A very brief history of some lanterns

 
I'm not a lantern collector. In fact, I don't think I've ever bought a lantern before this weekend. But I found these in perfect condition at a sale, and I recognized the name Dietz, a manufacturer that once was located in Syracuse, and so I bought them. I could go into considerable detail about the history of the Dietz Lantern Co., but it would be kind of boring. Instead, I'll tell you about the sale where I got them. Maybe you will understand what happened better than I did.

These came from an estate sale where the son of the dearly departed was "in charge." "In charge" is in quotations because he was "in charge" only in the loosest sense of the word. He seemed, well, not exactly "baffled" because "baffled" would require more effort than he showed. Perhaps it's best to describe him as "in attendance."

So here's the first thing that confused me. There was stuff in the garage. But the house seemed like it might be open.

Me: "Is everything out in the garage?"
Man (we'll later discover everybody calls him Mikey): "Yes. Except the lawn mower."

This was confusing because clearly there was a lawn mower in the garage. But I wasn't interested in it, so I didn't take much notice.

A few minutes later, another customer: "Is everything out in the garage?"
Mikey: "Yes. Except for some dishes in the kitchen."

So of course I follow the other customer into the kitchen to look at the dishes. Which were unremarkable. What was odd, though, was that the house was full of stuff that seemed like it was for sale. By this point, Mikey had wandered in.

Me: "I don't want to overstep my bounds, but it looks like there might be some other stuff for sale. Is it OK to look around?"
Mikey: "Oh yeah, sure. Look wherever you want. I have to get rid of it all."

Meanwhile, the house was filling with an assortment of neighbors. Some of them were a little wacky.To wit:

Neighbor #1: "Who did you say died?"
Neighbor #2: "Joe Smith."
Neighbor #1: "Oh, that's right."

Two minutes later:

Neighbor #1: "Tell me again: Who died?"
Neighbor #2: "Joe Smith."
Neighbor #1: "Oh, that's right."

Meanwhile:

Neighbor #3: "Mikey! How much is the Jell-O?" (Mikey had managed to get the boxes of Jell-O out to sell.)
Mikey: "Um, I don't know. Two for a dollar?"
Neighbor #3: "Two for a dollar? It's five for a dollar at Walgreens!" (Bargaining ensues over price of Jell-O. Neighbor #3 is a feisty elderly Italian lady. Her ethnicity will become important later.)

And then:
Neighbor #1: "Who did you say died?"
Neighbor #2: "JOE SMITH. JOE SMITH DIED!"
Neighbor #4, who has just walked in: "Oh my God! Joe Smith died? Oh, that's awful!"

(Conversation about Joe (not his real name) Smith ensues.)

Meanwhile, I've found two boxes of Christmas ornaments. Even though, out in the garage, I specifically asked if there were any Christmas items and Mikey said there weren't.

And then:

Neighbor #2: "Mikey, is there anything in the cellar?"
Mikey: "No, just junk."

Moments later:
Neighbor #4: "Mikey, is there anything in the cellar?"
Mikey: "Oh, yeah. Go ahead and look around."

I go down in the cellar with Neighbor #4. Soon we hear loud voices. The little old Italian lady is having a war of words with another neighbor who, it is revealed during the course of their fight, is Sicilian. There's nothing like an estate sale to rekindle ancient ethnic rivalries! Neighbor #4 and I decide to lay low for awhile. In the meantime, I find a McCoy flower pot.

Nothing had prices on it, by the way. Not that you'd be surprised by that. I was a little worried, given that Very Expensive Jell-O, but the boxes of Christmas ornaments were two dollars, the lanterns were a dollar, and the flower pot was a dollar. I paid Mikey quickly, before he told me something else. The neighbors were still in the house. I imagined they would be there all day, Neighbor #1 asking periodically who had died, and Neighbor #3 fighting with her Sicilian enemy over long-standing grievances, and Mikey just kind of taking it all in. I was pleased with what I found, and even more pleased that I did not live in their neighborhood.

 

 

 

 

Comments

[LiLi M.]

I think you should have taken a flip camera with you, a hidden one. I cannot wait to see vimeo's on your blog!

[Mary Ann]

Oh, this makes me laugh.

[Sue]

OH ~ You MUST have been on the WEST side of MY town!! TOO Funny!

[Linda @ A La Carte]

This cracks me up. I've been so a few sales where no one knows anything about any of it and it's hard to get a price. Geesh...still you did well and I love the lanterns!

[Tina]

Now, who did you say died?

[Angie]

Oh God...thank you for the chuckles! I may reread this again and again.

[Brenda Kula]

I sure got a good laugh out of this. Who died now? Oh yeah, Joe Smith. I promise I won't ask you again. I hope 911 didn't have to be called over the ruckus.
Brenda

[Joy]

How bizarre! Sounds like an Abbott & Costello routine. LOL.

[Julie]

Joe Smith is probably spinnin in his grave (LOL) J

[Janelle]

That was awesome. :-)

[sandy]

Oh my gosh how funny, don't you just love estate sales?

[laurie magpie ethel]

I go to estate sales for three reasons. #1 to find good junk. #2 is to socialize with the regulars #3 for the entertainment value of other customers...I have see all kinds of oddballs!

[Gina at Vintage Junk in My Trunk]

What a funny story! Love it all, esp the feisty little old Italian lady whom I aspire to be one day. Glad you didn't listen to Mikey and found some Christmas treasures!