An interest in things old

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Aneirin -> An interest in things old (11/1/2007 5:42:34 AM)
There is an increasing number of people who search the likes of ebay and other auction sites for old things. Not necessarily antiques, or things of beauty to look at or appreciate for a future sales potential, but ordinary twentieth century utility items. I am one of those people, I collect old Rolls Razors, restore them and get them functioning again, I use one for my daily shave and find it far superior to anything I have used before, no disposables, a blade for life, only one blade, but it works as good as three blades, if not better.From time to time I use a straight razor depending on the mood. Friends taking an interest in my razors are now proud owners themselves, they seeing the advantage and take delight in learning how to do something some might call scary, but was once a daily routine practised by many, even skills passed from father to son, a tradition now largely gone. Recently I have sought out an old sheaffer snorkel pen, why, because it is the most complex and highly engineered pen ever made, something that was made in the 1950's still can be found in working condition today and they write beautifully, a tribute to those American engineers in Iowa from the times when engineering was an art. If I can find an old quality item from yesteryear to fulfill a purpose, then I will opt for that, if it needs repairing or restoring I enjoy that and pride myself in having something as good as or if not better than a modern equivalent, something with style, many old utility items were a joy to view as well as use. Now, it is my observation that so many people are doing much the same as myself, there are collectors for everything utility and old and was wondering if it was perhaps a sign that many people are increasingly dissatisfied with the modern disposable society. Are there any other collectors of things old here, may I ask what it is you collect and why? Does anyone else feel a dissatisfaction for modern products?

Politesub53 -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 5:49:21 AM)
Household appliances and most cars could be easily repaired at one time. Now you have computerised boards that are expensive, and its often more cost effective to replace the whole thing, as i have just done with my washing machine. Most older appliances were simple to maintain and longer lasting.

TheHeretic -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 6:52:02 AM)
I would much rather buy used furniture than assemble a piece of particle board crap. None of it is old enough to really qualify as 'antique,' but I like the sturdiness and versatility that is missing in today's products. My desk, for example, is '70's vintage industrial and just about indestructible. I'm in the process of converting an ugly '60's 9 drawer dresser/credenza into a very functional stereo cabinet. I also like power tools from the 50's-60's.

LaTigresse -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 7:33:37 AM)
Ohhhhhhh, then you would love my home! Like Rich, I prefer old furniture. The only new furniture in my house is upolstered pieces. I love the patina and "feel" of old things. The energy is richer. I wonder how many hands have touched them, who they were, what their life stories were. Some are antiques and some are just older like my 1950's Duncan Fife dining room table and chairs. I adore my old french sideboard, all curves and glorious woods. I have several pieces that are primitives, very simple and pure. A big huge tool box of walnut boards that are around 2 feet wide, all dove tailed together, it is a toy box for the grands now. A bench type stool that serves as an end table and my treasure, given to me by my grandmother, an early 1700's Pensylvania blanket chest with the original faux wood grain paint on it. Not a nail in this massive beast. She brought it to Iowa with her in the late 20's or early 30's. It was an old family piece then. I remember her keeping her sewing fabrics in it when I was little. I have a few other steamer trunks that are used for storage. I am lucky to have discovered a love for things old when I was quite young. I have a huge collection of old jewelry, some of my favourites are Art Nouveau pieces. Also, I have some very old Native American pieces that are borderline museum in quality. Especially an old Tufa Cast silver and torquoise cross pendant that has an amazing energy about it. I have a few exceptional pieces of art pottery and art glass, two of my favourites being a small unmarked majolica vase and a beautiful huge old Art Deco Czech perfume bottle. I have a small collection of old pinups from the 30's and 40's that are framed and hanging in my bedroom. Along with some old beaded handbags. A few other pieces of art here and there that are old. I don't like alot of clutter so I try to either only keep things that are exceptional or have sentimental value. Also, alot of my kitchen things, bowls and utensils, are antiques. I prefer to mash potatoes with my old hand masher rather than use something electric. My rolling pin is a very old solid maple thing weighing close to 5#. It works well and is lovely to look at. I think I may even have a collection of old fabrics, laces, buttons, etc in a chest somewhere......

RCdc -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 7:48:13 AM)
Household cleaning products. They suck. Give me the old fashioned, natural products any day. Peace the.dark.

Aneirin -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 8:43:16 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Politesub53 Household appliances and most cars could be easily repaired at one time. Now you have computerised boards that are expensive, and its often more cost effective to replace the whole thing, as i have just done with my washing machine. Most older appliances were simple to maintain and longer lasting. Cars yes, my first car was a 1955 Land-Rover , I had that for years, I have also owned a 1977 VW transporter. The transporter I had the longest as it was so useful it being a camper conversion, mind it got used for everything and was so easy to repair.

GhitaAmati -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 9:01:59 AM)
My first car was a 1966 Malibu Chevelle. I could do absolutly any maintenance that car required all by myself. My tractor is a 1952 Ford Jubilee, occasionally we have to "engineer" new parts for it because you cant get them anymore, but its amazing what you can do with a cousin who works in a machine shop. Allmost all of my cookware is at least 50 years old. I have three sets of antique china, and 4 compleate sets of silver. Kinda what happens when Im the only grandchild who is interested in any of it. I still use the same logging chains my great granddaddy did. I also have a garage full of his old woodworking tools and blacksmithing tools. My grandma has a housefull of old glassware, I know one day it will all be mine to sort through. My house was built in the 20's. I just last year had to get rid of my 50 year old hot water heater. Most of my furniture is pieces someone in my family built years ago in the same woodshop I still use. If I need a new peice of furniture I usually build it myself instead of buying a cheap peice made out of particle board. As soon as I am done building my kitchen cabinets I am buying a brand new dishwasher though. Aint no getting around it. My Sir collects Native American artifacts. Ive got boxes and boxes and boxes and even more boxes of arrowheads and tools and broke peices of worked rock and bone items and pottery and some really beautiful effigys. I also have a ton of old stuff Im about to start putting on ebay that an old man has been bringing over to us. Ive got boxes of playboys from the 60's, and postcards from the 20's from italy and france and some from the middle east, some old bottles and some broadway sheet music from the early 1900's. Hopefully someone out there is also interested in old stuff cause Im running out of room in my house to store it all!...lol

missturbation -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 9:11:17 AM)
I do love vintage clothing and shoes [:D] Sir is old, does that count? [:)]

GhitaAmati -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 9:24:01 AM)
lmao...I didnt think about that one...yea...I collect old(er) Doms....

completenz -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 2:30:02 PM)
i myself also love vintage clothing. C, on the other hand, is a master of recycling. He is constantly finding a use for others peoples old 'trash'. About 5 years ago He bought an old fishing boat. With His own 2 hands He has built a lovely home for us cheaply and often using stuff He finds, old pieces of wood, windows etc. Our front doors, for example, are a pair of glass upright fridge doors that someone else didnt want. In our large upstairs bedroom he has reworked old furniture to make a palace for us, complete with a super king size bed . Oh yes, its a comfortable 'home' with all our modern needs taken care of. We have an online auction site here in NZ that he has picked up many gems on. We have a storage unit full of old things that may be useful one day. Who knows, He Dom,me not arguing [:)][:)] Anyone heading here is welcome to call in for coffee( or something stronger) hugs chrissie

EPGAH -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 2:47:10 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: GhitaAmati Ive got boxes of playboys from the 60's, and postcards from the 20's I am not sure, I must've put Dad's stuff up for sale at the wrong time...Dad had some original Elvis records, and assorted country artists, and a Playboy collection from 1970-1980-something...all mint condition, but the Playboys sold at an obscenely (pun intended) LOW price, and the records did little better...What went wrong?

Zensee -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 2:48:37 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: missturbation Sir is old, does that count? [:)] Does he leave new bruises? I have a staple-less paper joiner from the 40's. It cuts a little slit and a little tongue shaped tab, then tucks the tongue into the slit. Neat trick, eh ladies? My dad had a rolls razor. I wonder where it ended up? It was truly a cool device but I could not get a bloodless shave out of it. Z.

bipolarber -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 3:03:27 PM)
We recently bought a motorized mixer for our kitchen. This thing was build back in the late 1950's, and was still in the box when we found it at a junk/antique store. It beats the hell out of anything we put through it (pun) and frankly, if I could attach a chain to it, I could probably use it as a winch on my car this winter. LOL Now I'm eyeing a blender left over from a diner that's recently closed down... again, industrial grade. The other thing I've been doing recently, (which my wife is deeply annoyed at me about) is restyling a lot of our furniture. Hard to explain, really. But I'm a huge fan of the comic book, "Girl Genius" and I'm refinishing a lot of our cheap furniture to look like it came from the pages of that comic.

sophia37 -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 3:56:30 PM)
I use a heavy metal singer sewing machine thats 50 years old at least. Ive been using it for 25 years straight and it only needed one repair. Its amazing. It gets tons of use, lest anyone think Im a hobbiest. Im actually a professional artisan, so it gets used like its a commercial machine, although it was built for home use. The later and lighter models cant handle such heavy fabrics as mine can. Many a sales person has tried to convince me the new ones are better but sorry. I'll use this till I cant sew any longer if I can.

missturbation -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 4:04:40 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Zensee quote: ORIGINAL: missturbation Sir is old, does that count? [:)] Does he leave new bruises? Z. Yes i seem to collect a fair few bruises. Funnily enough i like them best when they are a few days old [:D] I may end up collecting some more if He sees this. [:o]

Termyn8or -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 5:57:06 PM)
sophia, I was reading this thread and saw your avatar or whatever they call it, of a toaster. While I do wonder what made you choose such an object, it reminded me of something, and I have never seen another one in my life. You reminded me of a toaster we had when I was a kid. We had this Toastmaster toaster that did not work like a normal taoster. It had a motor to raise and lower the bread. When you put the bread in it activated a little microswitch and ran a motor to let the bread down with a "GYRRRRNKT" sound, and the bread lowered in a smooth and orderly fashion. The release would disengage a locking pawl at the bottom. You pushed the button and the bread came up in a similar orderly fashion and the sound was more like a "GROARK", which indicates to an engineer type that the motor operated against a spring. It was not reversible, the spring pressure worked against the gear train to slow the ascension of the toast. The engineer in me must say this, it was a good design. One of the reasons is that if the power went out you could still retireve your toast. What's more it didn't throw your toast up not matter how thick the bead was cut or it's desnity. And get this, this was a wedding gift to my Parents. We are talking 1959 here. Made good toast too. I'll be baaack, I love old stuff. T

Aneirin -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 6:00:28 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Zensee My dad had a rolls razor. I wonder where it ended up? It was truly a cool device but I could not get a bloodless shave out of it. Z. Haha, a bloodly shave, I once knew that one, but it soon teaches one to get it right, now I use it daily and no problems. A lot of the time problems are due to preparation or rather lack of it and these things were popular when people took things a bit easier,took the time to do a proper job. They cut so close that they exfoliate as well.

Termyn8or -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 9:30:29 PM)
What is old ? Twenty years, thirty years ? There are people of any age here, hopefully all over twenty-one. But you could be seventy or fifty, something that is creeping up on me. Fifty is not all that bad, at 47 I can still work, and see almost good enough. But my preferences. I have a piece of engineer. A pretty good slice too, everything I see I take apart with my eyes. And in my life I say this, I saw a lot more innovation in the old days. Nowadays innovation is where to put the cupholder or whether to add certain menu items to your (insert useless shit here). The newest car I want is a 1970, but I have to take what I can get. My TV is old enough to get drafted or vote, but not to drink. My car is getting there next year. I paid MSRP for my speakers ten years ago, when they were ten years old. Up until recently, my amp was a Sansui 771, but feeding 2.33 ohms. Do look that up on Google, we are not talking 1980s here, we are taling 1970s. And it sounded great. This local (almost) audio shop has, believe it or not, a MECHANICAL spectrum analyzer. When someone turns something up there, the "prongs" I guess you would call them, start to vibrate. This is so intriguing to me, I know how to build a spectrum analyzer with electronics, but the fact that it was done mechanically is awesome to me. I doubt that they would ever let anyone take this thing apart, but if it was within reach in my younger day, I would have it, in a heartbeat. I asked. I was in there with a pretty good credit card, I mean worth maybe ten grand or something. They would not even give me a price. It is not for sale at any price. Unfortunately they are ny kind of folks. IIRC I pulled out a card that was worth about seven grand, and said "Take seven grand for it ?", and he said no. Now folks I do not care what it cost, if it is mine and I want to take it apart, I would do so. Don't think I would not be careful. I am not stupid, but I want to see the mechanism, I know the theory of operation, but there is a mechanism that I just can't seem to visualise. Is there a diaphragm or are there many diphagms ? I want to know. It is late, I will be back tomorrow. I like old stuff, and what else I was going to bring up tonight is different than what I brought up. Old stuff rocks. T

UtopianRanger -> RE: An interest in things old (11/1/2007 9:53:47 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Aneirin There is an increasing number of people who search the likes of ebay and other auction sites for old things. Not necessarily antiques, or things of beauty to look at or appreciate for a future sales potential, but ordinary twentieth century utility items. I am one of those people, I collect old Rolls Razors, restore them and get them functioning again, I use one for my daily shave and find it far superior to anything I have used before, no disposables, a blade for life, only one blade, but it works as good as three blades, if not better.From time to time I use a straight razor depending on the mood. Friends taking an interest in my razors are now proud owners themselves, they seeing the advantage and take delight in learning how to do something some might call scary, but was once a daily routine practised by many, even skills passed from father to son, a tradition now largely gone. Recently I have sought out an old sheaffer snorkel pen, why, because it is the most complex and highly engineered pen ever made, something that was made in the 1950's still can be found in working condition today and they write beautifully, a tribute to those American engineers in Iowa from the times when engineering was an art. If I can find an old quality item from yesteryear to fulfill a purpose, then I will opt for that, if it needs repairing or restoring I enjoy that and pride myself in having something as good as or if not better than a modern equivalent, something with style, many old utility items were a joy to view as well as use. Now, it is my observation that so many people are doing much the same as myself, there are collectors for everything utility and old and was wondering if it was perhaps a sign that many people are increasingly dissatisfied with the modern disposable society. Are there any other collectors of things old here, may I ask what it is you collect and why? Does anyone else feel a dissatisfaction for modern products? We need a section of the board specifically designed for photo uploads /sharing. I have many VERY old relics that I'd love to share. - R

stella41b -> RE: An interest in things old (11/2/2007 1:01:50 AM)
I run my life on an old Psion Organizer, only the calendar is backdated 102 years. I don't leave home without it. I also collect stuff from communist Eastern Europe. I have a Lenin bust, an old 1970's Polish telephone, some prints from the Tretyakov Gallery in St Petersburg, and part of my own fashion statement is the 'zhencheenka' - the upmarket peasant woman of Eastern Europe. I also like the propaganda posters from the 1950's and 1960's. Some of the best photos I've ever taken have been taken with an old Soviet 1960's camera. This was when real things were made. When I lived in Poland I had a Belarussian Minsk fridge, a Frania washing machine, and these things worked. Even today across Eastern Europe people travel on Ikarus (Hungarian) buses from the 1950's, and many vehicles which were developed on 1960's Soviet technology still run today - lorries such as Kamaz, Star, Jelcz (Yelch), some people still drive Trabants (excellent cars, you could repair them in your kitchen), the Moskvitch, and the car I've always wanted - the Volga.

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