Why do you collect?

Adam Fails

Adam Fails

Well-Known Member
Okay so, sorry if this is in the wrong place - it's about props so I couldn't decide if it was OT or not? Also sorry if this thread already exists, but I tried searching and failed at finding it. Just like I fail at everything else in life.


Anywho, last week I was in Exeter in Devon, and their museum has just been re-opened. It's pretty good, you should go check it out if you're in the area which I highly doubt any of you are.

So in amongst the displays in one of the rooms was this sign, and as soon as I saw it I thought it'd be perfect for a thread on the RPF:

Whydowecollect.jpg

What do you collect? Screen-used props? Replicas? Both? Is your collection there to be looked at, or to be handled? Do you specialise in Indiana Jones props only, or do you collect a wide variety of things from infinity & beyond? Most interestingly (to me) I want to know why do you collect?

Is it because you're a big kid who likes having the perfect toy from TV? Are you on some level acting out fantasies of being in the movie from your childhood, by owning the same costumes and props from whichever media they're from? Do you like sparkly shinies? Have you got a secret (freudian) fetish for weapons? Do you collect objects that are beautiful and display them as pieces of art & craftsmanship?

Come on, tell me. I want to know.

I started my collecting because there's just something so inexplicably cool to me about owning something that is famous and has power. I've not got many sci fi replicas, everything I like is magical, powerful or sparkly. Also it's a healthier addiction than crystal meth, so why not.


It'll be so embarassing if nobody replies; take pity on me and let me know why you have what you have! :)
 
As it turns out, I'm actually not that new to collecting props as I've owned the United Cutlery RAMBO knives collection since they came out back in back in late 1980's/early 1990's. The RAMBO III knife was used to cut my 18th B'Day cake :)

I didn't really collect much else because for a long time, I was of the belief that things I collected should have a purpose like a tool and not just things to look at.

So I collected CDs, Laser Discs, DVDs and now of course Blu-ray Discs and along the way built up a pretty impressive Home Cinema.

I've only recently started a dedicated props collection of stuff from BTTF2. I bought my first part being a pair of MP MAGs in late 2010. I didn't really do anything else until this year when I decided to start making some stuff and found how much fun that is. And I think I am hooked.

I really need to do something with those RAMBO knives :unsure

I am a self confessed geek :)
 
I would say that I collect as a means of enjoying my childhood and other things from more recently as props, toys, costumes, etc. I've always enjoyed building scale models and creating a collection of them from a set of cars, planes or even Gundam figures. Nowadays I enjoy building the electronic props and toys to enjoy myself or for others, and it's a lot of fun to see how others react to my props and toys as well (usually ranging from "Cool!" all the way to "you're weird").
 
I remember growing up as a kid and seeing something cool in a movie and saying " I want that!", but of course all that existed in real life of those objects were cheap toy repros that were garbage. Now that I'm a bit older, I can afford to buy some quality replicas of some of those things, and share the cool moments with my kid. Reliving parts of my childhood I suppose, and of course slowly learning how to make some things myself so as not to break the bank in the process.

Would you at any given time,catch me running around the house dueling my 3 year old with a stormtrooper helmet on and a lightsaber...absolutely! I'll be the first to admit it. :)
 
I would say I build and/or collect Sci-fi props because it in some way connects me to the fictional universe that the object belongs to. It's a tiny amount of escapism and as someone else said, the things have a power to them of some kind (if you are really into that show or movie.)

I get the gamut as well on comments but they are mostly positive...from "Wow! How cool is that!" to the rare "You're a nut." lol I can understand why some would say that though. I've viewed other people's interests or collections and depending on what it was sometimes, I never really got the fascination either. It's a completely personal thing I guess. It's never wrong but I suppose there is a point where it goes too far.

I don't see myself ever reaching it really. I have one foot fully planted in THIS universe at all times.

:thumbsup
Jon
 
Ever since I was real young, I could remember seeing stuff on the movie screen, thinking how cool it would be to have that, and to try and make this movie a reality for me. Now that I am a bit older (though still young), I know that I can make bring different aspects of the films I love for me to enjoy. It's also a good hobby that can keep your mind occupied for a while.
 
For me it started with my love for movies. I started buying DVD's of my favorite movies to really "own" the movie. Later I started collceting mostly special DVD editions, some of them containing a replica of a certain prop from the movie.

One prop that started it all for me was the Grail Diary from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, still my favorite movie of all time. The movie really is what a movie should be about: bringing you to a fantasy world with exciting adventures, mistery, humor, suspense, etc... The Grail Diary intrigued me: an old diary with all the notes and findings Henry Jones made. Also the dozens of inserts looked interesting to me. So I wanted to "own" this intriguing object. My first (crappy) version I bought from eBay, but then I discovered the Club Obi One Wan (COW) and bought some much better diaries over their. Then my interest in other props of the Indiana Jones movies started: the Grail itself, the Headpiece of the Staff of Ra. Cross of Coronado, etc...

And before I knew it, I was here on the RPF, spending too much money on prop replica's. Why? Because I like to "own" a piece of the movies I like (although it are just replica's of the actual props). I also consider the replica's as a work of art. There also has to be some kind of "beauty" in there that I like. Some props are from my favorite movies, but I just don't like the design or the look of it. I won't buy replica's of them in that case: for instance the Golden Fertility Idol form the Raiders movie: one of the most iconic Indiana Jones props, but I just don't like it. So I'm not spending any money on a replica of that one...
 
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I was watching "Hoarders" on Discovery, & it felt normal.

Nah :lol, loved movies since I can remember. Having something that reminds instantly of my favourite ones, combined with my love for big boy's toys ... and voila, a nut is born :lol

The best part was finding this site and showing the Mrs that I wasn't the only one :lol
 
I don't collect as much as I like to build things, but I think the sentiment is the same. I like to obsess over one little portion of a film or show that I love and get to connect with that experience even more by diving in, doing research, and then recrafting something. It's a great way to escape sure, and not a bad hobby either, but it really allows me to connect with that childish suspension of disbelief a little bit more by stepping into the world and holding/making something with my own hands. It helps make the fantasy, and the joy that came with it, a little more real to me.
 
I've collected stuff from an early age. I was like most young boys, G.I. Joes, Star Wars figures, all that, only difference was that when all the other boys got older, and started to become more concerned about girls, and creating themselves an image for everyone else, I was still buying toys, even playing with'em, that stopped when I was about fourteen.
However, I'm still an avid collector of the OT Star Wars figures. I collect costumes because, ever since I was a kid, I was always pretending to be all my heroes. So now, in a way, I still do that by making/buying screen accurate costumes. I incorporate the things I love into my style. Supernatural for example, my favorite show, I dress a lot like Sam, because I like his style, but I incorporate Deans goofy wit. No one ever notices because I'm a nerd, so they never pick up on it.
But same with The Doors, I know that's music, but I still own a few pairs of leather pants, and I'm in a band. Instead of saying I love something, I "become it" I guess. I suppose I collect anything that I feel jives with my personality.
 
I've always collected something whether it be stamps, coins, hockey cards, props, etc.

Never really completely understood why but I know I get it from my father. He collected stamps as a kid and in teen/adulthood classic Bond memorabilia.

I suppose for me it's about a tie to whatever I'm collecting. I'm a history nut so for my coin collection I'm only interested in circulated coins, they're a tie to history and have been in the hands of shoppers since the date on the coin. For props it's a tie to my favourite films. As awesome as a prop is from a film I don't like it doesn't have the same appeal to me.
 
I collect toys and props because it makes me feel safe. Having these things around me gives me joy and reminds me of the good times when I was a child. My father was in the army and away a lot and he found it hard to show his love so he did it by buying me and my sister toys. He also had a bit of a temper and would lose it a lot and hit us. I honestly to this day believe he didn't mean to I think it was the stress. I would sit in my room and surround myself with all the toys and it would remind me of the love he did have for me. Its sad but most times now as an adult when I think back to my childhood I find it very hard to remember good times between me and my father. even to this day he still buys me toys for my collection. It is just his way of expressing his feelings. He never tells me he loves me but I know he does and when I look at the toys it brings me back to my childhood and fills me with the warm feeling of his love.
When life gets hard or I have had a bad day getting some toys out and (playing) changing the displays make me feel like things will be ok.
 
It's funny, in some ways I know what each and every one of you mean :D also it's interesting how many people collect stuff because they started as a kid, wanting to be a part of the show/movie's universe. Thanks for the replies guys :D
 
I cant help it.....I just cant help myself.......................... I admitted my problem , and that is my 1st step to recovery...lol
 
As for why I collect, I can't provide any kind of scientific answer, I just do.

My first collection was erasers in elementary school. Started out as different colored toppers for your standard pencil, then morphed into different shapes, colors, designs etc. Thinking back, would have never realized what all is available as an eraser. I had one of the metal popcorn tins full of erasers.

Since then it's been a variety, collected movies, tools, and now replica props. The tools and props have certainly been my favorite, I believe because it allows me to collect, while also putting my artistic touch to use (not saying I'm an artist, just I enjoy the effort). Every time I took a career placement test, always said I should do some form of artistry, I didn't of course, got an engineering degree instead. In school that was fine, I could spend all day in the machine shop doing whatever I wanted. After school, wasn't so much fun. "Ok, your task now is to design tooling to produce this wrench, develop a system which produces one wrench every 348 seconds, and keep the cost of production per wrench to $13.54." Yea, not too fun. Working on props allows me to create in my own way, apply my own artistic touch, and keeps me busy both physically and mentally, I love it.
 
First off I would like to thank you for asking this question, it is one i have wanted to ask this group for some time.

I believe for me, I would have to agree with many of the answers already listed. It is a way of connecting me to my childhood, obtaining an object or space that exists in a place i can only imagine. It also allows me an escape, a time in my life where i am creative, and what i do for enjoyment.

But aside from the obvious things that draw us into collecting/prop making, it has helped me in other aspects of my life; learning to be patient while building somethings has given me patients in other things I do, the attention to detail that i need while prop making has spread into my job and how i perform there, getting to know some of you here and feeling a sense of community with those that have my same passion, and maybe the most important for me is the relationship with my father. The two of us have spent some amazing time together working on things, bouncing ideas off of one another, and that time will forever be connected to collecting and prop building.

I suppose a final thought on this little obsession we all have is . . . I simply enjoy it.

My wife asked me last night, as she looked over and I was glancing through this website, "Do you ever go a day without looking at that site?" she said, and I replied, "No . . . why would I?"
 
I read an article on collecting and a psychologist said it's not the collection we desire or crave, it's the act of gathering and acquiring the pieces in the collection that gives us the most satisfaction. I tend to agree with that. I collect the items I wanted as a child and made with wood, cardboard, plastic and masking tape. I had many a phaser, blaster and lightsaber made with those items growing up. I enjoy seeing how close I came with my creations I made myself as a child once I acquire said item as an adult. I also acquire the items from movies and television that I have enjoyed. So for me, I collect because I enjoy the hunt for items and or the parts of the item and the the creation of said item.
Cheers,
Kevin
 
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