For the last 50 years I have always looked at my business as being the custodian of antiques and collectibles. NOT AN ANTIQUE SHOP.

On this thread I hope to interest a new generation to look and cherish the items they own. One day they will be antique.

I know people will say I have earned an enormous amount of money from the antique trade, but I think that statement has to be discredited. If I did not make a living at antiques I would still be in the trade in some way.
Restoring furniture, repairing stain-glass windows, a french polisher, a porter at an auction. an auctioneer, a removal man. May even be a white van man . I would in some way, believe me, be involved in antiques.

I have been very lucky to have done all those things as well as travel the world and have my own business on two continents

I have never sold an item for WORTH,
I have always sold the item for more than I pay for it.
I am very choosy who my costumers are.
The reason for this is I look at my self as the custodian and my customer will then take over the custodianship.
So many of my customers I have been invited to their houses and them to mine.

Last week I bought a flag from the period of WW11 that had a fantastic and unbelievable story connected with it. the story is so interesting that I will post the story on a special thread to preserve the copy-rite

The flag was worth possibly over £10,000.00 restored

There is one at the present time on the internet restored poorly at £6,900.00

A customer showed so much interest in the flag that when he got home he could not sleep thinking about adding the flag to his collection. As the days went by, him and his wife decided to come back to my shop and try to persuade me to sell the flag so they could purchase the WW11 German Admiral flag and add to their collection.

On entering the shop the customer put his cards on the table and said he must own the flag.

I could see from his and his wife's face they really loved what they collected. They knew I would want many thousands of pound and in auction it probably could reach over £10,000 and on the 4 room show on TV may even reach £20,000.

I asked them both to be truthful. I said to them I can see you love the flag I want you to both decide the most money you can afford to pay. I will go next door to my China Shop and come back in a few minutes.

On my return I asked them how much could they afford to pay for the flag. Remember they knew the flag was worth thousands.

Sheepishly the man looked at his wife and said £1,000 is the most we can pay.

I paused

I then shook both of their hands and the deal was done.

That what I mean by being a custodian and not an antique dealer or business man.

I always say remove greed from the deal and all will be happy, including the bank manager.

I have made a friend and I have been invited to his and her house to view their collection................ I then will be the one learning. He will be the teacher.

He then will be the custodian.

I will add photographs to this thread and add more interesting stories.

Are you selling nazi war memoribilia now? Heartwarming's not the word that came to my mind.

Originally Posted by Nomad

Are you selling nazi war memoribilia now? Heartwarming's not the word that came to my mind.

History is truth............. I also sell items relating to the slave trade and items when woman did not have the vote.

Being a historian and also a custodian of the past I have no control what my customers bring into me.

I also have for sale posibably the last document signed by the late Princess Diana which came into my hands via MI6.

now that would be an interesting story for you to view.

By the way I just do not understand why you show in your posts so much hated and anger towards me.
You aggressive posting aimed at me seems to relate to God, religious threads, threads about peace and Jewish related, womans rights and of cause prejudice.

Now you have brought your anger to the world of antiques.

Qlocal/sgb is designed to bring friend ship to the internet. I have on many occasions offered to have a cup of tea with you and work out why you get so upset with my posts.

If this carries on I will have no choice other than to remover your posts.

You know where my shop is you only live at the other end of Lord Street why not call in I do not bight like some from Liverpool.

You come over on Qlocal as a male, very intelligent, educated, an atheist, a woman hater, anti Jew, a dislike for Bootle, a failed antique dealer and as eccentric as myself, O ' I for got a drinker.

but as I have always said you can never judge a book by it's cover. and as we are both on different floors in the hesketh centre we may never meet

good luck mate, keep winding up the poster.

love from john nolan, vanman, Bootle Bill and the antiquesman

Interesting perspective John ... nice one! (ie: referring to your initial post!)

Apropos of nothing, really: some years ago the WEA offered short courses in 'Antiques and Collectables' for amateur enthusiasts. I attended a couple of them in Ainsdale ... fascinating stuff, and the classes were very well attended. Unfortunately the course folded due to "budget constraints" (A lot of other Adult Education courses went the same way).

Originally Posted by Lettuce-Leaf

Interesting perspective John ... nice one! (ie: referring to your initial post!)

Apropos of nothing, really: some years ago the WEA offered short courses in 'Antiques and Collectables' for amateur enthusiasts. I attended a couple of them in Ainsdale ... fascinating stuff, and the classes were very well attended. Unfortunately the course folded due to "budget constraints" (A lot of other Adult Education courses went the same way).

Lettuce-Leaf, a good poster name

Wedgwood at the turn of the century did a range of green ware, the plates decorated and made in the shape of a lettuce leaf.

Originally Posted by theantiquesman

History is truth............. I also sell items relating to the slave trade and items when woman did not have the vote.

Being a historian and also a custodian of the past I have no control what my customers bring into me.

I also have for sale posibably the last document signed by the late Princess Diana which came into my hands via MI6.

now that would be an interesting story for you to view.

By the way I just do not understand why you show in your posts so much hated and anger towards me.
You aggressive posting aimed at me seems to relate to God, religious threads, threads about peace and Jewish related, womans rights and of cause prejudice.

Now you have brought your anger to the world of antiques.

Qlocal/sgb is designed to bring friend ship to the internet. I have on many occasions offered to have a cup of tea with you and work out why you get so upset with my posts.

If this carries on I will have no choice other than to remover your posts.

You know where my shop is you only live at the other end of Lord Street why not call in I do not bight like some from Liverpool.

You come over on Qlocal as a male, very intelligent, educated, an atheist, a woman hater, anti Jew, a dislike for Bootle, a failed antique dealer and as eccentric as myself, O ' I for got a drinker.

but as I have always said you can never judge a book by it's cover. and as we are both on different floors in the hesketh centre we may never meet

good luck mate, keep winding up the poster.

love from john nolan, vanman, Bootle Bill and the antiquesman

probably bitterness/jealousy ...

i was offered a scarce german wwii helmet the other day, unfortunately i turned down the chance because of the high amount of fakes on the market and my limited knowledge..

shame

Originally Posted by BOOTLE BILL

Lettuce-Leaf, a good poster name

Wedgwood at the turn of the century did a range of green ware, the plates decorated and made in the shape of a lettuce leaf.

Lovely item.
I'm green with envy

Edited to say ... I'm green with envy 'kos' I don't have one (You can groan now, John!)

Originally Posted by Lettuce-Leaf

Lovely item.
I'm green with envy

Edited to say ... I'm green with envy 'kos' I don't have one (You can groan now, John!)

Don't you mean "you can Grown now John"

come on now ! let tuce be avin you

Yes, well Ruler!1 and briana5125 ... I mayo may not leaf another comment - but right now I'm off to caesar salad before the Co-op shuts!

Originally Posted by Lettuce-Leaf

Yes, well Ruler!1 and briana5125 ... I mayo may not leaf another comment - but right now I'm off to caesar salad before the Co-op shuts!

good to see humor on the threads.

Good to see Lettuce-Leaf being a good sport and taking a fence about her lettuce patch

well what has the custodian come up with this time.



Liverpool Dock Masters book

a record of what happened during WW11 at the docks in Liverpool.

It is so interesting

I will quote passages from it.

SOCIAL HISTORY .... I love it.

from entries like

Jan 23rd 1942
I beg to report a pipe in S.W. Canning Dock has burst

14th June 1942
I beg to report that J.S.Holgrove approached an engine driver questioned his authority, dissatisfied with the explanation took hold of his throat and throw him to the ground..............................

8th January 1940

list of all the ships in Albert Dock

including wrecks and boat beacons

I will start to post the more interesting information when I have time