The Museum of Useful Things

At the Museum of Useful Things, we take great pride in our collection of well made utilitarian items, and are always looking for ways to enhance our collection. We'd like to become a resource for useful information as well as good design. If you have questions or suggestions please call us at 1.866.497.1221 or send us an email.

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Seeing Red

Red Baker's Twine: Baker's Twine has been a ubiquitous fixture in bakeries for ages. The 100% cotton 4 ply string is FDA food safe approved, and while strong, it can still be broken by hand. Equal parts utilitarian and beautiful. Available in black and red. 2 pounds. 9072 feet.

Red 4-Way Rubber Bands: These bands stretch four ways to hold objects of any shape: books, catalogs or even round film-reel cans. They also make a great alternative to ribbon for gift wrapping. Made of pure, seamless, natural rubber. Bag of 10. Made in the USA.

Red Bridle Hook:  Made by a company that outfits stables, this sturdy, vinyl coated, steel Bridle Hook is designed to withstand heavy use. With three anchor points to secure it to the wall, it is capable of holding very heavy items. Aside from its obvious home in the stables, we've found it incredibly useful for heavy winter coats and scarves. Measures: 5 ½” long x 4" wide x 3 ½” deep.

Infila Needle Threader: A clever product, the Infila Needle Threader can thread a needle with single or multiple threads. The simple push button operation successfully threads large and fine needles with ease. A very handy addition to the sewing basket. Made in Italy. Measures: 1 ¾" tall x 3" wide.

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Steel Turn Switch at Blom & Blom. Saw this here.  See more here. 

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Line Images by Bloomers | Schumm with hidden content.  Saw this here.  See more here. 

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Caliper Studio.  Saw this here.  See more here. 

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Saw this here.  See more here. 

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Growth Rings and Maps of US.  Saw this here.  See more here. 

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Good Goods

Some of our products aren't obvious choices, but are steadfast tools and unsung heros: Exhibition L Pins mount art directly to the wall without a frame. The Pocket Ref has pages of conversions, charts and other reference materials. Metal Rim Hang Tags are a humble way to label gifts or things around the house. Screwdriver Key Rings, with both a Phillips head and flat head, are small but useful tools to add to your keys.

Exhibition L Pins: Stainless Steel "L" shaped nails mount artwork directly to the wall without using a frame. They are a great solution for hanging mounted artwork or posters to the wall. Made in the USA. Box of 100. Measures: 1" long x ¼” wide.

Pocket Ref: This is a concise all-purpose reference book featuring hundreds of tables, maps, formulas, constants & conversions, with an index for easy information access. Soft Cover, 768 pages. Measures: 3 ¼” wide x 5 ½” high x 1" deep. 

Metal Rim Hang Tags: 20 pre-strung blank paper tags. Metal rim holds shape and adds to durability. Use for gift tags, price tags, or simply labeling items. Tag Measures: 2 ¼” diameter.

Screwdriver Key Ring Set: This screwdriver set travels wherever you go, inconspicuously waiting until needed. With a Phillips Head and Flat screwdriver on a split key-ring, it's perfectly useful. Heat treated blackened steel, made in the USA. Measures: 2½" long. 

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3-D Printing and controversy arising. See more here. 

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An amazing collection of info-graphic maps found here.  Saw this here. 

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Saw this here. An interesting analogy drawn between containerization and information. 

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Fall Is Here

It is officially Fall. Ring in the season by spending time in the kitchen, baking and canning the last of summer's bounty. Here are a few tools to help you out. Chrome Bookends keep cookbooks neatly corralled. Goose Neck Twine Dispenser keeps Baker's String at the ready, mount it to the counter for extra stability. Stainless Steel Recipe Holders hold recipe cards out of the way of spills and mess. Keep clean with a canvas Waist Apron.

Chrome Book Ends: Bookends are essential to a well organized home or office. Long tines ensure large groups of books or folders will be held snugly in place. Moves seamlessly from the kitchen to the office to the living room. Chrome plated. Light weight. Measures: 7 1/2" high x 3 1/2" wide x 5 1/2" deep.

Goose Neck Twine Dispenser: This steel-constructed, spring-loaded twine dispenser was invented in 1905 and has been made by the same company ever since. It can be table mounted or mounted upside down from the ceiling or a shelf to hold 2 ½” lb cones of twine. Finished in a light gray powder coat. Made in the USA. Measures: 9 ½” high x 7 ½” deep x 3 ½” wide.

Stainless Steel Recipe Holder: The Stainless Steel Recipe Holder is fairly self-explanatory. It holds sheets of paper within easy view so you don't have to, giving you an extra hand when you most need one. The solid ball bearing "gravity" clip allows you to easily insert whatever needs holding, and just as easily remove it (unmarked) when done. Stainless Steel finish. Made in the USA. Measures: 6" high x 2 ¾” wide x 3 ½” deep.

Waist Apron: Heavy water weight canvas and durable double stitching make this unisex apron a useful addition to the workman's wardrobe. Several pockets, and a strap to catch longer tools. Made in California. One size fits all.  Tie closure.

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Amazing Photo Series: “Blending: 1906 + 2010: The Earthquake Blend”

This photographic series, entitled “1906 + 2010: The Earthquake Blend” by Shawn Clovermerges the past and the present of San Francisco. Shawn Clover selected historical photographs of the earthquake from 1906 and took pictures of the same locations at the present time. He blended parts of the old, historical photographs with the new images of the same spot. The images convey a sense of time travel to the viewer.

via: WE AND THE COLOR Facebook // Twitter // Google+ // Pinterest

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The Blacksmith by Digital Agent. Saw this here. See more here. 

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A Canvas Canvas

The Museum of Useful Things is fond of canvas. Not only for the rolls it assumes in the home, office, and work shed, but also for its durability and its multifaceted nature. Canvas can be dressed down in the form of a Mason Bag or up as a weekend bag. It is hard worker in the form of a Machinist's Apron. It is humble in the form of a Linesman's Bucket. And it is stylish in the form of a Bushel Basket. How does canvas fit into your life?

CANVAS AND LEATHER MASON BAG: Constructed for heavy duty hauling. Masonite base keeps bag from drooping. Steel frame construction props bag open. With water weight canvas and heavy duty metal clasps.  Double stitched leather handles and base protect against wear and tear. Used by plumbers and masons, its utility isn't limited to the trade. Accrues a lovely patina with serious use, adds to the beauty of the rough edges of this bag. Each one unique. Made in the USA. Measures: 18" wide x 13" high x 6" deep.  Interior Pocket: 11" wide x 9" high.

MACHINIST APRON: Heavy water weight canvas and durable double stitching make this unisex apron a useful addition to the workman's wardrobe. Several pockets, and a strap to catch longer tools. Made in USA. One size fits all. Tie closure. 

CANVAS LINESMAN BUCKET: Linesmen have used these durable canvas buckets for years to haul tools to the lines they are servicing. The buckets have the added advantage of being made out of water weight canvas, so they work exceedingly well to transport water. With steel rings around top and bottom, and double stitched seams, these collapsable bags can withstand lots of wear and tear. Measures: 9 ½” high x 9 ¼” wide.  Handle 7" long. 

MUT 1 BUSHEL CANVAS BASKET: Stenciled with our signature MUT (Museum of Useful Things) logo, this steel frame, tear-resistant canvas basket with vinyl binding is durable and multifunctional. The bright yellow canvas, inspired by Save-ty Yellow products found in factories, is eye catching. Two canvas handles enhance the ease of use. Typically found on construction sites and in Post Offices, these baskets have been manufactured by the same company since 1921. Made in the USA. Measures: 13 ½" high x 17" wide. 

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How To:

Fix a dried out Sharpie or marker.  This could come in handy. Use for any sharpie or marker. For a non-permanent marker follow the same directions below, replacing alcohol with water. Saw this here.

1. Pour rubbing alcohol into a small container.

2.  Dip the tip of your sharpie/marking tool into the rubbing alcohol. Hold submerged for a minute.

3. Put the cap back on to the sharpie and let it sit for 15 minutes.

4. This should restore your marker to full use again.