Everyday items from the past that are worth money
Rita Lobo
05 April 2017
Cash in the attic
From the record players we unplugged decades ago, to the cast iron pans we have given up seasoning, our homes can be veritable treasure troves, if we can see beyond the clutter. Read one to find out what everyday items we all have lying around that can be worth a small fortune.
Vintage wooden crates
With the rising popularity of interior design TV shows and social media sites like Pinterest, wooden wine crates have become desirable items and can sell for as much as $20-$40 (£16-£32). They are perfect for converting into shabby-chic shelving or trendy storage.
Vintage wooden crates
Old garden or vegetable crates are also popular, though they will probably fetch slightly less. They must be sturdy, though; not the flimsy plywood crates that supermarkets use.
Record player
Record sales have soared in recent years, and enthusiasts have returned to vinyl as a viable alternative to digital music. As a result, vintage record players or turntables can now fetch between $50 and $500 (£40-£400) depending on the model and its condition.
Record player
Portable vintage record players, the sort that teenagers might have cherished in days gone by, will usually fetch between $40 and $100 (£32-£100).
Vintage luggage sets
There is a cottage industry for retro luggage sets on vintage shopping mecca Etsy. A well-kept average leather luggage set from the 1950s or 1960s can fetch between $60 and $200 (£40-£180).
Vintage luggage sets
Vintage designer luggage sets can get many hundreds of dollars. This three-piece set of Bottega Venetta leather hard cases from the 1960s is currently selling for a whopping $4,150 (£3,330).
Typewriter
Before personal computers became household items in the mid-1990s, just about every home had a typewriter. Completely obsolete, many of us threw our machines out a long time ago. However, collectors are still looking for working models, and complete typewriters can sell for as much as $100 (£80), but the average is more around $50 (£40).
Typewriter
Rare typewriters with unusual features typically sell well among collectors, but even regular models can fetch a tidy sum on online auctions. Tom Hanks is said to be an avid collector who always has a typewriter handy to leave colleagues and friends kooky notes.
Old coins
Old coins lying around in the back of drawers or in rusty jars in the attic can be little treasure troves. You’ll have to do a little bit of research, though. For example, old sixpences (UK) can be up to 92.5% silver if minted before 1920 and are worth a pretty penny.
Old coins
Sift through your long-forgotten coin purse, and you might find a gem. In the US, Franklin half dollars minted between 1948 and 1963 can fetch as much as $15 (£12). It might take a bit of patience to sort the valuable coins from the rest, but it might just be worth it!
Vintage sewing patterns
In the days before next-day delivery, sewing patterns were the best way to get the latest fashions without breaking the bank. If you were lucky enough to save a few, they can go for around $10 (£8) each. Complete sets can fetch between $80 and $100 (£64- £80), depending on style.
Vintage sewing patterns
As expected, designer patterns can be worth a lot more. Many of the most valuable ones are by Vogue Patters, and its Diane Von Furstenburg wrap dress patterns from 1976 can fetch upwards of $160 (£128)... each!
Cast iron pans
Cast iron pans and skillets are firm favorites with discernible cooks everywhere. Selling them can be tricky because if they're not clean, then they aren't worth very much. But cleaning them is easy and well-kept cast iron pans can fetch around $100 (£80) on eBay.
Cast iron pans
Big brands tend to sell better, even for pans, so look for Le Creuset for pots and pans, and Griswold for skillets.
Records
Music lovers, rejoice! If you’ve made the leap to digital and have a bunch of cumbersome vinyl lying around, then they might be worth an absolute fortune. Look for first presses and well-preserved sleeves. This Beatles Please Please Me 12” vinyl album early pressing recently sold for $7,500 (£6,000).
Records
Rare pressings are also very popular. A mid-90s Smashing Pumpkins Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness 12” vinyl album UK special edition can sell for as much as $540 (£430), because of its limited pressing and beautiful cover art.
Toys
We have all heard about the collectible Magic Cards, or the rare Furbies that make a fortune on eBay. But regular toys can actually also be worth a small fortune. Vintage Star Wars toys tend to do very well; recently a Bobba Fett figurine sold for $22,400 (£18,000). It originally cost just $1.90 (£1.50) when it hit the shelves in 1980.
Toys
Other toys like Lego train sets routinely sell for over $1,500 (£1,200), and many action figures will tend to attract a lot of attention if they are in their original sealed boxes and in mint condition.
Stamps
Stamps have been popular collectibles for many decades, and can be worth a lot of money. Used postage stamps that date back to a century ago command a high price not only because of their age but because they can be very hard to find. Prices vary, so always do your research.
Stamps
According to experts at Stanley Gibbs, stamps with errors on them, featuring Queen Victoria, and vintage Chinese and Indian stamps are worth keeping an eye out for.
Old film cameras
There is a real niche for vintage film cameras in good working condition. Art students are often required to pick one up for class, and film-photography enthusiasts still swear by their quality. A Pentax K1000 is relatively commonplace and can sell for between $50 and $150 (£40-£120), if working well.
Old film cameras
If you're lucky enough to have a Leica lying around, then it might be able to sell for over $1,000 (£8,000). Even its lenses can fetch a few hundred too.
Vintage wedding dresses
If you find your granny’s old wedding dress in an attic and don’t fancy saving it for your own wedding, you might have hit the jackpot. Well-preserved wedding dresses from the 1950s can be worth over $100 (£80) on eBay.
Vintage wedding dress
Silk dresses, designer gowns and antique outfits can be worth a lot more than that, however. This antique wedding gown in pure silk with a rosebud trim from 1857 is on sale for $825 (£660).
Old tools
If you have a DIY-mad family member, you might find a couple of vintage planes, saws or levels in the back of the garage. Depending on their condition, old tools can be worth a few hundred dollars. Look for planes made out of brass or manufactured by the Stanley Company.
Old tools
As for saws, rust-free and straight blades are ideal, as well as unique types like keyhole saws, for example. As usual, condition is key so if the tools are looking a bit worse for wear, they might not be worth a lot.
Vintage crockery
Vintage crockery has become a must-have at modern weddings. So much so that many people are now renting out the old tea-sets they inherited from granny. Complete fine china tea sets can sell for around $30 to $50 (£24-£40), though.
Vintage crockery
Unique pieces like Art Deco vases, or antique blue and white pieces can go for much more than that, however. Look for a manufacturer label or artist’s signature on the underside and do some research to make sure you price it right!
Bathroom taps and sinks
Yes, really! Antique porcelain sinks and basins are very popular with interior designers right now, and many turn to eBay to try to score unique pieces. Large porcelain sinks can go for as much as $150 (£120), but they're heavy, so don't forget to account for postage!
Bathroom taps and sinks
If you recently updated your bathroom or kitchen, don’t discard the old taps and plug-holes. With a little bit of polishing, brass or nickel taps can sell for between $50 and $200 (£40-£160).
Old silverware
Silver goods used to be popular wedding presents. If you have old platters or tea sets around, they might be worth quite a bit. Right now, silver is worth around $35 (£28) an ounce, but antique pieces are often worth more than their weight.
Old silverware
Silver tends to oxidize with time, so give pieces a good polish and make sure they are pure silver, as silver-plated goods are worth considerably less.
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