Collectors, pickers and junk.

[xelasnave]

I am fascinated by the shows "American Pickers" and similar shows (but not the Aussie knock off which is a tedious rip off and unoriginal attempt to mimic).

The desire to collect I find very strange and more so the way folk value what in so many cases I see as junk.

So these guys arrive at what passes for a tip and find something the owner did not even know was there and when asked to sell that owner can't part with the junk.

It seems so odd to me.

I had a client who collected beer cans who was obsessed and had his car exposed to the weather because the garage was full of beer cans.

What's the deal?

He took delight in boring everyone selecting a beer can and explaining why it was so special...and of course each one was special.

Is it a lame attempt to be one up on your friends?

Is it attempt to provide some sort of security.

Does it come down to more money than sence?

And the prices for old advertising signs...why on Earth would you buy a damn sign? Don't tell me it is art...its a damn sign.

So are you game all you collectors to come forward and tell us about your collection and risk my ridicule and old man grumpyness to explain why you collect.

My late father in law, well one of them, years ago could not go past an old black and white TV, he had about 15, again car in the drive junk in the garage.

When he passed away they were unsalable and I cant recall how many trips to the tip...

So what gives?

Can we, may we discuss your collection.

Collecting astronomy gear is of course not only acceptable but highly acceptable.

Alex

[Kunama]

I used to collect Takahashi refractors but my wife put an end to that very quickly.....
Many collectors like to do it as a record of the evolution of an item over the years. To others it is about being able to show off to their acquaintances.
Some older collectors remember a time when they had nothing and thus are unable to part with things. Yet others link the collection to a 'quieter, gentler' time in their lives.... (childhood)

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by Kunama

I used to collect Takahashi refractors but my wife put an end to that very quickly.....
Many collectors like to do it as a record of the evolution of an item over the years. To others it is about being able to show off to their acquaintances.
Some older collectors remember a time when they had nothing and thus are unable to part with things. Yet others link the collection to a 'quieter, gentler' time in their lives.... (childhood)

I did an edit excluding collecting astronomy gear which of course is reasonable and most desirable.
Alex

[xelasnave]

Matt her unreasonable attitude is grounds for divorce I hope she had some other redeeming quality.
Alex

[LewisM]

Those "shows" are SO rigged, and it has been proven time and time again. So, let's just randomly drive down this country lane. Oh look, that guy has a barn with 4 old Fords in pristine just polished condition out the front. Oh look, he has a P-51 Mustang in his barn and 600 uber-rare petrol station signs, plus the De Lorien from Back to the Future...

Not as bad as those spaz-tastic storage locker shows (Barry has publicly exposed how rigged it is!).

And I was wondering why I don't watch TV any more...fake reality shows, cooking, cooking, cooking, cooking, cooking, cooking, sport ad nauseum, dating shows, "Survivor" (survive the boredom), The Farmer marries his goat.... blah blah blah. And more blah, followed by yawn.

Read a book, design something in SketchUp...you have to be really bored to watch the TV, and a bored mind is a lazy mind.

I used to collect model aeroplanes and military firearms and bayonets.

I got married.

Model collection - several thousand - went (the end of bachelorhood - AKA GROWING THE HELL UP!)

Firearm collection dwindled over time to a few remaining. Wife enjoys target shooting military firearms too (but prefers pistol shooting), so, for now, that one remains.

[rally]

Alex,

I reckon its all about the hunt !

Finding that next major elusive find, its not necessarily even about the find you make, but more about the find you could have made !
Its a primordial instinct that still exists for many and its rewarded with excitement, anticipation etc and no doubt an endorphin rush.

Its probably also about ego/pride for others but im guessing thats more likely a justification exercise
For some its clearly an illness - I think of the old lady who had her own house & land full of plastic bags and other "garbage" in an expensive Sydney suburb a few years ago.

Any psychologists amongst the group ?

[Kal (Andrew)]

Yeah, I agree with LewisM that these shows are rigged.

I used to enjoy another show called 'auction hunters' until after watching it for a while and getting suspicious at all these 'fantastic valuable finds' I did some reading online, and found accounts of people who sold them the items that were used on the show, to plant in the storage containers.

Entertainment tv it is, reality tv it is definately not.

[xelasnave]

My legs burn so I lay down most of the time sadly.
I still draw and play the three string guitar but I find I am either on this phone expressing opinions that are of no interest or horrors channel surfing.
I can't accept these shows are rigged why would they go to such trouble to show nonsence...
Then maybe they are rigged.
Why do they call them reality TV?
If you can't trust the TV what will become of us.
I owned 12 maybe 15 guitars once but each one had its use.
And having five shotguns and four rifles was appropriate even if one shotgun was to nice to use.

I think the problem is these collectors do not realise they even have a problem.

Alex

[glend (Glen)]

The shows are rigged because they are sold to networks as entertainment to fill time in their schedules. The successful ones are then copied by other networks or in other countries, like the Canadian version of American Pickers. They will have a team of researchers arranging calls, does anyone really believe Danielle does all that for American Pickers. She is there as eye candy. Just google her history, nothing to do with picking.
I believe that Frank and Mike, did start out as pickers but it quickly got sold to the History Channel, on the basis of it having some historical content. Now its big entertainment business.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Matt her unreasonable attitude is grounds for divorce
Alex

Oooooh...!!

[xelasnave]

Anyways I did learn a new word even though I am not sure how to spell it..peteena? I should look it up ...peteena means old and rusty and probably broken and its application turns junk into treasure.

Alex

[croweater (Richard)]

My car has a patina as I haven't washed it for 3 yrs. Does this make it worth more Alex? Cheers Richard

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by croweater

My car has a patina as I haven't washed it for 3 yrs. Does this make it worth more Alex? Cheers Richard

Yes it does, do not wash it and use a wire brush I have learnt that much.

So what would you take?
Give me a "I don't want to sell price"

And thanks for spelling patina I assume you are right..I do think peteena would work better...pet implying something much loved eena from the Latin meaning rust...well it could mean that.
Maybe ee as in momentary repulse and na as in rejection.

I am back in the bush and so nice to see all the beautiful clouds.

Alex

[croweater (Richard)]

So what would you take?
Give me a "I don't want to sell price"

I would probably swap for your best scope . Yes and your spelling is much more entertaining than mine. Cheers Richard

[xelasnave]

At least you can drive a car when it cloudy.
Alex

[croweater (Richard)]

I just looked where Tabulam is. Not far from Dorrigo where I picked spuds for a while as a young bloke. What a beaut place to live Alex. In the forests and mountains. Back then they were all smoking something and it wasn't spuds or tobacco. But they were lovely and happy people.

[LewisM]

Tabulam was the origin of some very historically significant Australians too - Lt. Gen. Chauvel for instance.

[xelasnave]

Unfortunately I spend most of my time in Sydney which I hate but I need to be there for my Dad.

Dope is party of the local economy and culture but recently blue berries are contributing.

I got a big surprise to discover one of the cattle farmers was a grower. I could never work out how he seemed so well off but now I know, he does not know I know but at a party there it was obvious to me a certain shed was not for storing hay.
Anyways none of my business.
I now have two places where I can observe from but have to be in Sydney but at least I had ten years where all I did was astronomy.
Maybe again in the future but my father needs me and I am happy to be there for him.
I miss it but ten years every day is more than most get to experience.
And coming here and seeing the magnificent photos our members produce really is great.
My gear all needs replacing so one day I will start again.
Alex

[croweater (Richard)]

Also had southern hemispheres longest wooden bridge. I think now demolished.

[xelasnave]

Originally Posted by LewisM

Tabulam was the origin of some very historically significant Australians too - Lt. Gen. Chauvel for instance.

Yes when my wife left she moved into a house next to the light horse monument.
When I visited I was continually surprised by the number of people who stopped there to pay respect.
The wooden bridge is something else but there is talk of it being replaced which I bet is a move to get money into someone's pocket.
But I can't be bothered stopping their move unfortunately.
I should and I would if I had the time.
Follow the money and .....
Alex