Economy slows sales of antiques

BRIMFIELD - The July run of the Brimfield Antique Shows is always the slowest of the thrice-yearly shows, but some dealers also are feeling the effects of the stalled economy.

"It's very, very slow," said James P. Smith, owner of Westfield's Buckboard Antiques.

Smith is at the New England Motel field, where he also had his first return ever - a 5 foot Betty Boop statue for $650 whose purchaser had a change of heart.

What people are buying are inexpensive items, such as multi-colored glass garden balls, he said Friday.

"The younger generation is not interested in antiques. They go to Bob's Discount Furniture ... It's the baby boomers who collect," Smith said.

Smith estimated they do a quarter of the business they did eight years ago.

"We love doing this, but we loved it much more when we were making money," Smith said.

Antique furniture dealer Gary J. Lamothe, of New York, also said he noticed the slowdown.

"It's worse than usual. There have been lot of tire kickers," Lamothe said.

The outdoor antiques shows run though Sunday. Vendors come back to Brimfield Sept. 8 to 13.

Michael Gallant, a Maine dealer at Hertan's field, described business as "tenuous."

"I'm probably off 20 to 30 percent, but people are still coming out to buy quality items," Gallant said.

For example, he sold a $2,200 hooked lion rug. But in a better economy, he thinks he could have gotten up to $6,000.

David J. Lamberto, owner-operator of Hertan's, said there are more deals this year.

"Business is reported to be not outstanding, but pretty good considering the times," Lamberto said.

Some dealers were doing well. Rodney O. Fields from Maryland, also at May's, said his business was up compared to last year, noting some people were buying pieces as investments. Nearby, gun and cane dealer David J. Charron, of Charlton, said that business was better for him on Thursday than it was for the entire show last July.