Smudge Pots
Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2010 9:32 am
Smudge Pots
My wife and I watch this program quite a bit called “Pickers.” It is about two guys who drive around and they pick thru other peoples stuff, and try to talk them out of it, so that they can sell it later.
We have a much different term for it, we call it “junking.” (I can hear my bride as I type this ... GARAGE SALE! GARAGE SALE .... MAKE A YOUIE!)
These Picker guys find the neatest junk. They always manage to sell it for a profit too. I find that a little less than truthful, but then again, “that is television for you” truly a dishonest medium and most always less than truthful when it comes to the storyline.
“One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” is what Mama used to say. Now the old man, he would put it much differently, he would say: “It’s too valuable to throw away and it isn’t worth a dime when you go to sell it.”
Two opposing viewpoints.
Junking is fun, and it keeps me out of the beer-joints, so it is a “win-win-situation.” We have never discovered the painting with the original Declaration of Independence on the back like you see on Oprah, but we sometimes stumble onto some neat stuff. (On one trip, in Wyoming, we stopped at this little store and I purchased some Coca Cola bottle openers. Later on, I took them to a Coke novelty store in Okie City and discovered my $8 purchase was an original and worth $144.00!)
We occasionally find a nugget or a little treasure when we junk on the weekends or on a trip. This time it was smudge pots, now I am not all that sure about the technical name, but when I was a kid, they were called that. If you are fortunate to find some, in reasonably good shape, they clean up rather nice. (Be forewarned this is messy work and not much fun, but in the end they are worth it)
Back in the fifties you saw them everywhere on construction sites, cement work, road construction. They usually were filled with kerosene if my memory serves me right. In this case, I filled them with this stuff they sell at China-Mart for backyard Tiki Lanterns (Cintrella oil or something like that). We are going to use them for mosquito protection. One last thing: If you need to replace the wicks they can be found at Home Depot or Lowe’s. You can also make some out of cotton-type rope.
Scratch ‘em up real good, paint ‘em and then find a suitable tool box to store them in (mine came from Lowe’s - less than $25) and you are off to the races! Best part, “no mosquitoes hanging around the bus in the parking area.”
Good hunting ...
BCO
I remember those from days gone by, haven't seen them for years. That's when they made things to last, not like today! Good find!
