eBay Featured Item:

Britains WWI Clyno Motorcycle

A hard-to-find WWI Clyno motorcycle cast in the 1930s. It was once attached to a sidecar which, unfortunately, I never had. I believe it was called a Vickers-Clyno because the side card held a Vickers machine gun. Made from hollow-cast lead. This figure might be Britains Catalog Number 200: Motorcycle Dispatch Rider, but I have not been able to verify it. I found a Danish website with some information but was not able to translate much of it. The website shows this figure with the sidecar and describes it as Catalog Number 199: Motor Machine Gun Corps.

More history here:
Adventures of a Motorcycle Despatch Rider during the First World War

                       

Illustration from Britains Catalog, circa 1932.
(Click on illustration to go to the source website.)

eBay Featured Item:

Four Vintage Britains Indians

This set is not in the best condition, but the figures still have a wonderful vintage appeal.  I've not been able to determine the exact age but I suspect that they were made between 1930 and 1950.  If I had to guess, I'd say they are pre-war.  They are made from hollow-cast lead.

SOLD! Four Britains Indian Figures
Item #260520700945

eBay Featured Item:

Vintage Tektronix 321A Battery Operated Oscilloscope!  (SOLD)

This oscilloscope was an early battery operated scope (the first was the Model 321). It could operate on either a 115V AC source, and external 11.5-35V DC source, or a "battery pack" of ten size "D" flashlight cells. It was first manufactured in 1964. Unfortunately, I don't have a power cord to go with it. But even if you never power it up, it would be a great find for the avid collector. It is currently available on the PDXBuys eBay page for only $49.99 (BIN price)!  The Model 321A User Manual can be found at:

http://pcbunn.cithep.caltech.edu/jjb/tektronix/321A/321a_scope.pdf

A Brief Tektronix History:

Tektronix, Inc. is a North American company best known for its test and measurement equipment such as oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and video and mobile test equipment. The company traces its roots back to the electronics revolution that immediately followed World War II. The company’s founders C. Howard Vollum and Melvin J. "Jack" Murdock invented the world’s first triggered oscilloscope in 1946, a significant technological breakthrough. Tektronix was incorporated in 1946. Today, Tektronix is a subsidiary of Danaher Corp. Tektronix headquarters are in Beaverton, OR. (Source: Wikipedia)

eBay Featured Item:

Vintage DYMO-MITE Label Maker

Here is a classic -- a chrome DYMO-MITE TAPEWRITER. Remember these? A vintage quality product once made by DYMO, Berkeley 1, California. DYMO Corporation is an American company that manufactures handheld label makers, label printers, and other printers such as CD and DVD labelers. DYMO Corporation was founded in 1958 and is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Newell Rubbermaid (Source: Wikipedia).

eBay Featured Item:

Bachmann HO Scale Red Caboose

Here's another fine estate sale item. This is a great looking Bachmann HO scale caboose. Made in Taiwan (not China). Age is unknown.
This is one of three in a set I am selling. Update: This one didn't sell, but see my other eBay ads at PDXBuys.

eBay Featured Item:

Vintage 1964 Superman Model Kit Aurora No. 462 - Rare!

Now available on eBay (click on image to go to ebay auction).

Plastic Model Figure from 1963/1964. Aurora Kit No. 462-100. The original assembly instruction sheet is included! Unfortunately, there are a few pieces missing, but still a rare find for Aurora Kit collectors!

Aurora Plastics Corporation - Brief History

The Aurora Plastics Corporation is a U.S. toy and hobby manufacturing and marketing company. It is known primarily for its production of plastic model kits in the 1960s. Aurora Plastics Corporation was founded in March, 1950 by engineer Joseph E. Giammarino (1916-1992) and businessman Abe Shikes (1908-1997) in Brooklyn, New York (in West Hempstead, Long Island from 1954), as a contract manufacturer of injection molded plastics.

With the hiring in 1952 of salesman John Cuomo (1901-1971), the company began the manufacture of its own line of plastic model kits. These kits were marketed to young hobbyists, as were the kits of rivals Monogram and Revell. Aurora profitably targeted to a younger demographic than their competitors, creating smaller-sized models at a lower price point.

Although their first offerings were aircraft kits in a "Famous Fighters" line, it is with their figure kits that Aurora is most associated and had their biggest success. Following a series of "knights in armor" and historical figures, Aurora acquired a license from Universal Studios to create a line of kits based on Universal monsters, which became the company’s most popular offerings. Together with their other licensed models based on characters from movies, TV shows and comic books, Aurora’s figure kits continue to be highly valued by collectors. Aurora used artist James Bama for some of their box art.

(Source: Wikipedia)

eBay Tips: Photography

Antique Victorian Wax Desk Seal with
Sterling Silver Crest and Agate Handle

(Sold for $177.00 in 2005, BidBrothers)

This was another antique objet d'art I enjoyed photographing. Ornate and rich with details. Beautiful colors...

The History of Sealing Wax

Sealing wax actually originated when envelopes did not come with glue on the flap that made it difficult to seal and thus ensure privacy. To solve this problem, a lit candle was tipped over the envelope, allowing a few drops of wax to fall on the flap’s side and that was stamped with an inscribed stem, which was called a seal.

In days of yore this was a method used to ensure that the communication sent was secure and authentic. Unfortunately it was the coming of the gummed envelopes that led to a decline in the use of sealing wax, though the ones who are fascinated with it still find an excuse to melt the wax!

The recipes of sealing wax can be generally divided into those before and after the beginning of trade with the Indies. Beeswax that had been melted together with Venice turpentine was typically used in the Middle Ages to make sealing wax. The wax that was manufactured at this time was uncolored. It was after some time that vermilion was used to add some color. It was in the 16th century that sealing wax was compounded from a mixture of various proportions of shellac, resin, turpentine, chalk, plaster, turpentine and coloring matter and no actual wax.

(Source: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/wax-seals-what-is-sealing-wax.html)

eBay Tips: Photography

Antique Japanese Charcoal Iron

eBay Tips: Photography

The SAMOVAR: Form and function in the art of tea

A samovar (Russian: самовар, literally "self-boiler") is a metal container used to heat and boil water. It has traditionally been used in and around Russia, as well as in other Central, South-Eastern and Eastern European countries, in Iran, Kashmir, Turkey and Hadhramawt, eastern Yemen. Since the heated water is usually used for making tea, some samovars have an attachment on the top of the lid to hold and heat a teapot filled with tea concentrate. Samovars are said to have been invented in Central Asia, though their origin is a matter of dispute. For example, some argue that it is purely a Russian invention given that the samovar appeared in Iran not later than the 18th century, and it bears the same Russian name samovar which translates to self-brewer. Though traditionally heated with coal or charcoal, today many newer samovars use electricity to boil the water. (Source: Wikipedia)

Antique Russian Samovar Teapot
(BidBrothers consignment item, 2005)

eBay Gift Ideas for Father's Day, June 21st

Father's Day is coming soon. On Sunday, June 21st, 2009, we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Father's Day. Search on eBay for unique and vintage gifts for Dad:
Search for Father's Day gifts on eBay

eBay Tips: Photography

Vintage cameras and typewriters are two of my favorite items to photograph. I wonder if these classic designs will ever return? Although each came from a separate estate, I can imagine them belonging to a rookie American newspaper reporter, perhaps capturing the pictures and stories of the war overseas... Both of these were shot in 2005.



Vintage Underwood Typewriter (circa 1943)



Vintage Spartus Press Flash Camera (Made between 1939-1950)

eBay Tips: Photography

A colorful subject from another consignment shoot. Better than a Kodak ad...


Barbie Doll

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Search for Barbie on eBay

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eBay Tips: Photography

The Classroom Printer #1




The Classroom Printer #2




His Master's Voice

eBay Tips: Photography

My photo of the day is this Rancor Monster figure from the Star Wars film Return of the Jedi. This is another photo of an eBay consignment item I did back during my days at BidBrothers. A nice close-up of the scary, pointy teeth! He's got a face that only a mother could love... The figure had a high center of gravity and would easily fall down if nudged or if blown by the breeze of our oscillating cooling fan. Must have been the big head. Eventually I realized I could tip the head back to maintain a better balance.



Star Wars Rancor Monster Figure #1



Star Wars Rancor Monster Figure #2

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Search for Star Wars Rancor Monster on eBay

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eBay Tips: Photography

I recently powered up my old desktop PC (mostly use the laptop now) and located an archive of a few more photos I shot at BidBrothers, the eBay consignment shop, back in 2005. I will post them over the next few days. This antique gold mirror was a very beautiful piece and a joy to photograph! Any object with a reflective surface is an opportunity to use light, reflection, and refraction to enhance your photo.



Hand Mirror with Gold Cherub #1



Hand Mirror with Gold Cherub #2



Hand Mirror with Gold Cherub #3

Meg Whitman Running for Governor of California 2010

Meg Whitman, Republican candidate for governor, was the former President and Chief Executive Officer of eBay from March 1998 to March 2008. Get all of the latest campaign news at her website: http://www.megwhitman.com/ and on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/megwhitman

eBay Tips: Photography

Set the Wayback Machine to the summer of 2005. I was shooting eBay photographs for an independent eBay consignment shop. I had very little experience and we had a make-shift studio in the back of the warehouse with just a gray backdrop and a couple of halogen worklights. The digital camera was respectable (it was either a Canon or Nikon). Yet I somehow achieved incredible results! Pretty much all of those photos are gone now, sadly. However, this set was saved because an external website borrowed them from the eBay ad while it was still available. I have archived them here to showcase my past work. The item is a 1950s Puccini chalkware ballerina TV lamp. The top photo was taken with the lamp on so a low wattage bulb illuminates the figure from behind. No flash was used. This is one of my favorite photos. The bottom photo was taken with our normal flash and halogen lighting.

New Auction from PDXBuys:

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Starting bid is just 99 cents!

Two (2) Vintage TootsieToy Truck Cabs Red & Blue
(Item #330330162446)
Click on image below to see full ad. Photo ©2009 by PDXBUYS.

New Listing from PDXBuys:

Walt Disney's BAMBI (VHS)
Fully Restored 55th Anniversary Limited Edition
BUY IT NOW: $5.99 (SOLD!) (Used)

eBay Diversions: Javascript Hack

No eBay sales? Life getting you down? Take a break! Copy and paste the following script into the address bar of your web browser and then press ENTER on your keyboard. Wow! (Just refresh your web page to return to normal.) Works with MS Internet Explorer. Doesn't seem to work with Firefox.

javascript:R=0; x1=.1; y1=.05; x2=.25; y2=.24; x3=1.6; y3=.24; x4=300; y4=200; x5=300; y5=200; DI=document.images; DIL=DI.length; function A(){for(i=0; i-DIL; i++){DIS=DI[ i ].style; DIS.position='absolute'; DIS.left=Math.sin(R*x1+i*x2+x3)*x4+x5; DIS.top=Math.cos(R*y1+i*y2+y3)*y4+y5}R++ }setInterval('A()',5); void(0);

This is a classic web browser hack. It is completely harmless.

eBay Tips: Marketing

FREE BUSINESS CARDS!

Promote your eBay page or eBay services by passing along your business card to new clients. My favorite supplier is www.vistaprint.com. You can get your first 250 business cards free from vistaprint. They also have a wide variety of other products such as brochures, window decals, promotional magnets, calendars, hats, keychains and more! They offer professional service and ordering is easy with their fully automated website. Be sure to have a look.

eBay Tips: Customer Communication

Customer service is job #1 - Communicate with your customers!

Good communication with your buyers will just about guarantee that you will receive positive feedback. Many of your customers will be new to eBay and somewhat intimidated. Good communication assures them that there is a caring human being on the other end and that they are not going to get ripped off. Promptly following up on questions or problems is greatly appreciated by most buyers. This might mean just answering a simple question about an item prior to the sale or e-mailing a UPS tracking number after shipment. Do your best to provide one-to-one personalized service. Always remain professional no matter how difficult the problem. Once you fall into the trap of arguing with or insulting your customer you have lost. Learn to ignore extremely rude customers. It's not worth the fight.

eBay Tips: Photographing your item

A successful ad will have great photos. All of your ads should have at least one photo and a gallery. The gallery picture will appear in the search results when a buyer types in a keyword in the search field.

The Camera:

There are some sellers who still use a film camera to photo items. After the photo is developed the print is scanned with a digital scanner and then the image is posted to the ad. For obvious reasons, this is not terribly practical. Buy a good digital camera! pdxbuys uses a Fujifilm FinePix A205 2.0 megapixel camera which was purchased for under $100.00. It has served me well, but there are far more advanced cameras now available. There are many varieties of cameras to choose from. Find one which fits your budget and is comfortable and easy for you to use. Rechargeable batteries or an AC adapter will save you from debt and stress. There is nothing worse than having your cheap batteries die right when you are trying to meet the deadline for an important ad.

Point and Shoot:

The three cardinal rules of photography: FOCUS, LIGHTING, and SIZE

Nothing looks as bad as a photo which is out of focus, too dark, or too small! If your photo does not look good, then take the time to reshoot. A bad photo can drive down your sale price.

If you have your own personal photography studio then you are very fortunate. For those on a budget, improvisation is the key. Shooting outdoors in direct or indirect sunlight will often get you the same (or better) results as you'd get shooting under expensive photography lights. A small piece of colored paper will work as a functional background if you have nothing else. Remember that the important thing is the final result. You buyers will not know that you improvised as long as the image looks great!

I enjoy photographing small items and giving them a larger-than-life feel. A mundane item, such as this vintage Lesney truck found at the bottom of a Goodwill bin, can be given new life when featured in a carefully executed close-up shot. The narrow depth of field adds depth and makes the vehicle look larger than it really is.


VINTAGE LESNEY SCAMMEL 6X6 TRACTOR (circa 1960)

Tips:

1. Crop your ad as close to a square shape as possible. This makes the best gallery photo.

2. Make sure your pictures contribute to the ad.

3. Consider photo hosting services such as photobucket.com to help keep costs down.

NEVER post a blurry photo in your ad! Use of a tripod or simply resting the camera on a solid object when you shoot can reduce your number of blurry photos. If your first photo is bad, always take the time to shoot again until you get that perfect image.
Remember that photography, like playing the piano, is a skill. It will take some practice to develop a method which works. Be patient and experiment frequently. That random thing you do might result in a super photo. Make notes and try to repeat the technique the next time! Study stock photos taken by professionals and try to duplicate the look.

There are hundreds of books available on photography. Read a few and try to apply what you have learned. If you are very dedicated, sign up for a class at your local community college. Photography can be the most creative and satisfying part of creating your ad!

Item ending soon!

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Vintage West Line Polar Star Ship Glass Ashtray c. 1967
(Item #330323384603)
Click on image below to see full ad. Photo ©2009 by PDXBUYS.


Purchased at a local Goodwill store.

Item ending soon!

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ROCK 'EM SOCK 'EM ROBOTS Mattel 2001
(Item #330322965132)
Click on image below to see full ad. Photo ©2009 by PDXBUYS.


I found this great pair of robots at a Goodwill store. They were made in 2001 by Mattel (China).

Unfortunately, not the original Marx robots. But just for fun here is the old Marx commercial: