Reverbiage: Stories from NPR tagged 'collector'

West African Finds At The WFMU Record Fair

Thu, 08 Jan 2009 09:57:00 EST

While most regional record fairs have been replaced with gigantic mega-shows, the WFMU Record Fair in New York City still offers the collector a chance to find unknown minimal-synth seven-inches from Germany, random rap 12-inches from the Bronx's Golden Age, and Japanese Kabuki-psychedelia. Listen to five obscure West African funk, highlife, Juju and psychedelia tracks from the 1970s.

Economic Downturn Hurts Trash Haulers

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 08:05:00 EST

Allied Waste Management, a garbage collector in St. George, Utah, says its clients aren't throwing out as much as they used to. The company says trash tonnage is down 10 percent to 15 percent. St. George has seen an increase in new homes, but many of them are empty. The garbage truck drivers are paid per house and by tonnage, so less trash means drivers are taking home $25 to $50 less each week.

Chicano Art Receives Overdue Recognition In L.A.

Sun, 26 Oct 2008 07:00:00 EDT

A celebration of work by Mexican-American artists at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art marks a turnaround for a city where Chicano art had been virtually ignored by major institutions. "It's been hard-fought recognition," says actor and art collector Cheech Marin.

Lost Funk Masterpieces Of Ethiopia

Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:23:00 EDT

Record collectors entranced by the otherworldly sounds of Ethiopian funk and jazz of the 1960s and 70s had only rare 45s to slake their thirst until the Ethiopiques series of albums hit US shores in the late 90s. Those albums feature some of the best music to come out of the scene, but still more albums await re-release.

Pigs Out, But Artist Sells Tattoo Off Man's Back

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 16:32:00 EDT

Eight tattooed pigs were supposed to be part of Wim Delvoye's exhibit at a Chinese art show. But authorities didn't consider them art, so Delvoye tattooed an elaborate scene on a man's back and displayed him instead. A collector has purchased the tattoo — with the right to remove it after the man dies.

How Mediocre Dutch Artist Cast 'The Forger's Spell'

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 00:01:00 EDT

A new book tells how Han van Meegeren committed the greatest art hoax of the 20th century, passing off his paintings as works by Jan Vermeer. He fooled experts and collectors, pocketing the equivalent of $30 million before he was unmasked.

Happiness, Hope Inspire Miami Pop Artist

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:14:00 EDT

Romero Britto's bold outlines, bright colors and simple images appeal to children, public officials and art collectors. Britto says there's a reason his work is so popular: It makes people happy. But is it serious art?

Remaking Radiohead, With Dot Matrix Printers

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 07:21:00 EDT

From giant cell phones to old motherboards, outdated technology holds sentimental value for collectors like Jason Savitt. Meanwhile video artist James Houston rigged vintage dot matrix printers to play a song by Radiohead.

Jefferson's Library Rebuilt

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EDT

The Library of Congress has managed to re-create —with the help of rare-book collectors —-the missing two-thirds of Thomas Jefferson's Library. Mark Dimunation, of the Library of Congress, discusses Jefferson's tastes and rare-book detectives.

Economy Leaves No Mark on Art Collectors' Canvas

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 20:11:00 EDT

An $80 million auction sale of a work by Claude Monet illustrates that while most ordinary people are cutting out non-essential spending, wealthy art collectors aren't. The weak dollar is one reason why a very small group of ultra-rich buyers is keeping the high-end art market alive.

Remembering Wayne Conner

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:53:00 EDT

Operatic tenor Wayne Conner was an classical-music radio personality and a teacher at the Curtis Institute of Music and the Academy of Vocal Arts and Peabody conservatory. For 30 years, he also produced and hosted WHYY's "Singer's World" and "Collector's Corner." Connor died May 9 of liver cancer at the age of 79.

Civil War Collector Killed by Antique Shell

Sat, 10 May 2008 08:00:00 EDT

The American Civil War has claimed another casualty. Sam White, a memorabilia collector, found a Civil War-era shell, took it to his Virginia home and it detonated in his driveway. Jimmy Blankenship, the historian and curator at the Petersburg National Battlefield in Virginia, talks with John Ydstie about whether this was a freak occurrence or a regular hazard.

Who Tried to Duck Their Tax Debts...

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 17:24:00 EDT

Leona Helmsley famously said that "only little people pay taxes." When it comes to shorting the IRS, she is among many famous Americans who didn't properly pony up. Tax collectors routinely grab headlines as they ensure that VIP does not mean tax-preferred.

Consumers Hounded by Debt Collectors Have Rights

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 13:00:00 EDT

Debt collectors get more complaints filed against them than any other professional. Consumers complain about abusive treatment and false threats of lawsuits. But even a person who owes money has some rights. Michelle Singletary covers the rules that debt collectors are supposed follow.

Bulgaria to Auction WWII Nazi Tanks

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:03:00 EDT

Collectors of vintage military vehicles are already lining up to bid on some of the more than 40 Nazi German tanks that were once used to protect Bulgaria's southern border during the Cold War.

Music Collector Seeks $3 Million for Archive on eBay

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST

Paul Mawhinney, owner of Rama Sound Archive of Pittsburgh, is selling an archive of 3 million record albums and 300,000 CDs on eBay this week for a minimum bid of $3 million. Mawhinney talks with Melissa Block.

Coin Collector Makes Pretty Penny at Auction

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 09:42:00 EST

A California coin collector who auctioned off his rare penny collection -- partly because he needed to pay off some real estate debt -- made $10.7 million. He had spent years tracking down the rare pennies, which date back as a far as 1793.

On Sale: Really Expensive Paintings of Dogs

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:00:00 EST

Timed to coincide with the Westminster Dog Show, the fine art house Bonhams is holding its 26th annual sale of dog art -- for collectors with an appreciation for pups and pockets deep enough to prove it.

U.K. Bans Samurai Swords

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:00:00 EST

Britain's government is cracking down on swords -- used in a number of high-profile attacks. So the government says swords will no longer be imported, sold, or rented. Expensive swords that collectors prize are still allowed. Criminals apparently were using cheap, widely available weapons.

Tribute to a Film Classic

Fri, 23 Nov 2007 16:17:00 EST

Today's show is a tribute to the 1967 film classic The Graduate. There is a new 40th anniversary collector's edition DVD. Mike Nichols directed the film, and he won an Oscar for his work.

Trabants: Two-Cylinder Symbols of Cold War

Sun, 11 Nov 2007 09:44:00 EST

The peculiar little automobiles manufactured in East Germany were once the subject of derision. Now, 50 years after the Trabant's first production, collectors cherish these relics on wheels. This week in Washington, D.C., collectors celebrated the Trabant and the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Texas Collector Buys Lock of Che Guevara's Hair

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 11:39:00 EDT

Bill Butler, who owns a Texas bookstore and collects 60's memorabilia, bought one of the ultimate mementos of that age: about a hundred strands of hair from Che Guevara. Butler paid $119,000 for the hair, a set of Guevara's fingerprints, pictures of him in death, and maps used to find him.

Comedian Serious about Mexican-American Art

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:49:00 EDT

Most often associated with his role in "Cheech and Chong" -- the irreverent comedy duo of the 70s and early 80s -- today, Richard "Cheech" Marin is one of the world's foremost collectors of Mexican-American artwork.

Ford's Edsel Debuted Â� and Failed Â� 50 Years Ago

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 13:00:00 EDT

Tuesday marks the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the Edsel. Named after Henry Ford's son, the car line was a famous bust, but today's Edsels are prized by collectors.

The Harp Guitar's Floating Strings

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 10:32:00 EDT

The strange, yet beautiful harp guitar is typically a six-stringed instrument with any number of bass strings "floating" on its side. Exotic instrument collector Gregg Miner catalogs the history of the harp guitar on his Web site and it is gaining curious interest.