Guilty of collecting....?

[KilroyCD]

Where do I begin?

You might say I'm an eclectic serial collector. It all started in 5th grade when I started collecting coins, which ultimately led to collecting stamps. Then, in high school I stopped collecting for a while, only to start collecting books on WWII shortly after graduation. The books on WWII (and I have several hundred) led to collecting WWII paraphenalia. At first I would buy anything I found from the era, but then I started rationalizing things and started collecting USAAF and RAF items. Then I became involved in WWII living history, primarily Homefront and Civilian Defense, so my collecting habits shifted to those categories. I bought a house five years ago and made one of the spare bedrooms into a dedicated "War Room". Unfortunately, I'm only able to display a portion of what I have as far as WWII items are concerned. This doesn't include the framed WWII posters lining the walls of the hallway upstairs. My involvement with living history led me to acquire a vintage bicycle for getting around at events. Needless to say, vintage bikes became one of the things I collect, and has actually grown to be a category I'm quite passionate about. Look at the "Show us your Balloon-Tire Bikes" thread in the Display Case section in case you have any question of that. I presently have 25 vintage bikes filling my garage (not to mention two more that are in my dining room). All the while, I had (and still have) an interest in photography, which has led to a collection of vintage cameras and ultimately to a sideline business. I have a small antiques business called "Firkin Antiques" (why by something new when you can buy a Firkin Antique?), the name of which came about while I was gazing at an antique Firkin. My antiques business specializes in (but is not at all limited to) vintage cameras. Now I go to auctions, estate sales, yard / garage sales and the like to "collect" items to resell. Talk about my collecting mania getting out of hand!

 

[Luddite]

My name's Lud, and I'm a Collector!

Ever since I can remember, I've collected stuff. I think I inherited this trait from my mother, who used to be an auction valuer and would take me along on the summer holidays. It started out innocuously enough with model aircraft, Dinky cars and the like, but when I reached earning age, it skyrocketed. I'd collect stuff, then sell on the collections to fund more collections. This was fine until the selling off stopped. Now I have hordes of 'stuff' which fill the house, parent's lofts, several garages and a wardrobe or two, and was becoming a problem. I have motorcycles, cars, bicycles, aeroplane parts, books, cameras, military ephemera, flying clothing, bakelite radios, motorcycle clothing, model aeroplanes, hats, '78s, sunglasses, etc. etc., all vintage; I have a few too many kites and longboards, too. I've come to the conclusion that I have a bit of a problem, and if this gear isn't getting used, or appreciated regularly, it's wasted with me, so bit by bit, with a tear in my eye, I'm selling it on to fund the purchase of something, just one thing, that I can appreciate to the fullest.

 

[Miss 1929]

Guilty as charged

I have the entire decade of 1927 through 1937 of "The Delineator", so I can go on to another vintage magazine now
Sewing and fashion books, and vintage patterns
Compacts, vanity table items
Cigarette holders, cases, vintage lighters (and I don't inhale tobacco!)
Of course, clothes, hats, shoes, accessories (20s-30s)
Anything old with the Queen Mary on it (love that boat)
"Coronation" silver plate by Community
Etched crystal glassware
Green things from the deco era
Vintage sheet music (at least I can write that one off on taxes)
And I am sure the list should be longer!

 

[LizzieMaine]

I'm another of these what-don't-I-collect types --

Books and magazines about radio and broadcasting
Radio program transcriptions
Radio scripts
78rpm records
Vintage patterns
Vintage kitchen gadgets
Vintage packaging -- boxes, cans, labels, bottle caps
Vintage board games
Assorted obsolete coins and paper money
Vintage ephemera -- personal documents, cards, etc.
And of course the usual hats, shoes, and accessories

 

[The Shirt]

Count me in

Vintage metal building replicas. I like to find them amongst the racks at antique malls but friends and family have taken to bringing me some back after every trip they take. Nothing from the African Continent yet but I'm hoping...

 

[Brian Sheridan]

Books, old magazines, DVDs, radio shows, CD's, James Bond memoriabillia...and I am running out of room! lol

 

[deadpandiva]

I collect dolls. I started with the Matel movie star dolls (Vivien Leigh, Liz Taylor and Audrey Hepburn) and branched out to Gene, Pullip, Blythe, Marin Chichlana etc...

I also collect paperdolls (vintage, repro and new) which started out as only celebrity dolls but branched out into 1940's fashion dolls, Big and Little sister doll sets and anything I find interesting.

I have alot of movie memorabilia. I have about 70-80 autographs. Half were received thru the mail and half were purchased on ebay. I have a tone of original and reprint glamour photos, film stills, Lobby cards, Sheet music, Post cards, Arcade cards and cigarette cards. I also have about a dozen old movie magazines from the 30's-50's. and an original Merton Of The Movies poster.
I also have quite a few obits.

The bulk of my collection features Ava Gardner, Katharine Hepburn and Virginia O'Brien but I collect a little on everyone I like.

And of course vintage clothes and hats. No vintage shoes yet.

I have slowed down alot and need to part with a few things but I really can't bring myself to get rid of them.

 

[The Shirt]

I want to go play at deadpandiva's house.

 

[ShortClara]

I want to go play at deadpandiva's house.

Totally! She can give us all hair-dos like hers and then we'll play dolls with a Katharine Hepburn marathon on telly!

 

[sixsexsix]

I collect salt & pepper shakers. Yes, I know, it's extremely kitschy.

I also collect dresses. Vintage. modern, whatever as long as it fits well. I think I have over 40 now...

 

[deadpandiva]

Totally! She can give us all hair-dos like hers and then we'll play dolls with a Katharine Hepburn marathon on telly!

I would love that. I have no one to share my collection with. I love to do hair too. I was in a 1940's variety a few years ago and ended up doing half the cast's hair. I would have done everyone's had they let me.

 

[deadpandiva]

I want to go play at deadpandiva's house.

Thanks. You'll have to come and check out the collection sometime. Maybe after the New Year if we ever have that Minnesota get together.

 

[The Shirt]

That would be dandy. If anything we just need to get together and hit every vintage store in town. I have no doubt we could do some damage. I've been keeping my eyes open for a fun place/event to the mpls get together as well.

 

[bolthead]

3 Stooges memorabillia, I'm a total fanatic when it comes to those guys.

Oh yeah, can't forget my collection of Vintage Fedoras. :fedora:

 

[duggap]

For years I collected classic or vintage gold clubs, anybody in the market. But when I moved to Tennessee I started hunting for and collecting artifacts from the American Civil War. Those are not for sale, unless I run out of money when I retire.

 

[Sylvanrealm]

I have collections of or am currently collecting:

old books
masks
corsets
decanters (of the crystal sort)
china dolls (from when I was much younger)
beautiful/unusual glasswear
geisha-related items/books
other lovely objects which cross my path -- hat pins, brooches, very old jewelry boxes, statues (I LOVE statues, especially busts and especially in white stone. I think I'll just turn my future house into a museum)

I thinka lot of it comes from that Brideshead love in me.

 

[Foofoogal]

Collector of everything. That is why I had to become a dealer. lol

 

[oddlots]

Wow! I finally feel not so alone.

I collect (among other things):

Vintage postcards

Magazines (my parents used to throw out BOXES full all the time, as it is I probably have a few thousand), especially Esquire, Magic, art/design, Mini Truckin', etc.

Books, especially cookbooks, clothing/style/grooming, art texts, graphic design books, vintage home decor, vintage architecture, vintage ANYTHING

Stage Magic props, videos, and books

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory memorabilia (I'd kill for an original screen-used prop), currently I only have a signed photo of Wilder, a script signed by Wilder and Ostrum (Charlie Bucket), a poster from the French release, an original VHS, and a t-shirt but I'm always looking for original items, lobby cards, and *crosses fingers* a usable print from the theatrical release

Records

Barware

Moustache Wax and shaving items

Odds and ends from my late Grandmother and her sister (who lived to 92 years of age) like ashtrays, tiny safety razors, and kitschy decor

Kitschy anything

Religious items, both divine and crass (my vintage crucifix lamp sits next to my fiancee's beautiful menorrah and our bobble-head Jesus)

Stamps (haven't actively collected in almost 20 years, but I still have BOOKS full somewhere)

Cigars

Cufflinks

I have a TINY guitar/bass collection

Starting a S&P shaker collection with my fiancee (one of the few collectables we agree on)

And sadly, that's just the things I can see from my chair or think of off-hand.

My apartment, two storage units, my grandfather's basement, and my mom's basement are currently FILLED with the various "stuff" I've collected. We're hoping to move into a sizable house with full basement soon so that I can officially establish my personal "museum". As it is, everybody just thinks I'm a cluttered packrat.

 

[KY Gentleman]

GREAT! We are all collectors of stuff. I like anything from the '60's or '70's because I probably saw the commercial for it, had it or wished I had it!
For the most part I collect revolvers, knives, hats and cowboy boots. I've collected glass dog figurines since I was a little guy. HELP!

 

[retrogirl1941]

VINTAGE CHINA! AH! I have way....... too much of it! I usaully collect the stonewear that looks like fine china. The brand that made alot of this was Salem. I collect avidly godeys prints and the colonail couple pattern. The godeys prints one is actaully my wedding china. Also vintage sewing "stuff". Or anything that catches my eye. Latley it has been red kitchen ware to match my original cherry print kitchen stuff. I will have to post a picture of my kitchen later.Thats all I can think of right now!lol

Samantha