Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.
-Albert Einstein
For the last decade I have been collecting old books and rare oddities from area thrift stores and estate sales to find the most fascinating objects that tell the story of our shared history and common interests.
Objects Of Fascination
Oklahoma Rose Rocks
Oklahoma rose rocks, scientifically known as barite roses, are rare, naturally occurring mineral formations that resemble blooming roses. These unique geological specimens are found primarily in central Oklahoma, particularly in Cleveland and Payne counties. Their...
The Rise and Fall of the Mid-Century Metal Lamp: A Forgotten Classic
For decades, the mid-century metal lamp—like the military-green beauty in the image—was a staple in homes, offices, and industrial settings. With its solid construction, decorative flourishes, and practical yet elegant design, this type of lighting was once a symbol...
The Honeywell Pentax Spotmatic: A Snapshot of the Swinging Sixties
Picture this: it’s 1964, and the world is a kaleidoscope of change. The Beatles are making teenage girls scream so loudly that NASA briefly considers harnessing the sound to power their rockets. Mini skirts are scandalizing grandmothers, and somewhere in the suburbs,...
The Bell That Rang Through Time: A Wooden Relic of Wandering Beasts
There are, broadly speaking, two types of antique discoveries. There are the grand, awe-inspiring treasures—the sort of things that are unearthed in Egyptian tombs or emerge from shipwrecks off the Spanish coast. And then there are the smaller, quieter finds, the...
The Wonderful, Whimsical, and Slightly Dangerous World of Mid-Century Japanese Tin Toys
There was a time, not terribly long ago, when the pinnacle of childhood delight was a tin wind-up toy that could scoot across the floor, spit sparks, or—if you were especially lucky—catapult itself directly into the family dog’s water bowl. This was the golden age of...
The Prophet: Kahlil Gibran’s Literary Masterpiece
It is a rare book indeed that manages to straddle the worlds of philosophy, poetry, and self-help without sounding like an overenthusiastic life coach or a fortune cookie on steroids. But Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet does exactly that. Published in 1923, this slim yet...
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I tell stories, both personal observations and stuff I read about in my collection of old lititure. I especially enjoy talking about history.
A gallery of forgotten memories.
As I hunt for fascinating objects for my collection, I come accross people’s discarded memories in family photos. Sometimes just left in a frame, and sometimes an entire family history in a box, perhaps unkowningly donated to a thrift store. I started purchasing these. I didn’t know why when I started, but now I do.