9.01.2010

Stuff I got

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Photobucket
Today before work I popped into a local charity shop and found a couple cool things. First is a vintage waver/crimper, probably from around the 1920s.

Cool right?

I wasn't 100% sure that's what it was until the darling old lady working at the shop told me she remembered her mother using the same thing. Her mother would heat it up the fireplace (actually she said "chimney, which I thought was cute), or kerosene lamp, and clamp her hair.

I want to use it soooooooo bad. But I don't have a fireplace or kerosene lamp :(

Second is a large 70s suitcase, in a style I've been wanting. I have bunches of hard case vintage suitcases, but I don't dare check them onto airplanes, I'm even cautious about taking them out of the house. But this one is perfect. Canvas with "leather" trim (love that combination), so no worries about it cracking or getting wrecked. And it's nice and big!

Now if only I could find a matching weekender, train case, and hat box, all would be complete ;)

26 comments:

Miss Claire said...

Love the suitcase!

If you have a gas stove top (with the little flames), you could try heating up the iron on that?

Good luck!

xx Claire

www.jemimaandgeraldine.blogspot.com

OldFashionAllies said...

Can you imagine how cute that suitcase is going to be on the luggage carousel at the airport?! I have a boring black rolley suitcase.
Maybe you can use the stove top for your vintage crimper? Maybe not gas, but electric should be okay, I think... But I'm no expert.
Make sure you protect your hands when you do use it though! Looks like the handle may get hot.
Take Care,
Valerie

http://oldfashionallies.blogspot.com/

Gordita said...

Gas stove top ought to do the trick.

undomestic mama said...

The crimper reminds me of Little Women when Jo burned off the other one's hair (was it Amy?) Be careful if you use it!

Kahani said...

I'd suggest heating it against an Electric Iron. That way you can control the temperature until you figure out the one that works best. ;)

Andi B. Goode said...

I was going to say the same thing as undomestic chica. Hehe.
-Andi x

Anonymous said...

very cool! i wish that kind of suitcase were practical for travel...any advice on some chic rollaway bags?

dodgy xx

What we four say said...

Maybe try heating it up with your blowdryer (if you have one) If that's not hot enough try dipping it in some boiling water, the steam will actually help it work better! What a great find, I would love to have one of those, being that I have been a pro stylist for 10 years. I have some old implements from my grandpa that are pretty cool, a hand clipper and some old straight razors, I am fascinated by old hair stuff!! Please take pics if you use it! :)

What we four say said...

Maybe try heating it up with your blowdryer (if you have one) If that's not hot enough try dipping it in some boiling water, the steam will actually help it work better! What a great find, I would love to have one of those, being that I have been a pro stylist for 10 years. I have some old implements from my grandpa that are pretty cool, a hand clipper and some old straight razors, I am fascinated by old hair stuff!! Please take pics if you use it! :)

Coedith said...

My friends mom used to curl our hair with a very old curling iron she would heat on the stove top-electric. Just be careful the handles don't get too hot. She would reheat it between curls.

Astrid Crosland said...

I'm still using rag curls! Only way for my hair, and even then they won't last all day... :( My Grandmere used one of those at one point, I only vaugely remember it from my 90's toddlerdom... Rag curls forever!

Lolita Haze said...

How fun! I wish I had better luck finding goods. Unfortunately I am known to walk past the good stuff even when I am looking hard!

Bombshell Bettie said...

Pack up your suitcase and come visit me, you can use my chimney ;)

Personally I'd be scared to death to put a pair of mega hot scissors next to my head...but I'm super accident prone so..yeah.

I just got a set of hard luggage and I was trying to decide if I should keep them or not...I think you've made up my mind for me. They're so pristine I would be devastated if they got damaged. So lets make that someone elses' problem.

Kir said...

undomestic chica: It was Meg. If I remember correctly, Jo and Meg were going to a dance and Meg wanted to try crimping her hair as was the latest fashion, however Jo held the curler on too long and ended up burning Meg's hair and making it all frizzy and singed.

That curler looks incredible Solanah! I hope you figure out a way to try it out! :) That suitcase is adorable too. That's a good idea. I rather forgot that old suitcases are just that, old.

Ruby Redwitz said...

That suitcase looks absolutely perfect! Those curling tongs are positively interesting, I'd love to see how you style your hair with it.
-Ruby

Bette on Toast said...

Heat it up under your hairdryer! I remember girls at school doing that with eyelash curlers. They used to go into the toilets between lessons, heat them up under the hot-air hand-dryer and curl away. Heaven forbid they should have straight lashes during Maths...!

Casey said...

How neat hat you found that old curler! I've been on the hunt for one for years, but antique stores always want a pretty penny for them. ;) I think you should see if you can try it using one of the methods other commenters suggested--and then show us how it turned out! :D

♥ Casey
blog | elegantmusings.com

brodie said...

that suitcase is RIDONKULOUSly amazing. it's nicer than brand new canvas/leather handbags i've paid real cash moneyz for. boo for me/hooray for you!
xo

Marie-Anne said...

I think you should try boiling water to heat it up. Just dunk it in, give it a quick wipe and wave away.

archives vintage said...

that suitcase is fantastic, dear!!!

Em said...

Wow--super finds!

Emma said...

I love the crimper!

The shade of a kerosene lamp (which is usually just the right size and shape to hold a crimper or curler handle while the business end heats in the flame) is really called the chimney, so your lady may have meant a lamp after all. :)

Anonymous said...

The only thing I can think of when seeing that crimper is singe-ing hair....but the suitcase looks cool! ;)

Dawn Fornear said...

'chimney' is also the term for the little oven that hair presses are heated in. they're super old school & could be used for a crimper, too.

disco said...

Hiii!! Am glad I came across your blog, I absolutely love it! Followed you =D

Drop by my blog sometime! xo Mavy
http://dialogueswithafruitcake.blogspot.com

Solanah said...

Emma, and d, both good to know!

Doggycupcake, I don't know of any, sorry!

Thanks for the comments!