Stranger Things in My Crawlspace - Radwood Edition

"someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired) 01/22/2019 at 12:51 • Filed to: None

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So I decided to finally deal with the crawlspace in the new house. A bunch of fallen insulation, failed vapor barrier, and animal activity hid many treasures from the most radical of decades. Let’s put on our respirators and take a look!

First up, we have a later addition to the treasures - a third row seat from a C5-era A6 Avant. Appears unused/complete/in working order , but does need a good clean. Free to any Oppo who can pick up in DC and hates themself enough to own a turn of the century A6 wagon.

Next up we have a honest to goodness New Year’s ‘ 88 flyer from ur-TJ Maxx Zayre. 5 quarts of 10w30 for three bucks!

Need something for Nibby? $21 off a Commodore 64! Zelda for only $46 - that’s only like $102 today.

How about something for the car? 25% off Kraco stereos, 2 gallons of antifreeze for $6, $3 air filters, and sealed beam headlight for $6.

What would an archaeologic dig of this type be without the discovery of beer cans? No internet points for guessing which ones were located. But they are tallboys, and check out the cool Pabst logo molded into the top.

But what’s that hiding to the right.... The most valuable treasure has been located:

That’s right, the ‘57 T-Bird Micro Machine!!

functionoverfashion > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 13:02

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This is awesome. My family found a time capsule I had made in 4th grade in the back of the closet in my parents’ home. They gave it to me wrapped up for christmas a few years ago, it was entertaining. A mix tape of what I thought at the time was good music; a 3.5" floppy with Flight Simulator 4.0 on it - I never did get that working.

I don’t remember what else was in there but I boxed it back up and stuffed it under the stairs in our basement. Should be a good laugh in another 15 years.

ttyymmnn > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 13:03

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Oh man, I had forgotten about Zayre. 

someassemblyrequired > functionoverfashion 01/22/2019 at 13:05

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Ha that’s awesome, yep the kids certainly got a good laugh out of the flyer, and stole the Micro Machine (honestly I can’t figure out why Galoob doesn’t still churn those out, my kids love them).

someassemblyrequired > ttyymmnn 01/22/2019 at 13:10

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 I think people forgot about Zayre in the 80s, when they were still open.

ttyymmnn > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 13:19

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Zayre was a chain of discount stores that operated in the eastern half of the United States from 1956 to 1990. The company’s headquarters was in Framingham, Massachusetts. In October 1988, Zayre’s parent company, Zayre Corp., sold the stores to the competing Ames Department Stores, Inc. chain, and in June 1989, Zayre Corp. merged with one of its subsidiaries, The TJX Companies, parent company of T.J. Maxx. A number of stores retained the Zayre name until 1990, by which time all stores were either closed or converted into Ames stores. (The TJX Companies, which also owns Marshalls, HomeGoods, and Sierra Trading Post, is still in operation as of 2018.)

Wiki

ranwhenparked > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 13:20

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We were always more of a Clover and Bradlee's family.

someassemblyrequired > ttyymmnn 01/22/2019 at 13:22

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They did have a catchy jingle:

And Adam West sued them in the 80s for this one:

fintail > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 13:22

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I think the Micro Machine may be contemporary with the newspaper ad - I seem to recall that one as an earlier release. I was into those for their first couple years.

someassemblyrequired > ranwhenparked 01/22/2019 at 13:25

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Ha yeah Bradlees and Caldor were better.

someassemblyrequired > fintail 01/22/2019 at 13:26

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Yep, probably 86/87.   It was definitely one of the earlier ones.

ttyymmnn > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 13:29

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Back when you could say “ Christmas” on TV. Before the war.

Nibby > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 13:47

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b r b b u y i n g z e l d a

shop-teacher > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 14:06

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Galoob got bought out by Hasb ro, and Hasbro screwed it all up.

Echo51 > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 14:07

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Man, i’ve always wanted to build a sofa out of the rear seat of a car, with 2 recliner chairs from the front seats..

shop-teacher > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 14:08

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Cool stuff! Fun fact: In 1975, my dad sold his ‘69 Les Paul guitar to buy a tiny chip of a diamond from Zayre for my mom. Guess which one is worth more now?

someassemblyrequired > shop-teacher 01/22/2019 at 14:13

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Guessing the ring’s not worth $6000...

someassemblyrequired > Echo51 01/22/2019 at 14:14

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Yeah for sure, they can look good if done right. 

ranwhenparked > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 14:37

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Honestly, all those chains were pretty interchangeable - Bradlee's, Woolco, Clover, Caldor, Ames, etc. Might partially explain why they're not around anymore. Other than Kmart, barely.

shop-teacher > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 15:20

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You are correct!

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 15:59

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Zayre! When the location in Elmira closed they announced they were giving stuff away free. Needless to say mayhem ensued and I think police were involved.

Also, I was just playing Zelda on my authentic NES the other day.  I forgot how expensive that would have been back in the day.

TheTurbochargedSquirrel > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 16:17

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I think my dad still has 3/4 of a Merkur interior in the rafters. The driver seat was used as an office chair for a while.

CaptDale - is secretly British > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 16:18

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Well damn, if I wasn’t across the country from you I’d take it in a heart beat

someassemblyrequired > CaptDale - is secretly British 01/22/2019 at 16:40

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Someone needs to s ave me from having to deal with Audi crowd on FB...

CaptDale - is secretly British > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 17:07

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Well I am sure it weighs a ton otherwise I’d pay to ship it here

someassemblyrequired > CaptDale - is secretly British 01/22/2019 at 17:25

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It’s surprisingly light actually, but yeah still probably $40-50 to ship ground due to size.

CaptDale - is secretly British > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 17:29

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Ugh. I really want it, but I shouldn’t since I don’t have a car to put it in anyway 

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > someassemblyrequired 01/22/2019 at 20:53

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Yep. This one.

someassemblyrequired > MiniGTI - now with XJ6 01/22/2019 at 21:05

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So many good RPGs on NES...