What’s behind this sign?

ANTIQUE ADVERtising and store signs are popular collectibles and decorations. Sometimes, the makers are as interesting as the subjects. This butcher’s sign, made of painted cast iron, sold for $1,188 at an auction by Cowan’s (Hindman). It was made by the Bernard Gloekler company.

The eponymous Bernard Gloekler, who immigrated to the United States from Germany, started his factory and shop in Pittsburgh. He had previously trained as a gunsmith but took his mechanical talents in a different direction: making industrial kitchen equipment for shops, restaurants and hotels. By the early 20th century, they were doing business all over the United States. When Gloekler died in 1911, his son Charles took over the company. The design seen on this sign, a saw, cleaver and knife with a standing bull for a finial, appears on many other Gloekler pieces. For example, a smaller version may be used as a crest on butcher’s racks. Maybe keep Gloekler in mind at your next barbecue!

Q. I found some Norman Rockwell embossed prints in my family’s things. Are they valuable? How can I find collectors who might want to buy them?

A. Norman Rockwell (1894-1978) was an artist and illustrator best-known for his nostalgic portrayals of 20th-century American life. Between 1916 and 1963, he painted more than 300 covers for The Saturday Evening Post. In 1963, he began painting illustrations and covers for Look magazine, with subjects about current events, including civil rights issues and space exploration. Rockwell created over 4,000 original works of art, including illustrations for advertisements, books, catalogs, calendars, posters, sheet music and other items. Original artwork, paintings, sketches and prints signed by the artist have sold for a few hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars. The signature has to be authenticated by a qualified appraiser to be of value. Rockwell prints have been mass-produced in many sizes and most are inexpensive. Some sell online for $5 to $10.

We may not know who this sign was for, but it was made by the Bernard Gloekler Co. of Pennsylvania. The company made kitchen equipment for restaurants, hotels and butcher shops.

(COWLES SYNDICATE INC.)

Q. I inherited three plates marked “Gilman Collamore & Co., Fifth Avenue & 30th St., New York.” Can you tell me something about the company and when my dishes were made?

A. Gilman Collamore & Co. was founded in New York City in 1861. The company opened showrooms in The Wilbraham, an apartment hotel for bachelors, on Fifth Avenue and 30th Street in 1890. They were still at that address in 1920, but there is no further information on the company.

Q. We own a 1954 White Furniture Company “Colleton Collection” dining room set which includes a table with chairs, breakfront and credenza. We’d

Current Prices

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

Game, pinball, Baffle-Ball, green ground, yellow letters, four score pockets in diamond shape, red horseshoe at top, two instruction panels at base, 23 x 14 inches, $65.

Shaving mug, occupational, artist, painter’s palette, Karl V. Klockner, gilt trim, short foot, green mark, W. Austria, 3 3/4 x 3 3/4 inches, $85.

Nautical, sextant, U.S. Navy, Rangefinder, Stadimeter, fitted wood case, instruction sheet, exterior plaque, U.S. Maritime Commission, Schick Incorporated, 1942, 11 1/4 x 11 1/2 inches, $250.

Pottery, jar, Hopi, shoulders, flared rim, tan ground, black and brown pattern, jagged white lines, signed, Jean Sahme, 8 x 9 inches, $310.

Bottle opener, figural, fish, marlin, painted, blue and white, “Duxbury, Mass.” on side, snout and tail raised, iron, mid-20th century, $360.

Lamp, oil, solar, frosted glass globe, cut flowers, 12 hanging prisms, opaque glass column, white and blue striped, bronze mounts, electrified, Deitz Brothers & Co., New York, 30 inches, $430.

Advertising, mirror, Whistle Soda Pop, “Look your best,” “Drink the best,” diagonal bottle graphic, orange letters, 14 x 10 inches, $525.

Clothing, hat, bowler, black, Native American beaded band, silver tone bird pin on front, gold tone U.S. Seal pin on side, gold tone crossed swords pin on brim, The Rival Hat, 7 3/4 x 6 inches, $620.

Furniture, table, center, Classical, mahogany, marble top, serpentine, leafy carved frieze, trestle base, leafy carved scrolls, pierced carved stretcher, mid-19th century, 28 x 38 x 22 inches, $1,410.

like to know what it’s worth.

A. Brothers William E. and

David A. White began making furniture in Mebane, North Carolina, in 1881.

Toy, pedal car, Buick, open top, olive green, orange trim, plexiglass windshield, painted, metal, Gendron, 30 x 66 x 26 inches, $4,800. SEE ANTIQUES, PAGE F9

By H annah Holland The Washington Post

Want to make over secondhand furniture, give cabinet hardware a new finish or revive an old lamp? The answer is probably two words: spray paint.

This DIYer’s secret weapon is affordable, versatile and easy to use — if you know how. Here’s how to get a flawless finish every time.

1. Get your supplies

One of the best parts of spray painting is how little equipment you need to do a good job.

Experts say you’ll need three different coats: spray primer, spray paint in whatever color and finish you’ve chosen, and spray-on sealer. You will also need sanding blocks, sanding sheets, or a wire brush depending on the material you’re spray painting, and tack cloth.

When it comes to choosing a paint, the finish options can seem overwhelming. But there are some general pointers to help you decide. “Highgloss spray paints provide a slick surface that is easily cleaned and provides the best color protection, especially when the item painted is left outside,” says Dennis Fiorilli, director of product excellence at Sherwin Williams. The drawback: High-gloss or metallic will more easily show imperfections. A matte or textured finish, on the other hand, will camouflage flaws, but isn’t as easy to clean, or as resistant to stains and sun damage.

In many cases, a satin finish — which falls between matte and glossy — is a safe bet, says MinChan Koo, associate brand manager for spray paint company Krylon.

2. Protect your space Spray-painting outside or in a garage with the doors open is ideal. If that’s not possible, there are ways to make an indoor space work.

“The most important thing is creating a well-ventilated area,” says Amanda Conley, the blogger behind Determined DIY. “Air flow helps with dry time and so you don’t breathe in [fumes].”

Before you do anything else, open windows and doors, and turn on a fan. And, as Fiorilli stresses, spray paint is flammable, so this is not the time to light a cigarette or candle.

Whether outside or in, you’ll want to protect the surface beneath your project.

Gena Jaffe, a popular DIYer on Instagram, saves flattened delivery boxes to reuse as floor-covering, though a regular drop cloth would work, too. If you’re spraying indoors, Shereen Farooq, the DIYer behind Instagram account @pretty.and.functional, suggests investing in a spray tent — a collapsible, lightweight structure that will protect your walls and furniture.

3. Protect yourself

Just like your floors, you need to protect yourself. Bob Glass, merchant and paint specialist at Home Depot, recommends “using latex gloves, eye protection, protective clothing, and face protection, such as a disposable respirator when spray painting.”

Heavy-duty respirator masks are a good reusable option if you’re planning multiple projects, but Jaffe says sturdy disposable masks, such as N95s, can work, too.

She recommends wearing clear goggles for eye protec- tion, especially while sanding.

4. Clean your surface

Paint will adhere best to surfaces that Fiorilli describes as, “clean, dull and dry.” Whether you’re painting a plastic planter, a metal picture frame, or a piece of wood furniture, you’ll want to give it a thorough scrub first.

Lee Reich | In The Garden