Anyone who knows us, knows that we are collectors. And we don’t collect new things, only old things. Our home is filled with vintage furniture, turn-of-the-century games, antique books, collectibles from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Sometimes I think we are recreating our childhood, sometimes I think we are archiving our generation, sometimes I think we are frustrated dealers. But most of the time when I look around the apartment I see beautifully designed objects, relics of my youth, and also some obsolete objects which I believe makes them all that more collectible. Luckily this concept pertains to “smalls” as they are known in the trade. As I said, we collect things that I see on the website Old Dusty Things. In fact I think we could be their poster child.
I don’t want to collect obsolete new things, I’ll leave that to Gen X and Y. I guess they might collect a Nokia cell phone from 20 years ago or a 1st generation Kindle, an early MAC. and a Pac Man game cartridge. I’ve done a couple of blogs about words and phrases that have fallen from our vocabulary or rather not our vocabulary but their vocabulary. I hear these phrases in old movies and I remember homilies my mother used to say to me. They’re gone really, and won’t return.
This blog came about when my husband showed me something he had squirreled away someplace and he asked me if I knew what it was. How silly, of course I know what it is but do you?
More than a pencil
I would love to hear from my readers; what do you think this is? If you are over the age of 55, you probably know so don’t post the answer right away. I do have some Generation X and Y followers, we want to hear from you!
Bill Ding and his band of clowns are the security patrol for this blog site. He is a favorite toy from the 50*s. By the way sometimes a blog is just an ego-maniacal stream of conscience.
Well Lori, I am over 55 and don’t know what it is. I know you can’t erase with it or chew on the end, so you have stumped me! LOl
The metal ball on the end of the pencil (which is removable) was used to….are you ready?? To dial a telephone number on a ROTARY phone! Save that manicure.
Was this used to punch keys on a register or adding machine?
Good guess but the roundness of the ball top would not be the best fit on a key punch or cash register BUT it did fit nicely into the dial on a rotary phone. The good ole days!