There is a collector in the world for just about anything old that you can imagine. If you frequent estate sales, take a minute to watch what people buy. You might be surprised to see some of the old items that people get excited about finding as old estates are being cleared out. If you have an entrepreneurial tendency, take a notebook with you and you might be able to make a profit from what you notice. Many of the items that sell at these sales end up being auctioned away on sites like eBay.
One interesting collectible that has a very strong following, is memorabilia related to the dairy industry. Specifically, vintage milk bottles are quite collectible. Most people born after the early seventies probably have no recollection of the days when a milkman would deliver milk to the front porch of local customers. Today’s milk drinkers expect their beverage of choice to be delivered in a disposable carton with very little personality.
Vintage and antique milk bottles however, are filled with history. The old bottles are adorned with special color labels advertising the names of small dairies from across the United States. These wonderful pieces of Americana harken back to a day when service was more important than convenience. Nostalgia has gripped countless baby boomers who look back at their childhood as a simpler time. These old bottles are a connection to mornings sitting in the kitchen with their families.
The vintage milk boxes that sat on the porches and the metal milk crates that were used by the men making deliveries are also quite collectible now. People sometimes part with hundreds of dollars to grab back these small pieces of their childhood. If they can get their hands on a bottle from the local dairy they grew up with, they are often willing to spend more than most people would ever imagine an old glass container would be worth. If you come across any of these old bottles for sale, you might want to grab them up if the price is right. Someone might be willing to take them off of your hands for a tidy profit!
photo credit: JMitaStudios