Anybody have collectibles they use?

In my case, I have a Randall #14 knife that I use as a general purpose outdoor knife. It’s a great knife and I get greater enjoyment out of using it than I would out of keeping it pristine for future sale.

Anybody driving an antique vehicle to work? Wearing a vintage watch? Playing with your Star Wars action figures?

I have a reproduction ‘Robin Hood’ toby mug (actually, two – one is numbered) from 12 O’Clock High. I use it in the kitchen to hold scissors.

I have a couple of blue-face Seiko Bell-Matic watches from 1974, plus dad’s one. I wear one of them on occasion, swapping out between the Rolex GMT Master II (bought new, so it doesn’t count) and the late-'70s Submariner.

I’m sure there are other things, but they don’t come to mind at the moment.

One of my hobbies/interests is medical history, and I have a collection of old medical books. I have the collection because I enjoy reading them.

And I recently found out that one of them, which is in very poor condition, is worth at least $1,000.

:cool:

I used to have a Bulova Accutron Spaceview that I bought in 1968. It quit working somewhere along the way, but a few years ago I found batteries for it and started wearing it again. It finally just gave up the ghost. It wasn’t much of a collectible, though.

I have a couple of old Stanley woodworking tools that I use regularly. They’re collectible for some, but they’re made to be used and still work very well even after 80 years, although blade replacement is a must.

I have a 1950s power drill. It looks like this and it still works really well. It has that “Emperor Ming Got Away!” look to it, and when running, you can see blue sparks of electricity through the vent holes on the metal case.

I’m not sure this fits with your definition of collectibles, but the foul balls and other random balls I’ve gotten at Major League Baseball games are not something that get put up on shelves, for me. I take them out to the park and throw them around. That’s what they’re for!

This includes, unfortunately, the Matt-Kemp-autographed baseball I have, where the autograph is no longer visible. Meh, still more fun this way!

Probably the closest thing for me is a limited edition Star Wars jacket. It’s all black, but is basically the same design as a varsity/letter-man’s jacket, with a large Rebel logo (probably 12") embroidered on the back. My wife got it during the time she was an assistant to Mark Hamill and my understanding is that they were never offered for sale. I just did a quick Google for it, and there’s nothing like it currently listed.

I wear it a few times a year. Partly to avoid wearing it out and partly because it’s so warm, I really need below-freezing temperatures or I overheat in it. I wore it to the SW re-releases and was the envy of everyone in line.

I have several working buckling-spring IBM Model M Keyboards that I use from time to time. They are really nice to type on but they are loud! They are one of the few vintage 1980’s computer parts that has an active market demand today. Clean, working, not too scuffed up examples can easily fetch $100.

Gaming. I’ve been collecting stuff for a long time, and it just builds up.

I have a copy of Gary Gygax Extraordinary Book of Names I use all the time, bought it for $20 years ago, it’s now worth over $100. I have original copies of lots of things that have been reprinted, some autographed, some just plain hard to find stuff.

Same with minis. I have lots of old stuff, especially from Ral Partha & Citadel. Maybe 2 dozen Unseen, limited run box sets, etc. I love finding totally weird or unique or old minis, even if I can’t use them in games.

My collection of vintage cocktail shakers and martini glasses are not just for display.

I regularly shoot my Mausers, most of which are 70+ years old. Hell, my favorite is over 100!

First thing that comes to mind is a beautifully-made little folding ruler I have that appears to date from 1920 or so. I still use it pretty often.

I haven’t had time to go shooting in about five or six years.

But I do have three boxes of .32-20 Winchester for my 1897-manufacture Winchester Model 92 rifle that I like to shoot.

And of course there are the Colt SP1s, which are collectible now, the WWII M1 Carbines, and a couple of Mausers. Plus WWI-manufacture handguns.

I have an original 1977 Han Solo figure that I use as a potato masher.

:stuck_out_tongue:

I use twoCase electrician knives. Both vintage. One has wooden handles which dates it to at least the 1950’s.

My acoustic guitars are from the 1970’s.

I collect vintage Pyrex. Mostly mixing bowls, but I also have a few casserole dishes. I use them all the time.
I also may have sort of a thing for Fire King coffee cups, but I don’t have many left.

We have several games that we play: Complete Talisman 2nd Ed with all expansions, Axis and Allies 50th Anniversary Edition, Advanced Civilization. Like hotflungwok I also play with some old rare RPG stuff.

Like Scumpup I have a few collectible knives I use, such as a Puma Sea Hunter, Puma Cutlass and Puma Waidblatt.

Totally forgot. My restaurant ware coffee mugs. I have 5 of theclassic Victor mugs. Used in every mom & pop cafe from the 1930’s-1980’s.

I love the nostalgia. Breakfast at cafes was a big deal in my childhood. A lot of the older men like my granddad had coffee at the local cafe every morning. I’ve bought several pieces of vintage restaurant ware that we use daily. Plates, bowls etc.

When I worked, I commuted in a '62 MG - collectible since only 290 were made. Now just for fun.

This is my everyday kitchen mixer.

We regularly drink from vintage (circa the 60s) Coke and beer glasses. We keep our soda in a 60s-era vending machine (works great). We have a room full of 80s vintage Atari stand up arcade games that we play. Other than our cordless, no home landline phone is newer than the 70s, and they are mostly rotary dial. My favorite is my Ericofon.