I was sitting in the midst of the Ventriloquist Central Collection and it came to me that I was without question a collector of Ventriloquist Figures and not a dealer. You must remember that I was a true dealer of antiques for almost 30 years prior to becoming involved with the ventriloquist figures. I had no problem adding a profit on to what ever item I would purchase and then put it up for sale.
I did in fact sell a lot of ventriloquist figures when I first started because I was new to the item and to get more of them I had to sell. I quickly realized that I was buying and selling other antique items but I was not selling the figures. As matter of fact when I did sell a ventriloquist figure it really bothered me. I never had that happen with any other item I had ever bought.
Now the only time I will sell a ventriloquist figure is when I have purchased one as an upgrade so the lesser one I will put out for sale. Occasionally I will purchase some figures that I know will be sold and those to me are an exception to the collection.
I found that I have a craving and to satisfy that craving I must purchase another figure. The craving happens almost as soon as I have placed the newest acquisition into the collection. Is this called an addiction? It sure sounds like it because you just can’t satisfy the want . Even when I have acquire a new Marshall I get so excited because it is the maker I like best but as soon as I have it I want another. So that is the sure sign you are a collector. You buy to keep not to sell.
Dan
www.ventriloquistcentral.com
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Ventriloquist Central is the brainchild of Dan Willinger and Steve Hurst. Dan is a ventriloquism enthusiast and ventriloquist figure collector. He has been collecting for over 25 years. He created the Ventriloquist Central Collection. It now has over 100 ventriloquist figures and over 50 of them are Frank Marshall figures. Steve is a ventriloquist as well as builder of ventriloquist figures. He also has a background in sales, marketing, building websites and computers. Because they both love the art of ventriloquism, the website Ventriloquist Central was born. For more information about the website, go to: http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com
Copyright 2013 by Dan Willinger and Steve Hurst
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That is how it is in collecting artificial fishing gear, the Heddon, Creek Chub and Arbogast lures. I would check out all of the hardware stores in small towns, found stuff before big time collectors got there, always bought in threes, looked for wood lures with glass eyes, in the boxes. I always bought at the old prices, same for rods and reels. One morning I went to a marina and bought $50 worth of lures worth $500, and that afterfnoon the marina caught fire and burned to the ground–or rather to the water. http://www.mrlurebox.com/Creek.htm and http://www.antiquelures.com/heddon/ and http://www.collectorsweekly.com/fishing/arbogast
I collect old fishing lures, look for wood plugs with glass eyes, in the box, with booklet instructions. I have a pretty good collection, don’t sell and hardly ever trade them, and almost always buy two or three of each at a time. I find them in old hardware stores in small towns throughout the state. One morning I bought some Heddon, Creek Chub, and Arbogast plugs for $50 worth $500 at a marina on Herrington Lake here in KY. That afternoon marina burned to the ground–or should I say to the water.