As the years rolled on, the cost of color printing became more affordable, and four-color printing became the standard. The printing process has become more streamlined as well, with digital files now being sent to our printers in Breese, IL, where the magic happens. The papers are printed, trimmed, bundled, and delivered to us by truck within two days.
August 2023
Everything Old
Happy 50th anniversary, Discover Vintage America
by Corbin Crable
Timeline 1978-1996
The timeline below with a sample of “Discovers” over the years, shows the evolution of the publication, including changes in the name, logo, and quality of the printing. In the early days, color printing was very expensive, so only one color was used (and very sparingly) to keep the cost down and retain the “free” price tag for readers.
Fifty years ago
Fifty years ago, a former journalist with The Kansas City Star traded the hustle and bustle of a daily newsroom for the relative calm of a smaller publication with a niche audience.
Well, it wasn’t all calm. There were still deadlines to meet – new advertising clients to meet, too.
Today, we can see that Ken Weyand, the founder of Discover North, (now Discover Vintage America) made the right decision all those years ago. But in 1973, when printed local, regional, and national news was still a lucrative business, and one very much in demand, the prospect of abandoning that industry to start a publication dedicated to antiques and events focused on history and the collection of vintage items had to be daunting, as change always is. Publication behemoths like Antique Trader have proven that on a national scale, collectors still flock to niche publications in droves to get their fingers on the proverbial pulse of the antique industry, but would the same hold true for a local publication?
Weyand’s gamble paid off, with his fledgling publication continuing to add to its roster of advertising clients in the months and years since.
Antique stores both old and new claimed their spots within our pages, and with them, a small team of talented, passionate writers who penned monthly columns on their individual areas of expertise. And the advent of digital media and social media has only helped our mission of covering this ever-changing industry, instead of harming our print distribution rate, like daily and weekly newspapers.
In my days as a college professor, I taught my reporting students that those media consumers who continue to read printed stories in newspapers and magazines do so because they assume the information contained therein to be credible, crafted by a professional journalist who possesses the training and skills necessary to dig a little deeper into stories than those writing for fly-by-night blogs or other websites without the credibility of legacy publications behind their byline.
Ken Weyand already had his experience with The Star helping him to craft, guide, and maintain his publication, so advertisers and subscribers could rest easy in the knowledge that Discover Vintage North would be a publication in which they could trust. In the years since Ken retired, and as our publishers, editors, and writers have changed (along with trends in the antiques industry itself), our dedication to quality, accurate coverage has remained. Our passion for the subject matter remains as strong as ever, too.
Celebrating our 50th Anniversary
In this issue celebrating our 50th anniversary, you’ll become reacquainted with some of the familiar faces who have been at the forefront of our publication over the years, including Weyand, former publisher Bruce Rodgers, and former editor Leigh Elmore, who will share their memories of years (and issues) gone by. We’re extremely fortunate to still have these wellsprings of knowledge upon which to draw. My humble thanks to our publisher Patti Klinge, a former student, and dear friend who gifted me with the opportunity to contribute to these pages, and to our team of writers and advertising executives for their talents and enthusiasm.
Of course, we wouldn’t be here without all of you, our readers, and our advertisers. Your belief in us has given blessed life to Discover Vintage America throughout these decades, and for that, mere thanks seem wholly insufficient. All we can do to convey our gratitude is to continue to cover this industry with professionalism and adherence to the high quality you’ve come to expect from us. Now and throughout the rest of the time we’re given, we’re honored to meet your needs.
Editor’s note: Weyand’s name was misspelled in last month’s issue. We regret the error.