What do you collect...?

SmoothSeas

SmoothSeas

Senior Member
I have/had so many different collections throughout the years...

*steamship memorabilia - retired Merchant Marine here
*vintage kitchen stuff - how many mixing bowls does one need/use
*clear, colored glass from the 30's. 40's 50's
*black memorabilia and ephemera
*cookbooks - literally had towering stacks
*and, that's the short list

In Y2K, I moved from Chicago to Florida, and decided I needed to collect something that didn't have a big footprint, so I decided on postcards. I already had a few, mixed in with other ephemera. I started attending post card shows, buying/trading online. Soon I was buying shoe boxes for the cards to live in. Next, I was buying bookcases for the shoeboxes to live in.

So, who here collects what...? Share if you're so inclined.

eta: in my next life, I wanna return as a minimalist and this urge to accumulate will no longer be a problem.
 

I've collected many different things but now am trying to RID myself of all collections.

Antique kitchen tools
vintage kitchen aprons ,table clothes, dishtowels, etc.
antique kitchen tins
original kitchen food advertising signs
dove-tail wooden boxes
antique wooden bowls
antique marbles
old beer can openers
old cloth bank bags
livestock brand books
1920's high back saddles
old outlaw and law enforcement books
old books about Western brothels
rocks and gemstones
Civil War old books
wonderful books of varied artists
antique door hinges
quotes from men of wisdom
antique metaphysical books
old tin cookie cutters

It's fun collecting everything, but now I want to rid of most things.
 
@Gaer

I have 6 or more 30-gallon Rubbermaid totes stuffed with vintage linens and some vintage kitchen tins

post-pandemic and I recently moved in with my niece and her family - they have a 4k-square foot house, but literally filled to overflowing with all their stuff - so most all of my stuff is currently in storage...

We have a few collections in common, that makes me smile... Thx for sharing.
 

SmoothSeas said:
@Gaer

I have 6 or more 30-gallon Rubbermaid totes stuffed with vintage linens and some vintage kitchen tins

post-pandemic and I recently moved in with my niece and her family - they have a 4k-square foot house, but literally filled to overflowing with all their stuff - so most all of my stuff is currently in storage...

We have a few collections in common, that makes me smile... Thx for sharing.
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Wow! i had so much vintage 1930's fabric, mostly calico that I used to quilt heart shaped pillows. Sold all of it, (the fabric) but wish i would have kept it! That's interesting that you had the same collections. let me know if you decide to sell it!
 
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What do I collect? Have about 1,500 golf balls in racks on the walls of my basement golf room. Some date back to the early 50's. Corporations, banks, etc. that no longer exist. Signature balls from early tour pros. Another few hundred I don't have rack space for.
 
Patch said:
A brother-in-law built them for me. I've sorta lost interest. Would like to find someone who wants the entire collection... balls, racks, and all... and would enjoy them. Shipping, however, would be a nightmare due to the weight, etc.
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Have you tried checking eBay's sold listings? Especially the sig balls? There's a market for almost anything collectible.
 
Exercise DVD collection and....
VHS exercise video collection (donated some of these, kept classics....Amy Esterhay, Joanie Greggains, Aileen Sheron, Cynthia Kereluk, Jane Fonda....etc.
And....
Still have my beloved stash of Collage Video catalogs. Color coded, categorized, so fun to go through and pick out the ones to buy.
"Collage Video Guide to Exercise Videos"

They used to mail the catalog to you back in the day, now only online, of course.

Those were the days, nothing like cover art and a physical DVD compared to streaming.
 
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Watched a show the other day about what people should do before selling a house - you must declutter she said - remove all photos from walls and other surfaces and definitely all collectables. I love antique crockery and would hate having to shove them into a cupboard out of sight, luckily I have no plans to sell.
 
what a lovely pattern, Mellow. Do you use them at table? Or just for display?

eta: every time I see you post, a little voice in my head starts singing 'I'm just mad about Saffron'... I've always loved that tune.. is that were your username comes from?
 
SmoothSeas said:
what a lovely pattern, Mellow. Do you use them at table? Or just for display?

eta: every time I see you post, a little voice in my head starts singing 'I'm just mad about Saffron'... I've always loved that tune.. is that were your username comes from?
Click to expand...
Thanks smoothy, just for display (a closet show-off), made by Royal Albert, Lady Carlyle and yes I got it from the song.
 
I collected chicken figurines or anything relating to chickens for years. I got so tired of cleaning them. I decided to sell them off in groups back when eBay was going strong. I did quite well.

I also had a whole set of Roses and Rooster pattern dinnerware. I sold that except for a couple of pieces.
It would take me a whole day to wash and clean the set which I displayed on top of my kitchen cabinets. I can't climb up there anymore.

My mom and I collected teacups which I still have in her china closet in a corner of my living room. . I don't add to it but aren't quite ready to give it up.
Music boxes was something else I collected. I have most of them scattered around the house. They are very meaningful to me.

Once I read that if you are going to sell items that still have meaning because you need to downsize take photos.
Now I have a scrapbook full of them and it does make parting much easier.

The photo shows my Roses and Rooster lemon plate and my wooden pet store music box. It plays Doggie in the Window. The animals in the window spin as it plays. I added little miniature extras over the years and repainted it to colors I liked.

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