Hi all,
For something different to talk about - Let’s hear of all the awesome garage-sale finds. Like the guns-o-rama garage sale not long ago, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be gun related. Just whatever you got at a garage sale, and later found out it was really cool.
I’ll start: A few months ago, our town had a city-wide garage sale day. There’s usually a lot of people selling their junk, just trying to get rid of old items. ….as garage sales typically go. I occasionally like to see what junk there is to look at, usually looking for tools and stuff.
At one particular garage sales, I saw a boring cardboard box half shoved under a table, with the box lid hanging open. When I looked inside the box, I saw a German style candle-carousel sitting inside. (Pic 1) - also called Christmas Pyramid’s. It was in pieces, with a few broken bits loose inside. When I asked about it, the college kids said it was their grandma’s and they just wanted it gone, and wasn’t sure if all the parts were there. They didn’t know anything else about it. I didn’t need it, but we agreed on a price and I took it home.
A few weeks later I finally found time to look at it. After taking it out and checking it over, it looked like it was in fairly decent condition. Some of the detail woodwork had broken off – but luckily all the pieces were present. So, a little wood glue, time and patience, and it’s back to 100%!
SWEET! I’m thinking it was a pretty decent score! (Pic 2)
…and then I started looking at the subtle details.
First was the cardboard box. It was flimsy and thin, but after looking closer – there was a sticker. It was obvious the sticker was written in German. (Pic 3) Not surprisingly, it was probably grandma’s souvenir from visiting Germany at some time in the past. Hmmm, ok - so it’s probably the original box.
Upon researching the web, ‘VEB VERO’ was a chain of stores in Germany, and Bornichen was the town it was purchased. (Bornichen Germany, 50°44′58″N 13°8′29″E)
Bornichen Map | Germany Google Satellite Maps
Of course, the sticker also showed what appeared to be the item number and a price of 245.
Next, looking on the bottom of the candle-carousel was another sticker.
‘Erzgebirge’ which I found is the manufacturer – which is still in business! [Link]
Holy smokes!!! Look at these crazy prices for Christmas Pyramids!!! Prices here: [Christmas Pyramids]
(…If you want one, they’re much cheaper on eBay, and I got it stupid cheap at the garage sale.)
The thing about the sticker that was odd to me was the phrase “Made in German Democratic Republic”. Hmmm, and then it clicked!
The “German Democratic Republic” was the communist occupied East-Germany – back when the German wall was still up. Link: [Wikipedia East Germany]
Looking back at the sticker on the box – it showed a price tag of 245 M. ‘M’ being for the East German Mark. Link: [East_German_mark]
Wow!
At some random garage sale in middle of Oklahoma, I picked up a German candle carousel that was purchased in East Germany during communist occupation. This thing was at least from 1990 (30+ years old). Looking at the other packaging, and the included wax candles (which have never been light), I think everything is original and was never used. Bornichen Germany is deep in east-Germany and I have no idea what the little grandma was doing there, or how it got to Oklahoma, ….but rest-assured - I’ll make up a good story and embellish a few details. : )
Regardless, I’ve got a neat little garage sale find.
And after a little research – I found it’s part of history, coming here from 1/2 way around the world, from a much more uncertain time.
It’s certainly way more unique to me now.
So how about you?
Have you ever bought something at a garage sale, only to find out it was way more of a ‘find’ then you had thought it was?
What’s your garage sale find?
For something different to talk about - Let’s hear of all the awesome garage-sale finds. Like the guns-o-rama garage sale not long ago, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be gun related. Just whatever you got at a garage sale, and later found out it was really cool.
I’ll start: A few months ago, our town had a city-wide garage sale day. There’s usually a lot of people selling their junk, just trying to get rid of old items. ….as garage sales typically go. I occasionally like to see what junk there is to look at, usually looking for tools and stuff.
At one particular garage sales, I saw a boring cardboard box half shoved under a table, with the box lid hanging open. When I looked inside the box, I saw a German style candle-carousel sitting inside. (Pic 1) - also called Christmas Pyramid’s. It was in pieces, with a few broken bits loose inside. When I asked about it, the college kids said it was their grandma’s and they just wanted it gone, and wasn’t sure if all the parts were there. They didn’t know anything else about it. I didn’t need it, but we agreed on a price and I took it home.
A few weeks later I finally found time to look at it. After taking it out and checking it over, it looked like it was in fairly decent condition. Some of the detail woodwork had broken off – but luckily all the pieces were present. So, a little wood glue, time and patience, and it’s back to 100%!
SWEET! I’m thinking it was a pretty decent score! (Pic 2)
…and then I started looking at the subtle details.
First was the cardboard box. It was flimsy and thin, but after looking closer – there was a sticker. It was obvious the sticker was written in German. (Pic 3) Not surprisingly, it was probably grandma’s souvenir from visiting Germany at some time in the past. Hmmm, ok - so it’s probably the original box.
Upon researching the web, ‘VEB VERO’ was a chain of stores in Germany, and Bornichen was the town it was purchased. (Bornichen Germany, 50°44′58″N 13°8′29″E)
Bornichen Map | Germany Google Satellite Maps
Of course, the sticker also showed what appeared to be the item number and a price of 245.
Next, looking on the bottom of the candle-carousel was another sticker.
‘Erzgebirge’ which I found is the manufacturer – which is still in business! [Link]
Holy smokes!!! Look at these crazy prices for Christmas Pyramids!!! Prices here: [Christmas Pyramids]
(…If you want one, they’re much cheaper on eBay, and I got it stupid cheap at the garage sale.)
The thing about the sticker that was odd to me was the phrase “Made in German Democratic Republic”. Hmmm, and then it clicked!
The “German Democratic Republic” was the communist occupied East-Germany – back when the German wall was still up. Link: [Wikipedia East Germany]
Looking back at the sticker on the box – it showed a price tag of 245 M. ‘M’ being for the East German Mark. Link: [East_German_mark]
Wow!
At some random garage sale in middle of Oklahoma, I picked up a German candle carousel that was purchased in East Germany during communist occupation. This thing was at least from 1990 (30+ years old). Looking at the other packaging, and the included wax candles (which have never been light), I think everything is original and was never used. Bornichen Germany is deep in east-Germany and I have no idea what the little grandma was doing there, or how it got to Oklahoma, ….but rest-assured - I’ll make up a good story and embellish a few details. : )
Regardless, I’ve got a neat little garage sale find.
And after a little research – I found it’s part of history, coming here from 1/2 way around the world, from a much more uncertain time.
It’s certainly way more unique to me now.
So how about you?
Have you ever bought something at a garage sale, only to find out it was way more of a ‘find’ then you had thought it was?
What’s your garage sale find?
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