Collectibles or junk?

I have always been a bit of a pack rack. I just love collecting stuff!

Here's a couple of examples.

Attached is a picture of an English phone booth that I acquired. I know its genuine because it still smells of vomit and urine. To further add to its authenticity the graffiti in it confirms what I always knew about Tracy and Bill is still a wanker.

I use the phone booth here in Southern Alabama to store my outside plants in during the winter, it gets so cold here in winter that sometimes we get a frost.

The bomb is a 100 lb practise bomb. Not much to say about that except it does get some odd looks when I drive around with it in my truck.

So what do you collect? What odd items have you hung onto over the years? Tell us your story?

 

I'm a big collector of WW2 relics! I used to collect German WW2 photos but stopped when the price for just one photo got so high. I have about 400 photos in my collection. I also have a program from the Wilhelm Gustloff and will soon be getting a postcard (there is writing on the back) from the ship as well. I also have a Deutsche Wermacht armband that still has a faded stamp with the eagle holding the swastika. The armband has dirt and grass stains on the back of it. I also collect WW2 movies! I also have a coin collection and a small stamp collection. And last but not least I have a WW2 Bulgarian helmet that I purchased from Varna, Bulgaria. That's about it. I think its a great hobby to collect things. Do you collect anything else, David? How much did that English phone booth cost?

 

Apart from books, I don't collect WW2 relics. However, I do collect zippos (I have over 40 Camel cigarette zippos plus another 40 odd others). Will post some pictures at some stage. Also have numerous other Camel cig items, including about 150 magazine adverts, collectors packs, badges, etc. Definately junk to some, but some of these items are very sought after by American ebayers.

 

I know its genuine because it still smells of vomit and urine. To further add to its authenticity the graffiti in it confirms what I always knew about Tracy and Bill is still a wanker.



Yep! Definately sounds authentic alright.

 

I collect stuff from the British homefront, mainly wartime official booklets and military maps of Scotland in various scales.

 

I know its genuine because it still smells of vomit and urine. To further add to its authenticity the graffiti in it confirms what I always knew about Tracy and Bill is still a wanker.


David,

Is this the same Tracy that you and your buddy, uh....that night...bottle of ripple...with the dog watching...hanging from the chandelier...woke the neighbors two streets over...burst the waterbed?

 

SSSH! He doesn't talk about that!


Oh dear, where to begin. RAF sweetheart brooches. Antique parasols and shawls. Antique wineglasses (usually pre 1830. Later has to be something special). WW1 silk postcards. Antiquities from reliable dealers. Perfume samples. JPG Classique limited editions. Wierdest thing has to be the WW2 RAF kite for attaching the radio aerial to if downed in the sea.

 

How much did that English phone booth cost?

Can't remember, it came my way in a "deal"

Kyt I can understand collecting Zippo's wonderful things. I have attached a couple of photographs of my well worn lighter.

 

And then I went through a period of collecting "Observer's Books"

 

David,

Is this the same Tracy that you and your buddy, uh....that night...bottle of ripple...with the dog watching...hanging from the chandelier...woke the neighbors two streets over...burst the waterbed?

That was Cheryl.

 

'Cheryl' is your pseudonym i take it?

 

Any chance a picture of the bottom of the zippo, David?

And a nice collection of books.

 

A few of my zippos (forgot to charge camera battery, so only got 2 pictures before it shut down )

 

Bottom's up! Nice collection Kyt, bet you can always get a light in your house. Tell me mine is worth a lot of money so I can sell it and retire.

 

And then I went through a period of collecting "Observer's Books"

Looking at that bookcase, I should say you did.

That was Cheryl.

Was she the one with the hairy arms and lived upstairs from the massage parlor?

 

1968 Standard with inscription and provenance - probably between $50 to $70. Depends upon unit, and whether the mechanism still has that zippo 'ding' when you open it. Has the inside ever been replaced?

Most of my lighters still have the original orange factory seal (which adds a $10-$15 premium) or have the flints taken out so as not to spoil the spring. The lighter I actually use is Camel replica of a Soviet Trench lighter.

 

I will keep my eye open at flea markets etc. I did not realise they would command such a price.

Mine is still all original and does have that satisfying "ding" to it when opening. I have used it many times and filled it up with gasoline, and Av Gas in addition to lighter fluid.

O.K. now you have me looking on e bay!

MY PERSONAL VIETNAM WAR SOUVENIR GENUINE ZIPPO LIGHTER - (item 170135196939 end time Aug-04-07 09:44:42 PDT)

 

If you're on the lookout then make sure that it's original. The ding is a giveaway; open and take out the insert to check that the inside has those scratches that indicate repeated removal for filling; and look out for similar markings to yours:

IIII IIII is 1966
IIII III is 1967
III III is 1968
III II is 1969
II II is 1970
II I is 1971

Highly unlikely to find anything after that will be worth much and before 1966 you can probaly add $50+

The markings have the same configurations but with dots instead of lines. So:

... ... for 1960, and so on until 1965.

Happy hunting, and don't forget your friends when you've made your fortune!

 

I will keep my eye open at flea markets etc. I did not realise they would command such a price.

Mine is still all original and does have that satisfying "ding" to it when opening. I have used it many times and filled it up with gasoline, and Av Gas in addition to lighter fluid.

O.K. now you have me looking on e bay!

MY PERSONAL VIETNAM WAR SOUVENIR GENUINE ZIPPO LIGHTER - (item 170135196939 end time Aug-04-07 09:44:42 PDT)

That's a near mint condition zippo, and though the date fits, it just looks too clean. Not that I'm suspicious but I wouldn't pay that much (the current highest bidder maybe a dealer, and retail prices are always higher. He's been buying a lot over the last few weeks)

 

Thanks for educating me again Kyt.

I found this fellow selling Vietnam War Zippos and really enjoyed reading all the engravings on them. A nice wander down memory lane.

Items for Sale by baodai1955