A ’55 Chevy “one-fifty” with a 454 and four on the floor. James Taylor at the wheel and Dennis Wilson riding shotgun; no names and no bullshit. Two-Lane Blacktop came out two years before American Graffiti and two after Easy Rider. The film remains a cult classic. Good old American muscle. [Two-Lane Blacktop]
In a beautiful episode of good timing, my trip to Los Angeles had me in town for Rose Bowl Sunday. A few friends and I went out to Pasadena to peruse all of the good vintage clothing, furniture and objects. The trip reminded me that the Rose Bowl is different than other flea markets I normally attend out East. Even compared to Brimfield, the Rose Bowl is all business, especially the clothing section. Those people are there for one reason only, and they take that shit seriously. I’m not saying it is bad — and you can totally find a deal here or there — I’m just saying the whole undertaking is just business. As long as you go into it with that mindset, you are okay. One vendor in particular was a total dick to me for taking pictures of his booth, which sort of set the tone for the whole day. But I understand how people are weary of folks at those shows. You never know who is who. Plus, every asshole with a camera and a computer has a “blog” now. Whatever the hell those things are.
One morning a few months ago I was thinking about donuts. That seems normal right? Thinking about donuts in the morning. Especially if you consider it was me doing the thinking. Well anyway, I was wondering who has better donuts, New York or Los Angeles? So I did what anyone would do, I took to twitter to conduct an impromptu (and non-scientific) poll of the best spots in their respective cities. One place that numerous people called-out in the Greater Los Angeles area (I just like how that sounds, Greater Los Angeles) was Randy’s Donuts in Inglewood. And man, I have to agree. Randy’s makes some tasty donuts. After a long flight in LAX, nothing is better than stopping at Randy’s for a cup of coffee and a donut.
Perfect and vintage. Bought for $1 in a parking lot in New Jersey (Meadowlands Flea). Even a man from Burkina Faso can afford this one.
This was my prize acquisition from this year’s Brimfield show — a U.S. Army field desk. I have seen a few of these (and some of the larger versions) around on the internet, but never in real life and never at a reasonable price. The markings on the side seem to indicate that this mobile desk — which was most likely used for a clerk — was probably issued for the Korean War and not WWII. All of the drawers are intact and there is a perfect place for your typewriter, pen / pencils, paper and other supplies. All of the wood is original and worn-in nicely. The leather carry handles are even in pretty good shape. This desk is definitely something I have wanted forever and something I will own for a long time to come.
A vintage army field desk situated on a metal shop table.
A certain 1972 Chevy has had my attention for the past few months. I’m not in a position to get one, but damn I think about it all the time. I really love all of those 1970s Chevy trucks, especially the C10s and the late 70s Suburbans a la Bad Blake. The film Crazy Heart had me up late on the internet looking for 1978 Suburbans in that perfect two-tone rust colorway. Try as I did, a good photo of that particular truck proved elusive, but I did manage to find the nice wood grain Suburban below and a whole bunch of old Chevy truck ads from the 1960s. What really strikes me are those egg shell blue and green colors — that’s pretty much as American as it gets. For more old truck imagery check out this gent’s Flickr and enjoy the old Chevys below. In the mean time, I’ll try to figure out what I want to spend my imaginary 20K on, a British milspec Rollie or a 1972 C10 two-tone.
If you happen to find yourself out in the country in Wisconsin, do yourself a favor and stop by the Pleasant Ridge Store for a burger and a beer. That’s exactly what I did not too long ago and I’m a happier man for it. Situated seemingly in the middle of nowhere (and I mean that in the best possible way) the Pleasant Ridge Store used to be exactly that, a country store, but these days they serve the farmers and dairy folk with cold Wisconsin brews and bar food.
Bacon, guns, waxed canvas, Rolexes. Anything a modern man may need — The William Brown Project has it.
And it is not everyday that you find it all in one place. I had a chance to chat with the site’s creator Matthrew Hranek, who when not working as a farmer or photographer (he’s shot for everyone from L.L. Bean to GQ), documents his upstate and downstate adventures for all to enjoy. I was curious about the The William Brown Project back story, and the motivation that went into creating such a well edited and inspirational corner of the internets. “The William Brown project started simply as a diary of sorts, a document of events, places, objects, finds and obsessions. A big part of the blog is about what takes place in upstate New York at WM. BROWN FARM. There, animals are raised and hunted. Things made, foraged and found. The William Brown project is my life’s edit.”
And what a life it is. The William Brown Project guides you through one man’s life. It details everything from hunting (like his May 1st turkey hunt), to shopping (at ACL favs Labour & Wait and Imogene + Willie), cooking, note-taking (on Smythson and Pield Notes pads), dining, going to butcher camp (amazing!) and living between the city and the country. All of this just makes me think that if this is so much fun to read and see on a blog, it must be that much more rewarding to experience first hand. Read it, save it, live it. [The William Brown Project]
WM. BROWN FARM bacon
Shopping Brimfield gives me the same sort of consumer apprehension that I get in Tokyo, I see so much great stuff I can’t pull the trigger. I’m afraid that I will spend my money before I come across something really amazing. With this in mind, I only made a few acquisitions at the show. However, I did pick up something that I have been meaning to buy for a long time — two Fire-King coffee cups and saucers in the classic green colorway. When introduced in the 1940s Fire-King was a cheap brand of sturdy dinnerware sold in gas stations, grocery stores and even given away in promotions by flour brands and the like.
The last bit of images from our two day trip the the world’s largest outdoor antiques sale in Brimfield, Mass. See all of the coverage here.
