Yard sale speculators, eBay entrepreneurs, garage sale gamblers – you read it here first: There’s a new show just for you! It’s called “Real Deal,” and it premieres on Sun., Nov. 27, at 9 p.m. Eastern Time on the History Channel (or, as they call themselves, HISTORY; can they actually trademark that?), with a bonus episode on Mon., Nov. 28, at 11 p.m. ET (after brand-new episodes of “American Pickers” and “Pawn Stars“).

Now, there are a lot of collector’s shows on cable now – “Pawn Stars,” “American Pickers,” “American Restoration,” “Storage Wars,” “Oddities” – and I’m a big fan of all of them: I must be, since I’ve seen every episode of all of them at least once. But there’s still a niche to fill: Few of us own pawnshops – or any shops at all; few of us tool around America’s back roads for a living, rifling through old barns and warehouses for days on end; few of us have the time, knowhow or money to restore old, rusty motorcycles or gas pumps or arcade games to their original condition, then sell them for a profit.

In fact, not that many of us make our bread and butter by buying and selling collectibles … but when we can, many of us DO buy and sell collectibles for extra cash – on eBay or Craigslist; at flea market or antique mall booths; or by consignment to auction houses. And this is ESPECIALLY true in this slack economy, when disposable income is meager, and a little wheeling and dealing can really help pay the bills.

“Real Deal” follows four collectibles dealers as they negotiate with sellers for flippable items, which requires not only nerves of steel but in-depth knowledge of the collectibles themselves and the current demand for them. In each case, the seller can accept the dealer’s offer, haggle or auction the item off.

For example, how much would you offer for a ’56 Lincoln Mark II that looks like it just rolled out of the factory? “Gary,” the seller, knows he’s got a hot item that could fetch to the tune of $70,000. Our “Real Deal” regular offers $30,000. Gary declines and the car goes to auction, where it realizes $45,000. Gary considers himself a winner, having shrewdly turned down the 30 grand.

(Of course, ordinarily a consignor would have to transport the item to the auction location at his own expense, wait for the auction to take place, hope the bidders are biting that day, deduct from the hammer price a 15 to 20 percent consignor’s premium for the auction house, deduct a listing charge if a catalog was issued, then wait six weeks for a check to come in the mail. And the item could go unsold for lack of interest or because it did not reach the reserve price, or it could sell for a lot less than the consignor expected. I’m just saying: Auctions are not only a crapshoot, there are various charges involved.)

“Whether it’s a collection of footballs signed by NFL legends or an autograph by Harry Houdini, a World War II German Storm Trooper dagger or a 19th-century spittoon, everything that comes into the auction reveals something about an earlier time and the way people lived in the past,” reads the “Real Deal” press release. “But an article that’s rich with history doesn’t necessarily make its owner rich. One seller thinks he can get $580 for a 1904 home electrotherapy machine. The dealer offers $240. No deal, decides the seller, and heads to the auction house, where he gets only $225 for it.”

And you thought “Let’s Make a Deal” was high suspense!

Seriously, if you fancy yourself a junkyard Indiana Jones, as I do, “Real Deal” comes closer to real life than other the collector’s TV series: It’s like “The Art of the Deal” meets “Antiques Roadshow” (or even “High Stakes Poker” with the Keno brothers).

But tension, conflict and plot twists are not enough: All good programming needs charismatic characters, and “Real Deal” would seem to have them. These include champion auctioneer Bryan Knox of Birmingham, Ala., and the four competing dealers: two pawnbrokers, Glen Parshall (of Bargain Pawn in Las Vegas) and Chip Plemmons (of Carolina Pawn and Gun in Canton, N.C.); antiques dealer Jason McCoon, owner of Tory Hill Auction Company in Raleigh, N.C.); and Troy Howerton (aka “The Redneck Picker”) of San Diego, an enterprising Everyman who works out of his own home but has truck/will travel to make a gainful transaction.

Troy is, in fact, a fellow many of us can immediately relate to – one who has taken some hard knocks but keeps getting up. “I’m just a regular guy who lost his job due to the economy,” he told me. “While I have always had the picker mentality, I knew I was out there on my own. It was time to pave my own way again. My true passion as a young man was to be a coach. However, that opportunity did not come to fruition.

“I have a background heavy in sales and management,” he explained. “I was also a small business owner. I have failed my way to success in today’s crappy economy. I made a conscious decision that if I made this business work for myself, I would help others in the same situation. I have helped countless people learn how to make extra money and have a better life. I wake up every day with a good attitude and am grateful for a roof over my head! I always am thinking that someone else has it worse than me. Self-motivation and a strong sense of urgency are what keep me going. I have a family to support and bills to pay like everyone else. I am making the switch from full time picker to author and teacher in the reselling business.”

Honestly, can anyone NOT like a dude with an attitude like this? He’s even written a book that will be released right after “Real Deal” hits the airwaves.

I couldn’t help asking Troy some specific questions about himself and picking as a livelihood. Here’s what he told me …

AmeriCollector: How did you get interested in picking, and how long have you been doing it?

Troy: I first got interested in this business when I was 15. I used to go with my grandfather to auctions. I first took collectible picking seriously in 2001. I lived in the Midwest and collectibles were easy to find. Here in California, they are hard to come by!

AC: What are your favorite “picking grounds”?

Troy: I really like the swap meets and auctions. Although I have found great collectible items at yard sales too! I have a great network of fellow collectors. My phone rings every day from someone who wants to buy sell or trade.

AC: Do you specialize in anything when you pick? Are there any kinds of collectibles that you stay away from, and if so, why? (For example, Rick Harrison on “Pawn Stars” won’t trade in Nazi memorabilia, and Dave Hester on “Storage Wars” won’t sell weapons in his store.)

Troy: I really don’t specialize in anything particular. It’s about two things: profit and finding a home for your find. You have to keep in mind, I’m not picking for ME, I’m picking for somebody else. About the only thing I stay away from is art: It has a smaller niche market, and it’s something that does not really interest me. Now trench art or “steampunk” – different story!

AC: Do you collect anything yourself?

Troy: Not as much as I used to. At one time I had a very large pedal car collection. That bug bit me real bad in the early 2000s. I had over 30 cars at one time. I also had one of the largest Zippo lighter collections in my area. They were both very expensive habits! Now I stick to old license plates, porcelain signs, college football memorabilia and old tin toys.

AC: Do you find it hard to sell some great items that you pick?

Troy: Very rarely. I think I have a good enough eye to sell most everything I find whenever I put forth the effort. I always keep in mind my profit level. Sometimes you may have to wait a little while to find the right buyer. It also is economy of scale: Some folks would buy it in a heartbeat is it were less expensive!

AC: Do you ever restore anything that you pick before selling it?

Troy: Sometimes. I usually will sell things as they are. I leave the restoration process to the professionals like Rick Dale of “American Restoration.”

AC: What are some of the really great picks that you’ve made, both in terms of the rarity of the items and the money you made?

Troy: Several come to mind. Probably my favorite, most fun and one of the most profitable was a box of vintage toys, Major Matt Mason action figures from the 1960s. I bought the whole box for $15. It had an old Zeroid robot toy in there as well. I pulled in over $1,500 for the whole lot.

Another would probably be the old Gamewell telegraph register. I picked it out at an auction and bought it on a hunch: paid five bucks and sold it for $200! Funny, as the same week I bought this, there was an episode of “American Pickers” and Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz found a similar one. Probably the one and only time I knew about something that they didn’t!

AC: What do you consider a reasonable profit margin that you hope to get when you make an offer on an item?

Troy: I think a reasonable profit margin is at least 300 percent, or tripling your money. That is fine for most people, but I like the sweet spot of making five to 10 times my money. Those items are out there, you just have to know what to look for. That comes with a continuing education!

AC: How do you usually sell what you find?

Troy: AS FAST AS I CAN! (Laughs.) I sell about 25 percent online, 25 percent at auctions – such as Don Presley Auctions in Orange, Calif. – or at swap meets and 50 percent within my picker network.

AC: I think a lot of folks fantasize about becoming pickers. Is it a tough way to make a living?

Troy: This is NOT an easy business! You have to be self-motivated and have your working capital invested at all times. You must always be educating yourself as well.

I don’t know what jobs out there that can provide the flexibility and freedom that this industry can, but if you are not self-motivated, you are sure to fail – not just at this business but at anything you do in life. Also, I don’t know where you can invest your money by making a disciplined buying decision and get the returns on your money like you can in this business. When I am working this business to its fullest capacity, there are days I will make $20 to $100 per hour – but there are other days you don’t make a dime!

AC: Do you think TV shows like “Real Deal” and “American Pickers” will raise the public’s awareness of picking?

Troy: Absolutely! It’s not only profitable, but it’s FUN! You meet some great people along the way too!

AC: How did you get a book deal? And what’s the book about: Is it strictly a bio or a how-to? And when will it be available?

Troy: I had the idea to write a book about nine months ago. I actually wrote the first draft and didn’t like it. I shredded it and started over!

I figured it would be a great medium for folks who wanted to learn how to get into this business and earn some extra money. My main goal was just to help others who needed to earn some extra money working from home. The book is part self-realization, motivation, tips and tricks, but most importantly how to find the stuff, use problem-solving techniques with the power of cash, negotiate and make disciplined buying decisions with a twist of my scientific techniques.

The book will be available on my website on Sat., Nov. 26, the day after the premiere of “Real Deal” on the History Channel.

AC: Speaking of which: How did you get on “Real Deal”?

Troy: I started a YouTube channel in October 2010. I was contacted by Mike Toole from Mike Toole Casting via my Facebook page. I thought it was a JOKE. I was just sharing my finds and giving some advice, and all of the sudden I was inundated by production companies! I was very flattered and excited to be “picked” out of a lot of other people they were looking at. I went to the offices of Zodiak Media Group and auditioned. I actually had to try out two more times after that.

I was chosen to be on the show with auctioneer Bryan Knox three other fine gentlemen: Chip Plemmons, Glen Parshall and Jason McCoon.

AC: Did you know the other cast members before going on the show? How do you get along? Are there rivalries, as between Dave Hester and Darrell Sheets on “Storage Wars” – or do you all work independently?

Troy: No, I did not. We all get along fabulously. We are just a bunch of regular guys that buy and sell for a living. We all come from different geographical areas and are all different in a lot of ways, but we are all cut from the same cloth!

No rivalries, but I think we all try equally as hard to make each other laugh as much as possible. We all work independently of each other. The other guys are in the pawn or auction business.

AC: How does “Real Deal” differ from, say, “Storage Wars”? Do you pick only collectibles, or do you also go after usable goods that you can make a profit on?

Troy: When you compare the shows they are very SIMILAR for a few reasons: (1) You have very little time to make a wise decision on what you see. (2) You have no time to research! (3) You better be damn sure you know what the value is before you make an offer and, more importantly, what costs are associated with HOW you are going to sell it! A lot of variables in a very short period of time! Sometimes you have to “play” the seller and not the item. Kinda like poker!

There is a GIGANTIC difference when you are picking. Let’s take a storage unit auction, for instance. You can only bid on what you see and have to take it all no matter what the price. When you are picking, you can make a more disciplined buying decision because you have a couple of great advantages: opportunity for research, TIME and the opportunity to use your problem-solving skills.

Finding a good “true” pick (like you would see on “American Pickers”) is not that easy. Finding a good pick can take days or weeks! It takes time to build a network of people to get that “pick referral.” Yes, you can wander aimlessly up and down country roads, but that is time-consuming and often you wind up coming home empty-handed with a big fuel bill! Finding storage units are really simple these days. I just go to StorageTreasures.com and can find one in my area in minutes!

Don’t forget that part of being a modern-day picker is NOT all about collectibles. Think about everyday commodities! With the tight economy we live in today, everyone wants to save some money. A truly good picker can buy and resell things like appliances, furniture, electronics, exercise equipment and more! I talk in great depth in my upcoming book about how to find and resell industrial items like restaurant equipment and other commercial products. So you don’t have to be an expert in antiques to be considered a picker!

AC: Why do you think reality shows like “Pawn Stars,” “American Pickers” and, we hope, “Real Deal” are so popular?

Troy: My humble opinion is this: It’s all about the “deal”: Was it good or bad? I think the fans like to “play along” at home … They ask: What is it really worth? Did the seller take less than he or she wanted? Was it a good decision? It’s the tension of the negotiation! Or: That guy only offered him that much? Cheap bastard!

AC: Are there any especially dramatic incidents that we should watch for on the 10 pilot episodes?

Troy: Oh, there are plenty! You will just have to tune in to “Real Deal” on the History Channel, airing Sun., Nov. 27, at 9 p.m. ET (with a bonus episode on Mon., Nov. 28, at 11 p.m. ET), after the new episodes of “American Pickers” and “Pawn Stars.”

Keep visiting AmeriCollector for more about Troy Howerton and “Real Deal.” Learn more about the show on the History Channel Web site: www.history.com/shows.

[Show as slideshow]

Images courtesy History

Commercial for Real Deal

Other links:

Troy Howerton
theredneckpicker.com
facebook.com/redneckpicker

Chip Plemmons
carolinapawnandgun.com

Jason McCoon
toryhillauctions.com

Glen Parshall
pawnplace.com

Bryan Knox
bckauctions.com

Don Presley Auctions
donpresleyauctions.com

Storage Treasures
storagetreasures.com

As usual, there is a slew of great stuff, with plenty of crossover pieces – silver, china, advertising and decorative items – even keys, locks and other hardware – if trains specifically aren’t your main interest. Amateur genealogists with an ancestor who worked on a railroad are bound to find something the whole family will cherish.

Railroad Memories is based in Denver, where railroadiana collecting is serious business, and the current auction doesn’t disappoint. Since I collect the “Pathfinder of the San Juans,” Colorado railroad builder Otto Mears, I was delighted to find a 1901 Silverton Railroad Co. pass with Mears’ printed signature (lot 496).

I asked Railroad Memories owner Susan Knous what she considers the auction highlights. Susan noted:

• Miniature telegraph equipment (lots 26 and 27) given away as retirement gifts.
• Cap badges, including a rare New York & Harlem brakeman’s badge (lot 46) from one of the first railroads in the United States.
• Locomotive builders’ plates, including an American Locomotive Works plate from the Denver & Rio Grande (lot 113).
• Dining car china, including an Illinois Central New Orleans French Quarter service plate (lot 171) and a George Washington service plate (lot 148)
• Glassware, including an early Santa Fe banner-pattern glass (lot 199).
• Silver, including a Denver & Rio Grande Western sugar bowl (lot 213) and Great Northern Railway medallion soup tureen (lot 215).
• Express items, including rare wax Wells Fargo & Co. sealers (lot 257) from Pring, Colo., as well as early (1869) Athens & Pomeroy/Athens & Logan United States Mail Stage Coach Lines pass (lot 250) and a Canadian National Express badge (lot 251).
• Among the 96 rare keys in the sale are ones from the Boyne City Gaylord & Alpena Railroad (lot 264) and one from the Burlington Cedar Rapids & Northern (lot 265).
• Lanterns include a rare Colorado Springs & Cripple Creek District lantern (lot 384); an early 1870s CSS & AL Baron lantern (lot 385); and a brass top Fitchburg with a clear cast globe (lot 395).
• There are 40 lock, many with keys, including A rare Canadian Northern Ontario six-lever (lot 431); a Great Northern fancy back (lot 438); a Missouri Pacific Railway Keen Kutter dated 1923 (lot 444); an Oregon Short Line Switch (lot 450); and a Union Pacific System “Overland Route” lock with a steel key (lot 464).
• The nice selection of passes includes an 1893 Colorado Midland “Santa Fé Route” pass (lot 471); an 1897 Manitou & Pike’s Peak Railway “Cog Wheel Route” pass (lot 484); and an 1888 Utah Central pass (lot 503).
• For the ephemera collector, there are lots of paper items, including souvenir playing cards, a large postcard collection and breakfast menu for the Rio Grande “Special Train … Thru the Rockies” taking President Harry Truman from Denver to Ogden, Utah, on Sept. 20 to 21, 1948, signed by Truman (lot 531).

You have to register to bid, so get right on it if you haven’t already. See all the lots at Railroadmemories.com.

[Show as slideshow]

All images courtesy of Railroadmemories.com.

American History (closes Aug. 1). Cowan’s Auctions, Cowanauctions.com

Autographs (closes Aug. 10). RRAuction, RRauction.com

.

BOOKS, ETC.

Fifty Rare Works in Science, Medicine and Thought (Catalog 40): Featuring classic works by Bacon, Bohr, Copernicus, Dalton, Darwin, Einstein, Grew, Hobbes, Humboldt, Lorentz, Maxwell, Mesmer, Planck, Röntgen, Rutherford, Vesalius, etc. Jeremy Norman Rare Books, Historyofscience.com

Maritime List (Catalog 203): 75 old and rare books and documents pertaining to maritime history. Notable items include the log of a ship captured by the real pirates of the Caribbean in 1805, illustrated logs of a turn of the century yachting family, a fine whaling log and a rare pamphlet about a female hardhat diver. Ten Pound Island Book Company, Tenpound.com

Rare and Early Newspapers (Catalog 188): Nearly 2,000 issues discounted by 50 percent, a wonderful collection of Citizen Soldiers, a set of top-end collectible issues, and informative/educational posts on collecting rare newspapers. Timothy Hughes Rare & Early Newspapers, Rarenewspapers.com

As usual, by subscribing to Railroad Memories auctions (cost: $45, or $65 if you are outside the U.S.), you are exempt from the 10 percent buyer’s premium and receive four beautiful auction catalogs annually – great reference material for collectors.

The current auction (number 79) features more than 500 lots, in categories ranging from advertising to playing cards, and in a wide range of minimum bids.
No matter what collecting “line” you ride, you’re bound to find something of interest. For example:

• For advertising, neon and clock collectors: Lot 4, a 1930s “Travel by Train” neon advertising depot clock manufactured by Glo-Dial. The fully restored clock measures 22 inches in diameter with black enameled metal case and white letters on the dial. This is only the second such clock that Railroad Memories has offered; the last one went for more than $4,000. (The winning bidder has to either pick up or pay for professional crating, due to the fragility of the neon tubes.) Minimum bid $1,500.

• For tobacciana and china collectors: Lot 154, a Chesapeake & Ohio Lines china silhouette ashtray, side marked and manufactured by Buffalo. Light wear but in good condition. MB $25.

• For barware and advertising collectors: Lot 11, two Rio Grande highball glasses with “Mainline Thru the Rockies” logo on one side and “Rio Grande the Action Railroad” on the other in orange enamel. Each measures 3.5 inches across the top and stands 4.5 inches tall. MB $10.

• For silver and salt-and-pepper-shaker collectors (Don’t laugh: The latter abound): Lot 254, Southern Pacific silver salt and pepper shakers with the Daylight winged logo on sides. Manufactured by International Silver and both bottom-stamped “Southern Pacific.” MB $200.

• For art deco, game and playing-card collectors: Lot 508, mint-sealed Santa Fe line Congress playing cards showing the business end of a classic streamline engine on a blue background with yellow border. MB $5.

• For patent collectors and “urban archaeologists”: Lot 136, what appears to be a late 1800s miniature patent model Pullman window, with etched glass and housed in a wooden box. It’s 22.5 inches tall by 11.5 inches wide. The window slides up and down, and there’s a locking mechanism. The trim on the top is loose. MB $250.

Those are just some of my personal favorites. I asked Railroad Memories owner Susan Knous what she considered auction highlights. She mentioned the neon clock and the Pullman window patent example (“One of my favorites,” she said, noting, “Cool pieces like this just make my job so fun.”) as well a rare Virginia & Truckee lantern (lot 410, MB $1,200), an Illinois Central French Quarter service plate (lot 178, MB $200), a Pacific Express six-lever padlock with working key (lot 432, MB $1,000) and a Pennsylvania Railroad silver menu holder (lot 245, MB $200).

If you’re gift shopping for a railroad buff, but aren’t sure what to get, an annual catalog/auction subscription is a great idea; if spot the perfect gift among the lots, don’t wait to register for this auction, which closes Fri., May 13, at 5 p.m. Mountain Time. Visit www.RailroadMemories.com to see the goods and get on board.

[Show as slideshow]

Images courtesy of Railroad Memories.

.

For those looking to invest in the vintage guitar market, now may be a great time to do so: The market peaked at the beginning of the last decade, with record prices being seen across the market. Prices have come down significantly, making prices much more realistic and vintage guitars much more affordable.

The April 29 Fine Musical Instruments auction at Christie’s (www.Christies.com) in New York has a few gems, including a beautiful red Fender Stratocaster in incredible condition.

I asked Kerry Keane, head of the musical Instruments department at Christie’s, about this particular guitar and the current market for vintage guitars in general:

AmeriCollector: Lot 8 in the auction is a beautiful 1965 red Fender Stratocaster. What is the story behind it?

Kean: The guitar was consigned by the original owner. It was purchased in about 1965, as a gift, by her father from a local New York music store. There is an interesting story she related to me that accounts for the guitar’s near-fresh condition. As a young girl in the 1960s she loved rock and roll and pop music like any other. Things changed for her when she heard a concert given by Andreas Segovia. This inspired her to abandon popular America music and pursue her musical studies in the classical guitar. Her red Fender Stratocaster spent the next 40 years in its case, under beds and in closets.

AC: The condition looks superb. How does it compare to other Fender Strats from the same period?

Keane: Most Stratocasters we see show a lot of finish and neck wear due to heavy playing. This guitar survives in extraordinarily fresh condition and shows little to almost no sign of use or wear. It still retains a set of flat-wound Fender guitar strings of the period, with an extra set in the case.

The guitar is finished in one of the rarer custom colors produced by Fender, Candy Apple Red. In the earlier productions of this color, Fender applied a “ground coat” of a metallic silver finish before applying the bright red nitrocellulose colored lacquer. This silver undercoat gives a glow and translucence to the finish not seen in later examples.

Equally rare for a guitar of this age is the fact that it retains all the original accessories sold with the guitar in 1965, including the “hang-tag” instruction manual.

Normally Fender Stratocasters and Telecasters were sold with a thin black leather strap with an adjustable shoulder pad. This guitar was sold with a white leather strap of the same design that dynamically complements the Candy Apple Red color of the instrument. Having a young daughter myself, I can easily envision that first owner, the young girl in 1965, being drawn to the elegant femininity of a white strap over a black one. I would suspect she probably coveted a red convertible for her first automobile.

AC: How important is condition to collectors of vintage guitars like this one?

Keane: After manufacturer and year, condition is the next most important determinant of value. The market is driven by the simple forces of supply and demand. The Stratocaster is undoubtedly the model produced by Fender in the largest numbers, with the vast majority being in the standard “sunburst” finish. Because of the sheer numbers that were made, there are many that have survived. Collectors today are drawn to the variants of the model produced like those finished in a custom color because of their rarity. When an example survives in almost unplayed condition with the original case and accessories, as this one does, they cause greater excitement when brought to market here at Christie’s.

AC: What vintage guitars tend to be the most sought after by collectors? Is it the electric Fenders, the acoustic Gibsons – or are there are other makes that are more popular?

Keane: With few exceptions, the community of vintage guitar collectors is segregated between acoustic guitar collectors and collectors of electrics. The nuances can become more pronounced when those two groups are split among the various manufacturers and variations of these instruments. Examples would be the solid-body electric and the hollow-body electrics or the micro-markets of acoustic arch top, flat top or classical guitars. Among electrics, it is the Gibson Les Paul Standards made between 1958 and 1960 that are the most coveted and valuable followed by Fender custom color Stratocasters and Telecasters. Among the acoustic flat-top guitars, the “Dreadnought” and OM-size instruments made between 1930 and 1942 by C. F. Martin & Company are the most highly desired for their unique tonal quality and workmanship.

AC: How is the market for vintage guitars at the moment? Is it still possible to pick up a bargain?

Keane: I think for those wanting to start collecting or just purchase a fine vintage guitar, there has not been a better time to act till now in the last seven years.

The vintage guitar market peaked in 2006 with the greatest growth seen between 2001 and 2006. This was a very overly heated market fueled in large part by the flow of investment capital into guitar purchases, which dragged lesser important instruments upward in value. As credit markets became tighter in 2007 we saw a softening in the vintage guitar market for the less rare pieces. By late 2008, many instruments had lost between 30 percent and 50 percent in value and in some segments there was no movement whatsoever in the retail sales.

The instruments that were somewhat insulated from this drop in value and remain so today are the prewar Martin D and OM guitars, custom color Fender Telecasters and Stratocasters, Gibson Les Paul Standards and the even rarer Flying Vs.

We are starting to witness a resurgence in sales that has been helped by a recalibration in sellers’ expectations. The arbiter that has driven recent sales is condition and originality coupled with rarity at value levels that are more realistic.

[Show as slideshow]

Images courtesy of Christie’s

.

To kick off this week, on Fri. and Sat., Feb. 18 and 19, Heritage Auctions (www.HA.com) will hold their “2011 February Beverly Hills Signature Music & Entertainment Auction.” One of the highlights is a sealed, first state, mono copy of the Beatles Capitol Records LP “Yesterday And Today” with the “butcher” sleeve. For the uninitiated, this is one of the rarest Beatles records of all time and considered the holy grail amongst Beatles record collectors. In 1966, this album was released with a controversial cover photograph showing the Beatles surrounded by dismembered dolls’ bodies and slabs of meat. The cover was withdrawn, but not before a number of copies had already hit the streets. The records were recalled and hastily pasted over with a more sedate cover photograph of the Beatles sitting amongst a load of old trunks. Many a Beatles collector has paid good money to have this sleeve peeled to reveal the butcher sleeve underneath, but this copy offered for sale at Heritage has the original cover, with no paste-over; what’s more, it is still in its factory seal. It couldn’t get any better. The estimate is $30,000 upwards and should surely be more than achievable given a previous similar example sold through Heritage in 2006 for $38,000. For Beatles fans with less deep pockets, my favorite is a handbill for an early concert at the Tower Ballroom. Dated July 27, 1962, this is a lovely early piece that rarely comes up, and I for one have only ever seen one copy before. Heritage states in the catalogue that it is one of only eight examples known to exist. The estimate is $1,250 upwards.

Wed., March 9, will see Bonhams’ (www.Bonhams.com) “Eric Clapton Sale of Guitars and Amps in Aid of the Crossroads Centre,” to be held in New York and Los Angeles. This is Clapton’s third auction of guitars, the first two overwhelmingly successful auctions being at Christie’s (www.Christies.com) in 1999 and 2004. The sale will take place in New York, and although Clapton’s prize possessions, “Blackie,” “Brownie” and his ES-335 from the Cream days have already been sold, there are still some gems. One of the stars of the show is one of Clapton’s main stage guitars from 2005, one of a pair of black Stratocasters used during the “Cream Reunion” shows in London and New York. The guitar is a custom-built black Eric Clapton signature Fender Stratocaster built by Fender Custom Shop, and replicates each detail of Clapton’s legendary Strat “Blackie,” even down to the cigarette burns on the headstock. Another gem is one of a pair of Eric Clapton signature Fender Stratocaster models in Daphne blue finish used by Clapton during his recent tour with Steve Winwood and Jeff Beck in 2010. Both of these Strats have a presale estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. If you are looking for something with a little more vintage, there is a pair of circa 1970 Marshall vintage basket-weave speaker cabinets used during the 1970s whilst appearing with Derek and the Dominos, estimate $8,000 to $10,000. Estimates in the auction start at $300, and with a distinct lack of instruments of the caliber of the first two Clapton auctions, this could be a great opportunity to come away with a more affordable piece owned and played by Clapton himself.

Bonhams are also holding an auction in New York and LA on Thurs., March 10, entitled “The Art of Rock and Roll,” details of which will be live soon; and Christie’s annual “Pop Culture: Rock and Pop Memorabilia” sale will take place in London on Tues., June 14.

[Show as slideshow]

Serious collectors, whatever their areas of interest, know that the best places to find scarce items are smaller venues: out-of-the-way shops and flea markets and specialty auctions. Go the extra mile, dig a little deeper, peruse entire auction catalogs, whether printed or online, and experiment with your key-word searches: You’re bound to be rewarded with buried treasure where your rivals didn’t think to look.

It’s another reason why I urge readers to check out the current auction at Denver-based Railroad Memories (www.RailroadMemories.com), which closes Fri., Oct. 8, at 5 p.m. Mountain Time (7 p.m. EST, 4 p.m. PST). Even if the Age of Steam doesn’t get your pistons pumping, and your idea of rail travel is riding the shuttle between terminals at Sea-Tac Airport, you may well spot a unique piece to give as a holiday gift – an accent for your friend’s office, perhaps, or your significant other’s man cave or powder room – or to add color to your own living or work space. I guarantee you, smart professional decorators watch auctions like this.

There are about 500 lots in this auction, plenty of which have low minimum bids; but you have to register to participate, so don’t dicker. After a quick perusal, I noted some of the collecting categories represented:

Of course, there’s good old-fashioned railroad memorabilia for train enthusiasts as well, all described by an expert. Railroad Memories owner and appraiser Susan Knous and her late husband Bill authored “Railroadiana: The Official Price Guide for the Year 2000 and Beyond,” now out of print. “I am proud to say we sold 7,000 copies,” Susan told me. “It is still available from Amazon and many of the other used-book dealers, often selling for a ridiculous premium. However, if you watch eBay or even some of the dealers’ sites, you can still find it fairly affordable.”

I encourage people to join the hobbyist organizations. The Railroadiana Collectors Association, Incorporated (RCAI, at www.railroadcollectors.org) is a great start. The Web site is very well done and is a great resource for anyone interested in getting started in the hobby.

AC: Is it my imagination or are there very few dealers – and fewer auctions – specializing in railroad items?

Susan: You are right that there are only a few companies that specialize in railroad collectibles. Many would suggest that there are just not enough railroad artifacts that have survived to be able to spread the wealth. My thought is if you are in the collector’s circles, the antiques are still available.

It is the specialization and the lack of overall knowledge of railroad collectibles that probably limit the amount of companies involved. Railroad Memories has built a strong reputation for honesty, integrity and unparalleled customer service, coupled with extensive knowledge derived from handling amazingly rare items over the years.

AC: How did you and your husband get involved in railroad memorabilia?

Susan: This starts as a hobby for many but turned into a full-time business for my late husband and me. He was the consummate entrepreneur. He always loved trains growing up, and my grandfather was an executive with the Denver & Rio Grande, so I had the love of trains in my family.

We took a road trip one day up to Georgetown, Colo., to ride the Loop Railroad and, walking around town, saw a small shop for rent. We discussed plans all the way home, made a few calls and within a week had rented the storefront. Our thought was that a shop devoted to railroad artifacts would be fun in a small mountain town.

We did our first auction in 1987 after meeting a gentleman with a large collection he needed to sell. Needless to say, this was the beginning of what would become a successful full-time business. It is due to our experience in handling literally thousands of different pieces of railroad antiques over 25 years that we have been able to amass not only a large photographic library but also the knowledge to write the price guides.

We were partners in everything we did and had 33 wonderful years together and three beautiful children. Continuing to build the business we began together is my way of keeping his memory alive.

[Show as slideshow]

Images provided courtesy of Railroad Memories (www.railroadmemories.com)

Railroadiana: The Official Price Guide for the Year 2000 and Beyond

Michael Mc Grady, an actor as well as an accomplished painter will be the Guest of Honor for the 2010 Celebration of Western & Wildlife Art Show. Show Host Fred Oldfield, nationally acclaimed Western Artist, is pleased to have Michael join an already out- standing line up of over 100 of the country’s top Western Artists.  Fred is a friend and mentor to Michael and is delighted have Michael, a Federal Way HS Graduate, return to “his roots” and showcase his artwork at this event. Michael stars as “Sal” in the critically acclaimed TNT police drama “Southland” and is currently working in a movie. The show is delighted to.  Many of you know him as the young Federal Way High School graduate who took a leap of Faith and moved to Hollywood where he has enjoyed a full and rewarding acting career.  He has had recurring roles in “Las Vegas”, “CSI Miami”, “The Riches”, “Jag” and Fox’s “24”.  He has also guest starred in dozens of major films.  Even though Michael has experienced great success in his acting career, he has never lost sight of his deep-felt passion for art.  He gravitates towards bold colors and thick layers of paint that encourages a more three-dimensional experience with painting.

The show opens with much excitement in the air as the artists gather from the Western half of the United States to bring this show to you. Western Art includes every subject matter that pertains to Americana whether it’s Cowboys and Indians, Grandma’s old house, Victorian ladies, Landscapes, Historical portrayals, or Nature. There will be oil paintings, watercolors, pencil drawings, bronzes, carvings, weavings, paper sculptures, photography and jewelry to please every taste. The show brings together such a diverse array of talent it’s hard to fathom where else you would be able to feast your eyes on such a display all under one roof. Come and spend your day wandering through the art displays. Enjoy meeting the artists and watching their art demonstrations. Then relax with the evening festivities at the “Artists Reception”. There you will get to watch the artists create a piece of artwork in one hour at the “Quick Draw” event. The items will then be auctioned off at the Live Auction. Meanwhile you can enjoy the Silent Mini Auction with all the art gems being Miniature in size.

The show benefits the “Experience Art Program” at the Fred Oldfield Western Heritage & Art Center. The Art Program is designed to engage students of all ages in a guided creative learning experience.

Exciting Quick Draws – Live Auctions – FREE Family venue! FREE admission – FREE parking

Visit Fred Oldfield Western Heritage & Art Center,  www.fredoldfieldcenter.org  for more information.

Media Contact Joella Oldfield.

[Show as slideshow]

More photos available – Phone interviews with Michael can be arranged.

Imagine: A mere century ago most people went from town to town or from state to state by rail, and virtually all goods – from raw materials, farm produce and livestock to every conceivable kind of finished merchandise and even the mail – were at some point carried on a train …

In America in the 19th century, trains were integral to the country’s explosive growth, geographically, economically and politically: They sped the industrialization of the Northeast before the Civil War and the rise of the Midwest’s urban centers in the Gilded Age that followed. Then there were the transcontinental links through prairie and canyon that are so much a part of the romance of the Old West: These were monumental undertakings that demanded engineering genius from the planners and the toil of countless laborers of different races, homegrown and immigrant. Some of these triumphs of human endeavor had a flip side – corruption, exploitation, bigotry, violence, not to mention the displacement of Native American residents – and I can say with confidence that none of the Irish, Chinese, newly freed African-Americans and others who broke their backs laying track and digging tunnels got a fair share of the wealth once the last spike was driven in and business started booming. Such injustices are part of our heritage, and we have a duty to know of them and learn from them; but they don’t diminish the importance of railroads in our history.

Bear this in mind as we enter the second decade of the twenty-first century, when most people travel long distances by car or plane; when consumer goods are usually delivered to our doors by truck; and when more and more personal communications traverse the countryside not along paths of steel but through a series of electronic connections in that intangible void called cyberspace. Think of it, too, now that our economic vitality is flagging and our foreign debt looms large. Fewer of us may go long distances by train nowadays, but it was the railroads that first put iron and steel into America’s backbone, its commercial infrastructure; the railroads were the sinews connecting America’s sprawling expanses, the arteries that nourished its entrepreneurial muscles, carrying its workers and its travelers, its products and its news, transforming it into a living, breathing, economically agile nation. Long before cars and trucks and planes, before Wi-Fi and text messaging, it was the railroads that did all that.

That said, I want to alert collectors and early-bird holiday gift-givers alike to the latest Railroad Memories (www.railroadmemories.com) auction, which is now online and closes Fri., Oct. 8, at 5 p.m. Mountain Time (that’s 7 p.m. EST and 4 p.m. PST). There are some 500 lots with a wide selection of great items in an equally wide price range: Even if you are not a railroad enthusiast per se, there is a lot of crossover into other collecting areas – dining car china and silver, glassware, lanterns, playing cards, badges, advertising, equipment and instruments, furniture and more – so don’t wait to check it out! It’s all vintage Americana, it’s all in great condition – you’ll find no flea market junk here – and it all smacks of nostalgia!

I participated in the last auction by Railroad Memories – based in Denver, where the railroad buffs are every bit as dedicated as the ones here in the Northwest – and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience … and that’s not just because I won something I really wanted. Frankly speaking, I hate the ANGST involved in bidding in most other auction: the constant checking of how high the bidding is on an item; the conflict over whether and when to bid higher when I’ve been outbid; the clock on the auction sites ticking off the minutes and seconds remaining, which adds to the pressure; even the bending of the rules I’ve witnessed during live online bidding as an auctioneer reopened a closed lot to get a higher hammer price.

Railroad Memories is comparatively low-tech and very low-stress: You just e-mail your best bid using a simple online sheet, or you can fax or call in your bid. (As I’ve written before, this removes the awful temptation to get sucked into a bidding war, which other online auctions – from eBay on up – profit from.)

I also like the way the fact that the buyer’s premium for non-subscribing bidders is only 10 percent of the hammer price: Most auction houses charge about 20 percent. Or for $45 a year you can become a subscribing member of Railroad Memories, which means you pay NO buyer’s premium for items won, plus you receive a great catalog for each of the four annual auctions and a list of prices realized – excellent reference material for any “railroadiana” collector. The combined subscription and buyer’s premium exemption themselves are a great choice for the train lover on your holiday gift list.

“With this, our 77th issue of the auction catalog, we are proud to be offering many rare and seldom-found pieces,” Railroad Memories owner Susan Knous told me. “And the catalog has a wide, diverse selection, so that makes it even more enjoyable.”

I asked Susan about some of highlights of this auction. She noted, “One of the more unique items in this issue is a surveyor’s transit from the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (Lot 130), patented April 30, 1901. It comes complete with a wooden tripod and the first we’ve ever had the opportunity to handle.

“Our usual assortment of quality lanterns includes one from the Florence & Cripple Creek Railroad (Lot 415), a narrow-gauge line here in Colorado that was gone by the early teens,” she continued. “The lantern has a red etched ‘F&CC’ and an extended-base globe, which is what makes this piece so desirable: Very few have survived.”

Want to add some refinement – as well as a great conversation piece – to your dinner table? “We are also proud to be offering a beautiful cut-glass water carafe from the Soo Line Railroad (Lot 285),” Susan pointed out. “This amazing and beautiful piece boasts the Soo Line banner logo. Pieces such as this are such a wonderful reminder of the beauty found on board a train in the early days.

“This auction also features many rare locks, keys, depot items and so much more, and all are sold with a full money-back guarantee for authenticity and customer satisfaction,” she added.

[Show as slideshow]

All images courtesy of Railroad Memories, www.RailroadMemories.com

Of course, with a shop full of histories of seafaring, naval battles royal, pirates, typhoons and other exciting stuff, I couldn’t help asking Greg what he collects himself. He replied: “I have a dealer’s mind-set. By definition this mentality steers away from collecting anything, or only collecting it to ultimately sell it. Thus my two major collections of works by Melville, my world-class local history collection, my collection of works by Gloucester poet Charles Olson – all sold! In my view, you can’t be a good dealer if you are also a collector, because you will always be working against yourself. I want to work WITH myself, FOR my customers, who are, and should be, the true collectors.

“Having said that, there’s one thing I collect: reference books. I’ve been collecting references of all sorts pertaining to maritime history for 35 years. By this time I’ve accumulated an excellent working library, and I take great pride in it.”

[Show as slideshow]

Images courtesy of Ten Pound Books Company | www.tenpound.com  

Print collectors in the Denver area will be interested to know that Christopher Lane, “Antiques Roadshow” appraiser and co-owner of The Philadelphia Print Shop (www.philaprintshop.com) – located, not surprisingly, in the City of Brotherly Love – will soon be spreading the love of prints to the Denver area: “My wife got offered a great job at Denver Children’s Hospital, so off we are going to the Mile High City! My partner (Don Cresswell) and I decided this would be a great opportunity to expand our business, so I am going to open a shop in the Cherry Creek section of Denver. I am moving out in September and the shop should be open sometime in October.” Chris told me that The Philadelphia Print Shop (West) will have carry the same material as the original shop as well as share the same Web site but that the Denver shop will focus on western images. “I will also probably start to pick up some antique shows in the western part of the county and am going to be exhibiting at The San Francisco Fall Antiques Show (www.sffas.org) on Oct. 28–31. A whole new adventure!” he added.

[Show as slideshow]

Images courtesy of the Philadelphia Print Shop | www.philaprintshop.com

See Christopher Lane on “Antiques Roadshow” (Las Vegas) on Mon., Aug. 2, on your local PBS station! And watch for his upcoming “What the Experts Collect” profile here on AmeriCollector.com!

<p>Anyone who doesn’t believe that auction catalogs can be collector’s items themselves should check out Heritage Auctions Galleries’ (www.ha.com) 2010 August Signature Sports Auction catalog with a hologram cover image of one of the auction items: a large 1932 photo of Babe Ruth whispering something to an amused Lou Gehrig and signed by both (current bid at this writing, $25,000; expected to fetch $50,000+)! This is only one of 86 primo items from the world of sports that are being auctioned off in conjunction with the National Sports Collectors Convention (www.nsccshow.com) in Baltimore Aug. 6–8.</p>

Football fans will be drawn to 1960 Don Meredith game-worn Dallas Cowboys rookie helmet (now at $3,000; estimated to get $10,000+). “Any game worn gear from the first Cowboys season would carry tremendous collecting importance,” says Chris Ivey, director of Heritage Auction Galleries’ Sports Collectibles division. “It’s just the icing on the cake that (this helmet) happens to come from the locker of one of the greatest Cowboys of all.”

Some other choice lots that made my mouth water: a “Wahoo” Sam Crawford game-used baseball bat with a 1913 fountain-pen inscription from the Detroit Tigers outfielder to a collector (now at $15,000, estimated to get $50,000+); Ken Norton’s 1973 North American Boxing Federation heavyweight championship belt ,awarded for his victory over Muhammad Ali (now at $11,000; estimated to get $40,000+); and, speaking of The Greatest, a 1960 handwritten letter signed “Your Fighting Friend, Cassius Clay, U.S. Champ” written while the 18-year-old legend-in-the-making was training for the Rome Olympics (the return address on the mailing envelope, which is included and is also handwritten by Clay/Ali, says: “Cassius M. Clay, c/o Special Service, U.S. Olympic Boxing team, Building 5434, Fort Dix, N.J.”; now at $6,000; expected to fetch $10,000+).

The auction ends Thurs., Aug. 5.

[Show as slideshow]

Images courtesy of Heritage Auction Galleries | www.ha.com

Check out the newly updated AmeriCollector.com Collector’s Calendar by clicking on “Calendar” (above), where you’ll find events of interest through December 2010 in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, California, Arizona and Nevada. It’s a work in progress: We’ll be adding more events to these lists as well as events in other states (we’re working our way eastward), plus a slew of online auctions. Keep watching for new listings in the weeks and months ahead!