Featured Most amazing freebie ?

The pics of Buzz are great! And great story of how you got the money that was partly used to get him, @daveydempsey !

I can't think of any big freebies. To keep on the cash theme, when I was maybe about 13-14 years old I was walking past a local small factory and saw a cigarette pack on the ground. Appeared to be recently dropped. I've never smoked, but picked it up and found a $10 bill folded up inside the cellophane! That seemed like a large amount of money then, at that age.

And once about 10-15 years ago I wanted to buy a small world globe at a garage sale. The seller had promised it to somebody else who was supposed to come back. She took my number anyway. The person never came back. The seller was so miffed at that, she decided to give me the globe for free. Not worth much (it dates from 1970s), but it makes nice decor.

 

Years ago in my early 30's I answered an Ad in a local paper to take a look at a trundle bed and some antiques (no specifics). I was interested in the antiques. I made an appt with an elderly gentleman for five days later by landline (the cell phone and internet were not common yet). When I called to confirm appt the phone was answered with a ruckus and faint call for help. Concerned, I raced over, knocked on the door and only heard faint calls. I went to neighbors house for them to call 911. At out fear the neighbor would not answer the door (as it was a senior community). Not sure the neighbor would call 911, I went home about 5 mins way to call 911, by the time I returned the ambulance had arrived and the neighbor was giving them his info. I said a prayer..and went home. About a month later a get a call from his daughter (she got my number from the responders), that my actions saved his life, he had fallen about 24 hours before and yanked on the phone cord to answer the phone.. and he was living with her now and to come over and shop the estate. I did, when I went to pay she insisted it was all a gift for saving her dad. Nothing was priced and I was on a budget, so I only picked two pieces of early Rookwood, several really interesting pieces of bakelite jewelry- one was a compass pin and hand stitched quilt and few other things I don't remember.

 

that's pretty amazing...!!

 

That's a true antiquer in action, in the days before cell phones, and a human any old time.

 

I had a neighbor who collects ceramic flower frogs. I was at a flea market and found a Roseville Donatello one, I took a photo and texted it to her, she asked me to pick it up for her.

Fast forward 2 years, they sold their house and were having a sale. The flower frog was there so I grabbed it. She wouldn't let me pay for it. It now lives in a low Donatello bowl I have

 

Great stories!

I've gotten some prizes for peanuts, but nothing that was actually free.

 

Your lovely bottles triggered me ! Last week my mother was in her bathroom and the cabinet fell off the wall and missed her by mere inches (thank God) but everything in it and on it hit the tile floor. You ever try to clean up lamp oil off a tile floor ? its HELL ! Along with that wretched oil lamp went all her perfume bottles that I found along the years.Ive shown many on here. Some rather nice ones too. Not one survived .She cried and cried but I told her to fear not,I will build her another collection. But seeing them all shattered was rather sad .

 

Oh Johnny that is horrible!! I started to click the like button but couldn't bring myself to click on it because if it were me I would be inconsolable.

 

ya...my 'like' is just for posting the story......but I too feel sad !!

 

Its been an interesting time with dear mother. 2 falls in the past month ,1 of wich ended in the ER for hours. No broken bones or damage other than the skin tears. When it rains it pours ! Fear not,Trapper John is on the case ! I am what one could term 'medically paranoid' so I over do all care !

 

Good Son !!!

 

It's out in another thread on this site, but I have an MCM lamp that belonged to my godmother and I was allowed to pick when she passed. I've had it for 40 years.

I've never seen another one like it in person, only online in pics.

 

Ditto

 

Interesting is one word for it. Glad she's OK! (but don't tell Bercrystal about all the bottles. )

 

Oh, how sad! For both of you. I keep thinking of your mother. I hope her colleection will build again!

 

This morning Im sitting there having my coffee and I see a shadow thru the blinds, mailman putting a box on my porch. I was very confused trying to think of what I ordered and had forgotten ! Then I opened it and found a very sweet card and two wonderful perfumes from our own Peggy/Bercristal . I tell yall ,it couldnt have come at a better time. It meant so much to mother and myself. That Peggy,she's good people .

 

Now that's a good freebie!

 

Gotta love that!!

A guy from another forum sent me his childhood skateboard for the cost of shipping only. When it arrived, I almost fell over as it is a really great board!! So glad there is still some good in the world.

 

I posted about this painting a few years ago, but it fits this discussion.

Some years ago, a friend gave me a stack of worthless framed wall art from the Salvation Army Thrift Store.
At the time I had a booth in an antique mall, and he thought I might want them.

I thanked him and said that I really liked the floral oil painting. I said it might be worth something, but he didn't care, he thought it was ugly. (!)

Turned out that the artist was noted Kentucky painter Henry Lawrence Faulkner. Score!

 

Several years ago I chatted with developer who was cleaning out a house he had acquired as an estate sale. He let me go through the house and take what I could. The big score (literally pulled from the dumpster) was a teak dining set, Knudsen Andersen for JCA Jensen. Plus full credenza. All the chairs were busted. I had to rebuild all the seats. One chair had a shattered leg. Had to pay someone for that. Here’s a link to the chairs from an auction house: https://www.pamono.eu/dining-chairs-in-teak-by-knud-andersen-for-jca-jensen-1960s-set-of-4
I have had other miracle finds which were either free (off the curb), or picked up for a couple bucks at a yard sale so effectively, free. This dining set, though, felt like the universe raining down Danish love. I still look at it and think, “How did this happen?”