Been a little while since I visited a few of my favorite local antique shops here in the Metro Detroit area, and as always on the prowl for railroad related items. Usually it's a coffee cup, or maybe an old obscure rulebook, but today's find was something that usually doesn't happen, atleast to me anyway. After visiting 2 local shops and coming up empty (unless I wanted to buy overpriced switch locks with no keys, or Adlake switch stand indicators that had seen better days), I swung into a shop I hadn't ever visited, but had driven by a million times.

Upon walking into this small shop, I was greeted with an abnormal amount of good classic toys, and a lot of well priced items. But, it wasn't until I walked in a small dark corner that I found them.

Sitting on top of an old mini-fridge, were 2 relay mechanisms. Quite out of place for somewhere not really railroad-esque. Upon further inspection I noticed the Union Switch and Signal tag, and indicating they are H-5 style relays. Upon consulting with a friend and colleague who is in my railroads signal department, he confirmed for me the current going price, and told me they were US&S H5 searchlight mechanisms. I quickly walked to the old man behind the counter after noticing a "20% off" sign nearby, and asked him. He told me to give him a price, to which I replied that I hadn't the faintest clue. He said $60, and I was sold.

So here was my antique store find for the day: 2 US&S H5 Searchlight signal mechanisms (complete, with lenses inside) for a whopping $60. Guess I now have to find parts to build a signal for my private collection ;)

Lucky dog, lucky dog, woof, woof, woof, woof!

I work at a thrift store and was once taking donations on a kid handed me a bag inside his bag with a ton of American Flyer trains. There must have been at least $500 worth of trains in there and that is low balling.

If you're into hunting for stuff, antique stores and flea markets can turn up surprising finds.

I have a pair of original William Henry Jackson "mammoth plate" (18" x 21") photographic prints from the 1880s, one a scene on the Denver, South Park & Pacific RR in CO, and the other a view of Canyon Diablo trestle on the Atlantic & Pacific RR in AZ, that my aunt found at a thrift store in Huntington, NY where she was a volunteer maybe 30 years ago. Though my aunt knew nothing about trains, she immediately recognized the photos as something special when they appeared as donations, and she purchased them from the store before they even officially went on sale to the public. I don't think she paid more than $10 for either of them, though there may have a been a volunteer discount involved.

These kinds of things do happen (though less often now with the ubiquity of the Internet I'm sure), so it pays to keep your eyes open.

-Philip Marshall

My best Goodwill find was two pieces of Colorado Midland china Basalt pattern. These were the originals, NOT the reproductions. They are now displayed in the Colfax Railroad Museum's china display, along with about 1900 other pieces on display from their 3000 piece collection.

How many train fans would have walked right past that without having a clue what it was?

Well, probably quite a few. The old guy behind the counter remarked that they had been sitting for sometime. Being in the restoration field, and having quite a few friends and colleagues who have passed on their knowledge to me, it was the only way I figured out what they were. Originally I thought they might be crossing relays, until I noticed the lenses inside and spoke with my contact. Glad to have them in my collection. I did some research and noted a sister module on Discover Live Steam for sale, not in as good condition, for $185.

James,

We do have a pair of those in the museum basement at SMRS. I wasn't sure what they were either till another member told me about the signal he just acquired from the Michigan line upgrades. He showed me a picture of his and the light bulb came on, pun intended.

Odd why SMRS would have H5 mechs, unless it was something Josh O. saved. The signals at RC are R-2 heads.

Even if they knew what they were, they'd probably not have much use for them, so they wouldn't be likely to purchase them.

It's like when I see a lantern or switch lamp these days, my first thought isn't "Wow, I have to have that!" but rather "Where would I put it and what would I do with it?"

In summer of 1972, I was driving with a friend north on Hwy 101 up to Klamath, CA for my weekend running job on the Klamath & Hoppow Valley. We decided to stop just out of Ukiah at this big red barn that advertised antiques. I was always on the lookout for steam whistles.

It was kinda overwhelming inside with all the aisles full of lord knows what and I was about to give up when my friend happened by with a smile on his face. I asked him what was up and he continued to grin and said "look". Right up above me on an 8 by 8 riser was mounted a Lunkenheimer fire alarm whistle. Only $65.00 and I tried it out that weekend on Heisler 10. They weren't all that easy though.

Yep, a 1957 Car Builder's Cyclopedia was my haul from an antique store stop on Saturday while out Christmas shopping !

Over 55 years of collecting railroadiana, I still love to go through antique shops. You never know what you will find. A couple of years ago, at a booth in the largest antique mall in Houston, I found Texas and Pacific roster sheet from 1941, which showed handwritten corrections indicating the 7 locomotives that the T&P had just sold to the Army for use at Camp Claiborne, LA. This year, on my way home from an Arizona vacation that had included a visit to Jerome, a stop in Comfort, TX yielded a United Verde and Pacific local baggage tag from the NG RR that served Jerome before 1920.

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Shut up. (>_<)

Just..........

Shut up. >;-)
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