What things do you own that are older than you?
Discussion
Just randomly I was thinking about old cars, and how they survived their original owners.
I then wondered how many things I own that are older than me. I've a teddy bear that was old when I was given it in 1960. I've some spoons
, but I can't think of much else.
Loads of people live in Victorian houses, but what other things have you got? Obviously the younger you are the easier it is.
I then wondered how many things I own that are older than me. I've a teddy bear that was old when I was given it in 1960. I've some spoons
, but I can't think of much else.Loads of people live in Victorian houses, but what other things have you got? Obviously the younger you are the easier it is.
My father’s tools that he’s too old to use now or gave me when I got my first house. Including the hand drill that I remember him letting me play with as a very young child with no bit in it and the pump action screw driver that predates electrical ones 
.
Wooden handles, spade, rake etc weigh a lot more than modern lightweight materials. Well looked after and still perfectly serviceable.
TBH, I don’t use the hand drill or that screw driver, too much work, but the gardening tools still get used.
.Wooden handles, spade, rake etc weigh a lot more than modern lightweight materials. Well looked after and still perfectly serviceable.
TBH, I don’t use the hand drill or that screw driver, too much work, but the gardening tools still get used.
My house
A little while ago I was given some things that belonged to my mums dad, he died when my mum was 18 and I never met him but obviously had he lived he would have been my grandad, my parents asked me if I would like a few of his things, so i've got the following :
His Parker Victory fountain pen
An ORIS watch that belonged to him
A pair of cufflinks
A small brass bowl that I believe he picked up when he was in egypt possibly during the war but I'm not 100% sure, I use it for keeping loose change in which is apparently just what he used it for.
I've also a watch that belonged to my Great Uncle thats also older than I am and another watch that from the research I did I think is only 4 years younger than me, this still works so I wear it from time to time.
Dont think there is much monetary value in any of ( excluding the house ) but the family history side of it outweighs any potential value in what I have. My parents were having a clear out which is how i ended up with those few bits as I feared they were just going to throw them away / take them to a charity shop !
A little while ago I was given some things that belonged to my mums dad, he died when my mum was 18 and I never met him but obviously had he lived he would have been my grandad, my parents asked me if I would like a few of his things, so i've got the following :
His Parker Victory fountain pen
An ORIS watch that belonged to him
A pair of cufflinks
A small brass bowl that I believe he picked up when he was in egypt possibly during the war but I'm not 100% sure, I use it for keeping loose change in which is apparently just what he used it for.
I've also a watch that belonged to my Great Uncle thats also older than I am and another watch that from the research I did I think is only 4 years younger than me, this still works so I wear it from time to time.
Dont think there is much monetary value in any of ( excluding the house ) but the family history side of it outweighs any potential value in what I have. My parents were having a clear out which is how i ended up with those few bits as I feared they were just going to throw them away / take them to a charity shop !
My grandfather was a guard on the railways
I have ended up owing several pre war railway artefacts, most interesting being two fireman’s shovels both date stamped in the 1920’s and a platform bench that is 12 feet long. I used one of the shovels today to shift some bark chippings.
I also have some stilsons, spanner’s & lead maker tools acquired by my father when he did his plumbing apprenticeship in the 1940’s, he might have bought them second hand as they were costly things at the time.
I have ended up owing several pre war railway artefacts, most interesting being two fireman’s shovels both date stamped in the 1920’s and a platform bench that is 12 feet long. I used one of the shovels today to shift some bark chippings.
I also have some stilsons, spanner’s & lead maker tools acquired by my father when he did his plumbing apprenticeship in the 1940’s, he might have bought them second hand as they were costly things at the time.
I have a vice in the garage that dates back to the 1920s or 30s. It's quite handy because you can slacken the base so it rotates, meaning you get a lot of freedom in how to position something that's an awkward shape. I have semi-retired it now in favour of a bigger and stronger (restored) Record one that is probably a decade or two older than me also, but which is much stronger and tougher when I use it as a bearing press or to hold something while I hammer it. Both are vastly better made than the junk you get these days in DIY stores.
Also a pair of locking tweezers - long things rather like scissors, with springy handles that clip together and in doing so, clamp the other ends firmly together. They were my grandad's and look old, but are clearly very high quality. Anyway I googled the things, and it turns out they are medical artery clamps and probably 100 years old, designed to keep arteries clamped shut during surgery! I use them as a third hand for small soldering work, as they have a firm enough grip but are also quite delicate with it, and once clamped shut I can rely on it staying in place. Repairing jewellery, minor electronic component replacements, that kind of thing.
Also a pair of locking tweezers - long things rather like scissors, with springy handles that clip together and in doing so, clamp the other ends firmly together. They were my grandad's and look old, but are clearly very high quality. Anyway I googled the things, and it turns out they are medical artery clamps and probably 100 years old, designed to keep arteries clamped shut during surgery! I use them as a third hand for small soldering work, as they have a firm enough grip but are also quite delicate with it, and once clamped shut I can rely on it staying in place. Repairing jewellery, minor electronic component replacements, that kind of thing.
Edited by mikey_b on Sunday 23 April 21:25
Quite a few things... easiest to remember
2 of the cars (1979 Mk2 Escort, 1982 Peugeot 104).
About 120 sets of Christmas lights from the 1930s-1970s.
About a dozen Den Haan Rotterdam ships lanterns in blown glass from before WW2.
Some old Dinky model cars.
Thousands of stamps in a stamp collection.
2 of the cars (1979 Mk2 Escort, 1982 Peugeot 104).
About 120 sets of Christmas lights from the 1930s-1970s.
About a dozen Den Haan Rotterdam ships lanterns in blown glass from before WW2.
Some old Dinky model cars.
Thousands of stamps in a stamp collection.
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