What's the oldest thing you still own?

Jimm_Scope

A difference from the most expensive thing you own.

What is the oldest thing you own? 

For me it's something a little silly, I still have my very first stuffed toy. A small yellow rabbit that is named "bunny". I think I was 2 or 3 when I got it. It only has 1 ear left now, the other has been lost to time.

As another example, I think the oldest thing my parents own is a plastic christmas tree from 1991. They might own something older that's been handed down to them, but that's the oldest thing that I know the year they got it.

THE_DUDE

Iphone 5s had it since 2015 but the screen is smashed to pieces lol. I have to either get it fixed or recycle it.

66Mustang

Aside from the semi-cheat answers like mineral water or fossils...  

We have some items of cutlery and other kitchen implements from who would be my great-great-grandparents. My Mum uses the paring knife every day and prefers it to a modern knife.

Lots of tools in the shed from great-grandparents, maybe about a century old. Including a crow bar which we often use and more than once have had a comment like "hey, you are using that thing from Half-Life".  

An old bicycle that my Grandfather got from another relative and fixed up, maybe knocking on 100 years old, not sure.

66Mustang

We also have an old fashioned iron, not an electrical one, the sort that you used to heat on the fire. I don't know when electric irons replaced those.

It is very heavy, we use it as a door stop.  

Jimm_Scope

We have a nice cast-iron pan, but it's not that old. I know they can last for a very, very long time though. I know a friend of mine who has had one handed down 2 generations!

I guess I didn't think about fossils ^^ I did sort of mean "made" things that either have been handed down or you've found and bought like an antique or something.

I think I have an american coin from the 1800s. They generally don't take coins out of circulation so you can get some very old coins just in change from shops! 

Difficult to get that in the UK anymore since we decimalised in 1968 and many of our coins changed completely. The oldest coin legal tender still in circulation for us are the old pennies with the gate/portcullis on them. They were first issued in 1971.

66Mustang

When I was little I used to collect different currencies as a sort of hobby.

I have lots of American cents, a few dollar notes.

Lots of old European pre-Euro currencies like Deutschmarks and Francs.

Also some Japanese and Thai money!

I also have a British Army £5 note. I never really looked into it but it seems soldiers were paid partly with special money they could only spend on the base.

66Mustang

I don't think it's silly to still have a stuffed toy!!

I have my first teddy bear that I was given for Christmas in 1993 - I was born November 1993 so he is almost as old as me.

I like to think I have been through thick and thin with him. I used to take him to the doctors and such things, am holding him on the first photo I had taken when I met my "third Grandmother" (Dad's birth mother - he was adopted), also I went through a period of really severe OCD where I couldn't touch him  or cuddle him for over a year but he doesn't seem to mind, he is like is a loyal friend.

Jimm_Scope

That must be a really good knife sharpener @woodbine! I've always heard that with knives it's sometimes better to spend a little more and they'll last much longer, with good maintenance of course. Me and the partner still have a very cheap set and they're not great.

@66Mustang All the different currencies fascinate me a little. Also that's a cute story I was given mine when I was 1, I named him whenever I could actually say "bunny" properly.

@Ada I know it isn't always possible to keep certain things. There's certainly a lot I've left behind in the past.

Sandy_123

Oh that's sad @woodbine , I'm glad you got her one. I don't have old things apart from photos 

Jimm_Scope

It got a smile from me @Ada  

that's both a sad, but incredibly touching story @woodbine. It must have meant a lot to her

Ehit

Apart from my house (200 years old), I have a table my dad made when he was at school when he was 14, he’s 84 now. I have photographs of my grandparents, I don’t really know how old they are, although there is one that must be 100 years old. All very special to me for different reasons.

Circe

My female kitty she's 15 this year! She's the one under the radiator.shrs a cranky Crone like me.

poppy123456

An electric hand mixer, had it since 1991 and yes it still works perfectly. 

Can't forget my bear, Holly. Although she's only 18, she's so loved she looks about 40 i'm getting rather anxious because she looks quite threadbare in places. My 2 grandchildren love her and i always take her with me when i go to their house. Yes, i also take her to bed. My grandson always says "we need 3 more Holly's"

66Mustang

Poppy

I'm sure I have asked before but can't remember your answer.

Is it a KitchenAid? They last forever apparently, if you look after them and service them!!

ClaraSais

My late mums funky retro orange washing basket and yesterday I found a couple of 1980s shoe polish bottles when I was clearing out 😂

Albus_Scope

I was given a gold necklace when I was born with a few little charms on it.  Gold isn't my thing, but I've kept hold of it as it's pretty special to me now. So it's...old. 

66Mustang

A bit off topic but I read a lovely story about a Dad who put away for his son a bottle of single malt every year from his birth year until he was an adult when he was allowed to have them. They turned out to be quite desirable by the time the son was given the collection and valued at around £40,000 so he sold them with his father's blessing and put the money down on a house.

Steve_in_The_City

I have two glasses. They belonged to my gran. She died in 1966. I have no idea how long she had them and I don't know what sort of drink you are supposed to put in them - but they only hold a small amount. They are of huge sentimental value to me as all my best times were spent with my gran. I keep them in a cupboard so that I can't break them and I have never used them.

66Mustang

@Steve_in_The_City do they have stems? If they are small with stems they sound a bit like sherry glasses, maybe port glasses.

Anna_Louise

My panda. Got it in 1977 for my 5th birthday. It's really falling apart and all my family say I should throw it in the bin - never going to happen!

Steve_in_The_City

Ada said:

I don’t have anything from my history. I very very often just spur of the moment Chuck a few things into a bag and leave. Not knowing where to until I got there. 

@Ada I know what you mean. I never chucked a few things in a bag, I just went. I had no idea where I was heading, but I got here and I am ok and I hope you are, too. I have my gran's glasses because my sister gave them to me. Otherwise, few things from the past but see below:

@66Mustang I have taken a photo of the glasses with a standard wine glass behind them to give an idea of their size. I think they were a pretty common type of glass in the '50's & '60's so of zero financial value but I love them because they belonged to my gran.