Flea market Finds

[Captain Shipton Bellinger]

Found this voltmeter to go with my switch

What voltmeter? I only have eyes for that switch!

[maduncle]

Found this voltmeter to go with my switch

What voltmeter? I only have eyes for that switch!

Yeah I know, that switch is all consuming!

A scantily clad steampunk siren could be holding it and we would not see him/her.

(Prove me wrong someone).

[Dr Insidious T BoneHammer]

Sheesh.... the things I have to do for you people..... I swear!!

[Calliope Hawthorn Dove]

You are so kind Professor Griffiths.  I would like to see that awsomeodometer contraption.  How does it work?

Dr.,  That volt meter and switch made me all tingly.

At the Museum of Power steam gala this Saturday past, I commented upon the size of a gauge on a steam powered water pump and was remonstrated by my companion that "It is not the size of the gauge that matters but the pressure it can get up to. "

[maduncle]

Sheesh.... the things I have to do for you people..... I swear!!

Brilliant work there - a budding young contraptor about to find out why they call them 'knife' switches.

[Captain Shipton Bellinger]

Sheesh.... the things I have to do for you people..... I swear!!

Mmmmm.... Kniiife swiiiitch.....

Brrrr! >shakes head to regain composure<

Anyway - after almost a year of  being on the look-out at car boot sales, last weekend I finally found a banker's lamp for just a few pounds. It looks very much like this:



To be sure, they're not uncommon and I could have bought one at a shop or online at any time, but I am always prepared to wait for the bargain. Now I have to rearrange my study desk so I can properly use this gorgeous piece of functional art.

Also purchased, in no particular order; a couple of ladies pendant watches, a gent's hunter-cased pocket watch (needs repair), a rifle stock (for my friend Gunner), a vintage hat brush, a vintage petrol lighter, and a FEZ! Total cost about £18.

And last but not least; keeping an eye on the ground in spaces where stalls had been and gone netted me about five yards of Raychem heatshrink tubing, over a hundred leather studs and about a dozen assorted buckles and strap runners. I'd guess that lot would cost me in excess of £60-£70 to buy new.

Not a bad weekend. 

[Professor Griffiths]

Mrs. Dove. The awesomeodometer works it measuring the awesowaves one gives off whilst being awesome. It has many gauges to register atmospheric conditions that affect the awesomewaves. I shall rebuild mine and share with you its look.

[r_is_for_rachel]

To be sure, they're not uncommon and I could have bought one at a shop or online at any time, but I am always prepared to wait for the bargain. Now I have to rearrange my study desk so I can properly use this gorgeous piece of functional art.

same here, was thinking of buying a boater hat then one popped up in a charity shop for £3.50!
nice lamp (i love lamp) btw

[Professor Griffiths]

I had a lamp just like it.

[Calliope Hawthorn Dove]

speaking of boater hat...  I just picked up a lovely vintage straw hat, but have now found that it is extremely brittle and dare not wear it.  Anyone know how to conserve the straw?

[Sulla]

speaking of boater hat...  I just picked up a lovely vintage straw hat, but have now found that it is extremely brittle and dare not wear it.  Anyone know how to conserve the straw?

I found these with a google search:

http://hartfordyorkhats.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-to-restore-your-favorite-straw-hat.html

http://www.hatshapers.com/Hat_Care.htm

http://www.hatsuk.com/hatsuk/hatsukhtml/bible/care.htm

[Calliope Hawthorn Dove]

Thank you Andy...  I shall give the steam trick a try.

[garato78]

 I call him tinman

[Captain Shipton Bellinger]

Picked up one of these at a car boot sale -

http://www.historylinksarchive.org.uk/picture/number1969.asp

Identical, and in similar condition except that the small folding rule is missing. I have absolutley no idea what I'm going to do with it, but I just couldn't bear to see it languishing on the early-morning dewy grass.

Also bought a La Crosse wireless weather station, including sensors for wind direction/speed, rainfall, pressure, temperature (int and ext), humidity (int and ext). Has a touch-screen base unit that connects to a computer, and software for logging, displaying and analysing met data. It's never been out of the box. I've been hankering for something like this for years but could never justify spending something like £150-£200 on one - I'm so happy to find this one at £5.00!!! 

[Sulla]

It needs some cleaning and I am pretty sure it no longer runs, but I got it for free.

I threw away the old wooden box it used to be attached to.  It was rotted through and had been peed on one too many times by mice me thinks.

[Baron Fritz von Stuttgen]

Well not exactly a fleamarket find but a thrift store find. I found this nice waistcoat at Goodwill this weekend. Now I only need to find a an older fashioned coat.

Cheers, Fritz

[Herbert West]

 Imagine my excitement when I found a wind up brass alarm clock at Goodwill last night for $2. bells and little hammer on top and everything.But was sorely dissapointed when I got home, opened it up and found that most of the gears were made of plastic.

Plastic gears. Whats the world coming to? Still, the outside is fine and it keeps good time. I'm hoping I can steam it up a bit.

 Also found a nice wooden silverware box for $.99. With some work I should finally be able to make it into the Miskatonic researcher case I've been planning.

[maduncle]

The epic Easter Adelaide junk shop haul (so far):

Three glass jelly moulds
One Gladstone bag
One cardboard suitcase
One hand powered bench drill
One old standard lamp
One old pitch fork
One large old birdcage
One milk bottle tray
Two old wooden drawers
Four glass Agee jars
Sixteen old wooden pegs
One pair of old leather motorcycle gauntlets
Three glass sweet bowls
One glass ink bottle

And one more day of hunting before we drive back to Melbourne

Update:

And on the last day...

One more birdcage
One urn
Several more glass jelly moulds
A bunch more old clothes pegs
A wooden stool
More player piano scrolls
Other glass kitchenware items
One old lamp

And the car was full for the drive home today!

[Maets]

Great day at the Mt Airy flea market.
Five pressure regulators and with dual gauges $5 total
4" pressure gauge $2
Two tempurature gauges $4 total
Two brass bowls $2 total
Brass pepper mill $5
Two Steel arches for bell stands $10 total
Misc other stuff
 

[Shing]

Today i went with my boyfriend to the Flea Market in Alcântara(Lisbon) and i found this beauty!
Its a marvel of vintage craftsmanship. I can only imagine how much it would have costed 40 or 50 years ago when my grandma was young, since it only cost me 5€. XD XD

Front:


Back, already being taken apart for pieces:

[Captain Jackerman]

I bought this weapon from an antique shop in stratford yesterday.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

It needs a trigger fitted and some minor steampunk additions but I am really pleased with it. I don't know what its called- anybody know?

[Astalo]

Very nice find indeed.. It's looks like an modern replica of those old wheel-lock & axe combinations what they use about 3-5 centuries ago. http://www.myarmoury.com/feature_spot_combo.html

[Lady Ashgrove]

http://www.myarmoury.com/view.html?features/pic_spot_combo62.jpg

yeash - don't you think this one is a bit "overdone"?

[Professor Griffiths]

http://www.myarmoury.com/view.html?features/pic_spot_combo62.jpg

yeash - don't you think this one is a bit "overdone"?

Depends on the circumstance.

[WillRockwell]

I was at a flea market this weekend and inquired of a watch seller if he had any broken watches, and I showed him my personal USB drive with watch gears glued to it. He brought out a bag full of little tins and watches and said it was from a watch repairman, and I could have the whole thing for $8. Here is what I got, including the tiniest gears imaginable and some unusual pegged gears (in my hand)