Whoa, Nellie, did we bring in the Western Americana to our space at Exit 55 Antiques!

antique feed seed burlap sacks barn findsantique horse barn tools bits branding iron antique horse bits

You might recognize the antique burlap feed and seed sacks from this post on how to clean them. (They turned out super, don’t you think?) The old horse bits and antique curry comb were more deaccessioned items from the Bonanzaville museum auction. The vintage painted “Do Not Sit Or Lean On Rail” sign came from that pick at Ida Carlson’s Barn. The old saw and old branding iron we got at other farm auctions.

But wait, there’s more!

western americana fair oaks antiques we have your collectibles vintage cowboy western photoalbum wyoming milkglass mug primitive barn western antiques

Shown here are a few more bits from The Old West… An antique, patent pending, fly trap called The Wonder Fly Trap, a nifty unused photo-album or scrapbook featuring a cowboy riding his buckin’ bronco, a vintage milk glass mug promoting Wyoming, antique wool cards, and (my favorite) a vintage travel souvenir from Yankton, South Dakota — a ceramic tile featuring a decal of little cowboy.

We have lots of other antiques with Western flair hidden in our space too… Like this old door pull or handle that looks like a belt, complete with buckle. Stop in & see what you can find that makes you say, “Whoa, Nellie!”  Exit 55 Antiques is located on I-94 in Fergus Falls, MN. It’s open 10 am to 5 pm, seven days a week. You can contact us or call the shop at (218) 998-3088 if you see something you like. Exit 55 Antiques is a multi-dealer shop; we are known as dealer “EQ”.

antique belt buckle door handle

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We’ve been trying to keep our space at Exit 55 Antiques (Fergus Falls, MN) full of Christmas items — but they are selling so fast! Yes, the vintage reindeer are practically flying out of the shop, but we do have a pair of the vintage or retro plush reindeer stuffed with sawdust.

vintage retro sawdust stuffed reindeer plush

And there are a few flocked reindeer ornaments, hiding among the other vintage ornaments. Many of them are made in Japan kitschy pieces. (Sorry, the elf has sold already too. Gotta act fast on this stuff!)

vintage kitschy christmas ornaments fair oaks antiques

Speaking of kitschy made in Japan Christmas ornaments, how fabulous are these made from paper & pipe-cleaners? And not just any pipe-cleaners, many are made with chenille pipecleaners!

vintage santa and angels ornaments japan chenille pipe cleaners

vintage paper foil pipecleaner drummer christmas ornament

If you love the Christmas kitsch, you might love these Three Wise Men ornaments. (Hubby is not a fan or I would keep them!)

kitschy retro three wise men ornaments

Not everything is an ornament. Check out this fabulous pair of vintage salt and pepper shakers. Don’t these angles look like Fisher Price people? While their heads and wings are plastic, the shakers themselves are glass.

kitschy retro vintage angel salt and pep shakers

Speaking of things hubby is not a fan of… How about this large vintage handmade caroler? I love her turquoise, wide-wale corduroy coat trimmed in white “fur”! (Hubby is just not a fan of 60s’ kitsch like I am. *sigh*)

kitschy retro vintage handmade caroler large turquoise

Here’s a trio of mid-century modern felt carolers — just like this single singer in our Etsy shop! (See what’s left of our Christmas items at Etsy!)

mid-centruy mod vintage felt caroler set

Our vintage rubber-faced or masked Santa sold just days after we brought it in — but don’t worry! We’ve taken some photos and made Santa available on everything from postage stamps and pillows to cards and mugs. I am especially fond of the napkins that look like a Polaroid photo of Mr. Claus. …My sister says I am creepy!)

retro_rubber_faced_santa_polaroid_napkins

And we have more vintage masked Santas too!

vintage retro masked stuffed santa claus doll

This one is especially great. Not only does he hold a bottle brush tree, but when you plug him in, the light in Santa Claus’ hand lights up!

kitschy rubber-faced masked stuffed santa bottle brush tree light

Not everything is kitschy, however. Look at this antique cast iron Christmas tree stand!

Hubby and I work at the shop on Sunday (December 7th). Who knows what we will bring in then? Stop in & see! If you can’t make it, keep an eye on our Facebook page for photographic updates. And if you see something you want to buy, let us know & we can make arrangements to ship it to you.

PS The shop’s official Facebook page is Pasttime Collectibles & Antiques.

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We have a shelf in one of the glass cases at Exit 55 Antiques (Fergus Falls, MN) and recently put in a whole bunch of vintage dollhouse furniture (along with a few dolls, some vintage children’s books, etc.) The furniture was made by Marx, Superior, Multiple Products Company and others.

vintage dollhouse furniture display

vintage kewpie doll and dollhouse furniture

My favorites are the two-piece bed set, the little green lamp, and the little console (featuring a TV and a turntable).

Among the “etc.” are a pair of vintage cake toppers. One is a bull and bullfighter; the other, a pair of teenagers talking on telephones.

Some pieces have already sold. If you are interested, please contact us. Or call the shop directly at between 10 am and 5 pm (Central time). We will ship!

vintage doll house furniture and childrens books

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Part of our “back to school” display at Exit 55 Antiques, featuring an antique chalkboard, an antique Fox Typewriter from The Fox Typewriter Company of Grand Rapids, Michigan (anyone else remember typing “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog”?), and plenty of old school books.

As always, if you have any questions, contact us. [Or you can call the shop directly at (218) 998-3088 between 10 am & 5 pm everyday, Central Time.]

back to school antiques chalkboard fox typewriter

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We just brought this Turn of The Century French gilt brass candelabra into Exit 55 Antiques on Sunday. (UPDATE: Now in our booth at F.A.R.M.) This ornate antique candelabra was made for a church altar; the sheaves of wheat & bunches of grapes are symbolic of the blessed bread & wine of the sacrament of the Eucharist.

antique french

The depiction of Mother Mary on the base leads us to further believe this was made for and used in a Catholic church. There are signs of age and use, but it is a spectacular piece.

mother mary on candleabra base

We were so excited to bring it in & take photos, we forgot to measure it! It’s roughly 30 inches tall — but call the shop for more details: 701-356-9199 for more information, open 10 – 7 Monday thru Saturday, Noon to 6 on Sunday, Central Time. Or contact us directly.

grapes and wheat antique french altar piece

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First we scored this sweet little vintage red and white Coast-King tricycle…

vintage red and white tricycle

It’s a Coast-to-Coast bike.

vintage coast-king tricycle

Then, just a couple of weeks later, we scored another vintage Coast-to-Coast bike.

vintage blue columbia bike

This one is a Columbia bike and it looks pretty snazzy up on the wall as art, American Pickers‘ style.

vintage columbia bicycle wall art

I especially like the depth of placing some vintage hubcaps on the wall, so you can see them through the spokes in the bike’s wheel.

hubcaps behind bike wheel rusty vintage

The old Milwaukee license plate is still on it. Note the year: 1954.

vintage 1954 milwaukee bike lic plate

Both vintage bikes are currently at Exit 55 Antiques; please call the shop directly at (218) 998-3088 for more information at (Shop is open 10 – 5 everyday, Central Time.)

PS We also have some old bike wheels in our spot outside at Exit 55 too.

PSS We also had a retro Apollo banana seat bike; but it sold in the first hour we were at the Elkhorn flea. Photo here.

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It’s only the half-way mark, and yet this month has been exhausting! Last week, we went picking — everyday. It was the annual “garbage week” here in Fargo, and you wouldn’t believe the stuff some people toss out! This is one week that proves one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. (Of course, not all of it was great; but that’s what makes picking work. That, and the lifting and cleaning of items.)

Among the finds, a sweet child’s chair, painted pink.

fair oaks antiques pink chair nabisco crate

Of course, there was lots of other rusty relics too. We put many of those in our space outside of Exit 55 Antiques, Fergus Falls, MN. (You can see a photo of some of them on our Facebook page here. Don’t forget to “like” us!) While we were there, we also updated our booth space.

fair oaks antiques dealer EQ at exit 55 mn

That update included this vintage barbecue display too. (If you wonder who Fair Oaks Antiques is at Exit 55, or at Antiques On Broadway in downtown Fargo, just look for the items marked “EQ” or ask to see the stuff from dealer “EQ”.)

While out picking, we also found lots of old windows and screens. The screens have inspired a project idea, which, when we have some down time I will share; but it’s certainly not down time now — we have the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market this weekend!

So we are leaving for the drive to Wisconsin today. (We were too busy trying to pack the van full — more work, ack! — so I don’t have any photos to preview what we are bringing this time. But photos will be posted on Facebook this weekend.)

We hope to see you in Elkhorn; but if not, you can see what we recently added to our main Etsy shop. Like the charming yellow vintage Princess sewing basket and the antique cobblers’ shoe or boot last.

There’s also some reading you could do…

I am still writing about antique and collectible dolls for the Dolls By Diane newsletter. In January, I wrote a very special piece about boys and dolls which I was graciously allowed to post at my antiques and vintage collectibles site, Inherited Values. I’d love to hear what you think about it.

Other past doll articles: In February, I wrote about The Kewpie Doll; in April, it was Simon & Halbig Dolls. If you’d like to read these dolls articles, contact the folks at Dolls By Diane — or send me your email address and I will forward a copy of the issue with the article you’d like to read to you. (And don’t forget to subscribe to the Dolls By Diane newsletter so you don’t miss future doll articles!)

Again, we hope to see you at Elkhorn!

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Along with our booth space at Exit 55 Antiques we have a shelf in one of the cases near the wrap desk. For the holiday, we filled it with vintage valentines, antique candy boxes, vintage cameras, and a few other bits and bobs…

vintage cameras and valentines for sale

antique valentines candy boxes fair oaks antiques

Here are two of the antique mechanical valentines in action!

We also have some old valentines for sale in our Etsy shop.

You can look at, and learn more about, these and other antique and vintage Valentines we’ve shared here, here, here, and here.

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Because we have the window to decorate and display at Antiques On Broadway, I feel like we share a lot of those photos — but don’t share enough photos of our space at Exit 55 Antiques. So here’s a few photos to rectify that.

This photo of our booth shows our nice (if we do say so ourselves!) holiday display. Among the findings, a vintage wooden sled, one of those fabulous vintage framed Christmas trees made from vintage costume jewelry, vintage Christmas cookbooks (featuring several from the Otter Tail Power Company), more of those old primitive yet industrial cream separators to use as candle holders (soooo cool with ribbon wound through them and set on the mantel; change the ribbons to match the season!), and a festive soda pop bottle collection all decked-out for the holidays.

fair oaks antiques christmas display

We also have a shelf in a case in the antique shop and there you’ll find these antique German clips which held candles on the tree, circa 1920. Candles are not as safe as electric lights, of course, so we advocate other ways to use and display these antique metal Christmas tree clips here.

fair oaks antiques german christmas tree candle clips

Also in our space at the Minnesota antique mall is a antique washstand displaying collectibles with a holiday theme — check it out!

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A few weeks ago, we changed our window display at Antiques On Broadway (from the back to school theme) to reflect the seasonal changes. Now the window features items to create a vintage and nostalgic holiday season, with a heavy emphasis on the kitchen, cooking, and baking. (Because no matter which holidays you celebrate, food is a part of it!)

vintage kitchen window fair oaks antiques

Our case there also received a holiday touch, including the holiday centerpiece made from an old wooden drawer.

rustic holiday centerpiece

At Exit 55 Antiques, we’ve brought in a lot of vintage holiday Christmas ornaments. Some decorate the little tree in our booth space; lots more can be found in our case display too. (Keep an eye on our Facebook page for more as well!)

vintage ornaments from fair oaks antiques

In other news…

We continue to update at Inherited Values and Deanna’s been writing about “odd” collectibles (Part One, Part Two) for Collector Perspectives.

We no longer have a permanent Milwaukee location; so watch for lots of mid-century modern to hit our Etsy shop!

vintage and retro christmas ornaments on tree

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