Update: Uploader closed. Come back every Friday to see what we share next. We’re a clan of incurable collectors, so I plan to feature an “upload your thrifty vintage finds” once a month as part of my new, regular Friday upload feature. So far, we have 121 photos uploaded so far in this go-round. In June, readers uploaded 257 photos, including clg1977′s:
Today’s yard sale find: 1960′s Morse “Supertone” Hi-Fi console for the living room. clg1977 Melrose, MA
Now that it’s tag sale season, I bet you’re finding all kinds of treasures out there. Show ‘em off! Upload your photos this weekend — it’s easy, here’s all you need to do:
Upload photos of your recently purchased thrifty vintage treasures, below… Tips:
- If you can figure out the settings, please set your camera to no bigger than “medium” images, so files aren’t too large — large files really slow down the slide show.
- (2) Uploader DOES work but message you get on screen *may be* funky and confusing. Upload ONCE and trust the image it there — I just need to “set new photos free” from my control panel and will be checking throughout the weekend to do so.
- (3) Terms of Use apply.
Tips to view slide show: Click on first image… it will enlarge and you can also read my captions… move forward or back via arrows below the photo… you can start or stop at any image:
Last Friday night at 10:45 p.m. our power went out from a powerful freak thunderstorm. After a restless, hot night we decided on Saturday morning to get away for a mini-vacation to a town about two hours from here, toward the mountains in Maryland.
We had a great time with our son and his fiancee, checking out three antique malls we’d never been to, and came home with lots of stuff we didn’t need.
I found the plant stand I’ve been looking for, piled with stuff in a booth, marked at only $15. It was ‘brass’ colored, but a spray can of black later, it looks amazing on my back porch.
I saw one that recently sold on eBay for $159! And two are for sale on Etsy at prices 6 or 7 times more than I paid.
Oh yeah… our power returned on Tuesday afternoon. With temps hovering around 100F, I will never take A/C for granted again. These 1980s houses just weren’t built to not have A/C. The air temp was cool enough outside at night, but absolutely none of it would come in the windows. My next house will be old enough to have been built before central air was a thing. Cross ventilation is a blessing.
One thing newer homes have is a bathroom fan. I find it really helps to turn on all the exhaust fans in the house, including over the stove. It helps get the air starting to flow, and since they are near the cieling, the hot air goes first. The key is to get cool air to come in and absorb the heat given off by the walls and furniture. If they are too noisy, be sure to start as soon as the outside tempurature drops, so you can turn them off before bed. (And keep them clean and oiled.)
Bathroom fans… great idea for bringing some cool air upstairs. The folks we bought the house from had installed a whole-house fan, which does a great job of bringing up the A/C before we go to bed upstairs.
But of course, without power, they’re no good at all!
Bathroom vents also suck out the cool air too!
Score on the plant stand Tina! Much better black I am quite sure
Hope you have managed to cool off…..
One thing I really miss from the house I grew up in (a 1920s bungalow that got a majorly groovy renovation in the 60s) was the basement fan. I don’t know when it was put in…maybe the 50s, possibly earlier…but it was this huge industrial looking window fan that was perfect for getting cool air moving throughout the whole house. My dad would open the basement door and this cool breeze would just flow up the stairs and into the first floor. I’m guessing it was put in before air conditioning was invented because honestly on some days it worked better than the air conditioning. I’ve never seen another house with one like it, but it was really quite genius.
I was given quite a few things from two different friends this week. One friend gave me several magazines; seventeen, mccalls, better homes and gardens, family circle. A few days later, he gave me a sewing pattern and the lamp above. He got them from his coworker who is cleaning out his mother’s attic. Yesterday, another friend gave me three men’s magazines that a movie studio was going to throw away. Since all of my friends know that I live in the 1950s, when they see things, they get them for me. I have wonderful and thoughtful friends!
Wow, Desirae, you sure do!
Found such a great vintage store that I decided to jump in and become a dealer! I spotted this maroon Victorian chair and had to have it for my daughter’s room. I hope I don’t spend all my profit at the other dealers’ booths; it’s a real possiblity.
We hear a lot about MCModern, but Victorian decor was really big in the late 50s and 60s. That’s why I included it here.
The Tetsuo Ochikubo Eternal Tunelles signed lithograph was picked up at a thrift store for less than $10! I put it in my mid mod office at work!
Gorgeous! What a find!
Sorry I flooded the uploader Pam. I haven’t posted any pictures for quite awhile, but most of what I posted was acquired recently, except the bedroom set, I bought that last summer. I’m on vacation, so actually had time to upload some pics finally.
I think you’ll recognize the percolator lamp, which I am ever grateful to you and the Shandell’s for sharing on your blog!
I also posted pictures of my wagon wheel sofa and chair. The sofa is very petite at only 65″ long, and neither came with cushions, so I am having those made. Your opinions would be welcomed as I posted two photos (I think) with this great tooled leather look vinyl. One in a more understated burgandy brown color, and the other is turquoise.
Thanks for sharing everyone!
I should add also, when I pulled the plywood deck off of the sofa, we looked down and discovered it has a pull out drawer in the center, where it is open in the photo. I just forgot to put it back in before snapping the picture. When it is in place, you can’t tell it is a drawer, so that was a nice surprise.
Rebecca, I’m sorry I don’t have a clue who made your bedroom set, but the odds seem pretty astounding:
I typed into Google “bedroom set model 4210 mid century” and then hit images. The 3rd image on the top row has a picture of my dining room sideboard, and the matching flat back china hutch! I had to click on it of course, lol. If it weren’t all the way in Pennsylvania (I’m in CA), I’d be contacting them about getting the hutch to go with my set. I have the table, 8 chairs, the sideboard shown, and a corner china hutch.
So, long story short…..I didn’t see any pictures like your bedroom set
but found the matching hutch for my dining room set instead.
Haha. Well that is good karma at least.
Please HELP RR fans: Pictures 13, 14, 15 on the uploader are from me and are a RetroRenovation mystery. Do you know what make, model or manufacturer this mid-century modern bedroom set is? It is my mom’s and was purchased in 1960 … I found a sku on the back, but no other identifying marks. Appears to be solid walnut. Any help would be most appreciate. She has a dresser with mirror, man’s chest, one 2-drawer nightstand and a queen size headboard.
There could have been any number of manufacturers making that dresser. Also, factories may have made them under various names for various retailers. I think some of the fancier furniture retailers stamped their own names on the furniture they sold – but didn’t necessarily make.
Did you look on the side of every drawer and turn it all the way upside down?
I confess, I did not pull out every single drawer of all the pieces. Pulled out many. Will go back and be fastidious! Good point.
Rebecca, are you sure it was 1960? I didn’t even think queen beds were being made until a few years later. The Singer Furniture company was making alot of modern furniture in the early sixties and it kind of reminds me of some of their bedroom suites. I don’t recognize it but it was five years later before I became more familiar with furniture styles when I went to work full time in my parents’ furniture store. I wish I had saved the boxes and boxes of brochures and catalogs that we had in the attic, which dated back to the late fiftes. I am sure they were thrown out just recently when the store finally closed the doors.
Hi, I will double check on the exact year. I really thought it was 1960 but will confirm.
Hi, the commentary inspired my mother who took a close look at every single drawer. On the nightstand she found one lone remaining label that says LH Lenoir House, a Division of Broyhill Furniture Factories. She remembers that they bought the bedroom set in 1964 in Ohio, but doesn’t know exactly where.
*All jealous and stuff* over the $2.00 tension pole lamp! I’ve been looking for a bargain for about 8 years now, and no price for condition/style has spoken to me yet. You TOTALLY scored!! Kudos to you!
Thanks! It’s gorgeous, and in mint condition. It was love at first sight
I didn’t have too much luck thrifting this week. Although I did find this groovy wooden cat ink pen.
oh my today was a whirl wind estate sale…I will go back tomorrow to take more pictures of the house. It is a cute MCM home, that will be going on sale soon in the Portage, MI area. Has a bar in the panelled basement (with plaid carpeting), original kitchen. The house is turquoise and brick (w/a sweet planter in the front). If I didn’t already have my house, I’d buy this one. I told the owners all about keeping things as in and trying to sell as a MCM Retro as there are plenty of buyers. Meanwhile, I spent a load of money today – bought my Zenith and RCA television & white metal cabinet. I also bought a black iron patio set that I’ll pick up tomorrow (while taking more pictures). There was a lovely vintage freezer that I would’ve bought ($75) if it hadn’t already been sold. Oh My! I also bought 3 (yes, 3) metal, kleenex holders for a vintage cars – I’ll take pictures of those tomorrow…$5 each, couldn’t decide so I bought them all!
Also, I uploaded my silverware and new/old light fixture.
That Zenith console was made from 1964-1968 model years. If it’s run with vacuum tubes it’s ’64-’65 (i.e. if takes a minute to warm up), if not it’s ’66-’68. They made two different versions of that console during that time, your’s is the smaller more economical model, where as the one with the 4 doors on each side is the larger, higher end model. That is my favorite Zenith stereo cabinet of all time!
Ooo, the Saturn lamp and the Wagon wheel chair! I want, I want, I want.
hannah: Groovy red Beatles albums! I still own mine from when I bought them as a teen at “Zayer’s Shopper’s City”. I remember wanting a 45 rpm of one of the hits but they were out so I had to buy the whole album. I was so surprised to open it and find red albums!!!
I can’t believe it is going for around $200 now. Congrats on getting it for a bargain!
Hi Kathy!
Thank you! He was very happy with that present.
I remember buying albums at department stores, drug stores and even our local hardware store in Redondo Beach CA had an album bin. That’s where I got the first Monkees album!
It’s amazing what we didn’t know would appreciate in price so much, isn’t it? If I’d have known what I know now I’d have treated my Barbies a WHOLE LOT BETTER!
To the person with the RCA TV. That is a beautiful set. Does it work? Is it color or black/white? Very nice find. I’m jealous. Hope you enjoy it.
Oh yes, it works. It’s a black & white set and is sitting in my garage right now. The cabinet is in pristine condition (as is the Zenith stereo). But that’s not all, they had another tv in the basement! and it was name your price day. I went back today to take pictures and buy more stuff – it was still there. The screen was not as pristine, but the cabinet was.
Too bad it wasn’t in Arizona. I would go down an buy it. I have a large collection of the old tube style tvs and radios. I have about 50 tvs from the 40s to the 60s and about 200 radios from the 20s to the 60s.
Justin! 200 radios???? I soooo want a 1938 Zenith 10-S-470 console for my house. I already have my white cat ready to go in the concave shelf under the speaker. That’s in lieu of the fact that I’ll probably never find a reasonably priced 1936 12-A-58 to sit my cat on….. I could seriously be a radio addict too if I let myself, LOL.
I vote for Pam doing an “upload your vintage electronics” day very soon! TV’s, phono’s, and radios….it would be so fun to see what everyone has.
That would be awesome! I’ve got a few to share myself!
So, I went back today to the estate sale at the turquoise house and took more pictures. Sorry if I clog up the photo stream….I wish you all could have been there, oooohing and ahhhhhing over everything.
The vintage picnic gear is so charming, and those lamps with the night light bases are TO DIE FOR!
I wanna hold your haaaaaand. I WANNA HOLD YOUR HA A A A A A A A A AND. I wanna hold your hand.
I remember being squished in the back of a station wagon with a bunch of other Camp Fire Girls singing at the top of our lungs to the radio. The poor CFG leader/mom.
It was probably one of the happiest moments of her life….
To Dawn & Bill – I WANT a floor fan like that! I do not remember those! What year do we think that is?
And, need to ask, is that a Lane “Perception” buffet or blanket chest I see peaking out in the picture (right hand side)?? I have a pair of Perception end tables that I adore.
Thanks, Hannah! Have not been able to find any info on the fan yet, just loved it. Not lane tables…just unmarked ones we found awhile back. Kind of have cool lines though like perception.
Thanks, Hannah! We love the fan, have not been able to find anything about it yet though! All I know is it says hunter division, meyers & robbins. Not lucky enough to have the lane you are talking about, these are unmarked coffee table & 2 end tables. Love the style of them though!
That is called a Hassock Fan. They still make them today, but the vintage models are far more awesome. I have 5 I’ve picked up over the years at different estate sales/thrift stores. I have one in each bedroom and two in the living room. They really help on these crazy hot days!
Forgot to add, they made them from the 40s-now. That one is probably mid-60s. Just like a ceiling fan for the floor!
Thanks for the fan info, Will! We just loved it when we saw it and I had not had the chance to do any research yet…
Hannah, sorry I duplicated my post to you…phone locked up during the first one so I didn’t realize it had even sent because the phone just shut down.
Not a problem Dawn and Bill, glad to help. I might recomend oiling your fan with Zoom-spout motor oil to keep it lubricated. Your fan may or may not have oiling ports on the top (little hole about 2 milimeters in diameter or I’ve also seen a little funnel). If it does, put a couple of drops of zoom spout in the hole to help keep the friction down. As with any motor, you have to keep it lubricated to keep it functioning properly. If your fan does not have oiling ports, place a drop or two at the mouth right where the blade mount comes out of the motor. Depending on the last time (probably a while) this was done you’ll see a world of difference. I recomend doing this once a week for the first month (because again, it’s probably been a while), then about once a month or two after.
Also, I want to correct a mistake was made in my earlier post. Looks like the last new hassock fan (air king) was discontinued sometime around 2009. I couldn’t find anyone who is still making them today.
How horrible!
Will: You sound very knowledgeable so don’t take this the wrong way, BUT READERS: Consult with properly licensed professionals to ensure you know what you are doing with yer stuff.
Valid point Pam, I’m sure the folks at vintagefans.com would be able to help out anyone with any questions they might have on retro stuff. I’ve consulted with professionals regarding my projects before I started them, but it’s always better to get it first hand.
#88-the dog bottle cover- my grandparents had a black one in their den…it stood on the back of their electric organ. Seeing that brought back memories…thanks for posting that pic!
Hannah, those are AWESOME bowtie lights, and it looks like you have a pair of wall sconces also? ****GREEN**** over here, especially for free!
Thank you Tami! I was quite stoked to be offered them, for FREE! I offered cash, but she wouldn’t take it. There is a pair of bow-tie sconces on Etsy right now listed at $175!!
They are both sconces, the bow-tie set and the ‘cone’ set. I think the cones will actually work in our bathroom. Mr. Wonderful is going to rewire the bow-tie so I can have them on either side of my bed….I think that’s what we’re doing with them. Suggestions, otherwise?
Hannah, the cone shaped ones in the bath, and the bowties on either side of the bed sounds devine! I’m even greener now, LOL. What a score!
My number one justification for spending more on some things that I really want, is because of the occasional free or super cheap stuff I find
Getting those for free should allow you to splurge on something else, right? *wink* *wink*
Ah Tami – I appreciate a good enabler.
I did in fact ‘splurge’ this weekend. I found this mirror on Etsy for $50!! It matches my end tables (the “Perception” line) and a blanket chest we use as a credenza in the LR. It will go over the sofa. Hope the link works:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/103720859/lane-mirror-perception-series
The mirror was only $50 – it was the shipping that hurt. lol
Hannah, the mirror is FAB! Even though the shipping hurt, it was a great buy and will look awesome over the sofa
I love the Franciscan pattern. It’s called “Silver Pine”, and it is simply gorgeous. It’s very hard to find, and generally quite expensive.
How do we get a picture next to our posts?
Will – there’s a site that ‘talks’ to this site, where you upload your picture. I forget what it was, have to wait for Pam or someone with a better memory.
The Willis & Co. stereo cabinet is mine. Made in a little town outside Montreal by a company better known for making pianos.
And it was plucked from the garbage in my 1960′s MCM neighbourhood. A little cleanup and it looks great! Hides all my modern stereo and computer equipment inside, and the remotes still work through the fabric covered speaker openings.
Sorry – it’s picture #10.
Well, shoot! How’d I miss the uploader on this! I got the coolest lamp and wanted to add a photo – guess I’ll wait till next time!