Summer is always a very quiet time in the shop, with school holidays and people going away, but it has its advantages in that we do get people coming into the shop who are visiting relatives or on holiday. I have had visitors of various nationalities including Australians, Americans and quite a few Europeans. I must admit I was a bit wary when three enormous young men came into the shop. They were Russian and turned out to be quite charming. Through broken English they bought some Russian medals I have had in stock for about 4 years which I thought would never sell! We never know who, or what, is going to come into the shop!
I quite often feel sorry for old people and buy things which I often sell at a loss. Other things I buy thinking I will sell them straight away and still have them a year later – although the opposite applies too. I sometimes regret buying and sell the same day. It’s a strange business but great fun. I am retired but still enjoy going to the shop 6 days a week.
Being from a farming background, as soon as I could reach the pedals on the tractor at about 10 years old, I was useful in the fields. Although I wasn’t strong enough to lift bales of straw, I could drive the tractor whilst the men loaded the bales. I thoroughly enjoyed my childhood and would not swap driving a tractor for pushing buttons on a computerised game like the kids of today do.
I have had some really interesting items brought in recently including a pilot’s helmet from 1942. It is complete with earpieces and high-altitude oxygen mask. Can you imagine what tales it could tell? Maybe the wearer took part in the Battle of Britain, or Dambusters? I have no provenance so I can only guess. I have also bought a very large collection of model cars, mostly wagons from a truck driver who had an attic full. The couple were downsizing and the lady of the house said, “either they go, or I do!”
If you have any items in your attic that you no longer want to keep, call into the shop and I can give you a no obligation valuation.
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