Preview New Junk

You've only seen a fraction of the treasures we have. Here are some "new" items coming to the Junk and Howe store this week. Everything is made in the USA.

And now you can follow Junk and Howe on Twitter!

24-Hour Sale! Vintage Country Place Plaid Poncho

Dropped from $59 to $39 for twenty-four hours! Sale ends on 1/30 at 11:59pm CST. Please contact us for a shipping quote!

Vintage Country Place Plaid Poncho

J&H Shipping Options and How to Save Money

I think everyone can acknowledge the fact that shipping costs are high. This puts a damper on ordering anything online. Hell, when I order out food, it costs $2.50 for delivery, plus a tip. For a $20 meal, I'll end up paying $7.50 to have it delivered to my door - most of the time from within 2 miles away. It seems like a lot - it is a lot - but like anything else, sometimes it's just easier to have something delivered to you. The good thing is that there are options that may lower the price of shipping, such as USPS Parcel Post and First Class mail.

Everything at Junk and Howe is estimated to ship Priority Mail, unless otherwise noted. However, we do entertain other methods, and are happy to give you a unique quote on the items you are buying. Parcel Post typically lowers the price on large items, while First Class mail is sometimes helpful in mailing very light items. They may take longer than Priority, but on some items it'll be much cheaper. Here are a couple examples:

Set of Two Vintage American Tourister Escort Marble Red Suitcases. These things are big, and they are heavy (to ship, not to carry!). For Priority Mail, we estimated it shipping from Chicago to the west coast for $64. With the price of the suitcases, it's not a bad overall price for the nice matching pair. However, send it Parcel Post to the same destination and knock the price down to $23! Sending them from Chicago to...Nashville? Priority Mail would be $28 and Parcel Post would be $18. Don't ever let the estimated shipping cost on the listing deter you. Simply ask for a quote and we'll be happy to assist.



The next example is for this cool Vintage Amity Buffalo Calfskin Wallet. For Priority Mail, from Chicago to the west coast, it's $5. Send it to the same destination using First Class Mail and it's $3. On a $15 wallet, such differences can make or break the deal.

Other ways to save money is combining orders. Again, we can supply quotes upon request. Or, you can always schedule a local pick-up. Please contact us about local pick-ups before you purchase.

Basically, if you see something you want, but shipping looks to be out of your range, drop us a line and simply ask us how much it would ship to your front door. Happy junkin'...

Here's a young rock and roll band from Austin, Texas. The Strange Boys. They have music for sale, released on the In the Red Records:

WATCH: The Strange Boys - Be Brave

Everyday Sale

Enjoy a little Merle Haggard while you're at it:

LISTEN/WATCH: Merle Haggard - Mama Tried

Junk and Howe is NOW OPEN!

That's right - the Junk and Howe store is finally open! We're excited. So many cool things up for sale. And more is coming! Contact us with any questions. Thanks, and happy junkin'!

Here are a few things that have sold already:

Junk and Howe's Housewares

Junk and Howe’s Housewares

When I think about being in a kitchen, I think about my grandmothers or my mom. Just as I marveled at my dad’s indestructible Craftsman tools in the garage, I remember the women in my family using quality tools in the kitchen. Unfortunately, Pyrex isn’t made like it used to be. Fire King has been cheapened as well (along with just everything else, right?). Federal Glass or Glasbake (by McKee) – these were affordable products in their day, and they lasted. They’re still lasting.

Even melamine products, like the Texas Ware mixing bowls my grandma used to mix concoctions in. Or watching her using her turn of the century Universal Food Chopper No. 1 to grind up ham for ham salad – we called it a “grinder.”

My dad had his Stanley Aladdin green thermos with him every day, working as a mason. That stainless steel thermos got beat up pretty good over the years, but it always kept the coffee hot the entire day in its vacuumed-sealed canister.

As I grew older, I was lucky enough to get some durable housewares passed down to me. I know they’ll last, and on top of it, the design of a lot of products from the last 50-plus years have become classic. They might have been trendy in their day, but now they’re timeless. I use Pyrex when I’m cooking. I bust out the antique grinder every so often to make my grandma’s specialty, “Hillbilly Tacos,” and I plan on utilizing a resurgence of the back to basics butcher shop here in Chicago to get myself some meat to grind up for hamburger patties to grill come springtime.

With times being tight on everyone, it’s nice to cook something at home – for the health benefits as well as the monetary aspect. And I get to use the coolest, most resilient stuff to make it all happen. Luckily, we have extras, so take a look and grab what you need.

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Same story - the grand opening is coming soon!

Here's a little Waylon Jennings. He was a staple down at my grandma's...

LISTEN: Waylon Jennings - Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way

Junk and Howe's Vintage Neckties

Section: Vintage Ties

Fads quickly come and go in men’s fashion, cycled through and combined like never before. At this point, regardless of what era you’re wearing, if it fits, and you wear it well, there are certain things that never go out of style. Straight-leg jeans is one. A white dress shirt is another. Tie sizes and designs have ridden the trends, but a tie is simply classic.

No matter where I’m shopping for a tie, I am looking at the design and color before I ever look at the name or the price tag. As for quality, your hands will tell you, if not the name or where you’re buying it. Since you’re buying from Junk and Howe, you can bet that every tie you buy will be quality. In terms of vintage ties, they may get wider or thinner, but it’s the artistic design and colors that determine whether or not it’s going home.

I don’t even wear ties that often, but if I see a tie I like, I buy it. It gives me a reason to dress up a notch and go out to dinner with my girl. And she always likes me in a tie. It’s also nostalgic for me, being that I’ve always liked the fact that two generations ago, wearing a suit, tie and hat was the norm. Then there are shows like “Mad Men”, which takes place in the ‘60s, that will make you want to dress like a classic man, and look sharp. Add my natural gravitation towards manly type things, such as tools, and I end up with a great collection of ties for any occasion.

The old department stores, such as Carson Pirie Scott, Marshall Fields, Sears, JCPenney, and Montgomery Ward, were go-to spots for the average working man for at least the second half of the 20th Century, but at the same time, you find a lot of quality-made ties with very striking designs on them – especially their high-end or executive styles. And then there are the vintage designer ties, such as Countess Mara or Christian Dior, which really stand out from the lot. These are the ties that were sold at the haberdasher men’s stores, such as Chicago’s Capper & Capper or Hart Schaffner & Marx.

The kicker is that because men traditionally received ties as presents, many ties hung in closets for years, never worn. Today, it is not too uncommon to find brand new vintage ties with the tags still on them! On top of it all, most likely you’ll never see another one of its kind out and about.

One of the best things about buying a tie from Junk and Howe is that shipping is FREE on most ties. And then there’s our everyday deal: Buy three ties, get the fourth (of equal or lesser value) FREE!

Wear one from Junk and Howe and you’re guaranteed a compliment. Ladies, buy some for your man and tell him to take you out somewhere nice.

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The grand opening for the Junk and Howe store at Etsy is happening within the next couple weeks. Excitement is in the air. The sadness of letting loose of so many beautiful and useful things is trumped by the happiness that others will be able to appreciate it all.

This song has been the song most listened to in the last few months. Not sure why, but it probably has something to do with Harry Nilsson's genius. Enjoy:

LISTEN: Harry Nilsson - Gotta Get Up

New Year's Day Finds

It's 2011. We're just a few weeks away from the grand opening of Junk and Howe, and more treasures keep funneling in. On the first day of the year, we found more clothing than anything, which was kind of nice because everyone needs cool clothes. We even kept some. Here's a peek at some of the things that will be for sale very soon...

Notables:

Forstmann Black Coat with Real Fur Collar (amazing!)
Golden Envelope Zip Clutch
Henry Lee Striped Shirt Dress (with pockets!)
Kenneth Roberts Gray Wool Blazer
Levis Beige with Red Stripe Zip-up Jacket
McGregor Windbreaker
Members Only Jackets (his and hers)
Suede Fringe Vest
Countess Mara Tie

and more...

Here's just one of the many tracks we listened to on the road. Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Loretta Lynn:

WATCH: Loretta Lynn - Fist City

Pictures: