I’ve grown to be pretty mechanical in my buying and selling of vintage merchandise; I’ll make a swift walk in, assess the situation, narrow in on what catches my eye, acquire it, get the pictures completed, list it, and stockpile it in the many places around the apartment or in storage.
Also thanks to this blog and the painful art of listing, my knack for some creative writing is slowly returning. Listing on Etsy has become a cinch, and lately I’ll have an entire post in my head as early as walking up to check the price tag on something. This whole process just happened this past Saturday at a church flea market in Lyons when I spotted this 1950’s-60’s typewriter.
“Mid-Century typewriter- excellent condition. Only $5, would be an easy flip.”
Then I saw the “Made in Bulgaria”, which gave me all I needed for my ridiculous one-liners that have been accompanying my Etsy listings. “1950’s Bulgaria. Commies. The perfect typewriter to hole up in your attic and write some subversive literature- Yeah that’ll work. Easy $40 or more”
Then at home while taking measurements, weight, and checking for any flaws worth mentioning I came across this sheet of paper located in the convenient paper slot inside the typewriter case . (ink is faint, click to super size!)
Then this.
“Oh man Laura Neumann you communist SOB.”
Then. Vintage Euphoria.
Occasionally an item itself will floor you, but often it’s the weird things; the receipts, to do lists, the notes to themselves or their children. While you would never purchase these little things themselves, when found become far more valuable than the purchase or even the resale value of the item. The things they would never want anyone, especially the FBI, to see.
This is why I go through other peoples crap on my free time. Priceless.
Now is the time for for all good men to come to the aid of their party.
Now is the time for for all good men to come to the aid of their party.
Now is the time for for all good men to come to the aid of their party.
UPDATE!!!: Well it turns out the phrase above was a popular typing phrase alongside “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”. It originated in 1867 in some podunk town in Wisconsin. Still interesting...and...Laura Neumann is still a communist SOB.
Jayson and I had just got off the phone discussing trying to push the blog into something useful for our readers and not just Etsy shop nonsense when this wonderful idea popped into my head: lets have the readers pick my next item title.
What a more perfect item and LOL funny then this vintage Schlitz beer pitcher. Let the voting BEGIN!
What should be the title for my next Etsy listing?
You're probably full of Schlitz (72%, 13 Votes)
I was up all night with the Schlitz (17%, 3 Votes)
Whenever I head into the kids room and grab some toys my oldest gets suspicious because I may or may not have sold a couple of her Fisher-Price toys at some point. I mean, who’s keeping track of all these toys?
Today her and her sister picked the lock on their door (j/k) and came out wondering what I was doing with her computer and dolly. Only props my dear…so far.
A bit of a picture overload but if you have a beating heart in your chest you’ll find one you just love. I think I might include one with Lucy (the youngest) in the Etsy listing, if all goes over well this might be the beginning of some sort of Etsy stage-parenting disaster.
There will be additional posts on lessons learned about the business/logistical side, but here are a few things I will by no means do again:
Attend a party the night before with an open bar.
Go to bed late.
Uh, not eat breakfast.
Not have my morning coffee.
Not eat lunch.
Not sit down all day.
Cut my finger open.
Not even 30mins later get my finger stuck in a folding shelf.
You couldn’t tell from my rough exhausted exterior (pretty much all my fault) but really nothing but butterflies and sunshine inside. Two thumbs up to Katherine and Libby.
Whenever I notice items labeled "primitive" I chuckle, because often it just means busted, and more costly than a tad newer, working, vintage/antique pieces. The primitives’ category also consists of plenty of decor, which (you couldn't tell from our existing overcrowded living space) I'm more and more leaning towards the direction of wholly useless.
Primitive furniture on the other hand I've become smitten and awash with love. So am I saying I want a house minimally decorated with each room centered on a gnarly, rustic, my-entire-brood-couldn't-destroy-it, piece of wooden awesomeness? Yes. Yes I am, that and rows and rows of Globe-Wernicke bookcases. (My wife will never let this happen)
These objects are very pricey if you're a sucker and purchase from a dealer (I'm not and I won't) and rare to come by in these parts (Chi-town). Also and a BIG also, I'm split on the issue of spending money on distressed pieces of furnishings all together!
Isn't some of the fun watching your furniture going from new (always a little used in my case) to charmingly beat up? Particularly the family man that I am, when my kids are on their own and I sit those final years on deaths door, wouldn't furniture covered with 20+ yrs of damage I told my wiener kids never to do my stuff just warm my old saggy gray heart?
So what is the point of the blog post? I think a to-do list is in order.
Keep going to sales/junk stores/alleyways, maybe, just maybe.
Take a trip down south with a van?
Seriously consider begin investing in space (purchase of my own Chicago bungalow is in the works) and tools to make my own damn furniture.
Does anyone know of a blog about this kind of stuff?
Oh and duh, the whole reason I started this post was because I found this chair last week, worst-blogger-ever. $15 yo.
As of right now I am the only person to have any items tagged as "machine porn" in Etsy. Maybe the only person ever to have used that tag, which may in the end, be one of my life's better accomplishments. So here's to blog traffic going up for having porn in the title! Welcome perverts.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them,
“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,
“Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”
And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.
And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Whenever I see these I laugh, I mean what weirdo decided it was cruel to wipe a babies butt with a cold wipe? Poor Sally and Johnny will never reach their life's full potential because of the trauma of being wiped with cold wipes! How about the trauma to the parents of cleaning pee and crap for two years.(hopefully only two years) What. A. Joke. Anything for a buck I guess.
But if you must, and you're convinced warmer wipes will put your lil" Sally or Johnny in an Ivy League, keep their marriage strong 20 years from now, and help them deal with stress. Go vintage! Throw those wipes on the radiator and shazaam!! You got hot wipes. Sometimes really hot wipes.
Yeah with the amount of goofy stuff out there right now for parents I'm making this a part 1.
For as long as I can remember I wanted a bungalow and Lord willing I may soon get one.
Tami and I are on our third child and will soon be breaking laws about amount of persons allowed in one bedroom apartments. With the housing market as pathetic as it is, the misery of others will be one of our greatest blessings.
We've been looking in Berwyn which has the highest concentration of bungalows anywhere in the world.
One of the first orders of business after purchasing a house will be making sure my family is safe when I'm away each day. Let me translate that for us Chicagoans, "packing some mutha-ucking heat".
Really probably not one of my first orders of business but I needed something to segue this video:
This past summer Jayson and I took our familys to Jayson's family farm for a couple days of marksmanship, beers, no cellphone reception, and complete total relaxation. I took many pictures of the farm, which came into his family in 1863 during the height of the American Civil War. I always thought it would be quite cool to add some age into the pictures to match the history of the location.
Here is my first try. It's no Civil War era pic but maybe 1960's.
I was born in '85, so I wasn't "there" man, but the Bulls heyday which I was here for is not quite vintage, nonetheless!! witness the pounding Chicago's defense dealt out to cheesy metal.
Alright then, let's take a look-see. Old school trucker cap $5 For 3 bucks who doesn't want to be a top 100 operator. Every guy needs a small collection of lumberjack flannels. $11 Nothing gets me more riled up about the cold front coming in than knowing I can wear my vintage outdoor vest everyday till spring comes around. Keeps that ol' middle area warm, makes ya look tough, and provides to huge front pockets for all your goods. $10
One pair of black jeans. Keep it simple stupid. $30 So it says Larry on it?? Just stay south of Diversey and west of Damen and nobody will get the wrong idea. unless........$5 In high school I wore some Chucks, wool socks, and plastic bags on my feet and I kid you not, a warmer combination you couldn't find in $200 boots. $8 Sorry no Chucks. These boots won't set you back a bit, coming in a $20. Hand stitched to perfection.
If you're not keeping track we are at $92. Shockingly I could not find any used, vintage underwear. I mean who wouldn't want some nicely worn in........anyways. Well I found a pattern for boxers that will bring us in for a quiet landing on $100. Get the wife to whip up some of these badboys and you're good to go. peace.
Welcome the first of many installments called, "Story Time With Morgan". I will briefly read a seemingly random excerpt from a manly vintage or antique book in a deep, calming, fatherly voice.
We start off with a well known classic, "Training the Hunting Dog for the Field and Field Trials." by B. Waters. Published in 1908. He is also the author of "Modern Training" and "Fetch and Carry".
"Dogs, fighting in packs, perform at their best in securing their prey. Two dogs, fighting conjointly, making common cause against an animal, are relatively far more destructive than they are fighting singly, for while one engages the enemy in front the other has a comparatively unhindered opportunity to bite and maim the rear. Several dogs in a pack therefore are exceedingly formidable when battling against other animals. They time and direct their efforts most intelligently in support and in defense of each other.
In the concerted action of all in the attack on a large animal, each may perform quite a distinct part, yet all their efforts are directed to the attainment of the same end. Some may engage the animal in a sham attack in front while others, behind, hamstring it, or tear its flanks. Turn as it may, the attack is incessantly maintained, and every vulnerable point is seized and injured till the animal weakens. At the proper juncture the pack closes in on it and then the end soon comes."
While I think nobody wishes for the uninformed, big tobacco, heyday of yester-year....that's actually a myth..but lets run with it anyway, we can all agree ashtrays for cigars and cigarettes before the anti-smoking craze oozed coolness. Take a look.
The first one is from my small personal collection, it is a Viking Art Glass Orb Ashtray. It is quite valuable and I scored it at an estate sale for $2. That is not for sale.
The rest are from etsy shops(ahem... one mine). If you are shopping for antique/vintage ashtrays, etsy is the place for you. Hundreds of ashtrays for a fraction of the price you might pay at a collectors site. For $100 you can have yourself a great start of a collection. Enjoy the hunt!!
Like most lovers of metal, my first was Master of Puppets, and like most, a couple times a year it is the only album I listen to for days on end. I'm in the middle of one of those binges right now and let me tell ya its one crazy ride. At 3:15ish you will enter metal heaven. Enjoy!!
I don't know if Lou is the gentlemen in the above picture or not. Probably none of this qualifies as vintage...maybe the rock. Nonetheless!! This here is the bravest, most resourceful man on Etsy.
Pretty sweet haul and a lot more mantage then of late. Paid a little more than I would of liked, but a couple items should be a quick sale, which will make me happy. If you fancy being apart of this "quick sale" I speak of check here soon!
I haven't sold a single one yet, but I cannot resist getting more Chicago steins AND paying too much for them. rats!.....maybe they will be a hit at the Vintage Bazaar. Maybe.
Chicago did NOT get the Olympics. Oh well. Good thing I didn't purchase all those empty lots in Englewood, woulda been swell. Word around the water cooler is that Obama didn't know when to shut his mouth.
Manly Vintage - This blog is dedicated to the manly and the vintage. We want to challenge the notion that 'manly men' don't care about design, style, fashion, and taste. With a focus on emphasizing the power of vintage style and finds, we intend to discuss and categorize the creature comforts of men.
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