Uncovering Treasures: The Joys and Challenges of Collecting Vintage Items
Updated: Nov 17
Collecting Vintage Items -- Everybody has childhood memories of belongings or objects from their parents' or grandparents' homes. Antique collecting is enjoyable and, in certain situations, may even be a wise investment.
In the 1960s, I started collecting baseball cards, which I still own today. I currently collect antique radios. My spouse is a collector of 1930s and 1940s Bakelite jewelry.

Vintage Crosley radios from the 1950's found at estate sales

Vintage 1937 Zenith Console found at a flea market
It's quite simple to get started. Look for some categories you enjoy, such as antique toys, estate jewelry, or artifacts related to gas and oil. Estate sales, flea markets, antique stores, and internet retailers like govintage57.com carry these.
Gold and silver coins, artwork, and anything for which a collector will give you more than you paid for it are examples of items that can increase in value. But primarily, gather only for enjoyment. When my wife and I were stationed in California in the 1970s as part of the Air Force, we began antiquing. Since we were poor back then, all we would do was go look at all the antiques that the sellers were selling. Later, we began purchasing some, and at last, we began to sell some and bought more to resell.Collecting Vintage Items
No matter what generation you are there are items to collect from 50/60's gas station coffee cups to transformers from the 80's.
Here are some of favorite finds:

Indycar Driver Salt Walther's 1991 Helmet

Indycar Driver Salt Walther's 1991 Racing Suit

Rare Coca Cola Clock (regret selling it)

Hubley Cap Gun Set w/Box