Show us your Thrift and/or yard sale finds

[HarpPlayerGene]

$2.50 for this old Atomic Era desk lamp. Poor old thing still works, but it's begging me to strip it, clean off the rust, repaint, polish... This one'll be a keeper and I'll show you the restored version in a week or several.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Nice little brass and marble sculpture. About a foot high. Very much like some '40s pieces a Hollywood prop house was recently asking several hundred$ for, but I don't remember there being any takers at that rate. I spent five dollars for this one. In any case, this piece pleases me when I see it sitting on one of my speakers in my study.

Old brownish felt:

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Resistance is futile...

 

[Foofoogal]

The seagulls brass reminds me of the Jonathan Livingston Seagulls book. I have it somewhere. :eusa_clap

Missing the beach as I speak. I love hanging out on the beach.

 

[Warden]

Look what I have just bought.

It is a working PAC tested cooker which according to the Internet was produced between 1951-1959.

Tiny, down-sized cooker for use in any 13 amp plug socket., Primrose vitreous enamel on pressed steel, cast iron solid single hotplate, red/cream urea/phenol plastic knob/controls. Literature claims ability to prepare multi-course meals for a family! Price in 1958, £8/12/-.

I have the urge to do some baking.

Harry

 

[swinggal]

Very nice!

 

[Marla]

Gene, the Atomic Era desk lamp is really neat! I hope to find one just like that.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Gene, the Atomic Era desk lamp is really neat! I hope to find one just like that.

I'll keep my eyes open for you.

FWIW, tomorrow I'm going back to a thrift store that hopefully still has the big daddy version of that lamp. A floor standing model with three teardrop heads on it. I've studied it and passed on it because it's big and it needs a lot of restoration. But it's authentic to the late '50s and I think if it's still there I'll take it on as another project on my to-do list.

Ideally, I would be able to re-sell it because although I LOVE that style, it really doesn't go with our 1880s home. I just hope I don't get stuck with another lamp-in-the-attic situation...

 

[RetroToday]

Resistance is futile...

Cool! I have the exact model of weigh scale, found it at a garage sale. I also couldn't resist that brand name.

Mine is painted white and the metal bars on either side of the foot pad are coated in chrome, like the dial scale housing.

 

[jamespowers]

Cool! I have the exact model of weigh scale, found it at a garage sale. I also couldn't resist that brand name.

Mine is painted white and the metal bars on either side of the foot pad are coated in chrome, like the dial scale housing.

Add another to the list. I have the same scale in my bathroom. It has been there since my grandmother bought it new.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Well, for better or worse I went back and picked up the fifties floor lamp. Functions properly and came with bulbs ta' boot. If only someone had been a bit more careful when slinging paint around it. I'm adding this to my little infirmary here. Hopefully I can restore it to nearly new looking.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Got this one too. It also could've benefited from the use of a drop cloth at some point in its past life. I'm calling '40s on this one. I used to have one like it years ago but the gooseneck broke so I'm glad to have another. I usually see them in antique stores from $35 to $75. You know me; I paid a little less than that.

 

[repeatclicks]

Gene, the Atomic Era desk lamp is really neat! I hope to find one just like that.

There are heaps on etsy...

 

[Marla]

There are heaps on etsy...

True, but they're cheaper at garage sales.

 

[PoohBang]

that green paint is suppose to be on it....

Got this one too. It also could've benefited from the use of a drop cloth at some point in its past life. I'm calling '40s on this one. I used to have one like it years ago but the gooseneck broke so I'm glad to have another. I usually see them in antique stores from $35 to $75. You know me; I paid a little less than that.

 

[Derek WC]

Got these records a few days ago.

This one is from a Teen Challenge.

This one came from a garage sale, and is a collection of two records.

Now all I need is a record player. lol

They are in great condition though so I know they'll work.

 

[olive bleu]

These make me want to deck the halls, already.

 

[Derek WC]

Me too, I really like his Holly bowtie. lol

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

that green paint is suppose to be on it....

Really? All splattery like that? Interesting. I'll leave this one as-is. Thanks.

The base on yours is the BEST I've ever seen. :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

I gave the little gooseneck number a make-over today.

Scraped off the old felt on bottom piece and cleaned off the rust:

Naturally, I had to use new old stock sandpaper :

Cleaned, painted and polished:

New felt on bottom:

In its new environment: