Photomatic! You learn something new everyday!

 I'm an avid flea market hunter. I'm not talking about the serious person who's trying to find that valuable treasure they can turn around and make a big profit on. No. I'm simply a hunter of cool stuff. Cute stuff. Things that just stick out to me and appeal to either my inner child or the love I have of all things vintage.
Also, I'm a flea market digger. Yes, that person digging through the junk boxes that are on the ground or under the table. So I do occasionally come upon what I think is pretty neat. This item was one of those finds.

When I first saw this item, I thought it was cool because it seemed to be sturdy and thick, and I noticed it had a tin frame. I had never seen one of these type of photos before. And the soldier's eyes seemed to look right at ME. I wonder, is he woeful, or just being a stoic soldier?

So I looked online and found that it's a photobooth picture from the late 1930's to 1940's, and this is more than likely a soldier during World War 2.

Printed on back:
Date:
Place Taken:
Taken by the Photomatic
Reg. US Pat. Off. Pat No 1665605
MADE IN U.S.A.
INTERNATIONAL MUTOSCOPE
Reel Co. Inc. New York City

Vintage Finds from the Other Day...

I was on my way to a favorite local home decor and craft store in Salylorsburg, PA called Mountain House Country Store last weekend. As I took the exit off the highway, I realized the flea market was still going on! I thought it was over for the year since it was November, but there were people and tables there! So I excitedly pulled in, actually happy that it was smaller than usual. It can be so tedious and draining after awhile when they (flea markets) are too big. I am one of those people that have to look at every little thing so it takes alot out of me. lol

Anyway, the first group of tables USED to be one of my faves, because they have so much stuff and the lady was so friendly. The stuff is really just junk, not antiques or anything, and the lady wasn't worried about what she made from it, so she wasn't out to gouge anyone. But some guy started showing up, standing next to her and getting involved with pricing, like some kind of guard dog. Then, the lady wasn't there anymore, just the guard dog.

Now the guard dog man is running the show, and he's not very friendly. Kinda gruff. No problem, whatever. I can handle gruff. But he always wants more than what I think it's worth. And I don't like to haggle with him because he just says no.

SO for $4.oo I get this:

Now, when I went up to him to find out how much it was gonna be, I was thinking in my head "$3.00." So when he said "$4.00" I just said "okay."

But then I was thinking later that I got 8 items, so that worked out to be $0.50 a piece, so that was pretty good, I guess.

See this little chicken crate?

There's another chicken inside!

(It doesn't take much to make me happy.)

Then I came across a few other items at some other tables:

This lamb is inspiration for a needle felted lamb I'd like to do...

Thought this would be cool for the craft room. It looks rusty on the outside, but the inside turns soooooo nice.

And then, there were these:

And this!

Don't know what's written on the box for this little lady...but isn't she cool!?

But the find of the day was the snail teapot. I really liked it, but the guy wanted $7.00. And I'm like "Do I really need this? Another item on a shelf?"

(I only go through this inner dialogue when the item is bigger than my hand, and more than $1.00. It's not because I'm cheap, it's because I am a borderline HOARDER and I have to at least pretend to myself that I have some sort of control.)

But he was cute and I wanted it.

Now, this photo isn't my photo, but this is the exact same teapot. I found out on the internet that it was a line of kitchenware from Enesco. "Snappy Snail." He looks cute in my kitchen. :)

Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!