50 | OCTOBER 5 • 2023 J
N
A
rmand Keywell
describes the start
of his interest
in collectible coins as a
10-year-old advised by
his grandfather. He buys
and sells coins and will be
available for that Oct. 7-8 at
a Michigan Antique Festival
being held at Springfield
Oaks County Park in
Davisburg.
The start of his interest
happened as grandfather
and grandson were at a
supermarket, Keywell
explained. He was told to
check the returned coins
slot on a money exchange
machine because there could
be remaining coins people
did not claim as the machine
was not able to carry out an
exchange.
In checking those slots
as time went along, he said,
there were coins with value.
Working through the
web, Keywell added other
collectibles to his interest,
and he started going to
garage sales to see what else
he could find. Part of his
training has been working
at a pawn shop, buying and
selling used objects.
This will be Keywell’s
second year of participation
at a Michigan Antique
Festival. His entry into the
festival was at the suggestion
of a friend who marketed
items at these events.
Keywell first visited antique
shows when he was in his
teens.
“I’ll be having a bunch of
toy cars, costume jewelry,
vintage and rare coins and
currency and other antiques
and cool stuff,” said Keywell,
26, a Detroiter who also
finds objects at antique
auctions and on the web.
Concerning items with
Jewish content, Keywell
explained that he sometimes
locates and offers aged coins
that fit into that category.
Keywell said he learned
about marketing from
a grandfather who sold
audio recordings. Although
Keywell just left pawn shop
work after six years of
handling what was brought
into the shop, he said the job
let him acquire experience in
buying and selling.
If holders of antiques
approach him at the
upcoming show, he will be
glad to let them know how
they can get appraisal help
through the web. Sometimes
that involves working
with pictures and finding
equivalents.
The festival will offer
varied antiques through
dealers using five buildings.
There also will be a vintage
car show and entertainment.
Keywell will be among
dealers offering furniture,
housewares, vintage clothing
and unique jewelry. The
festival provides staff to help
buyers carry heavy finds to
their vehicles.
“I like the variety of
vendors and people at the
antiques festivals,” said
Keywell, who grew up in
Dexter, Michigan, and went
to Dexter High School.
“There are so many different
items you can come across
and buy. You can walk
around and window shop
and see a lot of cool stuff.
“I’ve learned that it doesn’t
matter how old something is.
Age doesn’t always affect the
price. It just depends on the
item being offered. I’ve also
learned that one man’s junk
is another man’s treasure.”
Keywell, who is single
and said he has attended
programs at different
synagogues, advises antique
holders to do a little research
before deciding to discard
what is owned. There are
those rare times that have
people discovering that an
artifact actually has value.
“I will be set up in
Building 22, which is like a
barn,” Keywell said. “I will
have a 30-foot space with a
bunch of tables. I can put
people on a watch list and
keep an eye out for what they
are seeking.”
Keeping what he has found
is a temptation for Keywell,
who is fascinated by the
possible stories that go along
with particular artifacts. If
he is buying a group of items
that he thinks will sell, he
tries to keep one of them.
ARTS&LIFE
ANTIQUES
Rare Finds
Discover valuable coins and
collectibles at the Michigan
Antique Festival.
SUZANNE CHESSLER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Details
The Michigan Antique
Festival will be held 8
a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday,
Oct. 7, and 9 a.m.-4
p.m. Sunday, Oct. 8, at
Springfield Oaks County
Park, 12451 Andersonville
Road, Davisburg.
$10 admission.
(989) 687-9001.
Armand
Keywell