Do you have an interesting flea market story?

Vanity | 12-25-05 | Jo Nuvark

[Jo Nuvark]

Do you have an interesting story about a Flea Market, Auction, Swap Meet or Garage Sale? Do you know anyone who met their spouse this way or found a lost treasure? Do you have a tale about odd people you've met while scavenging? If so, please share them here.

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[Jo Nuvark]

My Dad and Mom are nutball flea market ferrets. They can find the most useless items, but because they got a great "deal" on the price, it is a treasure. Their home is filled with "heirloom" items that I never saw growing up. My parents insist the stacks of Franklin Mint Limited Edition plates under their bed will be worth a fortune someday. It doesn't matter that the price of these plates have actually decreased.

Actually, I'm collecting true stories for a project and FReepers have some doozies. Thanks so much and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[mdittmar]

Fulper vase with verticle incised mark for $2.50,that was a good day at a Kent Goodwill.

[Fintan]

Sure, I've gone to flea markets thinking I might meet the future Mrs. Fintan.

 

Then again, I've gone to the car wash thinking I might meet the future Mrs. Fintan.

[Jo Nuvark]

Fulper vase for $2.50? 100%... 200% return on
investment. Beats real estate. Congratulations!

[Jo Nuvark]

Now don't you know that the best place to
meet a woman is at a bar. Come on. (sarc)

[bannie]

Fleas carry the bubonic plague.

:-o

[Clemenza]

Ping!

[nevergore]

I once bought a Beeber at a Flea Market....

[Jo Nuvark]

[...Fleas carry the bubonic plague...]

Some middle eastern types might find that
valuable. Bird flu too wimply. AIDS too slow.

[bannie]

But we have a good handle on that nasty black plague.

:-)

[Jo Nuvark]

Sorry to post and run, but I have a Christmas dinner
to attend. Be back 'round 9pm. Promise to respond
to all.

[Young Werther]

I attended an estate auction in Cosby North Dakota. A friend joined me and we purchased some interesting atricles. There was an early 20th Century black and white photo of a farm house and it had been hand tinted.

Several years later, I met and married my wife and she was interested in this painting that I had stuck away. I enjoyed my first Thanksgiving with her family and she asked me to bring the picture. Her Mom identified it as the family house in Blaisdell North Dakota and told me that the estate sale had been for her cousin who had owned the picture. Still have it!

[Fintan]

Now don't you know that the best place to meet a woman is at a bar. Come on. (sarc)

 

Thanks for reminding me. I'd almost forgotten the thrill of meeting that "special someone" at the local dive.

 

[bobhoskins]

I bought a blind lot from a government warehouse auction ... it just arrived yesterday, a big wooden crate labeled:

TOP SECRET, ARMY INTEL 9906753 DO NOT OPEN!

I'll probably get around to opening it tomorrow, might be interesting.

:)

[PJ-Comix]

I have MANY flea market stories. However, one of them is so INCREDIBLE that the only proper way to tell it is with voice which is why I will wait until my DUmmie FUnnies Podcast to tell it. I actually got attacked by Jesus Nightlights at a flea market but the story is so bizarre that I have to TELL it, not post it. Also scared that if someone sees just the start of the story without bothering to read further they might hit the ABUSE button. Don't want to risk that so will tell on a Podcast separate from the FR.

[Jo Nuvark]

[...early 20th Century black and white photo of a farm house...]

Thank you for this story. It is exactly what I am looking for. What a small world. Are you from North Dakota? How did you meet your wife? Were there any other connections to your wife's family? Does the house still exist? My Father was born in South Dakota on a dairy farm.

[Jo Nuvark]

OK... Now I'm really curious. Can't wait to hear your story.

[Young Werther]

I was stationed at Minot AFB and went 'tiquing every so often. There were lots of military people who shopped for "old stuff". One of the officers I worked with collected old books. One time he wanted to bid on a complete collection of National Geographic which ran from 1906 to 1971. the auctioneer decided to brek the collection up into 10 year increments and the estate did not realize as much.

That day I was outbid on a wall telephone with a hand crank by the young lady, wife of a good buddy, who had gone to the auction with me. He was a missile launch officer and was on alert. She purchase and armoire and I bid on some kerosene lamps. I have a sun colored one from that auction.

I met my wife in Sept of 73 when I finished my tour. My future wife was so... well I stayed in Minot and went back to school under the GI Bill. The house in Blaisdal is still in the family and the family farm is still worked by my brother in law.

BTW one of my NCOs was a bottle nut so when I wasn't going to auctions I was digging in old town dumps for bottles. I have several bottles from the 1890s on my collections shelf.

[Lucretia Borgia]

Some of my best stuff comes from garage sales, thrift stores etc. One particular buy was a $10 six legged side table painted flat yellow. Paint stripper and a lot of TLC later, she is a beauty. My dad say table as originally bought and said WHY? After the project was done, he complimented me on my eye for wood.

[ErnBatavia]

a bottle nut so when I wasn't going to auctions I was digging in old town dumps for bottles. I have several bottles from the 1890s on my collections shelf.

Thirty years or more ago, a buddy and I went to an "estate sale" and I bought several old (full) bottles of liquor. The one I'm looking at right now is one of two unopened bottles of G. H. Mumm extra dry champagne, lot #5014...I'd love to know how to research this stuff. I'd have to just guess that these were bottled in the 1930's or 40's.

Another is an empty Clicquot Club ginger ale bottle...I know it can't be, but it looks handblown due to imperfections in the bottle; there's a nice mark on the bottom, but only about a quarter of the label still exists.

Fun stuff...