First aid for fighting men

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It’s been less busy this week than I expected it would be. My only finds of note so far came Tuesday night in Mount Royal. This spot has started producing a few things in recent weeks.

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I liked the vintage llama lamp that was put out front of the pile. I might put it to use once I find a matching shade.

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There were some books and magazines in one of the black bags. I figure I’ll be able to sell the Birks catalogues (right side) for a modest profit. They’re all from the 1970s and 1980s.

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I also found some ancient cider; …

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… a couple bocce or pétanque balls (with a weird magnetic tool stuck to it);

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… and two boxes full of paints and other crafting goods. One of the boxes was in with the recycling – it really boggles my mind sometimes what people put in their bins! Most of the paints are half-full and still good. I’ll likely leave them on the street for someone else to find.

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Otherwise, I stopped at the place where I found the jewellery boxes from my last Mount Royal post. These people are moving (the house is sold) and I imagine their place is just about cleared out.

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I was excited to see some jewelry and other junk at the corner of one of the bags. There was a package of old dry cigars in there too, if you’re wondering what’s at the bottom of the picture.

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There were several cufflinks, though only a few pairs. I really wish I was able to find the second of the one on the far right. It’s by N.E. From, a Danish modernist designer and is made of sterling silver. If I had a pair they’d be worth around 100$, but instead it’s just a cool chunk of silver.

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One pair of cufflinks were marked as being 9 karat gold on silver.

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I’m sure they have a bit of value, although I can’t say I’ve researched them yet. Does anyone know who that makers mark belongs to?

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There were also some pins. I think the one third from the left features the logo of Quebec’s Liberal Party, which seems like a classic thing to find in Mount Royal. They have voted Liberal (at least federally) since 1940. The pin forth from the left features a Union Jack and the unofficial flag of Northern Ireland.

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I thought this was going to be an Air Force pin, but instead it’s from a pilot school in Australia.

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These look like shoulder patches for some kind of uniform. The buttons have anchors on them, which makes me think they’re somehow nautical-related. Does anyone have any ideas what they might be for?

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I also found a yard long photo from a school in Belfast (dated 1957); …

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… an old group photo, also from Belfast;

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… this thing, which I think is some kind of nautical slide rule;

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… a cool tobacco pipe by Falcon of England;

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… a few scents;

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… and some tea. These box were opened, but since each tea bag was individually packaged there was no risk of contamination.

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However, my favourite finds here were a couple of WWII-era documents. This one is a booklet titled “An Atlas of Gas Poisoning.” It was published in 1939.

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It describes the symptoms and treatment of mustard gas poisoning. Mustard gas was used a lot during WWI.

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This book definitely makes me appreciate the fact that I will likely never have to worry about such things.

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The second one is a pamphlet called “First Aid for Fighting Men.” It was published by the War Office of England in 1943.

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It’s a very interesting document – click on the photo for a better look. I could sell it for around 20$, but I might just keep it for my personal collection. It’s just one of those things that act like a time warp, giving me a more real understanding of what fighting in that war would have been like.

I hope to have a yard sale this Sunday. I have so many things to unload. Send me an email if you’re interested in coming! I’ll also share the location on my Facebook page.

20 thoughts on “First aid for fighting men”

  1. The “weird magnetic tool” with the pétanque balls is used by the players (often elderly men) to pick up the balls after a game without having to bend down 😉

  2. I love the Lama Lamp. Wish you were closer, I live in Northern California, so I could buy it from you. Also, are you going to sell the pipe? What price would you put on it?

    1. I love the llama lamp as well. I think it will look nice in my new place (I’m moving soon). I’d ship the pipe to California for 25 USD, email me if you’re interested.

  3. The shoulder boards are Royal Navy. See http://i01.i.aliimg.com/photo/v3/164171347/Uniform_Shoulder_Boards_Military_Shoulder_Ranks_Navy.jpg & https://hatchfive.wordpress.com/category/royal-navy/page/2/

    RE: the 9 k on silver cufflinks …
    from http://www.silvercollection.it/Englishsilvermarks3P.html
    PPLd without contour (Payton, Pepper & Sons Ltd [B][C][L] ) end 19th c/beginning 20th c.
    PPLd into a chamfered rectangle (Payton, Pepper & Sons Ltd [B][C] ) beginning 20th c.
    also here http://www.silvercollection.it/englishsilvermarksXP2.html

    Here’s a similar pair http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-of-9ct-Gold-Cuff-links-hallmarked-1960s-/131527581847 for £89.99.

    Some nice ephemera there.

  4. I bet there’s a school near by that would really appreciate the paint.

  5. dude! could you hang on to the paints a day more? might stop by,bring ya stuff,(timelife records-mint/books/varied kitchen stuff/oscar the grouch & lucy van pelt laminations,still have the art deco lamp/boat portal mirror/glass bell clock? joe 😉

      1. deal! will start packing your stuff this weekend to put in the car,(any interest in a dozen pabst blue ribbon mason jar glasses,vintage Rival electric ice crusher 1970’s,a few perfumes?) joe 😉

        1. Maybe. How much stuff do you plan on bringing to me? I can’t really take more than a few boxes right now because my storage spaces are mostly full.

          1. Cool,i get,moving’s never easy,if i just pack & wait ’till you move? (maybe a week after you’ve settled in?) would help? We’re in clean out/reno mode ourselves,so 2-3 wks more s’all good,joe 😉

  6. Hi again Martin, It’s Jean-François, I’m back in a collection!!!! My business is good again. I’m still interesting by your stuff, could you reserve me : the air force pin and the booklet First Aid for Fighting Men, and others stuff, maybe we can meet next week. JF

    Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2015 21:15:08 +0000 To: jf.urruty@hotmail.com

  7. Hi Martin, I’m interesting to buy some WWII stuff, can you meet you like Thursday night. I’ll take you already the frame of wwii bonds for 20 $. JF

    Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2015 21:15:08 +0000 To: jf.urruty@hotmail.com

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