Thread: Other "old time" hobbies

I started a thread on things we do other than SR and the Forum GODs moved my post into this one and all I can say is WOW – Seems we all do quite a bit of the same stuff:

Originally Posted by Tonsor

I have a few mechanical watches. I collect fountain pens . . .

I tie my own bow tie.

I fenced foil and epee until an injury about a year ago.

All of my firearms are smoothbore flintlocks.

I, as well as a bunch of the rest of us it seems, also have a collection of mechanical watches. I used to carry mine up until I was about 18, then I switched to a modern wristwatch. Now they are just sitting in drawers. I have some realy nice solid gold ones from the 1800s. Because of work needs I now carry a iPhone so even the wristwatch has been placed in the drawer.

I fenced for years (from childhood on) until I got my most recent job 13 years ago (same place that makes me carry a iPhone) and just wasn’t able to get home with enough time to still get to the salon. My 6 year old grandson is just starting to get into it so I am thinking I may get to restart. I fenced all 3 weapons and have quite a assortment of them, including my very first French gripped foils.

I also have a nice collection of firearms (long and handguns) that start with a patchlock and end with the most modern of guns – what everyone now wants to outlaw.

I own the bow ties but was never successfully able to tie one – maybe I need to find a bow tie forum.

Originally Posted by gregs656

I also enjoy vinyl records on a semi-regular basis.

I still have my collection of vinyl only I don’t have any working system to listen to them on.

Man I wish I did.

Originally Posted by freebird

using fountain pens, collecting antiques, and ham radio.

My ham radio rig isn't too old, it's from the late 70's.

I have a bunch of old fountain pens but I never use them – I was actually recently even considering getting rid of them. I am thinking now maybe I need to try them. For years I used modern disposable ones. Then the Japanese store I bought them at went out of business, so it was back to the Bic (I guess the BIc pen is the equivalent of the disposable razor).

I have some older ham radio stuff that was my dad’s and some newer handhelds that are mine. Funny thing is I can never remember my call signs but I know my dad’s WB2DBI by heart.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

I shoot blackpowder.

Ride horses, and know how to drive them.

This summer I learned to mow with a scythe, while this will never replace my finish mower it will replace my weed whip completely and my brush hog for some jobs. Some of you guys will be interested in this: Scythe Supply - Sharpening & Honing

My wife and I used to do a lot of riding. Her brother owned an International Rodeo and she and our kids went all over the world with the rodeo. I have pictures of my wife riding a horse down the main road in Paris.

I always wanted to use my Scythe to cut stuff – I can see that I’ll be spending some time on that website.

Originally Posted by natepaint

I wanted to learn blacksmithing when I got out of high school, but never lived anywhere that would accommodate a forge, so that dream died off.

I too always wanted to set up a forge. I have the anvil and most of the other stuff required. I had my eye on one of those old time portable crank up forges for a few years now.

Originally Posted by grimlad

I also shoot longbows. I love traditional archery and practice nearly every day.

I am also into all sorts of archery – I have a few longbows, recurves (old and modern) and compounds. I shoot almost every day as well either afield in the warmer weather or in my garage in the colder seasons.

Originally Posted by BHChieftain

Hi,
Maybe it is a personality thing, but aside from the straight razor appeal, I also am drawn to mechanical watches, fountain pens, and the longbow (currently building one now). Anybody else have "old time" hobbies?

-Chief

LOL, we must be twins.
I shoot a Steve Abbott longbow, restore old pocket watches and have several very nice fountain pens.
Also love air cooled Vee twin motorcycles, I have a Ducati sport 1000 and a Buell Ulysses. Not really "old time" but kinda...

I'm particularly fond of stalking the wooly mamoth and bringing them down with knapped flint tipped weapons. Been kinda bored lately, ever since that recession of the polar ice caps thing. Darn global warming!

Originally Posted by MrBlimp

In another post TrueStereo states "On Tuesday, I wanted to cycle to work ......"

I assumed he meant bicycle.

I did! I have a Ridgeback, this model but a couple of years old now. Not been able to ride as much for the last couple of years but before that I commuted at least twice a week (just 6 miles each way) and did a few sportives and one longer trip. Need to get back into the routine!

Other "old world" hobbies - fly-fishing (again, not been able to go for over a year due to family commitments). I use fountain pens. I have a small collection of vinyl AND the means to play it! I am a church organist. I enjoy the odd bit of woodwork when I get round to it - projects have included bathroom cabinet, rabbit hutch and a garage.

Originally Posted by TrueStereo

I did! I have a Ridgeback, this model but a couple of years old now. Not been able to ride as much for the last couple of years but before that I commuted at least twice a week (just 6 miles each way) and did a few sportives and one longer trip. Need to get back into the routine! .

Up until last summer I still had and rode the 10 speed my dad got me when I was in High School – it had gone through a few changes through the years and in its last reiteration it was a freewheel single speed with drop bars. Unfortunately I took a dead on header into a curb that bent the frame. I took a torch to it and am in the process of replacing the tubes. I guess that is an old timey thing I like to do: attempting to fix up old stuff so it can be used again.

Originally Posted by TrueStereo

I enjoy the odd bit of woodwork when I get round to it - projects have included bathroom cabinet, rabbit hutch and a garage.

Last year I rebuilt the bottom foot of my garage – it had rotted out and the garage collapsed – luckily it was so full that it only sank 4 inches before it came to rest on all the stuff inside. I had to dig out a tunnel along the inner edge and jack up each wall, remove the rot, and replace it. Then I cleaned out the garage. Man what a job but I did it, even to the point of getting rid of a 1969 Volvo P-1800 that was in over a hundred parts. Now I have a useful garage again. Only I am starting to fill it back up.

Originally Posted by MrBlimp

Now I have a useful garage again. Only I am starting to fill it back up.

Isn't being filled up the main use of a garage??

its good to hear a lot of talk about fountain pens.. I'm saving my money right now to make the plunge into a fountain pen.. however far as hobbies go i collect of ton of zombie memorabilia... lol.. no joke either. my basement is full of zombie stuff.. not really old fashioned but its just another hobby i thought i would share... cheers

Does golfing with clubs that don't have over sized heads count as an "old time" hobby.

I’ve always had an interest in fountain pens and hand written stationary. My problem is that my hand writing is so terrible that anything other than a BiC pen is a waste of resources on me. So I live somewhat vicariously through my wife on that issue having bought her a nice French fountain pen, wax seal, and Italian stationary for Christmas from a shop in New Orleans. The best I can hope for is that she delivers the grocery list to me with all of it. But as for “old” things, I don’t really think that the appeal is in its age. I don’t use a SR because its old, but because the shave and experience is superior to anything else. I suppose my cooking habits can be considered “old” in that my style of cooking is still very dependent on stocks and sauces derived from them. Modern cooking looks more like chemistry class these days. But again, I’m not drawn to it because of its age but because of the superiority of the end product. And, of course, there is the attraction of doing things by hand that appeals as well. Likewise, I prefer my wines in the old style as opposed to the new styles. But that only applies to the wine, not the cork.  But I do think that having an appreciation of history helps. It makes you a little more open to “old” habits and methods such that when you recognize that they result in a superior outcome you are willing to embrace it.

I'm into Cowboy Action Shooting which is every month we go out we dress up like cowboys in certain styles and we shoot cowboy era guns in competition. There is a lot of stipulations on what kind of clothes you can and cannot wear and you must use certain types of rifles pistols and shotguns only. It's a helluva lot of fun!