1878 Reading Apple Peeler

I have to give my husband credit for picking this up

at the estate sale we attended a few weeks ago.

It may be the biggest money maker that we purchased.

And so interesting....

 This apple parer was made by a company in Reading, PA

which started producing them in 1878.

 As you can see, it is still in working order!

It can peel up to 10 apples a minute!

I guess that if you were making apple cider

that would have been important.

There is a company that still makes them,

that is how well they work.

But this one is a very early version.

Paid $3, sold for $45.

Packed With Lunch Boxes

 At the moving sale we attended a couple weeks ago, these

are some of the things we came away with.

I paid about $1 each.

 Around 25 metal lunch boxes.

 About half of those are going on ebay.

The ebay lunchboxes sold for $186.

Just a few thermoses sold on ebay for $24.

 I had a lunchbox collection years ago,

and didn't have this many.

 They range from 1955 - 1984.

Some had thermoses and some did not.

The other half we will sell for $5 each at a flea market.

Antique Tin Cigar Advertising Sign

 I picked up this great old tin lithographed sign a few weeks ago at an estate sale.

We aren't selling on ebay currently (because of "the move")

so I knew that I would have time to investigate it a little more before selling.

 It turns out that it was a sign advertising a certain brand of cigars.

Along the top border was the name of the maker,

and down both sides it said "CIGARS".

Someone a hundred years ago decided they liked the horse,

but not the advertising -- so they painted over the border!

It still is a great tin lithograph,

and I am hoping other people think the same thing.
 I am putting it on ebay this week to help pay for some van repairs. 

Sold for $169.

Garden Windmill Repair

I bought this little beauty at the same estate sale where I purchased so many other treasures last weekend.  The windmill was leftover for the 50% OFF day because it was so damaged, so I managed to buy it for $10.  Many of the crossbar supports were dangling loose, which I had to bolt back into place.  All four horizontal ground supports were bent and twisted (I didn't do too much straightening, because I didn't want to weaken the metal.)

The tail and wheel were not original, but they were homemade and cool looking.  They needed to be reattached to each other, and then to the windmill stand.  I hope no one looks too closely, because now there is quite a hodgepodge of hardware holding it all together.

My favorite part of the windmill is the little wire ladder running all the way up the side of the windmill.  I can just picture a little tiny man scaling the side of the windmill to check the repairs.

Last Weekend's Vintage Finds

I went to a farm house estate sale last weekend that was organized by a friend of mine.  I have personally done estate sales before, and I know what a daunting task it was.  This sale was HUGE, and encompassed the house and several outbuildings.

 I got three of these American Poultry Journal magazines from the 1920s.

I may frame them and hang them in my future chicken coop.
(Doesn't everyone decorate their chicken coop interior?)

UPDATE:  Two were used on a cabinet in my Ozarks bathroom.

The last one I framed and it graces a shelf in the Stonecrest Cottage guest house.

 Speaking of chickens -- I also bought two large egg baskets

(purchased for $10 each, sold for $24 each)

and a great scale for $5.

I already had the basket, but purchased the 

"grocery cart" and owl #1.

It is the perfect time of year to be selling owls.

Paid $5 for this owl, sold it for $15).

 Owl #2 inside a milk crate "cage".
Paid $1 for this owl, sold it for $15.

+ 6 more metal milk crates with gallon jars included,

for $5 a crate.  And paid $5 for the sled on the right, later sold for $36.

Giant ball of twine for $1....

and the cutest little birdhouse for $1 (keeper).

 Bird nests.... they are a weakness of mine.

 These had sat in cardboard box in the barn for years.

 I also bought a garden windmill,
but had to make some repairs on it.
You will have to check back in a couple of days to see it.

Estate Sale Pictures & Frames

Day two (half price) of an estate sale...you know the drill.  Wait in line, run to that item that you are hoping is still there...

Fortunately my quarry on this particular day was not just a singular item.   Several prints and many frames had caught my eye the day before. 

So I told my husband to make a dash and see how many of those he could gather up. 

(This print is titled "Devotion" and dated 1888)

I have a few painted frames in my booth at the Rusty Chandelier, but NONE in my stockpile at home -- so these could not have come at a better time.

Look at the patina and detailing on this frame!

Friday The 13th Vintage Finds 11.13.15

We have had such a lovely, mild autumn in our area.  I think it has really prolonged the garage sale / estate sale season.  Just about the time I get all melancholy thinking that "saling" season is over, then another one pops up.

This was a fun sale.

And indoors, which was fortunate because it was about 40 degrees.

All the usual suspects were there to shop

and many more besides.

Here is Marcia looking over the jewelry.

This was an estate sale in my little town,

so I knew the family as well.

The sisters did a great job of organizing,

including having two check-out stations.

I don't know whose stash this was,

but it looked like some fun finds.

My friend Leisa is part of the third generation of the family,

she was kept busy hauling for people all day.

There were many unique vintage items.

Many linens.

Happy customers.

These are a few of the items I came home with.

 And a few more.

A good finale to junking season.

(Do I keep saying that?  Must be the melancholy)

Helping A Friend With An Estate Sale

A friend of mine is downsizing, moving from a house she lived in for over 50 years.  A very tough transition to begin with, and then throw in some health problems. 

So I told her that I would do the sale for her.

Much of the stuff was still buried in closets and cabinets.

And then we needed to get the things out of the house that

she still wanted to keep.

Then I could really kick it into high gear and start organizing...

And researching...

 

And tagging...

And cleaning...

The sale is set for this weekend!

"Katherine" Dresser Furniture Redo

I went to an estate sale last a week ago of someone I had known.  I found this very plain oak dresser.  I did not need another dresser, but there it was waiting for me.  I'm like the foster home that gives furniture a little lovin' and TLC before passing it on.

My husband begged me not to paint it, so we compromised.  I refinished the drawers and the top, finishing them off with two coats of wax.  They still had a kind of primitive look to them. I took the cue from the wood and lightly chalk painted the body of the dresser with white.  I sanded just enough so that the "alligatoring" would show through.  Then I added antique porcelain knobs to compliment the white body. 

I'm naming the dresser "Katherine" after her former owner.  I hope to find her a new home soon.