Completing Sets, as a Challenge

[peacock]

One of my favorite things to do while thrifting is to complete sets.  So often you'll see bits of China sets, or state collector plates, or various items that are nearly worthless on their own but bring a nice bit of change when all together.  For example I had a certain 1930s china pattern that is hard to find in multiples, but for the last year or so I've been trying to find more and recently sold a set for about 10X what I paid for each individual piece alone.

If I see more than two of an item I always see alone, I start to wonder.  Like those black metal trays with the states on them - I've got TX and I saw FL at another booth - maybe if I could find all 50 I'd earn a mint from the set.  Lately I'm collecting these souvenir collector plates - lace-edged with pink and gold - so far I've got Cape Cod, Freeport Bahamas and Crystal Cave PA, all the same design plate, from different sources.

Well, it's something to do.

[Good Buddy]

We have a 3 year old girl and an almost 1 year old boy and I've been buying the heck out of books for them. Mostly Disney, she's all over the Princesses, especially Snow White, and also Little Golden Books and books we had as children ourselves. Disney has dozens of "sets" and we have partials of many. It's very fun but confusing. I have to make a spreadsheet and keep all the data handy on my phone. It'll take a while as we've got over 300 books to enter into a database. Audrey "reads" constantly and knows the words on the pages be memory, she's smarter than I am now.

[FleaQueen]

If I see more than two of an item I always see alone, I start to wonder.  Like those black metal trays with the states on them - I've got TX and I saw FL at another booth - maybe if I could find all 50 I'd earn a mint from the set. 
Well, it's something to do.

GREAT idea.  I find those black trays once in awhile, usually for a dollar or two, and sell them easily for at least $20 apiece.  My mind boggles at what all fifty would bring!!

www.fullservicebohemian.blogspot.com

[Jay2TheRescue]

$20?  That much?  I was in a thrift a few months ago, and they had a whole bunch of them for $0.75/ea, but none were states I was interested in, so I left them.

[mccoysnina]

I found four small metal trays at my favorite thrift for $.50 each.  But they had Coke insignias not states.  Passed them on to my sister who collects all things Coke.  Not a bad gift for $2.
Reminds me of a man who was overjoyed to find several Coke trays at a thrift a year or so ago.  He was convinced they were originals.  I pointed out they said on the back "Printed in honor of some anniversary of Coke"  forget which, back in the 90's.  He looked at me like I was trying to steal his treasure and walked off, convinced he had hit the jackpot.  Hope he didn't try to sell them as originals.
Jeannie

[Punk Glam Queen]

$20?  That much?  I was in a thrift a few months ago, and they had a whole bunch of them for $0.75/ea, but none were states I was interested in, so I left them.

Usually the ones that go for more $$ are the very old ones. The newer ones don't sell at all.

[Jay2TheRescue]

$20?  That much?  I was in a thrift a few months ago, and they had a whole bunch of them for $0.75/ea, but none were states I was interested in, so I left them.

Usually the ones that go for more $$ are the very old ones. The newer ones don't sell at all.

The ones I saw appeared to be from the 40's or 50's.

[Punk Glam Queen]

The ones I saw appeared to be from the 40's or 50's.

I would think those would get a decent price, the ones from the 60s & 70s not so much.

[Frchgrl]

I sold a round vintage black metal souvenir tray of Hawaiian and it sold well but vintage Hawaii stuff does in general.

I accidentally started collecting vintage barware. Liked one, than another, so on. So I'm on the "set" thing now too.

[Jay2TheRescue]

I have LOTS of barware and interesting ashtrays, even though I don't smoke or drink.  They sold well when I used to do shows, and they make great displays in the house.  One of my favorites was a shaker and set of cocktail glasses with pocketwatches all over them.  We called it "Time for a Drink"

[Frchgrl]

I have LOTS of barware and interesting ashtrays, even though I don't smoke or drink.  They sold well when I used to do shows, and they make great displays in the house.  One of my favorites was a shaker and set of cocktail glasses with pocketwatches all over them.  We called it "Time for a Drink"

Those sound too cool!

[the_red_beret]

I have a whole bunch of Corelle dishes from the 60s or early 70s that my grandma gave me, as well as a bunch of bubbly olive green glasses and cups from the same time, and every once in a while I'll come across similar ones in the Salvation Army or Goodwill. I always think about buying them, then I remember how many I already have... haha.