Where can I find....

[Duke of Darkness]

The look we are trying to achieve this year is kind of a Van Helsing meets Frankenstein. No, that is not the theme, but it will give you a good idea of the look we are going for. What I am looking for is ideas on where to seek out some props and and other eye candy. Old lab supplies -- beakers, microscopes, etc. Electrical supplies -- old style transformers, panels, gages, things like that.

Outside of antique stores, anyone have ideas on where to look for these kinds of things?

Thanks,

Dave

[Nicole]

There's always ebay and...

American Science and Surplus - We're lucky to have their store in Milwaukee but they have a website/online store:

http://www.sciplus.com/
(click under lab supplies and equipment)

Their stuff is new, so you'd have to "antique" it yourself by using tea and brown paint/drybrushing to make the stuff look old - but it's pretty affordable.

Their website is fun to look around on - LOTS of weird stuff.

[Jim Warfield]

Dumpster-diving, owning a truck and being available when things get put out to the curb, along with doing this for usually several years and there you have it!
We still have junk auctions around here too.
A few years ago at one such auction an old coin was sold for $7,000!
A week later it was sold again somewhere on the east coast for $130,000!
Only a very few people at that local auction knew what it was really worth.

[Empressnightshade]

Don't forget to join your local "Freecycle" group through Yahoo groups and look around on http://www.craigslist.org under a location near you. They have free stuff and you may want to post an ad for what you're looking for, as well.

[damon carson]

EBAY! You could probably even find a half eaten sub sandwich Hugh Jackman ate on the set of Van Helsing and thru away. People sell anything on there.
Damon

[Matt Marich]

Our Company will sell a resin caste set of lab dials and switches this year at Transworld, Booth 6530. Edge Designs

[Infoamtek]

Michaels has a lot of small bottles of different designs right now.

[SomeThingInTheIce]

Flea markets

[Duke of Darkness]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the ideas. Most of them are ones that I have been watching already. Craigslist and Ebay have had some results. Freecycle is one that I was not familiar with. I will check that out.

I have heard that in many major cities there are places that sell stuff pulled out of houses and such during remodeling, as well as excess building supplies from contractors. Does anyone have any idea what I am talking about? How to find them?

Anyway, any and all further ideas appreciated.

Dave

[Empressnightshade]

I have heard that in many major cities there are places that sell stuff pulled out of houses and such during remodeling, as well as excess building supplies from contractors. Does anyone have any idea what I am talking about? How to find them?

Dave

Here in California, they call it CALMAX (California Material Exchange). However, I'm not sure what it would be called where you are located. The link to California's is below so it will give you an idea where to look in your state. It's a government office.

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/CalMAX/