Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Boxed up

This is the "greatest find ever" I was hinting at yesterday.  I got it at what was billed as an estate sale, but was really an antique mall vendor dumping her wares.



They're old ticket boxes from Churchill Downs that the clerks would use to organize the payouts and such.  Each slot is numbered for use with each of the days races.  They're all worn and patinaed and wonderful.  The smaller black one on top is missing the slots inside, but it has the addition of the hardware to hold the key for the lock.  Not a very good security system, it seems to me.

Of course, nowadays, all that stuff is done with computers.  No need for awesome boxes.

Aren't they cool?

I asked the woman how much they were and she said they were 20 each (!) but she'll go to ten each if I got more than one.  Something possessed me at that moment, and I asked what she would do for all of them.  We go back and forth a bit and finally settle on a number that makes us both happy.  It was a good deal to be sure, but I'm used to walking away with a whole lot more stuff when I pay that much.

Part of me is going "What a great find!" but another part is saying "What have I done?'  I try to never second guess myself when I buy, but I also feel like I'm starting to play at a higher level than I've been doing.    I just don't want to get too full of myself and make a mistake.

Still, Derby time is the right time of year to have something like this for sale.  I need to get these puppies on Craigslist.

What do you think?  Did I do good?  Or am I going to lose my shirt?

9 comments:

Otter Mom said...

Those boxes are awesome. I would think that they would be pretty highly collectible, especially in the area you are in.

Tina-Marie said...

I LOVE, LOVE the boxes! I REALLY want one because I am a huge racing fan. Is there anyway to purchase one and pay the shipping? I know it is heavy, but I truly love it. You DID GREAT!! Can you email me...thamilton@ycsd.york.va.us

Donna Wilkes said...

These are major winners, Eddie! At $10 each they were steals - mark'em high and good luck with making a killing.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Eddie, I think they are super awesome and really unique! I would think they would sell well and you should make some $$!! Great pickin!

Linda

Roger Owen Green said...

I think it's not your traditional market, but you could do well with the right buyer(s).

Joy@aVintageGreen said...

You did REALLY good. Now to let the right customers know. They would be great even without the history that goes with them.
Joy

Shara said...

I am flipping over here like you said! Those are freaking fantastic!!!!!! Make a sign for them in the booth (if they go there) explaining what they are and put a fat price on them. I have bought things straight out of the U of A and if you explain where it came from, people will pay crazy money. When they rebuilt the new football stadium, I came across a dozen hard hats with the Razorback on them and something about the new stadium. I sold those suckers for $75-$100 each! good luck - these are so neat!

laurie -magpie ethel said...

Awesome. Great history behind them and at $10 you will surely make some money on them. Great find!

Lorraine said...

So cool! It's hard to tell in the photo how big they are, but they look like they might fit into a USPS flat rate box. Maybe the large long size. I think it's about $17 to ship. They'd probably sell well on ebay or etsy but I know that's not your thing.