Researcher - Petroliana & Advertising
Miller and Miller Auctions Ltd.
Miller and Miller Auctions is Canada’s trusted seller of high-value collections. We are a full-service online auction company with a global reach specializing in luxury watches, Canadiana and folk art, petroliana and advertising, and rare historic objects. Our goal is to provide serious collectors with a trusted place to buy and sell.
Address – 59 Webster Street, New Hamburg, Ontario N3A1W8
Phone – 519-662-4800
Email – tim@millerandmillerauctions.com
Position: Researcher for the categories of Petroliana, Advertising - Pre-1970
Type: In person/Remote
Hours: 30/40 per week
Job Length: 1-3 months with opportunities for extension
Pay Rate: $25/HR
Reports To: Tim Wenn, Catalogue Manager
Job Overview:
In the true spirit of the collector, we in the petroliana and advertising division of Miller & Miller believe that detailed, accurate research matters. Collecting is a journey of learning and discovery that results in the dividend of knowledge - we want to produce catalogues that build knowledge. Our belief is that assumptions and unfounded statements jeopardize
buyer confidence. Accurate catalogues win the confidence of buyers: the collectors who eventually become our sellers. In the spirit of true collecting, we want our catalogues to be seen as a source of truth; a permanent record that instills buyer confidence.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who:
● Works well independently.
● Has deep curiosity and enjoys discovering facts.
● Pays exceptional attention to detail.
● Thinks critically and questions assumptions.
● Balances analytical thinking with creativity.
● Enjoys trial-and-error research and solving difficult problems.
● Communicates complex information clearly and concisely.
● Is comfortable contacting experts, historians, collectors, and authorities for additional information.
● Knows how to ask insightful questions.
● Is receptive to constructive criticism while confidently defending well-supported conclusions.
● Can carefully analyze an object and identify meaningful clues.
● Has a genuine passion for history and material culture.
Responsibilities and Duties:
● Determining the production date of signs and advertising pieces, ideally narrowing manufacture to within a ten-year period.
● Identifying manufacturer marks and understanding how they evolved over time.
● Researching company logos, branding changes, slogans, trademarks, and advertising campaigns.
● Studying manufacturing methods, materials, and construction techniques to establish production periods.
● Investigating patents, product introductions, mergers, acquisitions, and corporate history when they directly relate to an object.
● Identifying country of origin through maker's marks and historical evidence.
● Finding photographic or documentary evidence that supports dating or authenticity.
● Identifying characteristics that distinguish one variation from another.
● Researching the collector-recognized names ("nicknames") used to identify specific signs and advertising pieces.
● Producing concise written research that explains and justifies your conclusions.
Key Skills and Qualifications:
Specialized knowledge of petroliana or advertising collectibles is an asset but not a requirement.
Candidates may come from backgrounds such as:
● Accredited appraisal
● Authentication and valuation
● Academic research
● History or museum studies
● Journalism or investigative reporting
● Libraries and archives
● Law or legal research
● Historical collecting
If you're an exceptional researcher with transferable investigative skills, we encourage you to apply.
Interested candidates should email a copy of their resume and brief outline of their relevant experience and interest in the position. All emails should be sent to Tim Wenn at tim@millerandmillerauctions.com.