- Feb 1, 2006
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Hello fellow tneters -- pasted below is an article we wrote a year or so ago at the request of a blogger who visited this site.
I don't believe she ever used it but the recent post regarding flatware reminded me of it. Might as well not go to waste. Please post other patterns / makers / tips below if you have had success with them. Thanks.
Stainless "STEAL" Flatware
Have you ever walked into an estate sale late and seen nothing but stuffed animals and a drawer full of stainless forks and knives? Seems like a bummer…but there could be hidden gems right in front of your eyes. If you aren’t already buying and selling flatware, it’s time to take a second look. These items are usually a steal at garage sales and estate sales and can produce fantastic profits at online auction sites like eBay.
What to Look For - Generally
When it comes to flatware – patterns mean everything. Some patterns will bring $50.00 or more per piece, and others will sell only for scrap value. The best way to familiarize yourself with the top patterns is to go to the eBay website and search “vintage stainless flatware”. Next sort by auctions only, and then “number of bids most first”. Focus on the patterns generating the most bids. Do the same for completed listings.
Some patterns were manufactured in limited runs and remain eternally popular. They are therefore always a good bet. (classic examples are the Towle “Beaded Antique” pattern - especially the original German made pieces - and the Washington Forge “Town and Country” pattern). Like all vintage/antique items, however, the popularity of most flatware patterns ebbs and flows along with the popularity of the artistic/aesthetic movement with which the pattern is associated. The post-“Mad Men” resurrection of modernism has caused a feeding frenzy for all things mod – especially streamlined mid-century Danish Modern pieces. Fortunately for us, there is a bevy of Danish modern patterns stashed away in drawers, garages and biscuit tins around the country. Some of the best selling patterns are “Magnum” by Lauffer (a/k/a Towle), “Odin” by Dansk and “Heirloom” by Oneida. Keep an eye our for Yamazaki pieces as well. Even a single spoon, fork or knife in one of these patterns is worth buying and reselling. The prudent “picker” should memorize these patterns and makers, at a minimum.
Oneida, Oneida, Oneida
As you start paying attention to flatware, you will notice a lot of it is marked either Oneida, Oneida Community or Oneida Craft. These pieces were manufactured and marketed by the Oneida Company and there is a market for almost every one of them. Some exceed $50.00 per piece, but most of them are in the $1.00-$2.00 per piece or less category (though even these cheaper patterns usually sell well in sets). Because of the commonality of Oneida pieces, and the incredible abundance of Oneida patterns, it is important to familiarize yourself with some of the “Oneida Basics”. Generally, the best Oneida patterns are the so called vintage “cube marked” pieces. These pieces will all have a three dimensional cube logo next to the Oneida name. These cube marked pieces are heavy, high quality stainless steel. You should not be able to bend a “cube marked” teaspoon with one hand (unless you are Mr. Universe).
Selling Your Pieces on EBay
Most stainless flatware is best sold at a fixed price. You have to remember that vintage flatware is not something that is usually purchased on a whim – rather the majority of buyers are seeking to replace lost or broken pieces from family sets or wedding gifts. You may therefore have to wait for the person who needs the pattern you have to come along.
If you do not know the pattern of the flatware you are selling, don’t bother listing it. People searching for replacement pieces are not inclined to look through the thousands of listings on eBay to try to find their pattern. For that same reason, it is obviously important to put the pattern name in the title of your listing.
Pricing is best based on the current replacements.com price for the same piece. You should generally look to get 50-75% of the going replacements.com price.
You will get the best return if you sell individual pieces – but for the cheaper patterns, this can be a tedious process. A good rule of thumb is to sell pieces valued at $7.00 or more individually, pieces valued at $3.00-$7.00 by the five piece place setting (Spoon, Tea Spoon, Dinner Fork, Cake/Salad Fork and Dinner Knife) and pieces valued at less than three dollars by the set or partial set.
You should be able to ship up to 5 pieces by first class mail. After that, the best method is by USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Box (angle dinner knives to fit them in the small USPS flat rate box).
Some Random Tips:
1. Keep your eyes peeled for unusual pieces: Iced tea spoons, cocktail forks, sauce spoons, demitasse spoons, serving pieces etc. These pieces will usually, though not always, bring a premium over the regular pieces.
2. Look out for children’s pieces in popular patterns. They look just like the regular pieces except smaller. These pieces will bring a premium.
3. Next time your at Goodwill or your local thrift, pick up a dozen or so different spoons, knives, forks, etc. Take them home and look up each maker/pattern. This is a good exercise to familiarize yourself with values.
I don't believe she ever used it but the recent post regarding flatware reminded me of it. Might as well not go to waste. Please post other patterns / makers / tips below if you have had success with them. Thanks.
Stainless "STEAL" Flatware
Have you ever walked into an estate sale late and seen nothing but stuffed animals and a drawer full of stainless forks and knives? Seems like a bummer…but there could be hidden gems right in front of your eyes. If you aren’t already buying and selling flatware, it’s time to take a second look. These items are usually a steal at garage sales and estate sales and can produce fantastic profits at online auction sites like eBay.
What to Look For - Generally
When it comes to flatware – patterns mean everything. Some patterns will bring $50.00 or more per piece, and others will sell only for scrap value. The best way to familiarize yourself with the top patterns is to go to the eBay website and search “vintage stainless flatware”. Next sort by auctions only, and then “number of bids most first”. Focus on the patterns generating the most bids. Do the same for completed listings.
Some patterns were manufactured in limited runs and remain eternally popular. They are therefore always a good bet. (classic examples are the Towle “Beaded Antique” pattern - especially the original German made pieces - and the Washington Forge “Town and Country” pattern). Like all vintage/antique items, however, the popularity of most flatware patterns ebbs and flows along with the popularity of the artistic/aesthetic movement with which the pattern is associated. The post-“Mad Men” resurrection of modernism has caused a feeding frenzy for all things mod – especially streamlined mid-century Danish Modern pieces. Fortunately for us, there is a bevy of Danish modern patterns stashed away in drawers, garages and biscuit tins around the country. Some of the best selling patterns are “Magnum” by Lauffer (a/k/a Towle), “Odin” by Dansk and “Heirloom” by Oneida. Keep an eye our for Yamazaki pieces as well. Even a single spoon, fork or knife in one of these patterns is worth buying and reselling. The prudent “picker” should memorize these patterns and makers, at a minimum.
Oneida, Oneida, Oneida
As you start paying attention to flatware, you will notice a lot of it is marked either Oneida, Oneida Community or Oneida Craft. These pieces were manufactured and marketed by the Oneida Company and there is a market for almost every one of them. Some exceed $50.00 per piece, but most of them are in the $1.00-$2.00 per piece or less category (though even these cheaper patterns usually sell well in sets). Because of the commonality of Oneida pieces, and the incredible abundance of Oneida patterns, it is important to familiarize yourself with some of the “Oneida Basics”. Generally, the best Oneida patterns are the so called vintage “cube marked” pieces. These pieces will all have a three dimensional cube logo next to the Oneida name. These cube marked pieces are heavy, high quality stainless steel. You should not be able to bend a “cube marked” teaspoon with one hand (unless you are Mr. Universe).
Selling Your Pieces on EBay
Most stainless flatware is best sold at a fixed price. You have to remember that vintage flatware is not something that is usually purchased on a whim – rather the majority of buyers are seeking to replace lost or broken pieces from family sets or wedding gifts. You may therefore have to wait for the person who needs the pattern you have to come along.
If you do not know the pattern of the flatware you are selling, don’t bother listing it. People searching for replacement pieces are not inclined to look through the thousands of listings on eBay to try to find their pattern. For that same reason, it is obviously important to put the pattern name in the title of your listing.
Pricing is best based on the current replacements.com price for the same piece. You should generally look to get 50-75% of the going replacements.com price.
You will get the best return if you sell individual pieces – but for the cheaper patterns, this can be a tedious process. A good rule of thumb is to sell pieces valued at $7.00 or more individually, pieces valued at $3.00-$7.00 by the five piece place setting (Spoon, Tea Spoon, Dinner Fork, Cake/Salad Fork and Dinner Knife) and pieces valued at less than three dollars by the set or partial set.
You should be able to ship up to 5 pieces by first class mail. After that, the best method is by USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Box (angle dinner knives to fit them in the small USPS flat rate box).
Some Random Tips:
1. Keep your eyes peeled for unusual pieces: Iced tea spoons, cocktail forks, sauce spoons, demitasse spoons, serving pieces etc. These pieces will usually, though not always, bring a premium over the regular pieces.
2. Look out for children’s pieces in popular patterns. They look just like the regular pieces except smaller. These pieces will bring a premium.
3. Next time your at Goodwill or your local thrift, pick up a dozen or so different spoons, knives, forks, etc. Take them home and look up each maker/pattern. This is a good exercise to familiarize yourself with values.
