Another glass negative without a backstory. What to do. What to do... Merle and Karl were demolishing the old factory and the work was piling up. “Karl, I wish you’d pick up the pace.” Merle could see a 4 day contract turning into an eight day for the same pay. “Oh you think I’m going slow? Take a look in the mirror!” Karl tossed a brick hitting the already chipped mirror next to Merle and both men watched it turn instantly into a pile of shards. “Nice going karl. You not only slowed us down by four days, you just added 7 years bad luck on top of it all.” Merle stormed over to Karl, “Bad luck? You want bad luck? How ‘bout if I- “ “Boys Boys! My father figured you’d be spending more time tearing each other down than this part of the factory.” Wendy surprised them both as they froze in mid fight to watch the other reason they both fought walk through the door. “I brought your lunch pails. Are you going to fight or are you going to eat? By the way, my father’s coming in with a photographer to capture this demolition on film - so, um, look presentable.” Wendy put the pails down as her father walked in with the photographer. The picture that was finally chosen was the only one that could have worked - with Wendy standing between the combatants and promising a date with both that she would later deny, but the job was finished on time. Wendy became the company’s first fore-women due to her ingenuity with employ relations. Merle and Karl never worked together again. #found #foundphotos #vintagephotography #glassnegatives #foundastory #fiction #makebelievestories #factoryworkers #estatesalefinds #urbanarcheology

Another glass negative without a backstory. What to do. What to do... Merle and Karl were demolishing the old factory and the work was piling up. “Karl, I wish you’d pick up the pace.” Merle could see a 4 day contract turning into an eight day for the same pay. “Oh you think I’m going slow? Take a look in the mirror!” Karl tossed a brick hitting the already chipped mirror next to Merle and both men watched it turn instantly into a pile of shards. “Nice going karl. You not only slowed us down by four days, you just added 7 years bad luck on top of it all.” Merle stormed over to Karl, “Bad luck? You want bad luck? How ‘bout if I- “ “Boys Boys! My father figured you’d be spending more time tearing each other down than this part of the factory.” Wendy surprised them both as they froze in mid fight to watch the other reason they both fought walk through the door. “I brought your lunch pails. Are you going to fight or are you going to eat? By the way, my father’s coming in with a photographer to capture this demolition on film - so, um, look presentable.” Wendy put the pails down as her father walked in with the photographer. The picture that was finally chosen was the only one that could have worked - with Wendy standing between the combatants and promising a date with both that she would later deny, but the job was finished on time. Wendy became the company’s first fore-women due to her ingenuity with employ relations. Merle and Karl never worked together again. #foundphotos #vintagephotography #glassnegatives #foundastory #fiction #makebelievestories #factoryworkers #estatesalefinds #urbanarcheology

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With the launch and return of 3 rockets by SpaceX I wonder if we’ll see a return to cars designed as “rockets” to emulate the futuristic dreams of consumers. This ultra glossy card was tucked in a book at a sale I visited last month. #found #vintageauto #vintageadvertising #cars #travel #space #future #estatesalefinds #foundastory #urbanarcheology

With the launch and return of 3 rockets by SpaceX I wonder if we’ll see a return to cars designed as “rockets” to emulate the futuristic dreams of consumers. This ultra glossy card was tucked in a book at a sale I visited last month. #vintageauto #vintageadvertising #cars #travel #space #future #estatesalefinds #foundastory #urbanarcheology

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My latest talk in Kew Gardens, Queens - appearing with my backup band - The Gibson Girls. I feature this image in many of my talks and like to see the audience response to the expression on the faces of these long-ago ladies. None are smiling - and when I ask why - a good discussion follows as everyone guesses. Can you guess why? #found #publicspeaking #foundphoto #vintagephotography #gibsongirls #foundastory #urbanarcheology #queensny

My latest talk in Kew Gardens, Queens - appearing with my backup band - The Gibson Girls. I feature this image in many of my talks and like to see the audience response to the expression on the faces of these long-ago ladies. None are smiling - and when I ask why - a good discussion follows as everyone guesses. Can you guess why? #publicspeaking #foundphoto #vintagephotography #gibsongirls #foundastory #urbanarcheology #queensny

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Matchbook Monday:If your wife can’t cook... “VIRGINIA is for lovers...” used to be the state slogan. Maybe that didn’t apply to people that were also married. #found #humour #humor #matchbook #virginia #vintagecollectibles #maritalissues #foundastory #estaesalefinds

Matchbook Monday:If your wife can’t cook... “VIRGINIA is for lovers...” used to be the state slogan. Maybe that didn’t apply to people that were also married. #humour #humor #matchbook #virginia #vintagecollectibles #maritalissues #foundastory #estaesalefinds

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Which came first - the lightbulb or the lightbulb over Edison’s head when he thought up the lightbulb? #found #edison #lightbulb #invention #showerthoughts #brightideas #stampcollecting #philately #foundastory #urbanarcheology

Which came first - the lightbulb or the lightbulb over Edison’s head when he thought up the lightbulb? #edison #lightbulb #invention #showerthoughts #brightideas #stampcollecting #philately #foundastory #urbanarcheology

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Happy Tartan Day! I hope this counts - this pristine drawing is another from the log my grandfather kept while a captive of the Germans during WWI. Signed by Pete in 1917. #found #wwi #art #captivecreations #prisonerart #tartanday

Happy Tartan Day! I hope this counts - this pristine drawing is another from the log my grandfather kept while a captive of the Germans during WWI. Signed by Pete in 1917. #wwi #art #captivecreations #prisonerart #tartanday

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How much mold am I willing to endure to preserve the past? I will share the discovery of this as yet undated unidentified gem. Well, I’ll give out a hint - it’s a map likely from the 19th century. More to follow. #found #vintagemaps #newmilford #connecticut #waitforit #foundastory #estatesalefinds #urbanarcheology

How much mold am I willing to endure to preserve the past? I will share the discovery of this as yet undated unidentified gem. Well, I’ll give out a hint - it’s a map likely from the 19th century. More to follow. #vintagemaps #newmilford #connecticut #waitforit #foundastory #estatesalefinds #urbanarcheology

from Instagram

I wish I could go back in time and whisper into the photographer’s ear to “make sure your back is to the sun.” I had a talk in Bethlehem, CT last night and the audience accepted my offer to teach them how to process glass and celluloid negatives using just their smart phones. Negatives like the one you see here are easy to process - even easier if the camera person listened to my whispers. #found #vintagephotos #foundphotos #glassnegatives #diydarkroom #historyrevealed #foundastory #estatesalefinds #urbanarcheology

I wish I could go back in time and whisper into the photographer’s ear to “make sure your back is to the sun.” I had a talk in Bethlehem, CT last night and the audience accepted my offer to teach them how to process glass and celluloid negatives using just their smart phones. Negatives like the one you see here are easy to process - even easier if the camera person listened to my whispers. #vintagephotos #foundphotos #glassnegatives #diydarkroom #historyrevealed #foundastory #estatesalefinds #urbanarcheology

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A Connecticut serviceman’s contribution to the Second World War.

I am preparing this exhibit of a Connecticut serviceman’s contribution to the Second World War. I picked this up at a sale going in New Milford in which the entire contents of the home are up for sale. I’ll be presenting this as part of my presentation tonight at the Bethlehem Connecticut Public Library at 7pm.

 This is sadly too common a site where veteran’s records and personal experiences are potentially lost forever.  The family is often not in a position to take on all the possessions for the older generations. They must be sold so the family can move on.  I can't take on the full responsibility of archiving, but I can resume and restore these things so current and future generations can appreciate the life history at a time when many were required to give all.

I hope that by shining a little light on this veteran and these pieces of history visitors will see that they deserve more than just a featured spot on the auction block. Thanks (again) to Justin Krul of Just-In Antiques at the Brickhouse in New Milford, for giving me the opportunity to find and preserve this.