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Wednesday, June 1, 2016

10 Things I Rarely Find Anymore

Recently I realized that not so long ago I found a lot of certain vintage items in the thrift stores--but these days, sightings are few and far between.

Here's some of what's on that list:

  • Pyrex casseroles--with the current collecting craze, almost any Pyrex is a rare find. Things like mugs, white divided vegetable dishes, and other plain white pieces can sometimes be found (and grabbed up) but even these are getting harder and harder to find.

  • Revere Ware stainless pots and pans. Thank goodness I bought mine while Teflon cookware was still popular and people were getting rid of the stainless! 
  • Older kitchen utensils, graniteware. I used to find them from time to time but now they're scare even at auctions.

  • Homer Laughlin dishes. Sometimes I find a few here and there, but once you could buy whole sets for a song. These, along other dinnerware from the 30's-60's, are not nearly as commonplace as they once were in the thrifts, and command a good price when they do show up. 
  • Aluminum canisters. The mid-century modern decor people love these for their kitchens. Add to this the Lincoln Beautyware canister sets, also not easily come by.
  • Crocheted doilies. I used to find baggies of them for a dollar or two; now an individual one is often priced at a dollar and up.
  • Paint-by-number paintings. You guessed it--people collect them! They're also after the old crewel embroidery pieces too that many of us made in the 60's and 70's from kits we'd order in the mail.
  • Metal lunch boxes. Scarcer than hen's teeth these days, except for the more recent, poorly made ones from China (which will one day become the collectible ones!).

  • Glassware (tumblers, juice glasses, etc) from the 50's and 60's: lots of these are being collected too, especially those with flowers or other designs on them.
  • Nice crystal stemware. I guess people were getting rid of their stemware when I started thrifting. Nowadays I find only the odd one mixed in with the dollar store stuff. (I started to type "dimestore" when I realized there's no such thing as that anymore either!)

For you non-collectors, check your cupboards. You might be sitting on a rare Pyrex casserole that you use for family dinners, or a paint-by-number by Great Aunt Gertrude that some collector out there is just dying to own. As they say, to each his/her own. I am just grateful that I put together the kitchen I wanted when the kinds of things I like were easy to find!

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.

4 comments:

  1. Interesting! I never thought about the trends of what people are selling or buying, but you must really have your finger on the pulse!
    Since I was about 17, I've always cooked in Pyrex; it's about all I use. Some is the blue-ish kind with removeable handles - I think from the 50s - but most is either clear or the golden-yellow color. I use it every day, and about cried when I broke my large Pyrex saucepan - I've got two smaller sizes, but this was the big one I used when I didn't need the kettle-sized one. Like you say, it's hard to find pieces now, and I've never seen that size pot before or since. But I'll keep looking! And I kept the unbroken lid, of course.
    You reminded me that I have a set of Pyrex bowls from my parents' house I ought to put on eBay because they are just sitting in a box...I always use the same old clear Pyrex bowls I've had forever.

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  2. People used to collect this stuff because it was a) more beautiful than anything made today and b) better made and longer lasting. Somewhere they seem to have lost sight of these facts and collect anything. I did a painting-by-numbers when I was about 7 years old, but I think I realised that it was a bad concept even then.

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  3. I think we all need to get rid of the teflon and use stainless steel or cast iron. I have a large lot of tumblers from my grandmother. Lovely glassware that I display. I also love Fire King blue Charm luncheon sets and mixing bowls.

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  4. I love enamel pans! But people are collecting painting by numbers? Really? Gosh...

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