Hobbies & Interests Page 21 "Other Topics"
How to Use -- Contents
There are millions of Internet Web sites devoted to hobbies. Our intent is to give you a sample in each category so you can start a new activity or improve one that you already enjoy. We provide historical references, sites of people who actually display their hobby online, as well as suggestions.
Use this index grid to jump right to the topic. If the category you want is not here, select something close. To make things easier, we may place the same link in several areas. For example, "collecting airline sickness bags" is listed in "Travel & Transportation" as well as in "Strange & Unusual." Due to the huge amount of resources for Hobbies, we have divided this into 20 pages. As you click on a link, it will take you directly to that topic on a new Slightly Creaky page.
Hobbies Categories
Updated June 10, 2010
Each area includes hobbies, how to do, and collecting
Also See Recreation Pets
Collecting (General Information) |
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Playing Card (Games - Collecting) |
Board Games (Playing - Collecting) |
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Miscellaneous (lots of stuff) |
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Online Games Page 1 |
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Online Games Page 2 |
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Open |
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Geography (inc. maps & flags) |
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Communications (inc. telephones) |
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China (pottery, glass) |
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Animals (live & preserved) |
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We try to avoid commercial sites, but in many cases they are the only ones who provide ideas and information. If you are looking to buy or sell, please use a generalized search engine.
NOTE: If the table lines do not show properly, please refresh the page.
Caution - Proceed with care
Slightly Creaky is not responsible for the content of web sites listed here or the actions taken by the people owning, managing, or participating on these sites. Once you click on a link you are leaving our site.
These listings are the result of thousands of hours of research. It is the property of Slightly Creaky and may not be reproduced in any form. Every attempt has been made to provide an accurate description of each organization. Contact us if you find an error.
Have We Missed Your Hobby?
We are constantly looking for more information, more links, as well as featured articles. Please help us improve our site and service. The Internet had millions of web pages dedicated to hobbies; we can only sample a few of them. Our purpose is to give our viewers a taste of what is out there so you can start a new activity or improve one that you already enjoy.
If you know any sites we should include write to suggestions@slightlycreaky.com
Business Promotions
Business Promotions
| McDonald's Collectors' Club | "The McDonald's Collectors Club is an independent organization. We are not affiliated with McDonald's Corporation. The Club has been given permission to use the McDonald's trademark." |
| Che and Sandy's Fast Food Toys | "Take note at the non fast food page, there are some interesting items listed." |
| McDonald's Collectibles | "This is our page for collectible McDonalds items and relevant merchandise available for sale on CollectibleWebs.com, classified ads from our visitors with McDonald's Collectibles for sale and wanted to buy, plus information and links to relevant Websites." |
| Ronald McDonald Collectibles Prices and Values | "Instantly recognizable to kids world-wide, Ronald McDonald is more than a smiling face. He also stands for a safe harbor and hope for little ones and their families during times of hospitalization at the Ronald McDonald houses throughout the country. Ronald McDonald has been depicted through and on numerous collectibles over the years." |
| McDonald's Collectibles | "In the US, Happy Meals have been available since 1977. Hundreds of millions of Happy Meal items have been produced. These items are given away free to customers purchasing the children's Happy Meal, and are often called premiums. Some items are also available to buy, and some are available free such as flags and place mats." |
| Burger Toys | Fast Food toys. |
| The Most Toys | "Home of fastfood, beanies, and action figures," |
| Awesome Fast Food Toys | Lists toys from fast food companies. |
| Smokey Bear Collectibles and Facts | "Many people assume that the 'Smokey the Bear' image, the United States symbol for forest fire prevention, was created after the May, 1950 fire in Lincoln National Forest, New Mexico, from a small bear cub who was rescued after being burned. In reality, 'Smokey' was already a growing symbol, created by the artist Albert Staehle, on commission for 'The Forest Fire Prevention Program'. " |
| Fruitstickers | "I collect the labels since 1990 and I currently have 11 129 different (oct 2000). I classify them by fruits and I always seek to increase my collection. I have many duplicates and I'm ready to exchange them. I recently found on apples a series of 5 labels on the topic of Teddy Bear. The labels of apples and fruits with pit form part also of my search." |
| Coke Bottles of the World Home Page | "I now have approximately 900 different foreign bottles, and the following foreign bottle photos represent a small portion - I have many more countries than those shown, however, there are still a LARGE number of countries I need " |
| Coca-Cola Collector Online | "Welcome to Coca-Cola Collector Online, a one-stop online resource for information on the hobby of collecting Coca-Cola products." |
| Chad's Dr Pepper Web Page | " I have gathered quite a variety of items that are associated with Dr Pepper. I hope you enjoy my salute to an American original. " |
We are seeking links for this category - If you know any good non-commercial web sites, please let us know. Collectors' Forums are also welcome. suggestions@slightlycreaky.com. |
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Travel & Transportation
Travel & Transportation
Also see Automotive
"To collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret boats and other objects related to the history of boating in North America and to enhance public understanding and appreciation of the contributions of the St. Lawrence River region to North America's boating history." |
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| Antique Boat Museum | |
| New Steamship Consultants | "The World's Largest Dealer of Original Ocean Liner Memorabilia " |
| Build a Ship in a Bottle | "Building a ship in a bottle only looks mysterious. With patience, skill and a few tools, you can finish a bottle craft while your friends wonder, “How’d he do that?”" |
| Boat Name Collection | "Some of the names people saddle a poor defenseless boat with are beyond belief. Not to mention funny as hell! Besides, when you’re sinking and want the Coast Guard to come quickly, you don’t want to have to spell “Sea Weedy Pie” over the radio." |
| Great Lake Modeling Association | Dedicayed to preserving Great Lake marintine history. |
| "This webpage and digital archive of fifteen artifacts display the California History Research Seminar class research with the John Lloyd-Butler Railroadiana Collection during the spring of 2008. Their research demonstrates an ideal of railroad transportation as a “spatial concept.” More specifically, this “spatial concept” perceives the railcar not only as a means of transportation but a cultural space unto itself." | |
| The Epistemology of Train Culture | |
| Edwin Shearin Railroad Memorabilia Collectio | "Covers 50 years of railroading in America." |
| "Bus Spotting is a hobby which enthrals many. Many people assume that it is largely about memorising bus time tables for specific routes or stood watching a conveyor belt of buses as they leave the depot, however, it is more to do with understanding the history connected with buses in general, collecting significant bus memorabilia, collating the routes and of course, obtaining any relevant bus literature." | |
| Bus Spotting | |
| Spotlighting a School Bus Enthusiast | "His collection and love of anything school bus-related began over 20 years ago when his grandmother gave him a toy bus for Christmas when he was 7 years old. Since then, Leeth estimates that his collection has grown to comprise over 1,000 items." |
| Bus Company Uniform and Cap Badge Collection | "Welcome to a sample of my Bus Company Uniform and Cap Badge Collection.If you like what you have seen please come back and have another look." |
"Discussions about flight simulation, model collections, memorabilia, collectables, post cards, slides, etc." |
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| Aviation Hobby Forum | |
| Harv's Hanger | "A private collection of miniature military and commercial airplanes from past to present." |
| Thirty Thousand Feet | "Thirty Thousand Feet™ is a huge directory of Web pages, blogs, podcasts, forums, and other on-line resources with aviation content. You will find links to commercial, government, military, organizational, and personal sites. Some sell products and services, and some provide these for free. Others just offer information or opinion." |
| Air Sickness Bag Virtual Museum | "One can tell a lot about an airline's image from their Air Sickness Bags. Some barf bags are no more than a baggie with a twist tie, while other sick bags could win international design competitions. Are they art? I think so. You decide." |
| The Vomitorium | "Here you can find the leading display of airsickness bags (a.k.a. barf bags) on the web and links to other notable barf bag sites." |
| Bagland | "Welcome to Bagland.de, the website dedicated simply to Airsickness bags. This collection was started at the beginning of the 1980's and for very many years grew only very slowly and sporadically in size. Thanks for most donations in those early dark days went to friends, relatives, colleagues and associates who, with admirable enthusiasm, always made the effort to bring back bags from their journeys." |
| "If you collect vintage railroad timetables, you may not know that you are a cross collector. This means that your collection falls into more than one category. Vintage railroad timetables are part of a large group called ephemera, which is the collecting of printed matter that is of interest for a short time. They also will fall into the category of Railroadiana, which is collecting anything that pertains to railroads." | |
| How to Collect Vintage Railroad Timetables | |
| National Association of Timetable Collectors | "As small railways grew into systems and long distance travel became more customary, the need for a timetable to display more information soon exhausted the limitations of a single sheet of paper. To facilitate this distribution and the presentation of timetables from various companies in an organized fashion, printers settled on a standard dimension of four inches wide by nine inches tall for most timetables intended for the public. " |
| Railroad Baggage Tickets | "In the early days of railroading there was a need to uniquely identify one passenger's baggage from anther passenger's baggage. The current problem faced by airlines is not that far from the same problem that existed 150 years ago for the railroads." |
| The Collector's Guide to Airline Timetables | This "should be sub-titled, "An Incomplete Reference," for that is exactly what it is. Through many years of timetable collecting, I've also assimilated copious, and generally unorganized notes." |
| Airline Timetable Images | "Here you will find cover images of many timetables, both old and new." |
| Timetables & Route Maps | "There are many excellent aviation websites, and then there's Airchive - The Webseum of Commerical Aviation. Airchive is the most exhaustive collection of timetables, memorabilia, museums, airport tours, and scrapped planes on the web." |
| Pan Am Timetables | "PanAmAir is a non-profit site and does NOT sell or appraise merchandise." |
| Australian Association of TimeTable Collectors | "An organisation for anyone interested in the study of transport timetables, schedules, maps and associated literature." |
| Collecting Tickets and Ticket Stubs | "Concert ticket stubs are wonderful collectibles. Like show flyers, handbills, posters, programs and other rock memorabilia, old tickets are colorful, fun and mark musical moments in our culture. Some people pasted them into scrapbooks as a memento after a favorite concert." |
| Rare Concert Collectables | "We are the largest and most trusted source of rare authentic concert collectibles & music memorabilia online with over 25 years of experience in the concert & touring industry." |
| Collecting U.S. Beatles Concert Tickets | "This fascinating area of collecting was surprisingly ignored by all but a handful of collectors from the 1960s to the mid 1990s. But during the past few years ticket collecting has taken off and is now getting more popular. Tickets are continuing their climb based on scarcity and high demand, especially true for near-mint condition unused examples of certain shows." |
| NASCAR Ticket Stubs | "I collect nascar ticket stubs, both unused and used. I also collect the old ticket brochures/flyers as well as media credentials such as garage and pit passes. " |
Storm Chasing & Geocaching
Storm Chasing & Geocaching
Storm Chasing |
"Storm chasing, tornado chasing, severe weather, tornado pictures" |
| Stormchase US | |
| Storm Highway | "Storm chasing is not what most people think! Here are answers to common questions." |
| Weather Matrix: Storm Chasing | "Many WeatherMatrix Members like to actively pursue and investigate storms. Both Storm Spotters (Skywarn and otherwise) and Storm Chasers coexist under the WeatherMatrix umbrella." |
| A Comprehensive Glossary Of Weather Terms For Storm Spotters | "This glossary contains weather-related terms that may be either heard or used by severe local storm spotters or spotter groups. Its purposes are 1) to achieve some level of standardization in the definitions of the terms that are used, and 2) provide a reference from which the meanings of any terms, especially the lesser-used ones, can be found." |
| Sky Warn | "Never use information provided on this or any other web site for the protection of life or property. When severe storms are occurring in, or threaten your location, tune to your local NOAA NWS weather station or a local radio or tv broadcaster in your area for immediate weather information." |
| Stormtracks | Message board forum for storm watchers and trackers. |
| Australian Severe Weather | Australia severe weather tracking, with archives. |
| Selected Internet Resources for the Beginning Storm Chaser |
"If you are going to chase, I encourage you to learn as much as you can about storms first." |
| Silver Linings Tours | Commercial, but our son goes with them every summer and we recommend them. |
| Storm Chasing Videos | This fantastic person has the best storm chasing site on the web. OK, his our son, and a Slightly Creaky contributor, so of cause we're a bit prejudiced. |
| Storm Chaser | " We are the top-rated storm chasing page on the Internet. Our family of web pages averages over 1.4 million views per year!" |
| Tornado Chaser | "There are some chasers out there that are a pain in the neck to everyone and it is getting to where it effects safety. I had one officer tell me of chasers blocking the road for safety vehicles during a tornado. Several chasers are now filming other chasers that are breaking the law and sending the video to local and state police. Don't be one of the problem chasers, follow the rules and be courteous." |
| TornadoScapes | Yes, it's commercial, but we know these people. Roger and Caryn Hill set the standard with state of the art equipment, placing the safety and comfort of their clients first, and they know the business of storm chasing. In fact, you learn more about weather just listening to Roger for one week than watching all the weather shows on TV for a year. Our son has toured with Roger six times already and will probably return with him again. |
| Storm Chasers | " Storm Chasers are people who try to get close to storms for the purposes of observation or science. Chasers are usually amateur photographers, hobbyists and private citizens who pursue tornadoes and severe weather for personal reasons, often logging hundreds of miles during a single event. " |
| Who Can Chase Storms | "Some chase for the scientific aspects, to measure the storms and attempt to gain data on the formation of tornadoes. Some go for journalistic reasons, to photograph and video the storms. Some are out for the thrill and excitement, similar to those who hunt big game. Are any of these reasons more valid than another? No. They are all reasons to chase." |
| Frequently Asked Questions About Storm Chasing and Tornadoes | "Becoming a storm chaser can be as simple as choosing to do so. However, just going out and chasing storms can become hazardous to you in a variety of ways. If you go out without taking advantage of what has been learned about storm chasing, you are already behaving irresponsibly! My recommendation is to not do storm chasing! If you must try it, go out with an experienced storm chaser for at least one chase season, preferably more, before trying it on your own." |
| How to Become a Storm Chaser | "Storm chasing has become popular with cable networks like The Weather Channel and movies such as Twister spotlighting this dangerous hobby. Storm chasers need a great knowledge base of weather science to be effective. Here are some tips on gaining the expertise to become a storm chaser." |
| Cows Don't Fly, But Cars Do | "The 1996 hit movie "Twister" is ostensibly based on the work of tornado chaser Howard Bluestein. But there's not much similarity between the special effects-laden adventure movie and the real McCoy, says the modest University of Oklahoma meteorology professor and visiting scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo. While much of Bluestein's work does involve driving hundreds of miles at the drop of a dime to chase one of nature's most elusive and unpredictable storms, there's also plenty of disappointment, waiting around and boredom." |
| Storm Chasing Ethics | "Caravans of storm chasers with no experience, taking unnecessary risks, blocking traffic, driving dangerously, creating a general nuisance for law enforcement (getting on the radio saying, "Aunty Em, Aunty Em, it's a twista, its a twista!"), chasers becoming so excited that they make erroneous reports to NWS (National Weather Service) offices and the news media. Picture also dozens of chasers crowding NWS offices getting in the way of people who are trying to work, chasers screaming in ecstasy as a tornado churns through a mobile home park, and those persons that wish only to get the best and closest video to achieve bragging rights." |
| The Weather Channel Storm Chaser's Conference | " At 9 AM, Chuck Doswell from the National Severe Storms Laboratory gave a presentation about chaser safety. Those who had never watched Chuck speak were in for a surprise. Let's just say that Chuck is a great thinker...and he's BLUNT in how he speaks. And rightly so. Chuck gave a fantastic presentation on storm chase safety: the dangers of core punching, the most dangerous aspects of storm chasing (lightning, auto accidents, the storm itself), and the individual hazards of each....." |
GPS & GeoCaching |
"The GPS — as a concept now, not just a physical manifestation— has spread relentlessly, inexorably across the landscape, the seas, into air space, into outer space. It has dived deep into integration with these technologies, driven by designers and engineers crafting new solutions for challenging problems in the marketplace." |
| GPS World | |
| Global Positioning System Satellite Almanacs and SEM Program | "We provide current GPS almanac and status files as well as historical data for the past month. Also available for download are the Almanac and Status Update Utility (ALMSTAT) and System Effectiveness Models, WSEM36 and WSEM103." |
| What is a GPS | "The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense. GPS was originally intended for military applications, but in the 1980s, the government made the system available for civilian use. GPS works in any weather conditions, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day. There are no subscription fees or setup charges to use GPS." |
| GPS Data Resources | "Latest Almanac files for use with Trimble planning utilities." |
| GPS Almanacs, Nanus, And Ops Advisories | US Dept. of Homeland Security. "Almanac information is available for download from this page. You may very well need to change the health settings when you use Yuma or SEM almanac data. While the orbital description data is generally usable for months, the satellite health may change at any time. For information on satellite health at times other than the almanac "Time Of Applicability", see the NANUs or status messages. An almanac entry of 000 indicates the satellite is healthy. " |
| Geocaching - the Official Page | "Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment." |
| What the Heck is Geocaching? | "Someone hides a container of inexpensive knickknacks -- a cache. Then they post its latitude & longitude on the internet, and other people go hunting for it. If they find it they trade knickknacks and sign a log to record their visit." |
| The History of Geocaching | On May 3, 2000, Dave Ulmer proposed a way to celebrate the demise of {GPS protecting}. He hid a bucket of trinkets in the woods outside Portland, Oregon and announced its location in a posting made to the USENET newsgroup sci.geo.satellite-nav. This announcement is remarkable for laying out the essence of the hobby that is still in place today. It's all there. The container. The trinkets. The log book. The rule of take something, leave something, sign the logbook. Dave Ulmer invented geocaching in one fell swoop in that newsgroup posting." |
| Geocacher University | "The cache you choose might be quite a bit easier or maybe even a little harder than the one in the tutorial. It shouldn't be too difficult to adapt the information below to the cache you are searching for." |
| Geocaching With Kids | "Geocaching is a great activity for all ages. Whether parents want to explore nature with their children or teachers want to activate the learning environment with hands-on experiences, there's a geocache adventure that's right for you." |
| Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site | "Using your GPS unit and/or written directions provided by NGS, which are available for review by the public, you can seek out NGS survey markers and other items that have been marked in the USA. At the top of peaks or in a village square, you probably walk by at least one every day. " |
| GroundSpeak | The Online Geocaching forum |
| Garmin Geocaching | "Basically, geocaching is a high-tech version of treasure hunting. Geocachers seek out hidden treasures utilizing GPS coordinates posted on the Internet by those hiding the cache. Using a GPS unit, they then trek out into the backwoods or urban jungles to find the hiding spot of the cache. Once found, a cache may provide the visitor with a wide variety of rewards. If the visitor takes something out of the cache, they are asked to leave something in return. For some, the biggest reward is the thrill of the search and the discovery of a place that they have never been." |
| Geocacher University | "You cannot deny that geocaching has significantly impacted the manufacturing of GPS’s. When Garmin first updated the eTrex to include geocaching icons it was big news. The world had noticed our little game. Now, entire models are marketed specifically for geocaching. Recreational GPS usage is a major factor in this high-tech marketplace." |
| Today's Cacher | "It seems to me that when most people think of great caches, they think of epic hikes, tough hides, or unique containers. What I kept thinking of were the caches where I had the most fun, or maybe had some nice scenery. " |
Hardware & Tools
Hardware & Tools
A detailed listing of antique American hardware and tools. Contains many links |
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| American Artifacts | |
| The Electronic Neanderthal | "A repository of information on the use and preservation of old and antique woodworking tools: sources of tools and materials, events, organizations, books, and places to visit, both real and virtual." |
| Catalogue of American Patented Antique Tools | "This site is intended to create a virtual catalogue of the most spectacular American patented tools. Most of the tools shown here are in the collections of the world's leading tool museums and private collections. Some of the best tools may also be in YOUR collection, and I'd like to invite you to send me your tool information if you'd like one or more of your tools to be included on this site. Inclusion of your tool is strictly voluntary and it is up to you to photograph and describe your tool as you want it to appear. You may also decide whether or not to list your tool as being for sale. I receive no commission or other fee for this, but I do require that you grant me permission to continue to display your tool and it's description as I see fit for the duration of this web site so this site can serve as a historical reference to the world's greatest American tools." |
| Directory of American Tools and Machinery Patents | "The DATAMP project is a cooperative effort of the OldWWMachines and OldTools mailing lists. It is intended to be a clearinghouse for information on antique tool and woodworking machine patents, allowing collectors of these tools to easily find information about the history of tools and trades." |
| US Patents and Trademarks Office | "For over 200 years, the basic role of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has remained the same: to promote the progress of science and the useful arts by securing for limited times to inventors the exclusive right to their respective discoveries" |
| Mechanics in Australia | If you are looking for a mechanic, car service or car repairs, you have come to the right place. Here, you will find top-quality mechanics from around Australia and all the information you need on service, repairs or car parts for your vehicle. From the tyres and engine to the windscreen and radiator, we have you covered. |
"Whether you collect hand tools, use them, or just study their history, let Fine Tool Journal help expand your enjoyment horizon. Power tools have their place, but hand tools keep you in touch with the sense of the wood, and the tradition and history of the craft." |
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| The Fine Tool Journal | |
| Antique Tool FAQ | "Old tools were made in an era when there were many craftsmen and tradesmen that relied on their tools to earn their living, thus they had to be durable, effective, and ergonomic. These would often be used for hours on end, so the handles had to be comfortable. Older tools are often made of superior materials." |
| Woodworking Tool Restoration and Preservation | (Part commercial) "We are your service destination to conserve and restore hand woodworking tools. We also specialize in preserving unique wooden objects and artisan crafted pieces. " |
| Inside Woodworking | "Working many years in the woodworking and machinery sales business this website is built as source of news and articles on woodworking, power tools and machinery." |
| Old Tool Photos | " Old Tool Photos mission is to provide a place for woodworkers and tool collectors to view photos of antique tools for research and reference." |
| Antique Tools in Their Historical Context | A bibliography of books available on this subject. |
| The History of Hardware Tools | "Hardware hand tools are used by craftsmen in manual operations, such as chopping, chiseling, sawing, filing, forging, and more. The date of the earliest tools is uncertain. Tools found in northern Kenya in 1969 maybe about 2,600,000 years old, and even older tools may remain to be discovered." |
| Collecting Tools | "As part of my apprenticeship, and over the years since, I have collected a number of specialized traditional boatbuilding tools. Some I bought as a kid when many of the last commercial wooden boat builders where I lived were dying off." |
| Antique Tool Collecting | "Collecting antique tools has become a popular hobby for many people. For some, the interest comes from tools they remember using in younger years, or watching a parent or grandparent use." |
| A Guide to Tool Collecting | "Tools are the father of all other antiques. Master paintings, the great statues, the finest pottery, the most decorative furniture, the most colorful tapestries -- all of these would have been nothing more than someone's momentary idea without the tools needed to create them." |
| Collectors of Rare And Familiar Tools Society | "CRAFTS membership has grown to over 500, including many of the most knowledgeable individuals in the tool fraternity. " |
| Early American Industries Association Inc | "Whether you are a tool collector, a tool dealer, a scholar, a user of tools or just like finding out about tools, there will be something to interest you." |
| The Wrenching News | "A website for the sharing of information on all types of collectible wrenches " |
| Saw Set Collector's Resource | "There are presently over 250 pictures of different patented and non-patented saw sets on this site. This is not intended to be a price list, so if that is why you came, have fun looking at the pictures." |
| Vintage Tools | "Welcome to the home page for vintage and antique tools and instruments. This site includes antique and vintage tools and related items for users and collectors of woodworking, surveying and machinist tools." |
| Preserving Arts and Skills of the Trades | "The purpose of PAST is to encourage the study and better understanding of the early American industries (at home, shop, farm, and sea); also to discover, identify, classify, preserve, and exhibit obsolete tools, implements, and mechanical devices for educational purposes and to share this knowledge with others." |
| A Guide to Honing and Sharpening | "One of the most important skills a woodworker can acquire is the ability to sharpen tools easily and well. Working with hand tools can be a frustrating experience unless you have sharp tools. The goal of this lesson is, with a mimimum of equipment, is for you to be able to produce razor sharp cutting edges on any tool blade consistently." |
| Antique Barbed Wire Society | "The Antique Barbed Wire Society is committed to collecting, preserving, exhibiting, and interpreting the historical heritage of barb wire and barbed wire related items, and enlisting interest and support for an on-going organization." |
| Flashlight Museum! | "Our goal is simple: to provide an easy way for flashlight fans to browse through some of the greatest vintage flashlights to ever hit the planet and to check out some of the up and coming high-tech models. We try to add flashlights to our website on a weekly basis, so the collection is constantly growing." |
"It is probably one of the saddest facts in the universe that Canadians have an abysmal knowledge about fasteners. I would guess that a full 50% don't even know what they are. Another 25% won't have any idea which fastener should be used for a specific application. " |
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| Fasteners | |
| Hardware Companies Kollectors Klub | "The mission of THCKK is to educate our members and the general public about the about the history and functions of the great hardware companies" |
| Date Nail Page | "A date nail is a nail with the date stamped in its head. For example, a nail with a "41" is from 1941. They are usually 2 1/2" long, with 1/4" shanks. Date nails were driven into railroad ties, bridge timbers, utility poles, mine props, and other wooden structures for record keeping purposes. I concentrate primarily on the nails used by railroads." |
| Nail Hunter | "Unlike most collectibles, Date Nails can still be found in the wild. With a couple of tools, some spare time and transportation, the world of Date Nails is open to everyone." |
| The Land of Noz | "This page was created out of a lack of information on antique garden hose nozzles on the Internet or anywhere else." |
| Badger & Blade | "Our goal is to provide a fun and informative site covering all aspects of wet shaving, catering to all groups from beginners to seasoned pros. If you are just starting out and would like advice, or if you've been wet shaving for years and would like to share your experiences, please feel free to register, and post your thoughts, questions, or comments in the forums." |
| Internet Museum of Safety Razors | "What you will eventually find here is a a comprehensive catalog of over 300 safety razors, related items, their photos, markings, and some of the history behind the razors. At least that is the goal. I am currently about a third of the way through documenting my personal collection." |
| Straight Razor Place | Straight Razor Place Forums. Message Boards |
| Electric Shaver Museum | Men's and women's from around the world. Classified by country, brand, and style. |
| That Was a Close Shave! | "When my grandfather died I helped my mother clean his apartment. I found in my grandfather's bathroom his old Gillette safety razor and his old unused Wilkinson blades. Not just one package, but about 30 packs, each pack containing 5 blades. These items were for me "love at first sight". I decided then and there that I will use these items in memory of my grandfather. From that day I have collected this kind of item. I have always used every opportunity to visit flea markets, second hand shops, antique shops and shows, perfume shops, pharmacies etc. looking for old razor blades at a good p rice that I can add to my collection." |
| Razor Sharpening And Using Tips | "The straight razor must be properly looked after in order to ensure the maintenance and long life of this traditional men's accessory. While straight razors made of stainless steel are less demanding, other razors have to be rinsed with clear water and thoroughly dried after each use." |
| The Barber Museum | Timeine and information about professional barbering |
We are seeking links for this category - If you know any good non-commercial web sites, please let us know. Collectors' Forums are also welcome. suggestions@slightlycreaky.com. |
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| "Museums as repositories for the preservation and exhibition of the objects of historical, scientific and cultural interest are found all over the world. But rare are the museums that display the evolution of toilets and their various designs." | |
| Museum of Toilets | |
| Antique Fan Collectors Association | "An organization for the promotion of friendship among and the mutual benefit of persons interested in the collection and restoration of all types of electrical and mechanical fans." |
| Vintage Ceiling Fans | "Here you will see pictures of classic ceiling fans that were manufactured in the 1970s, and early to mid 1980s." |
| Vintage Fan Galleries | "You can post pictures of any kind of fan (Desk, window, box, ceiling, exhaust, whatever...as long as it's primary function is to cool a room or interior living space." |
| Light Bulb Collection Proves a Bright Idea | "As collectables, light bulbs are classified as 'early technology'." |
| Antique Light Bulbs Collector | "Tim Tromp enjoys collecting electrical eccentricities such as antique light bulbs and vacuum tubes." |
| Light Bulbs of All Shapes Sizes and Ages | "There are literally thousands of different types of artificial lights avaliable today, developed for every illumination application you could think of, and many you couldn`t!" |
| Collecting Decorative Night Lights can be Fascinating! | "Night lights come in such a huge variety for shape, theme and features, that you will be able to enjoy a never-ending passion. There are many enthusiasts who started with a generic night lights collection and then specialized into a very specific type or theme." |
| Flashlight Museum | "Our goal is to provide an easy way for flashlight fans to browse through some of the greatest vintage flashlights to ever hit the planet and to check out some of the up and coming high-tech models. " |
| Flashlights | "Among the earliest of Ever Ready products was this 1899 Ever Ready wooden Bicycle Lantern (front & back). Due to the bicycle craze at the turn of the century, Bicycle Lanterns are one of the earliest types of lights made by the American Electrical Novelty & Manufacturing Company. " |
| The American Lock Collector's Association | "The American Lock Collectors Association was founded in 1970. Its purpose is to educate, socially unite and discover new lock collectors. These goals are accomplished through a large newsletter, written by experts in the hobby. Also, by Association sponsored lock shows and a well organized and maintained Internet web site. This association is not exclusively for Lock or Padlock collectors but open to all forms of locking devices, keys and other related items. This website has been created to facilitate the exchange of information, assistance, and also a Marketplace for Locking devices, keys and other related items to be sold, bought or traded." |
| A Collection of Padlocks From Different Countries |
"Antique collection of old padlock, lock, chest locks, and door lock." |
| The Internet Lock Museum | "This site is intended to be a resource for those interested in the collection of locks. You will find images here of a sampling of locks which can be found at your local flea market, yard sales or right here on the web." |
| Lock Collectors Review | "There are many types of lock to collect, door locks or padlocks for example, however, my focus is on high security locks found mainly on safe and bank vault installations." |
| Antique Padlocks | "The purpose of this site is to be a virtual repository to preserve the history of Padlocks and Locking Devices, and to rediscover the history which has been lost. From the technical underpinnings of the earliest locking device, to the most sophisticated modern device, draws a roadmap of historical significance. " |
| An Introduction to the History of Locks | "Locks and keys were known long before the birth of Christ. They are mentioned frequently in the Old Testament and in mythology. In the Book of Nehemiah, chapter 3, it is stated that when repairing the old gates of the City of Jerusalem - probably in 445 B.C. - they "set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof." At this time, locks were made of wood. They were large and crude in design; yet their principle of operation was the forerunner of the modern pin-tumbler locks of today." |
| Lock Picking – A Challenging and Enjoyable Hobby | "Locks are synonymous with secrets and since everyone wants to know secrets locks have become the enemy. Defeating the thing that you view as the enemy can be very enjoyable. That is what lock picking allows the person to do." |
| Antique Doorknob Collectors of America | "Devoted to the study and preservation of ornamental hardware. Established in 1981, the goal of the group is to collect, protect, and research antique builder’s hardware, focusing on decorative designs, production methods, and period manufacturers." |
| Antique Doorknob Collectors | "We are not all about knobs, we also look at plates, doorbells, push plates, coat hooks, window latches. Undoubtedly, if you like antique Hardware you would love one of our Conventions. Besides, we always have fun. We are a group of people dedicated to collecting and saving antique door hardware. Not only do we collect it, we gather information, catalogs, and the history so that others will know about its origins and understand its significance and beauty for years to come. We have annual Conventions around the country which provide a great opportunity to learn about antique doorknobs and the rarity of different patterns." |
| Antique Door Hardware | "I have found that collecting hardware that came off a door 100+ years ago to be a fantastic hobby. " |
Animals
Animals
| Cat Collectors | "Cat Collectors is an international organization established in 1982 for people who enjoy collecting cat figurines, books, artwork, advertisements, calendars, postcards, paper products, stamps, needlework, jewelry, antiques, bottles, teapots, and other items which bear a cat motif." |
| Cat Whisker Digest | Cat Whisker Digest is a small and little known electronic newsletter for a small and little known area of collecting -- cat whiskers. |
| Pigeon Friends | "I collect racing pigeon rings and ownership cards from all over the world (actually from 79 countries). I started to collect in 1996. At the moment I have 100.000 pigeon rings. 62.000 of them comes from foreign countries. My oldest ring is since 1907! My big collection, I owe this many pigeon breeder from different countries. " |
| Cows of the Udder Ground | "Let us take you through the magical land of cows where cows can talk, groove, and let their udders down." |
| "Insects feed on the leaves, stems, roots, flowers and fruit of many horticultural plants, producing directly visible damage or symptoms. Examine plants closely. Look for holes in leaves or ragged leaves near the ends of branches. Turn leaves over to see for sure, especially if you spot any leaf discoloration or stippling patterns. " | |
| Collecting and Preserving Insects and Mites | From the USDA. "he Class Arthropoda, which includes insects, spiders, mites, and their relatives, is without question the most successful group of organisms on the planet. Insects alone account for nearly 55% of all species known to science (Barrowclough 1992). Spiders, mites and insects inhabit every terrestrial habitat on the planet and play a major role in the evolution and maintenance of biotic communities." |
| Insect Collecting Methods | "Basic collecting can be done by simply catching insects with your hands or a net and putting them into some type of jar. But, for more serious collecting, additional equipment is needed." |
| Collecting and Preserving Insects | "Insects are a remarkable group of animals. They occur virtually everywhere and make up more than half of all living things on earth. Collecting insects can be a fun, inexpensive, and fascinating hobby." |
| Insect Collecting | "Although a great deal of profitable entertainment may be had by simply watching insects, many of us wish to collect and preserve examples of the species that interest us most. This can easily be done, and we may rest assured that, the way we kill them, we give the creatures little or no more pain than we do to a plant when we pick a flower. " |
| Practical Advice For Insect Collecting | "I want to request that you do not kill an insect needlessly. If you already have some specimens or if they are damaged, release them; they can then reproduce themselves." |
| Pinning and Labeling | "Pin the insects soon after they are killed, or they will become brittle and hard after a few days. " |
| Bohart Museum of Entomology | " In many locations, permits are required for collecting insects. Please check with local authorities (e.g. park managers) before collecting specimens." |
| Why Collecting Butterflies is Wrong and Detrimental to the Species |
"Private collections are absolutely unnecessary, and even researchers can gain very little new information from collecting the species. This is because a great deal of scientific data is already available, and the kind of information we are missing can be best learned from observing the behaviour of butterflies." |
| Butterfly Basics | "he number of butterfly species in North America north of Mexico is almost the same as the number of bird species, so, theoretically, butterfly watching should be approximately equivalent to bird watching." |
| Butterflies and Moths of North America | "A searchable database of verified butterfly and moth records in the United States and Mexico. This site includes dynamic distribution maps, photographs, species accounts, and species checklists for each county in the U.S. and each state in Mexico." |
| The Butterfly and Moth Piccies Page | "This is a compilation of all the butterfly pictures I have taken, collected into one page and categorised according to species. If you find any mistakes or can identify any of the pictures found in the 'Unidentified Butterflies' or 'Unidentified Moths' section then please let me know and I will make any appropriate updates." |
| Identifying Insects | Links to identification pages on the left. "Identifying insects is a process in which one goes about collecting information on said insect, reviewing the information in comparison to other field notes and delivering a verdict on what the insect in question is." |
| Formicidae Collecting Information | "Ants can be found in many different habitats and microhabitats, such as in soil and leaf litter, in rotting logs, on and nesting in various plants, etc. Additionally, many species are minute and likely to be overlooked by casual observation. Consequently, several methods of collecting are needed to adequately sample a given area. Some of these methods include hand collecting, soil and litter sampling, baiting, beating and/or sweeping vegetation, and pitfall trapping." |
| Observing Ants | "Many of the most interesting features of the social life of ants can only be seen if they are studied in artificial nests. Making an ant farm, or formicarium, is simple, and it enables you to study the habits of a colony of ants at close quarters." |
Strange & Unusual
Strange & Unusual
| People Collect the Weirdest Things Sometimes! | "Some people collect things that came from famous crash sites or tragedies. Yup, I know, but that' just me and you that feel that way. To them, it's part of history." |
| Unusual Museums and Strange Collections | "We humans share our instinctive urge to collect with the birds and the bees .. with ants and rats .. and even several species of crustaceans .. The list below is proof enough that having the world's largest collection of broken widgets is not cause for concern .. in fact, many of our most hallowed museums got their start with someone's collecting obsession." |
| 10 Weird Things That Sell Well On Ebay That You Would Normally Throw Away | ""I have found that people buy the strangest things. Things that I would normally think about throwing out, however since doing some research on eBay, I have now started listing these items on eBay and people buy them!" |
| The Wooden Nickel Museum | "On December 5, 1931, the Citizen's Bank of Tenino, Washington (pronounced 10-9-OH) failed and created a shortage of money. This left the merchants of the area unable to get change without traveling about 30 miles over mountainous roads in automobiles ill suited to that purpose, on roads that were built for horses and mules to traverse. The average round trip was about four hours. Much too long for merchants to be gone from their stores. A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce resulted in the local newspaper printing up the first issue of wooden money in the United States. " |
| Cover to Discover | A collection of photographs from international man-hole covers. |
| Payphones of the World | "We're always looking for pictures of phones from around the world. The best way to get them to us is through the mail as photographs. Do not pose with your payphone." |
| Fish Posters of the World | "The posters are listed in the window to the left. To view a poster, just click on its title." |
| The Incredible World of Navel Fluff | "'ve been collecting navel fluff (just my own) since 1984, and upon learning of this, people usually ask "Why?". To this I answer "Why not?"." |
| Queen Victoria's Underwear | "At Queen Victoria's death in 1901, there was a distribution of her huge wardrobe, including her underwear, to members of the Royal Household. These personal garments are now dispersed in both private and public collections. " |
| Dr. Seuss Went to War:A Catalog of Political Cartoons | "Dr. Seuss Goes to War by historian Richard H. Minear (The New Press, 1999) reproduced some two hundred of the PM cartoons." |
| Toilet Seat Art Museum | "Over 700 differently decorated Toilet Seats" |
| The Museum of Questionable Medical Devices | "Devious Displays of Quackery, Fraud, Deceit and Deception -- the largest collection of medical chicanery and mayhem ever assembled under one roof!" |
| Weird Fortune Cookie Collection | "This site is a collection of fortune cookies like that: unusual, vague, weird, nonsensical, borderline naughty, flat-out bizarre, whatever. You’ll find links to read through the entire collection just over there on the side." |
| Found Photos | "All of the photographs featured on this site were genuinely found on streets, in the middle of roads, up long-forgotten dirt tracks, on bus and train seats, in the corridors of flats and many other places." |
| Cigar Box Art Collection | "These are pictures of the labels from old cigar boxes " |
| Toothpaste World | "Dr. Val Kolpakov is a practicing dentist in Saginaw, Michigan. He started this toothpaste collection in March 2002" |
| Owl Collection | "This collection has Owls made from every conceivable material," |
| The Toaster Museum | "Since our origin in the Pacific Northwest in the 1990s, our organization has dedicated itself to educating, entertaining, and enlightening people about the history and cultural importance of the bread toaster. " |
| Museum of Talking Boards | "No other single, mass-produced item quite captures the imagination of the American public like the Ouija board." |
| The Museum of Anti-Alcohol Posters | "A gallery of anti-alcohol posters from soviet propaganda era. " |
| Mad Magazine Covers | What? Me worry? |
| Museum of Menstration | "Discover the rich history of menstruation and women's health on this Web site." |
| Becky's Gone Bananas | "My collection now consists of 8073 different banana labels! My 93 broccoli bands and my 157 asparagus bands are also pictured on my site." |
| BandAid Queen | "Much thanks to all those who have contributed to my collection!" |
| Dumb Warnings | "Welcome to Dumb Warnings, where you may see the consequences of numerous pointless lawsuits. This site is dedicated to helping companies fight this menace which is plaguing society today. In addition to funny warnings labels, this site will also feature instructions, rules, and other information frequently placed on packages." |
| Cat Whisker Digest | Cat Whisker Digest is a small and little known electronic newsletter for a small and little known area of collecting -- cat whiskers. |
| Moist Towelette Collecting | "Each Moist Towelette is like a work of art. Though working in defined parameters, the designers manage to make each towelette applicable to their customer. A Moist Towelette collection can show restaurants, casinos (and a surprising variety of other locations) from across a continent (or nay, the entire world) in a single, small space." |
| Street Signs | "Welcome to my Web site about my "crazy" hobby: collecting street signs and traffic lights — the legal way. I buy them from eBay; I dig for them at antique stores and flea markets; and once in a while, a highway department is generous enough to hook me up." |
| The LED Museum | "This museum is here to pay homage to the lowly LED and to give you a look into the LED's past. " |
| The Burnt Food Museum | "The museum was founded in the late 1980's one night when Deborah put on a small pot of Hot Apple Cider to heat, then received an unexpected . . . fascinating . . . and very long phone call. By the time Deborah returned to the kitchen, the Cider had become a "Cinder" and thus the first, and perhaps still the most impressive, exhibit: "Free Standing Hot Apple Cider" was born. " |
| Air Sickness Bag Virtual Museum | "One can tell a lot about an airline's image from their Air Sickness Bags. Some barf bags are no more than a baggie with a twist tie, while other sick bags could win international design competitions. Are they art? I think so. You decide." |
| The Vomitorium | "Here you can find the leading display of airsickness bags (a.k.a. barf bags) on the web and links to other notable barf bag sites." |
| Bagland | "Welcome to Bagland.de, the website dedicated simply to Airsickness bags. This collection was started at the beginning of the 1980's and for very many years grew only very slowly and sporadically in size. Thanks for most donations in those early dark days went to friends, relatives, colleagues and associates who, with admirable enthusiasm, always made the effort to bring back bags from their journeys." |
| Back Scratchers | Over 200, illustrated. |
| Socknitters | A collection of "odd" socks. |
| Drainspotting | "Manhole covers, drains, grates, trench covers--someone had to design all of these. Functional and ornamental, there's a lot of interesting stuff happening down by your feet." |
| Sewer Art | "For practical reasons, sewers were the convenient choice to transport waste out of the resident's way. The word itself - sewer - derives from the old French "seuwiere" ("essevour"), meaning "to drain" or "to cause to flow"." |
| The Skeptic's Dictionary | "The Skeptic's Dictionary is a website and a book. Each features definitions, arguments, and essays on occult topics ranging from acupuncture to zombies, and provides a lively, commonsense trove of detailed information on things supernatural, paranormal, and pseudoscientific." |
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