Leveriffic

A couple of weeks back we had a power surge at our house.  Nothing seemed to be affected with the exception of both of our alarm clocks in our bedroom.  The odd thing was, on one the radio worked, but would not display time, the other would display time, but the radio didn't work.

Coincidentally, while out garage saling with my wife the following Saturday, she spied this 1959 RCA Victor Levermatic AM Radio/Alarm Clock.  It's a model C1E.

Great Balls of Popcorn!

You thought I was done? Not quite yet.

I thought I'd share this traditional Halloween treat with you.  Popcorn Balls. I'm old enough to remember when old ladies would hand these out as treats in your Trick or Treat bag.

Gurley Jack O' Lantern

I've posted quite a few Gurley candles (not "Girly", the Gurley Novelty company of Buffalo, New York) over the years here at the blog, the vast majority of them being Halloween-themed.

I haven't come across this one before.

Milling About

Another find at the Saxon Manor subdivision sale yesterday was this box of Missouri Sales Tax Mills.

The Satellite Motel -- Oddly Shaped and Magically Fingered

This is the first of a group of post cards I found at a garage sale last weekend and features the Satellite Motel (Turn Left) of Omaha, Nebraska.

Hotpoint

For years, I have driven past a house on my way home from work that I have entertained (if only wishfully) I would some day own. It's located in an old neighborhood (turn of the last century) of homes called "Webster Park" in Webster Groves, one of the earliest suburbs in the St. Louis area. Despite being an upscale (read expensive) area, the amount of repair on the home gave me a glimmer of hope it would be affordable when it did come on the market.  Seeing this picture on the estatesales.net listing gave me hope that it would soon be for sale.

Okay, I admit it, I have a problem...

I guess it's more of an addiction than a problem, or possibly an addiction that results in problems. I can't resist toasters. Particularly chrome ones. I can't pass up a chrome toaster at a garage sale. Most homes only need one, but I have several. I came home with another one Saturday. One almost exactly like another I already have.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary, How Does Your Toaster Toast?

I found this 4-slot "Mary Proctor" model P21601 toaster in the basement of a home this morning.  It was pretty dusty, but I could see the chrome underneath was in good condition.  It cleaned up nicely.

Slip Sliding

Here in St. Louis, we've been living with snow on the ground and streets for the past month and a half and it just keeps coming and won't go away.  By this point, the joy of it is long gone.  But these pictures I came across reminded me that after the summer's heat, snow will once again be welcome.  These were among the same slides I previously published here and date from 1969.

I love how these were taken in succession and tell a story.

  The dreaded down-the-back-of-the-coat-collar surprise attack. A classic.

The chase is on.

 Sweet, deadly revenge.

It was a Dark and Stormy Night...

Actually, it was a bright and sunny morning when I left for garage saling today. The horrible 2-month heat wave has broken (although it hinted at it again this afternoon). It was in the 60's when I headed out.

As previously detailed, I came across a stash of 50's pulp detective novels at a garage sale today. I've never been a mystery fan (unless you count Scooby Doo), but I do love the covers and titles of these books.

There was Ellery Queen:

The Happy Home Maker

I'm always amazed at estate sales by what homeowners chose to hang onto for years.  These days our junk mail goes straight to the trash, but somebody felt this flyer from Grasso Bros. LP Gas was worth saving.  LP Gas, better known these days as simply propane, was the only option in rural areas before natural gas and possibly even electric was available.

What was on TV January 3rd through 9th, 1981

We once again leap 10 years forward from our last TV Guide issue to the glorious golden age of television of my childhood.  Yes, I'm talking about the 1980's.  1981 to be exact.  Let's proceed.

Frozen

I picked up this Panasonic model RD-7433 at an estate sale for $3 a few years ago.  I tested it and found the turntable didn't work, but I thought I could tinker with it and get it going.  I liked the size of it and wanted to use it in my re-purposed mid century stereo console.

 It's probably from the late '60's and is made in Japan.