2018 Garage Sale Thread

[Private Lugnutz]

The countdown continues…

2018 "Picker of the Year" Trophy Reveal in... [10]:[15]!

 

[Matt XYZ]

This weekend was the last Flohmarkt for the season here. Now it's just the Christmas markets. It was cold, raining and windy so almost no one showed up. Needless to say there was nothing of interest. One guy had a few wrenches, mostly unbranded junk, a few Gedore COO India wrenches which I haven't seen over here, and a Hazet 14 x 17 DOE. I passed and struck out. I missed the last few weeks for work and will now have to wait until March for the next flea market.

One stand did have this Binford Tools moving box (in German). It was in rough shape but I figure a few guys on GJ would find it interesting. I will keep checking the thread and wishing for next Spring.

 

[txlonghorn1989]

ALL: while i was searching for some new (old spares that never hit the road) 6 lug 16 inch (old 20 year old trailer tires were 15 and rims didn't match so i'm testing to see how 16's work) i found something my bride likes.

any of you get some old benches and furniture while shopping for tools that catches your eye?

well this one caught mine and after i sent a pic to my bride she told me she liked it so it has followed me home. also I made it part of the 5 hour picking trip to get my tires.

the firestone tire actually looks new even though it's 6 or 8 years old (haven't checked the date yet) and the rims match too which was a bit lucky.

Nice looking bench drives. What are the dimensions? Out of curiosity, what did that old new Firestone with wheel set you back?

 

[drivesitfar]

Tex: thanks for the KUDOS. I usually don't mention what I pay for stuff cause with all the time I spend looking and the gas and time to pick them up the pitance i pay for some things or overpay isn't all that important or really have any information on what something is worth. if it's worth a lot to me and I pay too much for it so be it is my thinking.

anyway I can tell you i picked up the little table for my bride that was $40 and 3 foot wide, 16 inches deep and 19 inches tall that she likes. the two tires are an experiment (and i hope they fit my trailer without having to change the fenders) because i eventually am going to change the 6 lug to 5 lug hub and get aluminum rims with goodyear endurance tires for it. the 2 tires set me back $70 total ($50 for Firestone and $20 for a 2+ hour drive for the Larado) and luck has it both rims matched too. BTW my bride spent 5 hours on the road with me on this pick and dinner was in the mix so a fun day to say the least.

LUGS: I love the suspense and the new awards you are taking the time and money to do, even though i'm not a believer in YS and mentioning what we paid for stuff. keep up the good work and i hope you don't get bored if you can't host this thread again next year.

cheers

 

[Private Lugnutz]

This weekend was the last Flohmarkt for the season here. Now it's just the Christmas markets.

That's too bad, Matt, although I have to say, I miss the roasted nuts and the Gluhwein!

(The Christkindlmarkt in Augsburg and also on Marienplaz in Munchen have a very special place in my heart. I was young, just married, two (of eventually 5) kids, and they were in strollers.)

LUGS: I love the suspense and the new awards you are taking the time and money to do, even though i'm not a believer in YS and mentioning what we paid for stuff.

Thanks. Except for the enameled button, the prizes were fairly inexpensive. I was happy to do it. I figured, hey, hosting the GS thread was not something I planned on getting roped into, but once I was in, I figured I would roll with it and have some fun!

As for prices, if you've been paying attention to my posts over the years since 2012, you would know that I am not one to reveal what I pay, and you would know that I am more of a selective picker, not a bargain hunter, although with my hunting grounds being almost exclusively flea markets, except for the bigger or more unique items, my prices are fairly standard across the country. I repeated that personal philosophy in Post #1 (Intro), admitting that I would have to pay more attention to it as a host, since price is a big factor with many others. I don't know what "YS" stands for (EDIT: Doh! haha, disregard, I got it!), but the BEST DEAL/SCORE prize was the only prize where price was essential. Price was of zero consequence in the OLDEST, RAREST, or BEST HAUL awards. So I'm not sure what your point is.

keep up the good work and i hope you don't get bored if you can't host this thread again next year.

As far as I know it's always been a one-term limit!

 

[Outlawmws]

As far as I know it's (hosting) always been a one-term limit!

Maybe we need to make an exception! - Just sayin!

 

[Oily Nails]

It's been pretty miserable weather here in the UK. However spent the morning at an antiques fair at an old mining steam works and came away with some fun.....

28" long flat blade screwdriver. This thing is like a small sword!
Clearly a "shop made" item. Only markings are "MICK".
Absolutely no use for it but for £5 I couldn't walk by.

Then a simple Rambone imperial tape measure. I think I have 6 of these style tapes now. They are just so compact and sturdy that I have them everywhere.

Sent from my G8341 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I had little to no aspirations for today at the flea market. It was 20*F and I was only going to have about 45 minutes (between dropping my son off at catcher's workouts, and picking him back up when it was done). But I found something really cool, totally unexpected, and ironically, with a funny twist!

Pic first, story and more pics to follow...

One quickie hint: MoMA.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

My apologies, Oily Nails, I didn't meant to ignore and jump right over your post there. I was typing mine when you posted.

Then a simple Rambone imperial tape measure. I think I have 6 of these style tapes now. They are just so compact and sturdy that I have them everywhere.

You may want to post that on Unaiu's "Tape Measures" thread. I could be wrong, but RABONE is a maker I don't recall seeing posted there before and the markings on the tape itself are nice.

 

[3baygarage]

Hmmmm. Was that before or after you scaled the wall and went through the detritus with a metal detector?!

. Good one. Sorry, my grappling hook was no match for the flaking graffiti paint on that Alamo looking front wall

IIRC, was in that part of town visiting with friends one summer night after the Italian Festival. A couple blocks away is the building, so on the way home I jumped out and snapped a few shots. Some weird angles too.

 

[JABgj]

Sad times, but there are also opportunities.
Interesting dinosaur, the Variac. Do you actually have a use for it??

Update:According to my brother, you can cook hot dogs with them. Tests to follow.

And

Congrats to Duddly

 

[Private Lugnutz]

According to my brother, you can cook hot dogs with them. Tests to follow.

Now THAT is funny.

 

[LesserSon]

Ha!
A bit pitted. And shouldn’t they have gull wing handles?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Folding Table Story Post

If you're in a hurry and have no interest in reading a long account of me waxing poetic about this find, skip ahead.

So I am in my Jeep, egg and pork roll sandwich recently devoured, piping hot Styrofoam cup of coffee in hand, literally creeping out of my flea market at 5mph when I spot a folding card table leaning against a telephone pole in one of the house liquidator guys areas.

My interest in it is purely in use.

If you've been following my finds, you know I hardly ever buy anything useful. (Funny, but true.) I am not a utilitarian tools guy, I buy collectibles, and I hardly ever venture far from that outlook. But I have been planning to hold a big yard sale to offload a bunch of my tools for quite some time (probably Spring 2019), and although I plan to borrow folding tables from my neighbors, I could use as many folding tables as I can get.

This one looks a little flimsy and a little old-fashioned, but kind of neat, and I like the color.

So I pull to the side, put it in neutral, crank the emergency brake, leave the car running, the door open, and scurry over to check it out.

I immediately see from the construction and the stylings and the Art Deco bakelite handle that it’s a vintage 50’s folding table. And it’s pretty effing cool. I am laughing to myself, now, thinking, ‘here I am trying to break my usual mode to buy something functional for a change – and it turns out to be vintage!’

Here are some pics of it I took when I got home...

Then I see the "Good Design" sticker. It's torn in half, and some schmoe scribbled all over it - ironically trying to strike-out the very thing that gives it its value, but it's still legible.

This is what it says:

The Manufacturer guarantees that this article corresponds in every particular to the one chosen by the Museum of Modern Art, New York, for the Good Design Exhibition at the Merchantile Mart, Chicago. A registered description of this article is available for inspection at the Museum, at the Mart, in the Manufacturer's files.

Now, as I was standing there at the flea market I didn’t know exactly what the sticker meant, or exactly how old it was, but I knew it was something special. Something unusual. I allowed myself a very brief, exhilarating moment, almost an unconscious flash, to reflect on the mix of good instincts, weird *** luck, and total coincidence that often align at the most unanticipated times to grace pickers with these kinds of finds.

I look up. Dependable Don (that really is his business name) is sitting in his car to stay warm.

I make a ‘How much?’ gesture at the table.

He flashes me an open hand. Five bucks.

SOLD!

(1 of 2 Posts)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's the rest of the story where it gets really interesting.

After doing some research and further reading, I discovered that the sticker was a partnership between the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, and select stores - in 1950!

MoMA NY and the Mart in Chicago had a very cool joint exhibit that year called “Good Design”. But instead of works of fine art, the show featured everyday practical household goods. The objects were selected by MoMA and exhibited at the Mart in Chicago. To advertise the show, and to show their appreciation for other household goods that exhibited what they considered “Good Design”, they also assessed thousands of goods from hundreds of stores, and awarded many of them these “Good Design” accreditations, expressed on these stickers, which the stores would affix to their products.

In short, my folding table can be indubitably dated to 1950 and this MoMA “Good Design” exhibit program by the provenance-providing sticker!

Cooler still, in 2009, MoMA re-installed the entire 1950 Merchantile Mart “Good Design” exhibit. The New York Times wrote a wonderful article on it entitled "The Ordinary as Object of Desire". It’s a short read that captures the spirit of the exhibit, linked here. Here is a link to the MoMA website on the exhibit.

Here is an excerpt I think any Garage Sale thread picker might appreciate, followed by some photos.

“The design ideals were largely Bauhaus derived, starting with truth to materials and forms that followed function and including the notion that good design should be available to all and like good nutrition was essential for a healthy life…[ ]…These objects include furnishings, tools and implements of recreation. (For example a broom, rake, hunting bow and fishing rod, all in sleek metal, are on view now.)”

(2 of 2)

 

[Matt XYZ]

That's too bad, Matt, although I have to say, I miss the roasted nuts and the Gluhwein!

(The Christkindlmarkt in Augsburg and also on Marienplaz in Munchen have a very special place in my heart. I was young, just married, two (of eventually 5) kids, and they were in strollers.)

Lugz, the Christmas season is a special time for me in Germany also, lots of great memories. Thanks for hosting the thread and for all of your input and vast historical knowledge. I've learned a lot.

 

[LesserSon]

Lugz - maybe a new prize: best last-minute, under-the-wire, end-of-year impulse buy? I nominate your new old folding table!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Ha!
A bit pitted. And shouldn’t they have gull wing handles?

Vlchek made them with standard and gull wing pattern. Not sure the distinction. Why the gull wings are a tell is that I have never found gull wing pattern pliers that weren't Vlchek. Nice - and rare - snag!

Lugz - maybe a new prize: best last-minute, under-the-wire, end-of-year impulse buy? I nominate your new old folding table!

If the prize is those gull wing Vlchek pliers, I accept! HAHA! (JK)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Maybe we need to make an exception! - Just sayin!

Hahahaha. And nonononono! (It was fun, but it wasn't THAT MUCH fun! )

 

[Private Lugnutz]

By the way, the countdown continues…, and I have told Ryan our propritor to alert his server service provider to expect a sudden and enormous surge and spike in bandwidth demand at around 6PM EST!

2018 "Picker of the Year" Trophy Reveal in... [3]:[52]!

 

[Oily Nails]

My apologies, Oily Nails, I didn't meant to ignore and jump right over your post there. I was typing mine when you posted.


You may want to post that on Unaiu's "Tape Measures" thread. I could be wrong, but RABONE is a maker I don't recall seeing posted there before and the markings on the tape itself are nice.

No problem Lugnutz!
That table is pretty sweet.

Will look up that thread regarding the tapes.
RABONE is a pretty common measurement brand in the UK. Think they started in like 1750, or something.
Kind of an old British Starret I guess.

Still messing about with the screwdriver and trying to NOT hit myself in the head with it. [emoji28]


Sent from my G8341 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[davethorik]

Guy having a GS didn't even know he had this, I found it hidden in his garage. How much? $5...whipped out my wallet fast enough to break the sound barrier. It has definitely seen better days, the slide bar is bent and looks like a pipe wrench was used on it. Threads are loose. Looks like a bit of metal was ground off the body at some point in one spot, and it has a slight bend to it. Still very useable.

My 2nd biggest c-clamp. It opens 10", 5" throat. I've never heard of the brand before, Samson's Grip.

 

[IdahoMan]

Guy having a GS didn't even know he had this, I found it hidden in his garage. How much? $5...whipped out my wallet fast enough to break the sound barrier. It has definitely seen better days, the slide bar is bent and looks like a pipe wrench was used on it. Threads are loose. Looks like a bit of metal was ground off the body at some point in one spot, and it has a slight bend to it. Still very useable.

My 2nd biggest c-clamp. It opens 10", 5" throat. I've never heard of the brand before, Samson's Grip.

Cool. You can never have enough clamps and they cheap and awesome at garage-sales.

Ever seen a Suzuki c-clamp?

 

[LesserSon]

BOUGHT: $23 today. (Apparently) unmarked Millers Falls breast drill, Blue-Point hacksaw, S/Overstrike socket, Utica nippers, Utica slip-joints, Utica (Triangle) 90-8” adjustables, (possibly unmarked) small table vise, 2 Bonney ignition tools, Bonney carbon steel DOE, malleable steel C-clamp, (unmarked) needle-nose, flying-V slip-joints.
I broke a spring on the needle-nose trying to pull it out of the red vinyl grips, before leaning it was dimple-pressed into the handle.

 

[LesserSon]

NOT BOUGHT (but interesting):
PEXTO roofing hatchet ( a little too used-up for $20, I felt).
4” ringworm (Ew! I’d NEVER pay $4 for ringworm!)
“Buffalo pat appld for”...Barcalo? Hmmm...
Edit - yes, Barcalo. I couldn’t make it out in the store, but I see it now, very faint, in the photo. If I had seen it, I’d have bought it. There were two Barcalo DOEs (not the art deco type) near it.
And I forgot to post the MMO. No price on it. Felt like about a third full.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Bonney ignition tools

Nice!

I'd like to see more pics of the Blue-Point hacksaw frame when you're ready.

 

[Jayman17]

I wanted to congratulate all the winners this year and to thank Lugz for being a great host, very informative, as are many guys on here. I find this thread very interesting and addicting. This year is my first for following this thread and it has caused me to start going to estate sales and online auctions. It's yet TBD if that is a good thing, judging by my lack of space in the basement.

Anyway, I hit a couple estate sales today for 1/2 price day. The first place I got the Craftsman vise, a small DP vise (anyone know what that partial label might be?), 2 36" quickgrip clamps and a NIB Craftsman pipe clamp.

Jay

 

[Jayman17]

At the second one, I grabbed this neat 2 drawer file cabinet. I can't recall seeing a file cabinet with legs before and it has Bakelite handles. The drawers sure opened smoothly when loaded with paperwork. I thought it was interesting. Also a handy bench brush. I was lucky in that I was able to get all the items I wanted on the last day of the sales, I had gone yesterday but thought I would wait for a better deal.

Jay

 

[Smokeshow69]

I wanted to congratulate all the winners this year and to thank Lugz for being a great host, very informative, as are many guys on here. I find this thread very interesting and addicting. This year is my first for following this thread and it has caused me to start going to estate sales and online auctions. It's yet TBD if that is a good thing, judging by my lack of space in the basement.



Anyway, I hit a couple estate sales today for 1/2 price day. The first place I got the Craftsman vise, a small DP vise (anyone know what that partial label might be?), 2 36" quickgrip clamps and a NIB Craftsman pipe clamp.



Jay

Vise is made by palmgren who made them for craftsman!


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[LesserSon]

Nice!

I'd like to see more pics of the Blue-Point hacksaw frame when you're ready.

I posted some here.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

2018 "Picker of the Year" Trophy Reveal... RIGHT NOW!

Here it is, the trophy a few GJ’ers will soon be vying for, by poll, this week!

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Maybe we need to make an exception! - Just sayin!

What Outlaw said...and I'm just sayin' as well...Poor Lugz thinking he's so close to having his life back at the end of the month too!

 

[txlonghorn1989]

Lugz,
Super find on the table! You are living right! And great job on that trophy and all the other prizes!!!

 

[3baygarage]

Interesting trophy and table writeup. On a side note,just found out what pork roll was about a week ago while watching Jersey Shore. Snooki and Mike The Situation got into an argument over whether it’s called Pork Roll of Taylor Ham. I had never heard of either.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I had never heard of either.

HAHA! (The fact is they're the same. Taylor Ham is a brand name.)

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here we are at the Crew Members only After-Reveal party!

Nobody is curious what the pieces are!!??

If you look back to post #3, linked here, you’ll recall that my original plans were to mount a little model Hoover vacuum cleaner on a plinth. I never did find a suitable plinth and that model Hoover vacuum cleaner was just not doing it for me. It sucked – and I don’t mean that in a good way! I needed something bigger and better. So I decided to make a trophy instead out of materials I had found at the flea market.

The base is the yoke from a Herbrand Model No. 863 puller.

The plinth is an Armstrong **-1254 1-inch drive 1-11/16” socket.

The placard was salvaged with tin snips from a rusted out WWII Variable Gravity Density Goggles case…

…and the inscription, which reads, “GARAGE JOURNAL 2018 PICKER OF THE YEAR”, was embossed by hand with a leather mallet and letter and number punches.

The pickerupper or retrieving or holding tool itself is a Mechanical Fingers from Aircraft Specialties Products, Inc. in Lapeer, Michigan.

Who will win the “Golden Picker”?

I will be announcing the finalists soon!

 

[Outlawmws]

That's a GREAT trophy Lugz! Well Done!

And I nominate Lugz as HOST of the Year!

 

[BlueBomber]

That trophy is just like the host--Top Shelf!

 

[LesserSon]

Wow! What an apt symbol that pick-up tool is.
But “variable gravity” goggles...seems like NOTHING can escape the quick eye of one who wears those! Do you suppose that is the gravity of massive objects, or the gravity of a perilous situation? Maybe both!

 

[jeffmoss26]

another small ReStore haul.
Not shown, an old Snap-on SSD1 flathead stubby.