Collectors, bargain hunters still can find treasures at flea markets

Flea markets still offer exciting finds and great bargains. A collector searching in an Arkansas flea market found a set of nine small 1915 baseball pins with ornate metal frames surrounding pictures of individual ballplayers. Each pin, 11/16 by 1 inch and almost mint, was still attached to its original 2-by-2-inch blank card.

They were bought "for a song" because the seller did not realize how rare and important they were. Although the set was known, one of the pins found was unknown. It pictured Charles "Chief" Bender, a pitcher in the Hall of Fame. Who issued the pins and why they are so different from other pins are mysteries. Because these pins are rare and were in such remarkable condition, the Ty Cobb pin alone sold for $23,900 at a Heritage Auction Galleries in May.

Queries from readers

Q: I own a telephone stand made by the H.T. Cushman Manufacturing Co. of North Bennington, Vt. It has a metal label that calls it "The Betumal (Beat-um-all) Telephone Stand." It's 29 1/2 inches high, 18 inches wide and 14 inches deep. Please tell me the history of the stand and its value.

A: H.T. Cushman Manufacturing Co. was in business in Bennington from just after the Civil War until 1980. Over the years, it manufactured everything from pencil boxes to furniture. Its line of "Betumal" telephone stands was introduced in the 1910s. Each stand has a hinged stool that can be folded under the table when it's not being used. Several styles of telephone stands were made. The value of yours depends on its age, style and condition. We have seen the stands offered for $10 (that one was missing its seat) all the way up to $200.

Q: My 91-year-old uncle has scrapbooks stored in his attic. He pasted his collection of baseball cards and pictures to the pages. We want to sell the collection and wonder how.

A: Baseball cards that are not in good condition have lost a lot of their value. Sometimes you can soak the cards off scrapbook pages without causing much damage, but usually you can't. It depends on the type of paste your uncle used and how skilled you are. It's easy to find the approximate value of the cards from online listings and from price guides you can find at your local library. That should help you decide whether or not it's worth your time to try to restore the cards. (If you find an original Honus Wagner tobacco card, take the whole book to a professional restorer.) But if the cards are common and you don't want to fuss, go to a sports memorabilia show or even a garage sale and sell the filled scrapbooks for as much as you can get, and it probably won't be much.

Q: Is it a good idea to polish old copper? I have a wash boiler that I know has not been polished for a hundred years.

A: If you prefer the look of polished copper, it's safe to polish even century-old copper as long as you are careful. Use either vinegar and salt or commercial copper cleaner and fine steel wool. If you're still worried about damaging the wash boiler, you can find metal cleaning experts at www.Kovels.com/classifieds.

Current pPrices

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the U.S. Prices vary in different locations.

--Penny loafers, black leather, G.H. Bass, 1960s, size 7 1/2 inches, $65.

--Playing cards, Woman's Suffrage deck, "Votes for Women," 49 cards, $250.

--Dick Tracy Jr.'s Little Honeymoon doll, cries, hair can be washed and combed, Ideal, 1965, 19 1/2 inches, $310.

--Chest of drawers and mirror, 2-piece mahogany, poplar and pine, scalloped crown, swing mirror, beaded moldings, marble top, $395.

--Badge, figural baseball, "Cy Young 80th Birthday Celebration," March 29, 1947, stiff celluloid, 2 7/8 inches, $400.

--Atlantic City and Pennsylvania Railroad sign, cardboard, 1890s couple strolling on beach, background is route of railroad ending in New Jersey, 16-by-23 inches, $475.

Ralph and Terry Kovel answer questions through the column. Return of photos is not guaranteed. Personal answers and appraisals are not available. Write to Kovels, The Post and Courier, King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019.