What are your other hobbies?

[Autumn]

I know the vast majority of the people here collect lava lamps. But, I know many of us do other things. I dont really tell people about my other hobbies, so I decided to share mine.

I like building things. Not just any thing but things that are computer powered. I have a computer in my car that I use for a head unit. As crazy as it sounds it works great. I have GPS, satellite radio, music, video, audio tuning software, and just about anything you can think to add to a computer for audio.

Right now my wires are a bit messy because I recently upgraded some stuff and have not gotten around to cleaning it up.

 

Instead of a typical unit I have a VGA touch screen.

Another thing I created was an arcade cabinet. The cabinet has almost every game console that a computer can properly emulate. NES, SNES, Sega Genecyst, Sega Dreamcast, Sega Naomi, Playstation, and several thousand arcade games using MAME. The whole system is powered by a typical desktop computer that was modified to work as arcade hardware. It is fully functional as an arcade machine, it can accept coins and it boots right up to the arcade software. The screen also rotates so you can play games like pacman,galaga, digdug, and lots of airplane shooters on a vertical screen. I never got around to installing a proper marquee, but I will some day. For right now there is a "test" one I printed out.

 

So what do you guys do when you arent looking for lamps?

[kiramarie]

Jim can I please have my tears back.. I do believe I am dehydrated...lol

 

[kiramarie]

please  may we adopt you for a month.. flipping genius

[Diin]

I used to collect coins, mainly old currency from other countries. i have some that date back to about 1902, wasnt able to get my hands on anything older sadly lol. i havent really done anything with my coins in a few years. just been collecting lava lamps, and drinking beer haha. party rockin, yo :)

[Tim Gill]

 

I collect the tears of bidders who I snipe at the last second.

 

 LOL. My only hobbie at the minuet is lava lamps (sad I know) but after I have got through my issues at the minuet I will be getting back in the entertainment industury. - So I guess my other hobbies are technical lighing and lighting programing for thearther and gigs etc.

[Dr. WHAT?!]

Oh this picture reminds me to thank you Wiz! I don't know if you recall this or not, but you gave me some info on those triangle shaped sphere table lamps and I was able to track one down! Got a black for $25 off of ebay!! Thanks again!

wizard of ooze said:

[VintageK]

Hi all!  This is a great thread so I thought I would add to it as well.  Beyond collecting lava lamps, I am also an avid collector of clocks (which I started when I was 8 years old) and I now have over 500 in my collection. My focus is on novelty and 50's clocks, especially ones that are animated or have night lights in some capacity.  I also love funky home decor such as 50's lamps (weirder lamp shades the better) 1930's-70's radios, art deco toasters, rain lamps, glitter lamps, and vintage telephones.  I also have a very large collection of men's vintage clothing with over 600 polyester disco shirts with wild prints etc.   Over the years I have created a photo collection of all of my favorite objects, some I own, though most I do not. The 8000+ images were saved from eBay auctions for the past 15 years and I have made the images available in my Virtual Mid-Century Online Museum which you can visit here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ksupley/sets/72157605997370148/

[Jim]

How cool that you collect vintage toasters.  As much as I love my vintage lamps, Mom still has the most phenomenal collection I have ever seen.  She has over 300 antique electric toasters.

VintageK said:

Hi all!  This is a great thread so I thought I would add to it as well.  Beyond collecting lava lamps, I am also an avid collector of clocks (which I started when I was 8 years old) and I now have over 500 in my collection. My focus is on novelty and 50's clocks, especially ones that are animated or have night lights in some capacity.  I also love funky home decor such as 50's lamps (weirder lamp shades the better) 1930's-70's radios, art deco toasters, rain lamps, glitter lamps, and vintage telephones.  I also have a very large collection of men's vintage clothing with over 600 polyester disco shirts with wild prints etc.   Over the years I have created a photo collection of all of my favorite objects, some I own, though most I do not. The 8000+ images were saved from eBay auctions for the past 15 years and I have made the images available in my Virtual Mid-Century Online Museum which you can visit here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ksupley/sets/72157605997370148/

[Erin]

WHOA! Kyle, I think I came upon your collection when I was looking for an image of the Apollo lamp a week or so ago. Amazing stuff! You've got to post a few pics of your collection here! :)

VintageK said:

Hi all!  This is a great thread so I thought I would add to it as well.  Beyond collecting lava lamps, I am also an avid collector of clocks (which I started when I was 8 years old) and I now have over 500 in my collection. My focus is on novelty and 50's clocks, especially ones that are animated or have night lights in some capacity.  I also love funky home decor such as 50's lamps (weirder lamp shades the better) 1930's-70's radios, art deco toasters, rain lamps, glitter lamps, and vintage telephones.  I also have a very large collection of men's vintage clothing with over 600 polyester disco shirts with wild prints etc.   Over the years I have created a photo collection of all of my favorite objects, some I own, though most I do not. The 8000+ images were saved from eBay auctions for the past 15 years and I have made the images available in my Virtual Mid-Century Online Museum which you can visit here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ksupley/sets/72157605997370148/

[VintageK]

I know! I have to get on that!  Stay tuned.

[VintageK]

Jim I want to see photos!!!

Jim said:

How cool that you collect vintage toasters.  As much as I love my vintage lamps, Mom still has the most phenomenal collection I have ever seen.  She has over 300 antique electric toasters.

VintageK said:

Hi all!  This is a great thread so I thought I would add to it as well.  Beyond collecting lava lamps, I am also an avid collector of clocks (which I started when I was 8 years old) and I now have over 500 in my collection. My focus is on novelty and 50's clocks, especially ones that are animated or have night lights in some capacity.  I also love funky home decor such as 50's lamps (weirder lamp shades the better) 1930's-70's radios, art deco toasters, rain lamps, glitter lamps, and vintage telephones.  I also have a very large collection of men's vintage clothing with over 600 polyester disco shirts with wild prints etc.   Over the years I have created a photo collection of all of my favorite objects, some I own, though most I do not. The 8000+ images were saved from eBay auctions for the past 15 years and I have made the images available in my Virtual Mid-Century Online Museum which you can visit here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ksupley/sets/72157605997370148/

[Jim]

I will snap some additional pics tomorrow.  She has shelving running loops around the kitchen with the best of her best toasters displayed.  The coolest thing is she has plugs for the majority and they all still work.  Below are a couple of her toasters.  One that I must capture is the one where the bread moves laterally through the toaster - includes a porthole in the middle so you can check the progress as the toast moves through the machine.

 

One of the absolute rarest ones out there.  Made, I believe, right around the Great Depression.  Very ornate, very pricey and considering the times, not too many sold.

A toaster this age that's never been used?  Iridescent porcelain and note the mica on the heating elements.  New as new can be.

VintageK said:

Jim I want to see photos!!!

[Erin]

Wow, I never knew toasters ever looked like that. That's kind-of amazing! Thanks for sharing the pics.