c/flea-market-finds

12

barbara84•2h ago

Stumbled on a 1920s glass insulator at a flea market for $3

Turns out those old glass things on telephone poles are collectible and some go for over $100. Found a blue Hemingray-42 at the Rose Bowl Flea and the guy just wanted it gone. Anyone else pick up random stuff that ends up being worth way more than you paid?

21

xena_kim•10h ago

My $3 flea market skillet cleaned up better than my $40 new one

I found this beat up cast iron pan at a flea market in Des Moines for $3. It was all rusty and crusty, looked like it sat outside for 20 years. Spent a weekend scrubbing it with vinegar and a chainmail scrubber, then seasoned it three times in the oven. Now it's smoother than the expensive Lodge I bought from Target last year. Has anyone else stumbled on a hidden gem like that where the restore job made it way better than new?

12

the_olivia•1d ago

Had to pick between a vintage dresser and a record player at the same booth

Last Saturday I was at the giant flea market down by the fairgrounds in Springfield and this one booth had both a really nice mid-century dresser for $80 and a working 1970s turntable for $40. I only had enough cash on me to get one of them... my car was already pretty full from other finds. I went back and forth for like 15 minutes, opening the dresser drawers to check the dovetails, then going back to test the turntable speed again. I ended up grabbing the dresser because the wood was solid oak and the handles were all original brass. Now I'm kicking myself a little because I went back an hour later and the record player was already sold. Has anyone else had to pick between two great finds and regretted their choice later?

24

spencer_hayes71•1d ago

After two years of thrifting, I finally figured out that those weird little drawers in vintage desks are actually for storing quill pens and ink bottles, not my loose change

I found a 1920s writing desk last Saturday at the Collin County flea market and when I asked the seller why there was a leather blotter and a tiny inkwell built into the top, I realized I had been stuffing coins into the inkwell hole for 24 months like a total goof.

25

miab87•22d ago

That old vase I almost passed on turned out to be worth something

I grabbed this dusty blue vase at a flea market in Austin last Saturday for 5 bucks. Just thought it looked cool, nothing special. Got home and my buddy who restores antiques spotted a tiny mark on the bottom. Turns out it's a 1920s Rookwood piece in good shape. He looked it up on his phone and said similar ones sell for like 200 to 400 dollars online. Totally changed my view on checking maker marks more carefully. Now I'm pulling out my phone every time I see something old and painted. Does anyone else skip items they think are junk but end up regretting it?

8

michael_craig•22d ago

This past Saturday was my best haul in 3 years

I hit up the St. Vinnies in Portland around 7am and found a complete set of vintage Pyrex bowls in the Snowflake pattern for $12. Then on the way home I stopped at a yard sale and snagged a working 1970s turntable for 20 bucks. I don't even collect records but I might start now. Anyone else ever have a day where everything just lines up?

23

loganbaker•25d ago

Hit 50 vintage tool listings this week and I'm just tired

I sell stuff at the local flea market on weekends. Been tracking how many old tools I list each week. This week I hit 50 listings and it barely made me 80 bucks. All that cleaning and photographing for pocket change. Anyone else feel like the effort doesn't match the payoff anymore?

16

eva_thompson10•26d ago

Had a goldmine Saturday at the flea market in St. Louis last month

I showed up at 6am and this old guy was unloading a box of vintage hand tools from his truck. He wanted $5 each but I grabbed 4 drawknives and a spokeshave for $20 total. Later I found a first edition cookbook from 1952 buried under some vinyl records for $3. What's the best single day haul you've ever had?

7

jones.brooke•27d ago

My big ceramic flower pot disaster at the flea market

I was at the Kane County Flea Market in Illinois last month and found this gorgeous huge blue ceramic pot for $15. I picked it up to inspect the bottom and the whole thing cracked right in my hands, sending chunks all over the pavement. The seller just stared at me and said "well, I guess that one's yours now." I ended up paying her $5 for it anyway since I broke it, but I was so embarrassed. Now I always tap on ceramics with my knuckle before I touch them to check for hairline cracks. Has anyone else had a clumsy moment like this that cost you?

22

olivia_carr7•27d ago

Shoutout to the guy at the St. Louis flea market who pointed out my 'vintage' lamp was a reproduction

He showed me the underside stamp didn't have the right patina for a 1940s piece, and now I double-check all metal markings before I buy.

14

andrew778•1mo ago

Changed my mind about vintage tools after a bust at the flea market last month

I used to think any old hand plane from a thrift store was a hidden gem worth grabbing. Last month I bought a Stanley No. 5 for $30 at a flea market in Phoenix, spent 4 hours cleaning and sharpening, and the sole was warped bad. A guy at the booth next to me pointed out the crack under the rust that I totally missed. Now I bring a straightedge and a flashlight to check flatness first, anyone else get burned on 'vintage' finds?

17

john_singh•1mo ago

Hit 100 vintage lamps from flea markets this weekend, didn't even mean to collect them

I was just sorting through my garage and realized I have exactly 100 lamps now, all bought from flea markets around Ohio over the last 6 years. Started with a cool old brass one I found for $5 in Columbus, and it just snowballed from there. My wife thinks I'm nuts, and honestly I can't argue with her since we only have 4 rooms in our house. The weirdest part is I only paid more than $20 for maybe 10 of them, and one of those was a 1950s ceramic rooster lamp I haggled down to $35 from $50 at a swap meet near Cincinnati. Does anyone else have a random number they hit from thrifting that surprised them, or am I the only one with a lamp army?

13

tarajenkins•1mo ago

Flea market seller yelled at me for haggling $5 off

I was at the local flea market in Austin last Saturday looking at old wooden chairs. The guy had $25 marked on one and I offered $20 like I always do. He snapped at me saying his prices are firm and I was wasting his time. It was weird because I haggle at almost every booth there and most sellers expect it. Has anyone else run into a seller who got angry over a normal offer? I might start skipping that guy's booth from now on.

0

michael_patel•1mo ago

Antique mall in Tucson had a box of old baseball cards marked '50 cents each'

I flipped through them expecting junk, but found a 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie card in decent shape. Bought it for 50 cents and sold it to a local shop for $40 later that day. Anyone else find unexpected value in random boxes of cards or sports memorabilia?

6

cameroncarr•1mo ago

Had a flip that went sideways until I spotted a detail in the dust

I was scrolling through a booth in Austin last month and almost walked past a beat-up wooden trunk. It had this gross layer of grime and the hinges were rusty, so I figured it was a hard pass. But then I noticed a tiny brass maker's tag peeking out from under the dust on the lid. Turns out it was a late 1800s steamer trunk from a known craftsman, and I snagged it for $12. Cleaned it up with some vinegar and oil, and flipped it online for $180. Anyone else ever caught a hidden brand name or stamp that saved a find?

11

ramirez.blair•1mo ago

Unpopular opinion: Vintage furniture restoration is way overhyped on here

I picked up a 1960s dresser at a flea market in Portland last month for $40, sanded and refinished it over two weekends, and honestly it looks worse than a $150 IKEA piece. The wood was lower quality than I expected and the original glue joints were failing no matter what I did. Anyone else try restoring old stuff only to wish you'd just bought new?

26

the_emery•1mo ago

Picked up a beat-up Coleman lantern for $5 and got some solid advice

Found this old green Coleman 200A lantern at the Springfield flea market last weekend, and the seller saw me looking it over. He told me I was checking the wrong parts and to always test the pump cup and generator first, not just the globe. I took it home, followed his tips, and had it running that night. What's the best piece of repair advice you've ever gotten from a vendor?

17

aaron708•1mo ago

Question about a crazy good flea market day in Dayton last month

I went to the big monthly market in Dayton and it was INSANE, like a perfect storm of good stuff. Found a complete set of vintage Pyrex mixing bowls for $20 and a solid oak record cabinet for $40. The key was getting there right as it opened, because the best stuff was gone within the first hour. Has anyone else had a day where everything just lined up like that?

22

jenniferb53•1mo ago

Picked up a box of old keys for $5 and found something wild inside

I mean, it was just a random cardboard box at the flea market in Springfield, full of maybe a hundred old house keys. Figured I could use some for art projects or something. When I got home and dumped them out, a little brass locket fell from the bottom of the pile. Opened it up and there was a tiny, faded photo of a couple from maybe the 1940s. Idk, it just felt weirdly special compared to the junk I usually find. Has anyone else ever found a hidden personal item tucked inside something they bought in bulk?

18

verap52•1mo ago

Question about people calling any old thing 'depression glass'

I mean, I was at the big flea market in Brimfield last weekend and saw a vendor trying to sell a plain green glass bowl for $75, calling it 'rare depression glass.' It was just a regular bowl, maybe from the 70s. I know a little because my grandma collected the real stuff, and it has specific patterns like 'Cherry Blossom' or 'American Sweetheart.' It matters because folks are getting ripped off paying vintage prices for junk. Has anyone else run into this, or am I just being picky?

8

nancy351•1mo ago

I almost bought a fake vintage lamp at the swap meet in Pasadena

I used to just grab anything that looked old and cool, but last month I spotted a mid-century lamp with a $75 tag. I was ready to pay until I checked the cord and saw a modern UL stamp. The seller swore it was original, but that stamp didn't exist back then. Now I always carry a small flashlight to check for modern parts before I even talk price. Has anyone else caught a fake because of a small detail like that?

18

adams.vera•1mo ago

Heads up about the vintage Pyrex at the big swap meet in Riverside

I've been hitting the same spot for years, and the change in the last two is crazy. The good, old stuff with the clear colors and thick glass is almost gone now. What's left is mostly the newer, thinner stuff from the 80s and 90s, and they're trying to sell it for the same high prices. I saw a single pink gooseberry bowl for $85 last weekend, which is nuts. I think it's a mix of resellers buying it all up and people finally realizing what they have in their cupboards. The hunt is way harder now, and you have to be super early to find anything decent. Anyone else seeing their local spots get picked clean like this?

17

the_blair•1mo ago

A shift in what shows up at the local swap meet

Three years ago at the Alameda Point Antiques Fair, you could find a lot of mid-century furniture and old tools. Last month at the same spot, I saw maybe five different booths selling nothing but old video game consoles and cartridges. It felt like a whole new section of the market had opened up. Has anyone else noticed this kind of change in what's for sale?

5

mark_cooper•1mo ago

Found a signed first edition for $3 but the debate is killing me

Last month at the Elkhorn flea market, I grabbed a beat up copy of 'The Martian Chronicles' for three bucks. When I got home, I found Ray Bradbury's signature inside. I mean, part of me wants to keep it because it's so cool, but my buddy says I should sell it to a collector who would really care for it. I'm stuck between holding onto a piece of history or making a big profit. What would you guys do with a find like this?

22

adam_nguyen7•1mo ago

Found my 100th piece of Pyrex for under five bucks

I was digging through a bin at the Springfield flea market last Saturday and pulled out a yellow 404 mixing bowl. I checked the price tag and it was three dollars. That was the exact moment I realized I've bought one hundred pieces of vintage Pyrex, and not one of them cost more than five bucks. It took me six years of hitting markets early and always checking the junk boxes. Anyone else track a specific collection number like that?