Vintage Rummage Sale Finds
October 28, 2015
When I first started purchasing vintage items about 20+ years ago, I always purchased vintage items that still looked pretty new. I was really wrapped up in the item's resale value, and Kovels and other antique price guides were always based on condition. Now I am not as concerned about the resale value as much as the charm that a well used item possesses. Like this little tea kettle with it's dings and chippy black handle. This little rummage sale tea kettle will work perfectly in my less than perfect farmhouse kitchen. $2.
I also purchased this Lane (cedar chest company) trinket box.
These boxes were still made until very recently, but most likely not in the USA. This box has the Lane Altavista, Virginia imprint. $2.
Then there was a clear baggie with three items for $4. This solid brass burgundy velvet lined trinket box was one of the items.
This is the engraved top.
The bottom is signed by the artist Lowell Sigmund. I found other brass items by Sigmund on Ebay. Similar boxes went for $25.00. This box may hold my paperclips on my desk in place of the water meter cover I found a couple months ago at a rummage sale.
This was baggie item number two. A brass roll of stamps holder. I will probably sell this item in my shop.
And here is baggie item number three. A ________________. What is it? I'm not sure.
Here is the bottom.
It comes apart. My husband thought it was some kind of sander. It is similar to a sander design but it sure seems pretty fancy to do messy wood sanding. What is this?
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Hi, love the great finds. Do you have many auctions in your area? We do, hubby is at one right now. Your mystery item is probably a vintage wooden ink blotter, search ebay, there are some listed. Have fun!!
ReplyDeleteLove your finds and especially the blotter!
ReplyDeleteYup, it's an old time ink blotter from when they used pens with liquid ink. It took a while to dry so you used the blotter to remove the excess ink.
ReplyDeleteLots of fun finds, Carlene...I love the little teakettle, too!
ReplyDeleteWhen I left school I worked for Lloyds Bank and I remember the Manager signing a stack of letters wth a cigar in his mouth, his fountain pen in one hand and his wooden ink blotter in the other! You do find some great items, I just love your blog.
ReplyDeleteLovely finds. It is an old ink blotter - take the top off to secure the blotting paper. It's beautiful. Lor.xx
ReplyDeleteHa! I recognised the ink blotter! They were used a lot when fountain pens were the go. Think banks, managers, lawyers, anyone who signed their name a lot would use these. My prinicpal in my Ladies College many many years ago had one on her desk which she would use.
ReplyDeleteI love the tea kettle!
I still use my Lane little cedar chest. Here in RI and I believe elsewhere, girls graduating from high school were given one. That's how I got mine, 1967.
ReplyDeleteThat is how I got mine too.
DeleteGreat finds! I love the blotter. It's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThanks for this!
I have my lane chest from 1986. Here in California it was given to Brides to Be. I have my mom's from 1955 as well.
ReplyDeleteWow! You scored!!!
ReplyDeleteI was given a Lane cedar chest when I graduated in the middle of those above - 1974. I think it was an advertisement for the larger "hope chests" that young women might receive on their graduation to use for saving household things for their hopeful and future marriage. I don't think hope chests are popular these days, and I think these small chests are probably fairly expensive to make as a sort of advertisement ploy.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting finds! I was like you in the beginning of collecting, looking for near perfect condition items. I have since discovered that people like to repurpose old things that are dinged and rusty for new uses. Or even just to decorate in their Farmhouse Style as is. My customers would buy your kettle to use as a flower pot.
ReplyDeleteHave a fun Halloween!
I got my Lane chest when I graduated from high in Washington D.C. in 1957. Rush was right it was to encourage the girls to want a hope chest for graduation present. I come across mine every so often, usually when moving to anew house.
ReplyDelete