Uncovering Our History Through The Relics Left Behind
Posted in Equipment, Personal items, and Unusual
From where I stood, the large horseshoe-shaped item looked like one of those pillows you use to hold your head and neck comfortably on a long flight. The auctioneer/owner wasn’t sure what it was, so…
Posted in Advertising, collectibles, Equipment, and Vehicles
The thing had the shape and look of one of those parking meters that we’re constantly pumping with quarters and nickels to stave off a parking ticket. But I could see that this one was…
Posted in collectibles, Equipment, history, and Work
The machine was filthy, dusty and battered, but when I saw the plunger I knew exactly what it was. Anyone who’s seen Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner in the Looney Tunes animated series…
Posted in collectibles, Equipment, and Work
The auction house website showed photo after photo of dusty vintage and antique typewriters. I didn’t raise a brow because I’d seen plenty of them – both dusty and clean – over the years. When…
Posted in Advertising, Architecture/Buildings, Businesses, Equipment, and history
The aged envelope bore a large heading above a drawing of the Palmer Hotel in Chicago. The pronouncement would mean nothing without knowing the hotel’s history. “Only Fire-Proof House in the United States,” it blared.…
Posted in Antiques, collectibles, and Equipment
Most of the typewriters on the tables at the auction house appeared to be in good condition, bearing little of the dust I’ve seen on some that have been stored in basements for years, unseen…
Posted in collectibles, Equipment, and Vehicles
You couldn’t tell how the phone was used just by looking at it. A home phone was the first thing that came to my mind, even though it looked rather strange. The phone was in the…
Posted in Culture, Equipment, and Health & Medicine
I had washed my hands – as we all should – with soap from the dispenser and hot water in the auction-house restroom when I turned to my left and was faced with two choices:…
Posted in collectibles, Equipment, and Work
The text message from my auction buddy Janet wasn’t very encouraging to me: “You going to Briggs tomorrow?” she asked. “They have 12 vintage cookie jars and a bunch of old/rustic tools for sale. Could…
Posted in African American women, Black history, Equipment, Home, and Work
When I saw the wooden barrel in the rear yard of the auction house, I thought it was a planter, just like the ones I had at home, but much bigger and wider. As I…
