Yard Sales, Flea Markets and Antique Shops 2025

[Aragorn243]

Finally had some time to photograph things from last weekend and the new stuff from this weekend. Last weekend first, I guess some of this is from two weekends ago.

The Civil Defense helmet:








I believe this is just an address stamp of the previous owner:



I got this WWII web belt at the same antique complex:







The WWII USMC lower pack (rucksack)









Sleeping bag cover:







The Vietnam era USMC upper pack (haversack):











My two eBay purchases:













And today's finds.

I thought I had all these dummy rounds but never saw this one prior to today:







And this final item I did some research on to ensure it's legit. It is an experimental canteen cover that was never issued although a fair amount of them seem to have been made. These were made in the 1970's and after trials surplused out. Same type material as used by the entrenching shovels of the time. I had carriers like that when I was in the service in the 80's. I guess it was fine for the shovels but not for the canteens.















And lastly, not quite sure what it is, if anything. Said to be a US Navy blanket but most I can find are white with blue trim. WWI era blankets were blue but if this is WWI, it's extremly well preserved. Seller said it came from his neighbor who had a bunch of Navy stuff. For $5, he had no reason to make up a tale but I can't find anything firm on it. If anyone has any good information on it, let me know. It's the right size and construction seems consistent with other military blankets I have.

[Aragorn243]

I now suspect I have the largest strecher collection in my small town. Another $20 find, probably could have got it for less but was so shocked at the asking price I just paid the man. This one is at least dated, 68 so it's Vietnam era. Same company but different in how they are marked. Picked up an African spear of some type also which I posted in the Edge Weapons forum.

[Aragorn243]

Kind of a slow day but I found a couple of interesting things. People did show up for the yard sale day but I found nothing there until almost the last table where they had a heavy equipment pack. Not exactly sure what it's called yet or how exactly it's used. I've seen a few at the WWII weekend but this is the first I've seen for sale. Normal yard sales after that just turned up some regular stuff, biggest purchase was six boxes of 12 gauge shotgun shells at $5 a box, also got a few military books. Stopped at a surplus store and picked up a Mirro 1956 canteen I didn't have. Next antique shop I found a cool 1930's-40's toy train engine and then at the last stop of the day hit the jackpot with a few more books and possibly the holy grail of canvas water buckets. Can't even find an example of one anywhere. What appears to be an unissued USMC 1944 collapsable water bucket. Army buckets are pretty common and I've found one USMC marked bucket but not like this one. Same place had a CSA grave marker. I'll get some pics up tomorrow. Usually Sunday Antique fllea market in the morning first.

[Aragorn243]

Saw lots this morning but most of it was more than I wanted to pay. Guy I bought the dummy 3 inch shell from last weekend had some canteen covers and mess kits that were cheap, three covers for $8 and a WWI mess kit for $3 and a 1942 mess kit I didn't have for $5. Hard to beat those prices. He promised to bring more next weekend.

[browningautorifle]

Don't know how I missed that dummy 3"50 last week. That's nice.

[Aragorn243]

These seem to be called all sorts of things but molded plywood equipment packboard seems to be what it functionally is. I found a mint one today for a lot more money and thought about it but this serves the purpose of being a decent example of one:







This is the USMC canvas bucket. I still have not found one like it. Construction is much different from the Army types:









This is the type CSA grave marker I'm familier with but I believe they have been phase out to a smaller round one that is similar to other wars markers. I suspect it's to make them less conspicuous:





And two of the books I got. I love these as they have great photos of the uniforms and equipment:





I got two smaller books headlined Normandy with different sub battles outlined, Cherbourg and Utah Beach/St Mere Eglise and a travel book on Normandy

I like toy trains and this one caught my eye as a streamliner, from the 1940's, pretty good condition, it's about 12 inches long:





And the covers, three different periods. The first in 1941 Baker-Lockwood, the second post war to mid 50's Concord and the third 1963 DSA numbered













And finally the two mess kits:

[Aragorn243]

Disappointing day. Yard sales locally few and far between so we opted to head for what is normally a large flea market about an hour away. Stopped at a church flea market day, a couple of yard sales and found nothing. Get to the big one and it's nearly empty, maybe 60 people set up, very little military or anything of interest. I did pick up a 1944 US Army tool bag for $2 which needs some TLC. I saw a modern issue folding US shovel and went back to get it but the guy had it packed up already. I did get the shovel after some negotiation. Then off to the next antique shop, only thing there was a 1943 PA license plate, next antique shop, they closed it. This is the largest in the area to our east and it closed at the end of June. Reopening in another location in September but didn't do us any good. They did have a pop up flea market in the parking lot and I found a military hat with a crown over eagle on it. Looked British but was dated 1961 and the writing looked Dutch. Only $2 so I picked it up. Google images said it was British but the eagle was off and just a closeup of the badge confirmed it was Dutch. So then I put in a new search for antique shops as it's very early in the day and find a "mall" advertised about 20 minutes away. On the way found another mid sized mall and hit that. Nice but museum piece Civil War items listed for thousands is the only military stuff in there. The wife got a couple of things. Next place had a few things but military was priced high. New search, off to another antique shop and halfway there we found the largest farmers/flea market I've ever seen. By this time it's very hot and humid and most of the outside vendors had left but the inside was air conditioned. One of the first shops I went in had a Kukri sitting between a buyer and the owner of the shop. I asked if it were for sale, she was very evasive, he said he was buying it, told a tale proving he didn't have a clue what it was. I took a quick look and discovered a very badly pitted Kukri which was definately an MKII Indian manufactured M43 Kukri. I gave them some time, went back a few minutes later and he and it were gone. I asked what she sold it for, $30. I wasn't happy. This place has a surplus store in it but they were very high with anything military. I had possibly the best soup I have ever had at a soup and sandwich shop, expensive but worth it. There is also a guy selling Hillbilly Hooch (moonshine) and I got a jar of the watermellon flavor. Smooth but the alcohol content is too much for the wife, more for me. Then we were off to three more antique shops in close proximity to each other in Quakertown PA. Again, some nice thing but they wanted an arm and a leg for anything military. Found a Dinky DUKW and 1941 and 1944 PA license plates to complete my WWII years collection. These three are in above average condition but not quite what I was hoping for but they weren't expensive. I don't think we'll be going back to the four antique shops in Quakertown but the flea market we're going back if for nothing more than the soup. The wife and I had a good time but not much luck for the collection. Almost bought a signed photo of the cast of MASH. Had all seven of the main characters from late in the series but we decided for the price, we didn't need it that bad. The current generation doesn't care about MASH and we aren't going to be around forever. If it's still there when we get back there, who knows.

[Aragorn243]

Today was another day of a couple small interesting things but nothing of super note. Yesterday's "tool bag" turned out to be a lower pack but it doesn't quite make sense to me. It looks like a 1945 pack but is dated 1944. Hard to see in the photo but pretty positive it's 1944.









Dutch Air Force hat. It has an interesting four piece "pin".







The modern shovel. I find it interesting that Ames is still around and still making them in the U.S.:















The license plates of the US war years in my home state of Pennsylvania. Normal plate in 1941 and in 1942. 1943 did not have a new plate due to efforts to save metal. 1943 was the small red plate in the corner of the 1942 plate. 1944 back to a new plate but note it's smaller. 1945 is also smaller. These small sizes stayed into effect for a few years after the war. I discovered this digging through the stacks of plates. Not sure when they went back to the prewar size but they eventually did as that is the size of our current plates. Pennsylvania at the time alternated colors, probably to ensure accurate registration from year to year. I did not know if they skipped a color or not but they did as the 42 and 44 plates do alternate color. 44 would have been yellow if there had been a 43 plate.



Today's first find of the day is an unusual piece, a cooks cutlery roll. Unissued, wasn't going to pay much for it due to the non-combat aspect but it was only $5. Now to fill it. Not sure I will be able too. Not sure how they issued it in the day. Did the Army provide the knives and things or did they give the units the money to go out on the local market and fill it. Probably not going to be easy figuring this out. I'm not planning to put a ton of effort into it. I may end up waiting until next years WWII weekend and asking one of the re-enacting cooks about it. Not quite as interesting as the gynecological roll but not $85 either.









My first find at the second flea market for today, things seem to come in bunches for me, another collapsible water bucket. This one is smaller than all the others I have at 8 inches in diameter, the others are roughly 12 inches in diameter. This also has an inner liner which can be pulled out but not detached from the remainder of the bucket. Markings are faded off of this but due to the color probably 1943 or earlier.









A few tables from the bucket was a US lock, American Lock Company with a pair of keys for $3. Can't even buy a new one for that. Not sure what era it is but suspect I would consider it modern, younger than me.





On the way home one of the antique shops opened early and found this M1 Machine Gun cleaning rod kit:











I figured that was it for the day. I've started going to church again as we have a new minister and I'm giving him a fair chance. Mixed feelings at the moment but his sermons are a lot better than the last guys. Asked the wife what she wanted to do and of course she said she wanted to go to the discount box club store we belong to and I hate going to because I'm done in 5 minutes and her one item turns into a full cart. She wanted pizza crusts, ONE ITEM (LOL). I argued that it isn't worth the drive (half hour) for one item but there are antique co-ops just 15 minutes further so we went to two of them. I found a few expensive items at the first and a PRC-25 antenna bag that I thought about but decided I didn't need. Messed with these a lot in ROTC, my units didn't have them so none while in service. It did bring back some memories of late night compass courses in the woods. Went to the second and not a lot there this time but another PRC-25 antenna bag in better condition with its nomenclature markings visible for a lot less plus this place gives me a military discount so it amounted to $11 for a few memories.







Then it was off to the box store where surprise, I was done in 5 minutes, her one item turned into a full cart. We are having homemade pizza for supper however so all is good.

[browningautorifle]

collapsible water bucket.

We called those rope bags

Yesterday's "tool bag" turned out to be a lower pack

I've had one of those since 1977 and thought it was a medic's bag. Bought down on first st Seattle...