vintage halloween...yes its on its way

The 1950s was a particularly good decade to be a toy robot. The world was going through something of an awakening, as both the horrors and marvels of technology were revealed. Along with the shock of the first nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945, the looming Space Race inspired hope for the wild possibilities of humans traveling and living among the stars.  Naturally, science and technology—and in particular that related to space travel—became a fascination. The impact of radiation and fallout lead to many sci-fi and horror films about space invaders and mutants running rampant, like "Godzilla" in Japan and "The Blob" in America. In other films, like 1951's "The Day the Earth Stood Still," sentient robots served as allegories for the dangers of modern technology.

In America and Europe, the depiction of robots always had a threatening undertone. In fact, the word "robot" comes from Czech playwright Karel Capek's 1920 play, "R.U.R." or "Rossum's Universal Robots," wherein humanoid machines designed to toil in a factory are given emotions and turn violent, destroying humankind. This Western fear of human-made life goes as far back as Mary Shelley's early 19th-century story about Dr. Frankenstein's monster, and those same philosophical conflicts were grappled with again in Fritz Lang's classic 1926 film "Metropolis," about an intelligent robot called Maria.

While "windup" or "clockwork" tin toys were mostly made in Germany starting around the end of the 19th century, Japan took to this malleable metal and eventually developed highly sophisticated tin printing and punching machines. Selling cheaper and simpler versions of German toys, Japan was able to capture an even bigger share of the tin-toy market.  German and Japanese production of these toys halted during World War II, as metals and factories were devoted to the war effort. Shortly after the war, though, with Japan under American occupation, its factories began producing tin model cars, trains, and other windup toys again. Under General MacArthur, the U.S. encouraged low-profit, high-labor industries such as toy making in Japan.

Thrifters know there’s nothing like the thrill of an antique hunt—sorting through vintage pieces to find a coveted item that could be the finishing touch to your home. This season’s vintage favorites are kitschy and bold, and secondhand shoppers are looking for fun and functional pieces to update their decor without breaking the bank. This means unique, colorful, and sometimes quite large collectibles.

With the help of some experts, we're breaking down all the collectibles to look for this season.

Large-scale pieces like screens and panels are a great bang for your shopping buck. Their size means they can instantly update a room and help you define a space’s color scheme. Screens can even create intimate seating or section off areas in open-plan living spaces.

With bold lines and clean geometric shapes, Art Deco’s appeal is close to timeless. If you’re looking for a way to update your space that’s both decorative and stylish, these vintage lamps are a great place to start. This decorating style also goes hand-in-hand with the latest chrome trend, since both boast metallics that stand out.