Aside From Coins, Do You Have Any Other Hobbies?

When I received my first Whitman cent folder, over forty years ago, I also was introduced to slot cars. Over the years I have continued my passion for both hobbies. This is a little of my slot car hobby...Rainy days I love to tinker with "the cars".

 

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LOL - BANG! "False Start!"

 

Currently, I'm collecting antique curiosities and contemporary oddities,
a favorite are three quack medical devices from the 1900s called Faradic Therapy boxes.
These devices emit varying strengths of electrical current. Each has devices that can attach to almost any part of the body. One of the manuals states the box will cure consumption, falling of the womb, writer's cramp, torpid liver, etc.
Militaria including large WWI & WWII portraits of officers and enlisted men.
My favorite is a WWI large framed certificate of a soldier kneeling before a ghostly figure of a woman who is placing the flat side of a sword on his shoulder. I believe it's some kind of a recognition for being wounded. I have not researched this one.
Embossed artillery brass shell from the 1917 battle of Verdun, France.
Old genuine hand carved wood face masks from different countries.
>24 cameras, majority are folding cameras, Zeiss Ikon, Kodak, Leica, Nikon, etc
Large, at least 90y/o, vacum tube 3"x12" mounted on a wood base. At least one tribe in the Pacific used to worship these tube as a fertility symbol.
Turn of the century and earlier post cards, esp holiday cards. A lot of these cards have really increased in value
Too much more to mention. I've got so much stuff I need to rotate the displays.
We're moving soon I'm not looking forward to packing up this stuff.

If anybody wants to see pictures of the any of above I'll post 'em

My brother and I still fly remote controlled powered model airplanes.

Another casino opened near where I live. I researched/played a few different table games then settled on craps because some bets only give the house a 1% or less advantage.
During my late twenties I played competitive backgammon.

 

I know this is a coin forum, but I for one would love to see of the items you have described. They all sound interesting to me.

 

I'm having problems uploading files.
I'll post some more tomorrow.

 

So sorry for the duplicate posted prints.

I picked up the little typewriter a year ago.
The carriage rotates and it goes left to right.
I know some of the keys work don't remember if all of them work.
I'm restoring a 1930s Remington Royal Model Five Deluxe.
I really like the sound they make when typing on it.
Going to use it to address envelopes.

Below the typewriter is an (to me) interesting picture of a
woman officer. My friend with military contacts is, hopefully, getting some information about the photo.

Next is a head carved from wood, mounted on a wood stand.
Go figure

One of my favorites the large vacuum tube.

Cigarette cards from cigarette packs.

The photo sitting on the floor is at least a 100y/o.
I removed part of the wood on the back then pulled
out a newspaper dated 1918. I think it was reframed
in 1918. Also, I'm not sure what printing technique was
used to create the print. Another project.

Going to replace the electronics in the silver airplane.

I can keep posting this stuff if you want.

 

Added: another of my favorite hobbies -- CRAFT BINDING MY HAND WRITTEN BOOKS




Binding single section hand written books using commonly available materials and without using specialized bookbinding tools and equipment.

Criteria:

• All materials are readily obtainable in Arts & Crafts shops.
• No specialized Bookbinder's tools or equipment are needed.
• End boards are made from 2 ply mat board cut-off pieces.
• Any fabric, paper or leather (substitute) for board coverings.

Introductory Notes:

• Making a six page single section hand written book (6 book pages = 24 content pages) using US standard 8.5" x 11" paper, folio folded.
• Bookblock = the folded section pages (plus end papers) sewed to the mull as a unit and trimmed.
• Case = fabricated by gluing the boards and the spine cloth together as a unit and gluing the cover material on the boards.
• Pattern and template layouts and dimensions can be adjusted for other paper size selections.
• All material should be acid free -- test with litmus paper if in doubt.
• Images on this page are not to scale.
• Here is an outstanding online resource, specifically relating to single section craft binding, that provides wonderfully detailed and illustrated information relating to techniques and methodologies such as paper selection, measuring, folding, cutting, sewing, pasting, etc. - and general step by step binding procedures. May be downloaded as a PDF.

OUTLINE


Marbled end paper - 1/8" square - recto first page - illuminated Versal letter

* Bookbinding protocol requires page one be Recto (Right hand page) versus Verso (left hand page).
* Sewing on tapes is not really necessary for this kind of binding -- the model section is sewn onto Artist canvas instead of tapes.
* Section (also called Signature) is a gathering of folded pages that are sewn together as a unit.
* Case binding wherein the "case" is made up separately from the Bookblock.
* Cloth, Paper or Leather can be used to cover the boards.
* I used 8.5" x 11" standard American size paper for the model pages due to its wide availability.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT


Equipment list

* Paper make and type is optional. Weight should be such that the sewn-up sections are not too thick and yet are thick enough to avoid excessive "see through".
* All paper and board material must be checked for correct grain orientation.
* Artists canvas or similar material (acid free) can be substituted for traditional mull.
* Mull -- traditional open mesh cloth used for backing sewn-up sections (folded around).
* Standard 2ply artists mat board is ideal for this type of binding being acid free and light weight.
* #16 Carpet thread obtainable at fabric shops is plenty strong enough and wear resistant.
* Sewing thread should be run though a block of bees wax (obtainable at fabric/craft shops) for ease of sewing.
* 5" Dollmaker's needles (obtainable at fabric/craft shops) make sewing up sections easier for many people.
* PVA glues work very well although many craft binders prefer regular hand mixed wheat paste.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT (cont)


Sewing frame and presses are not needed

* Specialized Bookbinding tools are not required for Craft binding single section hand written books.
* Several smoothly sanded pieces of 3/8" thick plywood (approx. 9" x 12") make excellent pressing boards.
* Use protective wax paper sheets between pressing boards and glued material surfaces.
* Heavy books are a good substitute for a Bookbinder's press.
* Use high quality Artist's paste brushes to avoid loose bristle contamination.

LAYOUT


Artist canvas is used for mull

* I think the "time honored" triangulation page margin layout method is unnecessarily complicated for simple single section hand written book production. I prefer the proportions 2 (side margins), 1.5 (top margin), 3 (bottom margin), which closely approximates the "time honored" triangulation proportions anyway.
* Square -- the protective allowance between the section page edges and the case edges.
* A generous hinge allowance is necessary to permit full opening of the finished book and to prevent strains in opening and closing.

BOOK WRITING HANDS


Main body text writing is usually somewhat formal

* Any small size writing hand that is easily readable can be used

METHODOLOGY


Measuring and cutting square must be done with great precision

Patterns and Templates (depicted below) should be made up and used throughout the book production.

Making the Bookblock
* Writing base lines are laid out and drawn on the unfolded pages using a soft pencil.
* The pages are numbered (a mock-up of folded pages aids in visualizing page numbering sequence) and the writing accomplished so that pages with errors can be easily replaced. Pages can be reproduced at this time if desired
* Add two colored sheets of paper (end papers) cut to match the section papers.
* The section pages (plus the end papers) are gathered together and sharply and exactly folded into a section.
* The sewing holes are pierced in the fold and the section sewn up.
* The section foredge is trimmed using a metal ruler and sharp (X-acto) knife.

* You may wish to reproduce the pages for the subsequent making of additional books -- that is what I did in order to provide my students with models, one of which I feature on this web page. You can literally become your own Publisher -- a neat way to provide copies of personally hand-written and bound books to family members and friends as especially meaningful gifts.

METHODOLOGY (cont)


Positioning & pasting section & end papers should be done with great care

Making the case
* The boards are cut to size and the sharp edges sanded.
* The boards are positioned to pattern on the spine cloth and glued down (including the turnovers).
* After pressing and drying, the board covers are glued onto the boards in a similar manner.
* The case is now complete and, after pressing and drying, is put to one side.

Casing-in
* The Bookblock is very carefully positioned in the case and glued to the back board first with the book open and then to the front board with the book closed. Great care should be exercised to prevent glue getting on to the board covering material.
* After pressing and drying the book the label is made up and glued on the front board.
* The book is flexed and checked for ease of opening and closing.

COLOPHON


The Colophon is the personal province of the Author/Bookbinder

* Colophon -- the statement at the end of a book that explains how and why the book was made together with important information relating to the content.
* The Colophon is always written on the last Recto page of the (final) section.

TEMPLATE AND LAYOUT PATTERN for 8.5"x11" SINGLE SECTION BOOK


Page layout for writing


Bookblock positioned in Case

GENERAL NOTES & ADDENDA

Here is an outstanding online resource, specifically relating to single section craft binding, that provides wonderfully detailed and illustrated information relating to techniques and methodologies such as paper selection, measuring, folding, cutting, sewing, pasting, etc. - and general step by step binding procedures. May be downloaded as a PDF.

Good quality wallpaper makes excellent board covers. Stores that carry wallpaper are constantly discarding those familiar sample books and are usually forthcoming in letting you have some. The sample pages are of sufficient size to make up board covers for small books. The material is very tough, wears well, is acid-free and takes glue very well. There are usually several pages with very nice surfaces and designs in each sample book. Here is the wallpaper board covering made up by one of my project students:



Layout template for making a small book -- 5"x7½" pages -- 4 7/8"x 7 3/4" Boards -- 6 1/2" mull -- 1/8" square -- 1/4" hinge allowance -- same process and methodology.


Bookblock positioned in Case


Various templates

RECOMMENDED REFERENCES, RESOURCES & SOURCES
(Particularly relevant to craft binding single section hand written books)

Online:

• The Newberry Library -- an incredible reference resource for all aspects of Medieval, Renaissance and modern manuscripts, calligraphy & bookbinding.
• Shepherds Sangorski & Sutcliffe Bookbinding Ltd. -- fine papers and bookbinding materials (and a wonderful information resource)
• Shepherds (City & Guilds) online Bookbinding Courses -- An amazing and invaluable project to put all of their bookbinding courses online.
• J. Hewit & Sons Ltd. -- leading Purveyor of Bookbinding leather, vellum, tools & equipment, adhesives and general Bookbinding supplies.
• Craft BB books (Dover Publications) -- including my favorite reference book: "Basic Bookbinding" by A. H. Lewis.

 

Yes. Why not? They are quite interesting to me.

 

This is why I don't try telescopic astrophotography anymore. The number of stunning photos on-line makes it redundant for me. Plus, I have no hope of matching the viewing conditions that are required to get the perfect photo. I have thrown in the towel for the most part. And I am a person who loves to take photos. Hubble and all the planetary expeditions were the beginning of the end for me, as far as telescopic astrophotography.

However, I may buy an iOptron for my DSLR (it has been in my B&H shopping cart for months.) Some of the most amazing photos are the wide angle landscape shots with the night sky above. Sticking a camera on a drive mount is stupid simple, which puts it right in my wheelhouse.

 

I like that wooden display shelf and the general look of the display.

You appear to be an eclectic collector, as am I. It drives my wife insane, but as I tell her, it's a short trip, enoy the ride.

 

How elegant. I truly do not have the patience nor the skill for such an undertaking. What a great idea to preserve some of the skills that are quickly being lost.

 

@jamesicus - that is amazing stuff.

It's a shame that E-readers are causing the decline of traditional books.

 

WOW, James! There is a clear difference between a "collecting" Hobby, and a "skill / art / creation" Hobby... Kinda like when we WATCH a sport vs. PLAYING the Sport. Beautiful work! Nope, neither do I have the skill or patience to accomplish.

 

Superb objets curieux, @midas1 !

 

The vacuum tube is a rare western electric 212D transmitting tube, first made in 1924.

My hobbies other than coins are stamps, and ham radio. I'm an Extra class radio ameteur.

 

I tried bookbinding many years ago. It was difficult for me and my results were amateurish to say the least. Still, I have three or four which are still holding up after constant use after about 25 years. Its definitely a skill I can appreciate!

 

Nice! I'm currently general class myself but all of what I do with amateur radio could be done with a tech license. I mostly use it for communicating out in the mountains and I also use a 5.8ghz transmitter to send analog video signal back on the drones I build and fly. I'm always amazed at how my old Icom HT can hit at least one repeater from most of the Jeep trails I go on around here where I don't see a single bar of cell phone service anywhere along the trail. I haven't needed it for emergency comms yet but it's good peace of mind. It also allows me to receive all the same frequencies that the local rescue and LE groups use.

 

I do a little QRP on HF, have a yaesu ft-817 rig. Also a duel band HT for when I'm near a repeater.

 

I had tried to post before it said I was a member. I saw the duplicate posts but couldn't find a way to delete them, only had option to edit. It won't happen again. ;-)

 

I do have quite a collection of U S Stamps starting with Scott# 9 F-VF OGnh