The official thrift/discount store bragging thread

Originally Posted by amerikajinda

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wow that's not cool... who made her the arbiter of quality all of a sudden?

I actually wrote a complaint email just now. I'm totally not against high prices in thrifts (I mean, I'd prefer otherwise, but it's a charity), and I'd even be cool if it was just everything priced at the counter like used records, but switching prices when you get to the counter is illegal.

Originally Posted by unpainted huffheinz

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Alan, I got a Norman Hilton navy doeskin blazer for $8 today. It looks like it was made by Oxxford, all of the seams and stitching are the same as my old Onwentsia jackets. The tag in the right pocket looks like the old Oxxford one too.
Hilton made high quality stuff. They had their own factory, in fact made RL Polo stuff at one time, so I'd be very surprised if it was made by someone else. I'd love to see pics, including the tag. Norman Hilton interior tags usually have the sheep symbol on them. Great find, by the way. If it's in the 39R range I'd be glad to double your money.

Originally Posted by AlanC

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Hilton made high quality stuff. They had their own factory, in fact made RL Polo stuff at one time, so I'd be very surprised if it was made by someone else. I'd love to see pics, including the tag. Norman Hilton interior tags usually have the sheep symbol on them. Great find, by the way. If it's in the 39R range I'd be glad to double your money.
ah, yes - the sheep on the weathervane! nice-quality suits... would you say akin to mainline Hickey Freeman? slightly better? how would you say they compare with Southwick?

Originally Posted by amerikajinda

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ah, yes - the sheep on the weathervane! nice-quality suits... would you say akin to mainline Hickey Freeman? slightly better? how would you say they compare with Southwick?
to my non expert self, when you're comparing norman hilton vs hickey freeman vs southwick of that era it is basically all equal construction wise. All fully canvassed, mostly machine made, etc. For my money though, all the norman hilton stuff I have seen has been superior to southwick / HF. Less dated styling, better fabrics, they have just usually felt like more substantial pieces. In fact, I picked up a norman hilton jacket for my brother a while back that was tagged as being made in the mid-70's, and it bore none of the horrific hallmarks of clothing made in that decade.

Anyone seen one of these before? In spite of the fact that its tagged National Geographic, it is a very nice, well made travel jacket. Leather trimmed pockets and cuffs, throat latch and its amazing the features they've built into the inside of this jacket. Its also waterproof using a German system called 3XDry. Virtually new, it amazes me the things that people just give away.

I bought that exact jacket from a Goodwill a couple years ago. NWOT. It was a great jacket and I wore it a few times, but it was just too big.

Originally Posted by mainy

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to my non expert self, when you're comparing norman hilton vs hickey freeman vs southwick of that era it is basically all equal construction wise. All fully canvassed, mostly machine made, etc. For my money though, all the norman hilton stuff I have seen has been superior to southwick / HF. Less dated styling, better fabrics, they have just usually felt like more substantial pieces. In fact, I picked up a norman hilton jacket for my brother a while back that was tagged as being made in the mid-70's, and it bore none of the horrific hallmarks of clothing made in that decade.

I'd say this is probably right. I think Hilton was a smaller operation and more hands on. I think you'll find a lot more classic styling and probably higher quality and more interesting fabrics than the other US makers.

7 Kilgour shirts in my size! $12/each

Originally Posted by YoungAmerican

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On the other hand, I took my stuff to the front and the lady examined the ties, and said, "Hmm, three dollars each." And the posted price was two dollars, and I said, "I thought they were two dollars." And she replied, "No. Depends on quality." And I said, "Doesn't say that anywhere around here, it says ties $2." And then I just gave it up because it was only a matter of $2, but still... give me a break.

They did the same thing to me a few months back at the Salvation Army. The ties were posted at $1.99 but the cashier charged me $3.99 because it was "higher quality". It was a Charvet - and a good, genuine charity - so I didn't argue. Still, I have a feeling he had no idea what Charvet was; he simply charged me more because 1) I had so thoroughly gone thru the rack that he knew I knew what I was looking for and 2) I looked like I could pay more.

Originally Posted by tonylumpkin

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Anyone seen one of these before?

That's a good find. That jacket is extremely recent: its selling at the National Geographic online store right now for $159.00

Originally Posted by Nataku

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7 Kilgour shirts in my size! $12/each

Epic!

Not clothing, but here is a find that should appeal to thrifters ... Op-shop staff find cash stash in furniture Mex Cooper November 6, 2009 - 10:38AM Op-shop workers have handed in thousands of dollars left behind in furniture donated by a mystery person in Melbourne's south-east. The news of the lucrative discovery comes two days after a postal worker took a package containing $100,000 to a police station on Wednesday. Police are hunting for the owner of the large amount of cash forgotten in furniture left at the Salvation Army Store in Rowville last Friday. The money was held in several separate packages, labelled with a name, inside a piece of furniture. Police have been unable to track down the person named and would like to speak to anyone who knows about the furniture delivery. Few details of the stash have been released in a bid to weed out the rightful owner. Australia Post worker "Georgia" was yesterday praised by police after handing in a container stuffed with $100,000 in $50 bills. The ATM cartridge had been left behind by a security company at the rear of Georgia's work in Clayton South. She took the unopened package, which was covered in $50 notes stickers, to a police station. This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/national/op...1106-i0zn.html

Originally Posted by EBTX66

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That's a good find. That jacket is extremely recent: its selling at the National Geographic online store right now for $159.00.

I don't think its ever been worn, but it lacks the tags to prove it. Sadly, its too small so it'll go up for sale or trade.

Originally Posted by Nataku

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7 Kilgour shirts in my size! $12/each

$12? Wow. What kind of thrift is that? One of those phony charity thrifts?

Originally Posted by Nataku

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7 Kilgour shirts in my size! $12/each

Great score. Kilgour shirts are uber nice.

Originally Posted by Nataku

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7 Kilgour shirts in my size! $12/each

great find! where are they made?

Originally Posted by AlanC

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Hilton made high quality stuff. They had their own factory, in fact made RL Polo stuff at one time, so I'd be very surprised if it was made by someone else. I'd love to see pics, including the tag. Norman Hilton interior tags usually have the sheep symbol on them.

Great find, by the way. If it's in the 39R range I'd be glad to double your money.

I know Hilton had their own shop, but the similarity to the Chicago company is uncanny. I have worn some of the gear Hilton made for Ralph, and this jacket might be above that in construction. The canvas is very thick and heavy like Oxxford used until recently, so the jacket is a bit stiff compared to the Italian lines most are used to now. The cut is like the old Polo with darts and lots of suppression, but with narrow lapels and some wadding in the shoulder. More English than Ivy.

Sorry buddy it is a 41 Long.