Flea Market Finds: Disneyland Picturebook - A Strange but True Tale

By Nick

When asked what my favorite Disney park is, I honestly have to say Disneyland.
Disneyland seems more magical somehow. This is perhaps, psychological, knowing Walt actually walked those very streets; his presence is almost palpable. And then there is Disney California Adventure, which is now a park to rival Disneyland for fun!

I could go on, but this is a story about a flea market, me, and a book I found. A Disneyland Book.

I have a couple Disneyland books, picked up at flea markets. This booklet from 1976 I picked up just a few months before our first trip to Disneyland in 2008.

This next one is more of a history of Disneyland, from 1969.

But our story is about this book. Just an ordinary picture book, from 1985.

To be honest, I wasn't even that impressed with the book, the other two I already had were much more interesting.

So, as fate would have it, just as I was putting it down, I noticed the writing on the first leaf. The inscription was: To Nicholas.

Well, that's my name. I immediately asked how much the book was. $1. Sold.
Without even reading it more carefully, I carried it off, in search of my wife. I showed her the inscription, and she said "awesome", and we continued our search through the market. In the car on the way home, I opened the book to read the whole inscription. Then I noticed the date.

September 18, 1986.

The day I bought the book? September 18, 2011.
25 years to the day! We were in shock and awe. What are the odds of something like that?!

This book I almost put down is now one of my favorite pieces of Disneyana.

Mickey Mouse Brave Little Tailor Record and Book (From 4/9/13)

By: Nick

I've been eyeing this Mickey Mouse, Brave Little Tailor record and story book from 1968 up for a while on eBay, and found it a few months ago on a very successful trip to the Columbus Flea Market.

I felt the $5 asking price was fair, as that is comparable to what I've seen it go for in eBay, minus the extra added expense of shipping charges.

But enough of all that, let's take a look at the book.

For those unfamiliar with the story, I will relate a very truncated version.

A kingdom is being pestered by a giant, and the king offers a reward for his capture.

Mickey, a tailor, is being pestered himself, by several flies.

With 2 fly swatters, Mickey dispatches the 7 pests with one blow, which he proudly announces to the people outside his window. The citizens misunderstand, assuming Mickey is talking about taking down 7 giants with one blow!

News gets back to the King, and Mickey is summoned. He discovers that the king expects him to capture just one giant, no problem for someone so brave. He offers the hand of Princess Minnie in return.

Mickey finds the giant, and through ingenuity and tailoring, ties things up nicely.

To celebrate, the King decides to hold a big carnival, and the giant provides the wind power to turn the carousel!
 

A happy ending for all. But I always wondered what the final fate of the giant was.

Someone got creative with the coloring on the last page here. The record itself is in perfect condition.

Released by Disneyland Records.

I hope you've enjoyed our story time.

Flea Market Finds: Air Mater Hallmark Ornament

By: Nick

I picked this ornament up at the Columbus Flea Market for $5

 

Air Mater is a "Car Toons: Mater's Tall Tales" short released in 2011, and can be found on the "Cars 2" DVD or Blu Ray, the Pixar Short Films Collection 2 DVD or Blu Ray, and iTunes, which is where I purchased it.

Back to the ornament! 

And here is the back of the box.

"Mayday! Mater bites off more than he can chew when he takes off with a crew of stunt planes in the animated short Air Mater. He wants to be part of the aerial action, but this is a little too much excitement! But never fear-Lightning McQueen is just a loop-the-loop away and wouldn't dream of letting Mater down."

Great detail in this ornament.

 

The propeller turns!

This short introduces Propwash Junction, a town inhabited by planes,  featured in the animated movie... Planes.

Flea Market Find: Cast Iron Mickey

By: Nick

I got this cast iron Mickey for what I considered a good price, $5.

It is apparently supposed to be used as a bank.

At almost 6 pounds, it could also be used as a doorstop, a paperweight, or a barbell.

What would you use it for?

Flea Market Find: Plastic Pinocchio Bank

I found this large plastic Pinocchio bank at the Flea Market a few weeks back.

When I asked a price, I was quoted $10. I picked it up, and flipped it over to find out when it was produced and discovered its stopper was missing.

As I set it back down, the seller said she'd forgotten there was no stopper, and I could have it for $5!
Sold.

Still, I had no idea when this was produced, so I went to eBay. I discovered there were several up for auction, and I got a very good deal! I also discovered this is from 1971, produced by Play Pal Plastics for Walt Disney Productions. Apparently this information can be found on the back of the neck, and indeed, it appears there is some writing, but it is so shallow, it's illegible.

Barbie cleaned it up, and it came out pretty nicely. There are only a couple of permanent marks and the paint is very vibrant.

Another great find at the flea market!

Flea Market Finds: Mickey and Minnie Banks

Weekends at the Columbus Flea Market are hit and miss. Some days, my wife and I walk the isles of stuff, and don't find a thing. Other times, we pick up several items, like these banks. Let's start off with this large, 8" x 6" (20.32  x 15.24 centimeters), ceramic Mickey bank.

I picked it up for $5.

You can make out the simple Copyright Disney under the price tag. Originally priced at $18!

I picked up these terrific Mickey and Minnie banks for $10.

Made of rubber, they measure 6" (15.24 centimeter's) tall. At their bases they are marked Walt Disney Productions, aging them to pre-early 80s.

Made in Korea.

No markings on the bottom. I'd love to know where they were originally purchased.

As a bonus feature, which I didn't even notice when I bought these, they each have one articulated arm! Minnie's raises up to her mouth. You can almost hear her giggle!

You can hear Mickey saying "Thanks for stopping by the Disney Musings Blog, hope to see you again real soon!"

Flea Market Find: Mickey Mouse as Indiana Jones

I picked this Mickey Mouse as Indiana Jones up at the flea market a few months ago for $5.

 

  

What's Mickey looking for? This gold idol of himself, of course. Pssst, Mickey, it's right behind you!

 I had no idea that this was actually part of a set, until I saw this in the Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost in Disneyland.

 

Goofy as Indiana Mickey's right hand man, Sallah.

This set sells for $19.95, so I guess I got a good deal on Mickey, but Goofy and the Ark are pretty cool too!

Mickey and me will be on the lookout for Goofy at the flea market. Raiders of the Lost Goofy.

Flea Market Find: Winnie the Pooh Bank

We got this great little ceramic Winnie the Pooh bank at the flea market last year.

 

We were drawn to it, like a bear to honey. (Get it? Bear to...moving on.)

Walt Disney Productions is marked on the bottom, which means it was produced before February of 1986.

The gentleman selling it was asking $5. While we really liked it, we felt $5 was high, because it's missing its stopper and had some chips. I offered $3. As expected, he countered with $4. I was just turning Barbie to ask if she had any single dollar bills, when, to my surprise, the man said, "Okay, 3!" Maybe he assumed we were discussing the price, and were about to walk away? I don't know, but what I do know is we got a great little bank without breaking the bank.