. was coached by the legendary Frank McGuire. The first basketball game televised in North Carolina was the 1957 National Championship between North Carolina and Kansas. Dean had played at Kansas. In triple overtime Tommy Kearns, Bob Cunningham, Joe Quigg, Lennie Rosenbluth and later to be Dean’s assistant and head coach at Georgia, one Ken Rosemond (my EMS
driver), stunned the country by talking down Wilt Chamberlain and his team. But the nadir of Carolina basketball was soon to come. Coach McGuire had coached at St. Johns in New York prior to his arrival in Chapel Hill, and accordingly to Art Chansky in his excellent The Dean’s List, he “was an Irishman with the voice of a tenor.” The National Collegiate Athletic Association Council, through its infractions committee, had leveled allegations against practices at UNC. Through my associations with North Carolina and throughout my life, and most recently via my second father, I have learned that that 9
outstanding athletic institution is a greater academic institution. Its administration throughout the years, particularly under the auspices of William Friday, have put academics above athletes. To this institution and its community, those allegations were devastating. Chancellor Aycock, on learning of these infractions, which allegedly included vouchers to prospects and families in excess of the allowable amounts, informed his coach that regardless of his win loss record in the coming year, his assessment of the basketball program “will rest largely on the unfolding events during the next twelve months.” Carolina basketball was on probation, and nobody was happy... except in Durham! In 1959 Coach McGuire had hired Deam Smith. It is interesting that Coach McGuire, a terrific coach and for all I know a terrific individual, by his actions brought together two men, Chancellor Bill Aycock and Coach Smith, who would propel North Carolina athletics to heights never. attained. Coach Smith and Chancellor Aycock traveled together to answer questions and to begin the process of rejuvenating the program within the proper academic, ethical guidelines. Of course, as we all know, McGuire was out and his recommendation for replacement, his young progégé, was in. (3) To add to the difficulties at UNC, the tough heart of Coach Jim Tatum Remembering Dean Smith continued next pg
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ceased to function in the summer of 1959 making way for Coach Jim Hickey as his replacement. So, back to homey, good smelling, Woollen Gym and my first encounter with Coach Smith. He was so young, not many years older than the tennis player with the Jack Kramer. The stress under which Coach Smith was working on the day he and Coach Rosemond visited with me must have been something. I would be self serving if I didn’t confess that there were several reasons why he was talking to a tennis player. One was that the tennis player happened to be a basketball player, with height; and, secondly it would not surprise me if the Chancellor had not nudged Coach Smith during his first years to seek the student athlete. For all I know Carolina might have been under admonishment to do so. The future of North Carolina basketball was founded by Bill Aycock and was formulated by the ascendence of Dean Smith. History has proven that Chancellor Aycock exercised pretty good judgment. Carolina basketball was ascending, and like those big bombers we see roll down the tarmac for sixty seconds and the grudgingly bite into the air seeking the freedom of flight, championship basketball at North Carolina was lifting off. The pilot Dean Smith went out seeking new engines, new fuel, and new sustinence for the sleek jet that would become Carolina basketball. Now that pilot has ascended to a Carolina Blue heaven. I shall never forget his last words as he moved his face close to mine, “There’s my rebounder”. Printed from Bones, Dean and Me with permission of Jim Snyder.
Willow Tree Consignment You notice it the moment you walk through the door. Willow Tree Consignment, located at 1214 Maple Avenue, Burlington, NC, is not your average resale store. Sure there are consignment sales that focus on furniture and home décor; stores that highlight arts and crafts; antique stores; resale boutiques that feature women’s clothes, shoes, handbags and jewelry. But this store features all that and living plants in terrariums, dish gardens and fairy gardens. Classes are even offered so you can create your own. Add to this how artfully displayed everything is laid out in mini rooms and vignettes so you can envision what each piece would look like in your home; you get the idea this is not your run of the mill consignment store. Did I mention that
they have not yet celebrated their 1st anniversary? Willow Tree opened for business April 1, 2014. Willow Tree Consignment is the vision of Sherry Stobaugh. Sherry spent the last 33 years working in the concrete industry. When her career came to an abrupt and unexpected end she had a decision to make. Find another job in a similar field or industry or step out and do something really special. Sherry enjoyed consignment stores, antique shops, 10
thrift stores, yard sales and tag sales, spending weekends visiting these throughout North Carolina where she purchased many treasures displayed in her home. When the opportunity came to open her own store, Sherry simply picked all the things she liked about stores she had visited and left out what she didn’t. First and foremost she wanted a store devoted to customer service with a friendly atmosphere that is clean and smells great. You will be individually greeted when you arrive and don’t be surprised if they call you by name. Most consignment stores I’m familiar with require booth rentals but at Willow Tree all items are on consignment; there are no booths to rent and no upfront fees to place items on consignment. When asked about Willow Tree continued next pg
Willow Tree continued
this business model, Sherry explains that it is important to her to maintain consistent inventory quality and competitive pricing which is much more challenging when renting booths. Plus managing real-estate does not give her the same satisfaction as working directly with the consignors and consumers. Most of the time you will find her on the floor talking and laughing. There is a small team of people managing the r e c e i v i n g department working closely with consignors by picking up furniture if needed and researching inventory to make sure consignor products are priced right the first time. By the way, furniture pick up for consignors is free if you live within a 15 (+/-) radius of the store. It only takes about 3 minutes to become a consignor. Sign up includes a couple
minutes while they get the normal address and p h o n e numbers and they give you a very professional looking new consignor packet. It includes all the rules they follow when deciding what to consign. There is a contact business card, so you know who to call with questions and a copy of the contract which includes a website you can log into daily to track your sales. I personally have never seen a more professional looking packet or website. You can track to verify all your items were received,
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when they sell and how much your next check will be. The first area I saw during my walk around was the women’s boutique. This area includes clothes, shoes, handbags, hats and jewelry. Clothing ranges in size from 0 to 5x. They carry all types of casual and dressy clothes including one section focusing on evening wear. They have carried wedding dresses but sold all they had. Jewelry is mostly fun fashion jewelry but I did spot some 10k, 14k gold and sterling. And hats are back and Willow Tree has a tremendous selection. As you go further into the store you find antiques and vintage pieces in abundance. I spotted a Hoosier Cabinet that is delightfully finished with a wood tone outside and a green inside. There is a cedar closet from the 40’s with the original paperwork from the manufacturer inside. There’s a Norge refrigerator that has a note on it about turning it into wine storage. Delving into the rest of the furniture you find many dining room sets. I think I counted 17 in all, in every size and era. Coffee tables, end tables, sofa tables, nesting tables, desks, entertainment centers. bedroom suits, including a queen size iron bed the likes I’ve never seen, and wardrobes Willow Tree continued next pg
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are everywhere you look. Couches, loveseats, outdoor and sunroom furniture are throughout the 8500 sq. feet currently open to p u b l i c , including a Henry Link rattan sofa, which was priced well below market pricing. But I found that to be true of most items in Willow Tree. They are not after gouging and overpricing items but right pricing to encourage inventory to move more quickly. They have Cooks Essential pots and pans, George Foreman’s, as well as an array of dishes, china, storage units, bowls, glasses, decorative accessories and about anything you
could want in collectibles. I saw an Elvis bust, Elvis watches, beer steins, Campbell soup collectibles, Marilyn Monroe picture, Nascar collectibles,
John Deere collectibles, Precious Moments, Avon, and the list goes on and on. One of Sherry’s earlier commitments included supporting local crafters which she has done in fine fashion. There is jewelry from local designers, art from local artist, a Lineberry Cart that has been
refurbished with lumber harvested locally, flower arrangements and more all artfully displayed throughout the store. They also carry a local line of honey that is not to be missed. Included in the crafts is a pretty impressive line of woodwork with benches, cedar swings both for the young and old picnic tables, children tables and a king size bed you’ve got to see to believe. All of these items are made by local craftsmen. Add to all of this a good selection of linens. New towels, gently used bedroom ensembles, napkins, tablecloths and more. I have personally never encountered a store set up as attractively or include as many different types of items as Willow Tree Consignment. Go visit Sherry. You will be glad you did! Willow Tree Consignment – 1214 Maple Avenue, Burlington, NC – 336 350-9422 willowtreeconsignment.com
Enertia® Building Systems, Inc. P.O. Box 845, Youngsville, NC 27596
enertia.com 919-556-2391 or enertia@mindspring.com 12
Why the Decline of Antique & Collectible Events?
What's happened to all of our good antique shows? Many of our outdoor antique shows and festivals have slowly taken on the appearance of a flea market with an increased number of items not qualifying as actual antiques or collectibles. What is the cause? Most likely, the declining state of our economy is the primary reason, resulting in the shrinking of disposable income among middle income families. With Keynesian economics coming into play, resulting in a reduction in sales, many of our older, professional dealers have elected to retire, which has further reduced the volume of quality antiques marketed at shows.
Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that there are few younger individuals interested in entering the antique business.
At the same time, the popularity in purchasing antiques online has enabled collectors to buy from their homes rather than at shows. And let's not forget about the increase in reproduction furniture and smalls alike now available in large chain stores such as Pottery Barn, which has further impacted the true antique market. Antique publications nationwide have reported the success of new, small -scale antique shows with juried dealers and assure the offering of true antiques and collectibles. The most successful of these shows typically include 30 or fewer dealers and attract committed buyers eager
to view and purchase quality antiques. Two shows currently held in central North Carolina for the past two years have enjoyed such success. One of these successful events is the "Pittsboro Antique Fair" held each October (TBA 10/16-17/15) which benefits local charities. As locals know, Pittsboro is a historic town of North Carolina with a rich history of antiques and other unique shops. The Pittsboro Fair showcases things of old both for those seeking to collect them or in the form of education to understand how things were used. North Carolina has always been a major source of furniEvents continued next pg
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Events continued
ture over the years due to its plentiful supply of forests, select lumber and craftsmen. Many popular furniture companies have their origins in North Carolina. Another small antiques fair gaining popularity is the American Legion sponsored Antiques Fair in Chapel Hill, NC. The Post #6 receives donations from the fair which enable them to continue with much needed community and veteran projects. The Vets, Boy Scouts, Chapel Hill Comyesteryear, craftsmen's tools, and Southwestern/Civil War collectibles. Many other items both small and large along with ephemera of years gone by. The event managers for these shows encourage the public to attend and enjoy - to learn some history via the antiques and take a bit of it home. Information for the March, 28 and 29, 2015 American Legion Antiques Fair may be found at: http:// www.chapelhillantiquefair.com - Pete Jaeger contributed this article....thanks Pete!
Look for Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders Featured Items & Upcoming Events!
munity and large UNC (University of NC) Veterans population are all benefactors of Post #6 involvement in this successful event Both of these smaller shows feature period and vintage furniture,
primitives, signs, cupboards, grain bins, doors, windows, fireplace mantels, harvest tables, chairs, pictures, bottles, guns, pottery, linens, period clothing, architectural wood from barns and tobacco sheds, toys from 14
Our e-zine is currently a ‘workin-progress’ since we are evolving it to better serve our community. Thank You to all who have given us great feedback!
Classifieds....
Pie safe, reproduction, solid wood, distressed paint, $350.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Henkel-Harris lingerie armoire, solid cherry, 36 inches wide by 55.5 inches tall, great conditiion, $650.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Ships anchors, 52 inches tall by 24 inches wide, NOT a reproduction, $180.00/pair - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Lexington furniture jewelry chest, solid cherry, lighted, 56 inches tall by 22 inches wide, $189.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
D L SO Ships wheel, 38 inches diameter, NOT a reproduction, $175.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Sea bird painting by Morris Katz, known as the ‘world’s fastest painter’ according to Guiness Book of World Records, $275.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
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Country industrial chopping block, repurposed 1890’s furniture press, great butcher block kitchen island, $900.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Classifieds.... M a p l e w o o d stools, thick blue cushion seat, heavy duty, two available, $75/each Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Pool table, 44 inches by 79 inches, Miztrak, includes balls, racks and cues, in good condition with a few dings on the side, $200.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Ottoman, 33 inches wide, black, great condition, $129.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Piano bench, solid mahogany, great condition, $69.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Buffet / tv stand, oak wood, 49 inches wide by 35 inches tall, excellent condition, $229.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
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Carved Native American chair, solid oak, $350.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Queen bed, spool turned headboard, footboard, rails, slatsm, brand new, $429.00- Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com “I've always had a keen sense of history. My father was an antiques dealer and he used to bring home boxes full of treasures, and each item always had a tale attached.� - Sara Sheridan
Classifieds....
Bolt down carnival ride horse, 1940’s. To be ridden as a child on a Merry-go-round. $485 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Red farm cart – pulled by a person going to market with vegetables for sale. Popular in many countries abroad. $325 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Branch bench, real branches, 54 inches long, excellent condition, $209.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Tavern sign from Europe. Excellent condition. Two sided enamel. Would withstand any weather. Cast iron frame. $650 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Book press, floor model from England, circa 1890. $1,800 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Handpainted bar, 43 inches wide by 80 inches tall, wine rack, glass holder, slide out counter, storage, great condition, $650.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com 17
Classifieds....
Floor model oak revolving showcase, 4-sided, drawers and doors. Circa 1910. Very unusual item. $2,200 Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Four drug store counter stools, chrome on steel bases. Circa 1920’s and 1950’s. $125/ ea. - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Cream with brown trim enamel over iron wood cook stove. $850.00 Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
White medical cabinet, 37 inches wide with 8.5 inches side trays by 17 inches deep, 70.5 inches tall, original finish and hardware, beveled glass, great condition, $1,650.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
Walnut country wardrobe, circa 1840, Eastern NC, pegged, square nailed, interior split shelves, hanger design, $850.00 - Call Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders at 336.340.6299 or email water.warrior8@gmail.com
For those of our readers who are looking for something particular, please contact us and we will do our very best to locate the object of your desire! 18
Consignment Connections in Burlington, NC
Booth #10284
Booth #10287
Booth #10005
Booth #10192
Booth #10110
Booth #10005
Be sure to go to Issuu.com to check out Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders February edition for more info on Consignment Connections located in Burlington, NC. 19
Consignment Connections in Burlington, NC
Booth #10003
Booth #10015
Booth #10152
Booth #10247
For info on our Display Ad sizes and rates, email Dale Swiggett, water.warrior8@gmail.com, or call 336.340.6299 for details. 20
Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders Lesson for the Month... If attending an auction as a spectator, make sure you do not inadvertantly do something that could be misconstrued by the auctioneer as a bid.
Consignment Connections in Burlington, NC
Booth #10179 / 10180
Following Current Events, Watching for Trends When we created Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders nearly five years ago, we focused more on antiques and collectibles with a sprinkling of newer and more modern items. This encompasses consignment shops, which normally feature a mix of the old and the new. Over the nearly 5 year hiatus that we took from producing this unique publication, we have seen a big uptick in consignment shops opening up. Some of these shops are actually repurposing the big box stores that are closing up due to the fragile economy. Kudos to those brave people who step up to fill up those empty mega buildings, give people jobs, and promote the concept of reuse and recycle. Has anyone noticed certain sections of shelves in stores like Walmart sitting empty? I did last late last fall and I asked a stocker why had a certain product I buy had not been available on my recent previous visits. The young man replied, “I have no idea why new product has not been shipped. It’s not just the item you are asking about but a whole lot of other products too, ma’am.”
In case there are some readers unaware of the drama recently played out on our nation’s West Coast in our ports, there was a contract dispute which resulted in imported goods sitting in shipping containers until an agreement was reached. This went on for a lengthy time which effectively put a major kink in the supply line of getting imported goods to store shelves for consumers. For those out there who are familiar with supply lines, they know that it will take some time for the kinks to be worked out. I was talking with an elderly gentleman about this situation and was not the least bit surprised to hear him lament the fact that certain international policies (NAFTA) had heavily contributed to the fact that America no longer makes products and goods any more due to the offshoring of manufacturing jobs. Now, we hear rumors and see a little bit of evidence that some manufacturing jobs will come back to the US but it won’t match the numbers our country once saw just a few decades ago. This wise man made the comment that the average American consumer will immediately go out and purchase 21
a replacement of whatever is broken instead of trying to repair it themselves or even trying to find someone to do the necessary repair. He did use the expression of ‘we are now a throw-away society.’ In truth, some items are cheaper to replace than to repair but I have seen items that have been tossed to the curb that were perfectly good functional items. When the 2008 crash happened, reality set in for a lot of folks who had to make do with much less. I remember talking with another older person who said that perhaps the younger generations would now pay a little bit more attention to history and prepare for harder times to come by reining in their voracious appetites as consumers. I do believe this is happening due to my friendly chats with sales staff at various Goodwill Stores. As one woman put it, “Funny how we are now seeing some of our regular donors who just dropped off their unwanted stuff now come in to shop our racks and shelves. And some of these people are now converts and won’t go to buy something at full retail price unless Current Trends continued pg 24
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Liberty Antiques Festival April 24 & 25, 2015 September 25 & 26, 2015
Held just twice a year, 400 dealers from more than 25 states pack this 100-acre farm near Liberty, North Carolina. Dig through the SDVW ILQG WRGD\¡V WUHDVXUHV DPRQJVW WK WR WK &HQWXU\ IXUQL ture, accessories, pottery, glass, clocks, dolls, toys, military items, DGYHUWLVLQJ GHFR\V MHZHOU\ TXLOWV IRON DUW DQG ´LQ WKH URXJK¾ FRXQ WU\ $PHULFDQD ,W¡V WKH ZD\ LW XVHG WR EH ³ NO CRAFTS OR REPRODUCTIONS ³ just truckloads of antiques and collectibles. <RX¡OO EULQJ VRPHWKLQJ KRPH IURP WKLV VKRZ '21¡7 0,66 ,7 Hours: 8 am³5 pm | Rain or Shine Admission: $7/person; Children under 12/Free FREE PARKING For vendor information, contact: Liberty Antiques Festival PO Box 939³Liberty NC 27298 (336) 622-3041 LibertyAntiquesFestival.com 22
Located on Pike Farm Rd (formerly Andrews Rd), off John Marsh Rd. Easily accessible from I-85, I-95, I-40 +Z\¡V RU MXVW JR WR Liberty and follow the signs. For additional visitor information and directions, call (800) 626-2672 or go to HeartofNorthCarolina.com
Pedals (as in cars)....
Upcoming Car Shows in March & April in NC
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Current Trends continued
they cannot find it at our second hand stores. Few years ago, a lot of those women would not be caught dead shopping at our stores.” Well, there are a few other trends I am keeping an eye on but I wanted to inform our readers out there who are ‘purists,’ whether it is antiques or collectibles, that we are including consignment and thrift shops to give more well rounded coverage for our audience. And for those folks out there who would never consider stepping foot into a second hand shop, just reread the news article about the guy who bought a highly collectible watch at a Goodwill store for $6 and then sold it for $35,000. - Renee Warren
Great Joke A blonde walks into a antique store and asks the salesman, "I would like to buy that Armoire?" The owner answers, "I don't sell Armoires to blondes!" So the blonde goes home and dyes her hair then come back the next day and asks the some question, but she gets the same answer. So the next day she shaves her head and goes back and asks again, but yet again she gets the same answer. "How did you know I was a blonde?" she asks." "Because," he replies, "that's is the door to the ladies restroom." - cited from antiquerestorers.com
Is it True?! Did Someone Find the Amber Room After all these Years?! Recent news is that a couple of German citizens believe they have located the place where the famed Amber Room was hidden since WWII. An excerpt from Inquisitr website “Once considered to be the eighth Wonder of the World, the Amber Room was allegedly stolen from Russia by the Nazis in 1941. Now a German pensioner thinks he knows where it was hidden, but needs help to access it. The Amber Room was an intricate and lavish room, decorated with amber plates. The room was apparently given to Peter the Great in 1716 by Prussia’s Friedrich Wilhelm. The chamber consisted of amber panels backed with gold leaf and mirrors.” Read more at http:// www.inquisitr.com/1897666/ german-pensioner-may-have-foundnazi-looted-russian-amber-room/ #4E1SsJDjOAyKmrtz.99 If the Amber Room is found, one of the greatest mysteries of WWII will come to an end. I remember my history lessons from school and recall reading about the Amber Room disappearing during the war. Then later I read a fiction novel, The
Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders is an eclectic mix of unique items, passions, events and bargains and the people who love them. Our mission is to provide more exposure on a monthly basis for antique and collectible dealers in order to connect to consumers who want to find those dealers. There’s always this unquenchable thirst to add to one’s collection and to find that ever elusive item, whether it be a piece of period furniture, a doll, a tea pot, or a vintage piece of farm equipment. We just want to connect folks so that everyone can buy and sell the things that we all love.
Pickers Pedals Passions & Blunders is a NC-based publication. Mailing address... PO Box 578 Rolesville, NC 27571 Publisher... M. Dale Swiggett 336.340.6299 water.warrior8@gmail.com Editor... Renee Warren 919.880.5217 rtwdesigns@embarqmailcom Find Us on Issuu.com Amber Room, written by Steve Berry that wove a wonderful tale based on this unique work of art craftsmanship. Good luck to the gentlemen on their quest! I hope they’ll do the right thing and return it to Russia.
NOTE from the Editor.... Apologies for any blondes out there who might take offense to this joke but just to let folks know, I laughed and I’m a blonde. 24