What is it?

Blog title...

2010-02-17T03:43:00.001-08:00

Boy its emspensive in NYC

2010-02-14T02:24:00.001-08:00

Getting ready to go to NYC. Its my first visit.

2009-12-04T18:33:00.001-08:00

I just launched a new radio show. http://ping.fm/vAlEe let me know what you think.

2009-12-04T18:32:00.001-08:00

I just lanched a new radio show http://ping.fm/3UgmX . Let me know what you think.

ARO

2009-12-03T04:56:00.001-08:00

Established a position in ARO.

My New Holly Hill Video

2009-09-08T14:11:00.001-07:00

2009-08-07T10:58:00.001-07:00

A great antique shop in Williamsburg, VA - Dovetail Antiques. http://ping.fm/7gaXX

It is hot!

2009-08-02T05:46:00.001-07:00

We hope you all are having fun buying and selling Antiques.

Its a Cold Spring

2009-04-13T05:48:00.001-07:00

Must mow the lawn today

2009-04-10T05:23:00.001-07:00

Here is a cute video from an associate in Nags Head NC. When in Nags Head NC or the Outer Banks - remember to do some antiquing!

2009-03-27T03:01:00.001-07:00

Getting ready for a busy and raining weekend. We have the daffodil fest this weekend here in Gloucester.

2009-02-18T04:01:00.001-08:00

Cute little short video on primitives.

2009-02-17T16:37:00.001-08:00

2009-02-17T14:04:00.001-08:00

2009-02-14T17:32:00.001-08:00

This is a test using my Ping.fm I am finding this useful in updating my blogs

Holly Hill Antiques Slideshow

2009-02-03T19:28:00.001-08:00

Pig Scraper

2009-01-25T06:53:00.000-08:00

What is it? It's a Pig Scraper

Back in the old days everybody raised pigs. You could send them out to be butchered or you could do it yourself. After the pig was killed and the blood saved (all parts of the pig were used in something) you would haul the pig to a tub of hot (150-160 F) water and brush the pigs hair with a long-handled brush to agitate the bristles while the pig is in the hot water. After 5 minutes or so, you would haul the pig out onto the table and scrape the bristles hard and furiously with your scraping tools shown above. If the bristles do not come off easily with your scaper you would have to dip the pig again. NOw these items are used for decorations and this one is a nice primitive. The one pictured was found a small farm auction in PA. These are the types of items we sell at Holly Hill Anriiques. If you need one of these send us an email or call 804-695-1146 and we will see if we can help.

Fence Stretcher

2009-01-16T16:52:00.000-08:00

What is it? It's a Fence Stretcher

This is a old time fence stretcher. To put fence up tight you need to put some tension on the wire before you staple it, I believe this one is used for a single stand of wire. If anyone has a different opinion please email me. The one pictured was found on Ebay as we do not have one exactly like this one. These are the types of items we sell at Holly Hill Antiiques. If you need one of these send us an email and we will see if we can help.

Silage Cutter

2009-01-04T17:58:00.000-08:00

What is it? It's a Silage Cutter

This is a silage cutter from the old days. Looks like hard work - no wonder my father hated farm work. We aren't using these any more and now we sell them in our Antique business. This one is from the 1890s+ and is worth about $40 - $100. Lots of people decorate with primitives this days and this item is unusual.

What is Silage you may ask? Silage is fodder (hay or straw) harvested while green and kept succulent by partial fermentation as in a silo. Cows love it. For good silage you must cut the silage which is long (4-10 inches) to preserve the nutrient content. Corn rice and hay can all be made into silage. These are the types of items we sell at Holly Hill Antiques. If you need one of these send us an email and we will see if we can help.

Today they have all kind of machines to do this. See below.

Here is a YouTube video on cutting silage from rice using yet another machine.

Ball Jar number 13

2008-12-16T15:03:00.001-08:00

This is a Ball Jar from the 1930s or 1940s. Estimated Retail Value $3 - $5. There are a ton of these jars out there with all different types of jar makers and most are not very valuable. Atlas and Ball are the most common. There are entire collectors out there try to gather every type of Ball jar out there. People used to can everything and if you lived on a farm – you would buy very little food at the store. Back when I was a kid – people were not as Dependant on the store as they are today. I want to tell you a local story that I heard around here recently. Many of these jars have a number on the bottom 1-24 which make up a case of 24 (this one has the number 3 n it). The number 13 Jar is highly sought after because in the 20s and 30s when many people made illegal moonshine they would break this jar and not use it. They felt that the number 13 was very unlucky and since they did not want to get caught they broke this jar. If you can validate this story about moon shiners or if you have any of these jars and you would like to know what it is worth – call Holly Hill Antiques 804-695-1146 and we will give you a free appraisal. We would love to hear your story.
Visit our on line store to purchase many of these items.

Experimental Slide Show for What is it?

2008-12-10T08:42:00.000-08:00

What is it? Back on the Farm

2008-11-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

This is an early Bee Smoker used to subdue bees so that the beekeeper could get the honey. Estimated Retail Value $48 and sometimes these go higher if there is a name printed on the side. The backend would be like a bellows and when pump some smoke out (burlap, straw or grass) which would come out to make the bees mad. When they are mad - they begin to eat their own honey which will make the bees very calm. When they become calm that’s when the beekeeper can harvest the honey. With all the beehives around the area these days it is good to know that people use to raise bees. Years ago, you could order your bees from Southern States and they would be delivered through the mail in a small box (the queen would be in a separate little box and would always be mad). You could also order your hive too. But “Bee” careful when driving these little guys home - because some would always get out of the box and which makes for an exciting drive. Has anyone ever seen one of these being used in Gloucester or have an interesting story - Give us a call at Holly Hill Farm Antiques 695-1146.

2008-09-21T05:42:00.000-07:00