I went to the ReStore Habitat for Humanity on Saturday to poke around and just get out of the house. A highlight (lowlight?): Looking at a stack of granite countertops that were on the floor tilted against some cabinets, I reached to move two of the pieces in the front to look behind them — and both big pieces crashed down on my toes. Irony: A granite countertop tried to kill me!
Fortunately, I pulled my foot back pretty fast so only a few outside toes — on my left foot — got smushed. Nothing’s broken, just very black and blue. I’m kind of a klutzy these days.
Photo dump, pretty much in order of my trip through the ReStore:
Above: Clay pipes, $5 each. Use these for plants!
House numbers.
A nice gray sink.
Lots of chrome bathrooms accessories.
Look everywhere: See that scalloped mirror?
Nice porcelain ceramic bathroom accessories. I almost bought these to sell online. But I put them back. I have no time or inclination to sell things online, who am I kidding?
Big ole three-section mirror in a wood frame.
Lots of twin- and full-sized beds. One day, “when I have nothing else to do”, I want to make a garden bench out of one of these.
Double robe hooks — these were nice. I also had these in hand to flip online. But I took them back; see above.
My favorite aisle: The hardward aisle!
Hammered copper hardware.
The stove.
Pretty dials.
Lovely bedroom furniture.
Sexy late 60s or 70s dining room set.
Me love black lacquer.
A mid mod piece!
Old Lane cedar chest with labels still on it — BUT, I told the ReStore staff that these had been recalled and are, I think, illegal to sell — children can get locked inside and suffocate!
IMPORTANT: See/CLICK >> this story for the news release about the recall of Lane and Virginia Maid chests — in this news release, the company and CPSC provide instructions what to do immediately and how to get new replacement latches for free. The ReStore team looked it up while I was there and said, “You’re right,” and pulled this chest from the floor.
UPDATE: A number of readers are leaving comments on how to handle this issue; I am not approving the comments because when it comes to SAFETY issues, I want readers to consult with properly licensed professionals how to handle. In this case: Read the original CPSC news release HERE for instructions what to do immediately and how to contact the company to get new replacement latches for free.
This style — Casbah — is very mainstream-popular today.
A big ole dresser. It weighed a gazillion pounds. I think it’s cool.
Okay, again not midcentury, but very pretty.
I like looking at the woodpile, too. I could make something cool with these maple posts, for sure!
Five cents each for the switchplate covers.
Oooooh, very nice: All-steel Handyman Miter Box and look at that wonderful orange paint!
What did I buy: Some swag lamp chain, $3… three New Old Stock electric plug switchplate covers, on special sale for five cents each!… $5 for dollhouse picket fences, stairways and bric brac… some glider thingies, $1, to go on the bottom of barstool legs… and some picture hanging hardware and L brackets @ $1. I love the ReStore!
Barbara says
Okay, Pamela, no square dancing for a while.
However, ice and rub those previous toes.
Good news is, your bones seem sound (strong).
Boring, boring has set in. What haven’t you done in the last six months?
• Square dance
• yoga
• auctions
• woodworking class starts in April
• get together with friends
Spring is here! The last thing you want to be doing is painting dentins inside the house.
If I lived closer, you and I would have penciled in several antique treasure hunt road trips a year.
I’m known for climbing those shelves and mountain climbing heaps of stuff piled in the corners.
So…, Pamela, what do you want to do with these boring moments??
Barbara
p.s. how about putting together a square dancing group. You meet once a month and dance until you can’t dance anymore. I come from a long line of square dancers, and when I go home, we square dance! We laugh! We party!!
Can’t wait until I go back home again!
Pam Kueber says
I LOVED LOVED LOVED square dancing in grade school! 🙂
Diane says
OMG, me, too! I would get so mad when other kids messed up the dance, or didn’t execute the moves properly! 🙂
Jay says
That’s what you get for touching granite, you upset the retro gods. That hardware aisle with the wall of pegboard is a thing of beauty. My Restores usually have all the small hardware items in bins or tubs on shelves. A trip to the Restore requires some time and patience to poke around. The HFH operates two stores and that’s where I take bulky household and yard items because they have the floor space and it’s the type of stuff most thrifts don’t want.
Pam Kueber says
Exactly – the retro gods were saying, “stay away!”
Phil says
Was granite occasionally used during the 1950s-1960s? While there’s nothing like that in my kitchen (and the countertop was unfortunately replaced with a white molded countertop in the 1980s but the Formica-covered cabinets are original). There’s some granite in the entrance and near the fireplaces in the living room upstairs and downstairs that seems to be original to the house which was apparently finished in the mid-1960s (I heard it wasn’t lived in in the first 10 years after it was built but I am not sure about that, my documents say it was built in 1954).
Pam Kueber says
I have never seen a granite countertop in an original 1950s or 1960s kitchen. Yes, perhaps it was used around fireplaces or elsewhere, but I’ve never seen it used on countertops. Soapstone: Maybe.
Phil says
I just looked more closely and it seems they were replaced, the stone around the fireplace and in the entrance is the same as what’s outside but there seems to be newer joints around the granit shelves. I’m now wondering what was there previously!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/33547075042/in/dateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/32889827813/in/photostream/
I wish the shelves would match the soapstone inserts in the flooring.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/33547078622/in/photostream/
Allen says
The only time capsule granite I have ever seen was a large asymmetrical fire place hearth in an unassuming brick ranch from 1954. It was a BEAUTIFUL PINK granite!!
Ranger Smith says
I love that bedroom furniture. I could put that in a guest bedroom and make a nice padded headboard. My dad works at a Habitat Restore. They get tons of great stuff.
sherree says
I love all your finds! I so wish we had a Re-store. We have to drive an hour to find one. And it does not take any appliances over 20 years old. I am guessing different stores have different guidelines. I wanted to donate my early 50’s (working) Universal Range and they would not take it; they said it was too old. They also would not take my 1953 counter top w/ chrome edging. Said it had to be at least 8 feet long. I ended up hauling it all to the Salvation Army. Another Re-store (farther away) carries everything and always has a huge inventory of mid century furniture. It is located in an very cool old car dealer building.
John says
Switch plate covers, Yes! The first casualty in most houses in an effort to freshen up the place. In my 1949 house, I cleaned them, brushed them and even used a dusting of white spray paint if needed to give them new life. The more of the little things that fit the time period the better.
Robin, WA says
I just visited the Builders Resupply store here in Walla Walla for the first time a couple of weeks ago. The young man who runs it is really passionate about mid century design. He had a wonderful old sewing table that my 1950s Riccar would have fit in perfectly. But…sigh…where to put it? I came out of the store with a Crane bathroom sink in Old Ivory for $15! I’m thinking about a remodel of my main bathroom and the sink would be an awesome centerpiece. So much fun to dig through the piles of building materials!
Phil says
I always look for switchplates and outlet covers when I visit thrift stores but never find the style I need to match the original Eagle Tuxedo in both Ivory and brown that I have at home (quite a few were replaced). I have spent a lot on eBay to replace a few that were cracked or missing but I still need more and I hope to find them for 5 or 10 cents each instead of $5-$10 each! I’m also having a hard time locating Canadian General Electric switches which were common here.
I did find some NOS replacement single pole ones in brown but I still need 3 way switches in both brown and ivory.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/33442111516/in/dateposted/
Pam Kueber says
Hi Phil, photo on flickr goes to a coffee pot. Would love to see what an Eagle Tuxedo switchplate looks like? Can you repost the link?
Pam Kueber says
duh. I see now. here’s an even better view: https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/33320515471/
Phil says
Sorry I didn’t take the time to upload pics showing just the switches, here they are. If some Canadian followers get a few of these, I’d like to get some 3 way switches and some backlit switches like that.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/33545278702/in/dateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/33545279342/in/photostream/
Pam Kueber says
nice… were these Canadian-made?
Phil says
The Eagle Tuxedo plates were made in Canada and in the US, most of those at home are made in Canada but I got a few replacements which were not.
This one is cracked and would need to be replaced…
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/33317949370/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/32859450854/in/photostream/
Phil says
The GE switches were Canadian-Made and I don’t think the exact same were available in the States.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/33702149505/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/32859447834/in/photostream/
carla says
I live in a 1938 cottage in nw washington stateand have the tuxedo plates. I see them quite often at our various salvage stores. What do you need? Maybe I could find/send you a few at cost. They usually sell for around 10-25 cents…
Phil says
That would be awesome as I don’t see them much around here!
I mostly need ivory and brown outlet covers (many!), about 10 single gang ivory switch plates, one 4-gang ivory and two 3-gang ivory. The whole basement has been fitted with newer plates and switches. If you ever find some, I do have a US PO box to have them shipped!
Jay says
I was wondering about that myself, but then I was mesmerized by that glass coffee pot (it lit up) that I completely forgot that I was supposed to be looking at switch plates which by the way are sharp looking.
Phil says
I just got that Silex pot a few weeks ago, I was quite thrilled with it as I like everything that lights up! This one came with the original box and documents including a bill for service work done under warranty in March of 1961.
The downside about it is that I can’t get my hands in to clean it as the opening is too small!
I guess the glass carafe was easy to break too as it’s what happened when it was just a few months old. The service note said they also had to replace the heater as water went in when the carafe broke while heating.
They fixed that on the newer Proctor Silex version as they made the carafe easily removable and the opening larger but that early one does look better in my opinion.
This album has a few more pics and videos from it. https://www.flickr.com/photos/33723086@N02/albums/72157654121903614
Jay says
Yes, Thanks! I’ve already been sucked down that rabbit hole. Very nice!
I agree, there is something about the vintage appliances that had illuminated switches and those stoves that had illuminated backsplashes.
Karin says
I hope your foot is better. After that, I guess you won’t be taking your local Restore for granite. (Sorry).
Your particular Restore has some very cool furniture. I LOVE the stove with the Jetsons dials. Dials on the back end of a stove seems to have been a thing then. I’m guessing here, but It may have been a safety feature. Great post. I may head over to our Restore, ’cause you never know what shows up.
MZ says
For anyone with a Lane or Virgin Maid cedar chest, replacement locks are critical:. http://patch.com/massachusetts/medfield/if-you-have-a-lane-cedar-chest-heres-how-to-get-a-replacement-lock_d56907fd
[edited]
Pam Kueber says
Yes, I link to my story about where to get replacement locks too.
Beth says
yikes….I have a cedar chest that was at my Grandmas house forever…of course I insisted on getting it after she died….guess the fact that we used to deliberately hide in it doesn’t make it any safer…;/ Not sure of the brand, just know I always loved it
David in Marietta says
You found some good stuff. There is a ReStore in downtown Atlanta that seemed to have good stuff when they were in an old building that they had been in for quite some time. But when they moved to a new building it just seemed that it lost that feeling and the items they have are newer and less “vintage”. Is the one you frequent a new or old building? Or if other readers find that same thing. Just curious as in my travels the older setups had better stuff.
Pam Kueber says
My ReStore is in an older building. This is their second location. In both locations, they had good stuff!
steve vickery says
It’s good to know that granite is now so out it’s showing up at ReStore. By the way, Pam, how come your ReStore is so much better than mine?