Hello, Toots!

The first day of the Vintage Home Annex is tomorrow, so I was scrambling to make sure I had enough things to sell. (If you read this blog regularly, you know I must be insane. I could never possibly run out of things to sell.) I ran to a Gooddeals and a couple of yard sales.

My favorite find of the day: a soda fountain dispenser for chocolate syrup. I filled it with water to make sure it works, and it does! The base is ceramic and marked Hygrade Hall on the bottom.

I also found a little HandyBreeze fan, an old paper puncher, wooden dovetailed paper tray, and a red metal tool tray.

And that folding ruler next to the fan has been magically transformed into a star!

Does anyone recognize these game pieces? Each tile had a plant embossed on the back. Some of the pieces say "Hot Number", along with a number between 100 and 500.  There are a few Bingo pieces thrown in there, as well.

I love these old photos and postcards, particularly the one with the seashell border that says "Souvenir from Wilmington, DE". Wilmington is located on the Delaware River, which is not exactly a beach town. The smokestacks from the Salem Nuclear Power Plant really put the kibosh on any type of beach blanket bingo.

I bought a bunch of letters and postcards that were all from the same family. I'm assuming that the family was Jewish, since there were a few beautiful "Happy New Year's" postcards and greeting cards with Hebrew writing.

Some of the letters were written in Hebrew as well. Well, I'm assuming that it is Hebrew. If anyone can recognize the language in the letter below, please let me know.

And who couldn't love someone who opens a letter with "Hello Toots"? I only have the first page of this letter from 1944, so I don't know who sent it. But the "Toots" is all I need.

Comments

[Tara]

You find the most fabulous deals! Always the most gorgeous and unique finds!

[Heidi]

Fab stuff! Hope your first sale day goes well--with wares like these, I don't think you'll have any problems. :)

LOVE the ruler-star--I've been looking for one of those FOREVER with no luck. I saw in a Pottery Barn catalog once where they shaped one into a crown and had it sitting on a shelf--so cute!

[vintagesue]

You'll do great! Can't wait to hear the results. Why are you wasting time talking to us??? Ah, just showing off your finds. XOX

[apples on a stick]

What do you want for the vintage simplicity pattern? Yes, I am serious, please email me if you'd be willing to sell it!

[Alicia]

Beautiful finds, I do love those old fans oh and the postcards too!

[laura]

The Hello Toots letter is priceless!!!!!!! :)

[Lee W.]

what great finds- I must find this Goodeals, next time I'm down at work!

[Rosemary]

Good luck tomorrow!
Your stuff is amazing.
Have fun,
Rosemary

[Joy]

Had to laugh - I just wrote a blog about "toots" so I sure did smile when I read it here. :)

Love all of your finds!

[Jerri Wood]

This is so funny, I have a Aunt Toots. Not sure where it came from and no one seems to remember. Her birth name is Callie Ruth.

[ohgoodie]

Please let me know when you will be offering the chocolate syrup
dispenser, It is to die for, and I am a true choc-o-holic. Emial me at jcdas@msn.com

Smiles,

Carol

[sarah]

some wonderful finds there that's for sure, love your blog!

Sarah

newgreenshoes

[Sarabeth]

Hi Erin,
Delurking to say that that letter is written in cursive writing, Hebrew letters, but the language might be Yiddish (which is also written with Hebrew letters). A lot of the Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe at the turn of the century spoke/wrote Yiddish. Cool finds as always!
Sarabeth in Mass.

[petuniarose]

Gadzooks, I'm looking directly at my two-hole punch in work. Looks just like the one you have. Are you sure it's vintage? Auntie

[tammyCA]

gee whiz, I wish I lived where you do with all these great historic finds at yard sales! I'm trying to read that Toots letter, but can't get it all on the screen...I love old letters & especially any from WW2 time. I do brag about the 1940s letter from Kate Smith I found at a yard sale here - I was shocked I found such a thing. My mom is from that time & she used Toots as an endearment when I was growing up.
Someday I suppose all my saved letters will end up at a yard sale...I kept all my childhood letters from my best friend.

[Mitzi]

Hi there! I just discovered your blog and it is amazing! I am just starting my own and have been traveling the blogoshpere, being in awe of what people are doing. I've started a little Kindred Blogs list on mine, and I added your link within 5 minutes of reading your stuff. :)

You can add me back if you like, or what would be really cool is if you joined my newsletter, I am going to send out calls for submissions on different themes, and I have no doubt you would have some really cool stuff to share!

[Denise Fontaine]

Oh My Gosh!!! I am so glad I found your blog! I could open a shop with all the treasures I collect.I live in a beach village and the folks here just clean out EVERYTHING(old family photos,paintings, the whole interior that I find strange?!) and throw in those big orange dumpsters.It sad all the chippy beach cottages are being replaced by huge McMansions on a tiny piece of land! Sometimes esp. summer I think this tiny peninsula is going to sink!

[Sarabeth]

Sorry Colleen,
Whoops--I don't know why I addressed my earlier comment about the Yiddish to Erin! I think I had just read a post of yours mentioning her. Or maybe it was reading about the martinis that did it.
Sarabeth in Mass.

[sondra]

I'm loving the soda fountain dispenser and the game pieces are too much fun!!!! Good luck this weekend. Can't wait to hear how it goes!

[Christine]

LOVE the chocolate dispenser!!!!

[Jessica]

You have some great vintage finds! I adore old letters as well.

[Paul]

Just ran across your blog looking for info on a fan I just purchased today, same model as yours. As soon as I saw the game pieces I had a flashback of playing with them as a child. I don't remember the game but have sent a copy of the picture to my mother to see if she remembers.