Author: Donna Welch

Hey, Donna,

Do you know if my New England Patriots shirt could have value? I got it in the 1980s. I never used it and it’s in great condition. Any help would be appreciated.

Donald

Dear Donald,

Any kind of sports memorabilia is collectible to me.

Your New England Patriots shirt being from the ’80s I would think would be fun for a collector, even though shirts were mass-produced and still are. Ones in unused good condition would definitely have a value. The values would depend on makers, teams, age and always condition.

Sports items in general can reach some substantial money in the collectors market. Rarer and antique items can run in the thousands. Your shirt is in the $60 range. Be interesting to know what you paid for it then.

I hope this was helpful Donald and thanks for sharing.

Donna,

My father owned a restaurant years and years ago, and we found these plates from Syracuse China, 11 of them with this pattern on them. I’m wondering if they’re worth anything. Thank you.

Bob

Dear Bob,

Your Syracuse China plates stamped with the Cornell University coat of arms were used for some event or for the school itself.

Diner china, restaurant ware, can be very collectible, depending on the company and what it represents. Examples would be Howard Johnson’s, ships, military, etc. Condition is very important. Most collectors want them old but in new condition.

Syracuse China was around from the late 1800s through the 1960s. They made lots and lots of different industrial china.

The pricing on plates like yours again depends on what they say and condition. I did find some similar to yours in the range of $40 each. That would be you finding a collector of Cornell University items. I think if it were just for Syracuse China then the value would be in the $15 range each. Again the condition of each plate matters in giving them value.

I hope this was helpful, Robert, and you find a new home for the plates. Thank you for sharing.

Hi, Donna,

I enjoy reading your column in the Hippo and was wondering if you could identify this tool I “inherited” from my father. He thought it might have been used to help fuse to sheets when putting up tin ceilings.

Thanks.

Larry

Dear Larry,

Your dad was right! It is a copper-tipped soldering tool from the early 1900s. They were used for soldering but I’m not sure it was on tin ceilings. More like radiators, heavy metal repairs, etc. and possibly tin ceilings as your dad said.

I found them all over the place in prices. It seems they are desirable for decorative reasons now. Most, and I mean 90 percent of them, were in the range of $25. Ones signed by the maker bring a little more.

I hope this was helpful, Larry, and thanks for sharing with us.

Dear Donna,

Just saw the Hippo paper with the Victorian chair. That makes me think one of mine may be Victorian. Am attaching photos. The red one I think may be Victorian. Got it at a yard sale a million years ago! The green one has been in my family forever. Can’t seem to Google info on green one. The poor chair’s springs are starting to poke through. Any information greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Martha

Dear Martha,

You are right, the red one is Victorian, late 1800s. It’s actually called an Eastlake chair. Most likely could have started with another chair and settee. Your green chair is in the 1920s range and in poor condition really has not much value.

Chairs are a tough market sometimes. Also on most common ones the values are low. Your Eastlake chair would be in the $50 range if you find the right buyer. The nice part for you is it looks to be in good original condition.

I hope this was helpful, Martha.

Dear Donna,

Do you know anything about this toy clown set? I recently bought this for my daughter at a flea market. Examining it closer I’m not sure if it’s not just for decoration. I’m hoping she can play with it. The vendor told me it was old but in new condition. Any information you could give me would be appreciated.

Thank you, Donna.

Tammy

Dear Tammy,

What you bought is a collectible Schoenhut clown. The German company started in Philadelphia. Good catch in wondering if it’s a toy. It actually came out in the 1990s as a souvenir. So depending on how old your daughter is, be careful. Schoenhut has been around since the late 1800s, first bringing quality-made toys like pianos, animals, circus toys, etc. Some of the early toys can bring a high value in today’s market. But even today there are collectors for any of the pieces, even souvenir ones like yours.

I would say items made as souvenirs are really more for show than for full-on playing. So careful play, as I stated.

Now on the up side, Tammy, depending on what you paid for it: The value of your clown set is in the range of $50. So maybe this could be the start of her collection.

Thanks for sharing, Tammy.

Dear Donna,

Can you help me out with this tool? My sister thinks it’s for measuring melted candy. I found it in my dad’s tool box. So not sure how it could be for candy.

It is numbered 1-13 and marked U.S. Standard. So it measures something. Just what?

Thank you in advance, Donna.

Kimberly

Dear Kimberly,

You are right, it is for measuring. There is a temperature tool for candy that can look similar but has a glass thermometer.

Now you have to figure out how an early 1900s jeweler’s ring sizer got into your dad’s tool box. It was made to slide a ring onto so you could determine the size of the ring. Very helpful tool in the right hands.

The value on them in good but used shape runs around $50 plus. Simpler ones less, fancier ones a little more.

I hope, Kimberly, this helped answer the question. Have fun with it now!