Antiques on the Cheap: A Savvy Dealer's Tips: Buying, Restoring, Selling (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Although neither of these guides to antiques is particularly scholarly, McKenzie's is certainly more credible (albeit less fun to read) than Loomis's. McKenzie provides useful tips?not only for the business pro but also for the flea-market junkie?on how to rummage for, buy, and sell antiques and on how to establish a profitable business, with suggestions on such matters as calculating inventory turnover and handling tax records. He provides information on how to do minor repairs on collectibles and also offers guidance on major restoration projects, such as rebuilding old trunks or resilvering mirrors. The writing is straightforward, the advice is practical as well as easy to understand, and the book would be of interest to most antiques buffs. The title of the Loomis book pretty much sums up its content. While it does offer tips on "the hunt" and subsequent bargaining (and the etiquette of dealing with sellers), its primary focus is on the dating and identification of a wide variety of antiques (everything from World's Fair collectibles to Shaker furniture). While Loomis's breezy style may annoy some, readers familiar with his television appearances and videos will probably find this book enjoyable. Because his information is occasionally contradictory (he asserts, for example, that porcelain was first produced in Europe at the Meissen factory in Germany in 1709; two pages later he states that the French made porcelain in 1673), this book should not be considered an essential purchase unless there is patron demand.?Margarete Gross, Chicago P.L.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This book is for wanna-be antiques dealers and folks who have more time than money. It is not about trends, collecting, and tips on antique shows and flea markets. In plain language, McKenzie surveys all the probable places to buy (e.g., auctions and estate sales), all the quick fixes, and all the selling ploys. Best among the wisdom collected here are the behavioral ruses--for example, how to capitalize on unwanted leftovers, as well as bidding strategies at auctions--and all the recipes, formulas, and instructions for repairs. To his credit, everything's done on the cheap; he gives tips on savings on furniture stripping and even no-rent merchandise displays. Sidebars, too, are generally valuable; in one, he explains the anatomy of a bottle, and in another, a fool-proof recipe for furniture juice (cleaning fluid, that is). Step-by-step instructions would profit by more illustrations, though. Barbara Jacobs

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; illustrated edition edition (January 9, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580170730
• ISBN-13: 978-1580170734
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #373,431 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific book on how to fix antiques., July 5, 1999

By A Customer

I bought an antique camel-back trunk that needed lots of restoring and didn't know how to start. My friend recommended this book, and I am so glad I bought it. Not only did it give step by step on restoring a trunk but it also had a refrence page on suppliers for trunk parts. I highly recommended this book to anyone who needs to repair trunks, lamps, pottery and frames. The furniture repair section was sort of brief; I would have like to see more on this topic.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to do fix it up instructions, also good marketing tips., July 26, 1999

By A Customer

This is the most helpful book I've read that in very succinct style tells how to buy, fix up, and possibly resell antiques and other second hand stuff. If you love "shabby chic", but can't afford the prices, this book will make it easier to achieve that look. This book is not for people who worry about getting their hands dirty.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS IS THE ONE TO OWN!, September 14, 2001

By A Customer

THE BEST BOOK TO OWN. INEXPENSIVE AND PRACTICAL ADVISE ON HOW TO CLEAN AND REPAIR FRAMES,SILVER, BRASS (THE ONLY PLACE I'VE SEEN BRASS CLEANING THAT WORKS) TRUNKS, POTTERY, AND LAMPS. YOU DON'T NEED A WORKSHOP OR ART SUPPLIES TO USE MR. MCKENZIES' RECEIPES FOR REFURBISHMENT OR REPAIR. NO COLORED PICTURES, JUST DRAWINGS, IT'S THE TEXT THATS WORTH THE PRICE OF THE BOOK. IF YOU CAN READ, THINK, AND FOLLOW VERY SIMPLE DIRECTIONS, THEN USE THE PRETTY COFFEE TABLE BOOKS FOR INSPIRATION AND THIS BOOK FOR REALIZATION. I USE IT OVER AND OVER AND OVER.