Mike Lopergolo’s Guide to Purchasing Antiques

“Look” for the Smell of the Antique Dealer Shop
When I go looking for antiques the first thing I check for is the smell of the building. If I walk into an antique dealer’s store and catch a whiff of potpourri, I’ll turn around and walk out. Potpourri, at least to me, indicates crafts, and other handiwork that I’m not interested in.

A “real” antique dealer’s shop has a strong musty smell, something similar to an old attic, or damp basement or a barn. This is my first indication that the place may have something that interests me.

Gather Information Before Committing to Buy Antiques
Once my interest is captured, I do a quick scan of the entire building. I may go from room to room if there are several antique displays or if one large open area exists, I’ll stand in the center and look outward toward all four walls. I tend to focus on the things that I like to collect such as antique telephones, antique radios, small antique furniture pieces, antique stereopticons as well as antique photographs and Victrola’s.

Once I find an antique that interests me, I’ll simultaneously conduct a price and quality check. If the item is in my price range I’ll start to look at the quality of the wood (if it is wood), the finish, the joint construction, original hardware, original glass (if it has any). If all these are in good shape and the price is right, I’ll purchase it and take it home.


Buy the Antique, Don’t Wait
Sometimes I may wait a day or two if the price is not equal to the quality of the item. Oftentimes, however, my wait-and-see approach does not pan out: sometimes the item is gone if I decide to return to the antique shop to purchase it. My advice, then: the time to buy an antique is when you see it, because chances are it won’ be there tomorrow.

A Look into the Past

I think one of the most interesting experiences I have ever had was the day I found some old school books inside of a bag I had gotten from my grandmother in 1998 or 1999. My grandfather had just passed away and I was looking through some old things. I found several books dated from the late 1890’s and they had childhood school day scribblings on the covers and inside the covers. I noticed a name and my mom said it would be interesting if we could return the books to the relatives of the person who penned the scribblings. We started to look in the phone book for the same name that was in the school book. When we found one, we began to call. After several attempts, a person finally answered and my mom explained what the books were and how we acquired them. She then went on to ask if this person, whose name was on the cover, was related to person my mom was talking with. As odd as it was, the person on the phone was the original owner of the book. She was 103. It was amazing. We made arrangements to bring her the books and when we went to meet her it was like walking back into time. She invited us into her house and we talked for 3 or 4 hours. We spoke about her life back in the early 1900’s and she told us of her remembrances of the great dates in history; WWI, WWII, her first job, John Phillip Sousa, etc. Even better, she had a sister who was 95 yrs old and I found a grade school autograph book belonging to her, as well. When our time together was through, I brought the autographed book to her sister. The time spent however was not as rewarding but it felt good to return something that was so old. Unfortunately my friend passed away 4 yrs later at the age of 106 or 107 yrs. I will never forget the 100 year journey (even though it took only a few hours) I took with Julia that summer day in 1998.

Mike Lopergolo Talks About his Love of Antiquing

The first indication I had that antiquing was special to me was the first day I entered an antiques shop. You know how you enter a room and you feel the instant energy - good or bad? You can just feel it. Well, there was that same thick profound energy that I felt the very first time I entered an antiques shop. I could feel things talking to me - not verbally, just in some familiar way. I felt comfortable. I felt at home. I also felt intrigued and wanted to know more.

My sense from that day on was the smell that made the antique shop seem "real". Heck, it was also a great place to find treasures. To me, if the place has a musty, damp, “old’ smell, then my interest is piqued and I will look through every inch of the place to find whatever I’m looking for... or not looking for.

The antiques that interest me the most are items that have been “used” by someone up close and personal such as a phone, radio or TV. Something that the person touched 100 yrs ago is what interests me the most. I can hold it and almost feel what the original owner was feeling when they used the item. In some cases I will do research and try and find a definitive history on the item.