Everyone Owned It In The '60s—now It's A Valuable Thrift Store Find

You never know what you might be able to score at your local secondhand shop just by taking a closer look at the furniture section. Among all of the bed frames, vintage luggage, nightstands, and rocking chairs, there may just be a few quality items right underneath your nose. In fact, there are several vintage brands that are always worth buying at thrift stores, including Drexel Heritage. If this name sounds familiar, then you might be a true vintage thrift store pro. Or you might recognize it from the days of old, i.e., the 1950s up until today. Drexel employed 2,300 workers and had its furniture sold in 2,500 stores by 1957. In 1966, Drexel Heritage was ranked third among all U.S. furniture manufacturers. By the 1980s, the company was one of the largest furniture manufacturers in the country. This iconic name was everywhere thanks to its beloved furniture, including dressers, dining room tables, chairs, and more. If you can find an original Drexel piece, you might be in for a decent profit if you plan to resell. 

Founded in 1903, Drexel Furniture Company originated in North Carolina and eventually expanded its consumer base across the globe. While the Drexel Heritage brand was eventually purchased by the Heritage Home Group, which sadly filed for bankruptcy in 2018, thrifters can still find the brand's products in secondhand stores or on online marketplaces. Today, the pieces are still lauded for their high-quality craftsmanship and classic designs as well as their durable materials such as walnut, cherry, and mahogany. 

Whether you opt to search in your local secondhand store or you prefer to dig around online, Drexel Heritage pieces can be found for sale for a wide range of prices. You can find the original manufacturer's furniture on online marketplaces such as eBay and Etsy, with prices ranging from $650 to over $7,000 per piece. While it may be tricky to spot one in the wild, you might be able to bring home a piece of Drexel Heritage at a low price and resell it for more. Even if you decide not to sell, you'll have a valuable thrift store find to keep as a family heirloom.

If you've come across a solid wooden piece of furniture and you want to know whether it's the brand you're looking for, check for a maker's mark. These are most often located in a hidden spot on the piece, like underneath a chair seat or tucked inside a dresser drawer. These marks typically include the brand's name, a logo, and other information, such as the date of production or the title of the piece's specific collection. Each Drexel piece has its own serial number, usually a three-digit number followed by a dash and another three-digit number. Some of the most popular Drexel items include pieces from the 1930s "Touraine" collection and the "Avenue" line. Designs from Drexel Heritage, like its set of John Van Koert chairs, are currently selling for up to $16,250 full price on marketplaces like 1stDibs. If you can spot one of these iconic pieces, you might have your hands on a small profit.