Meet Cindy and Richard of Ragtyme Station who have created an antique lover’s haven in the wonderful historic small town of Fillmore, CA. Ragtyme Station is housed in a historical building in the center of town and features over 4000 sq ft of antiques and collectibles of every type. From vintage airplane parts to reclaimed architectural salvage, and mid-century furniture to Victorian china, you’ll find a bit of everything here.
Update: Both Cindy and Richard have moved on from Ragtyme Station. Sadly, COVID forced them to give up the store. However, they are both still selling. Richard and Cindy both have spaces at Country Antique Fair Mall in Santa Clarita, CA and Richard is also at Planet Vintage in Santa Paula, CA.
We spoke with Cindy and Richard about their love for antiques and vintage to learn about what drives these dealers to do what they love.
Here’s a bit of our conversation:
VU: How did you get started selling vintage and antiques?
C: I’ve been selling antiques for 30 years. I hated seeing so many wonderful treasures being hoarded and hidden. I wanted to bring them out of hiding & find them loving homes so that their history, craftsmanship & story could be honored & shared.
R: I started selling online while babysitting. Once the child grew old enough to attend school I needed a full-time job and started selling in an antique mall and swap meets.
VU: What would you describe as your specialty, what do you sell the most of?
C: I’m pretty well rounded, but I guess collectibles like antique toys, trains, advertising, and oil and gas petroliana.
R: My specialty is furniture, everything from Victorian to mid-century to modern classics.
VU: What is the greatest challenge of being a vintage seller?
C: The next generation of minimalists who don’t seem to respect or care about history and craftsmanship.
R: The most difficult thing about selling vintage and antiques is being able to predict the next big thing.
VU: What is the hottest category of vintage for you right now?
C: Advertising, oil, gas and barbershop.
R: Mid Century furniture has been the hottest category for several years now, it’s a timeless look that never seems to go out of style.
VU: What’s the best thing about being a vintage seller?
C: The people and the hunt! Absolutely. After that, the joy when I connect people with treasures. And helping people see things with different eyes, not as ruined or junk, but as possibilities for repurposed treasures.
R: The variety of people you meet.
VU: What’s something we have in our homes now that vintage buyers will be looking for in twenty years?
C: Oh goodness, good question, but who really knows? How about furniture made out of actual wood versus all the junky particleboard and laminates of today that will never last. Our 100-year-old furniture will be great in another 100 years, while theirs is all in a landfill.
R: Can’t imagine today’s Ikea will be tomorrow’s treasures but, you never know.
For another peek into this amazing store, look at our previous blog post, Antiquing on the Road, Fillmore, California, and be sure to check out their Facebook page and their individual Instagram accounts (Cindy and Richard). You can also find Richard selling at the Rose Bowl flea market, Pasadena City College flea market, Ventura County Fair Wednesday flea market, and occasionally the Santa Clarita swap meet at Saugus Speedway. He also works as an Estate Sale Professional under the name Antiques with a Twist. You can search his sales on Estate Sales.net
As vintage sellers, the Vintage Unscripted team is part of a community of like-minded individuals and are pleased to support our fellow dealers. If you enjoy this new Seller Spotlight feature, please support these sellers by following them on social media and purchasing from their shops.
