As
evident by the sheer number of 'My Vintage Kitchen' posts on my blog
over the years, I LOVE vintage kitchen tools and equipment. I
regularly visit thrift stores and am constantly on the hunt for great
vintage items in both the luxury and daily use categories. I have
thrifted for regularly used items like pots and pasta makers and
specialty items such cake decorating tools. I always keep my eye open
for that specialty display item like glasses in their original
packaging or cocktail collectibles.
There
are many reasons I enjoy thrifting. I love the thrill of the hunt! I
like how cheaply one can outfit a kitchen (and in style to boot!) by
utilizing thrift stores. Thrifting suits my environmental mindset as
it keeps items that are perfectly usable from ending up in the
landfill. Most of all, thrifting for kitchenwares keeps me connected
to a lineage of strong women who cooked for themselves and their
loved ones.
Research: During
the course of your regular reading about food, take note of the style
of pan used for that traditional dessert, the full priced cost of a
copper pan, or the type of jar needed for that food project. I have
discovered several awesome deals because I knew what the thrift store
had – but they did not!
Visit
high-end vintage stores:
Visiting high-end vintage stores specializing in kitchen wares allows
you to discover the asking price of specialty kitchen wares. If the
high-end store has those measuring cups priced at $25, you will feel
vindicated in spending $1 for them at the thrift store!
Frequency: Visit
thrift stores with a certain amount of frequency to get the best
deals. The turnover on some stores is quite fierce so they may have
entirely new stock from one week to another. However, I thrift for
fun, so I tend to return when the mood strikes me and I still manage
to snag some amazing finds!
Open boxes: I
have found a few interesting tidbits by digging around in boxes. If
you truly explore the thrift store you may find things that other
thrift hunters have hidden or things that have simply fallen out of
sight. Dust covered kitchen wares offer an opportunity to practice
your haggling skills!
Original
Packaging:
I love original packaging and will purchase almost anything if it
comes in the original package. However, original packaging does not
bode well for the usefulness of the item. If the kitchen ware is 60 +
years old and has only be removed from the box once or twice? It's
unlikely to be functional, but it will be pretty!
