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Show us your Thrift and/or yard sale finds

CaddyKid21

One of the Regulars
Messages
132
Location
New SN: J.J. Gittes
Warbaby said:
Found this nifty Deco/Machine Age lighted makeup mirror at a street market yesterday for ten bucks. It's cast metal with a swiveling mirror - flat beveled mirror on one side and a magnifying mirror on the other. It's in great condition - the light works and the mirrors are perfect. The old wire looks a little dicey, so I'll probably replace it with a vintage-style silk covered wire.

MakeupMirror3f.jpg


MakeupMirror6f.jpg


(Maneki Niko says "Hi!" to all the loungers.)​

I saw a mirror just like that one at the Camp Hollywood show. I wanted to buy it, but I didn't have any cash. It was painted like yours not chrome.
 

Starius

Practically Family
Messages
698
Location
Neverwhere, Iowa
Joie DeVive said:
Ok, I gotta ask.... What is it? :eek:

Thats a bathroom vanity mirror / medicine cabinet with side mounted florescent lighting!

We had one very similar in our bathroom from the 50s, and only just took it out 2 years ago during a remodel. I didn't let my parents ditch it though, I made sure it got tucked away in one of our storage buildings (with the rest of the stuff my parents call "junk" but I call "treasure."
 

Joie DeVive

One Too Many
Messages
1,308
Location
Colorado
Starius said:
Thats a bathroom vanity mirror / medicine cabinet with side mounted florescent lighting!

We had one very similar in our bathroom from the 50s, and only just took it out 2 years ago during a remodel. I didn't let my parents ditch it though, I made sure it got tucked away in one of our storage buildings (with the rest of the stuff my parents call "junk" but I call "treasure."

Oh! Thank you Starius! Now I see it. I was looking at it from above as if the white things were handles and the middle part was a cover over a dish or something!! :eusa_doh: lol

Very nice mirror!
 

Obob

New in Town
Messages
39
Location
N/A
Smart Move

Starius said:
Thats a bathroom vanity mirror / medicine cabinet with side mounted florescent lighting!

We had one very similar in our bathroom from the 50s, and only just took it out 2 years ago during a remodel. I didn't let my parents ditch it though, I made sure it got tucked away in one of our storage buildings (with the rest of the stuff my parents call "junk" but I call "treasure."

During the redo of my mom's downstairs bath, we had a similar mirror. I thought it should be replaced, because it wasn't "retro" enough. My mom thought otherwise, and we did it her way. The bath is what I'd call a 30's/40's style, kinda "modern" for the era.

One of the websites where we were buying stuff had one just like it for about $400. There might have been one like the one pictured here too; it's been 7 or 8 years ago that we were doing that little project.

The moral of this story: Listen to your mother, especially when she says to hang on to something...:eek:

Obob
 

Starius

Practically Family
Messages
698
Location
Neverwhere, Iowa
Obob said:
During the redo of my mom's downstairs bath, we had a similar mirror. I thought it should be replaced, because it wasn't "retro" enough. My mom thought otherwise, and we did it her way. The bath is what I'd call a 30's/40's style, kinda "modern" for the era.

One of the websites where we were buying stuff had one just like it for about $400. There might have been one like the one pictured here too; it's been 7 or 8 years ago that we were doing that little project.

The moral of this story: Listen to your mother, especially when she says to hang on to something...:eek:

Obob

Haha, except when they say it should be thrown away... that's when we don't listen to them, right? ;)
 

Obob

New in Town
Messages
39
Location
N/A
Oh Yeah!

Starius said:
Haha, except when they say it should be thrown away... that's when we don't listen to them, right? ;)

Oh yeah! Except that my mom's actually less inclined to get rid of stuff than am I. I once and awhile get on a kick that some decluttering needs to be done; it falls on deaf ears!

Since I've been hanging around message boards like this one, and I've seen that there are other people in this world who are into this "retro" stuff as much as I am, the clutter is bothering me less and less...:eusa_clap

Obob-who maybe ain't so crazy after all (or else he's in a nuthouse with a whole tribe of kooks!)
 

Quigley Brown

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,745
Location
Des Moines, Iowa
I found this 13 in. tall brass sailboat at a thrift store down the street from me. I don't know how old it is (it isn't marked). I just like its streamlined design.

brass.jpg
[/IMG]
 

Vintage Betty

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,300
Location
California, USA
Warbaby said:
Great trunk, VB! I've restored quite a few trunks like that and will be happy to share my techniques. Should I post the info here, elsewhere, or PM you?

Sorry to take so long to answer your kind offer about my Victorian Trunk, sometimes I forget to check threads after I've posted! :eusa_doh: Thanks for the compliments everyone!

The main problem with the trunk is that there is a light coating of mildew inside the trunk in places. Should I sand it off and than seal the inside?

Other issues with the trunk can wait until this one is discussed, as it's the most important.
 
D

DeaconKC

Guest
Old Spice Mug

Found this over the weekend in a little flea market. a 1948 049 Old Spice Shaving mug. Couldn't resist it.
Burmashave005.jpg
 

Warbaby

One Too Many
Messages
1,549
Location
The Wilds of Vancouver Island
Vintage Betty said:
Sorry to take so long to answer your kind offer about my Victorian Trunk, sometimes I forget to check threads after I've posted! :eusa_doh: Thanks for the compliments everyone!

The main problem with the trunk is that there is a light coating of mildew inside the trunk in places. Should I sand it off and than seal the inside?

Other issues with the trunk can wait until this one is discussed, as it's the most important.

If the inside is lined with paper or fabric and it's not in too raggedy condition, you may be able to save it - I always like to try to keep as much originality as possible and still retain useability.

Wash the inside with an all-purpose household cleaner, working quickly with a not-too-wet sponge so you don't saturate the paper or fabric. Wipe it down with a clean sponge. Give it a light spray with one of those bathroom mildew sprays. Lightly! This stuff will kill any remaining mildew spores. (Actually, i use a solution of Thymol in alcohol, but you can only find Thymol at a chemical supply house and I didn't think you'd want to bother - the other stuff works and is easy to get). Leave the trunk open, preferably outside on a warm sunny day so it can dry thoroughly.

I have a trunk I'm about to start restoring, so if you can wait for a few days, I'll start on it and photograph what I'm doing. Maybe I should post it in the Vintage Luggage thread since it's OT for this thread?
 

funneman

Practically Family
Messages
851
Location
South Florida
patrick1987 said:
:eusa_clap
Is that funneman or Joseph Cotten?
Nice to hear of a middle-schooler enjoying outings with Dad.

Thanks.

She's a great kid, who shares my love of hats as well.

:eek:fftopic:

Here she is in her Towncraft:

Sarahshat.jpg
 

Vintage Betty

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,300
Location
California, USA
Warbaby said:
If the inside is lined with paper or fabric and it's not in too raggedy condition, you may be able to save it - I always like to try to keep as much originality as possible and still retain useability.

Wash the inside with an all-purpose household cleaner, working quickly with a not-too-wet sponge so you don't saturate the paper or fabric. Wipe it down with a clean sponge. Give it a light spray with one of those bathroom mildew sprays. Lightly! This stuff will kill any remaining mildew spores. (Actually, i use a solution of Thymol in alcohol, but you can only find Thymol at a chemical supply house and I didn't think you'd want to bother - the other stuff works and is easy to get). Leave the trunk open, preferably outside on a warm sunny day so it can dry thoroughly.

I have a trunk I'm about to start restoring, so if you can wait for a few days, I'll start on it and photograph what I'm doing. Maybe I should post it in the Vintage Luggage thread since it's OT for this thread?

Thanks for the advice. I'll be sure to pull it out of storage before the weather turns so I can try this. Do you recommend I also spray and wipe lightly on the Victorian paper parts? They aren't so beautiful that I would be devastated if they were lost, but they are charming even if imperfect and I'd like to keep them.

Yes, please DO post pics in another thread! And thanks again.

Vintage Betty
 

Warbaby

One Too Many
Messages
1,549
Location
The Wilds of Vancouver Island
Vintage Betty said:
Thanks for the advice. I'll be sure to pull it out of storage before the weather turns so I can try this. Do you recommend I also spray and wipe lightly on the Victorian paper parts? They aren't so beautiful that I would be devastated if they were lost, but they are charming even if imperfect and I'd like to keep them.

Yes, please DO post pics in another thread! And thanks again.

Vintage Betty

Yes, do the paper parts as well - just don't get them too wet and they should be just fine. Once it's dry, you can stick down any loose paper with diluted white glue. While it's a nice day and you've got the bucket and sponge in hand, wash the exterior with a household cleaner like Fantastik or similar stuff and rinse with a clean sponge. Now it's ready for restoration (instructions for which will appear in the Vintage Luggage thread as soon as I get a round tuit). I'll also list some sources where you can get leather straps and handles to replace the old ones which are usually too far gone to salvage.
 

sherri bomb

New in Town
Messages
19
Location
Cigar City, Florida
1st estate sale ever.

Went to my first estate sale today and I am hooked! Also checked out some yard sales. I'll be moving out in a few months and bought some stuff for the new place.

show and tell..

DSC03200.jpg


vanity tray.. 50 cents!

DSC03199.jpg

random books
1887 diary
poems by alan seeger 1916
1940s Red Cross First Aid textbook

DSC03198.jpg

barometer/thermometer/humidor

I also saw this gorgeous fan, not sure how old, but the cord was broken. I'm thinking I should have gotten it, but I was worried about the repair.
 

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