What is the oldest thing you own?
mine is a pocket knife which belonged to my grandfather, i'll try to get a picture of it up here soon.
Hmmm... I'm not 100% sure, but the oldest I can think of is our set of the Encyclopedia Britannica (1911 edition).
you mean the object's intrinsic age, or how long you've had it personally?
I have a chinese blue ware plate from around 1900
We have a rocking chair and a set of silverware (the truly silver kind) from Mr. Clod's grandmother. No idea how old they really are, but we know for sure the rocking chair is over 100 years old because her mother nursed her in it, and she was 100 when she died last year.
Our house I think...
1780 or 1825, depending on the source.
Just got rid of that lovely railroad tie "flower bed" and spread 1" river rocks over the driveway.
Well. I think the oldest thing I personally own, is a stool my grandad made for Nan out of pieces of crate and some little table legs he'd got hold of from somewhere. It was when they were first married, so that would be round about the late
20's/early 30's I think.
my paternal grandfathers wedding ring (which doesn't even fit on my pinkie!)
circa mid 1930s
interesting question, Rexmons!
some charter thing about the land where i live, from like early 17/18th century, not really sure
Used to be land.
As far as stuff, I have few antiques... I'll have to look.
Probably my small Tibetan prayer bowl. It is very old.
jinx - what is the date of the old photograph?
I have a piece of granite.
I used to have a samurai sword... but I still think my bowl is older.
jinx - what is the date of the old photograph?
I don't know. The prev. owners just gave me a xerox copy, didn't have much info.
A small piece of rock from the sky, just about as old as the solar system itself.
I have a pocket watch that's about 150 years old, but you would need a really big pocket to carry it. I don't remember if it runs. It's been so long since I've looked at it that I can't remember if it's an open or hunter case.
we are stardust, we are golden, we are billion year old carbon.
my soul is over 900 years old.
i have a trillobite jinx gave me ...way old
i have some old coins FROM my grandfather's collection
and there's a bit of food caught in my teeth that has been there as long as i can remember.
I have a few turn of the century silver dollars.
I have a few turn of the century silver dollars.
Which century?
Pathetically enough, a blanket that I've had since I was born.
...A whopping 16 years old.
Man, I have shoes that are over 20.
Man, I have shoes that are over 20.
As someone who isn't even out of grade school yet, old stuff isn't at the top of my list to collect.
Collect... I don't collect shoes... they just exist.
Whoa...
HLJ's HungLikeJesus again!
Personally? my 1989-1991 Ibanez RG guitar.
As a family? We've got some chinese antiques (that we bought for absolute pennies) that're a few hundred years old.
I have a small piece of nickel-iron meteorite that I had made into an earring.
I have an engraved arty shell from ww1 ( its safe ) ,
My grand fathers pocket watch ( it was how they identifed the body after the cat fish had had their way with him )
I have a tattoo older than you, Kevin.
im suprised nobody made a "my wife" joke.
An Austrian "Ein Kreutzer" with Franz I from 1761.
Along with an Austrian "Ein Kreutzer" with Maria Theresa from 1762.
Natural object: Trilobite fossil and some pieces of amber with insects inside.
Man-made: Hum... I have two armchairs that are over 30 years old and some plates from the 1940s. I also have at least one photograph from the 1910s, my grandmother as a toddler.
Oooh....the photograph! I forgot my grandad's photo. Must have been from about the same time as yours mane.
It's such a cute photo. He's about 3 i think. He's been dressed up ever so smartly in a little sailor suit and he's stood on a chair, with such a serious expression on his little face.
An Austrian "Ein Kreutzer" with Franz I from 1761.
Along with an Austrian "Ein Kreutzer" with Maria Theresa from 1762.
Where did those come from? (Yeah, I know: "Austria")
I have a small piece of nickel-iron meteorite that I had made into an earring.
So is the age determined from when it was made into an earring, or when the meteorite was created by the big bang?
No one else has a picture of their precious old shit??? Wtf?
I said the Britannica was old, I didn't say it was precious. (I'd dump all 20-however many volumes tomorrow, but Mrs. Dallas has a sentimental attachment to it.)
Just don't let the kids use it for school science research...
No one else has a picture of their precious old shit??? Wtf?
I was in the process of photographing two old pocket watches last night when my camera battery died.
Idylls of the king- softbound leather 1880's. I think that's my oldest- not sure though.
I said the Britannica was old, I didn't say it was precious. (I'd dump all 20-however many volumes tomorrow, but Mrs. Dallas has a sentimental attachment to it.)
Then you wouldn't know now what we didn't know then.
I have and old crank type pencil sharpener. The part that the shavings accumulate in is a smiley face, the pencil goes in the mouth. The thing is ancient. My guess, probably from the seventies.
Where did those come from? (Yeah, I know: "Austria")
Well, since you know... :)
I've been told that they've been in my family for over 150 years.
They supposedly came to America in 1845.
It's a tradition that each first-born son gives them to his first-born son.
I don't know how true the story is, but I'll more than likely die with them, as I'm not planning on any kids.
Lilys on my chest and these coins on my eyes...
Not counting my trilobite fossil, a large, orange, metal "P" from a "..ARKING GARAGE" that my dad's brother liberated and gave to my dad for his birthday or something when they were at SMU down in Texas in the mid 70's (our last name begins with a P). It is now a family heirloom, passing from each child as he/she enters college. A saying from an old Indian comes with it as it is passed.."There is a time and a place for everything... it's called college."
Then you wouldn't know now what we didn't know then.
That's really true, though. I found an old book, a compendium of US events, I guess...but it was written shortly after World War 1. Well, they didn't call it World War 1 it was THE World War (the one to end all wars, you know.) It was fascinating, and they mentioned that so many things about the war would be discussed and straightened out as history looked back. I found that fascinating.
Other than that, I have an old Philco radio, similar to the one pictured but mine is in better shape and is prettier. Still gets shortwave.
Also have some old wooden cigar molds that came from the shop my great grandfather started when he came to the US from Switzerland.
And I have a coral fossil which I guess anyone with a fossil has something way older than anything else they have.
I forgot I have the bottom part of an old sewing machine. It was sitting by the curb, and I picked it up, thinking I could make a cool table out of it. I brought it to a friend, and he sandblasted, and primed it for me. That was about 15 years ago. Ive moved 3 or 4 times since then, and every move the sewing machine legs come with. They are out in the garage right now. Some day I'm going to do something with them. Really
The telephone on my desk was made by Western Electric in Aug '73, I found it at a garage sale last summer for $2.00 it works like brand new.
Ooooh...Ihave a 1970s hairdryer.
Here's something with a date on - 1817. A troika bell ...
the oldest thing i own are my sambas, which for the less shoe-inclined, are an adidas indoor soccer shoe. They are definitely the most comfy shoe i've ever owned, and i've had these trusty shoes for four years. The history of these shoes amazes me, they've outlasted or equalled some of highschool, some college, a relationship+engagement (bad deal), almost two years of military service and soon, a trip halfway around the world for fifteen months.
I had a relationship with a lovely pair of outdoor Patricks like that, alas they gave up the ghost. I fence in Sambas, nice shoes.
I've got an 1848 edition of The Collegians by Gerald Griffin representing my side of the family and an old German coocoo clock from Pete's.
Me 64 years. No really, I'll have to look around at some of this junk.
Jinx, Would LOVE that house. That is so cool! I think mine is a hand held mirror. Beveled glass and all.
My family is full of antique dealers, so everything in our house is old, I'd be happy to photograph the house if you're interested. (Well, the stuff IN the house, the house itself was only built in the 70s by the previous owner...a crazed architect and his wife.)
Crazed architect? That's worth a thread in the Images section.
Jinx, Would LOVE that house. That is so cool!
Hey thanks! Wanna buy it? :D
I have an 1830s French-English dictionary. No picture as all my books are in storage at the moment.
I do have a 1920s Latin-English dictionary.
I have an upright grand piano which belonged to my grandmothers grandmother so it's over 100 yrs old.
It needs a tune up, but still plays a good tune.
I hadn't played for years but started practising last christmas. I need to get back to it again. I miss making music.
Here's a front and back view of the old pocket watch that I mentioned earlier. I haven't researched it yet, but I'm guessing it's from the mid- to late-19th century.
It's shown actual size.
It's shown actual size.
How big is your pocket? That thing is the size of my outspread hand. Is that a pocketwatch in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?:eek2:
It's actual size... on his 37" monitor.
Yeah, it weighs 14 pounds. The good news is that the case is solid gold.
I don't know the significance of the tombstone on the back. Maybe it means that the original owner is now dead.
So, you're serious. This watch is actually 7" across? Yikes. Out of the realm of "pocket" isn't it?
Maybe it's a salesman's sample.
Kind of the opposite of those tiny little beds in department stores, eh? :D
Sorry, sorry, I was mixing it up with
this.
lmao...go see my response to that.
ain't it though?
The tombstone thing may just be a refeence to the passage of time and our inevitable destination.
A small collection of Kipling published in 1891, in an inexpensive edition, so the bindings are in a rather delicate condition. (Quit that; I bought it used!)
Next oldest is a 1911 .45 automatic, whose serial number dates it to 1917. Long hammer spur that tends to bite my hand on cycling, flat backstrap to the grip, walnut grips with battered grip screws. Dinky little sights. The only new bit in it is the firing pin retaining plate, replacing the original which had broken in half but was still holding the firing pin in place (this small part is just ahead of the hammer, which falls upon it and the tail-end of the firing pin. The broken plate was chewing the hammer up, giving it entirely too much character. The chewed hammer is still soldiering on; the piece is not a collectors' item but a shooter, as it has been reblued and the stamp that should be there on the forward frame reading "Property of U.S. Army" has been ground and polished away. Still got a lot of shots left in the old girl, though.
UG - I'd be interested in seeing a picture of that. I also have an M1911, but I don't know when it was made.
Thanks Bruce.
I'm sitting in the Honda dealership, waiting for my car to be serviced, and I forgot both my humongous watch and my M1911. Fortunately I brought my computer and the dealer has 802.11g.
This is not an old, individual item, but I have a few Wuhan China Cymbals, which have been produced in the same way, in the same factory, in Wuhan, China for over 1900 years. [COLOR="White"]. . . [/COLOR]These are the kind Neil Peart used, up to his Sabian contract for the Paragon line of signature cymbals.
I have a bunch of old tools that belonged to my grandfathers. And an old penny from the 1880s. But one of the coolest old things I have is this photograph which will be a century old next year. It's my grandmother's baby picture.
'shopped. look at the shadows.
Your grandmother's legs were HUUUUUGE!!
The oldest thing I have is a record from the 20s I think (Its a 1 sided 78 (Nothing on the other side)) -- The song is AVE MARIA