It has to be obvious to all who have read my articles on Collectors’ Quest, I love to collect and display our antiques, many times using them in odd ways to achieve a desired look or function. I also like to report on the shops we find on our hunting trips, the ones I think you might enjoy visiting. Along the way we also purchase antiques and collectibles to sell, and Wifey has quite a good business with internet sales of treasures she offers. But over the many years and many highway miles we have traveled in pursuit of the next great find, lots of odd things have come our way and wound up in our storage shed. Of the really weird collectibles, I have to admit most are my purchases.
Some of these were going to be something some day. That’s how I wind up with lots of lamp parts, metal brackets, hinges, decorative metal grates, parts from curtain rods and door handles of every known configuration. Wifey finds these things sellable, but I’m always sure I’ll be needing extra drawer pulls or lamp finials or keys to unlock an item I might own in the future.
But the big question, in the parlance of a older TV generation, “THE $64,000 Question.” “Where did that thing come from and how much do YOU pay.” Naturally it’s always my purchase and I paid too much, until it sells, when she claims that she found it for almost nothing.
So, let’s take a peek in the storage shed to see what lurks in the back corners, that no one remembers where it came from or when it was bought, and I still must have paid too much for it. If you don’t recognize this grouping, I can understand, these came from a telephone switchboard, used to pull the plug back into the board when the plug was pulled. No idea why we have them or what I could use them for, and I can’t see anyone else buying them.
This plug is cast iron, and painted bronze. The plug taper is cast, so I’m not sure it could actually plug anything.
Made by and signed Wilton, Mount Joy Pa. The aluminum donkey on a stand, remains a mystery. It’s the wrong shape for a book end, and too light for a paper weight.
The enameled #144, well, it’s not my age nor our house number, so I must ask what did we buy it for?
When did we get that? Wifey asked when I pulled out this pin back badge from the Nocturnal Adoration Society. I had to look it up on the net to prove to myself that it’s a religious group and not a night life lover’s organization.
I’m sure you can guess the origin of the green porcelain enamel handle, yes it is a stove handle and some day I’ll find a drawer to stick it on. But do you recognize the other handle? It’s solid brass. My guess is its from a large safe door. If Wifey doesn’t sell it, I’ll probably sell it for the scrap metal price.
You’ll want to blame me for most of these items, but I’m not alone in picking up junk metal with the hope I can find a use for it or Wifey can make a buck selling it. With magnet in hand, she is the first one to head to a basement at an estate sale, or climb under a table to scrounge through boxes of metal objects at a flea market.
Look for us on your hunting trips, we are easy to spot. Magnet and magnifying glass in had, we argue over each purchase, beg the seller for a better price, and leave with bags full of stuff no one else would buy.
