I always thrift shop on vacations. I can't think of a recent trip where I haven't found a cool camera of some sort. There are always hidden treasures if you look hard enough!
Can't believe you passed up that 15 year old expired film. Our 'thrift stores' (charity shops) have got wise with cameras etc, they sell them through eBay stores now, knowing the can reach a larger audience and make more money.
I found a Kodak Brownie 620 box camera with the art deco styling on the front mixed in with the music boxes and other decorative items at a Savers timethrift store. I think they knew it was a camera but they didn't know it was a usable camera. They had it labeled as a collectible on the price tag.
Still hoping to buy a pack of film from the antique show, though ive never been able to do it. the only time I ever found cameras was at Whites Farm IN
Man you hit the jackpot. It's crazy how many thrift cameras still have film inside. I bet someone stuffed that camera in the lamp and shades section after the classic "pick it up, wander around the store then put down after a change of heart" haha.
This is why I don't visit thrift stores. There's usually not much good stuff in the information era we are in, and I ll probably end up buying way too much junk that will probably end up being tossed away.