I Love Trash!

[Whirled One]

It's that time of year again! The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and it's the start of all the "spring clean-up / bulk trash" days held in many of the local communities over the next several weeks. Not a lot of finds yet, but here's two TV-related items I've picked up off the curb the past two days.

One: A Zenith 17" Chromacolor II with ultrasonic Space Command (see photos). The original remote was sitting right there next to it too! This is the first Zenith Space Command portable I've encountered in a looong time that uses the mechanical-type ultrasonic remote. Nice 70's styling too! Works well, but at first the color cut in and out intermittently. Removing the back, I found the luminance module was partially loose, so I clipped it back into place. The chroma module appeared to be seated properly, but I reseated it anyway. The color intermittent seems to be gone though. The remote functions work great, but the 'kicker' for the On/Off button doesn't "reset" properly when you release the button (it can be made to 'reset' with a small screwdriver though), so that needs to be fixed. Question: are there any special "gotchas" when working with these mechanical Space Command remotes? (i.e. springs that will go flying off, or levers that will flip/rotate/fall off if you aren't careful?)

Two: Believe it or not, a 24AUP4 B&W CRT. Actually, what I found was a late-50's looking Magnavox console TV cabinet that someone else had already mostly gutted out. They left the CRT in the cabinet though, and that was fine, since at least I could (hopefully) use it as a replacement for the one in an RCA console I got recently that's got a dud CRT. It's not exactly often you get a chance at a 24" B&W CRT, in any case! ...So I got the tools out of the trunk, turned the Magnavox cabinet on its face, removed the CRT from the cabinet right there, and left the now-almost-empty cabinet on the curb (sorry guys...) Haven't been able to test the CRT's condition yet though, since its socket is loose and needs to be re-threaded first.

In any case, these bulk-trash days can be rather facinating..! It's really interesting to see what sort of stuff people are throwing out-- and what sorts of stuff passers-by are actually stopping to load into their vehicles...

[andy]

I used to love bulk trash weeks when I lived in PA. Being a student, I had the time to drive around for a couple of hours every day of trash week.

Most people seem to realize that people like to pick up usable stuff. It's not unusual to see remotes with TVs and even signs that say whether or not it works. Occasionally you see a selfish person who puts a "do not touch" sign on their trash pile, but that's rare. It's amazing what people throw away. There really should be a system setup to get this stuff to where it can be reused. I got both my round color sets, 2 sets of Bose 901s, a 14" 50's RCA portable, enough working air conditioners for the entire extended family and lots of other good things over the years.

My best ever find was probably an old organ with approximately 75 Amperex 'bugle boy' 12AU7s in it. I couldn't take the organ, but the tubes were worth about $20 each on eaby!

Some people really look down on those who drive around, but I guess they don't know how good some of the stuff is. They act like a perfectly good TV suddenly becomes tainted the second it's placed at the side of the road.

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be much worth finding at the side of the road in CA. At least the weather is nicer.

[TV Engineer]

Originally Posted by andy

Most people seem to realize that people like to pick up usable stuff. It's not unusual to see remotes with TVs and even signs that say whether or not it works. Occasionally you see a selfish person who puts a "do not touch" sign on their trash pile, but that's rare.

I've never seen a sign on a trash pile that said "do not touch", but I've had it yelled at me from porches and front doors many times over the years. I think it comes from the "I'd rather throw it away than give it to someone else" mentality. I guess these folk figure it was their money that bought it originally, and since they can get anything else out of it, they don't want anyone else to have it either.

Anyone that has ever told me "hands off" a trash pile has been politely told to go pound sand up their a**. I will also explain that once it hits the sidewalk, it's fair game, and if they wish to save it for the trashman, they should carry it from thier domicile to the truck when it arrives.

Most folks will just stand there with their mouths hanging open once I give em' my whatfor!

[Jack Lord]

I studied in Germany for a year. One day a month was "Sparemuell" day- literally extra waste day. It was when you were supposed to toss out stuff like old tvs and furniture. It was a bonanza for the pack rat. An Italian friend of mine went wild one night and brought in 10 functional tvs. He gave them away to all of us poor students. An old b&w Philips. Perfect for a student's budget.

If any of you collectors want European tvs, plan your vacations accordingly.

[OvenMaster]

I wish they still did this around my house. My city went from yearly "bulk trash days" (talk about happy hunting grounds! I picked up a working Pioneer SX-450 receiver, and passed up [JACKASS!] a Dynaco ST-70 amp) to where you now make a phone call to the city-designated hauler for an appointment to pick up yer junk. Boo. Hiss.
Tom

[kx250rider]

Originally Posted by TV Engineer

I've never seen a sign on a trash pile that said "do not touch", but I've had it yelled at me from porches and front doors many times over the years. I think it comes from the "I'd rather throw it away than give it to someone else" mentality. I guess these folk figure it was their money that bought it originally, and since they can get anything else out of it, they don't want anyone else to have it either.

Anyone that has ever told me "hands off" a trash pile has been politely told to go pound sand up their a**. I will also explain that once it hits the sidewalk, it's fair game, and if they wish to save it for the trashman, they should carry it from thier domicile to the truck when it arrives.

Most folks will just stand there with their mouths hanging open once I give em' my whatfor!

My M.O. is to go ring the doorbell, and say "Hi; is that TV out for the Salvation Army, or may I buy it from you?" The response is usually "It's in the trash, and I would be happy if you make it go away". Or occasionally the person will think for a second and say "I was going to sell it at a (probably a lie) garage sale next weekend, but if you want it now you can have it for $10". In any case, this avoids any yelling or police-calling. The human mind wants to be in control. By just picking up the TV, you have denied the former owner any control. By my method, you volunteer the control back to them and put them in a friendly mode (usually).

Charles

[andy]

I've never had any yell at me when I picked something up. On the rare occasions when someone sees me, they've always been delegated that someone could use what they were throwing away. Sometimes they even offer me other things they wanted to get rid of.

I usually don't ask if it's obvious it's trash, but if there's any doubt I knock on the door.

[holmesuser01]

A few months ago, I was trolling trash when I found a Kirby Generation III vacuum cleaner with all the attachments sitting on the curb infront of a home. I slammed on the brakes and went back and got it. The previous owner stood at the door and just watched me pick it up, and didnt even wave back when I smiled and waved at them.

The kicker was when I got it home. I opened the car trunk and got the smell of dogs**t instantly. Guess what they used it for? Anyway, I washed the bag and scrubbed the parts out and it is now quite presentable as a very nice example of a $1500 vacuum, and I use it daily. Only have had to replace the fan impeller. It runs and smells like new. Good thing I can stand the stench! I would have dropped it off somewhere else if I couldn't!

I got a cute little RCA B/W 17" tube set a couple of years ago. It works just fine after I dried it out.

[rca2000]

In the 30 or soyears I have been routing(including long before I could drive, where I routed on foot, by bicycle, or had someone drive me) I have been threatened with arrest, chased, and even been threatened with a GUN, by one WOMAN!!, for "curb shopping".

As for the pigs(yes I DID say that, as that is how I have been treated by most of them!!) I have been searched personally, had my car searched more than once, and wanrned that I could be charged with THEFT by one pig in Mt. Healthy, who could finid nothing better to do than call FIVE of his buddies in to harass and question me, a "hardened criminal, "(that is how they made it seem anyway), and finally, allowed me back to my car, and they all LAUGHED about things, and gave me a $74 dollar ticket for NO front plate, as that is ALL they could charge me with!!

Has ANY of that stopped me from my "shopping" trips?? Heck NO!! I do not route much in Mt. Healthy, though. Most of the time in other communities when the police see me, they just go about their business and leave me alone. But not those pigs in Mt. Healthy, Middletown or Morrow!! (in 1987, I had one play that same game with me, and finally admit that i was "not doing anything illegal", before he let me go.) Nonetheless, I continue to take my chances, as there is WAY too much good stuff out there, too often, to pass up!!

[Chad Hauris]

I remember when collecting TV's from the trash during large item pickup in Ohio...you could get a lot the night before but often people didn't put stuff out till the morning so it was a mad dash in the morning to load the TV's, record players etc before the trash man came. I can remember being about 16 yrs old and lifting huge RCA consoles into Dad's toyota corolla station wagon by myself.
Now I am the official TV collector for the yearly Texas Recycles Day in Midland, TX. Always get a good amount of TV's and even still some tube type sets.
There is no "curbside" pickup of any trash in this area. In the city you put it in a dumpster in the alley...in the country you have to haul to the dump yourself or have your own dumpster with a private trash hauler.
Speaking of Kirby vacuums I have gotten plenty from thrift stores for $3-5 each, still working fine.

[NowhereMan 1966]

Originally Posted by rca2000

In the 30 or soyears I have been routing(including long before I could drive, where I routed on foot, by bicycle, or had someone drive me) I have been threatened with arrest, chased, and even been threatened with a GUN, by one WOMAN!!, for "curb shopping".

As for the pigs(yes I DID say that, as that is how I have been treated by most of them!!) I have been searched personally, had my car searched more than once, and wanrned that I could be charged with THEFT by one pig in Mt. Healthy, who could finid nothing better to do than call FIVE of his buddies in to harass and question me, a "hardened criminal, "(that is how they made it seem anyway), and finally, allowed me back to my car, and they all LAUGHED about things, and gave me a $74 dollar ticket for NO front plate, as that is ALL they could charge me with!!

Has ANY of that stopped me from my "shopping" trips?? Heck NO!! I do not route much in Mt. Healthy, though. Most of the time in other communities when the police see me, they just go about their business and leave me alone. But not those pigs in Mt. Healthy, Middletown or Morrow!! (in 1987, I had one play that same game with me, and finally admit that i was "not doing anything illegal", before he let me go.) Nonetheless, I continue to take my chances, as there is WAY too much good stuff out there, too often, to pass up!!

Yeah, sounds like you had a lot of run-ins there with overzealous cops. I don't do much curb hunting myself but I do keep my eyes peeled for electronic things and computers. I got hold of a motherboard with Pentium III capability and I plan on making a "Franken-Computer" out of it. What limits me is space and I don't want to get mom mad at me for hauling home more junk so to me, it will have to be a "must have or die."

From what I've learned at Business Law in college, once it is on the curb, it is fair game.

I know here in Penna, we only need a license plate on the back, but yeah, there are cops out there, especially local ones, who try to look for anything to pin on anyone, doubly so if they are in a rotten mood.

[captainmoody]

I have heard horror stories before about people yelling, cops and all that as well. The last thing I want to do is fight with someone over garbage! I have never had a problem, but almost always go to the door and ask first.
What I did years ago was ask if it was out in the trash and that I could use it for parts as I was a repairman. Always had good responses, many times the owner would help me load it even! Quite often I would get other non-working sets they had or they would need repairs on other tv's in the house. Made a lot of friends that way as well!
I think that if you approach people in a friendly way about the items on the curb they are more than happy to give them to you. Plus, if you let them know you can help them with any electronic repairs in the future (vcr cleaning, repair discount) it gives them something back. Never have I paid money for any curb finds. I have dealt with a wide range of people in the business world for 30 years now and have gotten to know how to deal with all types of people pretty well. Of course, I no longer do any regular picking so maybe people have gotten grumpier lately? If I happen to be driving somewhere like I was several weeks ago and find something than so be it. But gas is too expensive and my car unreliable to drive my old routes anymore...

[Adam]

When I lived in Berkeley, it was common practice for people to put stuff out on the curb (often with a "free" sign) even when it wasn't bulk trash day. I used to haul alot of stuff back then, even when I didn't have a car for a while, I used to carry consoles several blocks, sometimes it would take an hour or so of just moving it a bit at a time. One time someone was so happy I was taking their system 3 console (which worked great when I got it back), they helped me carry it half a block, and even up the stairs to my apartment, and gave me a few free lamps, too.

Here in LA there is no bulk trash day, and curbside junk is not nearly as common, it is more common in areas mostly filled with apartment complexes, and in those places (where there rarely is not a junk sofa) I just put it in my trunk and haul it home if I find something. If I see something in a nicer part of town with houses, I have knocked at the door and asked about it, I never got any reply other than just take it away. Once there was this nice magnavox hi-fi and it really looked too good to be just trash, so I didn't just take it, but the guy was never there when I stopped to ask about it, finally I was driving by when someone was loading it into his truck (already mostly full of old refrigerators) , I asked him if he wanted to sell it, he said he didn't care what happened to it and helped me load it into my trunk.

[Whirled One]

It's amazing how many people around here go "cruising for trash" on these special bulk waste / clean-up days. It almost seems like a neighborhood gathering 'event' in some areas. You see the same people driving up and down the streets looking for stuff out on the curb the night before the pick-up day. Sometimes people can get a bit carried away, though, as shown in the attached photo of a vehicle I saw last year on one of these trash days.

I've never seen anyone get upset when picking up trash items from the curb. As a matter of fact, many people seem to try to encourage people to take large items (by putting signs on things like "Works!" or "Free!"). That might be because even on bulk-trash days around here, I think some cities still charge for removal of certain types of large appliances (refrigerators, for example), even though it's otherwise pretty much a free-for-all in terms of what you can set out on the curb on those days.

By the way, I've noticed a surprising number of not-all-that-old PCs on the curb so far this year, including several PIII-class machines in the 500-800 MHz range. I've usually left them alone (unless there was something else interesting with them), but tonight I found in front of one house an Athlon 1.0 GHz (Sony VAIO) *and* a very new-looking Celeron 2.7 GHz (Compaq) machine, and couldn't resist. Haven't tested the Sony yet, but the Compaq works fine. I've only powered it up briefly, but it appears to have a bunch of spyware installed on it bogging down the system, perhaps that's why it was tossed away. I guess even a personal computer has become "disposable" enough that people will just throw away a perfectly good PC just because of something like that...

[andy]

You'd be surprised how many PCs are thrown away because of spyware. Most people have no idea how to reinstall windows even if they figure out what the problem is. I guess they just assume it's running slow because it's old.