In Surplus World, it often does. That teensy error on the cardboard tag brings you this snazzy blue-speckled enameled steel coffee mug, the sort that legions of prisoners have dragged along the bars of their cells in legions of movies, at a price that is freeing. Maybe has a cowboy look to it, too. Holds, yes 10 ounces, and measures 3-1/8" x 3-3/16" dia.

You need this keychain with a handy 3” long x 1-1/8” wide white plastic compass/thermometer combo on a 7/8” slip-ring. From the “Keychains With Purpose” line of products (our new favorite name), it’s made for folks devoted to being prepared. You know who you are, and so do we.

These 3” tall plastic robots aren’t actually robotic. They just stand there looking like robots, but pull off their feet and there’s a surprise ball-point pen sticking out of their little robot bottoms. We’ll send you one in robot-appropriate silver or gold.

Most likely. Luckily we have just the Brain Teaser to take care of that for you. This 2-1/2" green (or black) and natural wooden puzzle looks like a Rubikish cube but is actually more like a snake made from 3/4” wooden cubes and held together by a pretty elastic elastic cord. Unfolds to a zig-zag snake approx 14’ long and ready for you to reconfigure back into a cube. We’d show you how, but our brain has to remain unteased for copywriting purposes.

The Alligetter is a pick-up tool that works much better than "You come here often?" Sorry--joke. This pick-up tool is for getting stuff that's stuck in the garbage disposal, an alternative to having your fingers disposalated. Translucent white plastic with a gatorish head and 2-1/2" long serrated jaws, a white LED for lighting up the drain, and a clever little device to spread those rubber drain flaps, it folds for storage. Personally, we think it's way too alluring to stick down a drain, and its real future is with imaginative children and invented games. Consider buying some marbles or playing cards. Or mini dinosaurs… Please note, the included (4) AG-3 batteries are getting old, may be corroded and in need of replacing. Check out our battery assortment Button Cell Batteries for low cost replacements. That's just the way surplus works sometimes.

A big double-deck pack of card-playing fun. You’ll get a 112-card deck to play the original UNO card game, including (3) dry-erase cards for making your own house rules and a “shuffle hands” rule to reset the game; and a 108-card DOS game deck, with (4) wild cards and somewhat different rules. UNO is for 2-10 players; DOS is for 2-4 players. Both are for ages 7+.

The world does not live by screw caps alone. These thick amber glass vials are 3-5/8" tall x 1-7/16" dia with a lip and 1-1/8" ID mouths. They’ll take a #16 cork, which we’ve included to save you time because we’re thoughtful that way. Made in the USA. Holds about 1.35 oz. with the cork, and about 2 oz. without. (That's about 40ml and 60ml, respectively, if you're into the metric system.) 

Still good advice, no matter what you’ve heard. And much easier with this excellent 33-piece set of pointed brush-tip markers (black, brown, light and dark green, yellow, orange, light and deep purple and royal blue); 0.4mm fine-tip markers (light and dark green, yellow, orange, red, pink, sky blue, dark blue, brown and black); and (12) double-ended color pencils. The whole artistic shebang comes in a tray with a pencil sharpener. From our friends at Helix®.

Yeth, it’s just pithiful. These authentic-looking pith helmets have a woodland camo pattern that goes with everything. Inside is an adjustable head band so they all fit everybody. Brim measures a 14” x 11-3/4” oval. The name comes from the fact that these helmets were originally made from the pith, or spongy insides, of the stem of the shola plant. Use that trivia at your next dinner party--while you’re wearing one of these helmets. Made in Vietnam.

Might be a slight exaggeration, but Pierre Vernier was born in 1580 and people were really short then. In any case, our aluminum Vernier caliper is 29” long and will measure up to 24” (61cm) in 1/16” (1mm) increments. Has 2-3/4” long jaws and a lock screw. The resolution on the Vernier scale is 1/128” - 0.05mm. Please Note: Your entire order will ship standard ground when purchasing this item. Contact us for expedited shipping information. Thanks!

The biggest doggie don’t is: don’t leave the do-do behind. To that end, here’s a cute little plastic bone-shaped carrier for the bags, with a clip. Hook it on the leash and fill it with the included (80) standard-size dog-do plastic bags. The bags are printed with dog-related patterns--bones, paw prints, etc., which your dog will find funny. (Yes, dogs have a sense of humor; you just don’t get their jokes.)

We’re music-loving folk here at the surplus capital of America, so we like this high-quality, triangular, olive drab nylon case, originally intended to be a gun case, for toting your ukulele from luau to tiki bar. Padded, measures 22” long x 10” wide at the big end, narrowing to approx 4” at the bottom. Zipper on (3) sides, shoulder strap, outside 5” x 7-1/2” flapped pocket, and myriad slots on both sides. Also good for a junior fiddle, or some flutes and tin whistles.

It’s faux hurricane season here in Chicago, and time to break out our faux hurricane lantern. Regardless of the season, though, it’s great as an accent light in any room, back yard or camper. Stands approx 10” tall x 5” wide, in steel with an antiquey copper finish. Has a carrying/hanging handle, and a push-button turns on both a 25-lumen flickering LED flame and an 80-lumen bright-white LED. Comes with (4) “AAA” batteries.

Really. Our each is a 10-foot roll of 1/2” wide, self-adhesive magnetic strip. Flexible, too, so the craft, kitchen, classroom and cubicle uses are limited only by your imagination! (We heard that on an infomercial once--we really don’t know much about your imagination, but we always assume that is it vast and nimble.)

From Scientific Explorer®, the people who start kids off right, come these self-contained kits for kids 6+. You pick: the Amusin’ Illusions™ kit with (26) optical illusions, including eye monster, penrose triangle, hole in your hand, dancing cube, mobius strip and many more, and comes with 3D glasses and a 19-page manual; or Fingerprint Science™ for budding forensic scientists, which includes a bottle of fingerprint powder, dusting brush, acrylic magnifier, tape tabs, (32) fingerprint cards and a 29-page instruction manual.

This 3-pack of plastic measuring containers does double duty as measuring and storage units, and they nest inside one another. Big one is approx 7” tall x 4” square, tapering to 2-3/4” square at the bottom, marked for up to 1000ml and 4 cups in the usual increments. Middle guy is marked for 500ml, 2 cups and 16 oz. Smallest one is marked for 250ml, 1 cup and 8 oz. With blue, red and yellow snap-on lids, respectively.

From Brinks®, this personal security alarm has an IR sensor that will trip a 120dB siren or door chime when anyone enters the sensor’s 100-degree x 12-foot range. Measures 4-5/8" x 2-3/8" x 1-3/4" in a white plastic housing with a 1-3/4" x 1-3/8" lens. Mounts via a 5/32” keyed slot or an included 1” ball-and-socket bracket. Could also be set on a dresser or desk in a hotel room. You add (4) “AAA” batteries.

Pardon us if we don’t swipe right, but we’re just selling digital thermometers here. This one, from HomeMedics®, is 8” long but the 3-1/2” probe folds away and tucks into the 4-1/2” long handle. Readout is 1” x 1/2” LED display, shows -40 to 450F, -40 to 232C, and has a hold button to freeze display. Made for cooks, but because of its wide temperature range it doesn’t really care what or whom it’s measuring, heat-wise. Powered by a pair of common CR2032 batteries (included). 

Sometimes you don’t want lead in your solder. You know this. Our each is a dispenser that feeds approx 109” of lead-free solder in 0.40” dia wire. Solder is 99.3” tin and 0.7% copper. No need to thank us for refraining from lead soldier puns.

In black textured rubber with red trim these gloves from Best® Glove are their Trapper™ brand, and are the grippiest buggers we’ve seen since Hector was a pup. They’re marked “Sanitized™” but we’re not sure what that means. Nitrile-coated with a felt lining. You pick size 9 or 10.

Call it the Heart of a Doll, because that’s what it was, once upon a toy store. Today it’s a red, heart-shaped plastic thingy, 2-1/2" wide x 7/8" thick, with a smaller heart-shaped button on top. And yeah, it’s a little creepy. Hold the button and it emits a soothing electronic heartbeat at a tad under 60bpm. Runs on (2) button cell batteries, included.

Hanging from your ceiling. Our multi-color glow-in-the-dark solar system DIY 3-dimensional mobile includes a 4-1/8" dia sun, 2-3/4" Jupiter, 2" Saturn with removable rings, 15/16" Uranus and Neptune, 13/16" Earth and Venus, and 11/16" Mars, Mercury and Pluto, all with little rings at the top to hang them from. Includes (32) feet of cord and a fact sheet. If, on the other hand, you want to be on the astronomical cutting edge, just leave Pluto in the box and tell him to get over it.

Who woodn’t, really? In a world of plastics, it’s hard to beat a model fashioned from pieces of dead trees. You pick from our assortment of pre-cut unfinished wood models made for ages 8+, and all you add is wood glue, paint, sandpaper and simple hand tools: the 12-piece drag racer will measure 6-3/4” long x 2” tall; the 35-piece steam engine will measure 7-3/8” long x 4-3/8” tall; and the 46-piece stage coach will be 8-7/8” long x 5-7/8” tall. (Sorry, no horses.)

If not, you need this modern accent light. In brushed aluminum, this one’s a circular light diffuser with (3) dozen 3-headed fins. Measures 3-1/2" dia x 1-5/8" below a 2-3/4” x 1-3/16” solid housing. Housing has 2” leads and a bar mount. Operates between 85-265 VAC, so standard house current works but the light needs to be hard-wired. Draws just 1W for a warm-white LED. From Lumicon.

Voted most likely to attract by the judges, this magnet has the relative strength of 10 men. A shiny silver 1/2" cube of neodymium magnetism, it packs approx a 15-lb pull. If our boss Pat were that strong he could lift 2,160 lbs! Besides its superpower strength, this beautiful cube also would improve the looks of your fridge or bulletin board to no end.

Nice little chunky 12VDC 1.5A wall adapter. Has a 6-foot cord, and a right-angle 5.5mm (2.5mm) center-positive female plug. UL.

These microfiber pouches are exactly right for carrying glasses, plus their microfiberness means you can polish those plastic lenses without scratching them. Measure 4” x 7” with a drawstring on top. They come in gray, maroon, black, lavender, green and blue, and we’ll pick the colors for you because glasses don’t care what color they’re stored in and you shouldn’t either.

These punch-out, coated-card-stock bookmarks are approx 8" long, with happy, cartoonish beastie heads on top and small graduated rulers on the back. Could be nice little stick puppets, too. You get a total of (12) cards with a lion, tiger, zebra, hippo, elephant and koala.  For a total of 36 bookmarks. Enough for the whole class, or every kid at the zoo-themed party.

This MW® regulated power operates on 120 VAC and delivers constant accurate power to a video game, radio, portable TV, or any device drawing up to 2.0 amps. The 5 1/8" x 3-7/8" x 2-5/8" housing has a rotary dial to designate 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, 9 or 12 VDC output, and heavy-duty red and black binding posts. Automatic short circuit and overload protection and thermal cutoff. Add the mini plug kit or the alligator test clip leads. The mini plug kit contains six of the most popular DC plugs for DC powered devices such as portable TV sets, video games and radios. "Gator" clips are 36" long with one red and one black lead.

These momentary SPST push-button switches are normally open and measure 11/16" dia x just over 3/16" thick and have a 15/32" shaft with a steel lock-washer & nut plus a pair of 1/8" solder terminals on the bottom. Rated 3A at 125VAC or 1A at 250VAC. You pick red, green or yellow.

Ankles, knees and elbows—when they’re strained and sprained, we recommend this 3” wide, non-latex, flexible Coflex bandage. On an 8-foot roll that stretches, like, well, an elastic bandage, to almost twice that length. Sweat- and water-resistant, the bandage adheres to itself. To match your uniform or exercise outfit, you’ll get a box of (4) bandages, (1) each in red, royal blue, aqua and purple.

It’s a combo gardening and art set for the princess in your family. Comes with a 9” plastic dish, potting soil, (10) paint pots, (2) brushes, some pebbles, (2) resin mushrooms and the mandatory fairy house. Includes wheatgrass seed and beans, fabric flowers, glitter, purple pellets, plastic marbles, gems and a genuine poly-resin garden fairy. For royalty ages 7+.

Yes, your desktop is made of atoms (you, too) but this is a 7" dia chrome and black model of an atomic structure (Boronish, Paul says) that keeps on turning via the magic of electromagnetics, at least until the 9V battery you put in it wears out. Stands approx 9" tall on its base.  Ignore that "perpetual motion" on the box, unless you have a perpetual battery. Minimal assembly required, but a maximum person like you won't have a problem with it.

These clear plastic test tubes hold 10ml and measure 101mm (4") long x 16mm (5/8") dia and come with matching #5 corks. You'll receive a handy package of (10) which is enough for a ROY G. BIV optical display which includes the lesser known colors of not-quite-right green, Monday-morning-blue and plaid. Made in USA.

The Smithsonian knows dinosaurs, and now we’ve got dinosaur puzzles from them. Our 100-piece, 8” x 10” puzzles feature various images of the prehistoric beasts, including a dilophosaurus, stegosaurus, rebbachisaurus, mamenchisaurus and diabloceratops, or multiple dinos. We’ll pick (1) for you, because all dinosaurs are awesome. For ages 6+.

No self-respecting number cruncher can afford to be seen without one of these fashion classics. We'll pick out (3) black or white vinyl pocket protectors in the traditional 5-1/2" x 3-1/2" size. Order quickly; It's only a question of time before these are seen on the runways in Milan.

This Olive Drab painted on the outside and shiny, reflective silver on the inside aluminum lampshade from Uncle is 7” dia at the bottom x 4-1/8” tall with a 1-5/16” hole non-threaded, in the top for the bulb. Plug the hole and it’s a bowl!

Hey, steampunk! We got your bag-o-gears right here, mostly the sort of thing that went into clocks and watches before quartz crystals and cell phones, when stuff was much cooler. But wait. Don't plan on building an actual machine with these gears--they're strictly decorative. No one will know that, though, when these industrial beauties are hanging from a chain around your neck. You get about (20) gears and flywheels in sizes ranging from 1/4" to maybe 1-1/4" in brass, bronze and gold tones.

This small, clip-on, retractable cord reel measures just 1” dia x 3/8” thick, in black plastic over steel, with its spring clip on the back. A very thin nylon cord pulls out to reach 18-1/2”, with a closed wire loop at the end to hold a key or whatever (think: name-badge holder). Doesn’t lock open, so just pull it out and use the attachment, and it automatically retracts when you let go. We had a sixth-grade nun with one of these, but we never knew what the key was for.

Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear, when people could gauge your mood just by looking at your fingers. Our mood rings are tasteful, simple metal bands with mood-indicating stuff on the outside. We'll send you a trio from our bins of assorted sizes, and chances are they'll fit one or the other of your fingers or thumbs. (Or toes, which can get quite moody, too.)