Yard Sales, Flea Markets and Antique shops 2021

[browningautorifle]

I notice they are reversed

Would have been my first guess knowing where they came from...

[Aragorn243]

Would have been my first guess knowing where they came from...

The bottom of the mortar screws on the normal way.

A new purchase today, not surplus but a significant addition to my military toy collection. Local reuzit shop, kind of like goodwill, had a silent auction on a lot of Dinky military vehicles. I hate these things because you put a bid in and then if you are the high bidder after 6 days and no one else bids, you win. Most of the time I forget I put a bid in and never check. This time I made an effort to pay attention. It took three weeks and a couple of bids but I got it today. Tank transporter and tank, an artillery piece, two anti-aircraft guns with ammo carriers, scout car, small tank, several trucks of various sizes. I checked prices on eBay and it added up to about $444.00 worth of toys based on the cheapest one I could find of each. Got them for $75.00. I need to find a few replacement tires. They tend to be more than the trucks cost so we'll see.



Tires were surprisingly easy. 16 of them for $7.00 and free shipping. I need 5 for sure but may replace a few more. Looks like heat got to some of them.

Dinky's are rare in my area. Matchboxes were very popular here when I was growing up but Dinky's not so much. It's rare that I find them at yard sales. I love the old England made toy cars. Picked up my holy grail a couple of weeks ago, a Matchbox T-bird with the silver metallic wheels. Never had one as a kid but I had a lot of it's contemporaries.

[browningautorifle]

Centurion tank, Saladin armored car, Ferret scout car...Universal carrier...nice.

[Aragorn243]

Good day today. Started off by driving past a yard sale where there was no parking and the wife saying there was a helmet there but it wasn't green, it was white with blue. I went back and it's a US Civil Defense helmet with an intact decal. $20 and no one there, just a jar full of money, seriously. We aren't exactly a high crime area but a jar full of money just isn't done anymore. Not being able to negotiate, I put a $20 in the jar.

Next stop I get 500 rounds of AK ammo for $150 which is pre pandemic pricing. Same guy as a box of large plastic toys which included a German WWI tank which is awesome. All brand new. $20 for the box. Receipt found when I got it home, $135 many years ago when it was purchased. The German tank's box was in there and it alone was $28.

Short walk and I found a 1943 US foot locker for $15. Interior looks great, exterior is a bit beat up. One of the last yards sales of the day I find a small Seabees patch, probably of modern manufacture but it is nice and was 50 cents.

Flea market on the way home a guy has two 1888 Commission rifles, both German although he called the one Spanish, I saw no markings on it. Picked the better of the two which he called the German and got it for $200. Needs some work but it's all there. Stock has some varnish on it.

So it was an expensive day but I think I got some decent bargains.

[browningautorifle]

a 1943 US foot locker

I have one of those myself, loaded out of Ft Lewis Wa in December 1974 when I was there on my mortar course. Wish I'd taken better care of it though.

Picked the better of the two which he called the German and got it for $200

Let us have a look later...?

I'm off to our own local swap and shop tomorrow morning for a look. Last week a guy had a opy of a 1880 US hunting knife, issue type and called it an entrenching tool. I tried to explain the difference but he did the typical know it all look through me as I described the difference...he wanted $200CDN for it which may be $100 high... He also had an Artillery saber from the 1880s named to an officer from a LOCAL arty unit here. My friend picked it up for $150 down from $200CDN. It's now in his shop for sale at $800CDN. It wasn't out when I went by... Maybe something tomorrow.

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

I have been pretty successful at avoiding garage/ estate sales for fear of catching the bug. If you guys keep posting these cool finds you may be copeable for my infection.

[Aragorn243]

Heck, I can go to 100 yard sales over weeks and find nothing interesting. This may make it look like it's easy but it isn't. I also live in an area with a lot of antique shops plus I go out of my way to find them and go in areas I visit. It's what we do for fun.

---------- Post added at 06:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:58 PM ----------

This is what the German WWI tank looks like: Weston WWI German A7V Heavy Tank | eBay

Two of these: BMC WW2 Gray Amtrack Tank Vehicle for 54mm Plastic Army 741801499913 741801499913 | eBay

[Aragorn243]

Skipped the yard sales this morning. It's been a rough week and I was tired out. Early afternoon, we stopped at a few antique markets that weren't open on the 4th weekend when we went. Picked up a British WWII 3Pdr casing that has been reused and restamped numerous times and an unfired 90mm US AP shell. If I'm reading the thing right it was made in 1956 so outside my normal range but the price was right and I have a casing that needs a shell. The second shop had a few helmets the guy thought were all worth $300-$350. Two modern kevlar US helmets a "brigadier general's helmet that was hilarious. No liner, beat to crap shell that was dented all over and the dents removed very poorly and spray painted. Small hole drilled in it and a non-military star stuck on the front. The only one that might have been worth that was a pretty nice British WWII helmet but it might have been redone. I wasn't paying it."

[Aragorn243]

Slim pickings at yard sales lately but I got two items today. A US military wool blanket of unknown age but assuming late WWI to WWII age. And a US canteen 1945. Only paid $3 for each of them so I did OK price wise. I can't find an marks on the blanket but will look more tomorrow. No tag which is the key missing component. Not all were marked which is why the tag is so important.

I got a reproduction German WWII helmet in the mail today from RTI. It looks pretty good. Shape not quite right and is lighter than mine but I have a Quist and they are heavier than other. I figure I'll experiment with camoflauging it. It smells musty from storage and the strap rivets rusted pretty bad. Everything else is like new iwht no damage so this is a bit weird. They are clearing them out at $29 which can't be beat. Also got a Japanese repro cap this week. It's really nice. They went all out on this one. I'll have to post some photos when I get some taken. I looked at these for months before finding this company. They use the appropriate connections between the hat and the neck screens. Most are using snaps or something similar. This uses long flat "hooks" that slide in threaded "loops".

[Aragorn243]

The blanket had a US in the center that is completely gone. Only by holding it up to a light behind it can you see the distinct letters. It's almost like it's thinner where the letters were. It did have a corner tag also long gone.