By Maribeth Keane and Brad Quinn (Copyright Collectors Weekly 2010)

In this interview, Doug McCoy explains how the Coca-Cola bottle got its distinctive contour shape and charts the evolution of the brand’s packaging over its more than 100-year history. McCoy also offers tips on how to find old dumpsites that might contain Coca-Cola treasures, and explains the story of the rare 8-ounce bottle that sold in Lexington, North Carolina during the …

By Maribeth Keane and Brad Quinn (Copyright Collectors Weekly 2010)

In this interview, “Antiques Roadshow” jewelry appraiser Joyce Jonas offers a survey of turn-of-the-century jewelry styles. Looking at the defining aspects of Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau, and Edwardian jewelry, Jonas explains the influence of Queen Alexandra and other prominent figures, as well as the impact of such materials as diamonds and platinum. Jonas can be contacted via her website, …

By Maribeth Keane and Brad Quinn (Copyright Collectors Weekly 2010)

In this interview, “Vintage Hats & Bonnets” author Sue Langley discusses hats from the Victorian era to the age of the flappers and beyond. Langley describes the differences between cloches, Gainsboroughs, bonnets, and boaters. She also delves into her collection of fashion plates, photos, and other hat-related ephemera. The second edition of Langley’s book, published by Collector Books in 2009, …

By Maribeth Keane and Brad Quinn (Copyright Collectors Weekly 2010)

Ivor Abadi, founder of The Twisted Wheel, talks about the Manchester club’s role in the birth of the British northern soul music-and-dance movement during the 1960s. Memorabilia from the club and information about its history can be found at thetwistedwheel.com.

Northern soul is basically American soul music that became the popular soul music of Northern England. The Twisted Wheel opened …

By Maribeth Keane and Brad Quinn (Copyright Collectors Weekly 2010)

In this interview, Kim Casamassima discusses the rockabilly fashions of the 1950s and explains how the vintage rockabilly look has been revived and adapted over the years. She also discusses the stylistic clichés and misperception that often stand in the way of an accurate understanding of the decade, a time when even tough guys wore penny loafers and pompadours were the …

By Maribeth Keane and Brad Quinn (Copyright Collectors Weekly 2010)

Gary Sullivan is a clock and furniture dealer, as well as an appraiser for “Antiques Roadshow.” In this scholarly interview, Sullivan explains the differences between early American tall-case, banjo, and dwarf clocks and offers tips on what to watch out for when buying these popular antiques. Sullivan’s book, “Harbor and Home: Furniture of Southeastern Massachusetts, 1710-1850,” was published last year. He …

By Maribeth Keane and Brad Quinn (Copyright Collectors Weekly 2010)

In this interview, Dave Rasmussen talks about show rod model car designers Tom Daniel and Ed Roth and such classic creations as the Tijuana Taxi and Rommel’s Rod. He also touches on the genre’s fascination with skeletons and laments how young show rod enthusiasts of the ’60s and ’70s deprived themselves of valuable future collections by blowing their cars up for …

By Maribeth Keane and Brad Quinn (Copyright Collectors Weekly 2010)

In this interview, historian and art director Hayden Peters charts the evolution of mourning jewelry from the 16th century through its most prolific period during the reign of Queen Victoria. Along the way, he discusses how mourning jewelry differs from sentimental jewelry, and highlights such genres as hairwork, miniature portraiture, and symbolism. Based in Australia, Peters can be contacted via his …

By Maribeth Keane and Brad Quinn (Copyright Collectors Weekly 2010).

Through his publishing imprint, Pure Imagination, illustrator Greg Theakston has retouched and reprinted the work of some of the most admired artists of the Golden Age of comics, more than 10,000 pages in all. In this interview, Theakston discusses some of these artists, including Jack Kirby and Basil Wolverton; casts a wary eye on the idea of comics as raw …

A few weeks ago, we blogged about a Barbie benefit on eBay, in which a dozen one-of-a-kind Basic Barbies were accessorized by some of the top fashion-accessories designers in the world. Proceeds went to the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s educational initiatives and scholarship program.

Four dolls broke the thousand-dollar mark. Lorraine Schwartz’s Barbie, featuring real diamonds, …

By Maribeth Keane and Brad Quinn (Copyright Collectors Weekly 2010)

As the cofounder of Gryphon Stringed Instruments, Richard Johnston has spent a good part of his life around guitars, mandolins, and other stringed instruments. An appraiser on “Antiques Roadshow,” Johnston is also an author, whose most recent title traces the history of C. F. Martin & Company. In this interview, Johnston explains the histories of Gibson and Martin, including their …

By Maribeth Keane and Ben Marks (Copyright Collectors Weekly 2010)

Even though Rosalie Sayyah’s chief passion is for a relatively common product—costume jewelry—what she does with these baubles and bangles is rare. She and shop manager/goldsmith Lucia Sayyah repair them, from rhinestone necklaces and earrings to bracelets and brooches. In this interview, Rhinestone Rosie, as she is known to customers of her Seattle store and fans who have seen her on …