Steam Punk/Alternative Market Thread

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Steam Punk/Alternative Market Thread

Postby Thogey » Sun Jul 29, 2012 4:22 pm

Let's keep this going and find alternative uses for junk. Educate each other so we can make money


I bought a box of gears at the flea market yesterday. Lots of brass and aluminum. There was also a couple broken cell phones in the box so I thought 'what the hell'

So I start poking around e-bay and discover this word: Steam punk. I think I understand what the genre "steam punk' is. But it's a niche like 'gay interest"

Bottom line is, I recommend all my fellow garage sale thrift store scrapper types educate yourself on this term. Buy steam punk eligible items and make money.

Ill post a link this afternoon to the e-bay auction for the $10 box of gears I bought. We'll see how it goes.
Last edited by Thogey on Tue May 28, 2013 11:17 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby Engineer » Sun Jul 29, 2012 5:24 pm

If you look through this link, you'll understand what steampunk is.

http://imgur.com/r/steampunk
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby TheJonasCollegeFund » Sun Jul 29, 2012 5:34 pm

Engineer wrote:If you look through this link, you'll understand what steampunk is.

http://imgur.com/r/steampunk


Cheese......you got too much free time on your hands!!!!
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby Thogey » Sun Jul 29, 2012 5:39 pm

You need to look at steampunk related items on e-bay.

There is money to be made here by selling old 'industrial age stuff' lamps, fans, gears, watch gears, gas masks, etc.

Ordinary hose bib valve handles sell for a couple bucks each. Keys, old typwriter parts, scrabble tiles.

This steampunk thing is kind of a sleeper. But I intend to exploit it while it lasts.
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby hobo finds » Sun Jul 29, 2012 5:51 pm

Thogey wrote:You need to look at steampunk related items on e-bay.

There is money to be made here by selling old 'industrial age stuff' lamps, fans, gears, watch gears, gas masks, etc.

Ordinary hose bib valve handles sell for a couple bucks each. Keys, old typwriter parts, scrabble tiles.

This steampunk thing is kind of a sleeper. But I intend to exploit it while it lasts.


How did it go with the Vintage male athletes photos for the gay audience? ;)
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby 68Camaro » Sun Jul 29, 2012 5:54 pm

This could degenerate into a topic on odd ebay categories over the years, but I'll try not to take it off-topic. :)

I had heard this term, some time ago, but had forgotten it. Good luck with the selling! Report back...
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby Thogey » Sun Jul 29, 2012 5:57 pm

hobo finds wrote:
Thogey wrote:You need to look at steampunk related items on e-bay.

There is money to be made here by selling old 'industrial age stuff' lamps, fans, gears, watch gears, gas masks, etc.

Ordinary hose bib valve handles sell for a couple bucks each. Keys, old typwriter parts, scrabble tiles.

This steampunk thing is kind of a sleeper. But I intend to exploit it while it lasts.


How did it go with the Vintage male athletes photos for the gay audience? ;)


I have not gone after the 'gay interest market'

Look. I'm throwing you guys some pearls here.

If you are a scrapper you will think twice about scrapping a gear set, an old lamp, faucet handles or keys.
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby Thogey » Sun Jul 29, 2012 6:03 pm

OK I paid 10 bucks for this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120959505450?ss ... 1555.l2649

2 views in the first minute
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby hobo finds » Sun Jul 29, 2012 6:09 pm

Lol Thank God you did not say "throwing you the bone!: I'm throwing you guys some pearls here. A ZZ Top song?
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby Thogey » Sun Jul 29, 2012 6:14 pm

hobo finds wrote:Lol Thank God you did not say "throwing you the bone!: I'm throwing you guys some pearls here. A ZZ Top song?


Not ZZ top it's from the New Testament.

but close.
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby natsb88 » Sun Jul 29, 2012 7:05 pm

Good idea. I was aware of the steampunk style but never thought about selling bits and pieces on eBay. I've run into some cool mechanisms in old printers and copiers. I'll throw together a box full when I load up my next pile of scrap.
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby cesariojpn » Mon Jul 30, 2012 5:49 am

Thogey wrote:This steampunk thing is kind of a sleeper. But I intend to exploit it while it lasts.


Yeah, exploit the hipsters that have ruined steampunk with their bull[excrement] as of late. I say good riddance.
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby Dr. Cadmium » Tue Jul 31, 2012 10:05 pm

Check out your local flea markets if you want to see some interesting metal items being sold. I've done well with many items that were too heavy, bulky and/or inexpensive to sell on eBay. Also, the selling costs are a lot lower.

One of the more interesting items I sold was a older stand-up vacuum body that someone bought to turn into an umbrella stand. I also sold a box full of used christmas light bulbs to a crafter who wanted them for making decorative "bugs".
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steam punk"

Postby Sheikh_yer_Bu'Tay » Tue Jul 31, 2012 10:46 pm

Thanks for the heads up, Thogey. The costumery (cosplay?) is amazing. A seamstress could cash in on this, too.
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steam punk"

Postby cesariojpn » Thu Aug 02, 2012 1:56 am

Sheikh_yer_Bu'Tay wrote:Thanks for the heads up, Thogey. The costumery (cosplay?) is amazing. A seamstress could cash in on this, too.
Image


Ugh, biggest thing that pisses me off about Steampunk: slapping on gears in random places and calling it "Steampunk."
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steam punk"

Postby Sheikh_yer_Bu'Tay » Fri Aug 03, 2012 1:48 am

cesariojpn wrote:
Sheikh_yer_Bu'Tay wrote:Thanks for the heads up, Thogey. The costumery (cosplay?) is amazing. A seamstress could cash in on this, too.
Image


Ugh, biggest thing that pisses me off about Steampunk: slapping on gears in random places and calling it "Steampunk."

Worst than that, look closely.... those are not even gears. It is a printed fabric! :lol:

I saw another photo of a young lady in a corset with real gears plastered all over it. I thought it looked really good. I could not find that photo again for my comment, so, I substituted the above photo for it.

Apparently there is an unknown segment about steampunk that garners loyalty from puritan devotees.

I don't know a thing about "Steampunk". I am just enjoying the commentary. Bully for Thogey! He found a way to sell obsolete crap and make a profit!!!
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steam punk"

Postby cesariojpn » Fri Aug 03, 2012 5:56 pm

Sheikh_yer_Bu'Tay wrote:Apparently there is an unknown segment about steampunk that garners loyalty from puritan devotees.


Being raised on the old stuff makes me abit like an old man. Back when it was all about the technology and atmosphere, not tarted up harlots and man-children that painted a bicycle pump black and duct tape it to his arm. Damn kids these days.
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steam punk"

Postby Thogey » Fri Aug 03, 2012 7:32 pm

cesariojpn wrote:
Sheikh_yer_Bu'Tay wrote:Apparently there is an unknown segment about steampunk that garners loyalty from puritan devotees.


Being raised on the old stuff makes me abit like an old man. Back when it was all about the technology and atmosphere, not tarted up harlots and man-children that painted a bicycle pump black and duct tape it to his arm. Damn kids these days.


Please, what is an example of the old stuff? I need to know. This market is fascinating.

Also what's wrong with tarted-up harlots? 8-)
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steam punk"

Postby Engineer » Fri Aug 03, 2012 11:53 pm

Thogey wrote:Also what's wrong with tarted-up harlots? 8-)


Nothing...nothing at all! :mrgreen:
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steam punk"

Postby Sheikh_yer_Bu'Tay » Sat Aug 04, 2012 3:57 am

cesariojpn wrote:
Sheikh_yer_Bu'Tay wrote:Apparently there is an unknown segment about steampunk that garners loyalty from puritan devotees.


Being raised on the old stuff makes me abit like an old man. Back when it was all about the technology and atmosphere, not tarted up harlots and man-children that painted a bicycle pump black and duct tape it to his arm. Damn kids these days.

Okay, I think I get it. If I understand it, steampunk originally was about tinkering with old machines and remembering technology before the modern electronic era. Today, we would call stuff like that "low-tech", or even primitive tech.

My old man would have been a steampunker! He lived it as a boy and enjoyed going to shows with steam engines. He would go to auctions and buy old overhead belt driven machines.

I have an old lathe with an overhead belt drive I want to rebuild some day. Is that what steampunk was originally about???
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steam punk"

Postby Engineer » Sat Aug 04, 2012 4:54 am

Sheikh_yer_Bu'Tay wrote:
cesariojpn wrote:
Sheikh_yer_Bu'Tay wrote:Apparently there is an unknown segment about steampunk that garners loyalty from puritan devotees.


Being raised on the old stuff makes me abit like an old man. Back when it was all about the technology and atmosphere, not tarted up harlots and man-children that painted a bicycle pump black and duct tape it to his arm. Damn kids these days.

Okay, I think I get it. If I understand it, steampunk originally was about tinkering with old machines and remembering technology before the modern electronic era. Today, we would call stuff like that "low-tech", or even primitive tech.

My old man would have been a steampunker! He lived it as a boy and enjoyed going to shows with steam engines. He would go to auctions and buy old overhead belt driven machines.

I have an old lathe with an overhead belt drive I want to rebuild some day. Is that what steampunk was originally about???


That's pretty much it. Like anything else with a dollar to be made people are trying to bastardize it with cheap Chinese imports, but you've summarized the essence of steampunk pretty well.

Steampunk basically boils down to handsewn leather, brass gears, and anything else related to the age of steam engines. Here's another link to a steampunk related site.

http://www.steampunk.com/governess-sara-reines-cinematic-steampunk-primer-for-ignorant-schoolchildren/
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby Thogey » Sun Aug 19, 2012 1:31 pm

Thogey wrote:OK I paid 10 bucks for this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120959505450?ss ... 1555.l2649

2 views in the first minute


Well I got 41 bucks. I'm sure I would have done better If Id listed in smaller lots. But it was an easy score and I'm ready to do more.
I bought more stuff. I'm into this 67 bucks. There are some really cool old gas fixtures in here.
Image
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby Sheikh_yer_Bu'Tay » Sun Aug 19, 2012 1:47 pm

Thogey wrote:
Thogey wrote:OK I paid 10 bucks for this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120959505450?ss ... 1555.l2649

2 views in the first minute


Well I got 41 bucks. I'm sure I would have done better If Id listed in smaller lots. But it was an easy score and I'm ready to do more.
I bought more stuff. I'm into this 67 bucks. There are some really cool old gas fixtures in here.
Image

Ha! Some of that stuff I am still using! :D
When I die, I want to go like Grandpa did. He died in his sleep..... Not screaming and hollering like all the passengers in his car.
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steampunk"

Postby stlouiscoin » Sun Aug 19, 2012 3:06 pm

Thogey wrote:
Thogey wrote:OK I paid 10 bucks for this

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120959505450?ss ... 1555.l2649

2 views in the first minute


Well I got 41 bucks. I'm sure I would have done better If Id listed in smaller lots. But it was an easy score and I'm ready to do more.
I bought more stuff. I'm into this 67 bucks. There are some really cool old gas fixtures in here.
Image


The buggle and mouth piece are worth something as instruments. not sure about the buggle, but the mouth piece appears to go to a trombone, and those go for 40-60 new.
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Re: Educate Yourself on the term "Steam punk"

Postby Thogey » Sun Aug 19, 2012 3:57 pm

I'll sell the trombone piece separately. The bugle does not have mouthpiece but I blew the hell out of it with the trombone mouthpiece. I'll bet it could be heard a mile away.

If anyone here wants any of this stuff just let me know. All I want is profit.
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