Office of Steam Forum for Model & Toy Steam Gas & Hot Air Engines

Many shared hobbies.  Reading 20th century history has aways been interesting,
and some childhood collections like comics had a 40 year run.  Gardening for
several dacades, too.  Of course, rock collecting and associated tumbling and
lapidary work for decades.  And, I love WW2 aircraft.  60's and 70's motorcycles.
Model rockets.  VW beetles and 1960's Volvo's (love those 122's). 

I also have collected coins since the early 60's, maybe inspired by my great aunt
who was collecting coins starting in the 30's, including uncirculated, and when they
started, mint sets.

Now, here in the U.S., 1964 was the last year for silver coins.  My father had a
coin-operated business which my aunt used to go thru, and the silver coins were
snapped up within a year or so.  No more walking liberty half-dollars by the roll.
Same for Franklin halves.  Liberty quarters and Mercury dimes, too.  And the silver
price runup by the Hunt brothers in the late 1970's brought the rest out.  Now, you
are lucky to get a silver coin at all.  Last one I received in change was 5 years ago.
Believe it or not, I'm more likely to find a marble in the dirt next to a sidewalk.
If anyone knows of a bank that runs even a bit of silver on a regular basis, let me
know.

Now, the coins are in a box, but I'm still gardening and since retirement MARX trains
and now Steam Engines top the list.  Movies are up there, too.  And the NY Mets and
baseball are in action.  So far, things look up. 

Now, I need to get the nerve to solder a Weeden end-cap.  Pretty thin brass.  Not there yet.

Good Luck,
Wayne