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Collectible Disney Pins

By Wheeler | May 12, 2008

Disneymania has swept the nation for many decades. Personally, I love everything about Disney. I’m a Disneymanic, I’ll admit it. I love the legacy of a company built by a man with a dream and a mouse! One of my favorite quotes from Walt Disney is “I only hope we don’t lose sight of one thing — that it was all started by a mouse.” Literally, Mickey Mouse as Steamboat Willie was the fuel that Disney needed to build the empire that we now know as the Walt Disney Company. Being such large company with many brands, it is easy to find something to collect for everyone!

Several years ago, Disney came out with collectible pins. There are entire stores dedicated to just pins around all of the Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide. Pretty amazing that a few dollar pin can lead to such a craze! Personally, I have about 70 pins. I’m not one to collect every pin because that just isn’t my thing. I like to collect things with meaning to me. Pins that symbolize a place that I did an internship with Disney. Pins that were a favorite cartoon of mine when I was little. Pins that are a favorite cartoon or movie of mine now..hehe. I also like to collect Cast Member Pins and Limited Edition Pins. Cast Member pins are available only to Cast Members of the Walt Disney Company at the company store. There are some enterprising folks who then like to resell these items. I am not one such entrepreneur. Limited Edition pins are available to anyone with access to a pin store/stand. I’ve seen lines that stretch for a long way in order to get one of these pins. If you’re after a limited edition Disney Pin, you’d better be prepared to wait!

Disney Pins can be valuable, especially if they old or rare. The limited edition and cast member pins among these valuable pins. My advice: Stick with what you love. If you’re a Pluto nut, stick with collecting anything with Pluto on it. If you’re a Villain nut, collect anything with Villains. If you just collect anything and everything, you’ll end up with a TON of pins and a lot less cash!

Trading–You can trade with any Cast Member at any time. You can trade for anything that they have and they must trade with you. You can also take part in trading events that take place around the property in which you find yourself. Downtown Disney at the Walt Disney World resort is a great place for trading events. Any time of the day, you’ll find serious collectors there with literally suitcases full of pins.

The bottom line is to have fun with collecting Disney pins. The world is your oyster, go shuck it!

Here are a few examples to get your juices flowing!

Topics: Collecting, Disney Pins, Disneyana, collectibles, vintage stuff | No Comments »

Collectible Vintage Signs

By Wheeler | May 9, 2008

Collecting vintage signs of all shapes, sizes, colors and purpose has been a hobby of many folks, including myself, for many years.

Personally, I collect vintage road signs. I have Do Not Enter, One Way, Yield, Stop, Handicapped Parking, No Parking and many other signs. Some of them are vintage and some are not. One of my favorites is a street sign from the intersection of University Avenue and East Franklin Street (Now E. Franklin Ave.) in St. Paul, MN. This lovely corner sign came with all the mounting hardware and now adorns a pole in the yard at my mom’s house.

Collecting vintage signs can be a great adventure that will take you to some really cool places. I love going to flea markets and hearing the old guy with the signs talk about where he got the ones that he has. I’m amazed at some of the stories these guys tell. Personally, I’ve bought or been given all of my signs without any nefarious activity by me or the people whom I bought them from..so I don’t have any great stories. Do you have any adventurous stories about your collectible vintage signs? Tell me!

There are tons of different signs that you can collect. One of the great places to look is the old family farm. The vintage dairy signs can fetch a pretty penny to the right collectors. Also, vintage seed signs are quite popular. Keep an eye out at Grandpa’s farm!

Strangely enough, vintage Canadian road signs are also highly sought after. I’ve been trying to figure out why with no luck. If you happen to be from our friendly country to the North and happen to be a collector of vintage Canadian road signs, let me know! I’d be very interested in hearing what you have to say!

Topics: Collecting, collectibles, vintage signs, vintage stuff | No Comments »

Hot Wheels Collecting

By Wheeler | May 5, 2008

The 1:64 scale world of Twinmills, VW Beach Bomb Bus, VW Drag Bus and Splittin’ Image has long been invaded by full scale humans. Since 1968, Hot Wheels have been a toy of choice for boys and girls alike. If you are anything like me, you had tons of Hot Wheels, Matchbox, Johnny Lightning and some cheap knock off drugstore cars. I’ve still got nearly every one of these die cast cars somewhere in my collection. I’ve got everything from a 1974 Redline Tow Truck to the original General Lee to Daisy’s CJ7 Jeep. I’ve also got a small collection of Hot Wheels that we my mom’s when she was little. While most all of these have seen many hours of hardcore carpet racing, substantial track time and several trips through the auto wash on my Hot Wheels City, they can still fetch a decent market price.

The most precious of all Hot Wheels are the Hot Wheels Red Line series. The Red Line Series began in 1968 and was phased out in 1977 due to the decreasing popularity of muscle cars in popular culture. Any muscle car enthusiast will tell you that the late 70’s were really poor years for muscle cars, anyway! Many Red Line collection Hot Wheels featured Spectraflame paint jobs and could reach scale speeds up to 200mph. That is pretty amazing for a tiny car!

The collecting craze has not stopped and shows no signs of slowing. Maybe you’ve got some of these babies stashed in the attic or garage? It is time to make back some of that investment! On a side note, most Hot Wheels cars sell for about one dollar new. Amazingly, this has been the price for over 30 years!

Check out a few of the auctions available right now!

Topics: Collectible Pricing, Collecting, collectibles, hot wheels, vintage stuff | No Comments »

Collecting Handmade Marbles

By Wheeler | May 2, 2008

Some time ago I watched a program on T.V. about how glass marbles are made. This particular manufacturer has been making marbles for over a century. They make them partially by hand and partially by machine.

As with many things that are collectible, handmade usually fetches a better return on investment. Think of the handmade quilts, beds, dressers, etc that are handmade by the Amish every year. They are immediately more expensive to buy outright, and their value does not decline with age. My bed, the moment that I took it off the showroom floor, was worth substantially less than I paid for it.

Handmade marbles are no different. Collectors of marbles search far and wide to find the most unique and most often beautiful handmade or even machine made marbles. It is amazing how these marbles have stood the test of time, many games under their belts and are still striking!

Marbles are a great treasure to find in those random places such as thrift store, antique stores, and garage sales. I’ve taken a second to find a few eBay listings just to give you an idea of the collectible nature of marbles.

Topics: Collectible Pricing, Collecting, collectibles, vintage stuff | No Comments »

The Flying Scotsman Collectibles

By Wheeler | May 1, 2008

Every now and then when I am doing research for different things, I come across something that I really get interested in. Today, I was looking at some collectible information (not that the information is collectible!), and I found that people collect “Flying Scotsman Collectibles”. So, I thought to myself, what the heck is a Flying Scotsman? Turning to good ol’ Big Brother Google, I found out that the Flying Scotsman is a train in the UK.

The original Flying Scotsman made it’s first departure from King’s Cross in London in 1862 from platform 10. With the exception of minor changes near the end of the war, the Flying Scotsman made it’s departure at 10 am daily. The Flying Scotsman evidently made 45,000 journeys and traveled more than 18 million miles between London and Edinburgh alone. That doesn’t take into account the other trips that it made to other cities. Amazing! What a great treasure of railroading history. Not only was the Flying Scotsman fast, it was also reportedly very comfortable and only got better as time went by. (Interesting side note, Harry Potter fans may recognize King’s Cross and Platform 10 from the novels and films, as Harry and crew depart for Hogwart’s from Platform 9 3/4.)

As you might imagine, there are many folks who collect Flying Scotsman collectibles. In a cursory search for Flying Scotsman collectibles, there are plenty to be had. I’ve found everything from Flying Scotsman T-Shirts to Flying Scotsman wristwatches, and Flying Scotsman HO Scale Model Trains. As I have said in previous articles, the world of collectibles is very broad and if you can think of it, someone probably collects it. Case in point: Flying Scotsman Collectibles.

Until Next Time….Keep on keeping on!

I’ve included a sample of some of the Flying Scotsman Collectibles that I found on eBay alone. Head on over and check them out!

Topics: Collectible Pricing, Collecting, collectibles, flying scotsman, model trains, vintage stuff | No Comments »

How Do I Know How Much My Collectible is Worth?

By Wheeler | April 19, 2008

Determining how much your collectible is worth is half the battle in the collecting/selling collectibles game. There are a number of ways to determine what the fair market value of your particular collectible is. Intelligent research is key to pricing your collectible item at a price that is both fair to the market and also fair to you, the seller.

So, how do you figure out how much your collectible widget is worth? Here are a few of the steps that I go through to figure out what price my random collections of random collectibles will both sell best at and give me the return that I desire.

1. First, I simply search on Google for the exact item that I am trying to price. This is one of the best ways to gain competitive intelligence over your competition. Not only to you want to know how much to price your collectible widget, but it is great to know how much others are asking for theirs. For instance, in searching for a price for Moe’s Cafe, a part of the Coca-Cola Town Square Collection, I simply type in Moe’s Cafe Coca-Cola Town Square Collection. You’ll see here that there are a number of results and also varying pricing strategies. Now, because I have already done this search, I know that the first listing is the one that seems the most ’sane’ in pricing. Some people price their widgets way too low, some way too high. You and I both want to price our widgets at just the right price.
2. Second, I turn to the world’s online marketplace. That is right, your friend and mine, eBay. On eBay, I usually repeat the search, maybe using some broader terms so that I get more results. Since items on eBay are listed by a variety of folks, the keywords that they choose are also varied, so it may take some creativity in searching for your widget. By signing in, you can also search for completed listings. This is especially helpful in setting reserves if that is part of your strategy. Remember, you need to be signed in to search for completed listings. It is also a great way to get an idea of what your collectible widget may fetch as far as pricing.
3. Third, not all competitive intelligence is electronic. There are a variety of ways to find out pricing in the ‘real world’ as well. Check our antique malls or flea markets in your area as they may have some of the same widgets that you are trying to price/sell. Also, your local library may have several volumes of collectible price guides in the same genre. You can also check out Amazon.com to find books that are specific to your item(s).

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but hopefully it gives you a place to start. Especially in today’s economy and collectible market, being competitive with your pricing

Topics: Collectible Pricing, Collecting, collectibles, eCommerce, vintage stuff | No Comments »

How Much is My Collectible Worth?

By Wheeler | April 18, 2008

How much is my collectible _________ worth?  Well, kind sir or madame, that largely depends upon a number of variables.

1. How many of your exact collectible item were produced?  If you have a rare 1903 Harley Davidson, I’d say that your chances of fetching a pretty penny are exceptionally high.  Take that puppy to Arizona and get it on the Barrett-Jackson auction.  On the other hand, if you have a not-so-rare 2005 Hyundai Elantra, I’d say you’d be lucky to even sell it.  I know, it is kind of an apples to oranges comparison, but even a 2005 Harley would get you a much higher return.  Point is, it comes down to how many of your item were produced, how many are still in circulation and how many people are searching for your certain item.  From 1903 to 1905, only 11 Harley Davidson Motorcycles were built.  Pretty much all of them were spoken for before the first bolt went in.  I’m not sure how many Hyundai’s were built in 2005, but I would imagine that number to be in the millions.  See the difference.  How much your collectible is worth largely depends upon how rare it is.
2. How many are still in existence.  Of those 11 Harleys that were produced in the first three years, there may be a couple left.  Those few remaining motorcycles are now priceless.  If you have an authographed Beatles album from 1964 in mint condition, you’ve got a great chance to sell that puppy for high dollar.  You see,  that album was a consumable.  People purchase albums to use them, to play and enjoy the fines melodies from their turntable.  There were people, however, who purchased albums and never played them, taking the chance that one day that very album would be worth something.
3. Finally, how many people are searching for the item that you have? If no one is searching for what you feel is highly collectible, then you don’t have anyone to buy it.  I’ve got a ton of stuff that I’ve collected over the years that no one else on this earth would want to collect or have.  It is said that there is a buyer for everything, it just may take awhile to find that buyer.  If you are patient, you can certainly wait for a buyer at the price you wish to fetch.

Next time, I’ll give some tips and tricks on learning what your collectibles are worth.  There are a few tricky ways to set your items at a certain price and attract buyers in short order.

Until then….

Topics: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Collectibles, Collectible Pricing, Collecting, collectibles | No Comments »

The History of Coca-Cola

By Wheeler | April 17, 2008

I’ve just written a short article on the History of Coca-Cola.  Coca-Cola has a fascinating history filled with entrepreneurial spirit, marketing know-how, world-wide brand recognition, and smiles.  One of my favorite Coca-Cola sayings is “Have a Coke and a Smile”.  If you ever noticed, it is pretty hard to have an ice cold Coca-Cola and not at least smile once.  The first sip on a hot summer’s day is one of the best things on this planet.  This is especially true if you are in a foreign country, like Mexico, where they use pure cane sugar and local water (or so I think).  Drinking an ice cold Coca-Cola out of a glass bottle is an unmatched experience.  Also, people don’t drink rum and Pepsi (okay, well some do, but they are just strange).  People don’t drink Jack Daniels and RC Cola (there probably is some weirdo out there who does).  It is rum and Coke or Jack and Coke.  Come on people, have a Coke and a Smile.

If you want to check out the short article that I put together, head on over to My History of Coca-Cola.

Topics: Coca-Cola, Coca-Cola Collectibles | No Comments »

Dale Earnhardt Sr. #3

By Wheeler | April 15, 2008

If you live anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line, you are probably in some way affiliated with Nascar.  You may not be a fan, but chances are pretty good that your uncle, brother, cousin, or neighbor (they may all be the same person depending on where you live.  I’m just teasing. Mostly.)  is a fan.  I can’t tell you how many pickup trucks I see  on a daily basis that have a  #3 incorporated in some way into their  ‘bling’.  Despite his tragic parting from this earth, Dale Earnhardt Sr. ranks right up there in the top race car drivers of all time.  He had an amazing career that wasn’t only limited to his driving ability, but also to his business expertise.  Dale Earnhardt formed Dale Earnhardt, Inc (DEI) with his wife Teresa in 1980.  DEI is the racing team and merchandising arm of the Earnhardt dynasty.  Earnhardt hit a wall in turn number four at the 2001 Daytona 500 at nearly 150 miles per hour.  A tragic day for NASCAR fans around the world.

While unpacking some the collectibles that I have amassed unknowingly, I ran across a Dale Earnhardt 1:24 Scale Diecast car.  This car really is pretty neat.  It is identical in every way to the one that #3 drove that year. I’m not much of a NASCAR fan, but there certainly is a soft spot in my heart for #3.  NASCAR collectibles are one the biggest arenas for collectors from around the globe.  It is no mistake that Dale Earnhardt formed DEI…tons of cash is spent on t-shirts, hats, beer mugs…you name it!  This is your chance to own a piece of racing history!  Click on the picture below to find out more about this unique collectible.

Topics: Coca-Cola Collectibles, Nascar | No Comments »

Wheeler’s Wonder Emporium

By Wheeler | April 14, 2008

Welcome! We are glad you have stumbled upon our little corner of this lovely universe called cyberspace!

Who are we? To be short, we are random collectors of random collections. It all started one day about 30 years ago. A couple had a baby (that would be me!). Since then, the mother decided that the baby should have all sorts of random collections. We like to call it ADD collecting. No offense to those of you who suffer from ADD or ADHD. We get really into a certain item or genre, then our tastes and attentions change to another item or genre. It is kind of fun and also it can be taxing at times. Both on our minds and pocketbooks.

We’ve just begun our journey to manage some of our collections and in the process thought it would be cool to share with the world what we are processing. Our family has just moved across the country and before leaving the Great White North, the aforementioned mother bestowed upon us numerous boxes filled with things we didn’t even know we collected! It has been interesting going through all those boxes, getting nostalgic for times gone by, and also setting up shop to share the wonder with the world. Feel free to poke around on our store..I’m sure there is something there that you didn’t even know you needed!

Topics: Collecting, collectibles, eCommerce | No Comments »

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