Estate Find… finally!

Well, I have been going to Estate Sales forever. Every once in awhile I find a book or some little trinket that I like, but for the life of me, never anything having to do with pipes. I hear of people that go to estate sales and walk out with a treasure trove of pipes and pipe accessories, but I have never had that joy.

So, today, while looking at the classifieds in the paper, we decided to take a little Friday afternoon drive and hit a couple of the local sales. We decided to attend both of the sales that were listed in the paper, and they turned out to be a no-go on the pipes or accessories. So, while driving back home, we saw a little sign on the side of the street for an Estate Sale. We figured, “What the hell”, it couldn’t hurt to check it out. After walking in, I figured this was a bust, there was hardly any furniture, nick knacks, books or much of anything else for that matter. So, we decided to head out and back to the home-front, “when what to my wondering eyes should appear…….”

Ah yes, sweet victory was mine. I missed it on the way in because it was in a blind corner on top of a dresser. Luckily, walking out, it was smack dab in front of me. The guy running the sale must have thought I was a loon, because I ran up to it, grabbed it, and hugged it like it was my long lost best friend. He strolled over and said “So, ya like it?”. Of course I liked it, I LOVED it. “Well” he said, “We are tryin to get rid a’ this stuff, so Ill tell ya what, instead a’ $15, Ill let er’ go for $12.” I of course said sure, and ran to the car and squealed out in search of the nearest ATM.

I have a rule, when I go to an Estate Sale, I try not to go with any money. I figure if something there is good enough, and the people are decent, they will hold it until I run to the bank or the ATM. If they are unwilling, then screw em, it wasn’t worth it anyway.

So, after running to the bank, and withdrawing exactly $12, I sped back to the house and thrust my $12 out in front of me. I became the proud owner of a vintage Decatur Pipe Caddy. Natural Walnut with an accessory drawer and cabinet. I know these things are hard to come by, and even more so in the condition it’s in. I also know what they go for on E-Bay, but I will not be selling this, nooooo, it has got a place already. The only depressing part about the experience was the nice old guy telling me he threw all his pipes out a couple years back. Never know, if he had a halfway decent pipe caddy, he might have had some decent pipes. Oh well, such is life.

~Justin