2pm garage sale score!

[blacksheep4289]

I usually go out every Friday morning to the garage sales. Today I woke up to rain =/. It finally ended at noon so we went for lunch. On our way back home I spotted a sign, and had to get my fix for the day. This was a barn sale so it was open all morning. When I walked in I saw 2 flats of jewelry. I noticed that all of the earrings and sets were in baggies together. Someone took some time to seperate everything... Figured it'd be picked over but had to double check. Quickly spotted a little box with pins. Turn the first over and saw 10k so I started a pile. Picked all the silver I could see(few bracelets and a necklace) and the lady said $4. Done. Got in the truck and was about to leave... Figured I'd make an offer on it all. I offered her $10. She said $12 and I said deal. Sadly, I didn't manage to find any more gold. I found what I believe to be several bakelite bracelets. Found a few silver rhinestone pieces. There were about 150 pairs of clip on earrings. Oh and another 30 sets of rhinestone earrings. I've never sold anything but gold/silver jewelry on ebay. I think this will have me checking out costume jewelry more often... Now I just need to find the time to list everything =/. Its alot!

 

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[trdking]

Nice score! at 2PM I love the afternoon cleanup shift! You will be surprised at what costume brings. The right stuff is more valuable than gold!

 

[Beachkid23]

That's some good stuff. Trdking is correct, some of that vintage jewelry when it signed by the maker can bring in a lot of money. I would probably suggest doing a buy it now or best offer unless it's something really special with a bunch of rhinestones possibly or different colors. Any questions you might have about specific pieces feel free to put them up here and we can do the best we can to help you! Congrats on that score! If you want to test for Bakelite this is what I use. You put it on the cloth and then wipe the cloth on the piece of jewelry and the color should transfer over to the cloth. Try to use a white cloth so it makes it easier to see. Maybe others have something else, this is just what I was told by a fellow picker here.

 

[trdking]

Heat a pin to red hot and touch it to an off area. If it doesn't melt it is bakelite Thats what I was taught

 

[WannaDig3687]

Geezy Pete's! It was raining all morning where I live, too. I hope that wasn't the barn sale I passed on my way to work! Haha!
Seriously, nice score! Hope you do real well 're-selling it all!

 

[What Me Worry?]

Wait let me get this straight, to test for Bakelite, I have to burn them? LMAO I'll pass on that. Knowing my luck I'll destroy the pieces.

So Beachkid23, if the color transfers to the cloth, it's Bakelite?

 

[trdking]

Wait let me get this straight, to test for Bakelite, I have to burn them? LMAO I'll pass on that. Knowing my luck I'll destroy the pieces.

So Beachkid23, if the color transfers to the cloth, it's Bakelite?

Just the tip of a needle/pin. If it melts, it is not worth much of anything anyway!

 

[JimDon]

Hard to believe it lasted until 2pm. Great scores. Happy listing!

 

[OldSowBreath]

On Bakelite - dip the piece in hot water. It will have a very pungent odor. This is what they do on the Antiques Road Show.

 

[blacksheep4289]

Geezy Pete's! It was raining all morning where I live, too. I hope that wasn't the barn sale I passed on my way to work! Haha!
Seriously, nice score! Hope you do real well 're-selling it all!

Idk where in Ohio your from but it was between Oxford and Fairfield Ohio. Sorry new to the area. Unsure of the little towns names yet.

 

[Beachkid23]

Wait let me get this straight, to test for Bakelite, I have to burn them? LMAO I'll pass on that. Knowing my luck I'll destroy the pieces.

So Beachkid23, if the color transfers to the cloth, it's Bakelite?

From what I was told yes. I've only had at work once so I sold it as Bakelite on eBay and it didn't get returned. Haha. But yeah that's the only way I know of.

 

[blacksheep4289]

From what I was told yes. I've only had at work once so I sold it as Bakelite on eBay and it didn't get returned. Haha. But yeah that's the only way I know of.

An auctioneer buddy taught me the needle trick. If it goes in then your messing with junk. Don't stab it. Just get it glowing hot and stick it onto the item. It will go in with ease.

 

[trdking]

On Bakelite - dip the piece in hot water. It will have a very pungent odor. This is what they do on the Antiques Road Show.

Yes I have heard that one too! Good one.

 

[trdking]

An auctioneer buddy taught me the needle trick. If it goes in then your messing with junk. Don't stab it. Just get it glowing hot and stick it onto the item. It will go in with ease.

or not at all, then its bakelite

 

[insontis]

For the costume that is virtually "worthless", I recommend bulk selling locally. You can on eBay, but there's a ton of competition. Locally on a garage sale site or so, who else is selling a few pounds of jewelry? I pick out the good stuff and compile the rest in a bin until it acquires a few pounds weight and then sell it. I generally have been able to get $10-15 a pound.. which itself can pay for most/all of the lot it came from.

edit: Unless you do flea markets and can get a bunch sold individually..

 

[insontis]

"Scrubbing Bubbles was once the standard cleaner to use for Bakelite testing, but Formula 409 is now recommended instead. To use, dampen a cotton swab with 409 and rub it gently on the inside of the item being tested. If it's Bakelite, the swab will turn yellow. If a piece is laquered, it may test negative with 409"

I've used this 409 test before and it seemed to work with a piece that I was fairly certain was genuine. Wasn't returned anyway..

 

[bigcaddy64]

Hot water test is a non intrusive way. It should have a phenolic odor when heated

 

[diggummup]

Nice find on the silver and the little pins. I have a bunch of those myself. As suggested by beachkid, simichrome is the best and most non intrusive way to test for bakelite. Rub a little on a clean area and if it turns yellow, it's bakelite. I say a clean area because they can be dirty from being stored and the dirty will also appear yellow/brown sometimes. So it's best to just wipe off the area with soap and water first. Your bangles, based on the colors alone are probably plastic. Also bakelite bangles will not have a seam line anywhere. Bakelite will often develop a patina of sorts and often changes color slightly with age. One more thing is black bakelite will often fail the simichrome test. Most black bakelite objects though aren't jewelry, but it isn't a rare thing. Here is a good ebay review of ways to test for bakelite...
HOW TO TEST BAKELITE FOR IT'S AUTHENTICITY... | eBay

 

[ARC]

409 spray... and 409 spray ONLY... NOT windex or any other similar.

Spray onto CLEAN WHITE paper towel NOT with "print" like flowers and scenes... OR wad of tolet paper...

Take saturated "whichever" and wipe sternly...

IF nothing... then it is "nothing"... or at least NOT Bakelite.

IF... Yellowish"... Tis Bakelite.

Ok... now for a quick tip...

IF you see ANY seam line(s)... its not Bakelite.

 

[ARC]

PS... the colors of the bracelets pictured are not "typical" for bakelite.

I am not saying they are not Bakelite... just stating an opinion.

Btw ... nice score on the 10k...

That alone will more than pay for your endeavor.