Thanks for the replies. I was curious what the membership was interested in.

Although all comments are welcome, some of you have different ideas of what “collect” means than I do. I deliberately didn’t spell it out to limit responses, but to me it refers to tangible objects to acquire to have and hold and possibly use like old cameras, stamps, or rare books. Collecting usually involves the thrill of the chase and pride of ownership as well as the expertise we develop as a result. I didn’t envision “collecting” as just having the resources to purchase and maintain anything we want such a house with indoor swimming pool and 200-yard rifle range.

But don’t let my conception of the word limit you.

Taco Bell is tangible.

One may dream.

Muscle cars, Sports cars, 70-90 super bikes, watches, HiFi stereo equipment, watches and 35 mm camera equipment. But I will never have enough money to have to worry about it. Haha

Watches for me. So many I'd love to own, but no way I'd pay that much for them in my current situation.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Leicas and Lugers

I know a guy,,


seriously,


that has one of the nicest Luger Collections on the east coast,

everything is 100% corrrect, and 95+% conditions,

wall full of German Snipers, P38's and a few 1911's too,


older gent, his plan is when he croaks to have RIA show up and take them all
then cut the wife a check when done

Thermo nuclear weapons...just kidding.

I'd say probably Class III machine guns. Transferable and dealer sample. I would love to expand the collection to include M2, 1919, Maxim, MG42, M-16, Tommy guns, etc.

Since money is no object, I would have a private indoor & outdoor range/vault to test them all out on a regular basis.

Original Lionel train sets. Oh and a big place to run them.

Land

I think I would split my collection between two museums.

I would start a military museum similar to the one in Pungo Virginia that displays, searches for, restores/rebuilds military material from WWII.
Pungo Aviation Museum

I would build an interactive motorcycle museum with multiple indoor and outdoor race tracks. The museum would collect bikes that show the evolution of the motorcycle from its humble and basic beginnings all the way to the latest million dollar prototype Grand Prix racing machines.

I would also collect riders who can help America collect trophies. Huh? I would have my museum attempt to change the way people think of museums by having it sponsor and support a racing series for young American riders.

If I could only do one I would do the motorcycle museum. I’m already sort of on my way in that regard.

quote:

Originally posted by Patrick-SP2022:
Dogs and cats in need of rescue.

Same here. I'd build a huge compound and hire veterinary and support staff. Then I'd love on the animals and invite anyone else to do the same.

Hasselblads and other high-end cameras from the pre-digital age. Also original prints from Ansel Adams, Alfred Stieglitz, Paul Strand, as well as Eddie Adams, and Mary Ellen Mark. And paintings by Georgia O’Keefe.

And two of every gun I can find — one to shoot, one to leave unfired NIB. Modern, antique, everything…

quote:

Originally posted by SigFan:
original prints from Ansel Adams

Ooh, that would be something.

Old woodworking tools, especially hand tools, I love the old wood molding planes. I have a few that I treasure and I want to display in my man cave.

^^^ I'm a fan of a guy named John William Reps, who is so far the premier historian of American urban development and has put together some stunning collections of lithographs of street plans and old maps through history.

Ansel Adams is great, but there's an advantage in relative obscurity. In their own field, Reps' works are classics, but even a cheapskate like me can afford a complete collection of them.

Dogs, animals in need

Full auto weapons and exotic autos......that should do it.

quote:

Originally posted by sigfreund:

quote:

Originally posted by SigFan:
original prints from Ansel Adams

Ooh, that would be something.

+1 for that. Love his work. Would go well in the multicar garage for my earlier post.

Books
Cats
Basses
Art Nouveau stuff
Houses
Guns
Swords

Id have a cattle ranch in TX, complete with short and long distance shooting range, a condo beachside in FL (Atlantic coast, Martin or St Lucie Cty, Jensen Beach maybe), and nice house in the mountains in NC.

A nice cabin cruiser to sport over to the Bahamas in (I was in Panama City FL a few years back I saw a nicely equipped 51' Bertram "Lucky 2" that would do the trick), and to do some fishing, prob a nice cuddy cabin (Grady-White)

Would collect as much art as I could afford.

A few Aston Martins.

Wine, wine, wine.

Vacation properties. Waterfront properties, remote cabins, highrise condos in cities with good nightlife. All appropriately stocked with area- and climate-appropriate firearms, clothing, accessories, automobiles, whiskey, and toys (boats, planes, etc).

Sufficiently so that I could catch a cab to the airport with a backpack containing my personal gear (laptop, notebook, various "I'm doing me" sundries), catch a cab on landing to the property, and just continue my life as if I'd just come home from a work trip at each and every one of them.