able of their cameras) can sell for several hundred dollars. While working in a basement in Leawood this last March, our team found a camera bag with a half dozen cameras of various brands. Five of those cameras were collectively worth $20; the sixth camera was a Leica M3 with a 1.2/f 50mm lens. We were able to sell that camera for $2,000. Even after years of estate sale goodness, we still get a thrill out of finding a box of vintage film cameras buried in a basement and sharing themwith the camera collecting world. One of the best resources we have found for researching and pricing such finds is: collectiblend.com/cameras. To see some of the fun cameras we’ve encountered check out our Instagram page (instagram.com/brown_button). Hopefully, armed with this snapshot of vintage camera value you will capture one or two worth buying. ^ Michael and James Fry are brothers and the owners of Brown Button Estate Sales.
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What advice would you offer to avid estate sale-ing resellers? he said ^ he said
My advice to a dealer is to pursue relationships with several estate sale companies and work to give them value. The world of business revolves around relationships. This rule applies even to a micro business like a one-
person Etsy shop or a small booth in an antique mall. Relationships by their definition are two-way streets where both parties win and both parties get value. We have dealers offer to assist us with researching and pricing specialized collections, of which they have specialized knowledge. We don’t let these dealers buy before the estate sale opens, but I will make a point to call them first and allow them to buy if our company purchases an estate with the items they collect. I will notify them of an upcoming sale with items of interest and give them the option of putting in a bid over the phone. I won’t bend the rules, but I always work extra hard to give value to those who have helped us out.
Front Porch Antiques Christy’s Market Antiques Our House Runneth Over Antiques Country Living Classic Elements Vintage Main Street Antiques and Furniture Papa’s Attic Antiques and Memorabilia Ottawa Antique Mall Starting Over Sugar Creek Boutique
So often the resellers I talk to are only into one specific type of item or category. When they go to a sale, they’re only on the hunt for that narrow interest. If they go into an estate that happens to be light on their one category, then they feel they’ve wasted their time. My advice would be to diversify your interests. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
The Pink Suitcase Primitive Treasures Zoe’s Bowtique
Franklin County Visitor’s Bureau | visitottawakansas.com/antiques Ottawa Main Street Association | ottawamainstreet.org Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce | ottawakansas.org Download the Ottawa app: Search “Ottawa KS”
Continue to learn and expand the knowledge base you have. Delve into new categories exploring the values they hold. If you only buy records, what about also learning vintage stereo equipment. If you’re only looking for designer clothing, what about expanding into jew- elry? The broader your knowledge of different categories and their respective resale possibilities, the greater your chances of finding that killer deal – and doing so in just one outing.
9 vintagekc fall 2015
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