Q My parents gave me a toy train for Christmas in the late 1940s, and when the house burned to the ground shortly after, my dad kicked a cast-iron car marked "Skiddoo 23" out the door as he was carrying me out. Can you give any info on the toy?
— Charles, Newport News, Va.
A What a story for family lore! Wish I could tell you that your father saved two of the most precious things in the house, but the train car is not very valuable — moneywise. Even if it is cast iron.
Sets of cast-iron passenger cars marked Skiddoo 23 on the side in raised letters were made probably in the 1920s. The maker is unknown. A three-car set painted in flag colors sold recently on eBay for $20.
James D. Julia Auctioneers in Maine has one Skiddoo 23 car as part of a large lot selling in their Nov. 13 toy auction. Andrew Truman, Julia's toy division sales coordinator, pegged value of the individual car at about $50. To see the auction catalog, go to www.juliaauctions.com.
People are also reading…
FYI: "Schroeder's Collectible Toys, Antique to Modern Price Guide" (Collector Books, $19.95) is an excellent general reference to toys. Also new is the companion reference, "Schroeder's Antiques Price Guide."
Q How do I find info about a Formica table with chrome legs? I had the four chairs reupholstered. It is stamped Lustre Chrome Dinette Sets underneath.
— Fran, Rockland, Maine
A Chrome dinette sets of the 1950s (and some of the '40s) are hot, especially with young collectors who consider them the height of affordable retro. The funkier the style, the better. One of the best '50s sets I ever saw was a pearlized gray and bright-yellow set with chair backs upholstered as bright daisies with centers. The set sold for more than $1,000 at the jukebox show where it was offered.
Two things matter for a retro dinette set: Look and condition. If it screams '50s, wonderful. Pedestrian does not cut it. Turquoise, two-toned or red, atomic and/or bright all work. Chrome should be to the period. Curved lines and bright banding around the table are good. The entire set should "pop," visually.
All metal should be in near-mint condition, ditto the tabletop. And top dollar goes to sets where everything is in original as-new condition. Conversely, sets restored to period perfection are good. Mediocre sets in iffy condition are a hard sell.
Re-covering the chairs may detract from value, unless this was done exactly to the period — and to match the table.
To sell, contact a retro dealer in your area; if the maker of the set is local, it's a plus. Finding a motivated buyer is vital. Otherwise, the set is just old furniture. Desirable sets retail at $600 or more.
FYI: "Atomic Dinettes: Mid-Century Kitchen Elegance," by Donna Baker (Schiffer, $29.95), highlights sets from the 1950s to the '70s.
Q Where can I find an old Ford script oilcan and holder?
— Jerry, Columbus, Ohio
A Funny you should ask: When I checked, just that combination was closing on eBay at around $170. The seller — in Columbus, Ohio!
When fishing for value, check completed sales on eBay. Smart collectors know that listings there are a reflection of market value at the moment.
On the off chance that this inquiry is legit, contact a local Ford collector club in your area. Die-hard collectors are always the best source of info. Google the wanted item as well. Someone will have one for sale.
Q Where can I take my old coins for a good price? Also, where can I take a Churchill pocket watch?
— Addie, Aurora, Colo.
A Realizing a good price on those coins depends on what you have. To get a straight deal, I suggest you find a member of the nonprofit Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG). To find a local member who can advise on inherited collections, paper currency, found coins and so forth, key www.pngdealers.com. If you lack a computer, perhaps a librarian will help you search.
If your pocket watch is one imprinted with the late prime minister's face, it is a novelty, best sold online. It is most likely not valuable, but it needs to be seen to determine possibilities.
The Smart Collector
By Danielle Arnet
» COLLECTOR QUIZ
Q: What is the "Drilling" gun?
A: A triple-barreled, shoulder-held firearm favored in German-speaking countries. It can be fashioned of combinations of shotgun and/or rifle barrels.
Source: "The Drilling Gun," by Norbert Klups (Schiffer, $49.95).