Back in 1991, just after my family emmigrated from the USSR, alot of my family's first furniture in the US of A was found next to garbage bins in our neighborhood. We found an old but working television set with aerial antenna, a coffee table, a huge kitchen table, several chairs, and a small bookshelf (that lasted us over 5 years), among other things. Lots of handy change and bills too, occassionally.
But the coolest thing I found was this multimeter thing used by the phone company for testing phone lines. I still have it. Its huge and antique-looking, in a stout leather case with straps, and actually works!
And love, of course...
