Preserving today for tomorrow - How to start a collection in the most sensible way

Reading time approx. 10 min

Past cultures can be reconstructed from the artifacts they left behind This is usually not about high-quality relics such as sculptures, friezes, buildings and pictures, but about garbage. Roman and medieval latrines tell scientists more about everyday life in earlier centuries than written records from the respective times. It is therefore important to collect things in the present that can provide future generations with information about our lives.

So what could be more natural than to start a collection? Before that, however, the purpose and content must be clarified. It is pointless to create the hundredth collection on a particular topic. It is therefore important to keep in mind that the object in the collection is unique and original. Below are some suggestions that can be of valuable help to collectors interested in culture, both in terms of content and systematics.

First, decide where you want to (and can) store the artifacts. There is little point in collecting semi-trailers if you do not have a large area with a warehouse available. If all you can provide is a drawer, it is better to start a collection of smaller items that should not be larger than a pin. Avoid perishable items if possible. Museum curators have already had negative experiences with this in the area of ​​eat-art. If you still insist, you should look for a cold storage facility in good time.

The financial means available also point the collector in a direction. Make a small financial plan. If you do not have the funds of a pseudo-religious group such as Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, you should not collect Rolls-Royce cars. For the reasons mentioned above, we want to look at the area of ​​free items. Finds from everyday culture are also valuable because their number indicates their distribution and use. Below are some tips on worthwhile collection items.

The hubcap: It's free. Only picking it up can be difficult, as stopping or emergency braking on the motorway is frowned upon. Hubcaps are divided into two groups: type-related and rim-size-related. There are metal ones and plastic ones. In the last few decades, plastic ones have been used most often. Metal hubcaps are now rare and have a collector's value, which for some types reaches four figures.

The socket cutout: If sockets are installed in worktops or wall paneling, a small, round saw is used. As it is well known that only the hole is used in the end, the cutout is of no interest. These cutouts are a great way to show the historical development of surface decorations. Ask the saw operator in the specialist store to hold the cutouts back for you. Visit large trade fairs before they open. The hall floors are littered with them. As the cutouts have a hole in the middle, they can simply be attached to the wall with a larger nail. Tip: nail the lettering on.

The hair tie: One of the most common textile objects found in public spaces in Germany until the Corona epidemic. Wash carefully at thirty degrees before archiving. Classification should be done according to material, color and aesthetics. This offers the collector a wide field for an overview of current fashion trends. The presentation can be done on sawn-off pieces of broomstick.

The hip joint: Hip joint operations have increased significantly. After death, most people no longer have any use for them. To obtain them, you should contact the assistants in crematoriums. Since this will not be done without a bribe, a financial plan is essential. Tip: Contact the manufacturers. Since the quality of the prostheses is poor, there will be many returns from the clinics. You can probably get these for free by mentioning their collection activities.

The dried-out jellyfish: Mollusks are difficult to archive due to their high water content. Not so if the animal has already been dried by sun-drying on the beach. Keep an eye out for this on your next beach holiday. The thin slices that the wind blows in front of it could be of interest to you. For larger specimens, it is worth traveling to hotter areas, such as the Skeleton Coast of Namibia.

The Kronprinz Wilhelm. It lies on the seabed in Scapa Flow. You're sure to find a shell casing or two here. Just don't get caught. ( Image source: Imperial War Museum / Wikipedia)

The bullet casing: When projectiles are fired, the bullet casing containing the propellant is always left behind. They come in a variety of sizes, ranging from the size of a fingernail for a small-caliber cartridge to the size of a floor vase for ship guns. In your home country, you can often find these at scrap dealers. However, they are cheaper and easier to find in crisis areas. When choosing a travel destination, you should make sure that as many types of weapons as possible are used there. A trip to African rebel areas makes little sense here, as only Kalashnikov casings can be found there due to the insurgents' lack of financial strength. When looking for ship gun casings, a diving holiday is recommended. Travel destinations could be the Orkney Islands, Scapa Flow or certain areas of the Pacific. You should avoid unfired bullets. Also fascinating is the reworking of tubes into important everyday objects such as flower vases, an activity that was observed among soldiers in the First World War, among others.

Bullet casing from below: Documenting your collection is made easier by the fact that the casings have both the manufacturer and the date of manufacture stamped on the underside. (Image source: Nikolaus von Nathusius / Wikipedia)

The respiratory mask: A new area of ​​interest. As the corona epidemic subsides, there is a unique opportunity to get hold of larger stocks for free. Since the mask regulations have been dropped, the copies offered in retail have become worthless for the seller. A printed expiration date also drives the masks into the arms of the collector. For health reasons, only new masks should be included in the stock. Stocks of masks can also be used to build a building for presentation or even just for the production of partition walls. All you need is a simple box mold for cakes and two-component synthetic resin. The masks soaked in the resin are layered in the mold. After the resin has set, you will have a highly heat-insulating building block in your hands. Speak to the local building authorities in advance if you want to use it to build a larger building in the garden.

Breathing masks as a collectible: The time to collect is now. Many millions of masks are to be burned. You will easily be able to get hold of one or two million masks for free. (Image source: Eternasolid)

Do not let the suspicious looks of your contemporaries impress you in your conservation work. Collectibles that initially seem absurd will make many people doubt your mental state. Refer to the fact that the paintings of   Vincent Van Gogh was not worth a penny during his lifetime or that the drawings of famous painters were used to wrap fish after their death.

Make sure you document your collection. If you are an analogue type, use a card index; if you are more digital, use an Excel spreadsheet. The location and time of discovery should be recorded. The sequential number assigned in the documentation should be permanently attached to the object. You can attach the note with a cable tie, for example, if the object has a hole in it. If not, attach the documentation with a removable adhesive strip.

Avoid conversations about your collecting activities that only lead to misunderstanding or anger. Only you know the way. Take it. Now. (Christoph Preussler)