Odd/unusual collections

[Wolfie]

I had a friend who claimed that he had an extensive collection of Flemish treacle spoons.

I personally think he was lying as he was never able to show me an actual example.

We've all know people who collect stamps, baseball cards, cigarette cards, movie memorabilia, elephant's foot umbrella stands etc., etc. all pretty much run of the mill items. But do you know of anyone who collects items that would not usually be regarded as 'collectables'? Or do you have a collection of the strange secreted away in a dark but secure corner?

Confess - you know you want to!

[Pyrogenesis]

My girlfriend collects masks. I think she currently has three.

Myself, I once collected about 5000 beer bottle caps.

[nogods4me]

Stuffed away somewhere in my house (or in my parent's attic) is a large plastic bag full of those tiny little swords they put the cherry or pineapple on when you buy a mixed drink.

[grumpy]

Originally Posted by nogods4me

Stuffed away somewhere in my house (or in my parent's attic) is a large plastic bag full of those tiny little swords they put the cherry or pineapple on when you buy a mixed drink.

My parents used to go to Hawaii as often as they could. They always brought back the most wonderful back-scratchers that were served as swizzle sticks for a drink called Tropical Itch. Tropical Itch is served in a large hollowed-out pineapple, and the back-scratchers were about half a meter long. Made of bamboo, they really did the job, and you could reach anywhere with them.

They brought home dozens and dozens of them over the years, but they couldn't keep them, though, as people kept asking for them.

[Matty]

Originally Posted by Pyrogenesis

My girlfriend collects masks. I think she currently has three.

Myself, I once collected about 5000 beer bottle caps.

I dont have the patience to collect anything like that but i have a good friend who has a chain made out of beer caps, 50 to a link, that stretches right round the room, we had a party to create the 10000 cap link last year. he's been collecting them since his batchelors degree.

Funnily enough, the guys tend to be a lot more in awe of this impressive feat than most of the women. Say it aint so.

[britpoplass]

I used to collect bottle caps as well, back when we lived in Belgium. I don't know exactly how many I had, but there were a couple of buckets full at least.

I also used to collect horses, any time anyone went to a weird country they'd bring me a horse statue indicative of the place. Unfortunately the movers lost them once when we were moving house

[Morticia]

The only odd thing I collect is places. I like to travel to ancient and classical cities and archealogoical sites.

[Morticia]

Originally Posted by britpoplass

I used to collect bottle caps as well, back when we lived in Belgium. I don't know exactly how many I had, but there were a couple of buckets full at least.

I also used to collect horses, any time anyone went to a weird country they'd bring me a horse statue indicative of the place. Unfortunately the movers lost them once when we were moving house

Cool. Where did you live? I lived in Brussels for 9 years. I miss it terribly.

[Goldie]

My husband collects Suzuki "Sammy" Samurais - he has 8
He also collects old logging and ice tongs. They are huge. We used to have them hanging all over our shop.

I have many collections...none VERY strange. I do collect old bottles, dug and found. I have an impressive collection from great big old bleach bottles to tiny medicine bottles. Many are pre- 1810.

[opabinia]

shot glasses

[britpoplass]

Originally Posted by Morticia

Cool. Where did you live? I lived in Brussels for 9 years. I miss it terribly.

We lived in Spiennes, which is near Mons, for three years (when I was about 6-10 years old). I miss it as well!

I collect bells.

I like them all, from the tacky tourist ones for states to antique brass cow bells.

[Morticia]

Originally Posted by britpoplass

We lived in Spiennes, which is near Mons, for three years (when I was about 6-10 years old). I miss it as well!

Damn I always wanted to visit that place but never got around to it. It has one of the oldest archaelogoical sites in Northern Europe, the neolithic silex mines.

Belgium is like that. It's a place that makes you feel like you're at home. sigh

[britpoplass]

It does indeed! I used to wait for the bus to school by the big Site du Préhistoire sign. It's a very underrated country, I find.

[Lugubert]

I collect not-too-superficial knowledge of language structures. Or do I really collect script reading skills? In that case, the Japanese Hiragana and Katakana syllabaries are probably up next. Anyway, my one solidly stated goal so far for collecting is to acquire at least one grammar of Bible Hebrew for every half century. My next one will have been printed in 1650 to 1699.

[verte]

Steamer trunks. But not anymore.

[retrow]

Does pr0n count?

[Goldie]

Originally Posted by verte

Steamer trunks. But not anymore.

Cool! What happened, did ya run outta room?

[verte]

Originally Posted by Goldie

Cool! What happened, did ya run outta room?

Yes! And other things happened, too. I also collect 50's and 60's costume jewelry, and I still have a lot of that. You used to be able to get it so cheaply! Now, it's popular and way expensive. Le sigh.

[Andy]

I collect tokens to remind me of various events in or periods of my life. For example, I have plane or train tickets that represent various trips, a foam ball that represents a bulletin board system, the first phone number I ever collected from a girl, a ponytail I cut off pf myself, a floppy disk with some BASIC code that I wrote as a young teen. I suppose that is not odd in itself, but many of the objects are odd. I don't much care for photographs.

[Goldie]

I have an odd collection of hospital braceletts. I have the one with my name and my mom's name. Then they were done in beads. The rest are paper. Mine and my son's from his birth...and some from my MANY hospital stays...but I don't have all of them just the "biggies."

That is really weird, eh?

Okay...I can top anyone with my collection of ropey - keyloyd surgery scars. So THERE! Hmph!

[Goldie]

Originally Posted by verte

Yes! And other things happened, too. I also collect 50's and 60's costume jewelry, and I still have a lot of that. You used to be able to get it so cheaply! Now, it's popular and way expensive. Le sigh.

Ooooooooooooooo! I have some gorgeous pieces that were my Grandmother's. One is especially lovely. It is very ornate , high-end, signed, costume sterling and crystal.

[Wolfie]

I used to collect 410 shotguns, some of which I used to restore and sell on.

I collect military watches.

I used to collect 'condoms of the world'....

I collect brass Second World War British fighters.

I collect swords and knives.

[grumpy]

Originally Posted by Wolfie

I used to collect 410 shotguns, some of which I used to restore and sell on.

I collect military watches.

I collect brass Second World War British fighters.

I collect swords and knives.

Are they worth more NEW like coins, or USED like stamps?

[SiliconWolf]

Originally Posted by Matty

I dont have the patience to collect anything like that but i have a good friend who has a chain made out of beer caps, 50 to a link, that stretches right round the room, we had a party to create the 10000 cap link last year. he's been collecting them since his batchelors degree.

My grandfather had a chain made out of the pull tabs from beer cans, probably 50 feet long in total. I sort of inherited it when he died, so it's in my house right now.

I collect beer bottles. I have about 200 unique ones, mostly from the US but some from all over the world.