Marché aux Puces VII

Today ends our mini series at the Marché aux Puces. I"ll leave you with one of the most unusual booth that we've ever found, Tombées du Camion (fell off the truck).  Actually, I read about their shop in Montmartre years ago and we tracked it down. Now they have several booths at the flea market as well. If you're looking for out of the ordinary finds, this is your place. It defies description.

Quirky

Normally I zip over to Monsieur Google and try and find a nifty French phrase for my title, but this collection from the QUIRKY, Tombées du Camion left me unsure. Maybe some of my French speakers can help me out.

Tombées du Camion has several shops around Paris.  In 2011, Mary, Peter and I tracked down the original shop in Montmartre. As a photographer, it's a delight. It's just chock full of an odd but very orderly collection of vintage memorabilia, doll heads, print shop letters, vintage ties, you get the idea. If you visit the Marché aux Puces you can stroll through their stalls there. Visit their website for other locations.

Les lettres

You could easily spend an entire day poking through the treasures and oddities at Tombées du Camion ( fallen off the truck) at the Marché aux Puces. It really defies description! Years ago Mary, Peter and I found the shop first shop tucked away in Montmartre ( 17 rue Joseph de Maistre, Paris 75018). This last trip, while photographing the Marché aux Puces, we stumbled on two more stalls there. The sheer volume of the tiny treasures could be overwhelming but each shop is incredibly organized to make your search much easier. There are crates upon crates of letters in all sizes and styles. A photographer's buffet!

L'ange et les Tours

One of my favorite, very quirky shops in Paris is Tombées du Camion (fell off the truck). I first found it in Montmartre years ago. Imagine my delight to find not one but two locations when we visited the Marché aux Puces. If you want unusual, this is the place for you. You will thank me for this.

Tombées du camion

Paris is chock full of charming and unusual shops that might take a bit of looking but are well worth the effort. Several years ago, I bought *Paris Made By Hand, a treasure of a handbook featuring Paris' most unusual shops by arrondissement. It took some searching but Peter and Mary helped me find it. Tombées du camion, which means "fell off the truck" is a tiny shop full of an electic mix of unusual finds. This is a place that although hard to explain, is a photographer's paradise.

Tombées du camion

17 rue Joseph de Maistre

75018 Paris

* Of note: I recommend doing a search online for any shops you might want to visit as I've found that since the book was written, several have closed. 

Heads Over Heels

Tombées du Camion translates to "fallen from the truck".  I first read about this quaint and quirky little shop tucked away in Montmartre in *Paris Made By Hand.   I thought it looked intersting, and I was right.  It's full to the brim with odd little toys, vintage everything, including some medical equipment and printing press letters.  

Now they have two locations. I assume the newer one is just as interesting.  If you can find this place, you'll want your camera handy.

17 rue Joseph de Maistre

06 62 07 20 87

47 Passage des Panoramas

01 42 33 22 19

* I've enjoyed Paris Made By Hand but have found several of the shops closed or no longer at the location. 

I would call or check the web before hand.

Tombées due Camion

Often as we stroll the side streets of Paris, we stumble upon a wonderful and unique little shop.  Not this time. I found Tombées du Camion ( fallen from the truck) in * Paris Made By Hand and had it on my list. Thankfully I had my navigational pilot and co-pilot
 ( Peter and Mary) along,  and they sniffed out the address et voilà!  How to describe this tiny place?  A delightful mélange of printmaking letters, antique wooden shoe forms, medical equipment, vintage ties, and doll heads.........it's endless.   Today two photos. One I think illustrates this wonderful wall of letters the best, but it needed the human element, so you get two for one today.

* I  LOVE this little book, but note that a few of the stores featured have since closed. Perhaps a web search before your trip will eliminate some disappointments.

Tombées du Camion

17 rue Joseph de Maistre

Métro: Abbesses ou Blanche