Leon Castner, ISA CAPP AAA, Ph.D.
Leon Castner has been an appraiser for over thirty years. He grew up in the auction business in northern New Jersey and worked as runner, cashier, trucker, auction manager, and eventually president and chief auctioneer. Leon served as President of The New Jersey State Society of Auctioneers and was named Auctioneer of the Year. His company regularly held over 50 auctions per year.
Leon joined forces with Brian Kathenes in the early 1990’s establishing NAC (National Appraisal Consultants, LLC). Leon travels across the country still appraising as Senior Partner and serves as expert witness in many appraisal methodology and procedure cases.
Leon was featured in an ABC 20/20 Special on Estate Auction Fraud and is a columnist for many magazines and papers. He co-hosts a weekly radio show on antiques and collectibles called Value This Radio with Brian and Leon. Leon is a Certified member of AAA. He is a graduate with an M.T.S from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and has a non-traditional non-resident PH.D from Western States. He has also attended St. Michael’s Seminary for other graduate work. He is also President of the ISA Foundation.
Leon sold his auction business a few years ago and moved to Wilmington, North Carolina. He teaches religious courses and is pursuing ordination in the CEC. He enjoys teaching value -- whether it be personal property or individual and societal ethics. |
Brian G. Kathenes, ISA, CAPP
Brian Kathenes is a professional appraiser, radio talk-show host and TV personalty. He is the of 'Value This! with Brian and Leon', WRNJ’s weekly call-in antiques and collectibles talk show. He and his business partner, Leon Castner, share antique tips, take listeners’ calls, and answer questions on all types of antiques and collectibles. Brian is also the Managing Partner of National Appraisal Consultants, a firm specializing in personal property appraisal consulting, appraisal theory, and litigation support. He is a Certified Appraiser of Personal Property in Autographs, Manuscripts & Historical Documents, and specializes in all types of collectibles.
Brian is the past Chairman of the International Society of Appraisers Ethics Committee. His clients include: Disney /MGM Studios, Chubb Insurance, U.S. Department of the Treasury/IRS, U.S. Customs & Border Protection, The National Museum of American Jewish History, and The Ronald Reagan Museum at Eureka College. He is an expert on the Declaration of Independence.
Mr. Kathenes has also served as an expert witness and consultant in many appraisal-related court cases including: Richard Nixon versus the United States of America -- The Watergate Presidential Papers Trial.
Brian Kathenes has been the keynote speaker at the Folger Shakespeare Library and Library of Congress in Washington, DC. He is the past chairman of the New York Winter Antique Show Vetting committee with Leslie and Lee Keno (of Antiques Road Show fame). Brian is also the on-air TV appraiser and science fiction consultant for the Discovery Channel’s collectibles show: POP NATION: America’s Coolest Stuff.
He’s an Eagle Scout, so you know he’ll always tell you the truth, and was honored as Hope Township’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year.
He has appraised the Batmobile, the Back to the Future Car, and memorabilia from the blockbuster movie Titanic, including the giant ship model. He has appraised items that have been on the Moon, and even appraised (and played) Elvis’ guitar. |
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Betcha Can't Read Just One!
101 tips, tricks, trivia, and secrets of the antiques and collectibles world, packed into 168 pages. A book filled with collecting tips, strange antiques trivia, humor, and insider information on finding overlooked bargains in the antiques and collectibles world.
Radio talk show hosts, TV personalities, and professional appraisers Brian Kathenes and Leon Castner share their sixty years of combined experience in this off-the-wall, fun-filled journey.
This book is for the rest of us -- the people who don’t have a three million dollar table for the Antiques Roadshow. It’s a quick read, presented in short blurbs, side bars, and articles that will expand your knowledge and give you plenty to talk about over the water cooler and at your next party.
You’ll discover a few surprises in your attic, garage, or kitchen junk drawer that are worth more than you thought. And find out which items you should have thrown out years ago.
Castner and Kathenes cover the world of antiques and collectibles with topics including:
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Baseball: The American Past Time
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Autographs Collectibles and Memorabilia: The Eclectic Life
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Presidential Artifacts: Hail to the Chief
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Coins and Currency: We’re in the Money
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Stamps: Post-it Notes
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Ads and Advertising: Battle of the Brands
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Americana: Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue
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Furniture: Highboys, and Footstools and Chairs, Oh My!
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Clocks: It’s About Time
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Dolls: Play With Me
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Pottery: Dishing It Up
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Glass: NO Stone Throwing
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Hollywood: Tales From Tinsel Town
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Comedy & Comedians: Make ‘Em Laugh
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Science & Technology: The Science of Science Collecting
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Appraisal Tips From the Pros
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How To Identify A Qualified Appraisal
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Lessons In Diamonds
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Spotting Fakes and Forgeries
They also included a special bonus section loaded with free reports, newsletters and coupons valued at more than five times the price of the book.
Betcha Didn’t Know That! 101 Antiques and Collectibles Trivia Tips That Can Make You Rich, Famous, and the Hit of the Party Volume 1 -- With Special Bonus Section
By: Leon Castner and Brian Kathenes
ISBN: 978-1-60097-002-3 LCCN: 200793021
Library Distributor: Quality Books, Inc.
Available on:
www.Amazon.com and www.BetchaBook.com
Soon to be released: CD - audio book, E-book, and Large Print Edition
National Appraisal Consultants, LLC
(908) 459-5996
www.BetchaBook.com
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What Others Are Saying
"The Grand Prize goes to Brian & Leon for a book filled with fun factoids, tumultuous trivia and hysterical historic information about collecting. This book is a big winner, a must read for all appraisers, auctioneers and collectors of STUFF!"
Tim Luke, HGTV’s “Cash in the Attic”
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“Fantastic! I am mainly known for producing antiques and collectibles price guides which appeal to those wonderful sentiments of nostalgia and the need to know how much something is worth. What Leon and Brian have reminded me is that what we also love is the colorful characters and the humor which are so much part of the reason we love this business."
Judith Miller, Publisher
The Price Guide Company
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I don’t think you need a note from me to tell you how “popular” your talk was. You really addressed issues that concern many of those who came. The large contingent from the library of Congress demonstrated that. I was glad you brought examples and were able to give us some idea of the way they should be described for appraisal purposes and not for a would-be purchaser. What a world of difference there is between the two approaches. Thank you for speaking to our manuscript Society and for the trouble you took to address our interests.
Laetitia Yeandle
Folger Shakespeare Library
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Thank you for presenting your important and entertaining program "Beating the Bushes - How to Keep Business Flowing in Good Times and Bad." You both have offered so much to ISA over the years that you have reached an unparalleled status for volunteering. You are greatly appreciated by your peers for your unwavering service to ISA. You have become the 'go to guys'.
Sally Ambrose, Conference Coordinator
International Society of Appraisers
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There comes a time in an appraiser's career when they want their business to expand but at the same time focus on a market that is a good fit to their interests, experience and personal situation. Your site is the finest resource I have seen to support this professional development need. I will return to it to obtain both the information offered at no cost, and the treatises available for sale.
Dr. Charles C. McCracken, ISA, D.Ed.
Hilton Head Island, SC
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"The Grand Prize goes to Brian & Leon for a book filled with fun factoids, tumultuous trivia and hysterical historic information about collecting. This book is a big winner, a must read for all appraisers, auctioneers and collectors of STUFF!"
Tim Luke (HGTV’s “Cash in the Attic”) |
101 tips, tricks, trivia, and secrets of the antiques and collectibles world, packed into 168 pages. A book filled with collecting tips, strange antiques trivia, humor, and insider information on finding overlooked bargains in the antiques and collectibles world.
Radio talk show hosts, TV personalities, and professional appraisers Brian Kathenes and Leon Castner share their sixty years of combined experience in this off-the-wall, fun-filled journey.
This book is for the rest of us -- the people who don’t have a three million dollar table for the Antiques Roadshow. It’s a quick read, presented in short blurbs, side bars, and articles that will expand your knowledge and give you plenty to talk about over the water cooler and at your next party.
You’ll discover a few surprises in your attic, garage, or kitchen junk drawer that are worth more than you thought. And find out which items you should have thrown out years ago.
Castner and Kathenes cover the world of antiques and collectibles with topics including:
- Baseball: The American Past Time
- Autographs Collectibles and Memorabilia: The Eclectic Life
- Presidential Artifacts: Hail to the Chief
- Coins and Currency: We’re in the Money
- Stamps: Post-it Notes
- Ads and Advertising: Battle of the Brands
- Americana: Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue
- Furniture: Highboys, and Footstools and Chairs, Oh My!
- Clocks: It’s About Time
- Dolls: Play With Me
- Pottery: Dishing It Up
- Glass: NO Stone Throwing
- Hollywood: Tales From Tinsel Town
- Comedy & Comedians: Make ‘Em Laugh
- Science & Technology: The Science of Science Collecting
- Appraisal Tips From the Pros
- How To Identify A Qualified Appraisal
- Lessons In Diamonds
- Spotting Fakes and Forgeries
They also included a special bonus section loaded with free reports, newsletters and coupons valued at more than five times the price of the book. You can order the book at: www.BetchaBook.com
The Press, Blairstown, NJ |
Fantastic!
"I am mainly known for producing antiques and collectibles price guides which appeal to those wonderful sentiments of nostalgia and the need to know how much something is worth. What Leon and Brian have reminded me is that what we also love is the colorful characters and the humor which are so much part of the reason we love this business."
Judith Miller (Publisher-The Price Guide Company) |
 Quirky antiques and collectibles expert Brian Kathenes, an appraiser with National Appraisal Consultants Ltd. out of Hope, co-wrote the book "Betcha Didn't Know That!" with colleague Leon Castner.
The somewhat breezy paperback, breathlessly subtitled "101 Antiques and Collectibles Trivia Tips That Can Make You Rich, Famous, and the Hit of the Party," was just released.
"This book is for the rest of us --the ones who don't have a $3 million table for TV's 'Antiques Roadshow,' " Kathenes says.
"This book is for the rest of us -- the ones who don't have a $3 million table for TV's 'Antiques Roadshow,' " Kathenes says.
Read the story behind the book's roots in a radio show. Also check out fun trash-to-trivia excerpts. Finally, find out how the feisty little Star Wars robot R2-D2 got his name.
Taken from www.pennlive.com
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