The Hunt for Matchbook Monday. Why do today what you can avoid til tomorrow? Once, just once, I considered trying French dressing -until I read this recipe. First, I can’t get this visual of someone making this while balancing a cigarette ash over the pot out of my mind. Second, any claim that this will last “indefinitely” in the icebox hasn’t seen my walk-up ‘fridge. Now, if you made the dressing with peaches, well you might have something there. #found #foodie #recipes #hunts #matchbook #vintagematchbook #foundastory #urbanarcheology #estatesalefinds

The Hunt for Matchbook Monday. Why do today what you can avoid til tomorrow? Once, just once, I considered trying French dressing -until I read this recipe. First, I can’t get this visual of someone making this while balancing a cigarette ash over the pot out of my mind. Second, any claim that this will last “indefinitely” in the icebox hasn’t seen my walk-up ‘fridge. Now, if you made the dressing with peaches, well you might have something there. #foodie #recipes #hunts #matchbook #vintagematchbook #foundastory #urbanarcheology #estatesalefinds

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Body shaming isn’t anything new - even before we were judging others at the gym there was another guilty party going at it. As you can see these instruments are parading this poor tuba around making light of the obvious size of his brass. If you ask me it’s probably the work of number 3 in line - “Sexy the Saxophone” Actually, this represents a typical dilemma for me at estate sales. This record likely has some resale potential and I could realize it. However, I can’t see turning around a single item which might 3-5$ and then selling it for $15 or $20. It’s likely that if I haggled successfully it would sit in a pile in my house for me to appreciate it whenever. I really didn’t want to pass this up but if I don’t show some restraint my garage could end up looking rather....Tubby. #found #records #vintagevinyl #childrensrecords #recordcollecting #vinyl #humor #tubbythetuba #stopbodyshaming #estatesalefinds #foundastory #urbanarcheology

Body shaming isn’t anything new - even before we were judging others at the gym there was another guilty party going at it. As you can see these instruments are parading this poor tuba around making light of the obvious size of his brass. If you ask me it’s probably the work of number 3 in line - “Sexy the Saxophone” Actually, this represents a typical dilemma for me at estate sales. This record likely has some resale potential and I could realize it. However, I can’t see turning around a single item which might 3-5$ and then selling it for $15 or $20. It’s likely that if I haggled successfully it would sit in a pile in my house for me to appreciate it whenever. I really didn’t want to pass this up but if I don’t show some restraint my garage could end up looking rather....Tubby. #records #vintagevinyl #childrensrecords #recordcollecting #vinyl #humor #tubbythetuba #stopbodyshaming #estatesalefinds #foundastory #urbanarcheology

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Who needs a smart phone to look up useless information when you can have Conklin’s Vest-Pocket Argument Settler? It’s fascinating to see what we’re the nuggets of information one needed to know to avoid an impolite confrontation. This gem came to me at a preview estate sale in Danbury CT conducted by my friend Justin of Just In Antiques. It’s also happening Saturday - leave a comment if you want the address. This goes under books I buy for the title alone. The joy is flipping through the pages for the proper etiquette at the table - “Don’t nite fruit at the table. Use a silver paring knife to remover the skin and cut the fruit in bite sized sections” or maybe you need to know when Washington died. “The last hour of the last day of the last month of the last year of the century.” Clearly smarter than the average smart phone - now you can be too! #found #rarebooks #vintagebooks #bookcollecting #argument #estatesalefinds #foundastory #urbanarcheology

Who needs a smart phone to look up useless information when you can have Conklin’s Vest-Pocket Argument Settler? It’s fascinating to see what we’re the nuggets of information one needed to know to avoid an impolite confrontation. This gem came to me at a preview estate sale in Danbury CT conducted by my friend Justin of Just In Antiques. It’s also happening Saturday - leave a comment if you want the address. This goes under books I buy for the title alone. The joy is flipping through the pages for the proper etiquette at the table - “Don’t nite fruit at the table. Use a silver paring knife to remover the skin and cut the fruit in bite sized sections” or maybe you need to know when Washington died. “The last hour of the last day of the last month of the last year of the century.” Clearly smarter than the average smart phone - now you can be too! #rarebooks #vintagebooks #bookcollecting #argument #estatesalefinds #foundastory #urbanarcheology

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So now it’s matchbook “Tuesday” In 1911, Joseph Shapiro and 4 brothers, Russian emigrants, were selling ice cream and then moved to baking cones as well. From there they added straws and matches. In 1947 Joseph outvoted 14 other executives on his board and the Maryland company added cups under the Sweetheart brand - why they were against this we don’t know - maybe their cup hadn’t runneth over yet. Joseph died in 1968 but the company was still growing to the point where in 1981, when they were purchased by the Fort Howard Paper Co. they had 33 plants and 10k employees. Sold a few more times they were bought by the Solo company in 2004 for nearly a billion dollars - a Sweetheart deal at the time the cup and container industry has fallen on hard times and even Solo has had to down size. This faded but unique matchbook is an icon of the early days of the Sweetheart cup. #found #matchbook #matchbookcollecting #collecting #sweetheart #cups #foundastory #urbanarcheology #estatesalefinds

So now it’s matchbook “Tuesday” In 1911, Joseph Shapiro and 4 brothers, Russian emigrants, were selling ice cream and then moved to baking cones as well. From there they added straws and matches. In 1947 Joseph outvoted 14 other executives on his board and the Maryland company added cups under the Sweetheart brand - why they were against this we don’t know - maybe their cup hadn’t runneth over yet. Joseph died in 1968 but the company was still growing to the point where in 1981, when they were purchased by the Fort Howard Paper Co. they had 33 plants and 10k employees. Sold a few more times they were bought by the Solo company in 2004 for nearly a billion dollars - a Sweetheart deal at the time the cup and container industry has fallen on hard times and even Solo has had to down size. This faded but unique matchbook is an icon of the early days of the Sweetheart cup. #matchbook #matchbookcollecting #collecting #sweetheart #cups #foundastory #urbanarcheology #estatesalefinds

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Got memories? Someone posted this image of their relatives from the 1930s offering a small monetary prize for the best restoration. I restored the faded image on the right to something a little more clear and won the prize. Now, as an artist who is never satisfied with his work, I couldn’t accept the reward until I offered up a colorized version as well. If you have any old/damaged photos that could use a little (or a lot) of restoration - leave me a message in the comments. #found #vintagephoto #photorestoration #foundphoto #photography #photoshop #restoration #foundastory #urbanarcheology #colorization

Got memories? Someone posted this image of their relatives from the 1930s offering a small monetary prize for the best restoration. I restored the faded image on the right to something a little more clear and won the prize. Now, as an artist who is never satisfied with his work, I couldn’t accept the reward until I offered up a colorized version as well. If you have any old/damaged photos that could use a little (or a lot) of restoration - leave me a message in the comments. #vintagephoto #photorestoration #foundphoto #photography #photoshop #restoration #foundastory #urbanarcheology #colorization

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This one page is really the keystone to understanding how many great unsung patriots have come before us. The woman who penned this could have easily been a First Lady and in addition should be honored on American currency today. Clearly, it is the silent heroes who seek no glorification and only want to set the best example - they are America and they are the ones I honor today. If I had my way everyone would know who Elizabeth Hutter was and why her simple note to her patriot brother on this date in 1876 is so very significant. #found #history #elizabethhutter #patriots #independenceday #july4th #foundastory #urbanarcheology #coolfinds

This one page is really the keystone to understanding how many great unsung patriots have come before us. The woman who penned this could have easily been a First Lady and in addition should be honored on American currency today. Clearly, it is the silent heroes who seek no glorification and only want to set the best example - they are America and they are the ones I honor today. If I had my way everyone would know who Elizabeth Hutter was and why her simple note to her patriot brother on this date in 1876 is so very significant. #history #elizabethhutter #patriots #independenceday #july4th #foundastory #urbanarcheology #coolfinds

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Happy Matchbook Monday! Long before there was a need for the Maytag Repairman - it will always be Jessie White for me - I couldn’t see Gordon Jump in any other role than “Mr Carlson” from WKRP in Cincinnati. Founded in 1893 this matchbook heralds 50 years of Maytag manufacturing history. This matchbook looks pretty good for being almost 76 years old! #found #matchbook #matchbookmonday #maytag #vintage #collectables #maytagrepairman #oldgold #estatesalefinds #foundastory #urbanarcheology

Happy Matchbook Monday! Long before there was a need for the Maytag Repairman - it will always be Jessie White for me - I couldn’t see Gordon Jump in any other role than “Mr Carlson” from WKRP in Cincinnati. Founded in 1893 this matchbook heralds 50 years of Maytag manufacturing history. This matchbook looks pretty good for being almost 76 years old! #matchbook #matchbookmonday #maytag #vintage #collectables #maytagrepairman #oldgold #estatesalefinds #foundastory #urbanarcheology

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“A loaf of Bread, A jug of Wine, and.... nothing spectacular.”

“A loaf of Bread, A jug of Wine, and.... nothing spectacular.” The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam is a classic. I have never read it, but being the oldest looking book at an estate sale guarantees I’ll give it a look. That’s what happen at an estate sale in Middlebury CT on Friday. I’m not planning to read it, though it’s probably on innumerable must-read lists. I’m interested in what’s been hidden inside. The Rubiayat did not disappoint. As you can see tucked inside was this column from Ann Landers in 1969. It’s a classic letter that would have you believe its real -however, it is far too entertaining to be a candid “Please publish this” letter. To sum it up - This wife admits that when she married her husband he was “nothing spectacular” in the looks department, but after 25 years of marriage is now a Chick Magnet. “Young or old drunk or sober” are attracted to him, and now fears she will lose him. It’s funny to try and interpret whats being said and its veracity because all my study of Fitzgerald’s work in translating Omar’s quatrains says the same. Though initially a poor seller the work caught on and became world renowned in the 19th century. Now it is mainly criticized for Fitzgerald’s seemingly bold admission that he really wasn’t sure exactly what was being said and made up his own interpretation. I’m sure Ann would probably confess a similar sin of some of her work as well. You’ll have to read and make up your own mind . For me? A loafer of a writer, too much wine and that’s all folks!

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Say “Uncle!” Found photo restoration! My passion for vintage photos and their preservation has given me experience using Photoshop. Someone posted the top photo with the request: “Can someone help me see what my uncle would look like? This half shot of him is all we have.” Challenge: accepted! With less than half an uncle to work with I was able to reconstruct him using - a nose from a close relative (far right) - a chin/teeth from the female relative- and a tie from the gentleman standing next to him. This was the response from the family who posted it: “Ahhh dude, that’s amazing! My mother’s gonna love it. He passed nine years ago, we only found the photo recently and wondered what the other half looked like! Thank you so much!!!” I’ll never know what their uncle actually looked like, but if it elicits a response like that? I’d say - close enough. #found #vintagephotos #photorestoration #urbanarcheology #foundphotos #photoshop #restoration #foundastory #familyphotos #ohotography #oldphotos

Say “Uncle!” Found photo restoration! My passion for vintage photos and their preservation has given me experience using Photoshop. Someone posted the top photo with the request: “Can someone help me see what my uncle would look like? This half shot of him is all we have.” Challenge: accepted! With less than half an uncle to work with I was able to reconstruct him using - a nose from a close relative (far right) - a chin/teeth from the female relative- and a tie from the gentleman standing next to him. This was the response from the family who posted it: “Ahhh dude, that’s amazing! My mother’s gonna love it. He passed nine years ago, we only found the photo recently and wondered what the other half looked like! Thank you so much!!!” I’ll never know what their uncle actually looked like, but if it elicits a response like that? I’d say - close enough. #vintagephotos #photorestoration #urbanarcheology #foundphotos #photoshop #restoration #foundastory #familyphotos #ohotography #oldphotos

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