Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 26/10/08

Hi, Donna.

I really like your Treasure Hunt column. I wanted to respond to your invitation to send pictures of an item readers have a question about.

My husband and I have hit a wall trying to research this kitchen table set. We call it our “George Jetson” table. Clearly it is mid-century in design. We can’t find anything like it. We are hoping you have better knowledge and search skills and possibly could provide some insight and even a guess at value.

The Formica kitchen table (pictured with the table leaf in) and matching chairs sat in my aunt’s barn for 40 years. You see in the pictures there are numbers hand-written on the bottom of the table — we have no idea what they mean — and the manufacturer is a defunct Canadian company.

We love this table, and guests rant and rave when they see it; we just wish we knew something about it to share! Thanks for taking a look.

Megan

Dear Megan,

Can I start off by saying WOW! What a great mid-century dinette set! Great color, form, design and condition.

I think, Megan, if it were American made it would be much easier to find information. Because this was from a company in Québec that is no longer manufacturing, it is tough for you and myself.

What I can tell you is it impressed me from the pictures. Marketing it wouldn’t be hard. My suggestion would be to find a mid-century auction house to get it out into social media for all regions to see it. The value here in New Hampshire wouldn’t be the same as across the country. For a mid-century collector this would be a great find.

I think here the value would be in the range of $2,000+. But in, say, New York or California it could go much higher. It’s a great piece of modern furniture. Megan, the numbers are usually run numbers within the factory, to match pieces together.

I thank you for sharing with us and for saving your aunt’s set!

Kiddie Pool 26/10/01

Family fun for whenever

Hands-on fun

• The Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains will hold The Expo on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the NH Sportsplex, 68 Technology Drive in Bedford, according to a press release. The day will feature performances, workshops, exhibitors with hands-on activities and more, many with a focus on STEM, the arts or the outdoors. “Take advantage of over 75 family-oriented exhibits with hands-on activities. See amazing stage shows, investigate new technology in our STEM Zone, fire an arrow at a target, meet a superhero, and so much more,” according to girlscoutsgwm.org. Admission costs $10.

Fall excitement

• Charmingfare Farm in Candia will hold its annual Pumpkin Festival Saturday, Oct. 3, and Sunday, Oct. 4, and Saturday, Oct. 10, through Monday, Oct. 12. Pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch, take a tractor- or horse-drawn wagon ride, meet costumed characters, enjoy a children’s corn maze, watch a juggling and comedy show and listen to live music, according to visitthefarm.com, where you can purchase tickets to a specific time during the two weekends.

• Rochester Main Street will hold its Spooktacular & Pumpkin Patch on Saturday, Oct. 3, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Central Square in downtown Rochester, according to rochestermainstreet.org. Kids can pick and decorate a pumpkin, participate in a trunk-or-treat, listen to live music (with performer Sean Fell), play games and more, the website said.

• Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, 23 Science Center Road in Holderness, will hold Grandparents Day on Saturday, Oct. 3, when “grandchildren ages 16 and younger will receive free admission when accompanied by a grandparent,” according to a press release. In addition to the Live Animal Exhibit trail, the center will feature Up Close to Animals presentations at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., the release said. “Grandparents Day will also feature a special offer in the Howling Coyote Gift Shop. Grandparents accompanied by a grandchild can buy one and get one free of a featured stuffed animal, while supplies last,” the release said. See nhnature.org for admission information.

Movie time

• Merrimack Parks and Recreation will screen Toy Story 5(2026) on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. in Wasserman Park, 116 Naticook Road in Merrimack, according to merrimackparksandrec.org

Treasure Hunt 26/10/01

Hi, Donna,

I have an old reel-to-reel tape recorder and tapes that belonged to my husband. He passed away many years ago. I think it’s about time I passed it along to someone who would use it or at least appreciate it. Are there people who would be interested or collect these old things? Any information you could provide would be helpful. I don’t want to just trash it.

Thank you.

Carol

Dear Carol,

I’m sure there are people out there who would want to try it!

Unfortunately there isn’t a big market for common styles of these recorders. I also think you will have to find the right person to market it. If it’s in working condition the value is in the $30 range — to the right person!

I would still give it a chance to find a new home. Also making yourself feel better about throwing it in the trash, I would donate it to a thrift store and let it take its chance.

Thanks Carol, for sharing with us. Good luck finding a new home for your recorder.

Donna

Treasure Hunt 26/09/24

Hi, Donna,

My wife and I own a frame shop and we acquired this piece many years ago. I sent a photo to the Museum of Fine Art in the midst of Covid, but never heard back from them. Can you shed some light on it?

Thanks.

Brian

Dear Brian,

I can try to provide you with some advice for this piece.

I think for you to get an authentic appraisal, depending on where you live, I would bring it directly to professionals who deal in this subject. For yours I would recommend Bonhams Skinner in either Boston or Marlborough, Mass.

There were two eras of this work that was Cuzco style done in Peru, first during the 16th through 18th centuries, and later in the 19th century. Prices vary from around $15,000+ in the first era to up to $3,000 in the second era. So you need eyes on it to get an age determination and assess authenticity in general.

You can get information on both Bonhams Skinner locations online. You can send the pictures but I really recommend a visit directly.

Brian, can you drop me a note to let me know what you found out? Good luck!

Donna Welch has spent more than 35 years in the antiques and collectibles field, appraising and instructing. Her new location is an Antique Art Studio located in Dunbarton, NH where she is still buying and selling. If you have questions about an antique or collectible send a clear photo and information to Donna at footwdw@aol.com, or call her at 391-6550.

Treasure Hunt 26/09/17

Dear Donna,

My sister reads the Hippo weekly. She referred me to you for help.

This is one of a couple bowls my mom had in her house. While cleaning out my sister said to check values before just donating them.

This bowl is big in size, 14 inches across the top. It is marked Texas Ware. I can unpack others if you would like to evaluate them as well.

Thank you for your time, Donna.

Claire

Dear Claire,

Your sister was right to check values! This bowl is a great size melamine plastic mixing bowl. Texas Ware was made in Dallas, Texas. It was very popular during the 1950s and still is today. The melamine plastic was made to last and be very durable for everyday use.

The one thing you have to look for in a value is whether the sheen is gone inside the bowl. Sometimes with heavy use the inside can wear down. This changes the values. As always any damage would lower the value as well.

There is lots of history on melamine bowls and other companies that made them. Imagine a set of three graduated bowls sold for $2 to $3 a set. Now your single bowl has a value of $50+.

Claire, you’re welcome to send more pictures, but you might want to bring the items to a local antique shop. Good luck and thank your sister!

Kiddie Pool 26/09/17

Family fun for whenever

Space and sky

• The annual AerospaceFest at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., according to starhop.com.

“AerospaceFest is the Discovery Center’s annual celebration of all things STEM and highlights the exciting ways local companies, universities, non-profits, and other organizations are contributing to science and education. These organizations will be spread around the Discovery Center’s grounds and exhibit halls, sharing their work with visitors through demonstrations, hands-on activities, and discussions,” according to the website, where you can find a list of vendors and participants. The Fest will also feature Big Joe’s Big Green Show; “Big Joe the Storyteller presents a show filled with multicultural tales about protecting the environment and making our world a happier and greener place to live,” the website said.

The Center will debut the new planetarium show “Encounters in the Milky Way” with free tickets available, first come first served, at the Discovery Center’s front desk, for screenings at 11 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m., the website said. The event is open to all with a suggested donation of $5 per person, the website said.

Wheels & Wings

• Nashua Airport’s Wheels & Wings “A Touch a Truck Event” will take place Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Boire Field with cars, trucks and planes to see and explore, according to the city’s SummerFun brochure at nashuanh.gov. The event will feature a horns-free hour from 1 to 2 p.m. and organizers will collect nonperishable food for End 68 Hours of Hunger, the brochure said. The event, which is free to attend, will feature fire trucks, police vehicles, planes, helicopters, DPW vehicles, electric cars and more, according to a post on Nashua Recreation Department’s website.

Outdoor movie

• Inside Out 2 (PG, 2024) will screen in Derryfield Park in Manchester on Friday, Sept. 18, at 8:15 p.m., according to a post on the Manchester Parks & Recreation Facebook page. BYO chairs, blankets and snacks, the post said.

At the museums

• Toddlerfest, the annual celebration of younger kids at the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, 6 Washington St. in Dover, Tuesday, Sept. 22, through Sunday, Oct. 4, according to childrens-museum.org, where you can purchase admission for the Toddlerfest days. The museum will feature special events and activities geared toward younger kids, the website said. Tuesday kicks off with Early Birds Playgroup from 8:15 to 9 a.m. and then a storytime and sing-along with the Dover Public Library at 10:30 a.m., the website said. Other events in the first week include Try A Little Artists Class at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23; Messy Baby Paint Crawl on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 10:30 p.m., and Science Friday on Friday, Sept. 25, at 2:30 p.m., according to the website, where you can find admission information. The Children’s Museum reopens after its annual fall cleaning on Saturday, Sept. 19.

• SEE Science Center, 200 Bedford St. in Manchester, will reopen after its annual break for maintenance and repairs on Saturday, Sept. 19, when it will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to see-sciencecenter.org. The center will then operate on its fall/winter hours: Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some Monday hours on certain holidays and school vacations, the website said.

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