Antiques & Collectibles

» Kayowin_14 - Discarded anitiques....

Where I live, it is almost common procedure to leave usable objects beside dumpsters for other people to pick through. It is a handy way of recycling and using things to their extent before they are sent to a land fill,and it gives treasure hunters the pleasure of digging through it. On many occasions I have found not only usefull, but antique and valuable objects. In great condition usually. Recently I aqcuired a typewriter in this fashion. By research, I discovered it was a 1930'ish typewriter. It still had a ribbon in it that was hardly used, a carrying case only slightly water damaged, and the keys worked fine. There was nothing wrong with it at all.

-- posted by Kayowin_14

» Susan Cramer - Discarded anitiques....

In response to Discarded anitiques.... posted by Kayowin_14:

We do that in my town, too. In May, the village sponsors a clean up week, and unwanted items are placed at the curb. People for miles around cruise the streets looking for stuff to use. One year, I lost out on a cool iron bed because I was on foot that day. I am a big supporter of this kind of recycling. Thanks for doing your part!

» Kayowin_14 - Discarded anitiques....

In response to Discarded anitiques.... posted by suzrae9:

Yeah, I know what it's like to lose out on items. It really irks me sometimes. But my mom goes beyond that sometimes. She went by on her bycicle once, and there was a beautiful lawn swing, only the support beams were broken. So she leaned the whole thing across the bike and rode home like that!
Mostly when I go, I look for books, antiques, and statues. I found some foreign coins in a little coin purse once. Probably from an estate sale or something. There were coins from Italy, Sweden, Germany, and France, among other places.

-- posted by Kayowin_14

» Susan Cramer - Discarded anitiques....

In response to Discarded anitiques.... posted by Kayowin_14:

I'm glad your mother doesn't live in my town! I don't think I could compete with someone willing to and/or strong enough to throw a porch swing over her handle bars!

» Kayowin_14 - Discarded anitiques....

In response to Discarded anitiques.... posted by suzrae9:

Ha ha! She had it over bike baskets on the back, but the way you put it is so much more entertaining! It wasn't the entire frame and all that, just the swing and chains. But still, it made an interesting sight going through town.
The other interesting event, was when she and my dad were on the motorcycle, and the found these medium sized windows... yeah. They made it home without breaking, perched between them. Tsk tsk. People around here will do weird things to bring home thier treasures. (Not that I wouldn't!)

-- posted by Kayowin_14

» Georgene A. Bramlage - Discarded anitiques....

In our small New England town, not only do people leave items at the end of their drives near main roads, but we have several Take-It-or-Leave-It shelters at the recycling center.

There are:

• clothing...some people make it a habit to fully dress from this shelter
• books, stationery and behind a little wall, clean packing material (bubble wrap etc.)
• the "general" shack which is my favorite! Here are all sorts of useful and nonuseful item. I find many vintage flower pots and vases here.

We also have a bottle shed where people can leave bottles for redemption by our local land trust; containers for used motor oil, fluorescent lights and batteries of all sorts; paper; cans, bottles and foil; and white items - appliances, furniture, etc. for which a disposal price is charged.

Very little goes into the trash compactor - and we pay so much per bag to feed the compactor!

My husband's favorite Saturday morning refrain is "We go to the dump to leave stuff; not bring more home!"

Cheers!

Georgene (AKA Cercis)

» Susan Cramer - Discarded anitiques....

In response to Discarded anitiques.... posted by Cercis:

The saddest thing about this country is how wasteful we are. I'm so glad to hear that there are organized groups and individuals doing their best to reuse things. My neighbors and I have an annual garage sale where things go for pennies, and useful leftovers go to the women's shelter. They wouldn't take the twin sized mattress which we put at the end of the driveway. It was gone within a few hours. So, on behalf of my fellow americans, and mother earth, thanks for your effots!

» Georgene A. Bramlage - Discarded anitiques....

In response to Discarded anitiques.... posted by suzrae9:
Thanks...but most of the town residents really work at it. The "dump" is the great leveler...everyone takes and leaves

Georgene (AKA Cercis)