Collecting

Montblanc began as the Simplo Filler Pen Company in Germany in 1906. Dunhill purchased the company in 1977. Montblanc pens have been favorites of writers, businessmen and others who use fountain...

Before you attempt cleaning an old coin, it is important that you know its value. If you are unsure, don't clean it. Some coin dealers prefer the coin to be in its original "discovered" state and...

Crystal place settings can be used to create a beautiful table, and they are highly prized by collectors. With their intricate cuts and designs, each pattern is a unique work of art, and some can...

Grandfather clocks, also known as longcase clocks, have been around for centuries and are now well known all over the world. Over the course of their existence, the style and makeup of grandfather...

Vintage key collections sometimes are amassed deliberately, through purchasing large skeleton keys at antique shops. Other times, keys are accumulated in a much less auspicious manner. Obsolete...

Restoring antique gold picture frames is challenging because it requires matching both the tone of the gold used in the frame and repairing the underlying damage. However, it is rewarding in that...

Crystal decanters are beautiful and useful pieces valued by collectors, wine connoisseurs and lovers of fine glassware. Some people have collected their decanters from antiques stores and flea...

People often collect porcelain china to enjoy in their homes. The beautiful plates, cups and saucers are aesthetically pleasing and many china patterns increase in value over time. Popular...

Porcelain is a ceramic and one of four major types of dinnerware. The other three are unrefined earthenware, refined earthenware and stoneware. Porcelain is distinguished from the others by its...

Although metal jewelry is usually reasonably sturdy, it can sometimes become damaged through regular use or accident. One common type of metal jewelry damage is cracking, which can occur when a...

Most American pocket watches, except for early E. Howard movements, use the Lancashire system, which measures the diameter of the watch dial in millimeters. Millimeters are then converted to...

Chandeliers are lights that hang from a ceiling. The name comes from an old French word for candle and denotes the fact that old chandeliers consisted of branches of candles. Later, many of these...

Finding a piece of glassware at a rummage sale or a thrift shop can be exciting. The various styles are beautiful and can be quite valuable if in mint condition. Correctly identifying your special...

Although a single DVD is not costly, a growing collection added to over time represents a large investment of money and time for an avid movie collector. To protect your investment, proper storage...

Media guides are informational booklets provided by teams in the National Football League and other professional sports leagues. They are updated prior to each season and include complete...

SKS rifles are exceptionally reliable and inexpensive weapons. These rifles were the standard of the Soviet army before being replaced by the AK-47. These surplus rifles share many for the...

Alabaster is a form of gypsum. Its pearl-like and translucent qualities made it an early substitute for stained glass and an attractive stone to carve into cases, votive holders and lamps. The...

The first cigarette lighter was developed by a German chemist in 1816. "Dobereiner's Lamp" was a container of hydrogen lit by a platinum catalyst. Dangerously explosive, it was little more than a...

While it is difficult to direct someone trying identify a mark on porcelain without seeing the actual piece in question, an expert would advise that the "N" mark most often associated with...

Like any hobby, to fully get the greatest pleasure out of collecting coins, you need to have the proper supplies. It is easy and affordable to get all the basic supplies you need for successful...

Collecting and shooting military weapons can be a fun and interesting hobby. Whether you are doing it out of a love of the shooting sports or a greater interest in owning a piece of military...

Grandfather clocks are great additions to your home and can last for centuries. These timepieces have established a reputation of longevity and durability and usually require very little...

Emperor grandfather clocks have established a reputation of longevity and durability and usually require little maintenance. Nonetheless, grandfather clocks are complex, and sooner or later they...

Because guns have a high value on the street, they are often a prime target for thieves. Although your insurance company may compensate you for the monetary value of your gun, it can do nothing to...

Antique ammunition and ammo boxes are a fascinating aspect of military history. Whether you enjoy the technical aspects of old cartridges, the artistic nature of their packaging or the historical...

It seems like everyone wants to buy gold and silver bullion. While many banks do not offer this, some do, and the general principals of buying metals from a bank is the same as when buying from a...

There are many books that can easily provide a collector with the value of a Mexican proof set, but the values assume that the set is complete with all of the coins.

Receiver covers with rail-style mounts allow you to easily attach a scope to your SKS rifle. Railed receiver covers are available with a single rail or with a tri-rail system that gives you the...

Georg Jensen opened his own silversmith shop in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1904 after training for several years under the master Mogens Ballin. The shop created not only jewelry but hollowware as...

Jewelry trinket boxes range from tiny keepsake boxes and ring boxes to large jewelry organizers with many drawers and compartments. Although jewelry trinket boxes have been around for thousands of...

National Geographic books, like many other encyclopedias, are mass produced, relatively cheap and frequently updated. Because of these reasons, many people going through any kind of educational...

Oil lamps are a favorite of collectors, a cozy reminder of simpler times. Since they were a common household item, they are easy to come by and relatively inexpensive. Cleaning the glass base and...

Brass beds became popular in the 1850s. They could be purchased in a range of prices depending on the amount of brass they contained. Cast iron beds with brass accents were the least expensive....

A gun safe is suitable for protecting your firearms along with any other item you deem valuable enough to lock away. Unfortunately, desperate thieves may simply steal your gun case, which can...

The first Hummel figurines, mostly of children and based on the illustrations of the German nun Maria Innocentia "Berta" Hummel, were sold in 1935. It wasn't until 1971 that the German...

Navajo rugs, like other handmade forms of art, tend to increase in value as they age. Those made before 1880 are particularly rare with values well over $10,000. Very early examples can be worth...

According to the website Zippoclick, George G. Blaisdell constructed the first Zippo windproof lighter in 1933. Since that revolutionary creation, a series of markings have been placed on the...

There are a number of factors that must be considered when placing a value on vintage Gustav Emil Ern butcher knives. Unlike military knives or collector knives, the value of Gustav Emil Ern...

Vintage Levi's jeans are some of the most popular fashion collectibles from the 1950s. There are not that many authentic pairs of Levi's jeans around from that era and you have to know exactly...

Collectible plates come in every shape, size, and color. Some are made just for the collector's market, designed to hang on a wall or rest on a shelf to be admired. Others were once used for food...

Milk glass is a specific type of glasswork that has an off-white or white color and looks milky and often contains one of the following patterns: Amber Crest, Hobnail, Ivory Crest, Peach Crest...

The Tapco SKS stock replaces the rifle's original furniture with a durable high-tech tactical stock. The stock has six adjustable positions to accommodate the individual shooter and is compatible...

The value of an old stamp collection depends on many variables. Among them are the age of the stamps, the condition of the stamps and the overall rarity of the collection. A collection of pre-1900...

The Noritake China Company was established in 1904 in Noritake, Japan and began exporting its dinnerware in 1914. Over Noritake's history, the company has continued to develop high quality...

A fountain pen ink converter is a thin, cylindrical reservoir with a small plunger on one end. When inserted into a fountain pen, an ink converter lets you use inks not available in regular...