Trolling his lures
Q: I have quite a collection of fishing lures, and I am curious about both values and rarity. Is there a good reference book you can recommend? — Steve, Orlando, Fla.
A: “Classic Fishing Lures” by Russell E. Lewis (Krause Publications) is one of the better ones available. It features 1,500 color illustrations, current prices and the history of most major lure makes.
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Q: I have a small metal toy car that was purchased in 1936. Does it have any value? — Jean, Galesburg, Ill.
A: Dan Wells buys, sells and restores tin, cast iron and early pressed automobile toys, and he might be able to help you establish a value for the one you have. His address is P.O. Box 7, Goshen, KY 40026.
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Q: I have a number of movie star autographs from the 1930s and ‘40s, including the personal signatures of Carole Lombard, Joan Crawford, Boris Karloff, Ethel Merman and Myrna Loy. Where can I find out how much they are worth? — James, Hartford, Conn.
A: I suggest you contact Robert Jones, owner of Autograph World. He specializes in celebrity autographs and publishes catalogs throughout the year that feature his inventory. His address and telephone number are 559 Central Ave., Dover, NH 03820; and 1-603-749-9461.
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Q: I have some records that are quite old. I want to downsize and need to know current values. — June, Denver, Pa.
A: You need to do some homework, and it will take both time and patience. I suggest you invest in several basic price guides. I especially recommend three: the Goldmine Price Guide to 45 RPM Records by Tim Neely (KP Books, $24.99); Rockin’ Records by Jerry Osborne (Osborne Enterprises, $39); and the Goldmine Record Album Price Guide, also by Tim Neely (KP Books, $24.99).
If you have a computer, you might check out the action on eBay. One final piece of information to remember is that a price listed in a guide can sometimes be much higher than the amount actually realized in the marketplace.