“Belsnickle” is a German name said by some to be taken from the words “belzen,” meaning “to wallop,” and “Nickel,” a form of the name Nikolas. Others say the name is from “pelz,” the German word for fur.

Modern tradition prefers the more friendly idea of an old man dressed in fur and rags who gave toys to good children. He visited children at their homes and asked them if they had been good all year. Of course they said “yes,” so he gave them all gifts.

The Belsnickle figure represents a poor man who wanted food or money. He was usually made with a bent back, large face and long beard. Many were shown with their hands hidden in the rags as if they were cold.

Those images disappeared in 1862 when Thomas Nast created the fat, smiling Santa for Harper’s Weekly. Today, most Santas look like the one from the 1930s Coca-Cola ads. Early Belsnickles did not wear red, so figures with green, gray dark blue coats are the oldest and probably the most expensive. But be careful, very good reproductions are still being made.

They are originally sold as modern copies, but after going to a house sale, the history is lost and they may fool an unwary collector.

A Pennsylvania German folk art Belsnickle was sold a few years ago by Bertoia Auctions for $18,400. It was made of brown chalkware in the late 1800s.

 

POOL TABLE

Q: We have a wooden folding pool table from the late 1950s or early 1960s. It’s 40 inches by 22 1/2 inches and folds down for storage. There are two cues, the balls and the triangle to set them. The original tab on the underside reads “The Burrowes Corporation, Model 408, Pool/Billiard Tables, Portland Maine.” It’s in great condition. Is this of any value?

A: E.T. Burrowes was founded in Portland, Maine, in 1873. The company made wire screens for doors and windows, folding card tables, cedar chests, billiard and pool tables, and parts for automobiles. In an 1892 ad, the company claimed it was the world’s largest maker of wire window and door screens. A 1903 ad listed Burrowes combination billiard and pool tables that could be set on top of a dining room or library table. Legs could be added to stand the pool table on the floor. Prices ranged from $6 to $15 for small tables and $25 to $75 and up for larger versions. By 1906 the company was advertising spare wheels, rims and other items for automobiles. Your table might sell for $50 to $150 at auction.

 

MICKEY AND MINNIE

Q: I am 67 years old and when I was 10, I was given Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse marionettes. Rarely used, they are in excellent condition. Is there any value to my puppets?

A: A few different Mickey and Minnie Mouse marionettes were made in the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s. Disney character marionettes were made in England for Walt Disney Productions by Pelham Puppets from 1953 to the early 1970s. They were made with composition, and later plastic, heads, hands and feet, wooden segmented arms and legs and cloth clothing. They are about 10 inches high and sell today for $25 to $50 each, or about $200 for both Mickey and Minnie with original boxes. Mickey and Minnie marionettes were also made in the 1950s by Peter Puppet Playthings. They were composition and wood with cotton and felt clothing, about 12 inches high, and are worth about $50 each. The “holy grails” of Mickey and Minnie Mouse marionettes were made in the 1930s by Hestwood Marionette Studio of Glendale, California. Mickey, Minnie and Pluto were made of wood, composition and cloth and came in fabric drawstring bags. They are rare and sell today from $600 to $4,000 each, depending on character and condition.

 

LADIES’ GOLF CLUBS

Q: I have a set of Patty Berg original Wilson golf clubs for ladies. There are the woods and also the irons, all in good condition. Do they have any monetary value?

A: Patty Berg (1918-2006) played golf as a pro from 1940 to 1962. She won more major golf tournaments than any other female player. Wilson made several different sets of Patty Berg golf clubs. Collectors want old clubs with wooden handles, not relatively new used clubs. Some of the old clubs sell for thousands of dollars, but more common modern clubs are difficult to sell.

 

DICK TRACY RADIO

Q: I have a Dick Tracy wristband AM radio. The radio is 2 inches by 2 3/4 inches and snaps onto the vinyl strap, which is 1 1/4 inches wide. The radio has three knobs: On, Off, and one to dial the station. It’s marked “Design Patent Pending.” Is it worth anything?

A: Your wristband radio came with an earphone and two batteries and was packaged in a colorful box. It was made about 1975. A watch like yours, but in its original box, sold a few years ago for $115.

ELEVATOR CAGE

Q: I bought a full-size 5-feet-8-inches-by-6-feet-2 inches brass elevator cage with an expanding scissor door. It was made by Standard several years ago. I couldn’t use it in my house. How can I sell it?

A: Elevator cages are too large to attract many collectors, but they sell at auctions occasionally. A fancy 19th-century brass cage sold for over $1,900 last year.

 

CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.

n Nutcracker, dog, mechanical, cast iron, movable jaw, painted white, Tex-a-Toy label, 1950s, 5 x 11 inches, $25.

n Picture, theorem, winter scene, Richland, Pennsylvania, signed A. Wiest, 1970s, 10 1/4 x 12 1/4 inches, $140.

n Coca-Cola sign, Santa, holding bottles and sign, stand up, cardboard, 1950s, 11 1/2 inches, $150.

n Christmas, figurine, Santa, hitchhiking, on vacation, plastic fiberglass, 73 inches, $180.

n Cloisonne dish, partridge, storks, enameled center, blue ground, Japan, c. 1910, 11 3/4 inches, $235.

n Toy, Yeti, The Abominable Snowman, vinyl head and hands, fur, remote control, 11 inches, $240.

n Christmas ornament, carousel horse, rabbit, sterling, Cazenovia Abroad, box, 4 x 3 1/4 inches, 2 pieces, $245.

n Sterling-silver bread plate, leaf rim, round foot, turned out rim, monogram, Gorham, 1930, 6 1/4 inches, 12 pieces, $605.

n Gaudy Dutch, cream pitcher, oyster pattern, helmet shape, 5 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches, $885.

n Furniture, sleigh bed, Louis XVI style, fruitwood, padded back, scrolled headboard, c. 1910, 65 x 85 inches, $1,720.

 

Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer questions sent to the column. Write to Kovels, Tyler Morning Telegraph, King Features Syndicate, 300 W. 57th St., New York, New York, 10019.