News

  • Barcley Custom 12 String Hummingbird Acoustic Guitar

    A Barcley Custom 12 String Hummingbird Acoustic Guitar.  A beautiful instrument, made in Japan, but with limited information on the history of this...
  • LP's, Vinyls or Records

    In 1948, thanks to Columbia Broadcasting System, we were introduced to the world’s first LP (Long Play) record. Created by Peter Goldmark, this vinyl record had a capacity of around 21 minutes per side and was 12 inches wide, playing at a speed of 33 1/3 RPM.

    This was soon adopted as the new standard by the entire record industry.

    This changed the face of the music industry to the album-centric format we all still abide by today. Shortly after, RCA Victor introduced their own LP, which turned at 45 RPM and was just 7 inches in size. 

  • Sigfusson's Roads

    This is the amazing story of a man and his family who had done it all with winter roads: roads that are built of snow and/or ice and are only passable in winter. The rights-of-way are cleared through the bush and swamp and often pass over the frozen surface of lakes. Such roads melt each spring and require reconstruction each fall.  Svein Sigfusson was the spark plug that drove a work force of over 400 men deep into the wilderness of northwestern Ontario, northern Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. 
  • Carnival Glass

    Carnival glass is moulded or pressed glass to which an iridescent surface shimmer has been applied. The keys to its appeal were that it looked superficially like the much finer and much more expensive blown iridescent glass by Tiffany, Loetz and others and also that the cheerful bright finish caught the light even in dark corners of the home.
  • Canadian Bank Notes from 1969 to 1975

    Canadian Bank Notes from 1969 to 1975.

    Because of concern over counterfeiting, the Bank of Canada released a new series of bank notes starting in 1969.

    This series represented a complete departure in design from earlier issues:

    • colourful, wavy patterns were introduced;
    • a new series of Canadian scenic vignettes was created;
    • portraits of former Canadian prime ministers were re-introduced.

    The main characteristic of the new design was the use of multicoloured tints beneath the dominant colour. This series was often dubbed the "multicoloured series". 

  • Coca-Cola or Coke

    In 1886, when prohibition legislation was passed in Atlanta, John Stith Pemberton introduced Coca-Cola.  It was nonalcoholic and marketed as "The Temperance Drink".  Coca-Cola was sold as a patent medicine.  Pemberton claimed it would cure morphine addiction, indigestion, nerve disorders,  headaches and impotence.
  • Star Wars Coins

    In 2011, The New Zealand Mint, by the authority of Niue Island,  launched a legal tender coin set for one of cinema's most popular and enduring franchises - Star Wars. Each proof coin in this set is 1 troy ounce of .999 Silver with a face value of $2.

    These four coins are enclosed within the Dark Helmet of Darth Vader and when opened, you can hear the unmistakable heavy breathing of the notorious villain, Darth Vader himself.

    There were only 7500 sets of these Dark Side coins minted.  

  • Cooking Today During COVID

    Kraft Kitchens "What's Cooking" booklets are a great resource for meal ideas, easy food prep and product details.  You can find a wide variety of delicious, easy Kraft food recipes and cooking tips for all seasons.  
  • National Geographic

    National Geographic has been publishing magazines for 132 years and is one of the most widely read magazine of all times.  The first issue of this historic magazine was September 22, 1888 and was sent to 165 members.

    Monthly topics are usually science, geography, history and world culture.  Outstanding photography has assisted in the longevity of the National Geographic.  The magazine's trademark has been their "continuous dynamic pictures".  

  • Northern Lights in the Moonlight - 2016 $30 Silver Coin

    "Glow-In-The-Dark" coins are highly collectible and extremely beautiful.  Place any coins with this technology under a light and they will recharge for a simmering, mesmerizing effect.

    One of my personal favorites is the "Northern Lights in the Moonlight" $30 silver coin minted in 2016. The "Glow -In-The-Dark" technology recreates the aurora borealis in the sky above Thor Peak on Baffin Island, as two wolves howl in the Arctic landscape below.  The end result is picture perfect.

  • "Belt Buckle" Collecting

    The Belt Buckle depicted in the image above was manufactured by the Bergamot Brass Works in 1978.  This brass belt buckle is the shape of a pistol/revolver hand gun. Stamped on the back is "Made in USA", "L-156" and "1978 Bergamot Brass Works". 
  • The History of Polaroid Cameras

    Did you know that the Polaroid Model 20 Swinger (introduced in the 1960's) became one of the top selling cameras in the history of photography.  Even with today's technology, it is still one of the best selling cameras ever.