Weird collections - Number plates etc. Show us yours too.

[Grizz1963]

When I came back from my bike trip through South Africa, I was greeted by a bunch of parcels from the USA.

Ride Report: http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/inde...topic=106063.0

Some from Turnpikecruiser .... WHAT A SURPRISE !!

Thank you very much.

And some more from unidentified members.... Thank you too.

Problem is user names on here are not related to real names and surnames.

[Grizz1963]

I recently did a 6200+km motorbike ride around South Africa with my brother.

CLICK LINK: http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/inde...topic=106063.0

On the evening I was leaving my cousin Marius took me out for dinner and we were to be met by another guy.

Later we were joined by Wilddogs member H20 who amongst other things is a keen diver.

He had contacted me in the first week when we were in Elliott to ask when he could meet me.


Tinus is another of life's gems (for the English, an abbreviation for Marthinus) who had contacted me.
He desperately wanted to meet up with me to give me a smoking pipe he had dived out many years ago from a 300 year old wreck, for Nicola to add to her collection.

"Het Huis te Kraaiestein" was a Dutch ship of 1,154 tons, built in 1697 at the Zeeland Yard for the Zeeland Chamber of the Dutch East India Company, and commanded by Jan van de Vijver. It was wrecked on the rocks in the bay at Oudekraal on the Cape Peninsula on 27 May 1698 in thick mist as they were trying to find the way into Table Bay. The ship was on its maiden voyage outward-bound from Wielingen, which they had left on 1 February 1698, with a cargo of 19 chests of pieces-of-eight (approximately 57 000 pieces). No lives were lost. Three chests of treasure disappeared and the name 'Geldkis' (money-chest) appears on maps of the area.

When he got there, he showed me a couple of other pipes he had bought in deepest darkest Africa some years ago.

Lovely stuff.








Once we had enjoyed these, he brought out the reason for the meeting......

More than 300 years ago, someone had this in their hands and used to smoke it, using what would have been a luxury item, as tobacco was very expensive in the early days.



300 years worth of crystalization inside the bowl.



And back in the UK, in its current resting place, in front of Victorian tobacco jars.

I am in the process of making a small wooden display case for it, in which it will live a slightly protected life.





Finally I was checked in Cape Town International and waiting for my 23.25 departure for Amsterdam.

Stupidly I forgot the privileges that go with a Business Class tickets and went and bought myself a coffee ......






Tomorrow I start a new contract job.

Life is good.

[Grizz1963]

My Mig welder stopped working some time ago, but I need it to start welding up my truck

Last night I removed the plug, cut about 2 inches off the cable, refitted and replaced the 13A fuse.

Plugged it in, the cooling fan came on, no light behind the power switch.

I then welded about 300mm on some plate and other than having to set the feed, power etc. I just need to practice loads so that I get the patch panels right first time around.

On the way home yesterday I stopped by in a welding shop, and bought my birthday present from Nicola...... £48.00



Should help with cutting and grinding.

Mate Martin will be around later for pizza, porn and probing my welder with his tester. Hopefully he will find all is fine.

Looking forward to the birthday prezzie he got his boss to bring back from Thailand.
When I went there a few years ago, I could not get a plate.

He had some new ones made, and the used one comes from his Ford Escort he is having rebuilt in Thailand.



Nice addition to my collection.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Grizz1963

In other news, I have recently decided to start collecting plates with a slightly more defined theme.

So Disabled, Disabled Vet, National Guard, Fire dept, Police etc is what I will concentrate on, while still collecting random plates that appeal to me.

These landed today from a real neat trade I made with a Texan.

Plates came from his Grandfather.

Really pleased with these.

Included is my first ever "dealer plate" another one of those silly things I have always wanted.

The rest of the plates fall straight into my specialized collecting.


Before I forget, another surprise I got was this Intercourse item, and a pair of return to sender key tags.


All of these went up today, also did some rearranging.


Now I still just need a truck to go with it.

Funny you should mention the dealer plate. I came across a couple of these a while back. I will dig them out and take a picture when the weather warms a bit. We are having another bout of sub-zero temps and snow. Mine are not as desirable because they are plastic, not metal but the price was right.... Free.

LockDoc

[Grizz1963]

Went to NSRA Swapmeet today, got a call from (Gary) who collects wooden hotel and commercial clothes hangers..... he had me a Liberian plate.

I also managed to buy a Belgian plate and got an old English plate for trading.

[Grizz1963]

Got this one from a friend in Lithuania, says it was Russian.

I hope Yves will be here soon to help identify it.





Not sure ifI posted this up before, was a present from Nicola.

Says it is for a trailer.

[Grizz1963]

Got a cryptic message from Optimusprime a few days ago about a parcel being incoming.

Today I collected a parcel at the post office.

All I can say is that I was very pleased.




I always looked at these old solid cast type plates, loved them, but could neither justify their cost, not afford them

Now I have a bit of old English history to add to my collection.

[Grizz1963]

Some new number plates today.

Some from South Africa, headed for the USA soon.

One from Lithuania

And one from Disasterbus (Kerry) the Euro one.



I have others headed my way as well.

These were from the recent road trip to the U.S.A when Paul and Brandon got me a 66 Oklahoma plate and a Texas one.
The vanity plate I found at a garage sale.





A bit of useless information...... Sue Martin of ASM Upholstery, part of the "Fast and Loud" show, is also a number plate collector..... Here chatting to me about her collection.



And a plate belonging to friend Herb John in Winfield Kansas.

Contradiction...?



And lastly, a plate headed my way from the U.S. From Capteric who took it of his truck for me.





Looking forward to when I have all my plates back up again.

[flashed]

Love your plate collection ,Im trying to collect at least one from every state over here ,not as easy as I had thought it would be .

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

Love your plate collection ,Im trying to collect at least one from every state over here ,not as easy as I had thought it would be .

Go take a look here......


http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...te+swap+thread


And more to see here.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/s...te+swap+thread

[flashed]

It wont let me in without joining the forum so I will do that when I get caught up .Just got home from visiting my truck at the bodyshop so have to get some things done here at home .

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by flashed

It wont let me in without joining the forum so I will do that when I get caught up .Just got home from visiting my truck at the bodyshop so have to get some things done here at home .

Aaaaaghhhh. Just realised.

It's the "Free Parking" section. Needs logging into as registered member.

Sorry mate.

[Grizz1963]

Got in from work......


Parcel wrapped in Cammo Gorilla tape all the way from Florida.


Thank you Captain Erik !!





Pretty spot on where I am taking my collecting these days.

Different is good.

Plates were on this little red number.



Anyone who likes trucks.... I like.

[flashed]

I like the plates and the truck ,very nice.