Is there anything you collect that you feel like you're the only one doing it?

[ZonkerHarris]

For me it's my collection of letter openers.
Mostly mid 20th century of all kinds of styles, materials
some branded
From back when the daily mail was everything and the main communication or business tool for many

I also have a collection of Old Time Radio premium badges and rings
the send away stuff from the 1930s
sad to say I feel old just looking at it all and I've noticed the markets for them are dying off, literally.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I did have a collection from the 1933 Chicago World's Fair, but sold it in 2020.

[CrispyQ]

2. Cool! I love the World's Fairs.

I'm writing a story that features the Jehol Temple which was an exhibit at the Fair.

[emulatorloo]

8. Nice! Would love to read it.

[Vinca]

26. When I first started buying and selling antiques and collectibles, I got a 1933 World's Fair Teapot

at an auction. This was almost 25 years ago. When I got home I looked it up on ebay and nearly fainted when I saw it was selling for about $1500. Stupidly, I hung onto it thinking it would go up in price. Of course, it didn't. One of the school of hard knocks lessons in antiquing. LOL. I ended up selling it for half that.

Editing to admit I made a mistake. The teapot was from 1939, not 1933. Navy blue with gold decoration. You probably know it.

[TlalocW]

3. I know I'm not

But smashed pennies. I have several collector books filled with them. One day when I have nothing better to do and have 100 to 200 extra bucks, I'm going to drive to Branson and just walk around and get over 200 new pennies for my collection.

[Chainfire]

4. I am guilty.

I collect old four blade (scout) pocket knives from the 40s through the 80s. Knife collectors sneer at me like I have toilet paper stuck to my shoes....I have dozens of them, different makers, and none of them are worth over about ten bucks, but I like them.

To put your mind at ease, I will tell you this, and I swear it is the truth. My wife and I were shopping in a junk/antique store in Dothan, Alabama a few years ago and they had a collection of condoms (new in the package) in a nice shadow box for sale. I could only shake my head in wonder...Who in the world would collect condoms and who would you show them off to?

[emulatorloo]

5. Vintage Nurse Romance Novels from the early 60's

Like this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/385032062328

[LakeArenal]

10. Fun!

[ZonkerHarris]

14. My mom collects those. I remember one title I've always smiled at KATE OF OUTPATIENTS

Mom used to review romance novels for Romantic Times and the Paperback Reader magazines

[emulatorloo]

20. Your mom sounds very accomplished and a lot of fun!

[blm]

22. emu, I never would have guessed that

and I’ve been on DU with you for a pretty long time. 🫶🏽

[emulatorloo]

25. It is pretty weird, huh? Haven't done it for years, but there was a time where I scoured thrift

stores like a bloodhound on the hunt. I liked the cover art and read every word of every one I purchased. Still have them but they are stored in the basement.

I also collected early 60’s cookbooks at the same time. Will admit to still making a crazy Jello mold recipe now and again. Think lemon jello, cherry tomatoes, olives, green onions.

I think it boils down to me liking early 60’s commercial artwork! That’s when I was a kid.

Yeah we go back a long time!

[blm]

6. I hear ya. But, my, I love a cool letter-opener.

A pic of your collection and your premium swag would be fun.

[kimbutgar]

7. I have a sword letter opener that I got on a job cleaning out a seniors home.

It is very detailed.

I help seniors downside so they can move to assisted living places. Some of them have great collections of stuff that I help them prioritize to take with them.

I collect salt and pepper shakers so I know the importance of picking favorites when there’s no room anymore.

[multigraincracker]

18. I had a sword letter opener that said Toledo.

It was for the Toledo in Spain, not Ohio.

Does seem the market is terrible for everything old. Watches are hot and a few other things.

[LakeArenal]

9. I collect Disney Pluto figurines. I thought I was the only one.

However, Hilde on Trading Spaces collects them.

And a college student I hired collected them also.

No stuffed animals of Pluto. Just figurines and jewelry.

[ZonkerHarris]

37. nice

[Keepthesoulalive]

11. 50's Chalkware

Reglor, Universal Statuary and anything else from that period.

[northoftheborder]

13. I have chalk figures of the 7 dwarfs

Would you like them?

[Keepthesoulalive]

17. Thank you for the offer

I collect the outrageous lamps and shades from that era and trust me it is an acquired taste.

[northoftheborder]

12. California Raisins figurines

[Grokenstein]

15. Kenner SSP Racers from the '70s

Because they were built to hurtle into walls, storm drains and siblings' heads, they are increasingly difficult to find in good condition.

[blm]

23. Cool.

[Eko]

16. Sanity.

[leighbythesea2]

19. Vintage match books

Usually at estate sales they’re in a big ziploc bag. I studied graphic design in college, and love looking at the fonts and design. A lot packed into a little space.
And inexpensive, so no guilt buying them.

Also it’s like someone’s vacation/eating out life over years! Often there are old wedding matchbooks in the mix too.

[blm]

24. I love old matchbooks, too.

[Mr.Bill]

28. I had a collection of those that I inherited from my parents.

I passed them on to my granddaughter a few years ago. I don't know how many there were, but they filled one of those giant brandy snifters, about a gallon I suppose. They are almost all from the 50s and 60s. I always worried about them being a bit of a fire hazard, though.

[leighbythesea2]

29. Nice

Better than postcards in a way.
They put a lot of design effort into the 50s and 60s matchbooks. The restaurant and bar logos are interesting. Tiki bar ones are my fave.
& a collection of them is completely personal, tells a story.

[Mr.Bill]

30. Yes, and I'm old enough

to have been with my parents when they collected most of them. I remember the restaurants, motels, etc.

[leighbythesea2]

31. Cool

That you can picture the place & the experience.

I remember them as a kid in the 70s and 80s. My stepfather smoked (but then quit). I love vintage drink stirrers too, and never see them. Found a batch at an estate sale & scooped them up. They fit a lot of advertising on those too.

[Marthe48]

21. I'm trying to think of something

we don't have a collection of. I am downsizing after my husband and I collected for over 40 years. We shared a big tobacciana collection. I collected road maps, tokens, Santa Claus figurines, stick spatter and majolica.

If I come across artist signed pieces, I like to keep those. I like keeping the stuff made before 1920, around when mass production phased out studio art, for the most part.

I read the posts and it is nice that people are collecting and love a certain item. The post was a nice way to wind down before bed.

[Mr.Bill]

27. I collect Martini glasses.

I have about 100 of them. Nothing of any great value, I bought most of them at yard sales and thrift stores. I paid fifty cents or a dollar for most of them. When we retired and downsized our housing, I boxed them up because there really wasn't room to display them. I do get them out at Christmas time and put ornaments in them.

One thing that is fun is I have drank at least one Martini from every one of them.

[leighbythesea2]

32. My husband

Would be jealous. He loves martinis.

[Mr.Bill]

33. They are fun and cheap to collect.

It gives me an excuse to stop at yard sales and thrift stores. Really unique ones are surprisingly hard to find.

[leighbythesea2]

34. I bet

I like the glass shape. Love those vintage cases/kits I see occasionally with the shaker and glasses etc.

[Mr.Bill]

35. I actually started with a few sets that I found in thrift stores.

But it didn't take long to realize that sets can be expensive, very hard to find and need a lot of room to display, so I decided to go for single glasses. When I had them all displayed on a baker's rack in my dining room, and was making Martinis for guests, I would tell them to pick out a glass. Everyone had fun with that.

[leighbythesea2]

36. Great idea

The garage is under remodel to hold a tiki bar. Haven’t got the bar, or the glassware but am looking forward to finding those. Patience seems to be key.

[Marthe48]

38. Oh my!

I don't actually collect letter openers, but I have many. I'm putting one in my booth. I took a couple pictures, just for you and put them on Imgur: https://imgur.com/a/KgYIlEP

I have at least 6, plus the one I use. The one in the picture is special. It is green plastic and advertises The Greenwich Savings Bank of New York. The end of the handle is a flasher on the front side, which says The Greenwich Savings Bank Roosevelt Field/ Save for Security, with a pile of coins. I love flashers and have several. 3D lentographs.

I had my Mom's Tom Mix Good Luck spinner, passed it along my nephew. I think our parents and grandparents had a lot of fun!

I basically kept what I like, but I'm downsizing, and only keeping heirlooms, gifts, keepsakes.

Please let me know if you like the flasher opener.

[bucolic_frolic]

39. I sort of collect labels and fabric samples from clothing that wears out

It's how I remember the texture, weight, brands. Sometimes that includes buttons, coats, shirts, jeans. It's not a large collection, just things out of the ordinary.