Before you throw out those boring appliances, or tidy your parents house, think again. You might be able to sell some of the collectibles you find from the 1950s and 1960s. You just have to find the right collector, some items can go for thousands of dollars. Here are a few collectibles you can find in your parents house.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Pyrex Mixing Bowls
- 2 2. Vintage Lunch Boxes
- 3 3. Mid-Century Modern Furniture
- 4 4. Vintage Cameras
- 5 5. Comic Books
- 6 6. Vintage Advertising Signs
- 7 7. Vintage Christmas Ornaments
- 8 8. Cast Iron Cookware
- 9 9. First Edition Books
- 10 10. Vintage Record Albums
- 11 11. Vintage Barbie Dolls
- 12 12. Vintage Watches
- 13 13. Cookie Jars
- 14 14. Fishing Lures
- 15 15. Vintage Perfume Bottles
- 16 16. Vintage Fountain Pens
- 17 17. Vintage Board Games
- 18 18. Mid-Century Light Fixtures
- 19 19. Vintage Radios
- 20 20. Vintage Kitchen Appliances
1. Pyrex Mixing Bowls
Bowls and sets can sell from hundreds to thousands of dollars, in some cases, sets can sell for over $4,000. Even sets with common patterns can be in the hundreds, this includes sets with snowflakes, or lucky in love patterns.
Save for later
Want to come back to this story? Save it with your email so it is easy to find again.
2. Vintage Lunch Boxes
If you are lucky, you may find metal lunchboxes from the 1960s. These lunchboxes can sell for over $11,000. Even lunchboxes with common designs can go for hundreds of dollars.
3. Mid-Century Modern Furniture
Old living room sets may still have value. Even mid century designs and unmarked pieces can be very valuable. Authentic Eames or Herman Miller living room sets can go for thousands.
4. Vintage Cameras
Old cameras can be worth thousands, this includes Leica, Hasselblad, and early Nikons too. Polaroids from early years can be surprisingly valuable. The SX-70 can sell for 300 to 400 dollars if it is in good condition.
5. Comic Books
Antique comics are great collectibles, especially if they are early editions of Marvel comics. Non-superhero comics can also be very collectible if they are of a certain age, and their value can climb into the hundreds. The value of comics goes up significantly with the first appearance of a famous superhero character in the comic, and some of these comics sell for as much as $10,000.
6. Vintage Advertising Signs
An example of a collectible sign would be an advertisement sign that is made of porcelain or has neon lighting from a gas station. These signs can be very valuable with a few of them reaching over $10,000. Significant value is also found in common soda signs.
7. Vintage Christmas Ornaments
Certain glass Christmas ornaments can also be very valuable. Among these glass ornaments, German made glass ornaments from the 1940s and 1950s are particularly sought after. Most antique decorations are valuable. For example, decorations made from mercury glass can be valuable, especially if they are complete sets, or if they include rare designs such as triple indent teardrop ornaments or triple sets.
8. Cast Iron Cookware
Cast iron cookware made by Griswold & Wagner is also collectible, and some examples of these, like the Erie Spider Skillet, can be worth over $1,000.
9. First Edition Books
Some first edition novels from the 1950s and 1960s are very collectible. A few classic novels can be worth hundreds of dollars, but a good condition version of To Kill a Mockingbird or Breakfast at Tiffany’s can be worth thousands.
10. Vintage Record Albums
Certain classic albums can also be collectible, especially if they are the first version of the album that was released. This is especially true for albums by the Beatles that were released during their first few albums. Amazing condition albums, even if they are normal albums and not once with a special cover or pressing error, can be worth hundreds.
11. Vintage Barbie Dolls
Original Barbie dolls from the 1950s and 1960s are very valuable, especially if they are in the original box and outfit. A first edition Barbie from 1959 in mint condition sold for over $23,000. Even incomplete dolls from the same time period can sell for hundreds of dollars.
12. Vintage Watches
Old watches from the brands Rolex, Omega, and Hamilton can also be extremely valuable and sell for thousands of dollars. Watches that were given to military personnel, such as military issued watches, are particularly valuable. Other rare versions of these watches can sell for tens of thousands of dollars.
13. Cookie Jars
Vintage ceramic cookie jars are also worth a lot of money. Cookie jars made by American Bisque or McCoy sell for a high price. Some of these jars, especially character jars like Uncle Mistletoe or Mammy, have sold for over $10,000.
14. Fishing Lures
Heddon and Creek Chub are two of the most valuable companies when it comes to old fishing lures. Vintage lures can sell for over $5,000. However, vintage lures that have not been used and are still in their original boxes are especially valuable. Lures from these companies that show rare color combinations are highly sought after.
15. Vintage Perfume Bottles
Lalique perfume bottles from the art deco period as well as vintage bottles of Chanel and Guerlain perfume from the 1950s are very valuable. The bottles themselves can sell for hundreds of dollars. Limited editions or rare designs can sell for thousands of dollars.
16. Vintage Fountain Pens
Early fountain pens from Mont Blanc, Waterman, and Parker brands can also be worth a lot of money. A Parker 51 pen from a rare color or special edition can sell for thousands of dollars. Many of these pens are not in good condition and that will affect the price if they are selling with original boxes and original paperwork.
17. Vintage Board Games
Collector’s items can include first editions of classic board games like Monopoly or original versions of the games Risk. Complete sets from the 1950s and earlier in good condition can be worth thousands. Even games from the 1960s that are themed from TV shows can be worth hundreds.
18. Mid-Century Light Fixtures
Vintage lights can also be valuable. Vintage lights designed by George Nelson or Poul Henningsen can be worth a lot of money. Mid-century unmarked lights can be valued in the hundreds or thousands and are considered valuable. People are willing to pay more for starburst and sputnik light designs.
19. Vintage Radios
Transistor radios that were made by Regency and Sony are worth a lot of money. Even commonplace radios in working condition can be sold for splite tubular radios that are encased in Bakelite or Catalin are especially valuable.
20. Vintage Kitchen Appliances
Mixers from the 1950’s, including Sunbeam Mixmasters, KitchenAid stand Mixers, and Vitamix blenders, can also be worth a lot of money. Models in working condition and in original pastel colors can be worth hundreds to thousands, especially those with unique finishes.
