Antiques in Abandoned House

[packrat79]

A few years ago - 13 years to be exact - I had the opportunity to take some video of a long-abandoned house out in the country. The owner was giving me a couple of antique TV's and while there, allowed me to tour the place. I recently watched that video for the first time in years, and was quite surprised, and disturbed, at the number of valuable antiques that had been left there to decay. The house is still standing, but is beginning to collapse on one side. The owner, now in his 80's, refuses to let anyone on the property anymore, citing concerns over safety, but personally I think it's because he's upset about a number of break-ins over the years. To my knowledge, most of the antiques are still there, and leaving them in this old place is a tremendous risk. How the building has avoided arson in the 45 years it's been vacant is remarkable, but even if somebody doesn't burn it, it will still eventually fall down and one way or another these valuable antiques will be lost.
I'm posting this message in the hopes someone can give me an estimated value of some of the antiques, or at least identify the manufacturers / models so I can do some more fruitful research. I want to present this information to the owner in the hopes that he'll come to his senses and at the very least move the stuff somewhere safer.

Below are some pictures (frame grabs from the aforementioned video) of some of the items for your examination:



The object on the refrigerator caught my eye - it looks like a vintage cookie jar, but I cannot identify the brand. It doesn't seem to be a King Cole, Tetley, or Humpty Dumpty jar, unless I didn't do enough research.



This beautiful old stove, cluttered with other vintage kitchen items, is probably the most valuable item here. I figure it has to be worth at least $1000, but unless someone can recognize the manufacturer, there's not much I can determine from this image.





Two old phonographs, one a console and the other a table model. No idea as to the make or model numbers.



This looks like quite an early Singer sewing machine, though I can't tell too much from this poor quality image.

Any info on this stuff would be appreciated. I doubt I can talk any sense into the owner, but perhaps some significant dollar figures might just make it through his thick skull. It's worth a try, at least.

[mart]

While I don`t see anything worth big bucks all together the larger items would be nothing to sneeze at either !! The cookie jar appears to be similar to Humpty Dumpty cannot say for sure without knowing the maker and seeing better pics !! Price could be anywhere from $30. to $150.  It is well worth checking !!  Stove depends on where it is sold and its condition !! They don`t bring as much in the northern states as they do in the southern U.S. !! In my state (Texas) price would be from $500. to $1200. again, depending on condition !! Tall Victrola if it is in good cond. and works is about $150. to $200. Tabletop with horn $200. -$275. TV if you can find the right collecto, $100.-$125. sewing machine would be about the same or little less !! It is possible that there could be smaller items worth much more than the larger pieces !!
Perhaps you could stress the fact that these items are a part of the past that will never be made again and that some of us like to preserve the history of people that lived before our time !! If he allows the house to fall down around these items he risks someone taking them and losing a part of his family history !!

[wendy177]

The cookie jar is indeed Humpty Dumpty. This hard plastic cookie jar was made by Reliable Toy Corporation made in Canada approx late 1940s early 1950s. The company was started in Toronto, Ontario, in the 1920s. They began making stuffed animals then dolls by early 1940s they produced some metal products but with WWII and metal unavailable they began experimenting with plastics. Approx. value $150.00 even with paint loss here's a photo of this happy little guy 

[packrat79]

I thought it looked like Humpty Dumpty, but I can't seem to find any like it on eBay or anywhere else for that matter. The ones with the crown on the lid must be quite uncommon or something, which I assume makes them more valuable. Do you know if they were made from actual plastic, or that much heavier (and brittle) material known as bakelite?
 As for the phonographs, here in Canada the console models typically sell for around $300-500, though Edison machines are usually worth much more.
 The TV in the picture was one of two the owner gave me that day, and I still have it along with dozens of other old TVs. It's a 1953 Sparton, and believe it or not it actually still worked when I got it home that day (had to replace one broken tube though).
 Any ideas as to the manufacturer of the stove? I'd still like to know when/where it was made.

[mart]

So many of those were made trhat it would be almost impossible to determine the mfr. by just looking !! It probably had a brass or similar plate on it telling the mfr !!
Here the tabletop will bring more that the upright victrola simply because there are less  of them left !! And there are certain makers that sell slightly better but not a huge difference in price !!

[talesofthesevenseas]

There are a lot of if's here.

The stove will depend on if it is in solid shape with the firebox still intact and what kind of shape the nickel plating is in. These types of stoves do sell (prices vary greatly) Anywhere from free to thousands. There are also guys who refurbish them and will rig them to run off gas, electricity or a combination of both. It looks like it has potential, I love these old stoves!

In the San Francisco Bay Area, Victrolas run $200 - $300 and add another $100 -$200 for the one with the horn.

Treadle sewing machines will depend on if the shuttle (bobbin case) is there, the bobbin, the needle and the belt, and if everything works and it is still functional. It may have seized if it has not be used or oiled in many years. Fully functional treadles can be had in my neck of the woods for about $75 on a good day, and as much as $400, but those usually have little likelihood of selling at that price. If it's functional, you could expect $75 - $200.

Honestly, I would leave this guy alone. He sounds like an elderly man who might not be in full controll of his thoughts and feelings. He may have great sentimental value attached to these things. They belong to him and he is their owner. If he has children taking care of him you might talk to them, but other than that, let well enough alone. I think it is more important to let this guy be than to upset him with this. There's nothing in your photos that can't be acquired for a couple hundred. I think the man's well-being is more important.

[talesofthesevenseas]

I should add also that even if the roof fell in on that stove, it isn't likely to harm it. 

[mart]

Tales,, its possible that the man can use the extra cash yet not know that they are worth anything !!  It might mean a few extra`s for him !!  Especially in todays economy !!

[packrat79]

Honestly, I would leave this guy alone. He sounds like an elderly man who might not be in full controll of his thoughts and feelings. He may have great sentimental value attached to these things. They belong to him and he is their owner. If he has children taking care of him you might talk to them, but other than that, let well enough alone. I think it is more important to let this guy be than to upset him with this. There's nothing in your photos that can't be acquired for a couple hundred. I think the man's well-being is more important.

  Actually, I've known the owner for close to 25 years and his mind is 100% - he's just not very friendly, and never has been. I think the reason for the stuff being left in that house, is because he and his siblings couldn't decide who got what, after his parents died without having a written will. I've seen houses abandoned for this reason before, and it's a situation where nobody ever wins. But with the surviving children now in their 80's or beyond, it won't be too much longer before the property ends up changing hands - I just hope the house and its contents are still there by that time.

[mart]

If thats the case it might be wise to just wait and see what happens !! At least you cared enough to try and help !!

[cogar]

HA, ..... if you snooze, .... ya lose, ..... packrat.

You best be making friends with that dude ...... and you best be telling him what you are thinking or planning.

Like you want to buy some of it cause you want to re-sale it to make a couple buck$ in the process. Or, you will sell it for him for a commi$$ion, either way you make a couple buck$.

Go knock on his door and take a couple apples with you when you do.