beer sign

So, this is it. Living in Wisconsin has its pluses, wonderful springs, warm summers, lots to do in the cities and tons of auctions and yard sales. But at this time of year, I realize it is (almost) the end of another season of searching for treasures. It was a good year for the “hunt” and both hubby and I felt it was successful. One of my favorite sales was an unexpected one. Just driving down the road and there was a sign in bright pink! Hard to read, as too many are, just an arrow and then you follow it, hoping this was not left-over from a few weekends ago. At first glance it did not look to have much to offer. A garage with a long table inside but not much on it. Some newer figurines, a few kitchen items, candles and kids’ clothes. I was ready to get back in the car and off to the grocery store. But then one of the ladies asked “did you check out back? We have a porch that is just filled.”

Well, I had not, but I did an about-face and there was another full room of offerings. I found some beautiful jewelry! Two pieces of Miriam Haskell and an unmarked bracelet in rhinestones that just dazzles. Prices were not cheap, but I recognized the possibilities and (breaking my own rule), did not even quibble over price. I then spotted a whole group magazines, most of them from the 1920s and 30s. They were only 50 cents each and I grabbed them up. Half the fun of buying is the potential – I was able to sell the Haskell pieces with a nice profit and able to keep the rhinestone bracelet for myself! The magazines will be read through for ideas and the better ones put on ebay. Those with missing pages and such will be given to the grandkids who love to cut and paste. 

Another sale that turned out to be a surprise was at the house of an older woman who lives right down the road. About 4 years back she had a sale and I found some incredible breweriana items. Signs, some nice trays and a display piece. I was excited when I saw her putting up the sign. This time, no beer items, but lots of Disney pieces. She had been collecting them for a long time and decided they were too much work to dust (bless her heart.) I purchased ALL of them! This has become my credo. If I think one or two have potential, I will buy the lot, usually getting a better price. And if you have ‘faith’ that these items are worthwhile, why buy just a few and then regret that you passed on the others. It almost always works. But of course, price is the tie-breaker. I was able to add a character to my personal collection from Lady and the Tramp. Trusty, the Bloodhound, now graces my curio, along with Lady, Tramp and Jacques. The rest will be listed or placed in my antique booth since they make perfect Christmas presents!

I only had a few run-ins with my “arch rival – Newman” and I think I we split victories. I’ll discuss her win first. We were waiting in line at an estate sale. She was friendly as usual, but had her track shoes on and beat me out when the door opened. There were numerous vases and pieces of pottery, much of it rather unimaginative, but one toward the back caught my eye. Unfortunately, she saw it too and scooped it up. Pretty sure it was a Hull vase in one of their better colorations. I got to see it again when I ran into her at her booth at a flea market. She picked it up and said “hey, did you see the prize I got last week?” I smiled and pretended that I did not know what she was talking about. I admired it but also saw she had it priced pretty darn high. She’ll be toting that one around for a while. 

So, I was even with her and relished our next encounter so I could mention it. And it was only a few days later. Once again, waiting in line for a garage door to go up. She asked how I was doing and if I had found any treasures lately. At first I demurred, then said “Oh, yeah! There was a bunch of old watch fobs I discovered – oh, I remember, that was at the sale you had been to right before me.” Her face drooped a bit. (For those of you who think I am a meany-pants, that is not the case. My earlier tales of this woman will enlighten you and you’ll agree that she deserves anything she gets.)

There are a few sales this weekend, but as the frost is on the pumpkin, they are harder to find and less fun to go to. For those of you ‘on the hunt’, you can join me at estate sales, auctions and in antique malls. Still lots of treasures out there to find.

Today my collections are limited to a very few, difficult to find items. The most fun is my Neenah Foundry collection. Anything with Neenah Foundry on it, but with a preference for manhole covers. Second is the fire hydrants, now limited to looking for Waterus of St. Paul, and lastly I have a collection of Ice Buckets.

I currently have two fire hydrants, seven ice buckets and still no manhole covers. Wifey gets upset when I’m asked “what do you collect”? I tell people “Manhole covers, Neenah Foundry, turn of the century, preferably with city or location names”. (Nobody has had any, Phew.) She’s so concerned that if one goes missing from the area, the authorities will be at my front door.

I have yet to find one for sale and if I did, I can assure you it would be too expensive, too heavy or one I already had. Wink wink. I do have a tie clasp advertising a manhole cover and a metal step we use as a boot scrape both from Neenah Foundry.

The fire hydrants were both purchased at yard sales. The first one was a discard form the Village of Wauwatosa. The lady wanted to get her purchase price back and I paid about what retail was at the time. Wifey found the second one. Someone just trying to get it out of their yard, so the price was lower than the scrap metal value. Lucky for her, the garage sale was held by the Heavyweight Ironworkers Benevolent Society, (HI-BS) or she never would have gotten it into the van.

Everybody can understand those kind of collectibles, but how do I explain the need for more than one ice bucket?

I have one from the 1960s, large and made of plastic with a soft outer body and it has bar utensils hanging on its side. I use this one for outside parties where the fear of breakage keeps me from using any of the others. This one was popular when ‘wreck’ rooms were the rage in the basement with a dry bar, 3 bar stools, beer signs, possibly a pool table and a 20 year old refrigerator with a freezer that would hold two ice cube trays IF it ever got defrosted.

My first real purchase was an Oaken bucket design, clear glass with bale handle. It’s common to find and useful if the crowd is small. (We have very few friends, because I serve cheap beer and watered down drinks, and have a specially built wine cooler that holds 3 boxes, red, white and off white.)

The collection grew with the addition of a small handle-less Polka Dot pattern bucket in the shape of an over sized shot glass, which one guest used for her own drink. I think this one was made by Anchor in the early Sixties. Purchased at a yard sale, it’s no beauty and I am not sure why I keep it around.

Then came the pink Depression glass bucket with bale handle. All the ones from that era have the applied glass nubbies that hold the handle to the bucket. The pattern on it is called “Tea Room” by Indiana Glass Co. It’s used from time-to-time to impress all four of our friends. (They always show up and leave together out of fear of being talked about, if one doesn’t come along.) (I wonder what they say about us, on the way over.)

Next came the amber colored bucket. It has an etched swag pattern with Fuchsia, appearing to be from Tiffin Glass Co. in the early Thirties. It has the familiar bale handle and glass nubbies. It’s very attractive and large. It holds lots of ice when the Rellies descend on our place.

I also have a Hazel Atlas Glass Co. “SailBoat” set that includes an ice bowl in cobalt blue with white. This set goes well with our Moderntone dish set and was part of a gift from my Mother. A collection she accumulated in the Thirties.

Last I have this Heisey Tangerine colored, paneled bucket with concave circles in the upper panels. I know my picture does not capture the richness of the red-orange thick glass that we have tried to identify in our ‘Elegant Glassware of the Depression Era’ book from Gene Florence. (Collector Books.)

All but the Tangerine and Cobalt, which were gifts, I purchased at very reasonable prices at flea markets or garage sales. They were all purchased as useful items, not for their possible profit at resale. That some have value is an added bonus, but usefulness or decorator appeal played the major role in the decision to buy. When not in use, they enhance our entertainment “Deco Room”.

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