So, what do YOU collect?

I collect ephemera. Weirder the better, and I try not to ever pay money for any of it, so I have two scrapbooks full of weird notes, pictures, postcards, and other things.

Among my favorites are a school detention slip from the 1920's I found in an old book, some photos from India of two guys dressed like mods in a jeep, hand decorated envelopes (talking unicorns, spiders and glitter) some squatter left in an abandoned textile mill, and a scary tintype of an old woman found in an abandoned house.
I had to look that up. It's sounds really cool!
 
My kids do smashed pennies. It is the way to go with younger kids! $0.51 for their “souvenir”.

My son also does key chains and my daughter does pins that she keeps on lanyards.
The most “bargain” souvenir at Disney World. We have 4+ books full of them.

Our tip: get one of the mini-M&M tubes...and load it up with a stack of shiny penny, two quarters, shiny penny, two quarters, etc. Makes it real handy.
 
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I was at the inlaws having a holiday meal some years ago and my SIL’s father, who I’ll refer to as an outlaw, since he’s not my inlaw, walked past me, patted my stomach, and with a look of concern said, “Looks like you've put on a few”.

To which I replied, “Winter’s coming, Dick.”

His name was Dick.

I think I saw someone say it here, and I stole it, but a guy at work mentioned my weight gain, and I said, "It's because everytime I go by your place to screw your ol' lady, she gives me a biscuit."

I haven't made anyone that mad in a while.
 
I’ve been wondering why beer can collecting hasn’t come back, there sure is plenty of variety these days.

I remember digging old cone tops in the woods as a kid, but they’ve been gone for decades.
 
My aunt sent me a big stack of random post cards she collected. Maybe because I was a philatelist as a kid... but not anymore.

If anyone wants the post cards pm me. The stamps too... i still have them in a box somewhere.
 
Until I got tired of shaving, I also was a fan of double edged razors. Probably still have a box of them somewhere we haven't unpacked yet. Grandpa got me started since dad always had a beard as well. Now that the minion is needing to learn, I think I'll try and find one and get him started down the wet shave route instead of the disposable crap they have out today.

Hmmm might make a decent thread for the humidor as well.
 
Use to collect comic books. Had a complete run of The Uncanny X-Men and The Amazing Spider-Man from issue #2 until the most recent at the time. Of course the earlier issues weren't the best in the world. Numerous other comics (Batman, Detective Comics, etc.). Think I had over 6,000 at one time. Had an epiphany one day that my kids could care less about them and would just sell them. So, I sold them. The last ones I sold I bout a couple of firearms with the money. I have a few TPB's that I kept. Recently sold a 1981 Trans Am. Had it for 7 years. Sat in the garage most of the time and I'm the only one who can drive a manual. Same deal as with the comics. Kids weren't interested and would just sell it. So, I sold it. Problem now is I have a few firearms but not enough time to shoot then. Got a few I haven't even shot yet. Kids don't seem interested. Will probably have another epiphany one day and sell some of them...lol. In the meantime I'm collecting ammo. Lots of ammo.
 
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I have a collection of stamps that belonged to my grand mother (many still on the envelopes)

my wifes great grandfathers (Hugh Southgate) stamp collection is on display at the Smithsonian.
some coins from my Dad.
I have a tendency to collect old tools myself. favorite is a non folding stick rule from 1919
 
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My parents used to collect menus and matches from different restaurants around the country. I guess that got me into collect "bills" that have been personalize with my name and address on them. I wonder if they will ever be worth anything, I must admit there is not much a challenge in collecting bills.
 
I do collect paper monies from bankrupt states. Zim dollars, Polish zlotys, Reichmarks, Brazilian reales, Peruvian soles. I was going to make them into a giant collage, and put a fake krugeraand (they sell them on ebay) with a quote by Ron Paul into a framed wall hanging. Never got around to it. I do have a pile of paper about 8 inches high though.
 
I collect rocks. Its free and I put them in my back yard. Don't have to mow now. Fits in with my gun collecting too. Always seem to be bears around where I want to look who want same rocks.
 
No one thing in particular. I pick up interesting odds and ends. Have a few larger scale die cast car models, a box of knives, assorted coffee mugs, shot glasses, and stuffed animals. My largest collection is an assortment of commissioned art pieces and convention badges from various furry conventions I've attended in the last 12 years.

I really don't like clutter, so I've really cut back on the getting things I don't need.
 
I collect debt. Business debt to be exact and wait on customers to think I’m a dang bank for financing before they pay me.
 
Memes.

Also, bits of 3D printer filament. It's everywhere. I have found it in my chair, keyboard, shoes, in my drink, and not surprisingly- in my dog's poop.
 
I collect debt. Business debt to be exact and wait on customers to think I’m a dang bank for financing before they pay me.

I used to work for a guy who often said -

"We made a deal with the bank, they don't sell..... ( what we sell ) and we don't loan money".

.
 
Found another SK-Wayne socket set at an estate sale today. I'm on quite a roll with SK-Wayne tools, which is surprising because they were only made 62-68. Bundled a few other things for a grand total of 10 bucks.
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Found another SK-Wayne socket set at an estate sale today. I'm on quite a roll with SK-Wayne tools, which is surprising because they were only made 62-68. Bundled a few other things for a grand total of 10 bucks.
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Nice. I used bender pliers like those for working bars and bands for dental appliances.
 
I collect hobbies. Get a new one every few years and get tired of the old one.

Just about done with shooting. Anybody want to buy some race guns?
 
Silver dollars.

Beginning in the early sixties, my grandfather who owned a 100 acre farm in the NE corner of SC would let me and my three sisters each pick out a new born calf, name them and call them "ours". Later when that calf became a cow and was hauled off to the "cold storage" facility, grandpa would feel bad and give us a silver dollar for the cow he just had butchered. We then picked out a new calf and started the game again. Funny part - me and my sisters could never remember which calf was "ours" from visit to visit but grandpa always did. And payment came each time from an old bank bag with the bottom full of silver dollars that he kept behind his bedroom door.

I spent most of those silver dollars until I got old enough to know better. For about the last twenty-five years or so, I've been casually picking them up whenever and wherever I come across them at a reasonable value. Each one reminds me of my grandfather who was known as "Mr. Charlie" by his community. He was born in 1898 on a farm where his father and grandfather before him were born. Served in WWI, birthed two daughters, and a son (my uncle) who was a 1st gunners mate on a ship off the coast of Iwo Jima in WWII. They lived and survived on that farm thru the Great Depression and the times after. Grandpa was known to never turn away a hungry stranger that knocked on their door during that time - especially if it was a family with kids.

I first learned to shoot while spending summers on that farm. My grandfather allowed me access to an old 22 single shot rifle that could knock the pecans off a pecan tree. Told me any squirrels I shot to bring them to Grandma so she could cook them up for him. My grandfather taught me many things over those summers at the farm. The value of hard work. That you don't need a lot of "things" to be rich. To respect other people and to be polite and kind. ( I have trouble living up to those last ones the older I get!)

I wish I had kept all the silver dollars he gave me. But each new one I find brings back memories of my grandpa Charlie, the summers spent at the farm and the values taught that I strive to live up to today.
 
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Silver dollars.

Beginning in the early sixties, my grandfather who owned a 100 acre farm in the NE corner of SC would let me and my three sisters each pick out a new born calf, name them and call them "ours". Later when that calf became a cow and was hauled off to the "cold storage" facility, grandpa would feel bad and give us a silver dollar for the cow he just had butchered. We then picked out a new calf and started the game again. Funny part - me and my sisters could never remember which calf was "ours" from visit to visit but grandpa always did. And payment came each time from an old bank bag with the bottom full of silver dollars that he kept behind his bedroom door.

I spent most of those silver dollars until I got old enough to know better. For about the last twenty-five years or so, I've been casually picking them up whenever and wherever I come across them at a reasonable value. Each one reminds me of my grandfather who was known as "Mr. Charlie" by his community. He was born in 1898 on a farm where his father and grandfather before him were born. Served in WWI, birthed two daughters, and a son (my uncle) who was a 1st gunners mate on a ship off the coast of Iwo Jima in WWII. They lived and survived on that farm thru the Great Depression and the times after. Grandpa was known to never turned away a hungry stranger that knocked on their door during that time - especially if it was a family with kids.

I first learned to shoot while spending summers on that farm. My grandfather allowed me access to an old 22 single shot rifle that could knock the pecans off a pecan tree. Told me any squirrels I shot to bring them to Grandma so she could cook them up for him. My grandfather taught me many things over those summers at the farm. The value of hard work. That you don't need a lot of "things" to be rich. To respect other people and to be polite and kind. ( I have trouble living up to those last ones the older I get!)

I wish I had kept all the silver dollars he gave me. But each new one I find brings back memories of my grandpa Charlie, the summers spent at the farm and the values taught that I strive to live up to today.
Great story. Family memories can't be replaced. I try to at least pick up one Silver Eagle each time I'm at the gun show whether I buy anything else or not.
 
might be a good time to "collect" nickels.
quote:
the price of nickel is rising rapidly because Indonesia, the world's second largest exporter of nickel ore, has announced it will stop exporting the metal in 2020 so the country can protect and build up a domestic smelting industry.
another:
...now in late 2019, the cost of the metal to make a Nickel has risen to be over 82% of the face value of the coin. When you add in the Mint's production costs of striking nickels and putting them into circulation, they have actually been losing money.
https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/kyle-bass-trade-coming-back-cost-nickel-surging
 
Cold war stuff when I can afford it, I have a Polish P-64, used to have a Czech CZ 82, also have a Mosin Nagant (like everybody else), a 60 ish Chinese SKS and a 70ish Spanish C308 Sporter. Saving for an AK pattern rifle next.
 
Apparently, I collect things to do, that I don't have time to do, that I'll get 'round to one day...

I sort of collect old tech. I have a couple of old slide rules (including a round Russian one), a carbon-filament light bulb (1920s era), a Philbrick K2-W tube op amp, a rotary desk phone and a rotary candlestick phone (both work), and other assorted esoterica. The family farm has left me with a collection of old plows, wagon/wheels, mule shoes, a wooden windlass for water drawing, my granddad's old anvil, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc...
 
I have about 35 rifles in .22 caliber from 1895 to modern.
I like Depression Era .22 rifles in particular.

I also have a Nautical Library... fiction, history, first hand accounts, handbooks.
 
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