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Purchasing thrift shops, flea markets and property gross sales will be overwhelming. With the sheer quantity of stuff, how are you aware the place to start out? How do you see gems amid all of the junk?
As an expert reseller who has been combing by way of thrift shops for the higher a part of 30 years, I might help. For those who’re prepared to chop your procuring time in half, rating greater bargains or stroll away with brag-worthy finds you may flip for money, learn on.
From hard-to-find home goods to resale money-makers, every part featured in my “Thrift Shop Like a Pro” sequence qualifies as a BOLO (“be looking out” for) merchandise. Once you discover it, purchase it!
Featured discover: Chemex espresso makers
In my home, espresso makers expire quicker than the half-and-half. Severely, I’ve purchased two single-cup brewers prior to now month. Every one lasted about two weeks earlier than the pump mechanism failed and rendered the entire machine ineffective.
I’m tempted to enter a diatribe about planned obsolescence, however I haven’t had my espresso but. As a substitute, let’s speak about one resolution — the Chemex espresso maker, a sublime, environment friendly pour-over machine with no transferring components.
Invented by chemist Peter Schlumbohm, Chemex first appeared in the marketplace within the Forties. Manufactured from heat-resistant glass, the brewers appear like an hourglass with the highest shaved off.
The cone-shaped higher portion of the carafe, along with a particular paper filter, removes sediment, oils and fat from the espresso. No bitterness and no grounds — the proper cup each time.
However the good design doesn’t finish there. The slender neck of the carafe matches the hand completely and protects it from the recent floor with a band of wooden referred to as a “collar.” The collar is secured with a leather-based twine knotted by way of a wood bead. (Don’t you simply love mid-century design?)
A delicate groove molded within the glass serves as a spout. Simply take away the used filter and grounds as one compostable bundle after which pour the espresso.
Why purchase it?
Moreover brewing a superior cup of espresso, Chemex espresso makers simply look cool. Compared, my now-defunct single-cup brewers appear like ill-conceived piles of plastic.
New York Metropolis’s Museum of Modern Art and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum agree on Chemex’s creative advantage — the everlasting collections of each esteemed establishments embrace a Chemex.
Correctly used and cared for, a Chemex will ship piping sizzling perfection for generations. An excerpt from an outdated firm brochure says it finest:
“The Chemex coffeemaker is an ideal masterpiece of glassblowing, which solely only a few glassblowers can ship. Handled rightly, with respect, it can final a lifetime.”
For those who’re fascinated by reselling Chemex items for revenue, the market is totally caffeinated. An extra-large Chemex from the Nineteen Fifties just lately bought on eBay for $330. On Etsy, a vintage 8-cup model in pristine situation just lately bought for $199.
These costs are much more spectacular when you think about that classic Chemex brewers price solely a greenback or two in lots of secondhand retailers.
Significantly in areas with no robust espresso tradition, thrift retailer workers don’t know what to make of a Chemex pot. Is it a bizarre vase? A bit of lab gear? A elaborate spittoon? However hey, their confusion means steamin’ sizzling bargains for you and me.
What to search for
The Chemex mark is often printed on the underside of the carafe, although I’ve seen molded marks close to the spout on items from the Forties. The emblem is straightforward — simply “CHEMEX” in all-caps with a patent quantity.
Within the resale market, Chemex costs differ based mostly on situation, age and different options. For those who’re shopping for to resell, pay particular consideration to:
- Dimension: With a number of uncommon exceptions, Chemex brewers are available in one-, three-, six-, eight- and 10-cup sizes. Bigger sizes (eight-cup and above) promote finest.
- Manufacture location: Items marked “Made in West Germany” had been manufactured earlier than 1990 and usually promote for larger costs.
- Distinctive markings: Early Chemex brewers had been fabricated from Pyrex and a few characteristic a inexperienced stamp on the physique of the carafe that reads, “CHEMEX® U.S. PATENT 2,411,340 MADE IN U.S.A. FROM PYREX® BRAND GLASS.” Carafes with the inexperienced stamp command larger resale costs.
- Collar materials: Some later Chemex fashions characteristic a plastic collar, however collectors want the unique wooden and leather-based collar design.
Professional tip: For those who discover a Chemex with heavy espresso stains, don’t despair. Take away the wood collar and fill the carafe with equal components heat water and distilled white vinegar. Let soak for 2-3 hours, then scrub with a bottle brush.
Disclosure: The data you learn right here is all the time goal. Nevertheless, we typically obtain compensation once you click on hyperlinks inside our tales.
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