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    Home » Thrift Store Finds

    The Strange And The Quirky And Why I Thrift

    Published by Pam Kessler | 332 words. · About 2 minutes to read this article. - 34 Comments

    What keeps me thrifting? And yard sale-ing? And estate sale shopping?

    Well, things like this potato chip can.

    I found it at a yard sale a few weeks ago.

    Vintage New Era Potato Chip can with strange marketing ideas - early Frito-Lay product

    Do I need to know they're alkaline? Is that a selling point?

    Vintage New Era Potato Chip can with strange marketing ideas - early Frito-Lay product

    I don't know about you, but "scientifically processed" just gets my taste buds tingling.

    Vintage New Era Potato Chip can with strange marketing ideas - early Frito-Lay product

    And not in a good way. More like in a my tongue is going to fall out of my mouth way.

    My favorite kind of feasting. Without fear.

    Vintage New Era Potato Chip can with strange marketing ideas - early Frito-Lay product

    I bought it to put a plant in for my porch. But then when I brought it home, I noticed that it said this on the back.

    Vintage New Era Potato Chip can with strange marketing ideas - early Frito-Lay product

    I mean, Frito-Nicolay? Could it be Frito-Lay?

    So I googled it. After I was done cleaning the pop off my computer screen, I had second thoughts about my planting plans. Seems it's worth about $30.

    It's Frito-Lay before they knew they were going to be Frito-Lay. Before they got into the land of Ruffles, Fritos and Funyuns.

    Bought for $3, which at the time I thought was a little too pricey for a yard sale. In hindsight, not a bad price. Not bad at all.

    Vintage New Era Potato Chip can with strange marketing ideas - early Frito-Lay product

    For me, it's the thrill of the hunt that keeps me thrifting and yard sale-ing and estate sale shopping.

    It's finding a deal.

    It's that little jolt of adrenaline you get when you first spot something vintage on a thrift store shelf. Or on a greasy table in someone's garage. Or in the bottom of a box in the back of a closet at an estate sale.

    It's also finding something strange and quirky that you never knew existed, but now think is sort of cool.

    That's what keeps me in the game.

    What do you love most about thrifting and yard sale-ing and estate sale shopping?

    BTW, can we all get together and decide how to spell yard sale-ing? Is it yard sale-ing? Yard saling? Or yard sailing?

    I'll let Merriam Webster know what we decide.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. ThrifterSisters

      June 12, 2014 at 7:49 am

      Quirkiness at its absolute best!

      ~Erica

      Reply
    2. Arlene

      June 12, 2014 at 9:11 am

      I have that same can and have never read the back of it! Funny thing is I live in Wooster OH - home of Frito Lay!

      Reply
    3. Into Vintage

      June 12, 2014 at 10:39 am

      I too have to go with "thrill of the hunt" and after doing it for so many years, it's especially thrilling to come across something unique like a potato chip can that depicts athletes of all sorts (because potato chips are #1 food consumed by Olympic gold medalists.) Great score!

      I also use sale-ing the most. No particular reason.

      Reply
    4. Melinda

      June 12, 2014 at 2:57 pm

      For me IT IS THE HUNT! Whether is is for home or
      school. I also enjoy seeing what people are getting
      rid of.

      Great find you have there! If you don't palnt in it, what
      do you think you will do with it?

      M 🙂

      Reply
    5. [email protected]

      June 13, 2014 at 1:28 pm

      I love the hunt the most, and then the profit if it's a good find. We all need to have a little talk with Spell Check on the yard saleing dilemma...thrifting too. Happy yard sailing, saleing, sales this weekend!

      Reply
    6. [email protected]

      June 13, 2014 at 1:30 pm

      Oh nice can...that just didn't sound proper. Nice potato chip can...amazing history.

      Reply
    7. Lara

      June 15, 2014 at 9:37 pm

      Love the can but can't stop laughing at the language used on it. Obviously, before the FDA regulated having to actually tell the truth about food. I mean -- "are partially starch dextrinized and therefore more easily digested?" I find that reaaaaallllly hard to believe.

      I think you described what the thrill is for me quite well -- that, and the feeling of needing to "rescue" something great that someone doesn't want anymore. That's the one that gets me in trouble, as I find myself buying things that I have absolutely no use for just because I can't bear to leave it behind, so sad on its table by itself.

      I hate yard sailing and yard sale-ing is so tedious to type out. I usually go with yard saling but feel odd every time I type it out. Please come to a conclusion on this matter and let me know; I shall abide by your ruling.

      Reply
    8. Anne's Attic - design

      June 16, 2014 at 9:09 pm

      Awesome idea. Love it!

      Have a LOVERLY day! Jo from Anne's Attic - Design http://fulcolbaxia.wordpress.com

      Reply
    9. Anonymous

      June 22, 2014 at 8:05 am

      We just call it junkin'...that can be yard sales, thrift shops or antique shops....my 13-year old grandson coined the term when he was about 8 or 9...he loves to go junkin'!

      Reply
    10. LivingVintage

      June 29, 2014 at 9:28 pm

      How funny. I have that exact same tin and I never looked at it that closely. Thanks for research! 🙂

      Reply
    11. SparkleGirl

      August 14, 2014 at 11:08 pm

      My friends and I call it Junktiquing. It covers thrifts, garage sales, estate sales, and antique stores. Enough said! Researching the interesting treasures I find is my favorite part of Junktiquing.

      Reply
    12. Dawn Pinnataro

      April 10, 2015 at 4:33 pm

      Did I tell you that I found and almost exact New Era chip tin myself at local thrift / antique consignment shop? It had been there almost a year, marked at $20 and it was in pristine condition in and out. I kept hoping it would be marked off (as it sat so long) but it never budged ... until January and the booth it was in had a 20% off markdown weekend! Finally... so while it hurt me to spend $16 on ONE item, I just had to have it and adore it! I also picked up a thermos that day in browns - I am totally hooked on thermos ever since seeing your displays! LOL.
      GADawn57

      Reply
      • Pam

        April 11, 2015 at 6:49 am

        Awesome! My local antique mall has a beat up and rusty one marked at $65!!! It's a cool tin, but NO ONE is going to spend that on it 🙂

        Reply
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