These are weird second-hand finds that just need to be shared (the Facebook Group). It’s an awesome place to visit.
by Lynn Mandaville
I’m sure it began innocently enough. Somebody, shopping a local thrift store somewhere in these fine United States, stumbled across an oddity he couldn’t explain. Maybe it was a piece of odd taxidermy involving two different species (think Jack-a-Lope), or a piece of art done by a high school student for an exercise in surrealism.
This somebody was so taken by his discovery that he bought it and took it home. And he became so much more enamored by it that he decided to share it on Facebook with his friends.
Friends were so amused that they shared photos of some of the rare and strange things they had acquired over the years from thrift shops.
I assume that it was out of such a scenario that was born the Facebook group Weird Secondhand Finds That Just Need To Be Shared.
When I stumbled on this group about a year and a half ago it had about 300 members. And I was hooked on the variety of odd and wondrous things, so I joined the group.
Most of the items that get posted come from Goodwill stores, but a lot come from flea markets (indoor and outdoor) and those antique stores with multiple booths rented by multiple vendors. Some are also acquired at garage, yard and estate sales.
Over that past 12 or so months the membership of this group, who call themselves, affectionately, “Weirdlings,” has grown to 1,061,709! And these people come from all over the globe. All over.
This group isn’t for the faint of heart.
People have shared photos of various, formerly-living things in jars, all manner of very creepy dolls, death masks attached to teddy bear bodies, old abandoned family pictures, and hand-made ceramic turtle tchotchkes with male and female genitalia carved into their undersides.
Of late, there has been a spate of 1970s vintage clothing, particularly jumpsuits. I have also seen men’s suits made of “specialty” prints (think David S Pumpkin from SNL), with sports logos, food items (jalapeno peppers) and reproductive cells.
Garden ornaments, manatee and dolphin mail-box stands, vintage prom dresses, unopened boxes of Alka-Selzer and Jell-O – these are among the things I have seen posted.
People have not necessarily bought these items. They will just take pictures and post them, and they do pose for selfies in the clothing they try on for giggles, to our collective amusement.
Many of the items shared are off-color. There have been more than a few devices from the early 20th century that, although touted to relieve anxiety in ladies, are nothing more than primitive, electronic genital stimulators. There are also related devices for gentlemen.
You might remember a piece I wrote a while ago about paint-by-number artwork. I posted a question to this group about PBN pictures, and was amazed at the number of responses I got from die-hard collectors who prowl secondhand shops for these items. And within days of my post, a member of the Weird group created a related group devoted strictly to art found in secondhand shops. You would be amazed at the scope and levels of talent displayed there. You would also be amazed at the number of pieces from renowned artists that crop up from time to time, like sketches by the likes of Dali or Miro.
It’s impossible to list all the marvels that this group unearths. The items range from the ridiculous to the sublime. Some are disturbing, some are inspiring, some are ridiculous, and some are so appealing one wishes she were the one to find them!
Some people admit to being the proud new owners of said delights, others merely take pictures to share with this strange online community. Group members represent all layers of society, all classes, all educational levels. What they have in common is interest in the unusual aspects of human materialism.
What they also seem to share is a great desire to escape the daily grind of political disappointment. Not just in the USA, but from the UK and Australia, and other foreign soils. They turn to Weird Finds for a diversion from reality-weird to the serendipity weird of secondhand stores.
And on a bittersweet note, this web site has become a balm of sorts for people who suffer grief and depression. It’s not unusual to see a post a couple of times a week from: a parent who has recently lost a child, a suicidal person saved another day by the silliness, someone who has lost a job and is despondent. Any manifestation of inner turmoil can be found here, finding solace in those things that some manufacturer out there believed we’d be suckers and buy. The things we DID buy, on impulse or for gag gifts, that were discarded only to find new life in their ridiculousness.
Need a dose of something weirder than what is in our daily news? A dose of something sure to get your puzzler puzzling until it gets sore?
Take a detour to Weird Secondhand Finds. I guarantee a long, strange trip.
Things found at thrift shops, flea markets, garage sales, etc.: I found a ladies fur coat, in fair condition, which fit me perfectly and looked pretty snazzy with the addition of some faux brass buttons. It was the darkest brown, knee length, quite suitable for a bulky guy. A friend bought an ornate pipe for next to nothing because it had a very restricted draw. He took it apart, and found the airflow was impeded by the insertion of a foil wrapped chunk of very good hashish. The pipe worked perfectly once the little surprise was removed, and we found by smoking the hash. I had a nice collection of tennis racquets with wood frames. Living in what was once known as the Furniture City, we found a lot of excellent used tables, chairs, dressers, and buffets at the thrift stores. I bought a beautiful dresser for $25, used it for 30+ years, and sold it to an antique store for $250 when we moved. That was the exception; most of what we didn’t take with us, we donated to St. Vincent DePaul Thrift Store, on South Division on the east side of the road, just south of Hall. There is still good stuff out there in garage sales, flea markets, and thrift shops.
Basura, isn’t it amazing the treasures we can find? Our treasures are numerous. Like your big score on the dresser, I found a lovely collectible Enri Swiss music box for 75 cents, value more than $100 if I chose to sell it. But most are unremarkable except to us. Recently my son and I are cannibalizing highly distressed pieces to make upcycled furniture for sale. It’s more fun than lucrative, but it keeps us off the streets!
Divine Ms. M:
Upcyling furniture sounds like a worthy endeavor, and fun too. We have too much in the landfills already, so they won’t miss the stuff. And some folks may end up with serviceable pieces. Reusing is even better than recycling.
Mr. Basura,
Who would have “thunk” you would smoke hash? I’m shocked, SHOCKED!
I once looked at a Playboy magazine foldout, too. I’d only borrowed the mag to read the articles.