What's the oldest thing you own?
Discussion
Some Carpentry and Joinery books from the 1930s which belonged to my Grandfather. I also have the tool chest he made when he joined the wagon works as an apprentice a few years earlier, plus the tools of his which fill it perfectly.
What I don't possess, though, is the skill enough to use and do justice to them
What I don't possess, though, is the skill enough to use and do justice to them
Fascinates me too..... I don't own this but in the Natural History Museum there is an item on display.... a smallish test tube and it has the following detail with it...
"If you look carefully in the bottom of this little test tube you can see a white smudge of powder. This smudge is made up of millions of microscopic diamonds. These are the oldest things you will ever see. They formed in the dust around dying stars billions of years ago before our solar system existed. The diamonds dispersed in space and eventually became part of the material that formed our solar system. Ultimately some of them fell to Eart in meteorites, like the one you see here"
Was one of those "wow" moments.
"If you look carefully in the bottom of this little test tube you can see a white smudge of powder. This smudge is made up of millions of microscopic diamonds. These are the oldest things you will ever see. They formed in the dust around dying stars billions of years ago before our solar system existed. The diamonds dispersed in space and eventually became part of the material that formed our solar system. Ultimately some of them fell to Eart in meteorites, like the one you see here"
Was one of those "wow" moments.
A railway station clock, circa 130 years old. My dad is train mad every bit as much as I'm car mad. Like me he loves clocks and watches, and I always envied his collection of clocks. For my 21st birthday he bought a worn out (read knackered!) railway clock, and gave it an entire restore. It's my pride and joy.
Who would ever of thought such a small thing could have so much power.I have a set of Royal Doulton family china which has been passed down to me; the dating marks show it was produced between 1902-1922 (I dropped a saucer whilst looking just 10 minutes ago, it didn't break!), this is from my dad's side.
The china is on display in a cabinet which was hand built by my great, great grandfather, around 100 years ago; from my mum's side.
I also wear one of two rose gold cygnet rings that originate from my dad's great grandfather; so over 100 years old, the other ring is safely stored in my bedroom.
Cabinet with china:
The china is on display in a cabinet which was hand built by my great, great grandfather, around 100 years ago; from my mum's side.
I also wear one of two rose gold cygnet rings that originate from my dad's great grandfather; so over 100 years old, the other ring is safely stored in my bedroom.
Cabinet with china:
I think these are the two oldest things I own. First up, a brass parrot, left to me by my grandfather who died when I was 3. He had been given it by his grandmother (1853-1924). Its been on my shelf my entire life, but recently me and my mum have been doing loads of family tree research, and its been great putting names and information to the people that previous held this bird.
Next up, the Forty First Report of the Commissioners in Lunacy, from 1887.
I acquired this the night before I went to university (1995). Me and my mates got royally smashed, climbed up the exterior of a local abandoned asylum, punched through the window, and spent some time exploring this place. I don't remember much but woke up the next morning, fully clothed, covered in blood (the hand/window interface) and puke, and my mum saying "come on, its time to drive to university". Happy days!
I also have some of my grandfathers WW2 medals, and also a Japanese prayer flag he brought back from the Burma campaign.
I like old things.
Next up, the Forty First Report of the Commissioners in Lunacy, from 1887.
I acquired this the night before I went to university (1995). Me and my mates got royally smashed, climbed up the exterior of a local abandoned asylum, punched through the window, and spent some time exploring this place. I don't remember much but woke up the next morning, fully clothed, covered in blood (the hand/window interface) and puke, and my mum saying "come on, its time to drive to university". Happy days!
I also have some of my grandfathers WW2 medals, and also a Japanese prayer flag he brought back from the Burma campaign.
I like old things.
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