Simple Economics

Last Saturday I went out to some local neighborhood sales and there wasn't much to be found.  I did, however, find an old treadle sewing machine that was on it's last legs.  It wasn't worth refinishing and really all I wanted was the drawers.

Then I looked at it a little closer.  The seller was asking $20 for the whole thing.  I thought the bottom metal was interesting and it had some nice detailed trim on it as well.  I also figured in the shape it was in, I could easily take it apart.  Here it is on the back of my truck bed.  It took me about an hour to unscrew everything, and I only had to discard about four of the wood pieces.

Here is the net effect of my find.  There were six drawers which I can sell for approximately $20 each.  People like to purchase the drawers.  The bottom metal part with the pedal will be turned into a coffee table or a bench.  Not sure which, but I can price that at at least $90.  I can sell the wheel for another $25, the carved pieces for probably $20 for all three of the pieces.  I also have three pieces of wood for sign painting and the very top with the opening for the machine will become a chalkboard with some hooks and some decorative molding applied which I will price around $49.  This makes this a fabulous interesting find.

A couple of months ago I found a stripped box spring with about 50 springs for $10.  That was more challenging to dismantle, but I have sold at least 10 of the individual springs for $5 each.  It did take a lot of elbow grease to dismantle that, but the end result was well worth it, and I still have plenty of springs left to sell.  Next time you come across some interesting pieces like these, think about what the parts can yield.  If you are a dealer like myself, people like the repurposed items.  I love them too.

Thanks for visiting.
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