This past weekend, my husband, oldest daughter and I went to the Treasure Hunting Flea Market at nearby Heritage Village. My daughter thought perhaps she could find some items for a low enough price that she could turn around and sell them on eBay. After all, the end of her free education (well, not exactly free, we pay taxes) is soon coming to an end, and university is not cheap. Especially if you plan on attending one that's not exactly within driving distance.
While there, we did find some goodies, and actually did buy a few. Whether or not they are worth anything...well, I'm finding out now that searching for information is almost as fun as looking at everything at the flea market!
One item I did find was a Cap'n Crunch bank. Years ago (for those too young to remember) breakfast cereal often had some cool freebies, either in the box, or fun things you could mail away for. The Cap'n Crunch bank was one. This guy was in very good shape, and I just had to have him. I found out afterward, that they have been selling for anywhere from $14 US (not in very good condition) to $50 US!!
I currently have him listed on Etsy, and will leave him for a bit, but am also considering listing him on eBay instead. Here, if I have heard correctly, I must thank those scammers on eBay who would list something for pennies with an exorbitant shipping price to avoid paying eBay their final value fee--eBay now takes their FVF on the shipping cost as well.
I also picked up a set of 4 carnival glass goblets. My daughter made me promise I would not keep these--we really don't have room in this house, but I LOVE carnival glass! I have to take pics of these and list them on Etsy, or eBay, as well.
What really caught our eye was near the end of our 'shopping'. On the ground under a large table was a box of frames. On top, a framed black and white print of a man. The original photo was vintage, you could tell from the pose, the clothes, the hair...but there was just something compelling about this man, and my daughter had to have the picture. I agreed...we hadn't fully decided, when the man behind the table quoted us a not-to-be-turned down price on the whole box which helped us make our decision.
Once home, we looked at the picture. The backing paper was brown, very dry and brittle, and glued along the back edges of the wood frame. There were the numbers '12 04' in red, and a stamp below with the name of a business (the picture is downstairs at the moment, and I'll admit I just don't feel like running down just to do an exact quote right now), Tschirhart was the name. The address was 85 Pitt St. East in Windsor. Cool, local! But, a Google map search, street view did not show us any such business, and a regular Google search showed lawyers at that address.
Which is understandable, I'm sure 'piano and player piano' businesses aren't exactly a dime a dozen nowadays.
So...how long ago did this business exist? A look at the phone number on the stamp is a very good indication. Now, phone numbers are 10 digits, you must dial the area code as well, and as long as I've been alive, we've had 7 digits for local calls. The phone number for Tschirhart's shop? 896-K
THREE digits. So far, the best I could find was this was before the mid 50's. My father is pretty sure it was much earlier.
So...way cool!
Again, I will have to take pics of this find. I am not sure if we'll wind up putting him up for sale or keeping him, but I am having fun trying to learn about him. If we do sell him, I honestly think I'll miss him.
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