20th-Century Vintage To Collect Before Everyone Else Does

Must-Have Vintage Items Soar In Value

While Still Hot, Mid-Century Staples Are Not The Only Game In Town

New York - The market for 20th century collectibles has never been more competitive - or more rewarding. From starburst clocks to coin-op curiosities, yesterday's everyday objects are becoming some of today's hottest investments. Fueled by nostalgia-hungry millennials, design-conscious decorators, and savvy investors who've quietly discovered that "retro" can deliver real returns, the market is proving that demand has surged well beyond the familiar Mid-Century Modern staples. Today, it's the lesser-known, overlooked, and underestimated objects of the last century that are turning heads at auctions and disappearing fast from estate sale tables. Whether you're combing through a church basement or scrolling the listings at midnight, these five categories - a couple of which may genuinely surprise you - are the ones every serious dealer and collector should consider snapping up now before everyone else does.

Atomic Style Clocks of the 1950s
​Nothing says "Space Age optimism" quite like the iconic starburst wall clocks that adorned living rooms across North America in the 1950s. With their radiating spokes, starburst frames, and futuristic dials, these timepieces, produced by makers such as Lux, Sessions, and Westclox, perfectly captured the era's infatuation with atoms, rockets, and all things modern. Prices for pristine examples have climbed steeply, with rare variants fetching well over $800 at auction. "The atomic clock represents a perfect storm for collectors," says Patricia Holt, owner of Retrograde Antiques, in Portland, Oregon. "It's an incredible design, there's a genuine scarcity, and that 50's vibe seems to resonate deeply with today's buyers. We'll sell three or four a week at prices we couldn't have imagined five years ago."

However, horology expert James Craven of the Mid-Century Modern Collectors Guild notes that provenance matters enormously: "A working Lux starburst with its original hands, numerals, and mounting hardware can command double the price of one that's been restored." It's simple he says, "Buyers want authenticity, not Amazon lookalikes."

Vintage 1950s atomic starburst wall clock in gold mid-century modern style

1950s Slim Jim Ties & Men's Dress Accoutrements
The razor-thin "Slim Jim" tie — typically just one to two inches wide, splashed with bold geometric prints, novelty motifs, or hand-painted designs — is one of the defining accessories of 1950s American men's fashion. Once shoved into donation bins, quality examples in silk or rayon by labels such as Wembley, Resilio, and Peisner are now selling for $75–$350 each, with hand-painted novelty versions and complete boxed sets commanding considerably more.

But the ties are only part of the story. Savvy collectors are also snapping up the broader ecosystem of 1950s men's dress accessories: sterling silver and gold-filled tie bars and tie clips engraved with mid-century motifs; enamel and Lucite cufflinks in vivid colors; monogrammed collar stays; and vintage grooming kits in their original leatherette cases. Assembled as a period-correct ensemble, these pieces are fetching strong prices from both fashion historians and vintage menswear enthusiasts.

"The Slim Jim tie opened the door," says Gerald Montrose, proprietor of The Dapper Era, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, "but now buyers want the whole look - the clip, the cufflinks, the collar bar. Men's accessories from the 50s are deeply undervalued compared to women's vintage, and collectors know it," he says. Textile conservator Anne-Marie Leclair says that while prices are definitely rising, she still cautions buyers to check condition carefully: "Rayon and early acetate ties are susceptible to shatter degradation over time. Always handle gently and store flat - a pristine example is worth multiples of one with even minor splitting."

1950s Slim Jim style skinny ties

Vintage Transistor Radios
When the Regency TR-1 hit the market in 1954 as the world's first commercial transistor radio, few could have guessed it would one day be worth thousands. Today, the compact pocket radios of the late 1950s and 1960s produced by Sony, Motorola, Zenith, and dozens of Japanese manufacturers rank among the most actively traded vintage electronics. Rare colorways (coral, turquoise, ivory) and early Sony models regularly sell for $500 to $2,500, with exceptional examples exceeding that significantly.

"Color is everything in this category," says Marcus Webb, curator of The Vintage Electronics Archive in Chicago, "The same radio in standard black might fetch $150, but find it in chartreuse or flamingo pink and you're talking a completely different price tier entirely."

Vintage 1950s transistor radios can sell for thousands

Vintage Coin-Op Trade Stimulator Machines
Few collectible categories fly as far under the radar, or reward the patient hunter quite so generously as vintage coin-operated trade stimulators. Distinct from full slot machines, these small tabletop coin-op devices were placed on bar and shop counters throughout the 1930s, 40s, and 50s, offering customers a spin or a chance at winning a free pack of gum, cigarettes, or a small prize in exchange for a penny or nickel. Manufacturers like Mills, Jennings, Bally, and Northwestern produced hundreds of models, and fine examples in working condition with original paint and glass are now selling for $800 to $4,500. The appeal is multilayered: mechanical ingenuity, vivid lithographed tin cabinetry, Art Deco and early atomic-age styling, and the thrill of owning a piece of genuinely forgotten Americana. Many collectors specialize entirely in sub-niches - gum vendors, dice machines, or horse-race stimulators - each with its own dedicated following.

Frank Deluca, from Coin-Op Kingdom, in Columbus, Ohio says that, "Most people have never heard of trade stimulators, which is exactly why prices are still reasonable on the lower end, but that window is closing fast," he says, "the serious money is already moving in."

1950s coin-operated Stimulator machine with metal case

Vintage Pinball Machines
Pinball machines from the golden age of arcades, particularly electromechanical (EM) machines from the late 1950s through the early 1980s have exploded in value over the past decade. Iconic titles from Williams, Bally, and Gottlieb are now statement pieces in upscale homes and boutique bars alike. Fully restored classics can command $4,000–$12,000, while rare limited-run machines in original unrestored condition appeal to purists willing to pay a premium. Ray Thatcher, proprietor of Flipper's Vintage Arcade in Denver, Colorado says that, "Pinball machines have crossed from gaming equipment into fine art territory. Serious buyers treat them the way others treat sculpture - it's about the visual drama, the craftsmanship, and owning a piece of American pop history."

Collector and appraiser Lynn Stavros adds a practical note: "Condition and functionality are paramount. A machine that plays properly will always outperform one that's purely decorative. The sound, the lights, the action - buyers want the full experience."

1950 Bally "Turf King" Bingo Pinball Machine

For many in this field, the beauty of collecting 20th century objects is that the next great find is rarely where you expect it. A starburst clock at a church rummage sale, a slim jim tie buried in a thrift store bin, or a dusty coin-op trade stimulator sitting in plain view in Grandpa's garage. These categories that were once overlooked as mere curiosities are now heating-up today’s collector-sphere, and in so doing are proving that those who succeed in anticipating rises within the valuation game aren't necessarily those with the deepest pockets, but those paying attention before everyone else does. So whether you're a seasoned dealer or a curious first-timer, now is the perfect opportunity to trust your eye, do your homework, and move with confidence. After all, the best pieces never wait around for long.


​​A.I.A. Staff Writers  |  Editors

NOTE: For readers seeking more information about the Asheford Institute Of Antiques distance-learning program on professional-level appraising, the study of antiques, collectibles, vintage and mid-century modern items, please visit the school's Home Page at www.asheford.com. 

Should you have additional questions about the Asheford program, you can also write to the school at: info@asheford.com or call the Registrar's Office toll-free at: 1-877-444-4508.

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