Halloween time Goodwill uniform finds--ongoing updates

[milsurp_scout_14]

It came to my attention last night that Goodwill is getting all their Halloween costumes set up this weekend. Apparently they collect and store a lot of the better military uniforms during the year, and sell them on their costume racks (for slightly higher than normal Goodwill prices, but still not bad). Thus, I embarked on an 11-store marathon (going to more throughout the weekend)----and here's my finds. Some pictures are of the full racks, others are of the items that came home with me. I'll be adding more to this thread throughout the Halloween season as I find things. Pardon the non-uniform pieces which appear in several mixed pics. Also the image resizer decided to flip many pics sideways--if anyone can help, please pm!

 

First few: 2 M-1950 Ike jackets with Alaskan Defense Command patches; hat and insignia were stuffed down in a pocket--a theme that has been repeated several times. Rifle badge is sterling with pin back.

 

[milsurp_scout_14]

Several very full racks

[milsurp_scout_14]

Two Major tops with some 'major' hardware.

[milsurp_scout_14]

Navy and Airborne DCU/BDU tops---2 M1950 caps laying on top

US Army top dated 1976 with patch I'm unfamiliar with-also 1977 top

ERDL top; has contract number but no date

Women's Army dress jacket with patches and insignia stuffed in the pocket

[milsurp_scout_14]

Some random dress uniforms: Unissued Army dress jacket (new style); 60's khaki shirt; 60's tropical dress pants; USN top--it had the tag on the back "Manufactured by the Naval Clothing Factory"

[gwb123]

The camo is an early ERDL poplin/ nonripstop jacket. Nice find.

 

You had a good haul overall.

[m151mp]

last thursday i was in a second hand shop nearby, and there was a U.S. Army enlisted dress blue tunic on the rack. i was curious, so i looked. it was so new, it still had all the tags on it, and had never been prepped or worn. size 43R. it was priced at $6.95, but it was half off day. i could have had it for $3.50 if i wanted it. we are south of ft lewis, and the various second hand stores, including goodwill, frequently have recent stuff, but i hardly ever see anything old.

[stratasfan]

How fun! Our area sometimes gets a few military things in Goodwills, etc., but not a lot. Wish I lived somewhere like that! What State are you in? So far, by looking on the forum, I've seen that NY, PA, MA, andCT are really good states for finding military items! Wish I could find an older Ike jacket like that one time! That would be super cool! Enjoy your finds!

[LtRGFRANK]

A couple a years ago I found a mint 41 Arctic jacket at our local junk shop on their costume rack for $8

[Camaro69427]

Do Goodwills usually put their "Halloween" stuff out this early? I'll have to check my local one to see if they have theirs out!

[Dave]

last thursday i was in a second hand shop nearby, and there was a U.S. Army enlisted dress blue tunic on the rack. i was curious, so i looked. it was so new, it still had all the tags on it, and had never been prepped or worn. size 43R. it was priced at $6.95, but it was half off day. i could have had it for $3.50 if i wanted it. we are south of ft lewis, and the various second hand stores, including goodwill, frequently have recent stuff, but i hardly ever see anything old.

 

If I were in your shoes, I would have picked it up to eBay it. I've done quite well with formal uniforms in the past, as a lot of people don't want to shell out the big $$$ to buy a new uniform they'll only wear once a year (I know this example is a more commonly worn uniform, but I've done very well reselling Marine officer mess dress uniforms, for example...)

 

When I was a company officer at the Naval Academy, I used to pick up serviceable uniforms at the local thrift stores and then give them to my midshipmen prior to commissioning. Saved some money for them and put the uniforms back to good use!

[RustyCanteen]

 

If I were in your shoes, I would have picked it up to eBay it. I've done quite well with formal uniforms in the past, as a lot of people don't want to shell out the big $$$ to buy a new uniform they'll only wear once a year (I know this example is a more commonly worn uniform, but I've done very well reselling Marine officer mess dress uniforms, for example...)

 

When I was a company officer at the Naval Academy, I used to pick up serviceable uniforms at the local thrift stores and then give them to my midshipmen prior to commissioning. Saved some money for them and put the uniforms back to good use!

 

 

Very much this. I can't say how well the market is now, but I noticed over the past few years of browsing eBay, that mess uniforms (especially large sizes) often sold for more than vintage (and highly collectible) uniforms did. If you have ever looked at sold listings and wondered what was so special about a fairly new officers coat that made it worth so much, the answer is probably that someone on active duty needed it and just saved themselves a wad of cash by not buying it from the manufacturer or retailer.

[m151mp]

 

If I were in your shoes, I would have picked it up to eBay it. I've done quite well with formal uniforms in the past, as a lot of people don't want to shell out the big $$$ to buy a new uniform they'll only wear once a year (I know this example is a more commonly worn uniform, but I've done very well reselling Marine officer mess dress uniforms, for example...)

 

When I was a company officer at the Naval Academy, I used to pick up serviceable uniforms at the local thrift stores and then give them to my midshipmen prior to commissioning. Saved some money for them and put the uniforms back to good use!

 

while i understand your thinking, i don't do anything on ebay. i have bought a few items there years ago, but once they insisted everything had to be paypal or bank cards of some sort, that effectively booted me out the door, as i was buying with money orders. i lack the computer skills necessary to do online purchases, and was concerned i would screw up my account. if it had been enlisted mess dress, i would have bought it for myself, but dress blues are now used for everything since green class A's were eliminated. i doubt it would be an easy sale.

[milsurp_scout_14]

Well I'm in AZ, and while there's not floods of stuff out there, I haven't had any trouble building a substantial collection! Camaro, I can't speak to Goodwills elsewhere because each state seems to run them differently, but I would assume they'd be getting it out soon, if not now. I had a great year last year finding stuff...unfortunately the 'gear' never seems to show up much--just uniforms.

 

I hit another 3 stores today, and here was the result: Navy Sea Eagle brand blue jacket. I've never heard of that maker; it has no other information except "100% wool" on another tag below it. Has a side zipper, which I've not seen before. It's also named. Sleeve patch is petty officer 2nd class, hospital corpsman. Ribbons are the Navy 'E' Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Ribbon, and Sea Service Deployment Ribbon. Anyone know what approximate time period it's from?

[milsurp_scout_14]

Well here's this week's discoveries. Went to 5 more Goodwills out-of-area. First off was this pair of summer flying coveralls: they have an FSN; contract was barely visible in person, but appeared to be 70's...I had no idea they made them in desert tan that early on.

[milsurp_scout_14]

These were all at one store: some Civil Air Patrol patched woodland tops; USMC dress jacket (era unknown to me, and it was $100, so I left it behind); several female caps ($30ea, also left behind); and some strange woodland chemical pants. They were converted by a civilian company to be able to be sold as normal pants (black liner cut out, tags stripped and civilian tag sewn on--company name was 'Big Woods').

[ParanormalTrooper]

Nothing at my goodwill- yet!

 

Nice finds so far!

[milsurp_scout_14]

Bought this 1941 dated Army dress jacket, and the patched Lieutenant's woodland top. Also picked up a hearty helping of multicam tops and pants, and an unissued rain poncho in UCP digital. One multicam top still had the captain's bars sewn on, and US Army tape in place--something fairly rare for the modern 'velcro' uniforms. All in all, a great outing.

[pathfinder11]

Profess I never thought of hitting up Goodwill like this but clearly I need to poke my nose in and see what they have available locally. Thanks for posting!