A vintage perfume set is called "Evening in Paris."
By Maddy Vitale
Rob Zachow perused tables filled with relics treasured by people long ago. He picked up a few pieces, then he glanced over at a blown up post card from the 1920s. It was of people exercising on the beach in front of the historic Flanders Hotel in Ocean City.
He had to have it.
“My wife Sharon learned to swim at the Flanders in the 1950s,” Zachow, of Ocean City and East Windsor, said Saturday. “That is why we always pick up things from the Flanders.”
The Zachows joined hundreds of people at the Ocean City Antiques & Collectibles Fair which went from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Community Center located at 1735 Simpson Ave.
Rob Zachow shows the blown up 1920s post card with the historic Flanders Hotel in the background.
“People love local history and the Ocean City stuff. That is why we try to sell anything shore related,” said Barb Colombo, owner of Coastal Postal Design, a dealer from Ocean City, who sold Zachow the postcard.
“I blow up the postcards and I try to put something original in the frame, like a matchbook or a coin,” Colombo said of adding a vintage Flanders Hotel matchbook to the frame.
People enjoy checking out pieces from 27 different vendors.
In addition to post cards, beach tags and other shore memorabilia, were fine glassware, collectible tin toys, china from the Victorian era, pottery, primitives and elegant hats and perfume decanters from the 1950s.
“People are having a great time finding some nice things to buy,” remarked Noelle Wirth, an assistant at the Ocean City Historical Museum.
Stephen Gring, co-manager of the show along with Jeff Granahan, the museum director, said a steady stream of customers enjoyed the fair throughout the day.
“The show has been very successful,” Gring, who is also a trustee on the museum board said. “People are walking out carrying bags.”
Gring said every year the event gets bigger and dealer spots sell out.
Bruce Dooley, owner of Elwood Antiques, helped customers who picked up toys, pieces of jewelry to try on and pottery.
“The show has been going wonderfully for us,” Dooley said. “I see this growing bigger every year. I can’t say enough good things about it. I sold a lot of sterling silver jewelry today and accessories.”
Ella Simpson holds up a piece of glassware she is selling from 1903.
Ella Simpson, a dealer from Elwood, has been selling antiques for over 40 years. She used to do shows in New York City and has been doing the Ocean City show for the last four years.
She had a variety of items to sell from glassware to vintage hats.
Simpson picked up a green, ornate cup with a gold rim. “This is from 1903,” she noted. “They used to sell this glassware on the Boardwalk. Rich people bought it.”
Jim Burke, of Egg Harbor Township, didn’t have his eye on the glassware, but found some pretty, shiny animal figures, he bought from Simpson for his granddaughter Abby.
“I think she’ll like these,” Burke said.
Jim Burke finds the perfect gifts from Ella Simpson for his granddaughter.
There was something for everyone at the show with items from the 1900s up through the 1970s.
Dealer Karen O’Neill, of Brownsville, P.a., has many of the eras covered with her merchandise.
She said vintage items from the 1960s and 1970s are sought after right now.
O’Neill had quite a few pieces that seemed to please Ellie Loosmann, 16, of Doylestown, P.a. who was shopping with her mom Beth Loosmann.
“We like anything old. I like retro stuff,” Ellie said, holding up a camera from the 1970s. “I like it because it is more fun. Everything from then was cooler.”
Beth Loosmann and her daughter Ellie, 16, of Doylestown, Pa., check out some neat pieces.
Barb Colombo has a vintage bathing suit for sale that is preserved behind glass.
Carol Dotts, chairwoman of the Curatorial Committee and a museum trustee, oversees the museum table.
A vintage perfume set is called "Evening in Paris."
The show gets bigger every year organizers say.
