bts

ANOTHER TIME ANTIQUES opened Another Time [12-9-06]

by Cate Murway

The world we live in can often seem hurried, unsympathetic, and complex, so take “a moment in time” to enter “Another Time Antiques”, a place of visual refuge right on 301 Mill Street. Owner since 1978, Richard [Old German origin meaning "powerful leader"] Peter Vallejo served as President of The Bristol Borough Business Association, originally the Mill Street Business Association, for 9 years and is currently active on the Board of Directors. Rich, born in January 1943, and his two sisters, Deborah, a retired Philadelphia school teacher, and Arlene, a Brigantine, N.J. realtor, were raised in South Philadelphia by their parents, Angel, a bridge, port and mining engineer from Spain and their Russian born mother, Sara, a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of PA, the nation's first collegiate business school. After his 1960 graduation from South Philadelphia High School, Broad and Jackson Streets, [the year 2007 is Southern's 100th Anniversary!], Rich traveled and toured throughout Europe, visiting with his Jesuit Priest Great Uncle Jose in Spain, who translated his family history for him. His father had grown up in Tudela (Navarra), a mountainous region in the Northern part of Spain near France.

A skillful baseball, football, soccer and basketball athlete during H.S., Rich wore shirt number 26 as a strong-armed pitcher and while playing great reaction outfield positions. Basketball and Football coach, William Joseph [Bill] Esher, Jr.’46, remembers Rich as “very mannerly, a good pitcher and a good student and a mean competitor who contributed to a winning championship”.

His first occupation after returning from his European adventure was scheming the electrical wiring for an artist’s free form lamps. His next successful venture was as a repairman and a Route Manager for a Springfield/Delaware County Vending Company, where he learned to seek out new business and maintain close contact with clients. The next business undertaking involved the Finance industry, as a Credit Collection Professional for an Ardmore, Mayfair and Center City based company. Exhibiting expertise and high ethical standards in working with consumers, he was promoted to Assistant Manager of loans and applications. The company merged and Rich did not. His next career step, as a motivated auto dealer, he sold new cars but also found a variety of markets for clean older cars that he had purchased and repaired. He learned to buy right, sell at a very competitive price, make a good profit, and turn his inventory faster. On weekends, he learned more about Antiques at the Golden Nugget Antique Market in Lambertville and the Englishtown Auction, New Jersey’s oldest open-air market in Manalapan. He owns an incredible library of reference books that he assiduously read for a more comprehensive knowledge of collectible items he was interested in purchasing. One prized volume is “A Museum of Early American Tools (Americana)” by Eric Sloane, an absorbing and profusely illustrated book that describes early American tools and kitchen implements and the wooden and metal artifacts made with them. Another treasure is “The Spinning Wheel's Complete Book of Antiques” by Albert Christian Revi, profusely illustrated with B&W photos and drawings of collectables: advertiques [large pipes, also known as cadger's created as display pieces for tobacco shop windows], bottles, jars, clocks, dolls, furniture, jewelry, silver, etc.

His interest in the car business began waning and the pre-owned cars he had painstakingly perfected became more difficult to sell with a decent profit margin.

Rich had been a Greenbrook section, Levittown resident for 13 years when he made the initial decision to purchase 301 Mill Street for his furniture stock, and then he procured 307 Mill Street, the former (Albert) Baylies Jewelers site [founded in 1867], from Richard Marchena, Jr [1923-2005] who chose to retire to Englewood, FL. He assisted Marchena in selling his accumulated coin [known as the “Hobby of Kings”], exclusive stamp and high-grade mineral specialty collections.

The original collectibles store, “Accents and Affections” housed an extensive collection of porcelain dolls such as Ken & Stephanie Shader’s limited editions of retired, hard-to-find dolls, exquisitely made and carefully handcrafted to become genuine and bona fide family heirlooms. Head, torso and all of the doll’s body parts are individual porcelain pieces held together with central roping for a "rag doll" effect. He shared one of the experiences he will always remember. Rich was offered the opportunity to assist in the design of the “Four Seasons” Radio City Music Hall Rockette Dolls, gilded with real diamonds and gold chains and then be in attendance when they were presented to the charismatic and flamboyant American entertainer, [Wladziu Valentino] Liberace. His extensive array of collections also extended to Department 56 pieces, a leading designer and marketer of fine quality collectibles of giftware products with nostalgia and tradition appeal for imaginative decorating and gift giving ideas.

Rich knows quality. His favorite piece to collect, he conceded, is obscure period lamps such as “Duffner and Kimberly” and “Bigelow and Kinnard”. The early 20th century was a kind of golden era for the design and manufacture of very fine quality glass lamps and lighting for the home, with top designers such as Tiffany Studios, Handel, Pairpoint, and of course Duffner & Kimberly Company of New York. Rich shared that “Duffner and Kimberly did not have the design flair and innovation of Tiffany.” Nevertheless, their lamps were very well constructed with the highest quality materials, thus commanding high prices from their original introduction to the market in 1905. The company existed for only 8 years, ceasing production, and declaring bankruptcy in 1913. Their overall production was quite small relative to many of their contemporaries, a fact that contributes along with their beauty to the sustained and rising prices for Duffner & Kimberly lamps and lighting.

Rich willingly shares his personally acquired expertise. Everything about his shoppe is classic. In 1884, John H. Patterson founded the National Cash Register Company, maker of the first mechanical cash registers and it appears that one of these original registers from Wagman’s Dry Good Store is used to ring up the sales! Take notice of the framed detailed 1876 and 1892 Borough maps.

Rich is very proud to be a resident/store owner in Bristol Borough. Mayor Saxton shared that for the last quarter of a century, Rich took the lead and has been very instrumental, along with the sponsorship of the BBBA, for the Town Tree. This year he personally cut it from a Garfield & Wilson location.

For the last several years, Ed Long of Tri-State Telecommunications has assisted Rich, providing the high truck lift equipment to get the massive Christmas tree ready for the annual lighting ceremony.

Rich and local businessmen belonging to the Les Strokes Golf group, sponsor 4 scholarships to BHS students and purchase 35 turkeys for the Robert M. Kelly Family Center at 408 Mill Street, that offers programs to enhance the lives of children and families of the Borough. Their group also sponsors philanthropic events, most recently the Spina Bifida [the most common permanently disabling birth defect] Tournament, at the Makefield Highlands Golf Club on Woodside Road, Yardley. They also sponsor a tent at the Holy Ghost Prep Relay for Life event, the American Cancer Society's signature activity. All monies raised goes to charity.

Another Time Antiques is moving back to the original store.

See you at the Grand Re-Opening this weekend of 12-9-06!

When you come in, look down!

Don’t forget to say hello to Bentley [yes, like the car!], Rich’s buddy, a chestnut & brown Miniature Pinscher.

Oh, and bring a “Birthday Bone”, he’ll be 35 [dog years] on Christmas Eve.

Another Time Antiques

301 Mill Street

Bristol, PA 19007-4810

Mon, Tues, Wed 8:00 A.M. -5:00 P.M.

Thurs, Fri 8:00 A.M. -7:00 P.M.

Sat 8:00 A.M. -5:00 P.M.

Phone: 215.788.3131