Bottom Of The Stairs

Bottom Of The Stairs Interesting antiquities we've acquired and enough information to make you dangerous at the road show.

I grabbed this with a group of 1950s era Whitman puzzles featuring western heroes of the day while at a downtown antique...
05/27/2026

I grabbed this with a group of 1950s era Whitman puzzles featuring western heroes of the day while at a downtown antique store in Paducah Kentucky. We've sold several of the puzzles. The intrigue on this Lone Ranger scrapbook is that it is completely unused with not even a 9 year olds name or a family gift dedication on the inside. This would be great framed or standing on the back of a collector's shelf. It is in our booth at Olde Timer's in Sandwich, Illinois

This very clean Chinese "Ginger" Jar is currently in our case at Olde Timer's in Sandwich Illinois. My internet searche...
05/27/2026

This very clean Chinese "Ginger" Jar is currently in our case at Olde Timer's in Sandwich Illinois. My internet searches show a great deal of activity on jars that are 40-60 years newer than this, which are bright white with blue borders featuring fancy lids. Those jars appear to be made for tourists as they don't appear as functional for transport of spices in ships or overland caravans. This is more of the "real deal" yet is in very good shape, easily displayable. I won't mind bringing it home if it doesn't sell.

We haven't been scouting for new items to often as of late, but I was told by some customers about a great store in Wilm...
05/23/2026

We haven't been scouting for new items to often as of late, but I was told by some customers about a great store in Wilmington Illinois, so we took a day a few weeks ago, just to look around. We found this wonderful English metal horse at Paraphernalia Antiques in downtown Wilmington. It is referred to as a MOBO horse and dates from the late 1940s to about 1970. This one still works, as the foot levers will make the legs stretch and the horse will inch along a smooth surface. It is missing the plastic reins, but I will be able to replace them without damaging the horse. Old toys are the coolest when they can still do what they were made to do.

In the event that you are noticing the prices of items and wonder if we can "do better", I thought I'd highlight the on ...
05/23/2026

In the event that you are noticing the prices of items and wonder if we can "do better", I thought I'd highlight the on going sale in our booth and cases. We have a 20% sale on most items unless they are marked firm. I will also consider offers at the store if I am there. Here's a tip for those who like to haggle. I prefer a buyer to make a counter offer, as opposed to someone asking "What's your lowest". I've already indicated a price on the tag, and when there's a sale it's less without negotiating. That is often already "my lowest", but sometimes I might have a little more room. Look for individual items that may already have 30%-50% tags as well.

I put a few items in the store today, so I thought I'd show you a few displays that have been successful for us. These ...
05/23/2026

I put a few items in the store today, so I thought I'd show you a few displays that have been successful for us. These lighters were provided by a good friend who attained them from his mom (whom I also counted as a friend). The majority of them are unused and are usable, with an occasional need of a new flint or adjustment. The best sellers have been promotional lighters, featuring cigarette brands. I recently added some more conventional lighters as I have been told by customers that they are increasingly hard to find in good shape. These are purchased for their usability as much as their collectability. What you light with them is your own business. Look in case 170 at Olde Timer's

This is a gorgeous tea table that we located in Alton Illinois several years ago, and, as of today is in our booth at Ol...
05/23/2026

This is a gorgeous tea table that we located in Alton Illinois several years ago, and, as of today is in our booth at Olde Timer's in Sandwich Illinois. I don't have a lot of info on this piece, except to say I haven't found one similar after several internet searches. The carving on the side and end are duplicated on the other sides and it is extremely clean with no noticeable chips. Another piece we are selling due to a lack of space to display it.

Okay, asking for a little help with this. This is my wonderful 1964 Story & Clark piano. It is in tune, has the origin...
05/16/2026

Okay, asking for a little help with this. This is my wonderful 1964 Story & Clark piano. It is in tune, has the original bench and would be a great piano to learn on or casually play. I bought it from my parents who were the original owners. This is FREE to a good home, church, VFW. I was given a Yamaha keyboard by my sons a few years ago, it features a full grand piano setting and I don't have room in my living room for both. Most pianos that you see for sale are not as nice as this one.

This is one of 15 vintage full bottles that I acquired in North Aurora. Tempo was a Blatz brand that started in 1955 usi...
05/16/2026

This is one of 15 vintage full bottles that I acquired in North Aurora. Tempo was a Blatz brand that started in 1955 using wet hops. In 1958 Pabst bought Blatz and continued making Tempo. this bottle was manufactured in 1957 in Streator Illinois. The label, a great example of mcm marketing, is in wonderful shape for a 69 year old bottle. I would assume the beer, on the other hand, is not.

Sometimes something just sort of normal has an interesting twist. I've had this White House Vinegar bottle for a few ye...
05/13/2026

Sometimes something just sort of normal has an interesting twist. I've had this White House Vinegar bottle for a few years, acquiring it with a handful of other items in Cambridge City Indiana. In researching the identifiers, I've determined that this bottle was manufactured in 1929 for the Virginia vinegar company, likely by Owens Illinois glass. Owens Illinois was a merging of Owens of Toledo and Illinois glass of Alton and they merged in April of 1929. The "cabbage rose" design seen here was first distributed in 1930, making this bottle from the first year of the design from the first year of a company that evolved into the largest glass manufacturer in the world. Doesn't make it worth a whole heck of a lot, but the history is worth noting.

These 2 o j juicers glow bright under black light. We recently moved them from this display in our booth to our glass ca...
05/13/2026

These 2 o j juicers glow bright under black light. We recently moved them from this display in our booth to our glass case at Olde Timer's in Sandwich Illinois

Christmas decor items are already on sale! Check photos for details.
09/24/2025

Christmas decor items are already on sale! Check photos for details.

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