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Discovered! 505
Odd Enterprises

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How to Make
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That heap of odd bits on my kitchen table may look like a mess of pottage to the average eye, but, to me, it's potential dollar profit. Pawing over the lot a few days before in the back room of the jeweler's shop, I recognized: a pair of sterling cuff links with pointers' heads; several single cuff studs; odd lengths and various weights of silver and gold-filled neck chains; two watch chains, one really good; one fob; an atrocious charm bracelet, boasting an authentic piece of the Blarney Stone; a tiny filigreed cup charm; one earring; a broken locket and two terrible stickpins.

"Two dollars for the lot," I told the jeweler, hoping I sounded casual enough while hurriedly figuring whether the collection, reworked, would bring me $50 or $75 worth of salable items.

"Didn't know but what I'd make up them watch chains into charm bracelets some day, and"—the jeweler peered at me in reproof, "that cup's solid gold." I was on the point of raising the ante when he pulled out a box, swept up the lot, and poked it toward me with much muttering and head shaking.

NOW, WITH the pile before me, I start operations, beginning with the cuff links. Although cuff links are being worn with the revived French cuffs, earrings with dogs' heads account for a quicker sale. The top is snipped closely from the stem with a pair of end cut pliers, and the stem with smaller stud attached is laid aside. These being good silver, I shall later solder them to a pair of silver coins for cuff links again. Two matching coins with earscrews soldered on will make a very salable set. The dogs' heads as earrings will bring $5. The coin earring and stud set will sell quickly for $8.

Next I turn to the odd cuff studs. And I will say here, there is no article of jewelry, other than an odd earring, treated with more contempt than these single cuff links or old-time larger stud. For the most part, they are found discarded among the household buttons, yet there is no more versatile article for reworking. WIth proper treatment, the stud can be made into a ring, a bracelet slide, a tie clasp ornament (if not too large), a bracelet or necklace clasp, a charm or lapel and sweater pin. One stud in this lot will make a beautiful ring; its black onyx center, enameled in blue and flame flowers, is highlighted with bits of gold-stone. Another stud with pointed ends, chased and enameled in black, will be used as a bracelet slide. Still another, stone-set, will make a charming sweater or lapel pin—called "scatter pins" and very popular at the moment. Even though the market is flooded with costume jewelry selling for $1, many women will pay a few dollars more for a quaint and unusual antique piece—provided it is in vogue.

Turning again to what any antique dealer would call "sweepings," I pick out the two watch chains. One is of heavy silver, each link hall-marked. A full length chain will make two bracelets and these particular bracelets will bring $8 each. A silver dollar added as disc will make an extremely attractive item. To make sure a large silver piece will not, by its weight, pull away, fasten it to the bracelet by boring a hole in the top of the coin. This, of course, devalues the coin. When using smaller and rare coins, the rings are soldered or sweated to the top. Disc bracelets of the type above bring $10.

FOR THE moment I shall discard the stickpins (not all is grist that comes to my table). There are two salable charms on the Blarney Stone bracelet—a four-leaf clover and the Blarney Castle. As these are gilt, they will bring no more than $1 each. Of the neck chains, one lorgnette chain set with blue stones will be marked $3; two gold-filled chains are priced at $3.50 each and these are always in demand. If solid gold, they will bring twice this amount. Two matching silver chains will, in combination with two silver tassels, make a smart looped-to the-side necklace. This is a versatile piece of jewelry. It may be worn tied closely around the neck with tassels hanging down the back, to the side, or down the front. It may be wrapped around the wrist as a bracelet.

The little solid gold cup charm, the gem of the collection, will bring $10. The remaining items I shall rework, then price according to labor and expense.

Spring rings, jump rings, pin attachments, ear-screws and the like, are very inexpensive. For finger and dinner rings I buy old gold and gold-filled rings with stones missing. The ring band is removed and combined with unusual studs, odd earrings, pins and the like, making some quite stunning dinner and finger rings which bring excellent prices. My working tools are: an anvil, a jeweler's soldering iron, several types of pliers and snips, tweezers and a small electric drill with attachments. More intricate work I take to the jeweler, if the profit will stand the charges.

Financial success in this fascinating field depends largely upon shrewd buying, attractive and timely pieces (which means close study of current trends) and proper display and marketing. Women's magazines, advertising, newspaper columns on fashions and jewelry, jewelry council bulletins and catalogues of heirloom jewelry furnish me with up-to-the-minute ideas. Important too, is the type of clothes worn in my locality, Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts. Although I do make up a few formal pieces, most of the jewelry complements sport clothes, since ours is a rural and small town community. Bracelets of all kinds, scatter pins, heavy lockets and chains, rings and earrings in the $1 to $15 class are most popular. Only on special order do I exceed this limit; it is so easy to overcharge in this particular business.

Although many of my friends buy from me direct, most of the finished jewelry finds a ready market on the usual 20 per cent consignment to gift and dress shops.

AS MOST shops will not be responsible for lost jewelry, a covered case should be procured. Jewelers often have discarded pen or silverware display cases. My first case, which cost $5, was a fluorescent lighted Sheaffer pen case with large glass-covered drawer. This, re-lined with black velvet, proved excellent. The back was a problem, having two pieces of glass, one dark blue with the word Sheaffer blazoned in gold, the other clear glass fitted over. By using steel wool and a scraper I removed the printing. Two Godey prints were slipped between the glasses, making an effective background for the jewelry, much of it being Victorian.