Category: Family Fun

Treasure Hunt 21/01/28

Dear Donna,

I have an assortment of older comics. They are not in the best condition, but I thought you might be able to provide advice as to a value, if any.

Karl

Dear Karl,

I have to start off by saying that comics is a very specific field, and even if I can give you my thoughts on them, you should do more research and or see someone who deals in them.

My experience with comics is that the closer they are to mint condition, the higher the value. Most are in very used condition from reading, so to find mint ones makes the value on some soar.

Collectors look for older ones, limited ones and specific issues. You can’t really group your comics without checking on each one individually. One rare comic can be worth more than $1,000 in mint condition. In poor condition the same one could be worth $50. That’s still a value that could add up with an assortment of them.

Common older comics can still have values from $5 and up, even in used condition. There is a specific scale used to judge the condition of them. This is why I suggest you do further research before assuming you just have a lot of used comics. Even if they are only in the $5 range each, it still adds up!

If you need help in doing research I could refer you to a person who could help you in this field. Drop me an email and I will put you in touch.

Treasure Hunt 21/01/21

Dear Donna,

Might you be able to suggest a good reference document or catalogue for Lionel Antique Trains (1950s)?

Louis

Dear Louis,

I’m sharing your email with readers because it’s a good question.

I think that with access to the internet you can find out any pricing and information you would need. Using several different searches for pricing should help narrow things down.

There are several price guides still available to purchase online and they can be a great source for information and prices. Sometimes, though, they aren’t accurate to the selling market today. So my last suggestion is to have someone who deals in toys, trains, etc. take a look at them for you. They should be up to date on the current selling market for trains and parts.

If you need further assistance please email me and I can provide you with a local referral.

Kiddie Pool 21/01/21

Family fun for the weekend

Planes and iBOTs

Take a hike

Beaver Brook Association is offering a Kids Fitness Hiking Club that meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays for four weeks, starting Tuesday, Jan. 26. The hikes run from 3:45 to 5 p.m. and are open to students in grades 4 through 8. These “vigorous” hikes explore the trails of the Beaver Brook campus at 117 Ridge Road in Hollis. Students will also learn a bit about hiking and survival basics and play some trail games. Masks are required when meeting in a circle but may be removed during the hikes when physical distancing is possible. The cost is $120. Visit beaverbrook.org or call 465-7787.

New Hampshire’s Audubon centers are still closed, but their sanctuary trails are open for families who want to get outside and safely enjoy nature. There are miles of trails at the center in Concord (84 Silk Farm Road, 224-9909) and in Auburn (26 Audubon Way, 668-2045). The trails are open from dawn until dusk. Visit nhaudubon.org.

Or take a family walk throughAmerica’s Stonehenge (105 Haverhill Road, Salem, 893-8300, stonehengeusa.com), a 4,000-year-old stone construction that was built by ancient people as an astronomical calendar to determine solar and lunar events of the year. Take a tour (mostly outdoors) and learn about the site, which was also used as a stop on the Underground Railroad. Kids can dig for gemstones with tools used by real archaeologists, and interactive tools are now available, including a free audio tour that parents can download to their smartphones. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (last entrance at 3 p.m.). Admission rates are $13 for adults, $11 for seniors age 65 and up, $7.50 for kids ages 5 through 12, and free for kids age 4 and under.

Treasure Hunt 21/01/14

Dear Donna,

I have an assortment of these wood block letters in many sizes. I collected them for years and ended up with a large collection. I’m wondering if prices have changed for them and if they are still collected now. Any information would be helpful.

Angie

Dear Angie,

I can relate to how things turn into collections easily! Collecting is a fun thing to do.

The print block letters you have served their purpose first in print shops. Now they are rarely used for that. Instead, they tend to be displayed decoratively.

I’m not sure what you paid when you collected them, but today the value on them runs from $2 to $4 each. Larger ones can net more, so if you have a collection of them it could bring a bit of a value in total. They have stayed in the same value range for a while now.

One thing I have learned over the years is to never let children play with them. They were made in a time when using lead was common. The lead is still present even after washing, so keep these away from children.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo

Kiddie Pool 21/01/14

Family fun for the weekend

Planes and iBOTs

Beat three-day-weekend boredom at the museum! Along with their regular exhibits, two local museums are currently offering special events. The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire (27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, 669-4820, aviationmuseumofnh.org) is hosting a Festival of Planes, a walk-through exhibit that includes aviation-themed toys, models and puzzles, plus vintage aircraft piloted by celebrities like Bugs Bunny and Mickey Mouse. According to a press release, the toys span the 20th century, from custom-made cast iron planes to today’s mass-produced Hello Kitty airplane toys. In addition, hundreds of collectible model aircrafts will be displayed on a new Wall of Planes in the museum’s learning center. This weekend, the museum will be open Friday, Jan. 15, and Saturday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 17, from 1 to 7 p.m. The exhibit is included with museum admission of $10 per person; $5 for seniors 65+, veterans/active military and students under 13. Members and children under age 5 get in free.

Or head to the SEE Science Center (200 Bedford St., Manchester, 669-0400, see-sciencecenter.org) to watch a special demonstration of an iBOT. The center is open Saturday, Jan. 16, Sunday, Jan. 17, and Monday, Jan. 18, with sessions from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or 2 to 5 p.m. The iBOT wheelchair is SEE’s newest demonstration and shows how technology can help people with limited mobility do things they could never do in any other wheelchair. The demonstration is part of regular museum admission, which is $9 per person for ages 3 and up. Registration is required to reserve a time during one of the sessions; register online or via phone.

Skate sessions

At the Everett Arena in Concord (15 Loudon Road, concordnh.gov), public skating hours are Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Sunday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Admission is $6 for ages 14 and up and $5 for ages 4 to 13; kids 3 and under skate for free. Skate rentals are available for $5. Public skating has been reduced to 50 percent capacity, and masks are required inside the building and while on the ice. Tri-Town Ice Arena (311 W. River Road, Hooksett) is offering public skating sessions for $6, with skate rentals available for $4. Skating times vary and are subject to change; visit tri-townicearena.com for an updated schedule. All skaters and spectators entering the facility are now required to complete a Covid-19 screening online the day of their visit before arriving at the arena. After completing the screening, a QR code that will allow access to the entry system at the front doors will be provided.

Treasure Hunt 21/01/07

Dear Donna,

For years I’ve been meaning to contact you regarding my curiosity about a basket that was found in an old late 18th-century house in Chichester. The basket was found in the mid 1970s and I bought it at a yard sale!

Thank you for any information that you can offer me!

Lil

Dear Lil,

Baskets are tough for an appraisal and to know for sure when some of them were made. I think that my suggestion would be to see someone who has a lot of experience with baskets, such as Skinners in Bolton, Mass. You can send them a photo and they should be able to give you more information than I can. I would say it has an Asian look to it, which is another reason why it’s tough!

The form is similar to a funeral basket for flowers. If that is the case then the value would be under $100. As I said, though, my view is based only on my own limited experience. Please let me know if you find out any more information!

Stay in the loop!

Get FREE weekly briefs on local food, music,

arts, and more across southern New Hampshire!