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From an antique Cadbury chocolate box to a clothes mangle...
Old binoculars, vintage contact lenses and an antique thermometer are among the most bizarre items Brits found at home during lockdown.
With many of us clearing out clutter, Vintage Cash Cow researched the quirkiest items people have found since the pandemic began. While jewellery, old toys, watches and medals were popular during clean-ups, there were some very unique findings in the mix too.
Take a look at the weird and wonderful things below, as well as how much some of them could be worth...
The unique Kobe Japanese celluloid charms, which were especially popular during the 1920s and 1930s, are highly collectable. Made from celluloid plastic, they are now worth around £20, so be sure to keep an eye out for them in your loft.
Do you recognise these? Vintage hands-free binoculars were popular during the 1960s to watch sports, horse racing and attend the theatre.
READ MORE: Angus Ashworth on the surprising place we're forgetting to check for valuable antiques
Dating back to 1898, this Victorian perfume box would have held a bottle of 'Bouquet Des Amours' — a discontinued fragrance by the French perfumers who founded the company in 1862. These boxes are a great collector's item and could be worth quite a lot.
'The quick wit and humour possessed by the great playwright are summed up in these few handwritten sentences,' say Vintage Cash Cow. 'In 1925 he was awarded a Nobel Prize for literature and in 1956 his play Pygmalion was adapted into My Fair Lady, which is performed worldwide to this day.'
This unique-looking glass thermometer — which dates back to the 1903s – is filled with mercury. Invented in 1709 by Daniel Farenheit, the liquid contained within the glass expands with heat, travelling up the thermometer depending on the temperature.
Another unique find, this antique Cadbury's chocolate box is made from velvet and has metal fittings. Better still, they are highly collectible and some are worth around £100.
'This lovely souvenir saw was awarded to the volunteers who took part in the magic trick by P.T. Selbit during his show held in 1921 at the Finsbury Park Empire,' say Vintage Cash Cow.
Selbit was the first person to perform this now infamous illusion, and 2021 marks 100 years since it was first performed. What a unique item to find during a clear out! We're certain it's worth a dime or two.
Did you ever have one of these? Originally a 1950s comic strip character, Snoopy was all the rage, coming in the form of household accessories and toys.
According to Vintage Cash Cow, novelty collectible items such as this hairdryer could be worth up to £40. Quick, check the loft!
Dating back to the 1930s, this clothes mangle was used by children to teach them how to do the washing.
This witty poem from 1939 was originally copied from an epitaph in Bushey Churchyard from 1744. It reads: 'Don't mourn for me never, don't mourn for me now, I'm going to do nothing for ever and ever.'
This historic pub log book details the transactions between landlord William Granger and supplier John Fuller and Co, providing a unique insight into what was purchased between 1900 and 1902.
St Paul's Cathedral was hit in October 1940 during the Battle of Britain, with this hand-painted miniature capturing the scenes of destruction.
'Quite literally the smallest camera ever seen, these were made in the 1930s and 40s and were offered as free gifts with cereal,' say Vintage Cash Cow. 'Taking a 16mm film and with a bakelite body, these are not just a novelty item but a fully functioning camera.
'They may have originated as a free gift but they are now highly collectible in the camera world and can be worth £100 a pop.'
This 1950s bedpan was made by Swedish brand Kockums for use in military hospitals.
Contact lenses were first created by Leonardo Da Vinci, after he found that looking in a bowl of water could sharpen his vision. With many people preferring these to glasses, the easy-wear lenses rose in popularity during the 1950s and 1960s.
Common in many pubs after the UK made it a criminal offence in 1967 to drink and drive, this system would let people know if they were able to drive home after a pint.
This charming silver brooch dates back to 1886 and depicts the Theatre Royal, Newcastle, after it moved to Grey Street in 1837.
Uranium glass became widely used in the 1930s, with many people loving it for its gorgeous hues. Anyone with this at home will be pleased to know that it's now a collector's item.
'This 1983 life-like battery operated hand is produced by Vics Novelty, and most likely belongs in a haunted house on Halloween,' add Vintage Cash Cow.
Designed by Otto Overbeck in 1925, this product sends waves of electricity through the body with the idea of rejuvenation and restoring a more youthful image. Interestingly, some customers claimed it improved their eyesight, hair growth and cured ailments.
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