Darren has authored numerous articles on antiques and collectables. Some of these articles that have been published in Australian Country Collections magazine can be read and downloaded using the links displayed at right.
QANTAS (Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Service)
was founded in Queensland on 16th November, 1920.
As Australia’s first airline, QANTAS is a part of Australia’s heritage and Q owning some of that heritage by collecting QANTAS memorabilia is not only
popular, it is a way of preserving part of that history.
QANTAS has been around for more than 85 years, so finding interesting
memorabilia is not too difficult. For me, collecting QANTAS memorabilia
began in 1990 when I made my first international flight aboard a QANTAS
747 to London.
My collection started on that trip with two menus, a wine list and a deck
of playing cards. The menus have a sketch of a koala and a platypus on plain
white, textured cardboard, and every time I see one of the menus it brings
back vivid memories of that flight to London. The smell of aviation fuel, the
music I listened to on the flight (Milli Vanilli) and the feeling of anticipation
I experienced as a 21-year-old, flying alone half way around the world to the
great unknown. I find collecting QANTAS memorabilia exciting and I still get a
buzz when I find an item I have been looking for or didn’t know existed. Read more...
Many years ago I was sitting in an
auction and the auctioneer called for
bids on a lot containing several pieces
of miniature Limoges pieces. I was not
interested in the lot and had never
even heard of Limoges (the city or
the china).
After several attempts to secure an
opening bid of $100 the auctioneer
asked, quite frustrated, “Doesn’t anyone
in the room know the value of Limoges?”
After another 10 or 20 seconds of
silence he reduced the opening bid
to $40 — still no movement from
the bidders — and I had a sudden urge
to buy this lot. I put my hand up and the auctioneer quickly brought the hammer
down. As he noted my bidder’s number he quoted, “That’s the buy of the day”
and moved onto the next lot.
I had no idea what I had just purchased — quantity, quality or value — and
I had not even viewed the items beforehand. I would not recommend this
course of action at an auction; however, as I later discovered, it probably was
“the buy of the day”. Read more...
Coca-Cola was invented in 1886 by John Pemberton, a pharmacist in
the American city of Atlanta, Georgia. Over the past 121 years, Coca- Cola has become one of the most recognised brand names in the world.
Coca-Cola’s incredible market presence is mainly due to the vast amounts of
money the company has spent on marketing and advertising their products.
Additionally, the Coca-Cola logo has remained virtually unchanged since it was
invented in 1886, also adding to the world-wide recognition of this brand.
The popularity of Coca-Cola and the company’s amazing mass-marketing
campaigns has resulted in Coca-Cola memorabilia being among the most
sought-after genre of collectables in the world.
While the Coca-Cola logo has remained constant for 121 years, the
numerous different slogans, products and advertising campaigns have led to an
abundance of memorabilia for collectors to get excited about. Read more...
Visit our Guy Stuff stores online, as well as Baulkham Hills & Narellan in Sydney.
Lucilles Interesting Collectables provide a very wide range of sought after collectables and antiques.
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