10 cool things to find at Brimfield Antique Flea Market's summer session this week

Veer Mudambi, Telegram & Gazette
Updated ·3 min read
Sisters Juanita Aumala, left, and Luz Punto, both of Tampa, Florida, move items out from their tent after the heavy rain stopped Monday during set up day at Brimfield Flea Market. They were helping to setup Vintage Woodhouse.
Sisters Juanita Aumala, left, and Luz Punto, both of Tampa, Florida, move items out from their tent after the heavy rain stopped Monday during set up day at Brimfield Flea Market. They were helping to setup Vintage Woodhouse.

BRIMFIELD - The Brimfield Antique Flea Market epitomizes the saying, "One man's trash is another man's treasure."

And thus the haggling.

The flea market, with its summer session happening this week, features hundreds of vendors displaying their wares in a succession of fields.

We spent some time roaming the fields, talking with vendors, and came up with 10 interesting items - some old, some quirky, or both.

Ice cream and soda pumps from the 1940s, Bernat Mill Antiques, in Sturtevant South section of flea market.
Ice cream and soda pumps from the 1940s, Bernat Mill Antiques, in Sturtevant South section of flea market.

Ice cream and soda pumps from a 1940s ice cream parlor. Sold by Justin Columbo of Bernat Mills Antiques in Uxbridge, who said they are all functional. Labels are still intact on some including root beer, vanilla and chocolate. Going for $40 each.

Hollow Book Safes, proprietor Steve Foote (right) at Shelton Acres
Hollow Book Safes, proprietor Steve Foote (right) at Shelton Acres

Hollow book safes, while not an antique, they are certainly unique. Steve Foote of Gloucester handcrafts each piece from real books as a way to hide small valuables in plain sight. "People come and ask, 'What's the most boring book you have?'" said Foote. He tends to recommend the dictionaries, which everyone has but no one looks at - thanks to the internet. Prices depend on the price of the book used.

Shark butler statue from between the 1960s to 70s, sold at Lester's Booth in Quaker Acres. Going for $150
Shark butler statue from between the 1960s to 70s, sold at Lester's Booth in Quaker Acres. Going for $150

A shark butler statue is the type of small statue outside of any seaside business, like a restaurant or boathouse. Could be handy helper in the kitchen, especially when cooking seafood. Diane Mucherino of Lester's Booth said it's likely from between the 1960s and '70s. She wants $150 for it.

Railway Express Agency dating back to the 1890s at David R. Johns Antiques at Crystal Brook.
Railway Express Agency dating back to the 1890s at David R. Johns Antiques at Crystal Brook.

Railway sign from the 1890s, seller David Johns of North East, Pennsylvania, owner of David Johns Antiques had the sign for 10 years before scraping off the paint to see what was underneath. He believes it's from northwestern Pennsylvania.

Glove molds, now used as hangers and decoration, sold at Things at Roche's, Quaker Acres
Glove molds, now used as hangers and decoration, sold at Things at Roche's, Quaker Acres

Glove molds Used since the turn of the century in factories for the production of latex gloves and mitts, now a common sight in homes across the country, used in gardens, kitchens and towel hangers. "I've been selling hands for about 35 years," said Tenny Roche of Canton, Texas, home of Things at Roche's. "There's an interest in just about any (model) body part." The particularly rare pieces are mitt molds, of which she only had one, going for $245.

Harley-Davidson seat, part of April Shelton's late uncle's massive collection of Harley-Davidson paraphernalia, Shelton Fields
Harley-Davidson seat, part of April Shelton's late uncle's massive collection of Harley-Davidson paraphernalia, Shelton Fields

Harley-Davidson seat Many collectors will buy the older seats to place on their own motorbikes. This particular one, going for $75, was awaiting a customer who was checking the measurement on his own bike. April Shelton of Brimfield, whose mother owns Shelton Acres show field, had one buyer who said he like to hang it on his wall.

Ephemerals - pamphlets, manuals, postcards, organized into binders and divided by category, shown by Ryan Ward, of Past Cache LLC, Quaker Acres. Some individual items go for as much as $200
Ephemerals - pamphlets, manuals, postcards, organized into binders and divided by category, shown by Ryan Ward, of Past Cache LLC, Quaker Acres. Some individual items go for as much as $200

Paper ephemerals, such as ticket stubs from ships and airlines, instruction manuals, postcards and brochures, serve as memorabilia from different eras. Ryan Ward of Past Cache keeps them in large binders organized by topic, but sells each piece of paraphernalia separately. Some can go for as much as $200.

"The Liberty Boys of 76" - a serialized story from the early 1900s telling the story of young soldiers in the Revolutionary War - at Past Cache, Quaker Acres
"The Liberty Boys of 76" - a serialized story from the early 1900s telling the story of young soldiers in the Revolutionary War - at Past Cache, Quaker Acres

"The Liberty Boys of 76" by Harry Moore. Past Cache also boasted several issues from 1905 of this serialized story about the adventures of young soldiers during the Revolutionary War. A perfect gift for fans of not only American history of media and pop culture. Issues went for $10 each.

Carved pillars, brought from Pakistan by Janbaz Khan, owner of Silk Road Handicrafts, at Sturtevant
Carved pillars, brought from Pakistan by Janbaz Khan, owner of Silk Road Handicrafts, at Sturtevant

Palace pillars Janbaz Khan, from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, of Silk Road Handicrafts regularly visits Pakistan to pick out carved pieces such as these palace pillars before sending them by ship to the United States. Buyers can use them in their own homes to provide some royal flair.

Salesmen samples from 1910 at Casey’s Antiques, Brimfield Acres.
Salesmen samples from 1910 at Casey’s Antiques, Brimfield Acres.

Mini-furniture What at first looks like dollhouse furniture were actually salesmen samples, used by door-to-door salesmen around 1910 to show off their wares, explained seller Casey Skahan, who regularly travels to the Brimfield market from upstate New York. Easier than carrying a table and chairs across the country. For sale at Casey's Antiques in Brimfield Auction Acres for $135.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 10 things to find at Brimfield Antique Flea Market's summer session