posted on October 1, 2001 03:51:46 AM new
The thread on junk sales made me think of the best one I ever went to, as far as bargains. If you have any similar stories, please share-we could all use a laugh!
We went to see my son one summer when he was working in Kansas. Driving down a country road, we saw a farm auction and just had to stop.
I never saw so many used hoes, tractor attachments, rolls of barbed wire, etc, all selling like crazy. I also found a vintage Toledo scale from a grocery store, one of the BIG ones, complete with measuring scoop. I had been hunting for one of these for my kitchen for some time, but they were running at least 350-400 dollars in bad condition. This one was gorgeous, the graniteware in great shape, scales still worked.
So we hung around for it to come up. One elderly man was standing near it and I just knew he was going to outbid me-I knew a dealer when I saw one! The auctioneer started the bidding at $50 dollars and my hand shot up. That old man glared at me and snarled, 'I was gonna use that to weigh chicken feed, but not for $50!'
We drove home proudly with my $50 scale tied in the back of our pickup and were offered a nice profit on it several times before we got home. But it still sits here on the bar beside me, my favorite auction find!
posted on October 3, 2001 07:36:58 AM new
I've only been to one estate sale (for this post of mine, defined as one where they actually have a company do it), and it gave me the willies to see my normally fairly civilized neighbors acting like pigs, but I found something neat.
There was a homely (I thought) ceramic female with a wide skirt with slits. $1.86. I picked her up three times, then finally bought her. I asked some of the older women near me if they knew what it was, but they didn't.
When my pottery guru got back from her out of town trip, I of course, learned it was a napkin lady. Nice little profit on that. Not to mention that I no longer have squat confidence in the people who hold themselves out to be professional estate liquidators.
posted on October 3, 2001 08:03:04 AM new
sadie999, if you are referring to the napkin lady I think you are, my mom has a whole set of that stuff. She won't let me have though. I told her I could make her some money.
posted on October 3, 2001 08:09:53 AM new
I agree with sadie. I don't have confidence in the estate liquidators and since they have connections with people who know what is valuable and generally give them preferential access before the sales begin, I don't expect to find a bargain.
I have a friend who really must go to these sales and occasionally I find a book that has been overlooked. I found a first edition Hemingway and a first edition annotated Alice in Wonderland which I bought for two dollars each. Otherwise, it's very easy to find books selling for 2.00 that will sell for at least 10.00 on Ebay. That used to make me happy but the thrill is gone.
Helen
correct conjunction
[ edited by Hjw on Oct 3, 2001 08:16 AM ]
posted on October 3, 2001 09:53:27 AM new
Many moons ago, we bought a set of end tables that had belonged to my mother's best friend's grandmother for $75. They are(we still have them) approximately 90 years old, solid wood with leather inlaid tops and gilt trim on the leather, and solid brass hardware. I don't know what was used for the finish but you can put a glass down on the top and the liquid beads up and doesn't leave a ring(Getting the males in the family to use coasters is on par with getting them to hang up their towels after their showers). Not long after we bought the tables, I discovered they were handmade, so I think we got a very good deal.
posted on October 3, 2001 11:51:23 AM new
I have been off my medication lately, and thinking morbid thoughts.
I have decided that I am going to sell everything that the kids don't actually want, before I die, so I can make sure no one rips the kids off! They don't have the patience to go through all of this stuff, they'll just have an estate sale and get taken to the cleaners.
As soon as I decide I am in imminent danger of dying I will let you know so you all can have first pick.
posted on October 4, 2001 04:40:46 PM newbearmom: This thread is about to take a left turn.
I read somewhere that when a person knows that their time to cross over is coming up, they start making preparations. I made an appointment for my husband and I to get our estate planning in order at our attorney's office this Monday. I've been asking my kids what they want because I keep thinking my husband and I will go in a common accident long before our time. I'm not worried about it; I just want to be prepared just in case I'm right.
So I think I know what you're talking about. And hey, see you on the other side!
posted on October 4, 2001 09:00:53 PM new
I had a great find, and it was from an estate sale, but I got it second-hand...I will have to explain!
There I was at the flea market, trying to spot ebayable stuff, when I happened across a dealer hawking a mess of things from boxes piled all over the ground. "Three for a dollar! Three for a dollar!" he kept shouting. Didn't matter what it was, you picked three things and you paid a buck.
Well I find it hard to resist those boxes and so I was rooting through them--came across a mildly interesting book, then a pretty cup, and darn if I could find my third thing. I was ready to just pay my $1 for those two things when the dealer started talking to another dealer. He was bragging, far too loudly for discretion, saying he'd picked up all this stuff when he'd purchased an estate contents outright, and he said he'd unloaded ALL the good stuff, and all that these suckers (i.e., me) were buying was the junk. At that point I thought humpf, if I'm a sucker then I'm damn well gonna get my *three* things for a dollar, and so I hunkered down and commenced looking even harder.
Serendipity--within seconds after he said there was no more good stuff in those boxes, what did I find but a very nice copy of "Billy Baldwin Decorates" complete with dust jacket. I do believe my hand was shaking a bit as I clutched ole Billy close to my chest and handed over my dollar.
When I got home I researched and found that the mildly interesting book I picked up should go for around $40, and the pretty cup might be something *really* special. Add that to the ~$100 I ought to get for Billy Baldwin...a dollar well spent
posted on October 4, 2001 09:18:02 PM new
I guess we all have been morbid lately, because I have had the same thought. Spouse knows to give all my junk to friends and he keep the rest and do what he wants with it. I dont really care...I'll be dead.
posted on October 5, 2001 09:59:44 PM new
A whole box full of vintage Barbie doll clothes patterns for $2. Lots of fun to look at ... but will list as soon as life settles down.
posted on October 6, 2001 04:10:28 AM new
I think you're right Muriel. It has really been in my mind, lately, even before the terrorist attack. Glad to know I'm not the only one that gets these feelings!
Now-I found a truly strange item at a sale yesterday. I can't describe it too well, because I have no idea what it is! Possibly a salt cellar, with elephant feet and Peacock handle. It is so tarnished and dirty that we are not sure of the metal. Does anyone know how to clean an unidentified metal? I know silver polish is not safe for other metals, so I'm hesitant to try that, just in case.
posted on October 6, 2001 05:41:02 AM new
Hepburn, you are right to some extent, and I don't care who gets all the junk.
But when my Dad died, there were some family heirlooms that I and my brothers wanted and been promised years ago-pocket watch, photos, etc. Nothing of value to anyone but us.
Second wife refused to even discuss it with us, and I imagine she threw most of it in the trash or had a garage sale. I don't want something like that to happen to my kids! Of course if DH remarries some bimbo, I will haunt her into insanity, anyway.
