posted on September 26, 2000 06:36:47 PM
I have this really cool shell Im thinking on putting up for bid, but in order to find out the going prices, I have to find one similar. Problem is, I have no clue what the darn thing is. So, heres the description, and if anyone knows what the thing is called, I would be grateful.
Remember those 1950's movies where the diver in the dorky old diver suit gets nosey at those huge clam shells and it clamps down on his hand and he drowns 'cause he cant get away? Thats the shell I have...not both sides...only the bottom portion. This thing is HUGE...its about 12 inches across, 8 inches wide, about 6 inches deep and weighs approx 15lbs. Its OLD, and I have had it around here for the past 15 years, on my vanity with guest wash cloths rolled up in it. When I went to browse ebay, due to having a bunch of shells laying around here, I saw one of them going for 200 plus bucks, and I have one just like it sitting on the back of the toilet, on a glass shelf, filled with other shells. Which made me think of listing that one too, lol! However, I want to know the name of the huge clam shell thingy....when I type in CLAM SHELL, I get CD's, movies, jewelry display cases...no "drown-the-diver-in-the-corny-1950's-suit" sort of clam shell. Any ideas of the correct name of the shell in question?
posted on September 26, 2000 06:47:55 PM
I think those shellfish that used to dorwn the divers were called "Giant Clams". You would have thought they could have been called something more elegant, or dangerous.
posted on September 26, 2000 07:07:56 PM
I just found two of those myself! Under Giant Clam Shell I found that they sell for anywhere from $25 to $200 + . Depends on the size. As they are illegal to harvest anymore they go quite high. Good luck with it Maui!
posted on September 26, 2000 07:15:32 PM
I searched under GIANT CLAM and got nothing. Will go look under giant clam SHELL.
Thanks Rawbunzel! Hope I can fetch some bucks with these shells. Living here on the beach, I can always get others (but not necessarily giant clam shells).
posted on September 26, 2000 07:15:40 PM
Huge? Nah - that's just a baby.
Giant clams can be four feet from side to side. They can weigh up to five hundred pounds. They can open their mouth one foot or wider.
Since they're usually sold singly, a search for "giant clam" instead of "giant clams" works better - be sure to put it in parentheses, and check off "search description" also.
posted on September 26, 2000 07:27:31 PM
I found one...the guy has two of them. Mine is similar, but it doesnt have "cracks" and there isnt a hole in it either. Mine is PRETTY, lol. Dont know if I want to sell it...its full of other shells and rocks I have gathered over the years. Also, I have a clear plastic one I picked up at a yard sale and its in the windowsill, full of naturals crystals. But if I could get 200 for it, then thats a temptation, eh?
posted on September 26, 2000 07:59:35 PM
Crystalline sliver, Im not in hawaii. Im in california (far west as I could get without getting my feet wet). 'Sides, this shell is OLD. Similar to not being able to sell Ivory on ebay, but mammoth ivory is fine? But I appreciate the heads up, lol. Did you know its bad luck to take ANYTHING off the islands? Lava, rocks, coral, shells...bad luck...bad bad bad. But your friend might be interested in checking out the other dude who is selling one on ebay...he's in maui.
posted on September 26, 2000 08:02:26 PM
macandjan, I would never dream of taking the house of a critter, just to sell it. Heck, I wont even eat lobster (they scream, I hear, and it gives me the shivers thinking about those poor things being cooked alive). This old shell I have, I have had for many many years. Holds me guest towels, dontcha know
posted on September 26, 2000 08:26:52 PM
mauimoods: Only Lava rocks are supposedly cursed. Shells are okay to take off the islands.
And Pele will look the other way if you have a few grains of sand in your bathing suit or a small lava rock lodge in the soles of your shoes that you didn't know about that get's lodged off at LAX.
:\\\"Crystalline Sliver cannot be the target of spells or abilities.
posted on September 26, 2000 09:18:03 PM
crystalline silver, I have lots of sand in my travel bag I use for my snorkel mask...and yes, even some coral got stuck in there too (which is now in said shell on said shelf in said bathroon)
posted on September 26, 2000 09:47:08 PM
Haven't ANY of you watched the Brady Bunch?...the only unlucky thing in Hawaii is the TIKI...get a CLUE~!!!!!!!...lol
Seriously....I wish/hope someone here can post a link to a godd "Shell Site"..we have some really cool ones that came from the Indian Ocean, and the only other NEAR examples I have found on eBay (without scientific names, cuz I don't KNOW em) go for 2-300 for a 1.5 cm shell!!
And Maui...please be careful where u hide that coral!!...lol
and BTW maui...HI back..lol
Keith
I assume full responsibility for my actions, except
the ones that are someone else's fault.
posted on September 26, 2000 10:34:12 PMubiedaman:
Conchology - Guido T. Poppe: "A dedicated Seashell site, with more than 4 000 images and 50 000 references to shells. A beginners guide, the Iconography, Exceptional and available shells can be found." http://www.conchology.uunethost.be/
posted on September 27, 2000 01:53:09 AM
Thanks, Glenda. I just brought back a whole bunch of shells from my aunt's estate in Wisconsin. They are mounted in a picture frame(s) and probably from their travels as they were in the South Seas, Japan, Hawaii and who knows where else.
I was going to sell them at a yard sale for a buck! Might turn out to be worth a little more even tho there are no giant clams!
posted on September 27, 2000 03:15:32 AM
Hi Maui,
Don't go in the water!
Our Great Whites have eaten two surfers allready this week!
Bob, Downunder but never down.
posted on September 27, 2000 09:49:08 AM
Great Whites? REALLY? How awful! I thought the main concern over there was those nasty jellyfish.
Glenda, MAHALO for the website! Will come in handy for me, to check out what I have here in shells.
Everytime I go to Maui, I get offered a job on the first day. Never fails. I like to go to Serendipity's and play with the sarongs, and while doing that, customers wandering around ALWAYS ask me the most flattering way to wear one, since they see me twisting this way and that with a sarong wrapped around me in different styles. The manager wants me to come work for them, lol. Resorts ALWAYS need employees. Just depends on where you are in the islands and the jobs available.
