Collecting Items from your Youth

[S&W Fan]

I was a Batman comic book freak when I was a kid. In 1968 at age 12 my parents and I moved from NJ to Tucson-my older brother and sister were in college.

In prep for the move my mother threw out all-not just some-of my comic books!! I was very anal about how I took care of them even back then. Many years later we had a good laugh and cry when I let her know how much they would've been worth LOL.

Moving out of NJ as it turned it out was an outstanding decision on their part hahaha.

 

[robvious]

my most recent re-find of misplaced youth, is a copy of a pocket knife I had and lost as a child.. the original was from the farm.. grandfather or aunt can't remember which

 

[Model 19 6"]

A2000

I was a baseball nut. For a while there, I lived baseball. And while my dreams of ever becoming a major league second baseman eventually faded, in the back of my 73-year old mind, I still imagine I can turn a double play just as well as I did years ago.

As a result, a while back, I found a Wilson A2000 infielder's glove at a second hand store. Excellent condition. Now, for the uninitiated, the Wilson A2000 is undeniably the very best ball glove out there. Don't believe me? Just ask Google what the best baseball glove is. Dollars to donuts it will say "Wilson A2000."

Anyway, they normally go for about $300. I got this one for twelve bucks. Yep. Twelve bucks.

So, now I can sit in my chair by the fire, throwing the ball into my Wilson A2000, and dream about playing in the majors.

Second to say best glove ever!!! Bought mine in 69 junior in high school. Used it 2 yrs in school and many yrs after school. My wife has instructions to place it in coffin with me, and bury it with me.

 

[bigmtnman]

My "kid" collection was model airplanes from WW2 and our early Jets made from the kits of Revell, Monogram etc. - I had them all hanging from my bedroom ceiling. I never had the desire to have any again as an adult, but I have certainly studied them through many books. Now that YouTube exists, it is a treasure trove for the historical military plane aficionado.
But what I STILL have from my youth is my most treasured physical possession. It is the reverse painted glass shade lamp shown in the pic.
I literally grew up from a baby looking at it in amazement. It was purchased new by my grandparents around 1925. My mother also grew up from a baby with this lamp. I remember well my grandmother asking me if there was something I specifically wanted her to leave me. She was sitting in her living room chair with this lamp next to her. Without a second's hesitation I quickly said "The lamp ... PLEASE .. the lamp". It is an 18" shade still in perfect condition. It is lighted every night in my living room .... and sits fully in my view.

 

[RobertJ.]

No collection, but I do still have the wooden footlocker that housed my GI Joe and all his stuff. It has old postcards in it now, but in high school, it's where the Zig-Zag man lived, if you know what I mean.

 

[Rustyt1953]

No collection, but I do still have the wooden footlocker that housed my GI Joe and all his stuff. It has old postcards in it now, but in high school, it's where the Zig-Zag man lived, if you know what I mean.

Did your GI Joe have the kung fu grip?

And yes, I know what you mean.

 

[peyton]

I have collected the western boy scout fix bladed knives. it was with great pride I gave my nephews an orginal knife new in the boxes when they became eagle scouts

 

[Rustyt1953]

They still sell these:

 

[Golddollar]

I still have the Stevens Favorite .22 rifle my dad gave me when I was about 7 years old. Then when I was 14, I bought a Remington 870 12 gauge at a gun show. Of course, my dad had to be with me. The bill of sale was written on a sheet of paper from a little notepad I probably had in my shirt pocket. I paid the princely sum of $40 for it in 1966. I still have that bill of sale too, and the shotgun of course.

 

[Llance]

I restarted a collection of camping stoves and lanterns. Coleman, Primus, Optimus, and others.

I never really had a lot of things as a kid worth keeping, we just couldn't afford much. It's possible I've over done it by buying and using lots of stuff I always wanted when younger. Not the toys or such but the good stuff, guns, tools both large and small, camping gear, ETC.. Now I need to get rid of most of it.

 

[bullmack]

My mom tossed my late 50's and 60's baseball card collection when I moved out at age 20. I'm pretty sure some of the cards in the spokes on my bike would be worth a lot today!

 

[jimbo728]

HO. cars and race track. Many hours of youth fun.
Jim

 

[Mustang51]

My only surviving childhood toy. On the bottom it says "Cadillac Quality" Made in Japan.

 

[Bekeart]

Not collecting - Not a toy - still use my hand drill.

When I was 10 years old I was given a carpenters tool kit.
Real tools - hammer, saw, drill, etc in a metal case.

I still have and occasionally use the hand drill.
It is the old style with the drive gear on the side like an egg beater.
Can only use bits up to 1/4 inch.

I am proud that I have kept it and still use it.
Not sure when the rest of the tool kit got away from me.

 

[COFFEEMUG]

I so want a set of CLACKERS so I drive all the people in my 55+ hood insane.
I'll walk around CLACKING them all day

 

[RobertJ.]

Did your GI Joe have the kung fu grip?

No kung fu grip, at least I can't remember them having that. They were a fairly new toy back in '66 (I was six) when I got my first one. I had a bunch of stuff, three action figures, one that talked when you pulled the cord. Also the space capsule, motorcycle and sidecar, and the airplane. I had the deep-sea diver outfit, and I saw recently on ebay that one of those sold for $375! But it was in the package, unused, and mine was very well used. My dad was a marine, and I had more military-related toys than any of my friends back then.

 

[BAM-BAM]

I was a baseball nut. For a while there, I lived baseball.


So, now I can sit in my chair by the fire, throwing the ball into my Wilson A2000, and dream about playing in the majors.

Channeling Jesse Stone ?

 

[PALADIN85020]

I can remember when I was but 5 or 6 years old, I had a little cap pistol marked "DICK." Long ago lost to the ages. However, many years later, I was cruising an antique show and found its duplicate! I snapped it up right away - it brings back memories. Here it is both unopened and opened to accept the caps. When open, it reminds me of a Mercedes 300SL or a DeLorian...





When I was about 11 or 12, I received for Christmas what was then the "magnum" of toy guns. This was the Buck Rogers Atomic ray gun. When you pulled the trigger, it made a popping sound, and the little red window lit up - there was a cigarette lighter flint there that created sparks to make it do that. Again at an antique show, I found a duplicate of my old toy - and it still works. More nostalgia.

John

 

[JohnRippert]

They still sell these:

I used to set all mine up in a two square foot area and then go back about 6 feet and thumb a bucket of marbles at them until I knocked them all over.

 

[jimbo728]

Channeling Jesse Stone ?

I too had dreams of pitching. Only thing I could do now would be relieving myself on the mound!
Jim