Yard Sales, Flea Markets and Antique Shops 2025

[Flying10uk]

I did manage to find my example today which I do believe is the same as your's. I've got mine labeled up as Dutch and inside is an additional label sown on.

The 2 L straps that came with this are British but it is possible that I may also have some Dutch made L straps.

[Aragorn243]

That does look the same except for the label of course. Is there a manufacturer hidden under the label?

[Flying10uk]

Is there a manufacturer hidden under the label?

It's difficult to photograph but it has these markings, not sure what they mean. Looks like some numbers in a circle plus a few other markings.

[Aragorn243]

We had a family event this weekend so I got to go to some old haunts instead of my current ones.

Large open air flea market I've been going to since I was a kid with my dad was our first stop. This is a pretty good one for all sorts of things but it's in a financially depressed area and everyone seems to "know what they got" and wants top dollar for it. I haven't been at this one in quite a few years. Not a lot in the way of surplus here with the exception of munitions and bayonets which I saw more at one place outside a gun show than I have in years. Spotted a rather large caliber shell on a table, aske the fellow if he knew what it was and he said a collector "expert" told him it was a 505 or 605 if that made any sense to me. It did not. I took a photo, did a google search and it immediately came up as a 305 skoda round from WWI. It's not the entire shell but the upper third portion that screws off the bottom 2/3rds. I couldn't see any markings on it but has a bit of original paint left, not much but some.

Next stop was an antique mall that I hit more often as it's close to where we stay in deer season and is open year round but found nothing at this one.

Third stop is another antique mall on the route home. Better luck here. Found a Civil Defense helmet of a type I haven't encountered before and not sure of it's era, seller said Vietnam era but other's I've since found on the internet claim WWII or Korean eras. It's an M1 helmet liner painted white. It is a WWII Westinghouse liner so it's old enough for WWII but would they be taking these out of service for the CD helmets? Can't find anything definative on them. I also found another stretcher I couldn't pass up as it is in great condition and was only $20. Not sure of the era of this one either but pretty sure it's post WWII. Canvas with wood handles and aluminum locking mechanism. Have not found a date or order number on it, made by Orthopedic Equipment in Bourbon Indiana and has the Medical snake symbol and US stamped on it.

I'll post pics when I get a chance, we got home late last night.

[Aragorn243]

I did find some markings on the bottom of the shell and possibly on the side but can't make them out. Some I didn't see until I uploaded the photos. Did not see them looking at them. These are the round ones on the outside of the shell. I did see a mark on the outside of the shell that did not turn up in the photos which is also weird. No idea which way is up on the symbol in the circle.



































An eBay purchase came today also. A US Navy gas mask from WWII. Unissued, unopened. Not liking that very much but hate taking it out of the packaging. Probably aren't many out there like that.

[browningautorifle]

I think your helmet liner is a WW2 Westinghouse that was given a new lease on life with a second job. Lots of that stuff was. Nice honest WW2 liner.

[Flying10uk]

I also found another stretcher I couldn't pass up as it is in great condition and was only $20. Not sure of the era of this one either but pretty sure it's post WWII. Canvas with wood handles and aluminum locking mechanism. Have not found a date or order number on it, made by Orthopedic Equipment in Bourbon Indiana and has the Medical snake symbol and US stamped on it.

It sort of looks like an American version of the "Furley Stretcher" named after John Furley the person who invented it, as well as other "medical related" items. I wasn't aware that the US ever made a version of the Furley Stretcher but that's not to say that they didn't.

British examples have square wooden stretcher poles with rounded ends and the locking mechanism is steel.

British made examples went into production pre WW1 I believe and were still being used into the 1980's/90's.

British examples normally have a date marked in the wood poles but it can take a bit of looking to find it. Also with British examples the colour of the canvas changed from brown to green canvas post WW2.

[Aragorn243]

The US military has been using this same type stretcher since WWI. It's possible they copied the design from those they saw the British had.

Only changes over the years is the type materials used, color (used to be tan) and that's about it.

It's unfortunately not a topic that has gotten a lot of attention on the web as I can't figure out when this one is from. I'm guessing somewhere between Korea and early Vietnam. Later Vietnam is going to be contract marked which this is not.

[Flying10uk]

I have owned several examples of the British Furley type stretcher and the only real changes that they made to it, post WW2, were to change the colour of the canvas from brown/tan to dark green and to fractionally lengthen it. At one time there were quite large numbers of the early 1950's dated examples, in unused condition, as seen in the pics, on the UK surplus market. I believe that many of these were exCivil Defence Corps/Home Office which were surplussed in the 1980's when it was decided that they weren't needed any more.

[Aragorn243]

Saturday wasn't an especially good day for military things. I only found a 50 cal M17 ammo can.







Later in the day at a thrift shop I found a Fireman's dress cap, no idea what fire company but the manufacturer is pretty close to here. Disk denotes this was a Fire Lieutenant. Probably 60's based on other limited information I could find.





I found some odd antiques, a bar bottle cap opener with a spoon on the other end. An old advertising fork, a few old cork stopper bottles and a toy I had when I was a kid. I've been looking for a nice one of these for years but nearly all are bent in the middle and were way too expensive. Got this for $5.00. I got mine when I was six and it's significant because I have very few memories of my mother, she died when I was seven but I remember having this at the "beach" which was sand along a damned creek in the middle of a state park. It's distinct because I was running with it in the sand and ran over some strangers feet with it and I caught hell. Not from my mom, she ran to my defense. No one was hurt but my feelings. I think I still have the original somewhere in the attic but it's in really rough shape.







Sunday at the WWII flea market I had some better luck. There were things there I really would have loved to have and almost bought one but did not trust it to be an original. Early experimental cavalry entrenching tool. For the asking price, I needed to know it was real. But lots of bargains.

Romanian M73 helmet, appears unissued as the liner is like new and the top part was never assembled, but was beat the crap in storage. No dents but the paint is all scratched and skuffed up. $25.00.









Then a 75mm shell in good condition. Really debated this one as I had to carry it around all day. Basically took it to my chair and left it there all day but that and getting it on the bus was a pain. For $25 I couldn't leave it.











US 1944 pick ax handle. I have a bunch of picks with no handles. This wasn't exactly a bargain at $15 but it's the only one I have that is actually dated.





And finally something to haul it all around in. A $20 rucksack. No idea from when, WWII unlikely, thinking 50's but can't find one like it anywhere. It's Finnish, that's all I know. The fabric is nearly identical to WWII Finn rucksacks and the style is similar but their standard issue did not have a frame. It's possible it's a mountain or ski troop pack. Seller said it was WWII but he said the same about a blue fabric pack dated 1963 so I don't trust him. It's huge, Bergen style.