Balloon Man






The long thing at the bottom is a bit odd.































Relevant links

1. Facebook page
2. My eBay listings
3. Etsy store
4. Kijiji listings
5. My donate page


30 thoughts on “Balloon Man”

    1. I’m not too familiar with Varagesale. I have a sort of love/hate (mostly hate) thing with meeting people for sales (or trades) in real life, so I tend to avoid it except when it comes to heavy or large items. Those usually do well on Craiglist or Kijiji though, so I haven’t been motivated to explore other options.

      1. I think it works both ways. I’ll go to garage sales, but it’s less appealing to arrange a time and go to a stranger’s house.

        Indeed, I could never see the point of “freecycle”, because that too seems to be about arranging a time. If you’re going to make that effort, might as well charge something.


        1. I used to put things on the Craigslist free section (pretty similar to freecycle) but don’t anymore. If I have anything to get rid of now I just put it on the curb on garbage day several hours before the truck comes. The Plateau / Mile End (and anywhere in the city proper really) is full of casual pickers, so if no one takes an interest in the thing before the truck passes it’s most likely pure junk anyways. I find arranging to meet up with people pretty stressful and time consuming.

  1. That valium is for intramuscular (im)/intravenous (IV) administration. Ideally, you break the glass after using a small saw (more like a file really) on the ‘neck’ to create a weak point and then pushing it with your thumb. You can pop it without much effort just using your thumb the same way but there’s an added risk of glass fragmentation. Then there were the glass syrings which were sterilized with rubbing alchool (by setting them on fire). I can still remember the numbness on the buttcheeks after a shot 😛

    Nice finds as usual!

    1. Your surgical instrument is a bit of a mystery. the handle looks like those on bone nibbler but the top doesn’t look right for that. Maybe its a dental one? Also moorcroft make beautful stuff and it can be worth a lot of money sometimes. Whoever had those before they went to the curb bought decent ceramics, although the balloon figurines arent to my personal taste!

    2. Interesting, thanks for the info! It was hard for me to understand how you’d open the vial without cutting yourself, so that makes sense.

  2. The glass vial is called an “ampule,” and it’s broken by hand by holding a packaged alcohol swab over the neck and breaking away from yourself. I’m an RN, and although this Valium is long expired, medication is still packaged this way. No equipment required.

    My scores for the week were a large glass vase filled with mostly vintage watches, (Goodwill, $19.99) which I listed on eBay, as well as a 9-foot tall artificial Xmas tree, which had been placed next to a real estate dumpster. I’ll assemble it and then ask $100 for it on Craigslist, as new ones sell for $250 – $350. I’ve sold a curb-picked Xmas tree before, and I remember that I had multiple buyers who wanted it.

    And let me go on the record that Pachouli soup is no bargain whatever the price. Blegh!

  3. The large ceramic dog looks just like my old english sheepdog that we got at a shelter earlier this year. I was reading your post, and Then I was like-why does he have a picture of my dog?!-Great finds as usual.

  4. I love your finds! I always enjoy looking over vintage buttons. I used to be able to find bags and bags of them at Goodwill, but since they’re becoming more fashionable it’s been harder to find them.

    1. Well they do still get thrown out on a pretty regular basis! You might find some if you check the trash out front of houses that are for sale.

  5. Martin is always nice to read your blog…many of my friends always ask me about your latest finds….Thanks for all the info about the items you find! By the way Martin…how much do you want for the soaps..?? I live in NDG let me well

    1. Well it’s a small gamble for me to sell them but I’d trade it all for say… 15$? Keeping in mind I gave one of the blue soaps to my mom when she recently visited.

  6. Ha! Just noticed the medallion, it’s from an (otherwise) well known hotel just 15km from where I live. Oliveira de Azeméis seems to be a nice spot for d-diving, I must go there and try.

    And you’re right. These commemorative medals are somewhat common (and cliché) to be given to some workers and guests on inaugurations, some would have a personalized engraving on the back (like the name and position of the person, which I assume to be the case). I didn’t these were ‘a thing’, to be honest.

  7. Hi Martin, the funky looking medical instrument is a nasal speculum. The valium vial is easily broken by snapping the top off at the gold marker. The owner of the place was almost certainly an elderly doctor.

  8. Nasal Speculum is the correct name for the medical instrument, hope that helps, enjoy reading your posts.

    Sent from my iPad


  9. That goatsmilk soap is sold at Costco, lol, they often give free samples there and I really like it. You likely will be the nicest smelling garbage picker ever 🙂

  10. Many people do not like scavengers and do not appreciate others going through their trash.But you provide a great service for the environment and help save historical items as well.I believe people like you have a bright future because you are an independent worker.I am against governments regulating too much.I encourage more people to be part-time trash scavengers.I also believe in freedom of choice.I believe in the right of Uber to exist even though I sympathize with taxi drivers.Let the customer decide.

    1. I like to think I’m doing a service for the environment yes. And by writing the blog I hope to encourage other people to pick and also do their part for the environment.

      I’m not sure about Uber though. To me, they profit from not having to abide by the same regulations as the rest of the industry. Allowing them to operate seriously hurts people who’ve invested so much into the profession. It also seems to be exploitative of the actual Uber drivers. Regardless, I won’t get into it too much!

Comments are closed.