What is the best item you’ve picked at an estate sale?

By best we could mean the one that made the most money, but it might also be the most unique,
the most fun, the most anything !

I think the best was the Pommes Anna pan.

williams-sonoma (dot) com/products/mauviel-copper-pommes-anna-pan/

Got it for $8.  But more than the price its just a hard item to find.  Not many out there.  It's a pan to make ONE thing.  All its used for.  And a very time consuming, unhealthy, recipe at that.


I think all the high end copper cookware is cool.   See a lot of copper but 90% is crap.  When you find a really old piece with stamps, can trace it back to some kitchen from early 1900's.....it's history.   Even better when you find a piece for $20, fix it and sell it for $250.   


Runner up?
The electric mixer from the 1920's still in box and with original bowl.    Picked for $15.    Bowl alone sells for $50-ish.  Its like brand new.   Kinda cool to have an old vintage mixer on the counter but that its actually functional is even cooler.   Some collector would probably have a heart attack if he found out I am using it but its way better than the $40 Target mixer I had.......

Yesterday I picked up an antique Seth Thomas mantle clock with the key, pendulum and working AND a 1930's/40's Western Union Blanks box with porcelain sign AND the blank sheets for money orders and money wires for $20.