posted on August 17, 2002 07:04:57 AM
Can anyone tell me what makes an item vintage and not just old? I want to list some things that I have that are old but don't know if they qualify for vintage. Thanks
posted on August 17, 2002 07:49:07 AM
I heard that 50 years is vintage and 100 is antique. However, I see things on ebays from the 60s and 70s that are "vintage"...which makes ME and antique. Best thing to do is look for similar items and see how they are listed. Good luck.
posted on August 17, 2002 08:56:34 AM
I think "vintage", for eBay purposes, means "of the period." For example, an original Lava Lamp, made in the 1960's, could appropriately be listed as "vintage." The newer ones, made for the current market, could not. This is only my opinion but it seems to make sense.
posted on August 17, 2002 09:25:53 AM
I'd say it completely depends on what category you're selling in. For example, if you have an Apple computer from the late 70's or early 80's, then it is definately a vintage computer. If you have an IBM computer from the 60's.... it would be an antique computer. Obviously these terms would not apply to the same time period in a different category such as fine china. Baylor45's advice of looking at similar items in your category is a good one.
My son was talking on messenger to his friends. Most of them in the group are teens. They referred to all the 20 & 30 yr olds in the group as geezers. Ha ha!
My son went on a field trip to a museum. He informed us, complete with picture proof, that our VCR was an antique as well as our (extremely complete) Commodore computer collection. LOL!
posted on August 17, 2002 10:37:38 AM
In the true antique business an item has to be 100 yrs old. The word antique is bandied around too much. Anything less than 100 is a "vintage" item. I guess I am "vintage" as my son turned 51 last week.
posted on August 17, 2002 11:27:20 AM
Vintage is not an age. Vintage is a period related to the specific item. It is the period of popular and widespread use of an item, generally near the beginning of its use. That is why a vintage transistor radio is 1960s, wrist watches- 1930s-50s, etc. Comments relating the word vintage to a specific age are what cause the widespread misuse and have almost made the term useless.
