There are times when someone has to disrupt the status quo.
I met Jim Schafer and Jeff Walker from Mantiques Network a couple of years ago. They had a bunch of “Cool Old Stuff” they were selling at the Cruisin’ For A Cure show while working together at a local auction house turned vintage store. Soon after I met them they broke out on their own to create a new way of buying and selling vintage goods. Their idea was to create a network so-to-say. To create videos and content about the stories these items have.
Genius.
As many of you know, I co-owned a vintage memorabilia store, and the stories are what makes the items. Nostalgia, the good old days, memories, all of that creates value. And there is more. With the popularity of TV shows with people digging through “rusty gold” — history is becoming a value generator, and that is what makes the items that Jim and Jeff find so important. They find historical items from Early California Gaming, to Mid-Century Automobilia.
Their network has grown to be recognized by top collectors, auction houses, museums and interior designers. The videos show the quality of the items and the history behind them as well. So, I thought it would be fun to take a peek behind the scenes and see what they are up to.
BUY | SELL | RESTORE
Jim Schafer started out 40 years ago buying and selling antique gambling machines. 1974 slot machines became legal and hit the road to find some slot machines. From that point on, he was hooked on travelling around meeting people, in the underbelly of the antique world. Gets to buy, build and sell cool stuff for cool people. Service, price and product all run the gammit, they’re shakin’ and bakin’, buyin’ and sellin’.
Jeff Walker has always been cat who enjoys what he does. 25 years in the video game, coin op amusement side of the industry. Jeff started in 1982 with Bally before it went to the casino. At the right place at the right time Jeff became employee #82 at Nintendo, then VP of Gottlieb Pinball. He brought Street Fighter II to the U.S. and worked at Atari under Nolan Bushnell. When he met Jim it was a natural fit and enjoys meeting all the very interesting people who have common interests in vintage memorabilia.
The Mantiques Network HQ is located in the vintage mecca of Orange, California. Old Towne Orange is the largest Historic District in the entire state of California. The building is part office, retail space, warehouse and restoration shop. It is literally filled from floor to ceiling in vintage goodness.
When they sell their items online they may ship the items with local shipper, taking photos of the shipped items. Sometimes, they will personally deliver items. Such was the case last month when they road-tripped some items to a customer in Colorado. Before the trip and along the way they posted on social networks including local Craigslist when they will be in town to either buy or deliver recent purchases. The trip proved fruitful as they bought and sold items without even bringing them to the shop.
I invite you to take a look at their website www.MantiquesNetwork.com and check out the hundreds of cool items, and dozens of videos. Their video player includes item spotlights, restoration tips and “After Hours” events.
Photos/Story: T-Bone