MN trappers, a couple of items from the antique

"mall"

I recently found a couple of things from our largest antique "mall" related to past trapping in Minnesota.

The first was a still functional and in good shape Victor #1 longspring that had a trap tag of a guy named "Scott Schwartz, Hutchinson, MN" on it. We don't have to use trap tags here so sort of neat to see this little copper sucker still on the chain. This trap has a nice patina of rust on it and I can see why someone might think it would be a good wall hanger. But, its going to be a while for that in my possession. Hopefully, its going back to work.

The other item is a complete, unused calendar from 1977 put out from "Runningen Furs" pf Fergus Falls, MN. Underneath the name it says in smaller, italic script, "Dealer in Raw Furs & Deer Skins For Tanning- Leather Goods". I looked up Runningen Furs and it appears that the old man died only a few years back.

When I bought the calendar, the owner of the "mall" said, "that's about the time (1977) when a lot of fur dealers started going out of business." I smiled and said no, there was a fur boom just starting to ramp up and really be good in a year or two. The real exit started a decade or so later". Or so I think, I wasn't very active in trapping during the 1990s.

Anyway, I thought I'd share my finds...

I found some 1926 newspapers in the wall of an old house. Jack Dempsey was the bomb at the time.

Some Nice finds!

You are right about the timing of the 70s and 80s fur boom. I was right in the thick of it, I graduated high school in 1977, Cool find.

You might be able to sell those on ebay if they weren't in too bad of shape if you're not just joking with me...

Always fun to look at old publications and the new of the day.

It's not fur related,and not ancient,but the wife and I came across an old trunk in our home that was lined with a local newspaper dated July 25,1943.Pretty much the entire front page was taken up with news about the war.The headline reads "Allies Capture 110,000 In Sicily".

Yep, the way people got news back then was either from the radio or the newspaper! Original newspaper headlines and stories of major events that are in great shape can be worth some money. Sadly, I think we're nearing a point where a majority of Americans know much or even care what happened during WWII. Its just some old history to them and means virtually nothing...

Unfortunately they are not in great shape.

Having sold fur to Runningen not long ago, and still have user victor #1's in my inventory, the sad part is that those items are considered antiques!

Thanks for sharing Gary Benson! Yeah probably not god enough for a collector but still pretty amazing that the paper is that legible after 80 years in a house wall! The drier climate of the Great Plains certainly preserves such items better than parts of the country further east and southeast.

My Dad was born in 1926. Died last year at 92 yrs of age.

I'd buy the calendar off of you if you ever want to sell.

If I look I probably have some silver to trade lol.\

As far as I know Runnigen fur is still in business, it's multi-generational.

Jack liked hound dogs.

"Antique malls" also sell "vintage" things. walleye101, consider yourself "vintage"...

Steven49- You probably dream of silver sometimes (lol)!! Good to hear that Runnigens is going by the next generation(s). What's neat about this calendar is how good of shape its in. Mostly wehn you see paper products that are over 40 years old, they have discoloration, water damage, or stink like serious musty basement. This has just a hint of mustiness. Not even crinkled. Someone must have got it and laid it in a stack of papers or boxes and never disturbed it much over time. I think I'll hang if off my gun cabinet under a tanned reddie hide I have there...

Sold the first furs I had ever trapped to Runningen's. They were good people to deal with.