“So long as y’all don’t call it a ‘junk shop,’ come on in,” said the fellow who introduced himself as Wayne. He walked back and forth on the patchy gravel driveway outside his nondescript, unmarked “Cotter Thrift Shop,” arranging odds and ends on folding tables.
Deb and I had stopped there many times over the last two years, always finding it closed. It was pure luck that we drove by yesterday when he was open for business.
“Had some health problems,” said Wayne. “Just gettin’ back. Gettin’ started again.”
Inside, the don’t-call-it-junk shop was crammed wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling. Aisles were ridiculously narrow, where there were aisles at all. In places, the only way to move forward was to climb over boxes and chunks of furniture.
It was quite the adventure.
Deb went one direction and I went another. She found a large, two-piece china cabinet, which she fancies incorporating into our kitchen. Before committing to buy it, however, she had to take measurements to see if her vision can be shoehorned into our reality. Stay tuned.
I was on the hunt for tools, materials and such. I knew, for example, that I need a hand saw for two cuts I’ll make when I build the third bathroom wall. I found just what I was looking for — a vintage “Warranted Superior” 26-inch crosscut saw in good condition.
Three bucks.
Then I stumbled onto a couple of plastic tubs packed with 2-1/4″, 13-gauge finishing nails. I definitely could use those.
Ten dollars for both.
On a long shelf in the back room was a hodge-podge of tired hand tools. Most weren’t worth a second look, but a pile of US-made wrenches caught my eye. I grabbed four.
Two vintage Vlchek mild-offset box wrenches, both dating to the 1940s and both 15/16″ x 1″. A chromed Westline deep-offset box wrench, 13/16″ x 7/8″, sold by Western Auto in the 1960s, likely made by Duro. And a Thorsen 15/16″ combination wrench, probably from the ’60s.
Three bucks apiece.
Now you could argue that the wrenches were a frivolous purchase, a splurge. I say that there’s no good reason not to buy a big old American wrench at a price like that. Besides, these happen to fill a few gaps in my toolbox.
And as everyone knows, a big wrench is useful both for turning nuts and for silencing them.
Rummaging through the wares in Wayne’s world was an absolute giggle. And we’ll be back there this Saturday to pick up that china cabinet — Deb measured, and it fits.
He’s a pilgrim and a preacher, and a problem when he’s stoned…
Kris Kristofferson
From the rockin’ of the cradle to the rollin’ of the hearse,
The goin’ up was worth the comin’ down.
June 22, 1936 – September 28, 2024
Random scenes from our Laundry Sunday, Deb’s Back-to-Work Monday and my All-Chores Day.
Take care of yourselves, Patriots. Stay calm. Stay sharp. Stay free.
#WiseUp #LibertyOrDeath #Ungovernable
#LetsGoBrandon #FJB