Messages

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: The Famous Duke's Smoking Tobacco Sign

« on: February 08, 2012, 08:12:54 pm »

I always try to use Ebay as a reference guide.  Seems like sellers now are selling things very cheap though.  A lot has happened to Ebay over the years it seems.  Hard for a small seller to compete now.  Ebay even adds shipping cost in when determining their fee.  Another one of those things I don't agree with.  Paypal places holds on a seller's funds, and I have also heard they have made it where a seller can no longer leave negative feedback for buyers.  Seems far too easy for a buyer to scam someone.  A lot of sellers have deemed it no longer worth it to try to keep up with everything, and I can definitely see why.  Seems like you would have to actually study the ins and outs of Ebay to not get cheated, and even then, sometimes you are powerless.

Ebay knows the most sellers will go where the customers are, so they can get away with the things they do.  I may have no choice but to try to get back into things on Ebay, but it is kinda scary these days.  I miss the simplicity of it.  I use to buy gameboy games on there as a kid

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: The Famous Duke's Smoking Tobacco Sign

« on: February 08, 2012, 07:39:34 pm »

Thanks for the warm welcome.  That bed is amazing.  I have never seen anything like it.  My eye is also drawn to the trunk.  I don't know why, but I seem to have a thing for old trunks.  Hopefully I am not taken advantage of when I start to try to deal with people.  My love for things and ignorance on the subject may get me into trouble.  I don't know any other way to really learn this sort of business other than by first hand experience.  Hopefully I will be able to ask the right questions and retain enough knowledge from my Grandmother.

Glad to bring up some good memories too, jondar.  I think that is a lot of what draws someone to an item.

Anyone know what this may be worth?  I feel I have to ask as much as possible.  I hope to be able to move back South soon, and knowledge is power.  I would like to take everything with me, but I doubt I will be able to.  I am a worrier, and I feel something like this would get damaged during transport.  I feel in a way I have to push myself to sell so I don't just hang on to everything and get myself into trouble that way.

Where do you guys go to sell items?  Ebay is getting complicated these days, and there is a lot to understand for one person.  I hear they are going to crack down on taxing Ebay sellers, and it is a lot to understand for a young seller.  I am in Alaska, so shipping is also an issue.  I don't agree with some of the things Ebay does, such as charging twice by owning both Ebay and Paypal, but I guess that is a long debate for another day.  I have used Craigslist to list a few vintage items I have, but my account is messed up, and I emailed the site, and they have not responded back to me.

I need to stop worrying so much and just do it, but it isn't easy when you are a one man army  

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: The Famous Duke's Smoking Tobacco Sign

« on: February 08, 2012, 05:38:52 pm »

I have had a rough life (who hasn't), but the good memories I have are being a little kid and going to estate sales with my Grandmother.  I feel like time is something you can never get back, no matter how successful you are or how much money you make.  I would hate for something to happen to her and never to be able to bond with her.  She has accumulated a ton of things over the years, and I would love to be able to help her and learn all at the same time.  I feel she is embarrassed having so much " junk ".  I hope to carry on her passion, and be the other side of the coin so to speak.  I feel as if something happened to her, all her things would just be wasted.  A lot of the things no one gets to see and enjoy now.  I have a long road ahead of me to make this little dream a reality, but all I can do is try.

I feel like I am venting a bit too much here...maybe it isn't a bad thing though.  Here is a good question for you, what is the most interesting or important item you have in your collection?  I think people like you are very interesting.  A lot of people just buy their things and furniture from Wal-mart...I feel like an item should have a history and a personality.  Hopefully I don't end up offending you, you interest me.  I just feel like I have to keep myself from rambling on all day 

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: The Famous Duke's Smoking Tobacco Sign

« on: February 08, 2012, 05:05:44 pm »

I just discovered the art of decoupage myself.  Fun to do.  That is why I suggested it may be done by his mother.  She did a nice lantern piece I have in my room.  He told me she did that one, so one could assume she very well could have done this one.

I noticed your sig by the way, I love that mentality.  If you don't mind me asking, how did you get into the business?  Telling me a little about your journey into the world of antiques may be helpful to me, if you don't mind sharing.

I don't know how popular this site is, or what the normal days postings are about, but I feel like the more people I chat with about this kind of thing, the better.  And if I am bothering you, just point me to different forum to chat in around here, or simply tell me to get lost

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Antique Questions Forum / Re: The Famous Duke's Smoking Tobacco Sign

« on: February 08, 2012, 04:32:04 pm »

Thanks for the fast response.  I guess I believed it had to be old because the woman I was helping move was...well, lets just face it, a hoarder.  Everything she had seemed to be from the mesozoic era to me.  Haha, joking.  Even if it is a repro, I like it, so it isn't a real loss.  Is there any real way to tell the difference?

Being young and trying to get into this, I am probably going to be fooled easily.  I am planning to head back home and hang out with my Grandmother and hopefully absorb all I can from her.  I hear not too many young people are interested in this sort of thing, I don't see why.  I could go on all day about the many reasons to enjoy old things.  I am trying to keep from rambling so you people don't hate me though

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Antique Questions Forum / The Famous Duke's Smoking Tobacco Sign

« on: February 08, 2012, 04:18:01 pm »

Hey everyone, I am new to this forum, but I thought this would be a good place to hang out and maybe get some information.  I am a young guy, but I would love to get more into the antiques world.  My Grandmother has a passion for antiques, and I have great memories as a kid.  I keep hearing everyone say my love for old things is in my blood.  I don't want to just ramble on about myself, hopefully you guys will get to know me through my posting, but on to what brought me here...

I recently helped a family friend move back South.  She and her husband were retiring, and couldn't take everything with them.  They let me take what they couldn't fit in the truck, and whatever I asked for around the house.  One of the best items (in my opinion) I got was this sign.  I have looked around online, and found only one item like it listed anywhere.

http://live.vcaauction.com/The-Famous-Dukes-smoking-tobacco-sign_i5279735

I would love to be able to learn to make a living buying and selling antiques, as it would be a way for me to connect with my Grandmother more.  I feel that you can really get to know a person by the items they collect.  Here are the pictures of the item I have.  It is on wood, as opposed to being just framed paper.  It may be decoupage though, as one of the other items I acquired from the couple is, and was made in the 70s by his mother.

If you have any information, questions, tips for a young guy, or just wanna chat about the old and dusty, let me know. 

Here are the pictures.







Thank you for any responses.