Now that it is summer again, I'm making the rounds of the antique markets and recording some of the more interesting and odd bits along the way:
Nifty radio innards. This vendor had a ton of radios, phonographs, and obsolete media (Edison cylinders, anyone?)
That same vendor had this portable (hand crank) phonograph
Wouldn't this solid oak card catalogue (salvaged from a Wisconsin library) make great storage for an altered art workspace?
I was really tempted by these cast iron clawfoot tripod legs, but I couldn't justify $20 each for something that I didn't have an immediate project for. (Exhibiting restraint. Good grrrl.) Only later did I start thinking about how they would make great bases for a couple of the the DIY mannequin projects that I have pinned on Pinterest. Gah!
It was a bumper crop day for vintage anatomy toys/models,
Would this keep chatty co-workers at bay if I posted this at the entrance to my cube?
Alas, Bucky was not destined to grow up to be a “real cowboy” since his
saddlebags could not carry the volume of sunscreen that would be
sufficient for his daily needs.
Narnia remains elusive, but my partner (as shown in mirror) makes a lovely Mr. Tumnus stand-in.
Nobody seems to appreciate quality smut.
Ok...maybe they do.
I was assured that this was a never-used display model
...and speaking of display, this is what it could be displayed ON...
...or there's always smaller vintage funeral home swag to be had.
Some well-aged scabies cream
...and pennyroyal pills.
While this industrial sewing machine wouldn't do any fancy stitches, it would be a sturdy workhorse. Check out the size of the motor under the table!
My partner was tempted by the Ghostbusters PKE meter (from the cartoon, not the movie. The movie version was a different device entirely. )
Because sometimes I have the brain of an 8 year old boy and I have to laugh at inadvertent poop references.
Chalkboard easel with a paper roll (note the crank on the right side) with reference drawings of WWI era military airships/aircraft
Sort-of-scary-looking dentist's chair
Portable and convenient, for the mortician on-the-go
Oddly unsettling war bonds propaganda poster
Tom Corbett, Space Cadet. I was unaware that the RNC had decided that merchandising was a viable revenue stream. Flattering pic, though.
What would a trip to the market be without one violet ray device picture? This one is a deluxe set in very good condition with multiple attachments.
A marvel of the early 20th century office, the Ediphone.
Must have been a rough trip through the looking glass.
(For the benefit of my friend, Myra) Bakelite Bonanza!
Awesome-awesome 1958 rocket ship pedal car from Murray. It was in pristine condition. I think my 3 year old niece (and eventually her 1 year old brother) needs this.
Of course, she would need appropriate protective gear. See what a responsible aunt I am?
Because everyone needs a suitcase worthy of a Memphis bluesman.
Remember that card catalogue that I had posted above? This is what needs to go next to it. (It sold for $1600). Circa 1890s, it was salvaged from an Iowa hardware store.
A child-sized Victorian era mourning parasol
1920's children's art kit
Mmmmm... Are they made with real parrot? No pigeon fillers?
One sibling grew up to be an FBI agent...the other an identity thief. It was all set into motion that fateful Christmas morning...
The vendor was quick to point out that none of the players were broken off, a common fate for most of these games.
This is one of those awesome toys that were pulled off of the market just before my time (*grumble* Product/child safety standards. Perhaps if I'd gotten the mayhem out of my system as a kid, I wouldn't be playing with heat guns/blowtorches/et al as an adult).
Essentially a lightbox for tracing, but still rather cool.. If this piques your interest, Millie Motts has uploaded all of the set images on Flickr.
I had this doll as a kid. Sindy wasn't quite the same proportions as perfect Barbie (*cough* kind of pudgy in contrast), so she never looked quite right in Barbie's clothes, so she could only wear her own (read: not as cool) clothes. This...right here...this was a learning toy for a young girl, though not really the lessons that you really want to have your daughter learn.
Speaking of messages of self-image and playthings....
The costume of Not-So-Arch-Villain-But-Still-Hella-Annoying-And-Creepy-Dude, Senor Unwelcome Touch.
There’s
a point at which a relief portrait goes from looking like a cameo to
looking like a horribly misogynist hunting trophy. This would be
that point.
For those times when you feel that the world needs to be warned that there's chaos in your pants.
Not at all erotica, but there's a whole lot of subtext in that cover.
Those are some classic wheels!
Plastic ham.
Mr. Stickley tries to comfort his bear friend who has apparently misplaced his body.
Leo was distressingly enthusiastic at times.
Lady Liberty is looking a bit rough here.
Nothing is quite so uniquely unsettling as seeing a shirtless clown doll hanging from the rafters of a barn.
