A Disneyland Find or Fraud?

Gemini Cricket · 07-31-2006, 09:58 AM

Over the weekend, Ralphie and I went to several antique stores and flea markets in Maine. We love looking for antiques. Occasionally, we come across true gems.

I may have passed up on a true DL gem. I thought I'd put this out there to see if anyone knows anything about it.

On a table with a bunch of collectible stamps and baseball cards, I saw a plaque with Mickey on it. It was solid bronze and 7" x 3" or so. It had an older looking Mickey on it with one hand in the air and next to him was the monorail. At the bottom in relief was printed Walt's dedication speech. The center of the plaque had two holes in it for screws. It said "Disneyland" on it, but I can't remember where on the plaque it was.

Now, the gentlemen who was selling it said it was a plaque from an employee dining room in Disneyland. ('Employee' was his word.) He said it was from 1955. I knew that couldn't be correct because the monorail came along in (correct me if I'm wrong) 1959. Anyway, he said it was from one of the walls at Disneyland and not WDW. He said he bought it from another collector at an outdoor market like the one we were in. He wanted $75 for it. He didn't strike me as being up on Disneyana doings, so I kept walking. He then offered it to me for $60 and I said I would think about it. I talked to Ralphie about it not 10 minutes later. He wanted to see it for himself. When we went back, the vendor was gone. The other sellers around him said that he went to get something to eat, but he never came back. We were around for about a couple of hours afterwards.

So, did I miss out on a true find or was it bunk?

Since I didn't buy it, I'm hoping it was the latter. But you know how you just have a feeling about some things...

Alex · 07-31-2006, 10:06 AM

Hard to say. I'm not familiar with the piece. But when dealers get something wrong so basic as year, I assume that the rest of the offered pedigree is bunk as well.

Gemini Cricket · 07-31-2006, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Hard to say. I'm not familiar with the piece. But when dealers get something wrong so basic as year, I assume that the rest of the offered pedigree is bunk as well.

Yep.

I also tried looking for it on the internet and couldn't find anything. I'm thinking it may pop up on eBay some day.

Alex · 07-31-2006, 10:18 AM

A bookdealer once tried to sell me a Disney Snow White picture book from 1932. Even if the book really was rare and valuable, at that point I wasn't going to do business with him.

mousepod · 07-31-2006, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gemini Cricket

I also tried looking for it on the internet and couldn't find anything.

I could.

According to the appraisal:

Quote:

The date coincides with the opening of Disneyland or 'Black Sunday' to the critics who faulted the many misfires of that hectic opening day. As we know now, the park was a huge success and created the 'theme park' boom. The text at the bottom is the speech Walt Disney gave at the opening day ceremonies. This brass plaque was produced after Walt Disney died in 1966, I don't know how many were made, probably many thousands. Currently, the wholesale value is $25 and the retail value is $50.

Gemini Cricket · 07-31-2006, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mousepod

I could.

According to the appraisal:

Awesome. I can't believe you found it. You are truly a Disney Jedi.

Well, it wasn't worth $75... $60 mayyybe. But we were going to offer him $50.

Interesting...

I really want this now. Maybe there will be another trip to Maine coming up... Hee hee.

Edit to add: Well, it did have holes in it. The one in mousepod's pic doesn't. (See what I'm doing here? Talking myself down from possibly missing out on a DL find...)

Not Afraid · 07-31-2006, 10:37 AM

I want to know what else you found. I'm got a major antiqueing bug at the moment.

Gemini Cricket · 07-31-2006, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

I want to know what else you found. I'm got a major antiqueing bug at the moment.

Disney related or any kind of stuff?

Ralphie found four prints of adobe houses in Monterey in a Monterey junk store. He recognized the artist. He had them appraised for $1500. That was a good find. I couldn't argue with his pack rat-ism after that one...

mousepod · 07-31-2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Not Afraid

I want to know what else you found. I'm got a major antiqueing bug at the moment.

plus you got first crack at the vinyl vault...

Not Afraid · 07-31-2006, 10:59 AM

Well, I got first crack at A-F.

But, I got some good stuff! I never did go to the basement. I was so afraid of ending up down the stairs instead of in the bathroom, I never willing went there.

GC, I want to know ALL!

I actually got a decent deal on 4 Fireking Azurite Charm luncheon plates and a cool blue bowl.

07-31-2006, 09:58 AM	#1
Gemini Cricket ... Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13,244	A Disneyland Find or Fraud? Over the weekend, Ralphie and I went to several antique stores and flea markets in Maine. We love looking for antiques. Occasionally, we come across true gems. I may have passed up on a true DL gem. I thought I'd put this out there to see if anyone knows anything about it. On a table with a bunch of collectible stamps and baseball cards, I saw a plaque with Mickey on it. It was solid bronze and 7" x 3" or so. It had an older looking Mickey on it with one hand in the air and next to him was the monorail. At the bottom in relief was printed Walt's dedication speech. The center of the plaque had two holes in it for screws. It said "Disneyland" on it, but I can't remember where on the plaque it was. Now, the gentlemen who was selling it said it was a plaque from an employee dining room in Disneyland. ('Employee' was his word.) He said it was from 1955. I knew that couldn't be correct because the monorail came along in (correct me if I'm wrong) 1959. Anyway, he said it was from one of the walls at Disneyland and not WDW. He said he bought it from another collector at an outdoor market like the one we were in. He wanted $75 for it. He didn't strike me as being up on Disneyana doings, so I kept walking. He then offered it to me for $60 and I said I would think about it. I talked to Ralphie about it not 10 minutes later. He wanted to see it for himself. When we went back, the vendor was gone. The other sellers around him said that he went to get something to eat, but he never came back. We were around for about a couple of hours afterwards. So, did I miss out on a true find or was it bunk? Since I didn't buy it, I'm hoping it was the latter. But you know how you just have a feeling about some things...
	Submit to Quotes

07-31-2006, 10:06 AM	#2
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	Hard to say. I'm not familiar with the piece. But when dealers get something wrong so basic as year, I assume that the rest of the offered pedigree is bunk as well.
	Submit to Quotes

07-31-2006, 10:18 AM	#4
Alex . Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 13,354	A bookdealer once tried to sell me a Disney Snow White picture book from 1932. Even if the book really was rare and valuable, at that point I wasn't going to do business with him.
	Submit to Quotes

07-31-2006, 10:37 AM	#7
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	I want to know what else you found. I'm got a major antiqueing bug at the moment.
	Submit to Quotes

07-31-2006, 10:59 AM	#10
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Well, I got first crack at A-F. But, I got some good stuff! I never did go to the basement. I was so afraid of ending up down the stairs instead of in the bathroom, I never willing went there. GC, I want to know ALL! I actually got a decent deal on 4 Fireking Azurite Charm luncheon plates and a cool blue bowl.
	Submit to Quotes