Some of you may remember the auction at the Village Museum that I went to recently. Y’know, the one where I totally lost the plot and ended up buying all sorts of stuff, including the stocks, the potato digger, the large barrows and all sorts of other bits and pieces.
Along with the big pieces [that nearly caused the Third World War with hubs and I] I bought at least a hundred other items. As I love old things I thought it would be a real shame to see them end up on a scrap heap somewhere, especially as the guy who’d collected these things throughout his lifetime had loved them so much. And, they are a little piece of history.
Initially, I was so over-faced with my purchases I just piled the lot up in the garage and concentrated on painting up the bigger items that I’d put in the garden. That done, I started work on the other bits and pieces I’d bought. Oh my!!! Once I started rooting through them and looking at them properly I was amazed, it was like being in Aladdin’s cave! Treasure after treasure revealed itself!
I have NO idea what a lot of these items actually are….I began to unearth ancient watering cans, milk pails, milk urns, mooring pins, coal scuttles, melting pots, garden pumps, oil lamps, weird tools, huge ladles, toffee scales…..the list is endless. AND….all this stuff is over a hundred years old.
It was a major job getting the rust off some of these items, and my kitchen began to resemble an old scrap yard, for MONTHS!
My friends and visitors began to lay claim to one item after another….when they were all cleaned up of course!!! At this rate I’d be lucky to be left with ONE milk urn, they were very popular, them and the watering cans, and milking pails and…….well, most of the stuff actually.
FINALLY….all the items were de-rusted and blacked up. AND….believe it or not I actually got these wonderful old lamps working….and the pumps, and garden sprays. Delighted I was!
Oh yes…..I also have lots of old wooden hammers, saws, scythes….funny cans, funny squirty cans, pokey proddy tools…who knows what this stuff was used for, or what this stuff even is. I’m going to have fun finding out, because hopefully, find out I will!!
All I know is that I was falling in love with this heap of old junk! As I carefully painted each item with a base coat of black, I thought more and more about the people who used these things, and about how well made they are to last this long and still be viable. Very little is made to last these days. I also wondered about the changes that have taken place over the last hundred years…..it’s amazing once you get to dwelling on it.
FINALLY…..the items were all blacked up and moved from the scrap yard, ermmm …my kitchen, and now are all piled up under the stairs. I have no idea how I’ll manage to get a book out of that bookcase….still, looking good they are.
Oh…forgot to say, I also got a lovely pair of steel suitcases from the auction, I painted them their original colour and re-painted the names of the men who had owned them. Both were in WWI. I was amazed at the weight of these cases, just imagine having them now! How on earth did they lift them???
And finally, it’s time to start the nice bit. Decorating each item. Oh what joy! I love this bit. And here’s my very first item, an old milk urn….I’ve just begun to decorate it and can’t believe it’s the same urn that arrived all rusty and forlorn a few months ago. It’s going to turn out real pretty!
Soooooo….I’ll keep you all posted re my restoration, hopefully in a few months I should have twenty or so items to show you….AND, how lovely that the stuff that old guy collected throughout his lifetime is now being restored, and admired….and hopefully, even used again. Smashin it is!
What a wonderful post: I love treasure-hunting and it sure likes you hit the jackpot! How beautifully you’ve restored and begun to decorate these! I’m trying to de-rust a few old sleds and it’s taking me forever…just using steel wool and elbow grease, so let me know, please, if there’s an easier way to do it! Thank you for the joyful gift this post has provided!
Ahh, thanks Catherine. I’m beginning to think I have hit the jackpot. I’m just about to start decorating a pair of toffee scales.
Your sleds sound lovely, maybe you could post a pic when you’ve finished them?
I’m afraid it’s as you say, de-rusting is a case of elbow grease. I use steel wool too, also coarse sandpaper and sometime broken glass but that can be tricksy and lead to a cut or two. Sometimes if the rust is flat and smooth I just scrub with turps then paint over with railing paint diluted with turps. Several thin coats covers really well. Lots of paint these days actually paints over rusted items…..xxxxx
A real labour of love. I am constantly wondering how you find the time to do all the things that you do. When do you sleep ? You seem to pack 36 hours into each day. Well done. What a satisfying endeavour xxx
Lol, sometimes Kegs it’ feels like there are 36 hours in a day. I just do a little at a time and it’s surprising how quickly they get done. Getting the rust off is the hardest bit and a real dirty job too. This is the nice part now. Hopefull I’ll have a few finished by Christmas.xxxxx
Wow, what a wonderful amazing haul! I laughed about averting World War III ~ you have been very busy making a big difference:)
Thank you for bringing the email submission link (or lack thereof) to my attention 🙂 I think I’ve fixed it now.
Lol, thanks Glo. I am beginning to enjoy my little project.xxxxx
What an interesting collection of treasures you got – I bet they’re going to look fabulous when they’re all painted up xx
Thanks Leigh-Ann. Treasures indeedy! I’m hoping I do them justice!xxxxx
Amazing stuff, what a transformation….and the painting. You are one talented person. What do you intend to do with them all when you have finished renovating them? May look out of place in that beautiful kitchen of yours!!! 🙂
Thanks Karen, I hope they all look good when I’m finished.
I think I’ll keep a few pieces and put them in the garden. I will sell some at craft fairs and my art exhibitions, hopefully all the bits and pieces will find lovely new homes. Lol, my kitchen looks better in pics than it is in real life!xxxxx
Certainly several interesting items there. I do like an oil lamp, you never know when the lights might go out.
I was really surprised at the diversity of my purchases. I love the old oil lamps and will certainly keep a few of those, as you say who knows when we’ll get a power cut.xxxxx
I love all this sort of stuff and you have done a wonderful job on restoration but at the moment I am trying to de-clutter and pare down rather than accumulate, but I would have found it hard to resist too.
Some of the pieces are lovely Elaine, especially the big old milk urns. I’m an artist so when I have exhibitions I can sell some of these pieces itoo…. I also attend lots of craft fairs so can sell some there too. I’m always trying to de-clutter but somehow interesting stuff always seems to creep back in….xxxxx
what fun! You have been working so hard! I don’t know how you find the time to do all that you do! You must be going flat out at full tilt all the time! How wonderful that you got the lamps and things working again….. and that all the things have been loved back to life….
Now I understand why you bought all those things….. Well done you…..and now I look forward to hearing what you do with it all….. ebay? or set up a shop… or your own museum… or will you keep them around in the garden or Christmas presents… the possibilities are endless but I bet you know what you plan for them all…
Keep at it! xxxx
Thanks Arose, it is good fun seeing beautiful old pieces coming to life again. I’m a busy little bee, I always have things on the go so with this project, I keep a few items out with the paints and just do bits here and there. It soon mounts up, initially I always feel totally overwhelmed though….
Hey! You have given me some great ideas there as to what to do with these things, Christmas presents….YES!!!! Hadn’t thought of that. Loving the museum idea…..mmmmmmmm…..xxxxx
What a enjoyable post. I’m not one for collecting much at all let alone on that scale but can certainly see the attraction, especially once they’ve been bought back to their former glory. xx
Thanks Flighty. They do look SO different with a coat of paint don’t they.
I will sell quite a few of these as I have no place to keep them all.xxxxx
Is that black paint you’ve used on the artefacts?
I guess hubby could have given a rough date for the Tilly Lamps, he is interested in old Primus stoves (generic term) and blowlamps of a particular size.
There are some interesting old kitchen and farm implements in the pic you have on the ones that are still have the rust and patina.
You’ve had a busy time.
I use black railing paint on all these things as it gives a good base coat. Some of them need several thin coats which tend to give a better finish.
I wish your Hubs was here, he could give me an idea of the age of some of the lamps!
I’m amazed at the diversity of these things, I think a lot are farm items, I know there is a set of sheep shearers here and weaving bits and pieces.xxxxx
Wow! Quite a Collection you have there!!! Might even be a few antiques – Mmmmm….Hubs will be pleased about the antiques I’m sure! You’ve done well, D! Hugs! :)xx
Thanks Ell, Hubs has had a change of heart now they are all scrubbed up. He rather likes the old pumps and oil lamps. xxxxx
You got so much accomplished! It really is amazing that most of the pieces you picked up are getting a second life as useful and beautiful things.
Thanks Nikki, it is lovely to see these rusty old pieces regain their former glory.xxxxx
What an amazing job you’re doing, PP!!! They look absolutely terrific (and by the way I am hugely impressed with your neat as a new pin, shiny clean and tidy kitchen in the background 😉 ) Sounds like you’re having heaps of fun in the process! Will you keep them all or try and sell some eventually?
Why thank you Gilly…..Lol, I did smile re your comments about my kitchen. I’m a little obsessed with having a clean kitchen!
I will probably sell most of these but I know it will be so hard to part with the mild urns, oil lamps and watering cans. I will probably end up keeping a fair few!xxxxx
Oh, dear aren’t they beautiful! Glad you could revive the beautiful stuff. Just like a facelift 😉 Hubs is gonna be surprised how they look now 🙂 Didn’t paint the scale in the eighth picture? Lovely piccies. 🙂 take care :)xxxx
Well spotted Vahid!!! You know, for some reason that poor set of toffee scales seem to have been constantly overlooked. I get them out to paint them, then for some strange reason it never happens. I will get around to them!xxxxx