Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Compton's Hardware

Every town should have a good hardware store, and by "good hardware store" I don't mean Lowe's or  Home Depot.  A good hardware store is a place where you will find stuff that you thought left the marketplace a generation ago; a place where an old guy knows where everything is and will discount your purchase at the register; no glitzy advertising on TV.  It is  a place where you can get a custom-built chimney cap or your screen doors "re-wired."  And one of the greatest features is this.  You may buy your bolts and nuts in the quantity you desire!  No prepackaged deals where, when you need four bolts, they come in packages of three, and so on.  No, go to the stacks of drawers, pick your hardware and pay for what you need.

This store, half-block from the courthouse, is such a place.  If you look at the pictures and think window shopping is interesting, you should stroll inside and check out the merchandise.  The friendly guys will sell you anything in the store, and if you aren't buying, they will visit with you anyway.



 It has become a tradition over the past several years for the proprietors to raise a corn crop in the entry way to the store.


 If you are in need of some galvanized tubs or buckets, come on over!


 Snowed a bit last evening, so you might be interested in that Flexible Flyer.  The washtubs may be exactly what you were looking for-- or not.


11 comments:

Jim said...

I can't tell you how many little bags I have here with one or two tiny screws (or nuts or what have you) left in them. Because Capital City lacks a hardware store like Compton's.

Shelly said...

Just as I can spend hours in a good bookstore, my husband can spend hours in a good hardware store. He would love this place-

Secondary Roads said...

No comment on the Independent Order of Odd Fellows? My maternal grandfather was one of those. The three links (F, L, T) are for friendship, love and truth. Mom says they use to tease her dad and say it meant, fools, liars and thieves, which would get him all upset. She did have a sense of humor.

vanilla said...

Jim, someone once advised me to just throw out those spares; said I'd never use them, but would rather go back to the store when I need another (bolt)(screw)(nut)(washer). I've found this to be pretty much the case, because eight times out of ten, I would spend half-hour looking for the thing and not find it anyway.

Shelly, for your convenience: a good bookstore next door to a good hardware store!

Chuck, I included that clip to suggest that the original intent of the building seems to have passed into history. Where are the Odd Fellows these days? (I don't mean you and me.)

Vee said...

One of the many nice things about living in a small town.

Anonymous said...

In South Philly there is a store like that - called Jam's Hardware - just a few blocks from the house and around the corner from Frangelli's bakery...so it was always a worthwhile trip!

vanilla said...

Vee, some small towns have such a place.

Grace, oh, my! It would be really nice to have a bakery around the corner from Compton's!

Lin said...

Oh, I love an old hardware store--one that has someone there to help you solve your problem...or just jerry-rig a solution if he doesn't have the part in stock. I love when they dig around boxes and find a dusty-old something that is exactly what you are looking for. sigh.

I hate these big box stores, don't you?

vanilla said...

Lin, you have described the service at Compton's precisely.

Big Box: Thumbs down.

Sharkbytes said...

I LOVE a good hometown hardware!

vanilla said...

Shark, we don't even have a Walmart, and that is A-OK!