I never leave a garage sale without asking about something that I haven’t seen at that particular sale. The question may be about old magazines, books, pottery, record albums, old 45 records, old toys, etc. Whatever I ask about, I always tack on “or any old papers or pamphlets” at the end of the question.
Last Saturday, in response to my question “Do you have any old dolls or any old papers or pamphlets you are thinking of getting rid of?”, a woman responded that she had thrown some old catalogs and magazines that had belonged to her mother in the garbage the night before.
I got a rather strange look when I asked if she minded if I went back in the alley and dug through her garbage, but she told me to go right ahead.
Unfortunately, her mother’s old magazines and catalogs weren’t the only thing that had been thrown into the garbage the night before and pretty much everything was ruined. However, I was able to rescue three catalogs, a somewhat unusual high school yearbook, and five magazines without their covers that hadn’t been damaged. When I went back into the garage and asked how much she wanted for what I’d taken, she said “If you want them, they’re yours. Just take them.”
The three catalogs and the yearbook will go on eBay this week. The nicest of the four is a 1927 S&H Green Stamp Premium catalog that is almost like new. There can’t be many of these around today, particularly in the condition this one is in. Depending upon how many people collect S&H memorabilia, this could end up being a good item.
The other items are a 1925 A.H. Anderson School Furniture & Supply catalog; a Dayton Company fashion catalog from sometime in the early 1950s; a 1924 University High School yearbook from the high school that the University Of North Dakota had on campus in the early 1900s; and five early issues of Popular magazine which I will remove the advertisements from and list in my eBay store.
I’m not going to recommend that you go digging through other peoples garbage, but I do recommend that you look around at garage sales and ask about one or two things that you don’t see. You will end up buying things often enough to make it worthwhile.
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July 11th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Gary,
Great topic!!
WOW…great freebie score!!
A very important aspect of “treasure hunting” is to ALWAYS ask for additional items from your look for list, while it won’t always be productive, on many occasions it will.
I recently purchased a Golden View B&W television with a mahogany case and 6 1/2″ screen for $5 simply because I asked about old radios or radio tubes.
Since this was the FIRST television produced by Motorola, I’m hoping it will be a “goodie”
At another sale on the same street, I purchased two (2) Coleman 200 single mantle lanterns. One is an all red 200A; the other is red w/ nickel plated bottom 200C; PLUS… Two (2) Coleman 425 green double burner camp stoves ALL for $15 bucks.
I saw a tent, several sleeping bags and a few other camping items for sale and I asked about Coleman camping items and ended up walking way…a happy camper
LOL!!
BTW — Here’s a tip, remember to speak up loudly with your outside voice so other folks around you can hear you too!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had bystanders tell me about stuff they spotted at other sales that day, and I’ve lost count how many times I’ve phone numbers and with a quick follow up call, purchased items from them as well!!
My grand mother had a favorite saying, “a closed mouth can’t be fed”, and like it says in the Good Book, “Ask and ye shall receive”
Good hunting everyone and remember to speak up and ASK!!
July 15th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Gary, a few weeks ago my Mom hit something that sounded like metal as she tilled up her garden. It turned out to be an old S & H green stamps sign that was completely buried in the dirt. It’s very heavy. In remarkably good condition to be buried in the dirt for who knows how long. Has the words, “We Give S & H Green Stamps” and at the bottom are the initials “SW” (not SH as you would think) and the number ‘53. Not sure if that is a date or note. Just wondering what the SH stands for. Anyone know? It also has the words, “Alfa display company NYC” on the bottom right and “This sign is the property of the Sperry Hutchenson Co” on the bottom middle.
Both sides of the sign are exactly the same.
James
July 17th, 2007 at 8:10 am
James,
Just guessing, but I think the SW 53 may be some kind of a designator the manufacturer used for this particular style, design, etc. of sign.
Gary H.