I fell hard for the red vintage kitchen scale. It was sitting on a work table in an out building at a local estate sale. It was covered in dust and rust.
Red Vintage Kitchen Scale
I don't go to many estate sales. The prices are too high. This sale was by Michael Taylor Estate Sales out of Nashville and their prices are usually reasonable. Also the first day you can get a 20% discount if you know the password from the estate sale email.
I bought the iron pot which has a crack all the way across the bottom. Flower pots need holes in the bottom and it’s the perfect planter for Fall mums. I just need to clean it up first. The kitchen scale was $10, the pot was $4, and the green shaker was $4. I knew the password for the 20% discount so I got a deal.....$14.40( think I did the math correctly).
Vintage Hartman Luggage
The Hartman Luggage was a surprise find. I check the prices on these when I spot them at a flea market or antique shop. They’re usually priced over my budget. With my 20% discount I paid $21 for it which isn’t too bad. It has a few dings but nothing major.
The scale before cleaning. Pretty nasty looking.
The red top is what got me.
The top looked completely rusty but come to find out a lot of that was just dirt. I rubbed on it for a while and then soaked the top with Simple Green and let it sit.
I have a little more cleaning to do but it’s shaping up nicely.
Auction Buy
The JTS went to an auction on Saturday and came home with this $5 chest. Can’t beat that even if the top drawer front is missing. I kind of like the black and blue paint combo.
All of this other stuff came with the chest. A lot of old tools and just some junk. The round tool holder looks like metal but it’s plastic.
More tools. Does anyone know what the set is on the front left side. The JTS is cleaning it up and putting the wood holder back together. He has no idea what it is. I’ll post a pic when he gets it finished.
What do you think of our finds. Bet you’re loving the vintage red kitchen scale too. I have 3 other scales and I use them in displays. Any of you collect kitchen scales? Maybe you collect something else?
Have a great day and I’ll see you tomorrow!
Author:Â Kathy Owen (Petticoat Junktion)
Kathy is the founder of PetticoatJunktion.com, a home décor blog focused on repurposing and upcycling furniture, old hardware, rusty stuff, and thrifty finds into unique home décor. Kathy’s projects have been featured on the Home Depot Blog, Plaid Crafts, Behr Designer Series, and in numerous magazines. Read more about Kathy here.
Heather Bryant
I love your finds!! I love the scale & the red would have drawn me in too! I just want to let you know that even though I don't comment on every post, I do read them & enjoy them. You are very relatable, I feel like you are standing in front of me talking when I read them! Your demonstrations are easy to follow & thorough. The way you write about your content is in such a way that draws you in for more. I feel like I know you even though I don't. I really like the way you are down to earth, your sense of family, your working relationship with your JTS & the way you have shared your story with us. One thing I have noticed is that we have the same tastes & love for things that have been discarded. I like your style & eye for things. You are truly an inspiration to me & my start of a junk repurposing journey. I also enjoy your posts about your parents & grandparents. I know it is so hard, I can't imagine, but I think writing about it is not only therapeutic but helps others as well. It's the nostalgia that draws me to junk, the good memories that are associated with some pieces & just plain seeing the potential in others. Sorry for the long post just making up for all the ones I haven't commented on. Junk On ?
Janet Vinyard
I like your scales and your other finds were nice, too. I'd like to have some scales - if they still work - for using to measure various food items for recipes! Thanks for sharing your finds with us! Blessings, Janet
Edye
That vintage scale is such a great find, Kathy! Have a lovely week 🙂
Pam
I have a set of those green shakers which includes larger ones too. They were originally used in Hoosier cabinets is what I was told.
I just love your site. I love old rusty stuff and like to repurpose things. I have a collection of 4 rusty shovels with their handles broken off and criss-cross them in my flowergarden.
Kathy Owen
I bet that looks really cool in your flower garden. I'm so glad you like my site. I just can't resist anything rusty. Thanks for the info on the green shaker. I love green, and orange, and yellow, and red, lol.
Fonda Rush
Love your scale. I have a collection of three, and I wouldn't mind adding to it if the price were low enough! Yours looks like it cleaned up quite nicely. Good haul!
EFFIE CARROLL
I do like these scales. I have one that was my mothers and it is vintage green.
Stacey Keeling
I just bought a big kitchen scale at a weekend fair. It's the kind that sits on a counter, it's about 2 feet tall. Can't wait to give it a spot of importance when we move.
Your red scale is adorable!
Judy Alexander
Love the Red Scale-I don't collect scales, but I do have red accents in my kitchen. I have to many collections to name. The dresser would look neat with a basket in drawer space after you do your magic to the rest of it.
Naomi S.
That scale is great! I don't collect them but I do have one I got at an on-line auction that I follow. Can't remember what i paid. Couldn't have been much--I'm pretty frugal! My scale isn't as colorful as yours--it's gray, but I still like it. I keep it in a corner of my kitchen on the counter and put various things on it's top. My five-yr.-old grandsons like to put different thins on it to see how much they weigh, too.
I do have some collections. White pitchers is one thing. Wooden thread spools and baskets are others. Probably have one or two more things, but can't think of them at the moment! Oh, yes, I love vintage dishes and I have a small collection of the Brambly Hedge china. It's decorated with the illustrations from Jill Barklem's Brambly Hedge books. Stories about a community of mice that are old-fashioned and really lovely.
I will be interested in seeing what you do with the dresser with the missing drawer. I like the blue and black color combination, too. Maybe you'll keep it in some up-cycled way!
Johnnie
I'm thinking the set could be a "jig" set for making a particular item. Could be clamps, too, as someone else mentioned. Great finds.
Linda
Great buys
Laura Werley
Love your found treasures. My husband looked at the photo of the unknown tool and couldn't tell what it was, either, bet guess was some type of clamps.
I go to estate sales on the last day and typically there is a large discount and several times I have gone where it is 'fill a bag' for $5. We go because my husband finds great deals on large tools such as drill presses or table saws. And motors!
Dena
Going out on a line, here....guessing the pile of pieces is a very old license plate holder! Just guessing! Lol
Karen
I have a similar scale and love, love it. You can do a lot with them. I have a "thing" for suitcases, so you did good finding yours. Can't wait to see what you do with it.
Kirby
What great finds, Kathy!
Gracie
Wonderful finds. Love the suitcase!! Can't wait to see what you do with it!
Marsha L
I love the old kitchen scale. Wish I had one of those. They do look great in a display. The cracked iron pot will look great as a flower pot. Great finds..