Autumn

Autumn

Monday, August 3, 2015

Treasure

My morning routine is simple, after I park my truck I unlock the shop door then run through my setup for the days business - which leaves the difficult task of trash. 

Every night of the year critters drive by and throw their damn empty beer bottles, fast food bags, used condoms, crumpled cigarette packs, spent shell casings (really) out their car windows onto my shop's lot. Which leaves me, plastic bag in hand, a ticked off sanitation worker.

After I've policed the grounds I normally drop the mess into two large trash containers, blue bins. Couple of weeks back I opened the lid and found a very nice old Vornado fan. It was a small unit, heavy with brass and aluminum with its original electrical cord, and at first glace seemed perfectly fine, but on closer inspection I found the fan bent just ever so slightly.

It was mine.

Back in the shop I flipped her over and wrote down the model number. Quick Google search dated the fan's manufacture date between 1955 and 1958.

I adjusted the fan blade, took a screwdriver to her six support screws, topped off her two oil wells with twenty weight and connected her to a bit of electrical juice. She hummed like the day she was born.

Someone had dropped her. The little Vornado fan now has a place in my family room. Isn't it amazing the treasure we find in unexpected places.

Stephen 





 

16 comments:

  1. A good friend of mine is slowly changing over his modern appliances to classic ones that were better built than the ones we have today. He also like to tinker with stuff, which is hard to do with plastic crap.

    I'm always picking up beer cans out of my wooded lot around the road. It's the last wooded bit before the main road so that's where they unload.

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    1. If a vintage item presents itself and if I can afford it, it's mine...you have a very intelligent friend. This world of ours is filled to the brim with Chinese junk and I hate it. Thanks, my friend.

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  2. Stephen - i am sorry that you have to clean up other people's debris every morning - that sucks! but finding treasures like your fan almost makes up for it eh?

    sending love! your friend,
    kymber

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    1. Hi, Pretty girl...yes, trash bugs me. Thank you.

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  3. I remember that brand! Back in the sixties they were sold in a store called "Two Guys From Harrison" here in Joisey!

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    1. Sadly the company was sold several years ago. Now the fans are of plastic. Thanks, my sweet friend.

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  4. I grew up in a family whose motto was "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." Dad could tinker with just about anything and get it running again, including a couple of my old, rattletrap cars. Not so any more. That was when folks still took pride in producing a quality product.

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    1. We had the same childhood as my parents taught my brothers and sisters the frugal life too. We drive or cars and trucks until the very last mile possible...then rebuild. Thanks, Sweet Lady.

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  5. Man that's awesome. My little smoking hot barefoot gardening squaw has a flare for finding and repairing antiques to use in our home. She say's the heavier something is, the better it is built. I've not been able to prove her wrong yet with old couches, old trunks, and old appliances either.

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    1. We've collected (scrounged) antiques since the day I drug my lady into the cave....I like old things. Thanks, my friend.

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  6. Replies
    1. Thank you, Sir. She keeps me cool as I write. Me, big smile.

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  7. Nice!

    There's an Art Deco fan in the window of a local antiques shop that I want want want. But not at their price. Or anything near it. Wish someone with a lack of understanding would chuck one in the garbage near me.

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  8. Nice!

    There's an Art Deco fan in the window of a local antiques shop that I want want want. But not at their price. Or anything near it. Wish someone with a lack of understanding would chuck one in the garbage near me.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Nice!

    There's an Art Deco fan in the window of a local antiques shop that I want want want. But not at their price. Or anything near it. Wish someone with a lack of understanding would chuck one in the garbage near me.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I saw a fan like that on ebay for over $100. You've a keen eye.

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