For a number of years I've enjoyed Dan Graham's big lots that he puts up every so often. You can see in today's issue that I've got several of his listings sprinkled in the newsletter and even though I've got a lot of that kinda stuff even I can't resist putting in a bid on this big lots. Sure many...Read More
A big OA odd shape collection has been on the auction blocks over the last few weeks and the 2nd round is closing this weekend. The beauty of this run is that not only are these great classic pieces but there are no high minimum bids or reserves. Let the bidders have fun! I know that a lot of collectors...Read More
I am enjoying some peace and quite to get projects done while my kids are visiting grandparents during Spring Break. Yesterday I churned out 4 videos that I will release over the next month including two really good interviews similar to the one with John Ortt that was published last week. A good Scouting friend of mine has been after...Read More
I appreciate the feedback from the video that I published Friday featuring an interview with John Ortt on early OA pins. As I told John when he sent me a message - he did all the talking. :) I've got a few more video interviews recorded and I'll try to get them published over the next two weeks. I may...Read More
I am a little late getting this issue out but I was determined to hold off until I published a new video interview that I've been sitting on for months. I think you're going to like this one. Episode 5 of Thread Heads is an interview with John Ortt on what many of us call Caldwell Pins. In the interview...Read More
With the Order of the Arrow celebrating it's centennial 2015 this episode of Thread Heads goes back to the earliest lodge insignia before anybody had a lodge pocket flap on their shirt. When the OA was just a few years old some lodges began making Brotherhood and Vigil Honor pins in the same line as popular fraternity pins. The distinguishing...Read More
I mentioned in another issue that I'm serving on a council committee to help commemorate the 100th anniversary of a council being formed in Wilmington, NC (now Cape Fear Council). My job on the committee has been to help with the history writing although Bob Walton has that covered. So what I've been doing is researching history in the town...Read More
Look a little further down in today's issue for a link to the podcast that I published Friday on eBay's Spring Seller Update. The big takeaway is that it's free to list auctions starting May 1 "IF" they result in a sale. The emphasis is on successful listings that will attract bids on result in a sale. My wife left...Read More
For those of you who sell on eBay perhaps you've ignored a recent message from eBay that hit your inbox. Today I'm going to try and flush out the details of the Spring Seller Update. I'll hit a few highlights in today's Hot Finds and later today I'll be publishing an episode of my podcast to dive in deep. A...Read More
The collectibles category lives on eBay. Amazon? Forget about it! Try doing it yourself with your own website? Good luck! So when eBay updates their fees and policies twice a year buyers and especially sellers need to pay attention. In this episode of Scouting Hot Finds Radio I am going to break down the changes eBay is rolling out to...Read More
This year I am making the break from being an Order of the Arrow collector and I’m getting into some areas of collecting that I think of as the classics. Things like insignia such as old rank, position patches and especially merit badges. But perhaps my favorite is starting up a collection focused on Senior Scouting. Now that’s not a...Read More
During the recent lodge fellowship that I attended it was interesting to me how many conversations I had with Scouters that were very interested in patches but very wary of dipping their toes into the hobby. I think there is an illusion that it's very easy to get ripped off by unscrupulous people. That's what the chats led me to...Read More
I just got back my lodge's Spring Fellowship. For a rare weekend I was able to get a 2-day pass from my wife to spend a weekend doing Boy Scouting. It might have something to do with the fact that she is going to Boston for 5 days later this week. Hmmm... One of the neat patch related things that...Read More
The auction pictured to the right is kinda a head scratcher. It must be some kinda joke. I even saw Bill Topkis post last night on Facebook asking what is going on with this one. Well despite the face that there is a weird one in today's issue I'm sure you'll be pleased with some of the other picks I...Read More
Over the last two weeks I've been given Scouting collectibles at my son's preschool at three different times. I don't know if that ever happens to you but it's quite a strange roll for me. The first was a camp patch and then the next day a dad gave me a merit badge pamphlet. So not a huge haul. But...Read More