I have dealt in Antiques for almost Forty years on a part time basis...buying, selling, restoring.
The most productive time for me was in the 1970's -mid -90's when we bought and sold Walnut Victorian and Golden Oak pieces from the furniture mills of Grand Rapids. and even Depression era veneered pieces to 'Baby Boomers'.
In the 1970s, Oak was King...and everyone wanted their Oak pieces refinished, can't tell you how many Oak Iceboxes, round oak tables, Hoosier Cabinets, Bow Front China cabinets, servers, we stripped with denatured alcohol and lacquer thinner, and applied a new minwax golden oak stain and finish.
Our supply of pieces was endless, we put ads in local papers and we got so much response from people living in row homes in my City (Trenton NJ) we had to rent an old warehouse to put our purchases in.
We sold most at local auctions, but opened a storefront too.
Bottom fell out, but it was a nice ride while it lasted..
can hardly give the stuff away now.
But..old habits die hard.
I recently found a set of 4 oak press back dining room chairs curbside and my heart started to race..
drug them home and will start re-caning the seats when the weather breaks.
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