Is Your Antique Print or Antique Map a Reproduction or Is It an Original?

How do you know if your antique print or old map is the real thing? It may look old to you, but is it? You may have been wondering if it were real for a long time. Was it made over a hundred years ago or a hundred days ago? If your print is an antique, you are probably wondering if it is worth a lot of money. You hope that you have hit the jackpot and that this old piece of paper you have is going to bring you in a pot of gold.

In reality most prints are not worth much, but what if you got rid of it and it was actually worth a couple of hundred or even a couple of thousand dollars. You would feel awful, so just in case, you think you should keep this print and you store it away.

We have encountered plenty of lifetime collections of prints inherited by families hoping to have a fortune worth of art on their hands. Often when told the current value of the collection they feel disappointed if it does not fulfill their expectations. The program Antique Road show is much to blame in this trend. Most people shown on Antique Road show are the exciting ones, the ones that have a nice piece worth talking about on the show. It has been rare of late for my wife and I to surprise people with a higher than expected value for their prints because of the success of this television program. Everybody expects to have a rare find worth a lot of money.

The truth of the matter is that there are many reproductions out there and people mistake them for originals. In order to help you avoid the pain of disappointment there is an easy way to determine the age of your print or old map. Get yourself a magnifying glass and look closely at a small section of your print.

If you see a multitude of even dots making the color or shades of your print then you are holding in your hands a print made within the last 100 years and by definition if it is less than a hundred years then it is not an antique. The dots must be regular and even, with a systematic repetition.

Anything other than this will most likely be over a hundred years old and therefore be a genuine antique. Do keep in mind that some printing methods like the stipple engraving and some tools used in traditional lithography show small dots under a magnifying glass, but these dots will be irregular in shape and form. The pattern of the dots will not be uniform.

This is your best way to determine if your print is an original antique print or antique map. As an antique your print may be worth some money, in which case we suggest you bring it to an appraiser to be valued.

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Real Versus Fake: How to Tell the Difference in Antique Signs

Antique signs are very collectable partly due to the fact that they were used. They were meant to be hung outside and displayed. The weather and vandals would damage them rocks would be thrown at them and when a store went out of business they would be repurposed or destroyed. The signs during WWI and WWII are especially rare because they were melted down to make weapons and ammunition. With all these factors antique signs command hefty price tag making them a prime target for fakes. But how do you know if you are buying a real antique sign or a real good fake?

One good indication that a sign is a fake is if there are many similar signs with the same seller or there are many sellers with the same sign. This is an obvious indication that the sign is mass produced fake. If the sign is to perfect this is another good indication that the sign is a fake remember they were meant to be used. Old signs commonly have rust, pits or are generally imperfect. If there is only rust around the edges or the fading is consistent it is most likely a fake. The sun fades different colors at different rates red will fade before black and graphic will fade before the thicker background.

These signs were handmade and if the lettering or graphics look perfect and perfectly consistent then it was done by a computer. Hand lettered signs show brush strokes and even early silk screened signs show variations in the letter shapes and size. There are few letters to look out for: S, C, and O are the hardest to execute for a hand painter and therefore they will always look different even on the same sign.

If the sign has an address on it and it uses a two letter state abbreviation then you know that it is a fake. In fact the two letter state abbreviation wasn't developed until the mid twentieth century. The same with a phone number when they were invented they were short only a few digits combining both letters and numbers.

Antique signs were also made in standard sizes to avoid waste. Plywood and metal were cut down in even sizes from 4 feet by 8 feet sheets. If you measure the sign and it is an odd length then it is most likely a reproduction. Checking the material is correct for the time period is another good way to tell the difference between a real and a fake. If the sign seller tells you the sign was made in the 1860 and it is a porcelain sign then you know something is wrong since the technology to make such signs wasn't invented till the early 1900's.

The most important thing when trying to distinguish between real and fake is to ask yourself if it makes sense. Why would the sign only rust on the edges? Why does it look so evenly faded? Is it correct for the time period? The last tell tale sign and the most obvious is to look and see if there is a sticker that says reproduction or made in China. Be smart and check twice.

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Restoring An Antique Treadle: How Vintage Sewing Machine Repair Can Help Preserve A Family Heirloom

Nearly every family has a handful of traditions and heirlooms that are passed down from generation to generation, from annual summer trips and special holiday meals to jewelry keepsakes and other treasured items. Sadly, as the years go by, many of these traditions and cherished items are lost, either falling into disrepair or simply being forgotten. That's why it's so important to seize any opportunity you may have to preserve a beloved heirloom - the generations to come will thank you!

While there are varying types of heirlooms kept by families, antique sewing machines are commonly passed on as a representation of the hard work, love and dedication of generations past. Countless attics and closets across the country are home to vintage machines that once crafted the linens and clothing items that kept the family going decades ago. But what many people may not realize is that several of these old machines probably still work! They may need a little TLC, and possibly the expert touch of a vintage sewing machine repair specialist, but it's all worth it when you consider the traditions that will be kept alive as a result. Before consulting a professional, there are a number of preliminary measures that should be taken.

Thoroughly Clean Your Machine

After years of sitting idly in your grandmother's attic, the antique treadle that's been in the family for decades is ready to be dusted off and put to use! The first step is to thoroughly clean it, so you can then test its functionality without any dust or debris getting in the way. It's important to use proper methods when cleaning a treadle, as a simple mistake can cause irreparable damage. Traditionally, a treadle is cleaned by rubbing and polishing with kerosene. If kerosene is not available to you, other common cleaning agents used are Coke or Pepsi, metal polish, car polish, or wire wool. Harsh detergents can actually strip the signature gold leaf ornament from the machine, so be sure to avoid them!

Determine If You Can Fix It Yourself Or If Sewing Machine Repair Is Needed

Once you've cleaned your treadle, carefully test it out to determine if it is in working shape. There are some problems that can be fixed at home without extensive sewing machine repair training; for instance, the solution could be as simple as de-rusting the metal parts or lubricating the gears with oil. However, there are many problems that require the knowledge and skill of a professional. When in doubt, seek the assistance of a company that specializes in vintage sewing machine repair. After all, when it comes to family heirlooms, it's not as if you can simply go out and buy a replacement if it gets ruined!

Whether it requires a simple clean up or more intricate sewing machine repair, restoring a treadle that has been in the family for generations is well worth the effort. Not only will it provide a beautiful backdrop to any room, but it will also allow you to keep a family tradition alive. And preserving a piece of your family's heritage is something you simply cannot put a price tag on!

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What I Need to Know About Copies of Old Maps and Reproductions of Antique Maps

If you like old maps then you need to you learn about antique map reproductions. Reproductions of old maps have become very popular. They can be seen copied onto fabrics for pillows, coffee mugs, calendars and even boxer shorts. We will concern ourselves with the reproductions of old maps on paper.

The high price of genuine antique maps has led many stores to offer cheaper copies of old maps. These copies have no collectable value in them and will probably not gain any value even in a hundred years when they themselves become antiques. As things stand now, a hundred year old reproduction of a map is hardly worth anything today.

Maps that have monetary value to them are the old original ones. They are the maps that people centuries ago had held in their hands to plan the discovery and exploration of new lands. People prefer to own a map that has the railroads on it as the railroads were being built or has the US Indian tribes before the tribes were sent to reservations. These original documents are rare because so few of them have survived. Think about all the road maps that have been thrown away and how valuable the ones that will survive will be in 200 years. A reproduction of an old map does not have the historical feel and energy that the old one does.

You might say that the reproduction does not spark the imagination, but can look nice on your wall. This is a valid point unless you look a bit closer. When you look up close at your reproduction can you read the towns, rivers and mountain ranges? Is it a bit blurry? There is a good chance your map reproduction was blown up in size from the original and much detail was lost in the enlargement. If you look a bit closer you may even see the bad color printing.

Still you may think that a reproduction map is cheaper than an original antique map. It can still be an over-priced copy when you start to consider how easy it is to copy a map. A very high quality copy should not cost you more than 20 dollars for a medium size map. Anything more is over priced. The cost of framing can often negate the savings of buying a copy. It is not rare to see reproductions of maps sold for more than the original. It is certainly worth investigating the price difference between a copy of an antique map and an original antique map.

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