Visiting Urban Remains and Salvage One


Liz had been itching to work on the yard this weekend, but given how much rain was in the forecast… we decided to go visit some shops today, instead. First up – Urban Remains, a place I had visited once before, but Liz had not (though I was there to pick up an item she had purchased from them, online).


On walking in to the back room, you’re instantly overcome with how overwhelming the place is.


A little of everything is back here, including this bell from 1910.


I love how these rows of chairs make the space feel like a really cool auditorium.


I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again – antique stores are a great place to start your bank heist planning.


I wonder if the cost is a hard dollar amount, or a percentage of the take.

Pausing here momentarily to remind you that if someone ever asks you to rob a bank, you should definitely say yes.


Liz, looking over some hardware.


A photo of the hardware, sitting on an impressively large and used butcher’s block.


I’m guessing movie prop? This was disturbing to just see on its own, without any context.


The plaque reads:

THOMSON RECORDING
WATTMETER
NO. 1911482 TYPE G2
AMP. 2000 VOLTS 250
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO.
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. U.S.A.


Weston Voltmeter, made by Weston Electrical Instrument Company, NJ, USA.


A pretty chill little turtle.


Anytime I see old bottles like this, I immediately think of antiques dealer Curt Avery, from the book Killer Stuff and Tons of Money: Seeking History and Hidden Gems in Flea-Market America. It’s a great book, and very worth checking out if you like antiques and flea markets.


I don’t know what I would feature inside a bell jar as large as this, but I’d find something.


Spotted on the floor.


A gas mask. Surprisingly, this guy was here when I first visited back in 2015. I really thought this would be something that would have gotten snatched up by now.


As I was taking this photo, Liz had to turn things creepy by whispering to me “Are you my mummy?”

Two weekends in a row, she’s done this.


Not a good sign.


Coupled with the Undertaker sign, this was a little disturbing to see. Though, an appreciated warning (the area we were in was chock full of heavy architectural pieces).


Liz spotted this chain…


and noticed, on closer inspection, it was made entirely out of bottle caps.


This handsome face.


He was here, when I last visited. Also surprised he hadn’t been snatched up yet.

Interestingly, I was able to compare this photo I took today with the one I took two years ago. While many things have changed, a few have not.


A collection of tags, outlining the patent history of the Huntley Mfg. Co:

Monitor-Thomas Sanitary Table (Dec 29th, 1908)
Monitor Cherry Pitter (April 13, 1920)
Monitor Washer, Separator and Stoner (April 29, 1941)
Monitor Tomato Washer (April 29, 1941)
Monitor Special Peanut Separator and Stoner (Sept. 7, 1948)


After leaving, we hopped around the corner to go to Salvage One.


On walking in, this old radio/speaker was playing Alice in Chains. Specifically, the whole Dirt album (it was on God Smack as we started browsing).

It was rather surreal, but I found it really comforting in an odd way. I’m a fan of the Layne Staley era, and many of the songs make me think of my youth.


And egg-like chair that looks as though it might fold in two whenever you’re ready for a nap.


One of several, actual bars one could purchase. I wish my basement could support something this large.


Bar pool.


A mixture of a lot of randomness.


Lots of hardware.


Flag, camel, globe.


Fractal column.


An entrance made from four columns and two elephants.


Another bar that made me want to step behind the counter, start polishing things with a rag, and start mixing drinks for people.


Stretcher.


The other side of the columns and elephants. I loved how the pews and the lighing made this feel a bit like a church.


On walking up the stairs, we arrived onto the second floor.


There were a few folks, moving things around. It felt like they were preparing the room for an event. Someone had music playing (Van Halen, David Lee Roth era), and I liked how there seemed to be a different soundtrack for each floor.


Moving towards the back area, we encountered a small collection of books that someone had organized by color. As someone who worked at two different libraries before (both the Dewey Decimal and LOC Classifications), this pained me to see.


A back room area on the second floor. Several hidden little spaces, enabling small groups and gatherings.


Liz was particularly taken with this couch.


Empty shelves, waiting for books.


Up on the third floor (no music playing, unfortunately).

An old Wild Cycle machine. It wasn’t working, but I’m guessing it wouldn’t be terribly fun even if it had been working.


An over-engineered colander.


Letter boxes.


Liz, looking.


A lot of lighting fixtures.


Jesus and Billy Zane.


A ladder, leading to the roof. This was partially blocked off, so we didn’t try to venture up. But I’d love to see what the rooftop looks like.


Shuffle Alley.


A very ornate poster bed frame that Liz liked. Note the t-shirts, hanging along one side of it.


I was tickled to discover that the t-shirts were all from death metal bands. I was imagining the kind of teenager who would sleep in this thing, and head out to death metal concerts on the weekends.


An old pinball machine. Made me wonder if Ben might like this guy.


Came across an old wooden crate that looked to have the logo from Girl and the Goat. Though the napsack on a stick is a variation I hadn’t seen before.


A room leading to a room of doors.


Looking down, several rows.


I didn’t realize just how many doors were here, until I peeked down one row.


At the end of the room, tucked in a corner full of windows, was a sort of prize: three identital sinks of different colors.

Related:
Exploring Urban Remains: American Antique Architectural Artifacts (and Other Oddities)
Liz Birthday Day: Architectural Artifacts, Edgewater Antique Mall, Broadway Antique Market, Bang Bang Pie and Biscuits
Liz’s Birthday Roadtrip to Michigan – Day 1: Hammond Salvage and Resale, Rabbit Run Inn, Lakeside Antiques, and Harbert Antique Mall
Up at 5AM, Searching for Treasure at Wolff’s Flea Market
Vintage Bazaar

This Post Has 2 Comments

  1. Cinnamon and I bought an old door from Salvage One back when it was still in a warehouse in between railroad tracks just south of the old Maxwell Street Market. We used it for a desktop, then stripped and refinished it and turned it into a dining table. I think it was about $40; their prices have gone up quite a bit, I hear.

    Andrew Reply


    • Wow, yeah – I don’t think there’s much there currently that would go for $40.

      avoision Reply


Leave A Reply