July 2, 2009
Darwin Holmstrom talks about the history of motorcycles, especially Harley-Davidsons. He discusses technological and stylistic innovations and specific break-through models, and the differences between vintage motorcycle collectors and classic car collectors. Darwin has written multiple books on motorcycles and automobiles. His newest, “The Harley-Davidson Motor Co. Archive Collection”, is available online from Motorbooks.
I’ve been a lifelong motorcyclist. I started riding a motorcycle when I was 11, and I started writing for Motorcyclist magazine after I got … (continue reading)
June 24, 2009
Australian thimble aficionado Sue Gowan talks about her passion for sewing thimbles, from hand-painted Royal Worcesters to plastic ones. She discusses the history of thimble making, the various materials used, the different design styles employed, and their collectibility. Sue can be contacted via her website, Thimbleselect of Australia, which is a member of our Hall of Fame.
My husband, Mike, used to buy me pieces of china. One day he bought me a … (continue reading)
June 23, 2009
Andy Lustig talks about collecting U.S. coins, especially pattern coins, pre-production prototypes struck to test new design concepts. He discusses how these coins have entered the market and which are the most collectible. Based in New York, Andy can be contacted via his website, USPatterns.com, which is a member of our Hall of Fame.
I started collecting coins when I was five years old, and I started dealing when I was 13 or … (continue reading)
June 22, 2009
Harry Berzack is a collector of 19th-century and pre-World War II sewing machines. Unlike many collectors in this field, Harry’s 500-piece collection is international in scope. Recently we spoke with Harry about his collection of antique sewing machines, the history of sewing machines, their uses, and the four major manufacturers. We also discussed toy sewing machines made for children.
I work for a sewing machine distribution … (continue reading)
June 19, 2009
Frazier Dailey talks about antique and vintage tractors, discussing their history, the major manufacturers, collecting trends, and events for tractor enthusiasts. He can be contacted via his website, Antique Tractors Forum.
I started collecting antique tractors in 1971. I’ve owned several old tractors over the years and always wound up selling them to somebody else—all but this one old 1938 Case. That old Case will never be sold. I drove that same tractor when I was five … (continue reading)
June 10, 2009
Noreen Marshall is the curator of the Dress, Doll, and Childhood collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood in London. Recently, we spoke with her about the history of dolls, the various materials used and types of dolls that were made, and how dolls have evolved over time. Noreen can be contacted via the Victoria and Albert’s Museum of Children microsite, which is a member of our Hall of Fame.
We have … (continue reading)
June 9, 2009
Dave Weisbart talks about 19th-century clocks, discussing notable manufacturers and designs and sharing his experience with clock repairs. Dave is the owner of Prestige Clock Repair in Huntington Beach, CA and shares his clock collection on his site, Dave’s American Clocks.
I was working as a jewelry department manager for a department store, and I had a customer who brought a clock in for repair. I was able to fix her clock very quickly and easily, and I … (continue reading)
June 8, 2009
The late Alan Basinet talks about collecting antique marbles, noting various design styles, manufacturers, production methods, and the regions they came from. For more information, visit his website, marblealan.com.
Like most kids growing up in the late ’60s, early ’70s, I played with marbles. Of course I grew out of it, but I carried those good memories with me. Skip forward some years, and I was working in my … (continue reading)
Mike Thomas talks about collecting vintage football cards, noting the major manufacturers, popular teams and players, and what collectors look for in a card. Mike can be contacted via his website, Vintage Football Card Gallery, which is a member of our Hall of Fame.
I collected football cards when I was a kid, back in the late ’60s, early ’70s. Then I set them in the closet for about 15 to 20 years … (continue reading)
April 15, 2009
Sam Sarowitz talks about vintage movie posters, specifically their designs, how people collect them, and the most popular genres. Based in New York, Sam can be contacted via his website, Posteritati.
Our first book was called “The Independent Movie Poster Book” and that was published by Harry Abrams. The focus was all independent movies post-1980. We picked that as a cutoff because that was the beginning of the modern indie movie movement with Sex, Lies, and Videotape … (continue reading)
Urban Cummings talks about collecting vintage cigarette lighters, noting the history and evolution of lighters, the various types and manufacturers, and trends in the hobby in general. Urban has written two books on Ronson lighters.
At the very beginning, my interest in lighters was about the mechanism. I had my first lighter when I was 14. I saved up my nickels and dimes. I grew up in Oakland, and bought my first cigarette lighter because I thought … (continue reading)
Clifford Wallach talks about tramp art, noting its origins and social history, and addressing some historical misconceptions. Clifford has published two books on tramp art – Tramp Art, One Notch at a Time and his newest, Tramp Art, Another Notch: Folk Art From the Heart, available from Schiffer Publishing. He can be contacted via his website, Folk Art in the Tramp Art Style.
My first book, “Tramp Art, One Notch at a Time”, was self-published in … (continue reading)
Bob Allen talks about U.S. stamp collecting, providing information on topics such as the history of United States stamps, their design and production processes, regular issues and commemoratives, and special features such as perforations, watermarks and secret marks.
Like many collectors, I collected when I was a child, and then I became interested again in the ‘90s. I think eBay and other Internet auction sales had a little bit to do with it. I just started playing with … (continue reading)
Carol Jacobs talks about Cowan art pottery, specifically who R. Guy Cowan was, the history of his company, and the different shapes, designs, and glazes that he produced. Carol is the curator of the Cowan Pottery Museum at the Rocky River Public Library in Rocky River, Ohio. She can be reached via the museum’s website.
I’m the curator here at the museum in Rocky River, a suburb west of Cleveland. I look at Cowan pottery from … (continue reading)
Tom McIntyre talks about antique pocket watches, discussing key manufacturers, the mechanics behind the watches, the varying types, and the collecting hobby in general.
I got interested in clocks in 1967, and I started collecting watches fairly seriously in the early ‘80s. I ran out of room for clocks. Pocket watches are a little bit more manageable, and in some ways more interesting, too. I collect precision clocks, clocks that are very accurate timekeepers, and marine … (continue reading)
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Mari Tepper: Laying it on the Line
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How One Artist Makes New Art From Old Coloring Books and Found Photos
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