I collect vintage tools and also have started collecting vintage magazine ads. I found an old magazine a few years ago and marveled at the quality of the ads inside.

To help finance my other addiction (tool collecting), I started collecting and selling the ads. I do keep my own personal collection but really enjoy uncovering retro ads that I don't have in my collection. I sort of view it as a way to document a very different way of life that has long passed.

I was going to reference my site to allow users to see these great ads but have a feeling it is against the rules. If I hear otherwise, I'll create another post with the URL.

Hello everyone! I also have just wandered over for the first time, and have really enjoyed reading about other's collections.
I started obsessively collecting Jadite in the mid-80's; favorite piece a large ball picture - yes, Jadite was an addiction... Other favorite collections include:
kerosene lamps
Daguereotypes/Ambrotypes/historical thermoplastic union cases
early aviation photos
Stangl Town and Country - blue (my pre-Jadite obsession)
Tricia, I also face downsizing or eliminating collections due to my move to a small home. I just keep finding excuses to procrastinate letting go of my favorite things...

I've been living in small spaces for a long time, so my collections have been of small things. Dollhouse miniatures, especially if I can find a local craftsperson who does miniatures in addition to full-sized work. Sheet music and CDs of quartet music. Self-published comic books. Now I suddenly have a much larger space and I need to come up with something big to collect!

I love too many things so therefore don't have a specific "collection" of any collectibles. But my favorite and by far my largest collection is my antiques and artists resource books--almost 3,000 of them. My husband tells me the floorboards are going to cave in from all of them! Wish my retention was alot better, then maybe I could make some real money with this antiques stuff and afford to pay for them all!
Bye,
Grace

My favorite collections are my seasonal/holiday ones. I have old school items from the 40s/50s and squirrels to usher in fall.

Next is my display of Relpo/Lefton turkeys, salt & pepper shakers (pilgrims, scarecrows, turkeys, etc.)and Gurley candles for Thanksgiving.

Then I go all out and fill the 90 slots in my old postal desk with Christmas collectibles dating from the 1920s thru the 1960s. There are bottle brush trees, Santas, boots, angels, candy containers, christmas balls and bulbs, etc. I fill in with old snowmen and valentines for winter.

In spring I display old tin toys with easter themes, rabbits, eggs and add in my hard plastic Irwin, Rosen and Knickerbocker toys.

Summertime brings out my patriotic items, old postcards from amusement parks, bathing beauties and old souvenir/theme park prizes.

Kim

My favorite collection is my rolling pins! I have 360, all sizes, from toy wooden ones to almost 2 foot long industrial ones including glass, wooden, plastic, metal. Old and new.
We have recently moved and now my space is smaller, forcing me to be more selective in my purchases. I have them hanging on the walls, hanging from shelves and in tons of baskets and now laying on the floors.
I've enjoyed this forum!
Cheryl

Right now it is white art pottery and vintage linens. I've had several collections in the past, like Virginia Rose China, dresser boxes, etc. I ended up selling them. Just don't have the room for everything I'd like to keep.

I've loved hearing about everyones collections.

white English ironstone -- Meakin, Pankhurst, Boote, Maddock and a few others.

I recently picked up Red Cliff at an estate sale. I've not done much research on it yet but I'm assuming it is American.

My real weakness in ironstone is for sugar and creamers. Too cute!

I have a collection of over 600 Native American Indian arrowheads, tomahawk heads and lance points, all found by my family members on my grandfathers farm in N.E. Ohio

My brother collects old die cast toys

LOL Did not realize that this post was still going. Interesting to read about everyone's collections. A question: as you get older do you find that you have less interest in collecting? I still love my Fireking collections, but about everything else has fallen by the wayside. A house can hold only so much. What about you? Any observations on this idea?

Interesting that you ask "as you get older do you find that you have less interest in collecting?" For me it's a resounding YES!! But I'm not sure if my waning interest in collecting is entirely a factor of my age or just that I've reached a saturation point...maybe it is both, plus a greater awareness and maybe urgency of using my finances more wisely than I did when obsessively collecting (i.e.; spending)when I was younger. I still love my Jadite, but I regularly use/display only a very small percentage of my collection; most sits uselessly in many boxes. Much of what I collected over the years, from early photography, kerosine lamps, and so forth, I now have little or no room for since my move to smaller quarters. (I agree, "A house can hold only so much") The last thing I need right now is more stuff. For me, the real chore I'm facing is figuring out not only how to get rid of (sell) stuff but how to let go of what needs to go to begin with. Certainly it also occurs to me that I need to pare down also because I don't need to leave my adult children with a nightmare should something happen to me.

Ok I'll play! Don't ask why- old planters with goggly eyed dogs

Forgot to add that one collection that is NOT going is all of my 50's Christmas tree ornaments. I also have a silver aluminum tree and a color wheel.

Antique sewing machines--I have over 50 now! Also vintage sewing stuff: books, sewing kits, needle books, darning eggs, patterns, etc...

Annie

Everything is my "favorite". I'm a sick person!
5 china cabinets + full of McCoy Pottery (at least 200)
100's of Pyrex - mixing bowls are my favorite(was told my collection was "low class" so I retaliated by starting to collect):
Sterling silver flatware - sparing no expense! HA!that will show him. Working on my 3rd set. Actually he was complaining about the pyrex being displayed in a public area, but I'm not ahead with the sterling because I have to keep it locked away, so the pyrex is still there). Some folks have "Royal Dalton with hand painted periwinkles" and I have pyrex, and if he knew what I really paid for some bowls, he'd lock ME away.
Whole sheets of postage stamps
Dated railroad nails - have no idea where they're at, but had fun digging out of old rotten ties back in the 70's.
Creamers
FireKing red and luster gold
Nice colored glass (fostoria etc.)
Old Jim Beam decanter bottles (another thing I keep out of sight)
Christian Icons
Note to Missladybyte: I had never considered my fabric a "collectable" but I have ALOT since the 60's, when I used to buy modest pieces of 2-4 yards, to the last 15 years when I bought many whole(or nearly so)bolts. Never would I consider actually cutting into it. I guess they could use it for a funeral pyre when I die.
We recently moved from a 8,000 sq ft house to a 4,400 sq ft and boy do I have boxes that will never be unpacked unless I start hanging things from the ceiling.
1,000's of books (mostly good ones)
I was supposed to lighten my load but drat that ebay, and I can still walk (sideways)in the garages.

I try to collect things that are hard to find. That way I won't clutter up my life. I like 19th century Austrian and French bronzes depicting rats, bats and lizards. O.K. that does sound a little wierd. I also like miniature cold painted Austrian bronze figurines of all kinds. I collect tacky 50's Vegas ash trays. The tackier the better but most of all I like to collect rent. I have had many collections over the years from toys to illustrated childrens books but I'm much more a dealer than a collector. I keep things for a while, get tierd of them, sell them and start collecting something else. My thrill is in the hunt.

This is just to fun to hear about everyone's collection's. I use to collect brown transferware until it got so expensive.

Cattknap your collection sounds wonderful. And Penny in SC I bet your sink will look smashing in your new home.

Wow, what a wonderful thread, so interesting! I collect teapots, creamers, and sugar bowls that are fruit or vegetables, antique, vintage or new does not matter to me. My favorite collection though is my growing collection of Art Nouveau, I prefer the stuff from the U.K. or Europe, particularly the German pieces, but I do have some U.S. pieces.

Pink teddy bears, pink Christmas ornaments (is there a theme here) and spun glass ornaments. Copper tea kettles, bicycle cups.

All put away now that I'm collecting African violets............

Barbara

Glass flower frogs! I only have about sixty, but there are no duplicates. Used to find them at flea markets and yard sales, but haven't seen one I don't have in years. And I use them, too! I especially like the look of the colored glass ones in a clear glass vase filled with flowers and placed in front of a sunny window.

nan--what a neat thing to collect! They'd make good paper-weights when not in use in a vase.

Annie

Speaking of paperweights. I have a large collection of glass paperweights. My nicest ones are Scottish millefiori and lampwork with details so fine a jeweller's loupe is needed to fully appreciate them.

I've also started collecting antique British silverware. I have one that is 200 years old!

I collect vintage (50s-60s) small sized Steiff animals. Alot of them came from my childhood: then came ebay with so many available! I'm up to about 70, I think, and I had to stop.

I don't know if I posted before about my collections. I'm getting rid of all my collections via yard sales and DS is selling some stuff on the internet.
Fairies, pigs, cows, black cats, cats, Noah's Arks, 40 years of various Christmas collections reindeers, santas, snowmen, trains, rocking horses, you name it 've had it and now I've really had it and just don't find the enjoyment there anymore. I loved them when I collected them and have a lot of photos.

What a bunch of interesting stuff! We've been collecting antiques since we were married....1962, so are surrounded by old things...and, of course, some family things.
I collect Toby Jugs...the early ones, not Royal Dalton, but Ralph Wood; I love early textiles, and have many handwoven blankets, coverlets, linen sheets and towels, and later, quilts; I like women's things, so handknit stockings, men's needlework wallets, samplers, preferably American 18th cen, but I have a few English ones, too.....Canton(added to family pieces); painted furniture (Kaz, dower chests), American redware (getting harder to find) Staffordshire (preferably Scottish looking pieces - Kilted men, etc), baskets, crocks, early wallpaper covered hat boxes, Shaker boxes. MY favorite is probably Victorian and earlier jewelery....I particularly like mourning jewelery and earrings. I'm including some pics....

my spinning wheel (I actually spin with it and knit my yarn)in front of a kaz

a couple painted chests;

some of my toby jugs;

a coverlet on windsor chair

I collect antique fabric--with a special love of "double pink" and "cadet blue". I also collect antique and vintage cloth doll patterns. The oldest ones I have are from the very late 1800s--but most are after the turn of the century--with some of my favorites being from the 1920s.

I also have a more typical collection of flow blue china---platters and plates as well as some other pieces like a covered vegetable dish and a large sugar bowl and creamer.

I collect Radko, Landmark and similar type Christmas tree ornaments...all from different cities I've visited. Some are from actual resorts like the Greenbrier, Palm Desert Marriot, Bellagio, Broadmoor etc. Most are from cities and feature special landmarks, like Chrysler Bldg, NY, tree in Rockefeller Plaza, Cathedral in Santa Fe, lighthouse from Sea Island, girlscout from Savannah, Olympic symbol from Salt Lake winter olympics, Mickey and Minnie Santas from Epcot, phone booth from London, pelican from Hilton Head. Others are just special like sorority, university mascots, MD Anderson angel, cowboy boot from a TX wedding. My tree glitters with all the glass colorful ornaments. Every year when I open them to hang on the tree, it's a trip down memory lane!

Woodworking tools, and antique boxes and chests because you can put stuff in them. House is fully furnished with Arts & Crafts period, but from some time ago. Getting harder to find good pieces at reasonable cost and getting to be too much clutter.

I have many collections as well because I love so many different things! "Tea for one" sets to go along with my tea cups/saucers, teapots, etc. Also love snow globes, vintage linens (especially old embroidered pillowcases), dinnerware/transferware (pink and red are favorites), old hankies, pitchers, creamers, vintage S&P's (attracted to the shell covered souvenir sets), teddy bears, interesting old photo frames, vintage tins (mostly medicine/aspirin, talcs) and more! This is not to mention our wide assortment of DVD's!

Fun topic! Enjoy hearing about everyone else's collections too! TY!

Angel we'll have to compare trees some day. :o) I have over 400 radko's collected since he first began production. I've kind of backed off purchasing them, but I can't actually admit that I'm "done" collecting them LOL

I would say that my two favorites currently would be my antique jewelry collection (admittedly mostly collected by my husband for me) and my venetian glass collection. I actually designed my dining room to highlight the glass because I love it so much.

The jewelry is a fascination I've had for years. I have pieces dating back to the early 1800's. One of my favoriate piece is the least elegant. It's a gold and silver, pearl and garnet suite of pieces. A hair comb, necklace, broach (which can hang on the necklace) earrings, and a bracelet...but the best part is that this pretty merchant's wife's set, is still in it's original box (molded for the set) from a jeweler who went out of business in 1810. None of them are comparable to the queens jewels LOL But each is lovely in it's own right and I really enjoy wearing them.

I've never refered to my fabric as a collection...god help us all because that would mean I'd need to buy more and more and more and....oh I guess it's a collection LOL I have a strong addiction that can not be cured, to textiles. I have antique pieces and new pieces, and I'd say over 70% are silks...I love silk :o) I do pretend to actually use the fabric (I make crazy quilts) but really...I just need to own it all...all fabric will someday be Mine MINE MINEEEE!!!

Oh wait...I got carried away...sorry :oP

I collect antique and old wicker pieces. I have this
cool magazine rack and tables and other things.
Su

Hijack, sorry.
igloochic, I would love you to show us your crazy quilts. I have done a few too and some art quilts.
Diane

My Jadite Fire-King Dishes. I haven't added to the collection in a long time plus still have some tucked away in storage in the garage since my move. Once I get the rest of my collection out and arranged in my kitchen, I know I will want to add to it. Think all my glass front kitchen cabinets should demo this collection. My other favorite is my reproduction Egyptian decor.

Fun thread!!!

I stopped collecting ""knick-knackie" things when I found out I had to dust them!!!! So I purchased a display case and started collecting old mechanical pencils and mother of pearl quill pens and ink wells. (I am an artist by trade so I think that's why these things appeal to me so much).

I collect brooches. I like Victorian and Art Nouveau, but especially Art Deco. I have some later ones, some goofy ones, some elegant ones, but they're so pretty and fun to collect. Not expensive either.

I collect green and cream enamalware from the 30's as well as kitchen gadgets from that era. IE: Pea shellers, marmalde cutters and the like. I also love the color jadite green and collect bowls and utensils in that color.

I have a crazy quilt,mine is dated not sure have to look but 1800s.

Spode in Greek pattern. Dishwasher safe pieces I use every day. Old pieces are for display maybe use at holiday time or company.

I haven't been at it long... but so far, my interests are...
- pink depression glass (Old Colony and Fortune)
- almost any uranium glass
- Haviland China pattern "Georgia" (that's my daughter's name, so I'm collecting for her)
- tea cups & saucers (any pattern that has a wide band of colour around the edge... as the example in the photo below)

{{gwi:1388839}}

I went from collector to seller. I enjoyed all the various collections, but they were taking up too much space, or packed in boxes and never brought out to enjoy. By selling, i'm making others happy, and still get to look(until a piece sells!)at them in my space at the antique mall. ;o)

This is a great thread. We all love what we collect and isn't it wonderful that most of us collect something different? I collect blue and white Staffordshire Transferware from England, early to mid 1800's. I have over 100 Cup Plates, a little more or less than 4" diameter. They were used as a coaster with the handless cups with bowl shape saucer of 6" from the 1820-1850 period. Often confused with a child's plate from a toy tea set. I also have many patterns of dinner ware pieces of a specific potter E. & G Phillips, Longport England. American butter stamps, butter churns and English cream pots with dairy names stamped or transfered on the pot and numerous other things too many to list. I am just addicted to antiques and collectibles. I also clean and repair and resale and upgrade my English china. So my life is a constant buy, clean, repair, resale, collect more upgrade..etc. I tell my husband I am recycling and being green! I love,love, love what I do. I cannot imagine not ever being able to buy and also resale to share my knowlegde. I also have an extensive library of reference books and love researching everything.

I have another collection that would probably not be of much interest to most ppl. I collect Asahi Pentax, Honeywell Pentax & Pentax 35mm film SLR's and accessories whether they are working or not.

Over the years Pentax has stayed on the cutting edge of photo technology and they were the first company to introduce most of the innovations that we take for granted today, such as eye level through the lens viewing, built in light meters, auto exposure controls and auto focus.

I have collected most of my cameras, lenses & accessories at yard sales & tag sales. Generally I show up carrying my Pentax digital and someone will say,,wow,,I have an old Pentax too, but we don't use it anymore. Its amazing what ppl have in their closets that they have nearly forgotten about.

I just LOVE old utilitarian pottery from North and South Carolina. The I love crocks, jars, cream risers and churns. They have to have great glaze though....green, runny, drippy, speckled, etc. Here's a few of my favorites.

I have a 1700 farmhouse my biggest antique,but in generalall antiques because they go so well with our house,I have furniture,I collect crocks,milk cans I have about 40 from 5gal down to 1/2 pint,oilers over 600,tobacco tins,little big books,owls,stamps,miniatures,hess trucks,perfume bottles,dishes depressionware pink,green cherry blossom pattern,anybody have any dishes to match,Im looking for more.

Hey girl how are you???

Great thread! I collect 50s-60s era small sized Steiff animals. Got my first around the age of 2, and have since located many on ebay.

I am starting to collect Mulberry tranferware and getting rid of the blue. I have quite a bit of white Ironstone that I like.

Also, I love to collect seashells especially big old ones.

Great site. I collect Occupied Japan pieces,getting more scarce,like everthing else.
fRANK