Recent thread title made me think this would be a good thread idea. What are some of the best or worst things you've seen or bought at a garage sale. I bought a sterling silver pen that had become completely tarnished and the owners didn't know what they had. Nor did I until I had used it a couple of times and shined it up.

I bought a set of Encyclopedia Britannica's "Great Books of the Western World" 1954 edition, complete for $10 and used it in university for one and only humanities course I took.

I then sold it on E-bay (having no idea of it's value) for $538 u.s. when the U.S. dollar was 2-1 with the Canadian Dollar. That really helped with tuition ;)

I've had other great finds, but that was the best by numbers I think.

680NEWS reports a bunch of group of 7 paintings for $100+ were found recently. - valued at $300000+ headed to action. - just pure luck
Wonder what the seller is going through now.

I think we all wish we could find a Tom Thompson (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/garage-sale-painting-thought-to-be-work-of-tom-thomson-could-sell-for-250000/article2401925/).

Probably my best buy/most used is a 9/16" long arm allen wrench that my husband bought for me for a buck and a quarter.

One day at a flea market my daughter spotted a cute little 3/4 scale 'beginner' guitar a lady had displayed for sale. She picked it up (even though she's already got two guitars) but it was sadly out of tune, so she asked if she could tune it. The owner said 'sure', so she tuned it up (perfect pitch is helpful at times) and then started playing. The guitar sold almost immediately to a passer-by, so the owner gave my daughter a $10 commission on the sale.

I picked up a complete set of PING men's golf clubs including woods, all the irons, an extra putter, ball retriever and a golf bag for $7 bucks. I got these a few years back at a garage sale around the corner from my house and I still use them today

Friend of mine found a copy of Anne of Windy Poplars signed by Lucy Maud Montgomery for a dollar.

I found a top of the line Honda generator for a fraction of the cost of new, it was just serviced as well.

I found a 3 foot wrecking bar at a local sale once. They guy told me to just take it. Ive used it a few times and it's really sturdy. Solid steel or iron bar!

Once I found a white wireless Apple keyboard at a value Villiage for $5. I had my laptop in its bag and a few batteries. Popped em in turned it on and it worked. It was filthy with grime. But I just popped the keys off and cleaned it up. My Mother has been using it ever since!