Of those costing 3 x Memory of a Tale, only these two have any uses:
The Ornamental Storm in a Teacup has a 50/50 luck roll on the zailing card “The Killing Wind”.
The Ostentatious Paisley Suit has two uses, one in the Maze-Garden in Polythreme (on the card HARVEST), and as a means of entering the Clay Tailor’s Club in London.
Of the items/companions costing 7 x Memory of a Tale, Tabitha Murgatroyd stands out: she can be picked as a member for your Moulin Expedition Team!
The Polythremean Captain’s Boots can act as translator when Meeting a Local Steamer in the Sea of Voices.
The Sapphire, Allegedly Imbued with a Minor Curse unlocks a repeatable action in Mr Stones’ shop at the Hurlers station, paying out 1 x Rumour of the Upper River.
Now to those companions costing 12 x Memory of a Tale:
The Eldest Daughter is a lab assistant with a Toxicological Focus.
The Percipient Cricketer is a lab assistant with a Correspondence Focus.
The Reformed Protester is a lab assistant focusing on Weapons projects.
The Stoic Classicist is a lab assistant focusing on History projects.
July can be recruited as a Railway Board Member.
The Ebullient Undertaker unlocks one storylet in Jericho Locks library research.
Johnny Croak can be hired as an assassin when responding to Social Slights.
If you’re an ardent cat-lover, you can also get all the cats and enter the House of Chimes while wearing all of them, thus getting yet another cat. This might be necessary to advance A Cub’s Education as far as possible.
All other items/companions have no use so far.