Author: Donna Welch

Hi Donna,

This is Marcie writing to you, to ask your opinion on this small collection of vintage jewelry that I have inherited from my mother-in-law’s estate,

Thanks so much.

Dear Marcie,

The costume jewelry you inherited looks to all be in great condition. Most of it looks to be from after the 1960s.

Old costume jewelry can be tricky to figure out. Sometimes it can just be a name of the maker that will make it more valuable. Most of the time the name will be on the back.

Marcie, remember that costume jewelry is made to look like real expensive and authentic stones. Instead it is a more affordable alternative. I would say the items you inherited have a value in the area of $30. I am sure they have more of a sentimental value than that to you.

Thanks for sharing and enjoy your gift.

Donna

Dear Donna,

Picked this up last year, and one of the dolls is missing. Does it have any value the way it is?

Thank you for any information.

K

Dear K,

It’s tough to give a value on items with damage, missing pieces etc. I do think, though, being a Cabbage Patch toy it still might have value.

Your little box of Cabbage figurines manufactured in 1984 is by a company out of Georgia. If complete and in good condition the values run from $25 to $50.

Knowing that it falls into a very collectible market, just the figures individually could hold value to others missing one as well. You just have work ahead of you to find your missing one.

My suggestion would be to look at thrift stores, flea markets and online. Good luck to you finding your treasure and thanks for sharing with us.

Donna

Hello, Donna,

I plan to sell this piece of furniture but am not sure what to ask for it. The item is from the Paine Furniture store in Boston. I refinished it in 1968 and my in-laws had it for probably another 50 years. There was a door but it was cracked and I unfortunately removed it.

Thank you,

Carole

Dear Carole,

Even though your commode appears to be in clean usable condition, it’s lost its antique furniture value, with the door being gone and the piece being painted. So what you need to do now is find a new home that can reuse it.

Your piece of Paine furniture was used for holding a bowl and pitcher, chamber pot etc. used around the late 1800’s or early 1900’s. Paine was a high-quality furniture company.

So now it’s here in this modern age looking for a new purpose. I think, Carole, as a piece of furniture you might sell it for $40. It’s going to take the right person and reason to use it. I look at it and see a great towel holder in a bathroom. Maybe a microwave holder with cookbooks in the opening? I hope you find it a new home for any purpose.

Thanks for sharing.

Donna

Dear Donna,

Would you know anyone with interest in used Legos? If so, any help with pricing?

Thanks.

Lisa

Dear Lisa,

Legos are a memory from my childhood. Even though they were around earlier, they came to the U.S. in the 1960s.

I have to admit I’m not too familiar with them individually. I do know, though, that they would be worth having a toy specialist look at. Some can be of minimal value and others very high. This would all be depending on age, complete sets, original condition with box, rarity, and with no damage etc.

Lisa, to give you pricing without knowing all that information would not do you justice. My suggestion to you is to do research either by using Lego books or looking online. This way you can narrow down exactly what you have there. I feel older or even modern ones would and could be worth the effort. Thank you for sharing, Lisa, and hope you have a treasure there.

Dear Donna,

We have an older home and are looking to replace the shutters. We want older wooden ones.

Can you point me in the right direction as to where to look for bulk supplies? I would need 21 of them total.

Carla

Dear Carla,

My first thought is, wow, what an undertaking! But I can appreciate the reuse.

First you need to have an exact measurement of each window needing them. Then when you buy old/antique shutters, most are painted. So you either have to use them in the original color or condition or refinish them, which probably isn’t worth all the cost and effort.

I would start off by looking at flea markets, outdoor shows, salvage stores, etc. Twenty-one is not too big a number to look for. It’s just finding them in usable condition as is!

I think you could pick up the lot of them for $200 or less depending on size and where you find them.

I wish you luck in your hunt!

Dear Donna,

I inherited this typewriter and am wondering if you could give me any information on it, and a value.

Doug

Dear Doug,

I immediately liked your typewriter for the color.

The Royal Typewriter Co. has made many styles and colors since opening in the early 1900s. So many makes and models have survived and are still usable today. Ahh, the days when items were made to last!

Your green one is from the 1940s to 1950s. It looks to be in good shape with a cleaning needed. If you can get it typing again, I think the value would be in the $60 range.

If it’s only good for decorative use or for parts for steampunk jewelry makers, etc., the value would be lower.