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Uncle Meanies Antiques a True Blast from the Past

7/30/2013

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Richard LaRose says he’s always interested in finding worth in old things as it has been a passion of his since he was a kid.

“My grandparents had three acres and four garages,” he said. “I was always dragging something home.”

He said it was this spirit of finding treasure that led him to open Uncle Meanies Antique shop in Norton. He said it really dawned on him in the 1970s, when he bought a vanity mirror for his wife.

“I bought this vanity for 10 bucks,” he said. “I sold it for $400 later. It had to be from the 1920s, with the pineapple ends on it. It was just a really nice piece.”

LaRose said he first opened the shop in 1992, though he said he’s been a collector all his life, in contrast to his father.

“My father was a neat nut,” he said. “Everything had a place, and if you didn’t use something in two years, you threw it away.”

LaRose said he had a trucking company at the time, with four car carriers and a wrecker.

“I had enough and sold the trucks,” he said. “I had four employees, and all their problems so I decided to go on my own. We bought this barn in 92, I was living in miles and commuting 50 miles a day, so we just decided to build a house next door.”

He added his travel time has been cut down considerably.

“It really cut down on the commute,” he said with a laugh.

LaRose said the barn itself even dated back to the 1860s and was of a wood peg construction, meaning everything was fitted with wood and no metal nails were used in its construction.

“It was a horse barn when I bought the place,” he said. “We spent nine months; we jacked the barn in the air and put foundations down. This barn will be here a lot longer than I will.”

The barn is filled with unique and sometimes familiar pieces, like bear cookie jars and candle pyramids from Germany or carousal cars from county fairs long past, and of course the obligatory hand-crank turntable.

 “Everything you could think of” might not be the most accurate way of describing his inventory, but it comes close.

He said the oldest piece he has comes from the 1800s. It’s what is called a sample piece for a mining company. The piece is a small mining cart, about the size of a stroller, used to sell the actual carts to mining operations. 

The Uncle Meanies Antique Store is located at 134 East Main St. and is open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Source: http://norton.patch.com





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Jacob Lenau admits ripping off churches, stealing antique Bible

7/29/2013

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St. Louis, MO (KSDK) - A Soulard man has been sentenced to seven years in state prison for burglarizing churches in south St. Louis, taking a valuable Bible in one of the break-in's. 

Jacob Lenau, 21 of the 2700 block of Allen Avenue pleaded guilty in St. Louis Circuit Court to three counts each of burglary, stealing, and property damage
for incidents that took place between September and December 2012.

Among the crimes, the theft of a Bible from the 1800's that Lenau tried to sell at a shop on Cherokee Street just days after stealing the book.

The wood carved cover was especially rare due to the ornate carvings.  The Bible had actually been on display when it was stolen in preparation of Christmas services at St. John's Lutheran Church.

Lenau was sentenced to concurrent seven year prison terms on the stealing & burglary charges and 180 days on the property damage charges.

Source: www.ksdk.com
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Antique semi-truck show will bring an array of unique vehicles to Baker College in Flint during free July 28 event

7/26/2013

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FLINT, MI – Warrior Dash isn’t the only event going on that will attract enthusiasts to the Flint area on Sunday, July 28.

Baker College of Flint will host its first-ever Classic & Antique Semi-Truck Show from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., the same day, showcasing a unique series of vehicles 25 years or older.

Antique truck enthusiasts and all members of the public will get a chance to see some rare vehicles – including a 1933 Diamond T Caterpiller and a be a restored 1940 General Motors Futurliner – at the free event at Baker College’s Center for Transportation Technology located at 1717 S. Dort Hwy. in Flint. 

There will also be a DJ providing music, vendors, refreshments, ongoing tours of the CTT facility, and a drawing for a CTT scholarship for up to $1,500.

“We welcome entrants and the entire Flint community to our campus for this fun, free event,” said David Wehman, Baker College of Flint truck driving program coordinator. 

“Baker College has been in the business of training truck drivers for 15 years so there is an obvious connection between Baker College and trucks. This show is educational for our students as well as excellent family entertainment for our community.”

Members of the public can also show their classic semis and register them to show on the day of the event between 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. There is no registration
fee and all entrants will receive dash plaques and goodie bags. The first 20 entrants will also receive a free lunch.

The restored Futurliner is one of 12 13-ton, 33-foot-long and eight-foot-wide public relations vehicles built by GM in 1940. They were feature vehicles in GM’s Parade of Progress, a 44-vehicle caravan that traveled across North American to showcase GM’s latest science and technology to millions of people.

The multi-tent production, including a display of GM’s new vehicles, was intended to bring GM World’s Fair exhibits to those who didn’t attend the fairs. 

“We’re excited that the Futurliner will be here,” Wehman said. “Many years ago, one of the Futurliners spent quite a bit of time in Flint on display in the
showroom of the Superior Pontiac-Cadillac dealership, which is now our CTT campus. It’s like the Futurliner is returning home.”

The Baker College scholarship for $1,000 can be used for the following CTT programs: auto body technician, automotive services technology, automotive
service management, supply chain management, small engine and power sports technology, automotive restoration technology, and welding. If the scholarship
is used for the CTT truck driving program, the award amount will be increased to $1,500.

“Students in our automotive body and repair programs are closely tied to our successful car and motorcycle show—having just experienced the fourth annual
show in May,” Wehman said. “With the truck show, now our truck driving students will have an event that reflects their chosen career.”

For more information, contact Baker College at showinfo@baker.edu or 810.766.2260.

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Take Five: Cédric Rivrain’s Antique Medical Instruments

7/24/2013

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Fashion folk are a curious bunch, and we’ve found that they tend to collect equally curious things. In our new “Take Five” feature, we get the lowdown on our favorite industry personalities’ most treasured trinkets.

Best known for the eerie, expressive fashion illustrations he’s done for the likes of Martine Sitbon, John Galliano, Lanvin, Hermès, and Maison Michel, Cédric
Rivrain
lives in a Paris flat filled with curiosities. Among them are piles of anatomical figures, containers filled with unusual drawing tools, and stacks of Hermès boxes. But most intriguing is his collection of over fifty
vintage medical instruments—some of which date back to the early nineteenth century—which are displayed proudly on his glass coffee table. “Some people are
scared of them, but they know that I’m not a mean person, so it’s fine,” said Rivrain. “And everybody is always trying to guess what they were used for. I
actually don’t even know myself!” 

He doesn’t really want to know, either. Left to Rivrain by his late father—a general practitioner who had a large practice in Brittany—the drills and breathing masks look more like implements of torture than a doctor’s
paraphernalia. “I was obsessed with them as a kid,” remembers Rivrain, who, along with his brother, would play with the unsettling antiques when his parents
were out. “That’s why I never really wanted to know what they were used for. In my memories, they were never for medicine. They were for magic and fun.”

Here, Rivrain, who divulged that he’ll be launching his first T-shirt collaboration this fall, discusses his favorite contraptions with Style.com. 
 
— Katharine K. Zarrella
1. “This one is a total mystery to me, but I think it’s a weird old mechanism for cutting. I know it was for surgery, and you’re supposed to fix different
instruments to it, and then it rotates. I used to play with it and pretend it was a pistol.” 

2. “This is a mask that was used for anesthesia. It’s quite rare to still have the bubble attached. I think it’s made of something awful, like a driedorgan—but not a human organ, of course. I wasn’t allowed to play with this one
when I was a kid, because it’s super fragile, but it goes over your mouth and nose.” 

3. “This is a little spoon with a hole. I have no idea what it’s for. I have a few of them, and I love the big handle. When [my brother and I] would play, in our heads, it was a spoon for magic potions.” 

4. “This is a knee hammer, for testing reflexes. When we were kids, we’d pretend to have trials, and we’d use this for a judge’s gavel.” 

5. “I always thought this one was really scary. It’s a very complex syringe of some sort. It’s made of glass and leather and steel. I never played with this
as a kid, because I was so afraid of it, but now I think it’s such a beautiful object.”

Source: www.style.com

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Hundreds of antique oil signs stolen

7/23/2013

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KERN COUNTY - The Kern County Sheriff's Department said it has never seen a theft quite like this. Hundreds of antique oil well signs were stolen from the fields and sold online, sometimes for $500 a piece. 

Deputies say it was the work of an oil field service man. They say, overall, six companies were hit and more than 250 signs taken. 

"Well, we've got some very observant lease operators," said Mike Schweitzer, Operations Superintendent of Central Resources Inc. 

Schweitzer said those lease operators first noticed a couple months ago that some oil field signs were missing from Central Resources' oil fields. 

"They were old antique Atlantic Ridgefield signs," said Schweitzer. 

Many of those signs were made partially of porcelain many years ago. 

"There were some that were some that were 30, 40, 50 years old, if not older," said Sr. Deputy Victor Keesey, Sheriff's Department. 

The sign's age makes the markers worth a lot of money to a thief, but even more to the oil company. 

"It's actually an identification for the well. It's like a Social Security number," said Schweitzer. 

According to Schweitzer, that number tells repair companies which wells to service. So, when the signs were stolen Central Resources had to replace
them immediately. 

"What it is, is a huge expense," said Schweitzer. "It will cost us $20,000 to fix." 

Central Resources wasn't the only company hit. The Sheriff's Department said Occidental Petroleum Inc., AERA, Chevron, ENB Natural Resources, and Crimson
Resource Management also fell victim. Overall, 266 signs were missing from six companies, worth a total of $30,000. 

"We're not aware of any cases like this, at least to this point. So, this is kind of a unique deal," said Keesey. 

Rural crimes detectives found many of the stolen signs at the home of an oil field service man. The resident, 35-year-old Dustin Drake, was arrested for possession of stolen property, but is not charged and is out on bail. We tried to speak with him at his home, but Drake didn't answer the door. 

As far as the rest of the signs, deputies say Drake sold
them, three at a time, for $50 to an undisclosed Bakersfield pawn shop, which then tried to sell the signs on eBay.

But thanks to the Rural Crimes Unit, the posts were flagged before the signs were bought. 

"It actually was only a couple day period before they knew what was going on. They did a fantastic job," said Schweitzer of the detectives. 

Drake is scheduled to be arraigned July 30th.

Source: www.kget.com

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David Davis Mansion to host antique car show

7/22/2013

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BLOOMINGTON — The McLean County Antique Auto Club and David Davis Foundation will host the 17th annual Antique Auto Exhibition at Clover Lawn — marking its
50th year as an organization — on Aug. 3 at the mansion grounds.

The non-judged event, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., will feature cars, trucks, motorcycles and scooters produced before 1988. The Radio Flyer Car from Clinton
and a “rescued” Mister Softee ice cream truck will be at this year’s event.

Registration begins at 9 a.m. with the Parade of Progress at 2 p.m. The car club with the most vehicles present will receive the Club Challenge.

There is no registration fee. Donations to the mansion will be accepted at the gate. Musical entertainment and refreshments are part of the event.

In commemoration of the auto club’s 50th anniversary, several club members will leave Sept. 15 for a 22-day trip along Route 66. Information will be available at the auto show.

Source: www.pantagraph.com

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Historic RI general store reopens on limited basis for sales of antiques, consignments

7/11/2013

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LITTLE COMPTON, Rhode Island — A historic general store in Rhode Island that  closed last year has reopened on a limited basis for sales of antiques and consignments.

The Newport Daily News reports (http://bit.ly/12cNQmf ) that Gray's General Store in the Adamsville village in Little Compton reopened last week.

The store originally opened in 1788 and had been in continuous operation until it closed in July of last year, following the death of owner Grayton Waite. State officials had proclaimed the store the oldest in the country.

Waite's family has reopened the store on a seasonal basis. The shelves are stocked with pottery, glassware, vintage clothing and jewelry, but none of the penny candy, cracked corn or soda that were staples of the general store.

The family is still considering what to do with the property.

Source: www.therepublic.com
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Early shoppers hit the Brimfield Antiques Shows

7/9/2013

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BRIMFIELD -- As the saying goes, the early bird gets the worm -- and at the Brimfield Antique and Collectibles
Shows
, the early shoppers get the bargains.

Vince Viglione, the parking attendant at May's Antique Market at the Brimfield shows, said there were people waiting as early as 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday to shop, even though the fields were not scheduled to open until sunrise.

Tuesday was the kickoff of the July run of the antiques shows, which last through Sunday. The thrice-annual shows turn a mile stretch of Route 20 into an antiques haven, attracting customers from all over the country and beyond.

There was a steady stream of people walking along Route 20 after 6 a.m., some already with treasures in hand. Elaine M. Brillhart, of Clinton, said she was ready to shop.

"No matter how early I get here, it's never early enough," Brillhart said. "It's a great adventure for antique shoppers. It's sort of the ultimate. I've
been coming here for almost 25 years and always on the first day, and it's always as fun and exciting as when I first came. I just enjoy the things you don't expect to see."

"Antique shoppers will go to great lengths to get their antiques," Brillhart added.

Larry and Marie Butchen, of Wantagh, N.Y., arrived at 4 a.m. It was too early to shop, so they sat and drank coffee before heading out to the fields. The
couple has been coming to Brimfield for 30 years. Larry Butchen already bought two items before 6:30 a.m. -- a vintage mailbox (he talked the dealer down from
$125 to $85) and an iron welcome sign. The sign was marked  $115, but he got it for $80. He estimated that both items date back to the 1930s.

"I never saw a welcome sign made out of iron," he said. 

The Butchens resell their finds at other antique shows. They said they stay at Brimfield for five days.

"It's fun and you forget your age. You forget everything," said Larry Butchen, who is 89. "It's a different atmosphere and you're young again."

"It's like our vacation," said 83-year-old Marie Butchen.

Over at the Shelton's field, dealer Michael McClintock, of Lambertville, N.J., said he already made some early sales. He's been selling items at Brimfield for more than 30 years.

"One thing about it up here, there's a collector for everything," McClintock said.

One of the interesting items in his booth was a small sword cane from the 1800s that featured a dog and cat carved out of ivory. McClintock was selling it for $950.

Sisters Sandra J. Miarecki and Gail K. Arsenault, of Ware, got to Brimfield at 5:45 a.m. They said they've been going to the shows for 40 years. Miarecki  bought an old wooden drawer for $15 that she plans to use for supplies for her rug hooking business. Arsenault was looking for garden items with an ocean theme.

"We love old things and we love antiques," Miarecki said.

"And the atmosphere," Arsenault said.

"And we love getting out early," Miarecki added.

Gene Melkisethian bought a dozen records from the likes of Brian Eno, Tuxedomoon and the Beach Boys for $65 that he plans to resell at his Washington, D.D. vintage shop, Joint Custody.

"I come here to buy stuff for the store," he said.

In the Pennington Antiques booth at the Shelton's field, Sarah Eby showed off a horn chair from 1877 they were selling for $1,200. Gary Pennington, who also runs Pennington Antiques in Pennsylvania, said the horns are from longhorn cattle. It was set up next to a large dolphin fountain. 

He showed off a large table with a mirror and marble top that had hand-carved  wooden griffins. He was selling that for $1,500. It was next to a 150-pound bronze leopard statue going for $2,800.

"Anybody can come to Brimfield with boring stuff. I don't want boring," Pennington said.

Pennington also did the May show, which he said was very good.

"You get a real gauge for the economy by doing these shows," Pennington said.

 The next antiques show is Sept. 3 through 8.

Source: www.masslive.com

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Owego antiques market showcases thousands of collectibles

7/8/2013

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OWEGO — Dianne Salvemini’s love of antiques comes from her mother and Aunt Betty.

“They were wonderful collectors of art glass,” she
said. “My mother would take me to antique shops even when I was in fourth grade. She’d pick me up after school, and we’d go all over.”

Salvemini, of Endwell, has been collecting and
selling antiques for nearly 20 years. On Sunday, she was one of several people selling hundreds of collectibles at the Elks Emporium Market on Front Street.

The nearly 40-year-old antiques market is open on the
first and third Sundays of every month from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For Salvemini, collecting antiques is a way to reminisce.

“People say, ‘Oh, my grandmother had that,’ or, ‘Oh,
my mom had that,’” she said. “That’s what it’s all about.”

Although Salvemini favors antique jewelry, the market
boasts a variety of collectibles, including vintage dishware, toys, clothing, artwork and more.

Fran Antalek, of Endicott, said he tries to bring an
assortment of items to sell at the market. “The more variety you have, the better you do,” he said.

Antalek was selling hundreds of vintage toys, train
sets, figurines and other collectibles.

Barbara Kotasek, the organizer of the Antiques and
Collectibles Market, said of the items she brought to the market, her favorite collectibles were two green and pink
Depression glass flowers. Depression glassware was produced from the late 1920s to the early 1940s.

Kotasek said she started collecting antiques in the
1980s while working for an auctioneer. From there, she said, her love of collecting took off.

Plus, she added, selling antiques at the market is a
great way to connect with people.

“It’s like one big family,” she  said.

Source: www.pressconnects.com

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Museum features antique typewriters

7/3/2013

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CENTREVILLE — The Queen Anne's Museum of Eastern Shore Life has selected its collection of antique typewriters and desktop accessories as the featured
display for the month of July. The typewriters are Remington and Underwood models from 75 to 100 years ago. An ink pen is the type the user had to
periodically replace the liquid ink cartridge. A pencil is a famous Scripto with an adjustable and replaceable lead stick. There are also several replaceable
eraser caps, a typewriter eraser wheel with brush, ink wells, a day-date indicator, rubber stamps and a rack, among other items.

A volunteer, Bryan Blades, of Centreville, provided his time and talents to install access doors on the sides of four of the large cabinet type display cases in the museum to make it easier to gain access to install or modify the artifacts enclosed in them.
                     
Recently museum board member Walter "Woody" Woodford. passed away Woodford  knew much about the history of Centreville and his input will be sorely missed.
The remainder of the year is being dedicated to his memory and legacy.

The museum has announced that Charles "Chad" Dean of Queenstown has been added to the museum's board of directors but still has only 11 members. The museum would like to add another member to bring the number to 12. If anyone is interested and feels qualified and can make the commitment, they can send a cover letter and a resume to the museum at P.O. Box 525, Centreville. A reply can be made within several weeks.

The museum will be open to visitors from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 6. Admission is free of charge though donations are sincerely appreciated.

Private tours for school or other groups are available at other times free of charge. Call Kathy Draper at 410-758-1122 to arrange date and time.

Source: www.myeasternshoremd.com


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