I can certainly relate. A side hobby of mine is repairing Elgin pocket watches, and when I first started I quickly realized how many small variations there were, so many that I couldnt be bothered to keep track. Dealing with the watch equivalent of twdb, i found that they threw the same movements into countless case styles, and vice versa, with each specific type of watch only having a production count of a few thousand before they changed it up again. Insanity I tell you.
I relate to your post. I have a few collections that did not start that way, but over the years I have a few, and I can find very little on line or in books about them. Watches seem especially difficult. I have about a dozen pocket watches from various manufacturers. Hardly anything known about them. They look neat and function properly. Same goes for some of my fountain pens, knives and slide rules even though there is an abundance of general information available. Funny with collections; only typewriters take up a lot of room. (unless someone collects vehicles)
Sometimes I think I'd like to collect old computers, but I wouldn't have a clue how to get them working. I can just about bluff my way around a typewriter. :)
It appears many of us have multiple collections. Slide rules are also that way, only a few had serial numbers, so often dates are a challenge. I do like the old watches. I have a Timex Electric Dynabeat that I like.
My "enjoy but don't dive in too deep" is the zoo, and shows about wild animals. It's fun for me to watch those, or to go to the zoo and not have to know every last thing.
A thought-provoking post. We can't be passionately interested in everything we own or do. Selective interest is essential.
ReplyDeleteI can certainly relate. A side hobby of mine is repairing Elgin pocket watches, and when I first started I quickly realized how many small variations there were, so many that I couldnt be bothered to keep track. Dealing with the watch equivalent of twdb, i found that they threw the same movements into countless case styles, and vice versa, with each specific type of watch only having a production count of a few thousand before they changed it up again. Insanity I tell you.
ReplyDeleteI relate to your post. I have a few collections that did not start that way, but over the years I have a few, and I can find very little on line or in books about them. Watches seem especially difficult. I have about a dozen pocket watches from various manufacturers. Hardly anything known about them. They look neat and function properly. Same goes for some of my fountain pens, knives and slide rules even though there is an abundance of general information available. Funny with collections; only typewriters take up a lot of room. (unless someone collects vehicles)
ReplyDeleteSometimes I think I'd like to collect old computers, but I wouldn't have a clue how to get them working. I can just about bluff my way around a typewriter. :)
ReplyDeleteoh jeez, yes. you gotta specialize or you go crazy. :D
ReplyDeleteIt appears many of us have multiple collections. Slide rules are also that way, only a few had serial numbers, so often dates are a challenge. I do like the old watches. I have a Timex Electric Dynabeat that I like.
ReplyDeleteMy "enjoy but don't dive in too deep" is the zoo, and shows about wild animals. It's fun for me to watch those, or to go to the zoo and not have to know every last thing.
ReplyDelete