What (non-firearms) do you collect?

[snorko]

Talking with my folks the other day, we got on the subject of collecting. They have a hobby antique business and have collected art glass and other antiques since the 1950's. True antiques, 19th century glass, silver and china and the like. They spoke on how the market has really thinned. Not just the economy but fewer and fewer people seemed interested anymore.

Got me thinking on how we have become a disposable and somewhat rootless nation. Most people seem to spend their money and time on activity hobbies, video gaming systems, etc.

So what do you collect? Other than firearms stuff, I have over the years collected on a small scale: comic books, lanterns, books, photographs, military insignia and medals, key chains and pencils. Some were serious hobbies, others not so much.

So tell me, what do you collect?

 

[Jerry D Young]

Old Civil Defense literature
Emergency Prep literature and books
Disaster novels
Self-sufficiency books

 

[S8MS-01904]

How 'bout Ford Mustang memorabilia. Mostly the dealer sales literature kinda stuff.

 

[00BlasterResto]

Car parts and tools. There is no such thing as a part I don't need, just some I'm not using at the moment. old hood ornaments and ash trays are two of my favorite, also cool dash pieces and body trim (front fender turn signals and such).
I like rat rods and alike, someday I hope to use various pieces while building one.

 

[ljadayton]

I really wish I could've picked books AND animal theme...I buy/read a lot of dog related books. Training and care mostly

 

[stephen87]

I used to collect coins from Spanish speaking countries, stamps, 1/64 scale NASCAR diecasts (until they got expensive), football cards, still have my collection, and MLB cards from the 1994 (I believe) season.

I still collect baseball caps (all varities not just baseball), St Louis Rams stuff, and debt. lol

 

[femurphy77]

I don't know if I'd call it "collecting" but we have around 3000 45 rpm records we're in the process of grading and cataloging for our jukebox. I've also got "several" old Coleman lanterns that will be getting some attention when I have the time. We are also in the process of trying to visit all of the "Margaritaville"s that exist and purchase the requisite shirts to prove our visit, although that "collection" is in it's infant stage, so far we've managed to only visit 6 diffent ones.

 

[Truckie174]

Antique copper and brass fire extiguishers, and other old fire fighting tools.

 

[Brandon]

guns, coins, silver ingots and such, whiskey bottles (un opened), tools for the garage... unusual things for the game room such as a pay phone, keg....

 

[red_zr24x4]

Zippo's I have about 12, My wife's cousin is a pilot in the Navy and I usually get one from whatever aircraft carrier hes on or his duty station.
I also have a shelf in my reloading room with about 75 or more different rounds on it mostly obsolete stuff
Oh and hats I bet I have 100 of those

 

[fergie22]

old lighters and dust lol

semper fi

 

[jclark]

Camaros and Chevelles.

 

[ljadayton]

Camaros and Chevelles.

My dad collected camaros, he just never had more then 1 at a time

 

[sepe]

Nobody else is going to admit Beanie Babies, Justin Bieber posters, and autographed pictures of Ricki Lake?

I mostly collect whiskey decanters. Got some from the 70s still full and in the box. Got a matching set of Hippies from Jim Beam in 1969.

 

[Pami]

My mom has a pretty awesome collection of Girl Scout memorabilia. It started with a couple of old books that we picked up, and then we found some old pins at a flea market, and it just kind of snowballed from there. She has a whole "Girl Scout" room in her house, and when the State Museum had the Girl Scout display last year and the Council asked for donations, Mom packed up about 8 boxes worth of stuff for them to go through. They used a few things from her collection, which was cool. I have to say, Girl Scouts in the 1920s rocked. They just don't teach those skills any more.

 

[rockhopper46038]

I kinda like watches.

 

[Hkindiana]

Indian artifacts. I just found three nice ones yesterday.

 

[HighStrung]

I collect shot glasses, up to around 150ish now. I usually grab one from every new place we go and I don't let other people help my collection. Kinda gives each one a story and something to look back on sometime down the road I guess. Interstingly enough, I don't drink hard alcohol.

 

[Zephri]

I collect stuffed animals, mostly of the cat big cat variety, which is honestly one of the cheapest hobbies I have.

Course I also collect odds and ends that interest me from peddlers malls, garage sales and salvage yards.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

Coins & fossils/rocks