Some people love shoes. I, on the other hand, love old stuff. Ok, let’s categorize that a little nicer shall we? Vintage. I don’t know exactly what it is about these particular items, but they speak to me. Each one has a history and is just waiting to be awoken from their slumber of disuse.
I have a strange desire to track these items down and find them a place in my home…to somehow bring them back into functionality and order and appreciate them for the awesomeness they possess. In my humble opinion, stuff was just made so much better 100 years ago. People didn’t have a Wal-Mart around the corner they could run to when something broke or needed to be replaced, so it was made with a lot more care than many items are today.
Over the years my husband and I have started a collection of vintage items that we have salvaged, many from our own families, which make them all the more special to us. I thought I would share a few of our finds with you, so maybe you too can appreciate them for all their splendor!
THE TYPEWRITER
Somewhere along the lines of me dreaming of becoming a famous journalist when I was younger, I fell in love with typewriters. There’s just something wonderfully romantic about the way the keys click and clack and the ink looks on the page when you release it from the machine. I had been on the hunt for years for one that was still in good functioning order – not always the easiest to come by – trust me, I’ve seen many a delapidated typewriter. I really didn’t want to settle for one that was just for “show.” I wanted one I could use and teach my kids what life was like pre-computers. About a year ago, my husband’s grandmother was getting ready to sell her house and move into an apartment, and she wanted her grandkids to go through the basement and attic spaces and find things that they would like to keep. We found some wonderful old glass milk bottles, a few records, baseball cards…and then…I saw it. Sitting neatly on a shelf, black cover and all, a mint condition Woodstock brand typewriter. Made in Chicago, IL circa 1925, this black beauty was calling my name! Needless to say, I am now the proud owner of this piece of American history, that still types in beautiful black ink, and sits on my desk in my office as writing inspiration. I even let my kids type on it, just so that they too can hear that lovely clicky clack of the keys.
THE TELEPHONE
My vintage rotary telephone was an item that was gifted to me by my mom a few years back. She knew I was on the hunt for one to sit in my office and found it at an antique store in northern Wisconsin. I remember having one just like it as a kid growing up, at our house, pre-cordless phones. I loved the way the rotary wheel spun around with each number dialed. (I know, it’s the little things, right?) This black 1950’s model telephone came from the Shelby County Memorial Hospital, which, I believe based on the area code on the phone, was located somewhere in Illinois. I can only imagine the phone conversations had across the wires on this old phone. It is also a favorite spot for my kiddos to “call each other up” and talk! It’s so much fun listening to them.
THE RECORD PLAYER
*Sigh* This is by far, my favorite piece of history I have collected. This was another item gifted to us from my husband’s side of the family, and it is a 1940’s Webcor Melody record player in perfect working condition. My grandmother gifted me all her favorite old records as well, which happen to be a lot of my favorites too – Bing Crosby, The King Cole Trio, Peggy Lee, etc. and they sound incredible when played on this machine. There really needs to be a vinyl revival folks! LPs just project a much more honest and authentic sound than any mp3 ever could! This record player proudly sits in my musically themed office, and is enjoyed whenever I’m in a sentimental mood.
While I have many other unique vintage artifacts wandering around my home, these 3 are definitely my favorites. I hope they have inspired you to go seek out something with a bit of history and appreciate it for what it’s worth. These pieces are near and dear to my heart and it’s my goal to help them “live on” for many more years to come!
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