Looking for Lead in All the Wrong Places

Floral Pin Frogs! The bases are lead. I have collected these for years. I have over a hundred. Some of the cage frogs are lead too.

I used to make ikebana floral vases out of slate with a hole drilled through the slate and a ramekin and a pin frog glued in place. Frogs came from a florist supply and were expensive.

I started picking these up at yard sales and thrift shops. It was an obsession. Like when I was buying coleman lanterns and had to stop when the numbers reached over 80.

Seems the pin frogs sell on ebay but I don't and won't sell there. I am tempted to throw them into the melting pot.

Why not. The pins will float to the surface. Take precautions to avoid flash steam.

whats a Floral Pin Frog??? picture would be nice since I know nothing about flowers.

It's a flat, 3" circular lead casting with 50 - 100 pins pointing up. It goes in the bottom of a vase, and cut flowers are arranged in the vase by sticking the cut ends on the pins. They used to be very common, but are seldom seen in homes today. My mother had a few.

If I remember a pin frog has some weight. But maybe they are antiques? Craigslist or gunbroker as lead, seems like they would be worth more than 2-3$ a pound on eBay.

I'd list them on FB Marketplace.

Don't do FB I do have these listed on CL but no bites. They are worth more as frogs than as an unknown alloy. I may give these to a friend who does sell on ebay.

cool thanks learn something new all the time

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pete501

Don't do FB I do have these listed on CL but no bites. They are worth more as frogs than as an unknown alloy. I may give these to a friend who does sell on ebay.

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I’d determine a fair price (better than new) and visit the local florists.

I remember those. My grandmother had a couple. It’s right that you don’t see them around much anymore. They should be a good source of lead, if the price is right.

In school we used to slide a thumb tack under the kid in front of us as he sat down in his seat.
These must be a more modern version...

I never heard of such a thing but then I've never looked in the bottom of a flower vase either. Good to know about obscure sources of lead.

I've got a couple of those, still use them in vases. They do hold the flowers straight.