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Saturday, June 29, 2019

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

#books #rarebooks #thingsfoundinbooks #rubaiyat #vitagebooks #annlanders #humor #history #estatesalefinds #middleburyct #foundastory #urbanarcheology
“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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Wednesday, June 26, 2019

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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Monday, June 24, 2019

Matchbook Monday presents: The stats of desperation. It’s easy to see when brands become so large that it becomes advantageous or even necessary to create a competitor. We see it in beer sales- feeling fat from our number one seller? Try our lite beer it’s less filling and it tastes great. They couldn’t just make their top seller different, no they had to make another product. Cigarettes were no different. Why make a cigarette everyone likes when you can come out with Cavalier. How do you detect strong in one product so that you know how to sell “Mild” in another? The makers of Camels found a way but I don’t think it worked. It wasn’t for lack of trying - the inside flap on this matchbook says it all in the oddest market groups study ever: 88% of seniors at a women’s college? ...% of pilots? ...% of tennis players at Forest Hills? ...% of golfers at Westchester clubs? ...% of nurses at leading hospitals? An interesting piece of surveying which would make this less of a matchbook and more of a full report in miniature. #found #matchbook #matchbookmonday #collecting #vintageadvertising #urbanarcheology #estatesalefinds #smoking #smokers #cigarettes


Matchbook Monday presents: The stats of desperation. It’s easy to see when brands become so large that it becomes advantageous or even necessary to create a competitor. We see it in beer sales- feeling fat from our number one seller? Try our lite beer it’s less filling and it tastes great. They couldn’t just make their top seller different, no they had to make another product. Cigarettes were no different. Why make a cigarette everyone likes when you can come out with Cavalier. How do you detect strong in one product so that you know how to sell “Mild” in another? The makers of Camels found a way but I don’t think it worked. It wasn’t for lack of trying - the inside flap on this matchbook says it all in the oddest market groups study ever: 88% of seniors at a women’s college? ...% of pilots? ...% of tennis players at Forest Hills? ...% of golfers at Westchester clubs? ...% of nurses at leading hospitals? An interesting piece of surveying which would make this less of a matchbook and more of a full report in miniature. #matchbook #matchbookmonday #collecting #vintageadvertising #urbanarcheology #estatesalefinds #smoking #smokers #cigarettes

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Monday, June 17, 2019

Matchbook Monday! Welcome to the Summertime Candy. In the early 20th century Clarence Crane was attempting to sell his chocolates year round but the warm weather was against him. Seeing the popularity of European mints he decided to improve upon the design. It seems that the timing of the loss of the Titanic and the creation of a life preserver shaped candy would be related - but it’s a wild guess on my part. Clarence didn’t see the first Pep-o-mints he made grow into the ubiquitous candy we enjoy today. He sold it not long after its creation to better marketers than he was. They repackaged and promoted Lifesavers going as far as to putting one package in every kit used by US servicemen during WWII. The idea was to remind them of home. It was sold to Wrigley in 2004 as a package with other brands for 1.5 billion. Not bad for something that started as a summertime candy that didn’t melt in the heat. #found #matchbook #matchbookmonday #lifesavers #candy #foundastory #urbanarcheology


Matchbook Monday! Welcome to the Summertime Candy. In the early 20th century Clarence Crane was attempting to sell his chocolates year round but the warm weather was against him. Seeing the popularity of European mints he decided to improve upon the design. It seems that the timing of the loss of the Titanic and the creation of a life preserver shaped candy would be related - but it’s a wild guess on my part. Clarence didn’t see the first Pep-o-mints he made grow into the ubiquitous candy we enjoy today. He sold it not long after its creation to better marketers than he was. They repackaged and promoted Lifesavers going as far as to putting one package in every kit used by US servicemen during WWII. The idea was to remind them of home. It was sold to Wrigley in 2004 as a package with other brands for 1.5 billion. Not bad for something that started as a summertime candy that didn’t melt in the heat. #matchbook #matchbookmonday #lifesavers #candy #foundastory #urbanarcheology

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Saturday, June 15, 2019

There’s a name for non-coin coins and medallions but I couldn’t for the life of me come up with it until I asked on another forum. (exonumia) This was a “desk” discovery- another great place to hunt for treasure at estate sales. The center draw is like then”junk” drawer in your kitchen a literal catch-all for the oddest things. This oversized keychain fob was in among other neat collectibles that all deserve deeper research. This duplicate is also a mystery. A cast mock-up of the 1938 coin is a random choice or was it?....and just 4 times the size. Who made these? #found #money #mystery #exonumia #buffalonickel #coins #estatesalefinds #foundastory #urbanarcheology #keyring


There’s a name for non-coin coins and medallions but I couldn’t for the life of me come up with it until I asked on another forum. (exonumia) This was a “desk” discovery- another great place to hunt for treasure at estate sales. The center draw is like then”junk” drawer in your kitchen a literal catch-all for the oddest things. This oversized keychain fob was in among other neat collectibles that all deserve deeper research. This duplicate is also a mystery. A cast mock-up of the 1938 coin is a random choice or was it?....and just 4 times the size. Who made these? #money #mystery #exonumia #buffalonickel #coins #estatesalefinds #foundastory #urbanarcheology #keyring

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Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Matchbook Monday (was 2 days ago) but I bring you this matchbook with which to light the peace pipe of forgiveness. I have always considered the elevator business to be - break-even - because Ups = Downs Otis elevator has been in the news lately due to a very large merger in Connecticut. More interesting is how Otis came to be - Elisha Graves Otis was a mechanic in Albany in the 1840s. He was employed by a factory with large machinery and knew how to maintain and install it. Assisting the installation of machines at another factory he knew the perils of hoisting heavy equipment and the danger of it breaking or coming loose. He developed a braking design to make heavy lifting safer. When he applied it to existing designs for elevators the result was skepticism. It took a public exhibition with Otis himself in a demonstration where the elevator cable was cut with the inventor inside. His system worked and the rest is history. He created a solution that lead to the expansion of elevator use and the proliferation of high rise buildings. Otis didn’t invent the elevator he invented the breaking device that would make an elevator safer. This matchbook from 1953 commemorates the 100th year of the company’s existence. Amazing how the prevalence of smoking could place this kind of spot advertising in the hands of millions so confidently. Today, it’s hard to imagine what the relationship between smoking and elevators could be. On the upside - the merger, which involves the parent company of Otis Elevator, will not result in the company leaving Connecticut. #found #Matchbook #vintage #collecting #otiselevator #matchbookmonday #estatesalefinds #foundastory #urbanarcheology


Matchbook Monday (was 2 days ago) but I bring you this matchbook with which to light the peace pipe of forgiveness. I have always considered the elevator business to be - break-even - because Ups = Downs Otis elevator has been in the news lately due to a very large merger in Connecticut. More interesting is how Otis came to be - Elisha Graves Otis was a mechanic in Albany in the 1840s. He was employed by a factory with large machinery and knew how to maintain and install it. Assisting the installation of machines at another factory he knew the perils of hoisting heavy equipment and the danger of it breaking or coming loose. He developed a braking design to make heavy lifting safer. When he applied it to existing designs for elevators the result was skepticism. It took a public exhibition with Otis himself in a demonstration where the elevator cable was cut with the inventor inside. His system worked and the rest is history. He created a solution that lead to the expansion of elevator use and the proliferation of high rise buildings. Otis didn’t invent the elevator he invented the breaking device that would make an elevator safer. This matchbook from 1953 commemorates the 100th year of the company’s existence. Amazing how the prevalence of smoking could place this kind of spot advertising in the hands of millions so confidently. Today, it’s hard to imagine what the relationship between smoking and elevators could be. On the upside - the merger, which involves the parent company of Otis Elevator, will not result in the company leaving Connecticut. #Matchbook #vintage #collecting #otiselevator #matchbookmonday #estatesalefinds #foundastory #urbanarcheology

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Sunday, June 9, 2019

It is only fitting that this 1935 ticket reads “this little bookmark commemorates your visit to NBCs Radio City studios” and that I would find it in a book. It must have been a big deal to be on this tour that year. The design of the stub allows the holder to snap it over a button and wear it during the tour as a badge. Of all the things I have found in books- this is my favorite. #found #bookmarks #thingsfoundinbools #NBCradio #ephemera vintageradio #unique #estatesalefinds #urbanarcheology #foundastory


It is only fitting that this 1935 ticket reads “this little bookmark commemorates your visit to NBCs Radio City studios” and that I would find it in a book. It must have been a big deal to be on this tour that year. The design of the stub allows the holder to snap it over a button and wear it during the tour as a badge. Of all the things I have found in books- this is my favorite. #bookmarks #thingsfoundinbools #NBCradio #ephemera vintageradio #unique #estatesalefinds #urbanarcheology #foundastory

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Friday, June 7, 2019

Photo-restoration is a professional skill, but even deep in an estate sale you can take a stab at it with your phone....to build a relationship with the seller. This image of a medium-large mansion in Virginia was pointed out to me as being “somewhere around the house under a pile of books.” Adding “it’s pretty faded.” That was all I needed to go hunting. I found the photo and the frame with glass all in a heap and quickly snapped the top image. The resulting restoration is not perfect but enough to impress the husband of the seller. The home had been part of his family’s estate several generations ago. I found what I was looking for and it didn’t cost a penny. #found #foundphoto #photorestoration #vintagephoto #oldvirginia #estatesalefinds #foundastory #urbanarcheology #frugallife


Photo-restoration is a professional skill, but even deep in an estate sale you can take a stab at it with your phone....to build a relationship with the seller. This image of a medium-large mansion in Virginia was pointed out to me as being “somewhere around the house under a pile of books.” Adding “it’s pretty faded.” That was all I needed to go hunting. I found the photo and the frame with glass all in a heap and quickly snapped the top image. The resulting restoration is not perfect but enough to impress the husband of the seller. The home had been part of his family’s estate several generations ago. I found what I was looking for and it didn’t cost a penny. #foundphoto #photorestoration #vintagephoto #oldvirginia #estatesalefinds #foundastory #urbanarcheology #frugallife

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Popeye was no "HAM" even though it would have gone good with Spinach.


I recently found myself the owner of a thick pile of Ham radio callsign cards. These fascinate me because each is a recording of a specific date, time and place...and are personalized. They are an officiating of signal received between to “Hams” to signify quality of signal and create an opportunity to network further. I like this one because if it’s use of Popeye the Sailor. I guess that these could be ordered and customized however the send wished. This one is from 1964 and sadly the sending died on 1985. Out of respect I have added this image to the memorial search site www.findagrave.com. So family members may more easily discover it.

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Thursday, June 6, 2019

A new trunk for you and your big head.

#estatesalefinds #urbanarcheology #foundastory #vintageads #19thcenturyadvertising #humor
A new trunk for you and your big head. This is an 1892 ad for a new kind of trunk with a lid that won’t break the plaster when opened flush with the wall. The inventor calls it “Common Sense” but I call it a classic. Now I’ll have to go looking for this style at the next dig.

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Monday, June 3, 2019

Happy Matchbook Monday! This late 60s early 70s matchbook has me confused. A short leap on a Monday. Rather than the gender-less turtle I remember ads tempting me to draw (or was it the sea captain?) I have never seen this one. Who is the appeal to? My own gender bias (the people used in ads are often there to emulate the very people the ad is aimed at) tells me that this is meant to encourage a female audience, but then there’s that symbol on the reverse. At a time when gender symbols for male and female were fast becoming part of pop culture it is strange to me how this modified symbol for the male gender has a useful place on this promotion. Not to mention, but I will, that the contest was just a scam to develop leads for an overpriced correspondence course. No matter, I love it for all its faults. I’ll be entering to win today! Wish me luck. #found #matchbookmonday #matchbook #vintageads #collectibles #foundastory #genderbias #drawme #scams #contests #urbanarcheology


Happy Matchbook Monday! This late 60s early 70s matchbook has me confused. A short leap on a Monday. Rather than the gender-less turtle I remember ads tempting me to draw (or was it the sea captain?) I have never seen this one. Who is the appeal to? My own gender bias (the people used in ads are often there to emulate the very people the ad is aimed at) tells me that this is meant to encourage a female audience, but then there’s that symbol on the reverse. At a time when gender symbols for male and female were fast becoming part of pop culture it is strange to me how this modified symbol for the male gender has a useful place on this promotion. Not to mention, but I will, that the contest was just a scam to develop leads for an overpriced correspondence course. No matter, I love it for all its faults. I’ll be entering to win today! Wish me luck. #matchbookmonday #matchbook #vintageads #collectibles #foundastory #genderbias #drawme #scams #contests #urbanarcheology

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