Three Canadian collectors, their stories, and their treasures featured in Miller & Miller’s September 14th Mantiques! sale

From left to right, the late Ivan Hamilton, Brian Munro, and Patrick Roy.

1 | IVAN HAMILTON

A big-hearted collector with quiet resolve

After tractors, Ivan and his wife Marilyn moved on to memorabilia – gas pumps, gasoline-related items, glassware and other collectibles.

When Ivan Hamilton found an antique he loved, he would quietly dig in his heels and do whatever it took to own it.

The Listowel, Ontario-area collector, who died earlier this year, was the eldest of 10 children and forced to leave school in Grade 8 to help support his family. Later in life, he owned his own construction company and became well known as a soft-spoken man with a generous heart and a love of antiques. His passion for collecting began with old John Deere tractors and at one time he owned 16 of them, all perfectly restored by his own hands.

After tractors, he and his wife Marilyn moved on to memorabilia – gas pumps, gasoline-related items, glassware and other collectibles. They went to hundreds of sales over the years, amassing a collection so vast and diverse that people would refer to their home as ‘the museum’.

“He was very fussy about what he bought,” says his daughter Carol Kempson, “but he was determined to own what he wanted and he was prepared to stand there for hours until he did. He took a lot of joy in collecting. His stuff is known far and wide around here and people would love to listen to him talk about it. He was also recognized for his profound wisdom.”

“He never wanted to part with anything while he was alive, but he wanted his collection to live on and go to the next person through Miller & Miller Auctions, which was to have first dibs on everything, at his request. He knew these things used to belong to someone else. He got to restore them and love them and he knew someday someone else would get their chance to as well.”

2 | BRIAN MUNRO

An insatiable appetite for Canadiana

Brian’s interest centres around anything with a Canadian connection, including toys, Transat Airlines, the military, Laura Secord, and Muskoka-related items.

At one time, Brian Munro was known as the guy who would walk around antique shows wearing a sandwich board listing the things he was looking for.

“I got the disease a long time ago,” jokes the collector, who has been buying antiques and collectibles for roughly 50 years, but no longer sports the sandwich board. His interest centres around anything with a Canadian connection, including toys, Transat Airlines, the military, Laura Secord, and Muskoka-related items (he’s been going to that part of the country since he was a child).

One of his fondest memories is when he found a Royal Canadian Airforce toy plane, something he’d been after for a long time. “It was the only one I’d ever come across and it was in rough shape, but I bought it anyway.” Ironically, another one turned up in the U.S. not long afterwards. It was in excellent condition and he bought that one too.

So, after 50 years has the thrill of the hunt worn off – even a little? “No,” he says emphatically. “I’ve always had fun and I still have fun.”

Antiques have found their way into Brian’s own collection in many different ways, but he definitely has a favourite scenario. “When someone comes to me and says, ‘Brian, I’m downsizing’ and they sell me something from their own collection after having it for 30 or 40 years. That’s special.”

He admits he finds it hard to let things go from his own collection, but he hopes the things he does sell “will go to a good home”.

And he takes solace in words from a friend who reminds him “we’re only temporary custodians of these treasures”.

3 | PATRICK ROY

You never know what will pop up

Patrick collects old automotive and soda pop-related advertising – things he remembers seeing as a kid living in small town Ontario, Canada.

Patrick Roy likes to reminisce about his childhood. That’s the main reason he collects old automotive and soda pop-related advertising – things he remembers seeing as a kid living in small town Ontario, Canada. It’s all about nostalgia.

“I was raised in a small town and the corner stores all carried these soda pops. I love the Pepsi, Coke, 7-up and Crush signs,” says the Sudbury native. “They conjure up great memories for me. I bought one piece seven years ago and just got carried away after that.”

For the past seven years, Patrick has been building an impressive collection of roughly 180 pieces, travelling with his wife all over Ontario and Quebec (he speaks fluent French, which also helps), buying whatever takes his fancy. “Every little town had these corner stores and garages so you never know what you’re going to find.”

For him, the pièce de résistance in his collection is an Orange Crush sign he discovered in his father’s uncle’s old garage in St. Charles, Ontario. It was once an Imperial Esso Gas Station and the family knew Patrick was interested in old things so called him up and invited him to come see what was lying around. He discovered an Imperial Esso sign, but right behind it was the jewel: an old Orange Crush sign in beautiful condition. It’s been his favourite piece ever since, partly because of the condition and partly because of the family connection. It’s also the hardest thing to let go.

“The market is really strong right now so I decided it was the right time to sell my collection,” says Patrick. “Who knows, maybe I’ll just start another one. It’s such a great hobby.”