Swapatorium

The Grocer

Photo and business cards found in a photo album purchased at an estate sale.

Discarded Memories #5

CONTENTS OF GREEN BOX:

1 wooden doll
1 shell necklace
1 1935 token
Misc. ephemera
1 bamboo ink brush
1 cord
1 broken silver chain
1 broken gold pin

That's the end of the green box contents. I am currently visiting my brother in Crown Point, Indiana and traveling through various nearby towns looking for junk. I have found some great things so far. Mainly awesome photos, but some neat objects and art deco items. I'll be posting on Flickr when I can since I have my camera and will probably not post here until next week.  I hope everyone has a safe Fourth of July!  

Discarded Memories #4

CONTENTS OF GREEN BOX:

4 Japanese dolls

Discarded Memories #3

CONTENTS OF GREEN BOX:

1 calling card
1 cdv of a lady
1 handkerchief with fringe
1 broken celluloid fan
1 gold compact
1 glass bead necklace
1 chocker with engraved silver initials
1 cuff bracelet

Discarded Memories #2

CONTENTS OF GREEN BOX:

1 black knitted bonnet
1 tintype of older lady identified as "Grandma"
1 church bulletin
1 knitted cross
Loose beads from a broken necklace

Discarded Memories

Over a year ago at an estate sale that was held at a mansion, the family threw away a bunch of things. Based on what was inside the house, John had a hunch that there were good items that were probably thrown away. He went with a friend to their curb and took the black plastic trash bags that were ready to be sent to the dump. Sure enough, the bags were filled with great objects, including this green cardboard box which was filled with interesting old things.  Some of the items are worn, faded, broken, chipped, etc., but many are perfectly fine.  At some estate sales, especially when held by the family and not a company, they just want to get rid of things and are not concerned with monetary value.  I'm sure there are many of you junkers out there who have found some great things in the FREE box at sales.  

I will post photos this week of the entire contents of this green box.  If you like found treasures, be sure to check out Barbara Levine's new project which chronicles her encounters with found materials and people's personal collections and archives.

CONTENTS OF GREEN BOX:

1 pair of baby shoes
3 bonnets
2 pieces of a broken celluloid rattle
1 knitted baby scarf

Weekend Finds

This was a good weekend for finding photographs and old paper. The photo above shows a portion of the goods obtained from one estate. I still have a large box to sort. I'll be posting some of the finds here and on Flickr.

Watchdog

We went to a sale this weekend that was held in a 4000 sq. ft. warehouse. It was a moving company's storage facility. Based on the ad, these items were being sold to pay for unpaid storage fees. John went on Friday during his lunch hour. I went back with him on Saturday to see what was leftover since the items are marked down on the final day.

Stickley desk and chair.

We purchased a stack of art books, some 1960s colorful fabric watch bands, a very cool vintage watch for me, a pair of 1950s/60s Ray Ban sunglasses for John, 1950s Mexican silver large spoon and fork with rosewood handles, 3 pieces of vintage art, and a few pieces of pottery.  It was an interesting sale, but a bit on the expensive side.

Freaky dog that stood about 5 feet high.

Charles A. Leuschner

This Southern Cross of Honor medal came from an estate sale a few months ago. John found two of them, but only this one has a name engraved on the top bar. We admired them, then put them away like we do with many of the things we purchase.  Recently, John decided to look up the name.  Lo and behold, Charles A. Leuschner kept a diary. I ordered the book today. Now we are excited because we get to read about the man whose medal we own. 

Casio Biolator

John picked up this Casio Biolator for $5 at an estate sale. It supposedly calculates your biorhythm. I punched in the numerical sequence needed to calculate mine and according to the booklet, I should be resting, I'll be moody with a negative attitude, and my judgement and perception will be at its keenest. I told John it's best if he stays away from me today.

The House that Time Forgot

John went back to the sale where he found the Bertoia chairs last night to help price some items. He told me how extremely dusty the house originally was before it was cleaned by the estate sale employees. Turns out that the owner of the home had passed away and the family left everything as-is for six years. Even the original food was in the refrigerator and cupboards. I found that eerie. While there the second time around, he went into the attic and found a large box and two full bags of photos and ephemera. The family did not want them, so they came home to me. These are a few examples of what I have found so far, including the child's artwork above.

The bottom of their shoes read, To Hell with the Kaiser, '18.

I'm Just Wild About Harry

John found this pair of Harry Bertoia Diamond Chairs at an estate sale this afternoon on his lunch hour. I like the black wire with the yellow seat pads.  I'm not sure where I will put them since we have more chairs than we know what to do with, but I'm certain I will find a spot. The nice thing about these chairs is that they match one of my favorite chairs in the house which is a child's Bertoia.

Digger Sale

John and I went to an estate sale this weekend. It was a digger sale which means that things are in boxes, drawers, trunks and placed on surfaces throughout the house and you have to literally dig for your stuff. John loves these types of sales. Me, being a clean hands freak, have to get John to seach for me. I just stand back and let him know if I want it or not.

I took several photos while there, but wanted to concentrate on showing you the found photos only so you can see how I usually find them at estate sales. Most of the time, they are in a box unsorted. I don't go through them there, but at home. It will take me a couple of hours to go through these boxes.

Outside of the house was a large pile of trash that the family had thrown away. John went through it and found several more photos. The photos were mainly color snaps from the 1960s. I guess they thought they were worthless.

We also purchased a few odds and ends which I will blog about later this week.