How far do you go........???

[cormy]

I always stop and peek in dumpsters especially if they are in front of old buildings. It can be exciting taking that first peek over the top. I often call myself a "dumpster diver" since I will jump right in if I see something decent (or non decent) in some cases, I just can't seem to allow something to get thrown away, never to be seen again, if it has some age and is some what collectible to me. Luckly I haven't been caught, although they are throwing it out. Saved some old tire signs and other old stuff from an tire shop/gas station being gutted, contacted the owner (executor) and she said they were getting money for the "scrap value" of the material, I tried to get her permission to go through the dumpsters every now & then but she seemed to think all the old equipment is better scraped and really didn't say I could. I still stop by when no one is present--can help myself, seems like such a waste. I did give her my number and asked her not to throw out signs and such. I have to watch it since the owner has just passed away, and its an emotional time, might over do it.      Am I wrong??

[Eric]

Nothing wrong with that... tell her you collect old signs or want them for your garage.
and you'd buy them You are probably going to be better money than the scrap value.
We have big trash pick up twice a year in my town and a friend  and I go out every time
He found a pinball machine last year and this year He met the guy as he was rolling out a
Arcade game (Star Ship I think) still worked they just didn't want it anymore...
As long as you're not breaking the law why not?

[dr galaga]

Quote (Eric @ May 24 2006,1:40)

As long as you're not breaking the law why not?

Could be considered trespassing or, in the case of the owner getting scrap money, theft.  Just be carefull!  '>

[vend_dr]

Up until about 2 years ago I would go with some friends to northern Minnesota and dig through old resort dumps looking for old beer and soda cans along with anything else of "value". Normally we would have permission but in some cases we would have to get a little sneaky. 

I have retired my dumping rake, as the last few years people wouldn't give permission and with the way some are you may end up getting shot at if you try to be sneaky.  

The stranges place I ever dumped was on an island in the middle of Lake Vermillion still a lot of nice things there (including a Model T) but it is hard to dump by boat.

Writing about this has reminded me of a dump where there are at least 2 Coca Cola coolers sitting under some pine trees, at the bottom of a hill which were in suprisingly good condition. Would be almost impossible to get them out of there as it is an old town dump which has been closed for many years and you are unable to drive into it so you would have to winch them up the hill and then carry them across soft ground the length a football field.

[Eric]

True Doc is right! Be careful! Don't hop fences! But if you've talked with the owner and they don't mind
or it's a junk yard or dump site and they don't mind of course. But if you see something,
in my case last year, find out who owns it and wait till they come around and talk with them.
Nothing is worth breaking the law or getting into trouble.

[BrianB]

You are absolutely right, Eric! This hobby is supposed to be about fun, not gettin' in trouble! I know it sucks to see "perfectly good" stuff being thrown away as trash or recycled as scrap but it really is the owners perogative to do what he/she wants to do with it.

There's this old Choice Vend 7up machine that sits in a wooded lot that I drive past everyday coming to and from work. I never got up the courage to go up to the house that sits next to it and inquire about it. My buddy from work did though and boy did he ever get an earfull! The old lady barked at him saying that the machine was her's and it wasn;t for sale and never would be. She'd rather just sit and watch it rot.

Some days I think about staging a clandestine snatch-and-grab op to extricate that tired old soldier but that's when unfortunately reality sets in and I realize that not only would I be trespassing but I would also be stealing........

[vend_dr]

Brian's story above reminded me of an old Nesbitt's machine outside of a lodge (which doubled as a small store) at a resort. This resort has seen it's better days as some of the cabins are literally leaning and appear ready to fall down, it is run by a lady who was 86 and still working as a substitute teacher. Any way while we were inquiring about a dump across the street we casually asked about the Nesbitt's machine and she launches into a rant (literally she was screaming at us) about how it was her husbands who had tragically died in a small fire in the lodge/store in 1956 and that no could touch the machine and no one had been allowed into the lodge/store since then. You could see the inside of the lodge/store still had product on the shelves and cases of full nesbitt's bottles could be seen too.

[cormy]

I am thinking about taking the stuff I like from the "scrap" dumpster and slipping an envelope with money under the door explaining that this is way more than the scrap yard would pay for the few items that were taken.

[collecture]

Do I detect a sense of guilt setting in?

[Eric]

Hmmm... But I don't know what the temptation is...
If it was a 1930s-50s Soda or Petro sign in excellent condition laying in a scrap pile I
would agree it would be tough... I don't know what I'd do.... but if it's a sign from
the 70s-now try talking again with the owner... show them that you collect and
that you'd pay better than scrap price for it.

Good topic - What would most do if it was a Round Top 56, complete, laying in a pile of scrap,
easily accessible, knowing without a doubt it's going to be crushed? And the owner could care less
about it but yet would not give/sell it to you?...... Hmmmmmm... Yesssssss... very tempting.....
'>