Show us your Thrift and/or yard sale finds

[BobHufford]

From a small town thrift. A USA made bandana, a coffee mug and an awesome belt buckle.

 

[1mach1]

That buckle is sweet!!
Are you a coffee hound? I know I am! [emoji14]

 

[BobHufford]

That buckle is sweet!!
Are you a coffee hound? I know I am! [emoji14]

Thanks Harv! This cup isn't even big enough for this old dog.

 

[2jakes]

Found this at a thrift store.

I tried to explain to the vendor that it was not a cookie cutter,
but he cut me off saying, “do you want it or not?”

Here’s another one in better condition which will go on
my ’39 Ford panel.

 

[1930artdeco]

you scored big time with that plate topper!!!

 

[2jakes]

you scored big time with that plate topper!!!

This is my all-time biggest score.
Bought at the flea market from a guy who buys items from estate sales.
The camera included, leather cases, wide angle & telephoto lenses, filters
all made by Leica company in Germany. Was not sure if the camera worked
or not, but it looked like who ever owned it took great care. Paid $30 for the kit.
Later, I had it tested at a local camera shop & it was found to be in excellent
working condition.


Leica 35mm

 

[1mach1]

Nice find, 2Jakes!

 

[2jakes]

^^^^
My personal favorite would be the Western Flyer X-53 bicycle which was my very
first bike as a kid.

It’s old & has been repainted, but it’s all there. Just need some dusting & it’s
good to go.
I found it in the same location where I lived as a kid.

Not too many of these models around anymore.

I’d like to think it’s the same bike that I got for Christmas in 1955.

 

[1mach1]

^^^^
My personal favorite would be the Western Flyer X-53 bicycle which was my very
first bike as a kid.

It’s old & has been repainted, but it’s all there. Just need some dusting & it’s
good to go.
I found it in the same location where I lived as a kid.

Not too many of these models around anymore.

I’d like to think it’s the same bike that I got for Christmas in 1955.

That's super cool!
Don't see many of those around.

 

[Shangas]

I didn't post this before now, because I spent two weeks restoring it. But this is a mid-1800s solid brass nautical telecope I got for my birthday:

It is 11in. closed, and extends to 39in. long. It weighs about a pound and a half (approx 750g), and has solid brass construction, with a mahogany sleeve over the barrel. It's a four-draw telescope with four lenses and a two-piece achromatic objective lens.

It took several days of cleaning, lubrication, cleaning, lubrication, more cleaning, more lubrication, yet more cleaning and still yet more lubrication to clean out ALL THE GUNK (150 years' worth!) inside the telescope so that it would open and close properly. I also wrapped tape around some of the threads to improve grip and friction, and cleaned the lenses as best as I could.

It now works really well!

Here it is, with my three-draw pocket telescope, from around 1890-1905-era:

The small 'scope is 6in. closed, and 16in. opened. The same basic construction is seen in both telescopes. It was a style of construction that existed for CENTURIES (which can make these things hard to date...)

 

[Giftmacher]

Originally issued in 30's this is a book about shear techniques and patterns from 1947. I thought it was both ladies and gentlemen issue, judging from 144 pages, but only ladies patterns inside.

 

[1mach1]

I didn't post this before now, because I spent two weeks restoring it. But this is a mid-1800s solid brass nautical telecope I got for my birthday:

It is 11in. closed, and extends to 39in. long. It weighs about a pound and a half (approx 750g), and has solid brass construction, with a mahogany sleeve over the barrel. It's a four-draw telescope with four lenses and a two-piece achromatic objective lens.

It took several days of cleaning, lubrication, cleaning, lubrication, more cleaning, more lubrication, yet more cleaning and still yet more lubrication to clean out ALL THE GUNK (150 years' worth!) inside the telescope so that it would open and close properly. I also wrapped tape around some of the threads to improve grip and friction, and cleaned the lenses as best as I could.

It now works really well!

Here it is, with my three-draw pocket telescope, from around 1890-1905-era:

The small 'scope is 6in. closed, and 16in. opened. The same basic construction is seen in both telescopes. It was a style of construction that existed for CENTURIES (which can make these things hard to date...)

Wow! Absolutely stunning. Great find.

 

[Shangas]

Thank you!!

Here's my latest flea-market find (and restoration project):

Old-fashioned lift-arm lighter. Made ca. 1932, by Karl Wieden, in Germany. Nickel-plated brass construction.

I bought it because it has the coat of arms of my school on it!!

After extensive, extensive cleaning, which included...

- Replacing the wick.
- Replacing the flint.
- Replacing the cotton.
- Removing the flint-wheel and washing it in lighter-fluid.
- Sending the lighter through an ultrasonic cleaner.
- Wiping off loads of grime.

...it works!:

Not bad for something that's over 80 years old!!

 

[BobHufford]

Picked up these bronze (?) bells at an estate sale. Unusual with the wind driven clapper on the outside. Anyone know anything about these or recognize the casting mark? They sound great!

 

[Giftmacher]

German high impedance headphones from 20-30's. Great for a detector radio.

 

[Bushman]

Found these at a garage sale today. The Season of the Which approaches...

Spoiler

 

[BobHufford]

50-cent Japanese made New Mexico beer mug. My wife is from New Mexico so we had to have it. A couple errors (Plains Indian headdress, Saguaro cactus), but I'll forgive the Japanese as many Americans don't know that New Mexico is part of the USA.

 

[mikepara]

What made this book exciting was the fact that it was signed by Popski himself and given to George Lee. Lee was a Canadian Lieutenant who commanded 'R Patrol' of Popski's Private Army from mid-1944 to May 1945. When I got it home I found that Lee had taped in the funeral program for Peniakoff's funeral from 1951. In addition I found an original photograph of a group of 42 PPA troops in the back of the book, as well as clippings about Peniakoff's death and an interesting receipt from Fortnum and Masons for 6 pairs of boots dated October 1943.

Superb find. As a member of 'The Friends of PPA' I can onlt say how jealous I am.

 

[Bushman]

Would you believe I got all this at a swap meet for only $1.75! I'm ready for the season!

 

[Shangas]

Won this on eBay last week...