What do you collect?

I'm thinking about starting a collection a old, porcelain signs. Maybe not so much the gas and oil that's so popular, but maybe the more offbeat and less ubiquitous type of stuff. I realize this is damn near cliche for an old guy to collect signs, but over the past few months I've been looking for things to hang in my garage and workshop, and my old poster collection won't do the job in a garage where bugs and spiders make a mess of things.

So, what ya got going for yourself?

Physical ailments?

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:Physical ailments?

I guess that counts, and besides, with the price of healthcare and insurance, it's one of the more expensive hobbies, I guess.
And you might just pay... with your life!

I don't really collect anything though. I suppose I have some sports memorbilia on display in my basement. I suppose I collect a fair amount of Nike gear to wear (MSU and otherwise), mostly because I want to support the working child's economy in SE Asia. But I don't actively collect anything.

tGreenWay wrote:I'm thinking about starting a collection a old, porcelain signs. Maybe not so much the gas and oil that's so popular, but maybe the more offbeat and less ubiquitous type of stuff. I realize this is damn near cliche for an old guy to collect signs, but over the past few months I've been looking for things to hang in my garage and workshop, and my old poster collection won't do the job in a garage where bugs and spiders make a mess of things.

So, what ya got going for yourself?

They go much higher than they did years ago but you can still find a deal now and then. I fart around watching local online auctions for stuff to buy and resell on craigs and the occasional sign goes through them. I don't make a ton of $ but it's fun to do and you make the occasional killing. My best ever was a commercial conduit bender that I paid around $50 for and sold for nearly $4,000 on Ebay. But that's once every 3-4 year kind of stuff.

Normally it's $50 here and $100 there but you meet a lot of interesting people along the way. I know people that collect bicycles, motorcycles, old riding lawn mowers, snow mobiles, signs and various other objects d'art.

Here's a cast iron sign that's in a auction I'm watching now - it would make a great start for your collection even though it's not porcelain.

Maybe 2 years ago, I went through a brief phase of collecting autographed photos of generally obscure "stars". I started with Mammy Yokum/Witchie Poo/Billie Hayes after watching a Lil' Abner movie. I collected about 10 or 12 autographed photos from Mary Anne to Lieutenant Uhura and many in-between. Cost me a few hundred bucks in total, but much went to animal charities. The older and more obscure the better.

LooseGoose wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:I'm thinking about starting a collection a old, porcelain signs. Maybe not so much the gas and oil that's so popular, but maybe the more offbeat and less ubiquitous type of stuff. I realize this is damn near cliche for an old guy to collect signs, but over the past few months I've been looking for things to hang in my garage and workshop, and my old poster collection won't do the job in a garage where bugs and spiders make a mess of things.

So, what ya got going for yourself?

They go much higher than they did years ago but you can still find a deal now and then. I fart around watching local online auctions for stuff to buy and resell on craigs and the occasional sign goes through them. I don't make a ton of $ but it's fun to do and you make the occasional killing. My best ever was a commercial conduit bender that I paid around $50 for and sold for nearly $4,000 on Ebay. But that's once every 3-4 year kind of stuff.

Normally it's $50 here and $100 there but you meet a lot of interesting people along the way. I know people that collect bicycles, motorcycles, old riding lawn mowers, snow mobiles, signs and various other objects d'art.

Here's a cast iron sign that's in a auction I'm watching now - it would make a great start for your collection even though it's not porcelain.

That sign is great. If you ever buy something you think I might be interested in, let me know. I could probably load up my collection right now, but I don't feel like paying $100-$150 on every sign I think is cool. I was going to buy a warning sign about dynamite today but didn't feel like dropping $80 for it. I probably should have, because they normally go for more than that. I probably didn't try hard because I don't like shopping, even auctions online, and I have to be in a mood for it.

SawGreen wrote:Maybe 2 years ago, I went through a brief phase of collecting autographed photos of generally obscure "stars". I started with Mammy Yokum/Witchie Poo/Billie Hayes after watching a Lil' Abner movie. I collected about 10 or 12 autographed photos from Mary Anne to Lieutenant Uhura and many in-between. Cost me a few hundred bucks in total, but much went to animal charities. The older and more obscure the better.

That's cool, though, and if the people themselves are involved, then you know they aren't forged.

tGreenWay wrote:

LooseGoose wrote:

They go much higher than they did years ago but you can still find a deal now and then. I fart around watching local online auctions for stuff to buy and resell on craigs and the occasional sign goes through them. I don't make a ton of $ but it's fun to do and you make the occasional killing. My best ever was a commercial conduit bender that I paid around $50 for and sold for nearly $4,000 on Ebay. But that's once every 3-4 year kind of stuff.

Normally it's $50 here and $100 there but you meet a lot of interesting people along the way. I know people that collect bicycles, motorcycles, old riding lawn mowers, snow mobiles, signs and various other objects d'art.

Here's a cast iron sign that's in a auction I'm watching now - it would make a great start for your collection even though it's not porcelain.

That sign is great. If you ever buy something you think I might be interested in, let me know. I could probably load up my collection right now, but I don't feel like paying $100-$150 on every sign I think is cool. I was going to buy a warning sign about dynamite today but didn't feel like dropping $80 for it. I probably should have, because they normally go for more than that. I probably didn't try hard because I don't like shopping, even auctions online, and I have to be in a mood for it.

I marked that sign to my watch list because I laughed at the truth of it. Cast iron or enamel items sell pretty well. There's a big group of cast iron collectors out there. Pans, baking, items and other trinkets like that sign, boot pullers, coin banks, etc.

We'll see if I suck at prognosticating auctions.....I'd guess that sign sells around $22. Auction ends Tuesday night around 7pm.

I enjoy making the pocket $$ - gives me something to do and I buy my goof around stuff with it. ATVs, etc.

tGreenWay wrote:
That's cool, though, and if the people themselves are involved, then you know they aren't forged.

I hope so. Most ones that appear genuine, let you request a phrase or message with the signature. Tried in vain for Claudia Cardinale (To Live and Die in the West), but scored with the following:

Pam Ferdin: One time voice of Lucy in Peanuts and child actress you will recognize.
Bernadette Peters: Least obscure of the bunch, but a personal favorite.
Sybil Danning: B-List horror actress and one of the best Playboy spreads ever.
Nichelle Nichols: Uhura
Julie Newmar: Stupifyin' Jones from Lil' Abner (and "the" Cat Woman from Batman).
Dawn Wells: Mary Anne
Julie Adams: Creature from the Black Lagoon

... and my personal favorite...

Mary Badham: Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird

LooseGoose wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:

That sign is great. If you ever buy something you think I might be interested in, let me know. I could probably load up my collection right now, but I don't feel like paying $100-$150 on every sign I think is cool. I was going to buy a warning sign about dynamite today but didn't feel like dropping $80 for it. I probably should have, because they normally go for more than that. I probably didn't try hard because I don't like shopping, even auctions online, and I have to be in a mood for it.

I marked that sign to my watch list because I laughed at the truth of it. Cast iron or enamel items sell pretty well. There's a big group of cast iron collectors out there. Pans, baking, items and other trinkets like that sign, boot pullers, coin banks, etc.

We'll see if I suck at prognosticating auctions.....I'd guess that sign sells around $22. Auction ends Tuesday night around 7pm.

I enjoy making the pocket $$ - gives me something to do and I buy my goof around stuff with it. ATVs, etc.

I appreciate the tip on local online auctions. Hadn't thought about that. I know Craigslist is a crapshoot most of the time. As for making pocket $$, I expect that's going to be my summer project. I just have to get motivated to bring up all those Rubbermaid containers, and when they're empty, sell those, too.

SawGreen wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:
That's cool, though, and if the people themselves are involved, then you know they aren't forged.

I hope so. Most ones that appear genuine, let you request a phrase or message with the signature. Tried in vain for Claudia Cardinale (To Live and Die in the West), but scored with the following:

Pam Ferdin: One time voice of Lucy in Peanuts and child actress you will recognize.
Bernadette Peters: Least obscure of the bunch, but a personal favorite.
Sybil Danning: B-List horror actress and one of the best Playboy spreads ever.
Nichelle Nichols: Uhura
Julie Newmar: Stupifyin' Jones from Lil' Abner (and "the" Cat Woman from Batman).
Dawn Wells: Mary Anne
Julie Adams: Creature from the Black Lagoon

... and my personal favorite...

Mary Badham: Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird

I knew I recognized Claudia from something else....she was also in the original Pink Panther movie and a western that my sons were fixated on while growing up "The Professionals".

SawGreen wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:
That's cool, though, and if the people themselves are involved, then you know they aren't forged.

I hope so. Most ones that appear genuine, let you request a phrase or message with the signature. Tried in vain for Claudia Cardinale (To Live and Die in the West), but scored with the following:

Pam Ferdin: One time voice of Lucy in Peanuts and child actress you will recognize.
Bernadette Peters: Least obscure of the bunch, but a personal favorite.
Sybil Danning: B-List horror actress and one of the best Playboy spreads ever.
Nichelle Nichols: Uhura
Julie Newmar: Stupifyin' Jones from Lil' Abner (and "the" Cat Woman from Batman).
Dawn Wells: Mary Anne
Julie Adams: Creature from the Black Lagoon

... and my personal favorite...

Mary Badham: Scout from To Kill A Mockingbird

Someday, I want to get Morgan Fairchild's sig. Her website makes them readily available. I don't collect autographs, but I want hers because she was one of the first tv stars who I remember making my Toughskins™ get tight. She's actually pretty cool, too. I've had 3-4 short conversations on Twitter with her.

tGreenWay wrote:

LooseGoose wrote:

I marked that sign to my watch list because I laughed at the truth of it. Cast iron or enamel items sell pretty well. There's a big group of cast iron collectors out there. Pans, baking, items and other trinkets like that sign, boot pullers, coin banks, etc.

We'll see if I suck at prognosticating auctions.....I'd guess that sign sells around $22. Auction ends Tuesday night around 7pm.

I enjoy making the pocket $$ - gives me something to do and I buy my goof around stuff with it. ATVs, etc.

I appreciate the tip on local online auctions. Hadn't thought about that. I know Craigslist is a crapshoot most of the time. As for making pocket $$, I expect that's going to be my summer project. I just have to get motivated to bring up all those Rubbermaid containers, and when they're empty, sell those, too.

I'll give the other thing that shocks me now and then - certain patterns of pyrex bowls. I've seen what is
otherwise good garage sale fodder go for $70+ for a mixing bowl.

From one of the sales I regularly buy from, the last 2 weeks of sign. This doesn't include the multiple repros that sell every week nor does it include bar beer signs. Usually 4-6 of those a week. There are probably 20-30 of these around the state. Much like very small, localized versions of what Ebay was circa 1998.

Up for sale now:






Last week:
Sold for $80


Sold for $33


Sold for $9

tGreenWay wrote:Someday, I want to get Morgan Fairchild's sig. Her website makes them readily available. I don't collect autographs, but I want hers because she was one of the first tv stars who I remember making my Toughskins™ get tight. She's actually pretty cool, too. I've had 3-4 short conversations on Twitter with her.

She ain't getting any younger... you still have a shot !!

LooseGoose wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:

I appreciate the tip on local online auctions. Hadn't thought about that. I know Craigslist is a crapshoot most of the time. As for making pocket $$, I expect that's going to be my summer project. I just have to get motivated to bring up all those Rubbermaid containers, and when they're empty, sell those, too.

I'll give the other thing that shocks me now and then - certain patterns of pyrex bowls. I've seen what is
otherwise good garage sale fodder go for $70+ for a mixing bowl.

From one of the sales I regularly buy from, the last 2 weeks of sign. This doesn't include the multiple repros that sell every week nor does it include bar beer signs. Usually 4-6 of those a week. There are probably 20-30 of these around the state. Much like very small, localized versions of what Ebay was circa 1998.

Up for sale now:






Last week:
Sold for $80


Sold for $33


Sold for $9

I've noticed that farm signs (seed or feed) are popular on eBay. The idea that Pyrex bowls could go that high cracks me up. I actually think my mom sold a bunch of hers at a garage sale for $.50 or maybe less, though, to be fair, that was years ago.

SawGreen wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:Someday, I want to get Morgan Fairchild's sig. Her website makes them readily available. I don't collect autographs, but I want hers because she was one of the first tv stars who I remember making my Toughskins get tight. She's actually pretty cool, too. I've had 3-4 short conversations on Twitter with her.

She ain't getting any younger... you still have a shot !!

But those big fake boobs are timeless.

I'm not calling myself a "collector" by any means, as some true, genuine collectors have thousands of records, but I do have a pretty impressive vinyl collection... I suspect I have around 500 or so.

I love the dollar bins at record stores more for the folk art value of the album covers..

tGreenWay wrote:I'm thinking about starting a collection a old, porcelain signs. Maybe not so much the gas and oil that's so popular, but maybe the more offbeat and less ubiquitous type of stuff. I realize this is damn near cliche for an old guy to collect signs, but over the past few months I've been looking for things to hang in my garage and workshop, and my old poster collection won't do the job in a garage where bugs and spiders make a mess of things.

So, what ya got going for yourself?

you and I should buy a van and drive around collecting stuff.. we could be the Mike and Frank of our neighborhood.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:I'm thinking about starting a collection a old, porcelain signs. Maybe not so much the gas and oil that's so popular, but maybe the more offbeat and less ubiquitous type of stuff. I realize this is damn near cliche for an old guy to collect signs, but over the past few months I've been looking for things to hang in my garage and workshop, and my old poster collection won't do the job in a garage where bugs and spiders make a mess of things.

So, what ya got going for yourself?

you and I should buy a van and drive around collecting stuff.. we could be the Mike and Frank of our neighborhood.

Have you seen that maroon-colored, plain-sided, windowless Ford panel van that's always parked in front of Jonna's? That could work perfectly. Plus, we could write something on the side to interest the ladies, something like Free kisses from Ryan Gosling inside

tGreenWay wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:you and I should buy a van and drive around collecting stuff.. we could be the Mike and Frank of our neighborhood.

Have you seen that maroon-colored, plain-sided, windowless Ford panel van that's always parked in front of Jonna's? That could work perfectly. Plus, we could write something on the side to interest the ladies, something like Free kisses from Ryan Gosling inside

this one?



the school district called and suggested that we stay at least 500 feet away from their buildings...

Robert J Sakimano wrote:I'm not calling myself a "collector" by any means, as some true, genuine collectors have thousands of records, but I do have a pretty impressive vinyl collection... I suspect I have around 500 or so.

I love the dollar bins at record stores more for the folk art value of the album covers..

I've sold more vinyl to FBC and donated to ELPL and Goodwill than I care to remember. I purposely didn't stop to consider the artwork because I knew that would bring my efforts to a near standstill, and I was motivated to get rid of almost all of it. I admit to holding back the Iron Butterly albums, and a couple of Elton Johns albums, and a few others, in part due to sentimentality, but also because I just liked the cover. I also kept the Fletch soundtrack album and my VHS copy of the movie. They can have my Fletch when they pry it from my cold, dead hands.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:

Have you seen that maroon-colored, plain-sided, windowless Ford panel van that's always parked in front of Jonna's? That could work perfectly. Plus, we could write something on the side to interest the ladies, something like Free kisses from Ryan Gosling inside

this one?



the school district called and suggested that we stay at least 500 feet away from their buildings...

Darn near exactly like it.

tGreenWay wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:I'm not calling myself a "collector" by any means, as some true, genuine collectors have thousands of records, but I do have a pretty impressive vinyl collection... I suspect I have around 500 or so.

I love the dollar bins at record stores more for the folk art value of the album covers..

I've sold more vinyl to FBC and donated to ELPL and Goodwill than I care to remember. I purposely didn't stop to consider the artwork because I knew that would bring my efforts to a near standstill, and I was motivated to get rid of almost all of it. I admit to holding back the Iron Butterly albums, and a couple of Elton Johns albums, and a few others, in part due to sentimentality, but also because I just liked the cover. I also kept the Fletch soundtrack album and my VHS copy of the movie. They can have my Fletch when they pry it from my cold, dead hands.

I gotta add a new shelf to my homemade album storage unit soon..

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:

I've sold more vinyl to FBC and donated to ELPL and Goodwill than I care to remember. I purposely didn't stop to consider the artwork because I knew that would bring my efforts to a near standstill, and I was motivated to get rid of almost all of it. I admit to holding back the Iron Butterly albums, and a couple of Elton Johns albums, and a few others, in part due to sentimentality, but also because I just liked the cover. I also kept the Fletch soundtrack album and my VHS copy of the movie. They can have my Fletch when they pry it from my cold, dead hands.

I gotta add a new shelf to my homemade album storage unit soon..

I don't miss collecting albums, nor does my back miss moving them.

tGreenWay wrote:

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

I gotta add a new shelf to my homemade album storage unit soon..

I don't miss collecting albums, nor does my back miss moving them.

That's why I never plan to move.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:

I don't miss collecting albums, nor does my back miss moving them.

That's why I never plan to move.

Be sure your widow has her real estate agent write your corpse into the sale agreement.

tGreenWay wrote:I've noticed that farm signs (seed or feed) are popular on eBay. The idea that Pyrex bowls could go that high cracks me up. I actually think my mom sold a bunch of hers at a garage sale for $.50 or maybe less, though, to be fair, that was years ago.

Farm signs do very well. Old Case Eagles (they used to be mounted outside dealerships) go for up to $10k.

My mother still has a pyrex set sitting in a box that was a wedding present in 1958. I keep egging her to sell it just for kicks.

LooseGoose wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:I've noticed that farm signs (seed or feed) are popular on eBay. The idea that Pyrex bowls could go that high cracks me up. I actually think my mom sold a bunch of hers at a garage sale for $.50 or maybe less, though, to be fair, that was years ago.

Farm signs do very well. Old Case Eagles (they used to be mounted outside dealerships) go for up to $10k.

My mother still has a pyrex set sitting in a box that was a wedding present in 1958. I keep egging her to sell it just for kicks.

Holy crap! I've seen some porcelain Case Eagles, but must be much newer versions because they've gone for nothing remotely close to $10k.
My wife is friends with someone who travels selling seeds and I guess he's been doing it for a long time. First chance I get, I'm going to suck up to him and see about getting something he's been holding onto. I'm not usually this underhanded, but what the hell, I've been a good guy most of my life, maybe I'll try being a sneaky sumbitch for awhile.

Oh, and get mom to sell that Pyrex!

tGreenWay wrote:Oh, and get mom to sell that Pyrex!

She doesn't like selling anything. She was collecting glass and china back in the 60s and still has 95% of it. I've spent the last year telling her to off 90% of it and keep the 10% she really likes then go blow that $$ somewhere just for fun. So far no progress.

tGreenWay wrote:

LooseGoose wrote:

Farm signs do very well. Old Case Eagles (they used to be mounted outside dealerships) go for up to $10k.

My mother still has a pyrex set sitting in a box that was a wedding present in 1958. I keep egging her to sell it just for kicks.

Holy crap! I've seen some porcelain Case Eagles, but must be much newer versions because they've gone for nothing remotely close to $10k.
My wife is friends with someone who travels selling seeds and I guess he's been doing it for a long time. First chance I get, I'm going to suck up to him and see about getting something he's been holding onto. I'm not usually this underhanded, but what the hell, I've been a good guy most of my life, maybe I'll try being a sneaky sumbitch for awhile.

$14K Eagle

Case Eagle Sign for $10,900

And here's a whole list of them at different ranges....
Case Eagles

I collect spores, molds, and fungus.

The Pantry wrote:I collect spores, molds, and fungus.

you sound like a real fungi.

I collect THC in my lungs. Secondary to that, I've got the makings of a decent little pipe/smoking device collection. I sometimes think I might like to learn to blow glass someday and start making my own pieces, but that will probably never happen.

I remember the first time I ever went into a head shop (Wild Side in EL), I saw a pretty awesome frog, but I had my heart set on a bong that day so I didn't buy the frog. Always wish I would've, never seen another quite like it since. If I ever find something close in the future, I'm buying it without hesitation. Gonna call it the hypnotoad.

LooseGoose wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:

Holy crap! I've seen some porcelain Case Eagles, but must be much newer versions because they've gone for nothing remotely close to $10k.
My wife is friends with someone who travels selling seeds and I guess he's been doing it for a long time. First chance I get, I'm going to suck up to him and see about getting something he's been holding onto. I'm not usually this underhanded, but what the hell, I've been a good guy most of my life, maybe I'll try being a sneaky sumbitch for awhile.

$14K Eagle

Case Eagle Sign for $10,900

And here's a whole list of them at different ranges....
Case Eagles

That first eagle is freaking cool.

The Pantry wrote:I collect spores, molds, and fungus.

This is the type of answer I've been waiting for. I'm also waiting for phone numbers and ears or tongues.

tGreenWay wrote:

The Pantry wrote:I collect spores, molds, and fungus.

This is the type of answer I've been waiting for. I'm also waiting for phone numbers and ears or tongues.

I do collect ears. but only matching sets.

I haven't been into much lately except twisties and those little blue rubber bands from bunches of green onions.

goodbar wrote:

tGreenWay wrote:

This is the type of answer I've been waiting for. I'm also waiting for phone numbers and ears or tongues.

I do collect ears. but only matching sets.

That's because you're a classy west sider.