This week we abandoned the alphabetical-avenue and numerical-street grid that is South Minneapolis, and ventured westward into the spaghetti chaos that is Edina and Hopkins.
What did or didn't we buy; shall we go see?
Find of the day
Domestic brand sewing machine
price - $10
no sale
We had nowhere to store it and no way to transport it to Telluride or Aspen, where no ski-in-ski-out townhouse is complete without one. It did fuel our determination to find a way to match these unwanted things with a market where they are - as Rod Blageeeeoohveeekigggssshhh rightly calls them - golden.
Thing we least wanted to buy
Homemade can smasher that doesn't line up
price - more than its own scrap price or I would have bought it
no sale
I understand the garage full of tools and the need to create, but how does this happen?
Other things we did or did not buy
Nice green Mensch shirt
price - a buck
sold
Good price.
Lots of lovely brass items
price - over the going scrap rate
no sale
My these were ug . . . er . . . lovely.
"Brass" fireplace kit
price - $15
no sale
My magnet went wild with this. It's steel as a Hummer.
Makita chop box without a motor
price - $2
no sale
No motor? I must admit I thought about it, because it was a Makita, but . . . no motor?
Kiddie kitchen
price - $40
no sale
Now I know some of you parents are going to tell us these are highly collectible, but I think having kids can cloud ones judgment. I'm just sayin'.
Over-the-top razor scooter
price - a lot more than I can pay
no sale
It was just nice to see something approaching a motorcycle available in this popular transportation toy.
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Warm shirts - $1 each
Filson hat - $1
sold
Oh, now the Filson hat could have been the find of the day, because I have one and I paid a lot more for it new. I never thought I'd find one at a yard sale, so I went retail. Even when I did find one, it was a small. I think I'll price it at $10, so everyone passes it by until someone realizes what they're holding.
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Rocks - a dime; toy cars - 5 for $1; suncatchers - 75 cents each.
Sold for $9.60
The suncatchers will cover the initial cost. The rocks I'll just wash and give to my mom for her shop. "Matchbox" type cars don't sell very well at our resale yard sale, but I think we need to reach a critical mass, so just about anyone can find one they like.
French canning jar - 75 cents
Hand blender - $1
sold
The jars are great for things that absolutely can't be allowed to leak or smell. I use the blenders daily, and buy every one I see; by the time I've worn one out, there's always a backup waiting to take its place.
Vintage coffee thermos
price - $1
sold
The handle is broken, and after an aborted attempt to drill a hole and screw it back together, I've just wrapped several newspaper bands around it. Works great.
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Hand-held Chinese electrical fans
price - 75 cents each
I bought 3. They work great until the little plastic fan comes off, and then it never wants to stay on again. It's a really slick idea, if it could be made to work.
Records
price - 50 cents each
sold
An honest-to-God Louvin Brothers record. I had never even seen one in or out of a record store. They sang country with a lot of gospel, and were arguably the primary influence for the Everly Brothers, and through them, the Beatles. I occasionally run across a mint Creedence record (which are rare as hen's teeth because who didn't play those records over and over and over. The other two records I auditioned and will resell.
Funky Pepsi bottle
price - $2
sold
This is a keeper I think. I was going to transport it to Colorado, but I don't think it would survive. It's in our bathroom, which has a psychedelic theme.
Vintage tools
price- $5 for the two
sold
Definitely going into our resale yard sale.
Fabulous vintage drill
price - $5
sold
With box, bits, owner's manual and parts list. I think I'll be getting $25 for this, even if it has to go through several sales. I'm pretty sure it's worth a lot more than that, because it had hardly been used by its first owner.
Cigarette lighter adapter to power two AC devices
price - a quarter
sold
I would never have a use for this, but the clientele for our sale is the traveling public, and still being in its packaging, I'd say $3 would be appropriate.
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Books
price - $2 for all
sold
Funny, the bookstore didn't want the Vietnam history. We'll sell it in our own sale. Our last batch of books brought about $45, even though some were rejected.
Hand saw
price - $10
sold
My brother needs one, and even though he has probably found one by now, I don't think these last forever if used to any extent.
Cat bed
price - $1
sold
Just what we need peering out from a dark place under our furniture.
Camera tripod
price - $2
sold
It folds up nice and small. It's lightweight. Would a traveler in the mountains consider buying this? I think so.
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Yarn
price - $1.50 each
sold
I know there's a lot more knitting going on these days, and these were all wool (that's all I'll buy). I've already sold a quantity to a friend of mine.
And so, that's it for another episode of Would You Buy This or Not. If you'd like to read more, simply google "would you buy this or not". (Don't forget the quotes.) The last time I did this, all the hits were past editions of this ongoing photoblog. Tip: in the Google results, click on the link that allows you to see "duplicates" (there will be a lot of new links, and they are not duplicates).
Therefore I have opened my eyes and understand that the best bargain I can purchase now is something for promoting my health. Is sugar a good bargain? No... because it causes candida and does nothing to promote my health. Are fruits and veggies a good bargain? Yes! Natural foods lead to better health. Processed foods are a danger to health. Simple as that.
