If you thought op shops were all about pre-worn clothes and dated kitchenware, think again.
In recent days the Salvation Army’s Castlemaine thrift shop manager Peter Bottomley has seen some particularly intriguing items come through the donation bay of the local store.
For starters there’s the Swiss travelling clock circa mid-1920s.
Then there’s the vintage police truncheon – “with some pretty impressive dents in it,” notes Peter.
The mind boggles.
Adding some musical diversity, there’s the German-made zither, an item similar to a harp that some member of the public saw fit to bestow on the local charity outlet.
It’s all left Peter pretty busy with the research side of his role, jumping online in a quest to confirm provenance and set appropriate retail prices for the goods.
It hasn’t taken him long to discover that the zither – still in its original box albeit a little timeworn – appears identical to one on proud display at Sydney’s Power House Applied Arts and Sciences Museum.
“And the clock is a Swiss Jaeger Le Coultre eight-day travelling alarm clock, probably 1930s,” Peter says.
“Eight-day because you only have to wind it every eight days.”
As to the antiquarian police truncheon, the thrift shop manager says he’s sent diagnostic details to the British Police Museum in Glasgow and is waiting to hear back.
‘They’ve said they’re more than happy to look it and get back to me,” says Peter, adding that he’ll let the Express know more as soon as he does.
“It’s got the Queen Victoria cipher on it so it can’t be any later than 1901 because that’s when Queen Victoria died, and it’s also got a hallmark punched into it.
“I think it’s seen a few wild encounters,” he says, critically examining the evocative dints and scrapes on the retro law enforcement piece.
Fortunately history and historic sleuthing is something the thrift shop manager, who doubles as a Castlemaine café owner, thoroughly enjoys.
“I’ve got a passion for history. It’s these tangible items that bring history alive.”
Peter reels off myriad fashion labels on donated clothing received – “some of it not even worn”.
“Alannah Hill, Dangerfield, Carla Zampatti, We’ve got Lisa Ho over there, Ralph Lauren …”
About three weeks ago the local thrift shop joined other Salvation Army charity stores nationwide in listing desirable items for sale on a dedicated online portal with all proceeds returned to the communities where they were listed.
“Any Salvation Army store is able to upload items and the shop code indicates which community shop listed the items so everything that comes from here raises funds that all come back into this community,” Peter says.
He says the research is all part of setting affordable yet fair prices for goods and respecting the items people donate, and the histories that may be attached, which in special cases may mean really precious items end up being presented to public institutions.
“It’s extraordinary. It never ceases to amaze me what comes in that door, and how generous people are,” he says.
