An avid collector found a small piece of history in the mint-condition 1950s box he purchased from a local estate sale.
Noah Simmons, from Virginia, has always had an eye for an eye-catching bargain, especially when it comes to sifting through items at yard sales and the many thrift stores scattered across the U.S.
“My mom and grandfather instilled a love for thrifting in me,” Simmons told Newsweek. “They hunted for good deals at Goodwill and yard sales all through my childhood. The cheaper they could get their hands on something, the more meaning it had to them.”
While consumers continue to feel the pinch, the market for cheaper, secondhand goods has never been better.
Statistics compiled by Capital One Shopping, found that the market for secondhand goods in the U.S. generated $53 billion in revenue over the course of 2023 alone. There are now over 25,000 resale, consignment, and not-for-profit resale shops in the U.S.
Simmons has already shared his family’s passion for unearthing these kinds of gems, but it is only recently after quitting a job at Verizon after 5 years that he has had a chance truly to delve into what is out there. “It’s given me time to explore my many hobbies and interests, one of which is thrifting,” Simmons said. “I love a good treasure hunt, and there is treasure to be found everywhere you look; you just have to be tuned in.”
Simmons was certainly “tuned in” during a recent trip to an estate sale located in a suburb not far from where he lives. “A woman’s parents had passed away, and she and her husband were hosting the sale to clear everything out before they sold the house,” he said.
That was where Simmons came across a table full of five different cameras. One, in particular, caught his eye. “It was leatherbound, without a scratch on it. All of the original paperwork was with it, down to the handwritten receipt from 1956,” he said. “It didn’t have a price tag on it, but I scooped it up along with the other cameras. They sold it to me for a measly $15.
“There were fully intact manuals, exposure guides, and other papers,” Simmons added. “At the bottom of the stack was the most curious little pamphlet titled, ‘THINGS TO DO IN A CBR ATTACK’ issued by the U.S. Army in 1954 to active duty soldiers.”
A quick Google of the word “CBR” revealed to Simmons that it was an abbreviation of “chemical, biological or radiological.” Concluding that the document was likely produced at the height of the Cold War, when an attack of this kind represented a realistic threat, Simmons read on, eager to learn how people in the 1950s were supposed to react.
“Inside the pamphlet was a guide on what to do in case of each attack,” Simmons said. “Sprayed with blood gas? Crush amyl nitrate in a mask, keep warm and quiet. Vomiting gas? Pull mask clear from chin to vomit, replace and clear mask.”
Simmons said the most interesting information concerned what to do in the event of an atomic explosion. The card states: “IF you see BRILLIANT LIGHT, brighter than sunlight—Fall flat on ground, into a hole if possible. After 1 minute CONTINUE MISSION. LATER IF sickness occurs—seek medical aid.”
Though the pamphlet’s discovery was a huge surprise, Simmons has his own ideas as to how it ended up there. “My theory is that the camera was taken abroad with the owner while he was on active duty,” Simmons said. “He must have tucked the pamphlet into the camera box for safe keeping.”
Simmons shared the discovery to TikTok under the handle @noahbsimmons.
There could be one further twist in the tale of this estate-sale discovery. “A few weeks later, I got curious if it still had film in it,” Simmons said. “After taking it into a dark room and opening it up, I felt a used film still in it!”
The film is Kodak Kodachrome, a type now defunct and difficult to get developed. However, Simmons has learned about a man in the U.S. who still develops this type of film.
“We are hoping to get in touch with him and get this film developed,” he said. “The dream is to get this film developed and bring the photos to the family members.”
In the meantime, Simmons hopes this story and his other experiences unearthing forgotten items from yesteryear, inspires others to “keep their eyes open” for similar finds.
“If you do find something special like this, I think it is your personal duty to try and get the contents back to the family,” Simmons said. “I’m sure they will appreciate it infinitely more than you ever could.”
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