Burton Antiques Market Brings in the Buyers

Susan Emerson Nutter | August 23rd, 2012

Rick and Becky Coffin of Ludington, Michigan, had a huge space under the grandstands that they filled with large country furniture, primitives, and stoneware. Most impressive were the seed counters. An all-original 15-drawer Sherer seed counter, 8'2" long x 30" deep x 34" high, found in an old hardware store in Iowa, was priced at $3465 and sold during the early buying period. The new owner was planning on putting photos of her family in the front glass panels. The J.P. Coats six-drawer spool cabinet with a tin back (on top of the seed counter) was $695; the metal paper sack holder, $225; and the double-wheel Enterprise coffee grinder, $475.

One service offered at the Burton Antiques Market is merchandise pickup. When an item is purchased, be it a chest of drawers or a teacup, the buyer is given a claim ticket and has the option of having the item picked up by workers who drive around the race track looking for sold items. Once in the wagon, purchases are taken to a holding building where buyers who are ready to leave the show can actually drive into the building-great in case of rain-load up their items, and pull through, not unlike a beverage drive-through.

John and Nancy Smith are known for acquiring the best cast-iron items around, and these doorstops are perfect examples of this. The Hubley flower basket (center) with perfect original paint was priced at $365, the LACS tulips doorstop at $695, and the Wilton kittens doorstop at $595.

Burton, Ohio

by Susan Emerson Nutter

The Burton Antiques Market just keeps evolving, much to the delight of antiques enthusiasts nationwide. Burton is one of the longest-running outdoor antiques shows in the country. It began in 1959 and gradually built a reputation for offering fine antiques at buyable prices. This was especially true during the more than 30-year run that began in 1973 when Ohio dealers and show promoters Dick and Roma Taylor brought together the best antiques vendors in the area and beyond to lure shoppers to the Geauga County Fairgrounds in Burton, Ohio, the first Saturday in June and September each year.

There was also the short timespan when the show appeared to decline because of the economy and because reproductions wiggled their way into some dealers' spaces, which turned off some collectors. Many wondered whether Burton was destined to be another fine antiques affair that would cease to exist, having fallen victim to the apathy of dealers and buyers.

Then three years ago Kay and Bill Puchstein of Frankfort, Ohio, took over and brought to Burton their reputation for hosting quality antiques events with the dealers to match. Their first Burton market was in June 2010, followed by a September event, and both were resounding successes. The Puchsteins came back in 2011 and put on repeat performances, and this year's market on June 9 saw a continuation of quality, attention to detail, and wave upon wave of buyers. It seems as though the word is out that Burton is back and better than ever.

The Puchsteins changed things a bit when they took on this show. Burton is no longer held on the first Saturday in June, but the second Saturday. For some reason, the first Saturday in June was notorious for rain, lots of rain, making the track and infield into a soupy mess. It is always difficult to convince dealers with high-end merchandise to set up outside; it is doubly difficult if a show has a reputation for rain.

So far, moving the show to the second week of June has resulted in dry weather, at least for the past three years. Just in case, however, the Puchsteins have secured the use of a building and the area under the grandstands for dealers who would not even think of setting up outside. The result is yet another buying venue, adding to the spaces on both sides of the racetrack and within the infield where the dealers who have no problem with setting up outside offer booth upon booth of everything imaginable.

An outside show is hard. So many uncontrollable factors can affect the experience for shoppers and dealers. I spoke with one dealer who had fabulous items for sale, but she was not pleased about her infield booth space. She thought her merchandise was not getting the exposure it would have had her space been indoors or on the track.

I also know that the wind on Saturday was an issue with buyers and sellers. Short of wetting down the track, there is nothing anyone can do if the wind kicks up. Merchandise gets a dusting from the racetrack's grainy surface, and shoppers need to shield their eyes.

Booth placement issues and wind gusts aside, this edition of the Burton Antiques Market appeared to be a success. Many people were carrying packages, and many items bore "Sold" tags. The early buying period was very well attended, as was the show overall.

The quality of merchandise did not disappoint either. Everything from eclectic, classy, vintage, ancient, and collectible was available, and prices ran the gamut. For just a few bucks, I could have easily added to my collection of tin pie pans embossed with the name of a bakery. I could also have plunked down thousands of dollars for fabulous furniture and fine art, if I had such disposable income. Regardless of one's bank account and tastes, Burton was a great place to shop.

With Burton's reputation as its backdrop and the Puchsteins at the helm, the Burton Antiques Market's longevity seems to be secure. For more information, phone (740) 998-5300; Web site (www.burtonantiquesmarket.com).

Repurpose continues to be the catchword for anything that is old and given a new life with a bit of revamping. Olde Good Things—with warehouses in New York City's Union Square, Upper West Side, and Chelsea neighborhoods; in Scranton, Pennsylvania; and in downtown Los Angeles and West LA—asked between $475 and $850 for large mirrors with the frames made of vintage tin ceiling panels. Two-foot-square vintage tin ceiling panels could be had for $60 each, and a carpenter's table for $450.

I have to admit, when I saw this in the dealer space of Mike Christy of Comet Lake Antiques, Clinton, Ohio, I exclaimed, "What a fantastic canoe!" which made Christy laugh out loud. When you grow up on a farm with a three-acre lake, you can appreciate a great canoe. Even though the wood and canvas-covered vessel did not have a maker's tag, it had already sold. "I wish I had ten more. I could have sold them all," Christy remarked.

I can attest to how popular this canoe was with passersby. My conversation with Christy was put on pause at least four times as he responded to inquiries about its price. Upon hearing, "It's sold," each of the shoppers walked away with a look of disappointment. I did too.

Dennis Jones, president of the Weirton Area Museum & Cultural Center in Weirton, West Virginia, makes it a habit to shop the Burton show for additions to the museum. Jones snagged this Bond Bread screen door, and he found a Stran Steel sign (not shown) for the museum.

What great planters! This pair of English terra-cotta planters decorated with lions' heads was $3850 from Gatsby Gallery Antiques.

One can always count on Jan Murphy of Jan's Antiques and Fun Stuff, Kent, Ohio, to display fabulous toys-toys that children must have coveted then and that adults desire now. Murphy asked $3200 for the circa 1900 sheep, 13" high x 11Â½" long, on a 14" long platform with wheels. If one tilted the sheep's head to the side, it produced a very convincing "Baaaa." The early 1900's composition Santa with felt suit and rabbit fur beard is called a "short-coat Santa," according to Murphy. Found at the Allentown (Pennsylvania) Toy Show, Santa was priced at $3400.

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