You never know which forgotten treasures might be hiding in an old cupboard, garage, or family storage box.
Vintage Pyrex bowls
Did you know those vintage mixing bowls Grandma used to make cake batter or potato salad may be collectible? Pyrex dominated kitchens from the 1940s through the 1980s and certain patterns are highly collectible, such as Butterprint, Gooseberry and Pink Daisy.
Complete sets, odd colors, and undamaged pieces are highly coveted by collectors. Some pieces can fetch impressive prices.
Old advertising thermometers
Companies freely gave away or displayed advertising thermometers promoting everything from Coca- Cola to local hardware stores and gasoline companies. Made of metal, glass and some wood, these signs were useful items that served as advertisements.
Nowadays collectors enjoy their vintage graphics, cool logos and reminders of businesses that no longer exist. Original thermometers from the early to mid-1900’s are very sought after if the advertising is vibrant and it still functions.
Vintage lunchboxes
A metal lunchbox emblazoned with your favorite childhood television hero may have been considered a common school item many years ago. Some are now collectibles that are remembered as pop culture icons.
The Lone Ranger, The Beatles, Star Wars, and vintage cartoons are especially recognizable. Lunchboxes made from the 1950s through 1980s can be collectible if you have the rare ones with the original matching thermos still intact.
Rotary telephones
Before mobile phones, most homes used heavy desk telephones with spinning number dials and phone cords that were always being tangled. Vintage rotary phones are now popular with collectors, interior decorators, and amateur telecommunications historians.
Phones made in the 1950s and 1960s are often colorful, including some Western Electric models. Some collectors seek novelty colors, all-original parts, or phones that were intended for use in hotels and other public spaces. Of course, not all rotary telephones are collectible or useful, and some need an adapter or modifications to function on modern phone lines.
Old fountain pens
That pen you left forgotten in your desk drawer for years deserves a second look. Collectors seek older fountain pens from companies like Parker, Waterman, Sheaffer and Montblanc. Certain models are sought after for their gold nibs, quirky fillers, classic good looks, or unique history. Pens from the early and middle part of the 20th century are usually more appealing if they still have their original components and show no damage.
Just because a pen is from a well known brand doesn’t mean it will sell for much. Collectors generally look at the model, the shape the nib is in, whether the pen actually works, and whether it has been professionally restored.
Vintage Christmas ornaments
Old Christmas decorations may be passed down through generations, stored away in cardboard boxes after the holidays. Intricately detailed hand-blown glass ornaments, particularly fragile antiques from Germany and old Shiny Brite ornaments from the United States, have become increasingly popular among collectors.
Odd shaped balls, including birds, houses, fruit or small figures, tend to garner more attention than plain round balls. An original box may also draw more attention from buyers.
Vintage board games
An old dusty board game in your family closet may be worth researching before throwing into a donation box. Board game collectors seek out prototypes, out-of-production games, unique art, or games based on television shows or movies.
Vintage editions of popular games such as Monopoly, Clue, or The Game of Life might spark interest. However, many editions produced later in large quantities are considered common. Make sure all the pieces are present. Missing cards, tokens, or playing pieces may decrease the board game’s value.
Antique perfume bottles
Before mass-produced glass bottles, perfume companies commissioned artisans to create works of art for packaging. Bottles from the late 1800s and early 1900s are prized by collectors for their intricate glasswork, odd shapes, and decorative stoppers.
French producers like Lalique and Baccarat are the most sought-after, but there are also sterling silver bottles and hand painted examples. Antique collectors value authenticity, such as original labels, intact stoppers, and rare recognizable bottles from famous perfume companies.
First-generation Polaroid cameras
Instant photography began commercially with the introduction of the Polaroid Model 95 Land Camera in 1948. For the first time, it was possible to take photographs and develop them without having to send the film away to a lab. The early Land Cameras were large and heavy and had folding bellows and mechanically unique looks.
Original Model 95 cameras are popular collector’s items, as are other early Polaroid cameras. Cameras in their original boxes with instruction booklets and accessories included are especially desirable.
Vintage Fisher-Price toys
Many of us have fond memories of playing with Fisher-Price toys as toddlers. Some favorites include classic wooden pull toys, Little People Play Families, and the Fisher-Price Chatter Telephone. Vintage Fisher-Price toys from the 1950s through the 1970s are popular with collectors.
Items that come with the original figures and accessories are especially appealing. There are also collectors who seek out discontinued playsets, uncommon character variations, or toys in original packaging. Keep in mind that millions of Fisher-Price toys were manufactured, so not every old piece is valuable.
Original Barbie dolls and accessories
Collectors will pay serious money for a 1959 original Barbie if her original swimsuit, accessories, and box are still intact. Barbie’s original version wore her signature ponytail hairstyle, black-and white-striped swimsuit, and black high-heel shoes.
There are many variations between the earliest Barbies based on their markings, facial appearance, etc. Additionally, many collectors seek out vintage Barbie clothing, tiny accessories, and vintage boxes separately if the doll itself is not available. Rare dresses, as well as complete outfits, are very popular.
Antique cast-iron doorstops
Cast iron doorstops were popular accessories for houses, particularly in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some companies made them in cute little forms like dogs, cats, flowers, cottages, historical people, and more. Some companies painted them bright colors, making them decorative accessories for the home.
Vintage doorstops by well-known producers such as Hubley (makers of many cast iron novelties) are more interesting to collectors, especially if they have the original paint, are unusual shapes, and have a maker’s mark.
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