Meyer: Finding alternatives during a pandemic

As the coronavirus pandemic stretches into its second year, most people have learned how to do things a little bit differently, be it shopping online or finding new programs to watch. Sometimes it's a combination of both.

For example, my wife Megan likes to go to estate sales and antique stores, looking for that rare find. But with social distancing protocol, that hasn't been an option.

As an alternative, she started browsing a website called "Everything But the House," found at ebth.com. The site dates back to 2008, and operates as an online auction house for estate sales or families looking to downsize.

Megan also works hard to find me gifts that reflect who I am and what I do. So this past holiday season, she gave me a collection of framed, old-time tire advertisements. They came from Collier's and date to sometime in the 1920s, as far as I can tell. She found the automotive supplement for sale at ebth.com and paid less than $10, and had many of the advertisements framed.

These ads were really fun to go through. A couple were from name brands, such as Firestone, touting its non-skid tires. To put the era in perspective, the ad said there were 750,000 car owners in the U.S. at the time.

Most of the other names have long ago exited the business. There was an ad for Pennsylvania Rubber Co. and its "oil proof vacuum cup tires." Another was for the Republic Rubber Co., which was touting its "Republic Staggard Tread Tires." And Diamond Tires was selling its "no clinch" tires that had "perfect three point rim contact."

Apparently the ebth.com crew also knows a thing or two about synergy. Just last week, Megan was looking for something to watch when she came across the new "Everything But the House" show on HGTV. To make for riveting TV, the catch on the program is that all items must start for bid at $1, and sell for that if no higher bids are made.

At least it will be something to watch other than all the true crime murder investigation shows.

Meyer is editor of Rubber & Plastics News. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @bmeyerRPN.