I took a day trip to Palmerton, Pennsylvania looking for artifacts related to the local zinc smelting industry (see Mindat). I arrived too late in the day for a hike, too late for the local Historical Society. Using Google maps, I searched for local antique shops that might have zinc smelting paraphernalia. I found The Slatington Marketplace, which is an enormous brick factory building converted into a massive antique and farmers market. Long story short, I did not find any zinc paraphernalia, but I did discover scores of vendors selling unique, quirky and bizarre collectables — and perfectly normal collectables as well. I recommend a visit if you are a collector.
I purchased the comic book All New Ghostly Haunts #30 (comics.org) with art by Steve Ditko and DEVO’s Working in a Coal Mine 7″ single from the soundtrack for the movie Heavy Metal (discogs).
Here is an assortment of whimsical and noteworthy discoveries I did not buy, but instead honor with a place in this article:
Halloween Blow-Mold Rabbits:
These remind me of the hallway sisters from the Shining movie. Danny should have brought them home.
Tiger TV Lamp:
I have a large collection of these things (in my storage unit). I love them.
Elmo re-paint:
This was perplexing. It looks like someone found a fiberglass Elmo at Sesame Place and kept him hostage. And used him in a horror movie.
An unusual mannequin head:
I believe this mannequin head is judging me.
Squirrel taxidermy:
I think its name is Crendle (or whatever you like if you give it a home).
Large taxidermy assortment:
It looks like they broke out of a Cabela’s and are hiding out here. Don’t rat them out. They live here now. The chicken is wearing pants.
