The reason that I do not show more of my estate sale treasures is that, generally, I must move very fast to hide everything from Mr. Retro Renovation. He is not so amused by all the Stuff filling every storage space in the house these days. Yesterday, though, he left for a few hours and I was able to linger over and photograph my stash from the late 1940s/early 50s home that I explored on Friday. So what do I buy? Ever since my collage class and in reality, before, I adore “ephemera” — which is defined as things created that were never really intended to survive. Advertising is classic ephemera. So are Betty Brite cupcake holders. There are still some parchment paper bake cups inside. 13 more items after the jump.
Here’s more kitchen ephemera. This envelope – and tons of sandwich bags – were in a box of stencil patterns. The woman of the house was using the sandwich bags to hold each stencil piece. Drats, I meant to go back yesterday, last day of the sale, and buy all the stencils — because I wanted all the wax sandwich bags. I was afraid to buy it all on Friday. I thought the estate sale pro’s would charge me too much. But, I couldn’t go back to the sale because I got all busy — in my own kitchen. Oh well.
Is anyone looking for mid-century wood (mahogany? teak? walnut?) and stainless steel cabinet pulls?
These are really quite beautiful. 3″ spreads.
I bought five panels of fabric printed with Barbie outfit pieces that you can cut out and sew. Maryann Roy: Is there a market? What do you think each panel is worth? There are two outfits per panel.
An aluminum (?) plate from some kind of machinery. In the postwar era, Pittsfield was buzzing with manufacturing.
The folks who owned the home built clocks for a hobby. I was able to nab about five of these blueprints. Two (including this one) are particularly beautiful.These are probably my favorite things of the whole day. “Craftplans.” There were a bunch of clocks for sale, too. Gosh, maybe there will be one or two repeat sale days next weekend… I would love to go back. My head is always swimming after two-or-three hours of poking. Yes, that’s how long I usually take going through a really good estate sale house. I look in every nook and cranny. Then I go back again and try to SEE the house and everything in it. What was it like to live there? How did the people live? What were they like? What happened there? I always ask permission to take photos, and leave my card.
I got two of these. Notice how the pie plate says, “10 cents deposit.” Deposit???? What the heck is that all about? Were these for pies you bought at a bakery…and then you had to return the pie plate?
Okay, all you youngsters, listen close, but be forewarned that what I have to tell you is, well, shocking: You see, back in the day, we did not have Excel. Every input to the P&L… the Balance Sheet… Accounts Receivable… Accounts Payable… and the like… had to be WRITTEN DOWN and TALLIED UP by real people. Legions and legion of people, actually. Because you see, we didn’t have personal computers AT ALL.
I like to collect books and binders like this… thinking someday, I will transform them into collage books.
$4 for this cake server — it has a pressed glass bottom and a lovely chrome cover with a pretty decorative glass knob on top. Oh, and that’s a roman coin belt in the foreground.
Aha! The one and only thing I bought that I truly “needed”: An electric knife. Our electric knife — which, I am telling you, did not last more than a few years under very light use — AND I am sure it was expensive as it was a gift — recently died. Another case in point, Bungalow Bill, about the crappy quality of stuff today. Crap to the right of us, crap to the left of us. Crap crap crap. (My first curse on the blog, I might as well go for it.) This vintage GE number cost me $7. It came in the original box – and the set is fit into this plastic holder thingy that I could hang on screws in the wall, if I so choose. I might.
Five yards of chintz, aka polished cotton. I have no idea what I will do with this. This was a colonial house – a Cape Cod. Everything inside was very early American. There were tons of beautiful pine dressers and the like – selling for a song.
Detail from the chintz — The White House.
I found a few sheets of vintage Schumacher wallpaper in the garage. Not big pieces. But so gorgeous. This is called Cabala del Lotto. Does anyone know what that means? Caballo=horse in Spanish. There is no Spanish word for “lotto” that I am aware of. So…I’m left guessing. Italian, right?
Another vintage Schumacher wallpaper. I didn’t see either of these papers on walls in the house, though.
They were sample pieces – the prices were on the back. Caballa del Lotto was $10.25 per single roll. The other paper was $7/roll.
The Cabalo del Lotto paper was designed by John H. Jacoby. I am in serious love with this wallpaper.
Jeff says
Hi Pam i was interested to know what you were going to do with the clock plans? Would you be interested in selling them or interested in copying them for a young future woodworker? Thank you for taking the time to read these.
Aleta Baker says
I’d kill for the wax sandwich bags!! Oh, have you ever heard Neil Young’s “Piece of Crap” song? just the ticket – he always hits it on nail head!
suzanne says
would love to know more about the schumacher eagle wallpaper. ive been looking everywhere for that! any reference on the back?
Alexis Briski says
I am interested in the mohogany cabinet pull shown on the
website. What is the dimension from screw to screw.
I am only looking for 2 at the moment. Thanks Alexis
pam kueber says
Sorry, Alexis, I decided to keep them.
angela says
there is a Mexican game called Loteria. Looks amazingly like the Cabella de Lotto paper you purchased.
atomicbowler-dave says
News Flash!!!
I found the parts for the percolator! For a WHOLE LOT of percolators!
I found them at Ace Hardware, but they are probably available elsewhere. Two universal sizes cover near all percolator makes and models, and they actually WORK! The brand name is FITZ-ALL, and they come on a really spiffy vintage-looking cardboard hanger tag. Same company also makes all sorts of replacement vintage-style knobs for pan lids and so forth. Very cool! Cost me a whole 5 bucks, which is more than I paid for the percolator, but I really wouldn’t mind if it was twice that so I could have my coffee!
Dave
Nina462 says
For anyone close by in SW Michigan, …there is an antique sale at the Allegan Fairgrounds the last Sunday of every summer month. Miles and miles of vintage stuff!! The season is now over with…so I can save my money up for next year. But well worth the trip for anyone close by-
James says
Estate sales are addictive. My addiction began nearly 20 years ago, when out of curiousity I stopped at my first estate sale and stumbled upon a campaign-style desk for $60. My wife then joined in the fun and it is routine thing for us to hit a couple of sales every Saturday (typically the second day of estate sales in the Chicago area, when the best deals can be had). We avoid accumulating too much stuff by becoming more and more selective over the years (we are actually able to visit an estate sale without feeling compelled to buy something- seeing some of the old houses where the sales are held is often interesting enough) and thinning out the collections by holding garage sales of our own every couple of years and making regular donations to the local thrift shop (where we also shop). So, we do keep things in check- not (yet) ready for an “intervention” like that “Hoarders” program on A&E…
St. Christopher says
Oops, meant Kent Coffey Perspecta set!
Chris.
St. Christopher says
Ugh…..make that SEVEN. Seven dining room sets. I just “acquired” a Kent Coffey Drexel set.
Chris. (so much for the rule)