Grand Events

Find new life for your vintage items

2010-03-28T10:06:00.001-04:00

I love how my friend Suzy use this vintage gate to display her birdhouses on her front porch.

Sent from my iPhone

Art and Antiques in West Salem

2009-12-19T21:07:00.003-05:00

More great finds coming to the Grand Rapids Antiques Market. Art and Antiques in West Salem will be bringing these amazing boxes and guitars.

1) 18th Century Pennsylvania Dutch Letter Box
2) 18th - 19th Century Ornate Oak Carved Jewelry Box w/ Hidden Compartments
3) 1965 Gibson 12 String Guitar
4) Antique Double Neck Guitar

Free Furniture Delivery!

2009-12-12T19:37:00.002-05:00

Buy amazing furniture at Michigan's largest indoor antique show. Free furniture delivery for the first 10 miles provided by Pak Mail!

Farmbrook Antiques will be at the Grand Rapids Antiques Market January 2-3, 2010

2009-11-30T11:39:00.001-05:00

http://http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2009/11/antique_fishing_tackle_is_just.html

Check out Terry's article in the Grand Rapids Press!

Furniture at GRAM by Legacy House

2009-11-25T10:56:00.002-05:00

The Legacy House Antiques of Bay City Michigan has an urban delight of industrial, modern, and architectural home decor.

Free furniture delivery for the first 10 miles provided by PakMail at the Grand Rapids Antiques Market. Visit the furniture capital of the world and buy from the best dealers in the region!

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-24T10:38:00.003-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving from the turkeys at the Grand Rapids Antiques Market!

See you in six weeks at the year's greatest antique show!

Book Signings at GRAM - Author Meet & Greet

2009-11-20T21:18:00.004-05:00

Grand Haven Then & Now
Wallace K. Ewing, Ph.D.
Sun noon-2

Dutch Heritage in Kent & Ottawa Counties
Norma Lewis
Sat noon-3

Alpine Township
Mary Rasch Alt
Sun noon-2

Rockford
A Pictoral Review of Rockford Michigan
Roberta H.J. Schirado
Sat noon-3

Shootin' From the Hip
Bob Bowyer
Sat noon-3

Shop Lighthouse Furnishings at GRAM

2009-11-18T19:21:00.005-05:00

Lighthouse Furnishings of Grand Rapids will be joining the January 2-3, Grand Rapids Antiques Market. Owners Bob & Bettie Allen will be bringing an amazing collection of quality furniture and jewelry both costume and fine.

The working mahogany Scottish case clock, shown above, is late 1700-early 1800s. It is labeled Geo. Lunsden, Pittenweem and has a beautifully hand painted face. Priced $8600.

Take home some of stunning pieces, Pak Mail will deliver free the first 10 miles!

Shopping at the GRAM

2009-11-08T20:47:00.003-05:00

Check out these great pieces from Farmbrook Antiques of Goodrich, Michigan. This Rosewood desk and federal sofa will be at the Grand Rapids Rapids Antiques Market in January! Take advantage of free furniture delivery (first 10 miles) and shop over 20 amazing furniture dealers from around the country.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T15:14:00.002-04:00

This is my little sister (the clown) and me (your favorite show promoter, Cecily) dressed as Charlie Chaplin. Even at an early age I was enamored by vintage icons!

We won't be doing much trick-or-treating this year, my six year old Pirate has the dreaded N1H1.

Hope you have a healthy Happy Halloween!

Vintage, Costume, & Fine Jewelry

2009-09-25T14:57:00.003-04:00

Great jewelery dealers are returning to the Grand Rapids Antiques Market in January. Donatella, Fine Jewels, Bella Red, Vogue Vintage Jewels, The Jewelry Lady & Co, Birdcage Antiques, Heidi's Vintage Jewelry & Antiques, Yours Very Jewelry Dee Sherman, Woodward Antiques, Simply Elegant, Vintage Allure, Paris Ltd, Antiques & Fine Jewelry & Pamela, and Barbara Mazer Antiques. Just to name a few!

Great Hotel Rates!

2009-09-17T20:31:00.003-04:00

Looking for the best value in downtown Grand Rapids? Relax in the newly renovated Days Inn - Downtown. Receive a room rate discount by asking for the "Antique Show Group Rate".

Days Inn - Downtown
310 Pearl St. NW
(616) 235-7611
(800) 329-7466

Just one block from the Grand Rapids Antiques Market
• Free Parking
• New Exercise Facility
• Free High Speed Internet
• Pets Welcome
• Restaurant and Lounge on-site
• Heated Indoor Swimming Pool & Whirlpool

Coupon!

2009-09-02T21:21:00.007-04:00

Thank you for visiting the GRAM blog.

Subscribe to email updates and receive a $2 off coupon.

For more show information visit the GRAM home page.

Early Grand Rapids Fishing Tackle Manufacturers: By Terry McBurney

2009-08-30T22:14:00.000-04:00

Michigan has a long reputation as a manufacturer of fishing tackle with the first patent issued to George R. Pierce in 1875, a master gunsmith from Grand Rapids, for his metal “spoon-hook for fishing”. Several other Grand Rapids lure designers figured prominently in the state’s fishing tackle history. Two of the earliest lure makers, Franklin Alger and Frank Nixon, produced baits that are highly coveted by fishing lure collectors today.

The first wood baits produced in Grand Rapids were made by Franklin A. Alger, who was born on May 8, 1862. The 1887-1888 Grand Rapids City Directory listed him as a “carpenter, beds at 515 S. Lafayette”. Later city directories listed his occupation as “clerk”, "carver”, “broker”, and “contractor”.

Alger was an innovative woodworker/craftsman who created at least fifty different lure designs for his friends and for his own enjoyment. He designed inventive diving lips, propellers and blades, hook hangers and other original hardware, and even a lure that would rattle upon retrieve.

There were just two Alger wood baits that were commercially produced by Alger. The first of these was the “Alger’s Getsem”, which he patented in 1916. This 2-¼ inch “chunk-style” wood bait was intended to be virtually weedless when casted. The Getsem was apparently popular because shortly after he began marketing it himself, Alger sold it to the Hastings Sporting Goods Company of Hastings, Michigan. The only production color for either the Alger’s Getsem or the Hastings version is white with five red dots painted on the back of the lure, although Alger painted up different colored Getsems for his own use. The value of an actual Alger’s Getsem is $200-300 in very good condition. If you were lucky enough to find the rare box, you could add at least $1000. The more common Hastings’ Getsem version would be $75 or less.

His second commercially manufactured bait was a 3-½ inch surface bait with a great name, the “Alger’s Tantalizer”. This floating bait came with front and rear spinners. The value of an Alger’s Tantalizer would be $300-400 based on which version it is and condition. Add at least $1000 if it has the very rare box.

The next Grand Rapids lure was manufactured by Frank T. Nixon. Not much is known about him except that he manufactured, in my opinion, some of the most beautiful lures ever made. The only certain production date for Nixon lures is “1914” because this copyright date is printed on the extremely rare cardboard box of “The Aristocrat – Persian Ivory Under-Water Casting and Trolling Minnow”.

Nixon was first listed in the 1903 Grand Rapids City Directory as “brush maker, Grand Rapids Brush Company”. The company most likely was his source for the “Persian Ivory” material from which he made all of his lures. “Persian Ivory” was a fancy name for “Ivoroid”, a creamy ivory-white form of celluloid, the first successful thermoplastic.

The best-known Nixon lure is the “Aristocrat”, an underwater casting and trolling minnow, which came with two unmarked props, a single belly weight, three treble hooks and flawless glass eyes.

Nixon made other styles of his “Persian Ivory” lures, but the Aristocrat minnow is the only Nixon lure that has shown up in a printed box or with paperwork. All Nixon lures are rare, but those with the cardboard box are the rarest. The lures will run from $500 and up based on the condition and the model offered. The value of a Nixon Aristocrat minnow in its cardboard box could go as high as $3,000 and more!

The information above was contributed by Terry McBurney, contributing author, magazine writer and avid collector of antique fishing tackle. During the Grand Rapids Antiques Market, January 2 -3, 2010 at the DeVos Place, he will answer questions and offer free appraisals on all kinds of fishing tackle - lures, reels, rods and other related fishing items. So bring down that “old tackle box” handed down from Grandpa or tucked away in the attic…it might contain some valuable surprises.

#1 Photo - An early wood bait made in Grand Rapids - Alger's Tantalizer.

#2 Photo - The Nixon Aristocrat Minnow was made of celluloid, and early thermoplastic in about 1914.

Visit Terry McBurney January 2-3, 2010 at the Grand Rapids Antiques Market in booth 127. Terry is eager to talk to show goers about their old fishing tackle and interested in buying selected pieces for his collection.

Cheryl's Doll Hospital at GRAM

2009-08-30T18:39:00.010-04:00

Bring your dolls to Cheryl's Doll Hospital at the Grand Rapids Antiques Market. Cheryl provides professional doll repair, doll restoration, doll reconstruction, restringing, cleaning, and customized clothing with loving hands, a loving heart, and a passion for dolls.

A favorite doll is priceless, precious, and irreplaceable. Cheryl understands how hard it is for doll owners to put their dolls in someone else's hands to restore broken parts and broken dreams. Your doll is a beloved piece of your family history.

Cheryl tenderly uses her knowledge and expertise to fix your doll.
Her services include, but are not limited to:
repair
restoration
reconstruction of fingers, toes, and other doll parts
restringing
cleaning of doll and mending of clothes
resetting eyes or replacement of eyes
styling wigs
custom made period or reproduction clothing
fixing stuffed animals

Cheryl works on dolls made of many types - antique, vintage, composition, bisque, antique bisque, wood, plaster, paper mache’, cloth, rubber and vinyl. Stuffed animals too! Cheryl makes her patients perfect. Guaranteed. Waiting time depends on the estimated amount of work.

If you have a doll that needs some TLC, visit Cheryl's Doll Hospital at the Grand Rapids Antiques Market January 2-3, 2010. "She did a remarkable job on an Indian doll that my grandma bought me when I was 8 years old....I was so surprised when Cheryl finished my doll. I just couldn't believe it she did a beautiful job and I want to say thank you Cheryl." Judy M.

Shopping at the GRAM: Elves Antiques

2009-08-29T14:45:00.000-04:00

It’s Christmas year round in the Elves Antiques booth. Specializing in vintage and antique holiday décor, owner David Eppelheimer sell an exquisite collection of ornaments, ephemera, lighting, figurines, and Christmas trees. Elves Antiques has been a dealer at the Grand Rapids Antiques Market since its inaugural show in 2007 and has been the subject of many feature articles in Martha Stewart Living and the Grand Rapids Press.