Old is the new new

By Rachella Sinclair

GONE ARE THE days when a dedicated visitor of San Francisco junk shops could unearth a old cuckoo clock for Aunt Joan and expect to snag it for a few measly dollars, or walk away with a pristine set of vintage highball glasses for Dad for less money than the plastic version at Target would have cost. The junk shops that once populated the Mission District, the Tenderloin, and North Beach have largely been replaced by junktique shops offering more antiques than junk. Even charity shops like the good old Valencia Street standby Community Thrift have become increasingly aware of the value of their wares, and price them accordingly.

Vintage and antique collectibles are edited, merchandised, and categorized so that even the casual browser can usually find something good, for a price. But is it still possible to find vintage goodies at bargain, or even affordable, prices? There's eBay, but bidding online doesn't quite match the thrill of finding the perfect treasure amid a bunch of old junk, and nothing can replace the experience of holding something in your hands before you buy it. It may take a little more work now – and with the holidays looming, you'd better get moving – but it's still possible to buy great vintage gifts without blowing your whole paycheck.

One trick is to focus on places with more than one vendor. The antique collective is a great resource for the vintage shopper – multiple sellers means a better selection and more flexible pricing. Some collectives are like mini-antique malls, while others offer the specific aesthetic of a few specialists. Another trick is to leave town: For those who don't mind venturing an hour or so out of the city, the North Bay offers a few good collectives with great selections. The following are a few worthy options.

Imagine that your grandmother kept every wedding gift, every kitchen appliance, and every decorative tchotchke that ever passed into her life. Her belongings would fit right in at the Drugstore (3149 Mission, SF. 415-282-0544). This small co-op is home to a few select vendors who specialize in retro styles from the '50s, '60s and '70s. Merchandise is in good to gently used condition and includes a nice collection of barware, refurbished lamps, and appliances that work.

Good buys: Kitschy cocktail mixers in abundance, starting around $12; a good selection of cocktail glasses with whimsical designs, including one set of eight in its original box for $32.

Occupying a large space on Union Street and home to 38 dealers, Past Perfect (2230 Union, SF. 415-929-7651) offers goods in a nice range of eras, from true antiques to '70s mod. Prices are similarly all over the board, from great deals to great expense, but it's a good place to buy decorator items, vintage art, or some nice '50s costume jewelry for the teenage style maven on your list.

Good buys: Vintage salt and pepper shakers, starting at $10; large petrified coral pieces, starting at $20.

About a 45-minute drive from San Francisco, the Petaluma Collective (300 Petaluma Blvd. N., Petaluma. 707-763-2220) houses 20 dealers, each of whom seems to have his or her specialty – one selling archeological artifacts such as ancient Roman coins, clay oil lamps, and jewelry, another focusing on vintage kitchenalia, yet another selling records and early rock 'n' roll memorabilia. Surprisingly, the most eclectic collection is in the basement, where the Military Antiques Store and Museum shares space with the collective and sells everything from uniforms to trench art to K rations to Allied, American, and Nazi propaganda, including an extensive collection of books.

Good buys: 1939 San Francisco World's Fair ice pick, $14; cigarette cases and compacts, starting at $12; WWII snapshots taken by soldiers, starting at $2.

Santa Rosa is about an hour's drive from San Francisco, but Whistlestop Antiques (130 Fourth St., Santa Rosa. 707-542-9474) is worth the trip. Located in a quaint downtown section of town called Railway Square, Whistlestop has at least 36 dealers under one roof and offers a wider-than-usual selection, including a fantastic array of jewelry. You'll also find toys, books and periodicals, costume and estate jewelry, a gentlemen's emporium, and promotional items like Michelin Man dolls and cereal-box-top prizes dating from the '30s through the '70s.

Good buys: Deco tabletop lighters, staring at $10; uranium glass, starting at $12; Irish linen tablecloths, starting at $12.