Unusual antique collection on sale in Camden

CAMDEN, N.J (WPVI) -- Residents in our area will get a chance to get their hands on some real pieces of the past this Saturday in Camden.

Inside a warehouse, there's an unusual collection of items for sale connected to the city's past.

Many of them came from the old New York shipbuilding corporation and were collected over the years by the late Joe Balzano, who headed the port.

Jack O'Byrne of Camden Shipyard and Maritime museum said, "Some would call it oddities, some would call it eclectic, but it's really a mishmash."

There are old adding machines and typewriters as well as giant scales and port equipment. There is a video jukebox from the 1960s that's been in a crate for half a century. There's this antique sneak box - that's a duck hunting boat with the original leather seat inside.

Tom Marchetty of Cherry Hill, New Jersey found three antique barber chairs for a friend who owns a shop.

He said, "As soon as I saw these chairs, 'I was like oh my god, he's going to go nuts over them.' I'm going nuts over them and they're not even mine, you know? But they're in such great shape."

Rosemari Hicks of Camden, New Jersey said, "I'm opening a new business in the city of Camden and so I was looking for some pieces to complement the space. I just love the idea that we are re-purposing opposed to disposing."

There are treasures - wooden horse-drawn fire carts more than 100 years old. They used to be stationed at fire houses in Camden and still have the original fire hoses.

Father Mike McCue of the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception said, "I think Camden's past is interesting, and I think you learn a lot from artifacts."

Including these 12 foot long half hulls from the old shipyard. This is the mockup of the USS Vulcan that served in World War II.

Bruce Dooley, an antiques dealer said, "These are actual models and if you look close at them, they have all the diagrammed numbers on it to show the dimensions that they actually produced ships from."

The liquidation sale will benefit the Camden shipyard and Maritime Museum.

If you want to see what's here, the warehouse is at 1535 Broadway and will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

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