Rand - When I got back into collecting after a long hiatus, you set me up a starter pack of rusted OIs to get me on my way. That started me on a very enjoyable journey learning about OIs and the hobby. Got a few Rand Me Downs over the years as well. Thanks for all the OI knowledge along the way. Also, please let everyone know what niche you settle on, that way we can all just get out of the way as you conquer it. Chris

One cool thing about I-7 openers is all the "go-withs" you can find to display with them, like opening instruction beer cans...

Same response as others, I was surprised to see your collection at Dan's auction. I bid on a can or two that you got from me but will probably not win. Good luck at future endeavors.

-Chris

Shame you're parting with such a fine collection but we can all understand that life is full of tough choices. Long ago I decided that I couldn't have the biggest or best beer can collection, so I started to focus on collecting items from just one brewery and I collect anything I can find from that brewery. Maybe one day I can have the best collection of memorabilia from that brewery. If you have a favorite brewery maybe that would be an option also. Best of luck with the auction.

Saw it on FB last nite and scrolled thru a few cans - curious to see what my RW dull grey and Iron City OI bring .. and that Genny AML that once graced my shelf’s - that was a whopper of a deal we did back in summer of 13.. this will bring some fun viewing , reminds me when Menghini was releasing his awesome collection on eBay over a stretch of time


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Saw it on FB last nite and scrolled thru a few cans - curious to see what my RW dull grey and Iron City OI bring .. and that Genny AML that once graced my shelf’s - that was a whopper of a deal we did back in summer of 13.. this will bring some fun viewing , reminds me when Menghini was releasing his awesome collection on eBay over a stretch of time


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Rand, I COMPLETELY understand.
I found myself in the same situation with Bock cans. What I still needed wasn't available, or I had to mortgage the house.
I've actually had a lot of fun going to shows and selling the remainder of my Bock cans, after Dan took the top shelf.
Folks get really excited, and I now know where they went, and know they are in good hands.
Then, I had a decision to make, as to what my next move was in the hobby.
And, I decided, it was porn. Beer porn. The beer stuff that gets my juices flowing. Signs, labels, you name it. Porn.
I still can't tell you what I'm going after, but I know it when I see it. And I no longer have a Bock target on my back.
This hobby is more fun now than it's been in many years.
I hope you can get to the happy place I have stumbled into!
Jim

I understand. I'm almost at the point with tabs.

Rand, To echo what Jim said, I collected cone tops for 30+ years. Had 1,143 different. Was 1 of the 5 collectors that created the first cone top list for BCCA. After 2000 I found I was only adding 2 to 5 cans a year to my collection, and they were mostly not pretty dumpers. I had over 50% of the known cones at the time. So in 2005 I decided to part with my cone collection. That made canmandan, conehead Jim, lots of others, plus Lebo very happy to add my collection cans to their holdings. There are hundreds of my cans at Lebo's can palace. The cone top book has 41 of my cans pictured in the cone top section. To this day I have not acquired a cone top. Looked at some, but put them back.

I now keep busy adding to my 3 specialties: Olde Frothingslosh items, Anchor Christmas items, and CANvention related items. I have been named the chair for the non-competitive "50 Years of CANventions" display at the 2020 CANvention in St Louis. So please, anyone, let me know what you have, that I could use in a couple years.

Rand, You will find the right focus, just look for it.

Baxter
BCCA877 RB282 IGU31

Baxter Ray, Don't know if you remember me but I bought your Apache cone off you many years ago. Seems like it was before 2005? LEON.

First, it's good to hear from folks with similar stories! Honestly, it does feel good to not only scrub this little chapter clean and move on, but also to know that I'm putting some of the coolest labels around back into circulation.

Second, sure, there are some cans that I suspect selling your car and taking the bus may be the only answer. But don't forget, there are ~270 or so cans in there, and probably 50 of them don't have bids, and maybe another 50 are sitting at $10. While I can't see the future, I bet there are going to be somethings falling through the cracks. Also remember, all these cans are what I boiled it all down to, so the vast majority are pretty rare.....and many are off grade.....which means they are going to be overlooked. For example, there's a Pabst Blue Ribbon WF can on there.... undocumented.... probably the only one known. Looks like an offgrade common can at first glance. No bids. Just saying.....something's going to fall through the cracks....there are too many rare oddities in there that nobody is going to catch until it's too late.

Third, I think I'm evolving to the @OhioCanGuy and @Jim Romine perspective.....just wander the shows and see what kind of porn strikes my fancy. Reminds me of two movie quotes. First is Pulp Fiction when Jules and Vincent are in the diner and Jules is going to give up the life, and he says "I'll just walk the earth. You know, walk the earth, meet people... get into adventures. Like Caine from Kung Fu." The other one is from the Big Chill where Nick is just sitting watching TV, and someone comes in and starts asking a lot of questions about the plot....and he finally says: "You're so analytical! Sometimes you just have to let art... flow... over you." I think that's where I am..... I'm going to wander canventions like Caine from KungFu.....and just let the art flow over me.

Finally, you might want to read my new .sig. OI Whisperer is no more.

Rand :-)

Rand, I think you need to be a little more optimistic, As you know most people like to snipe at the end so any can sitting at $10 or no bids will surely skyrocket at end. Be patient young grasshopper. LEON.

You'll always be The O/I Whisperer to all of us!
I'll be interested to see what my ex Diamond State goes for.(weird tho..I remember it looking pretty clean) Unfortunately I had to sell my keeper a few yrs ago.

Rand,

I have been reading all your replies on this thread and it seems like you've put a lot of thought into this, and that you are happy and at peace with your decision. That makes it pretty obvious to me you made the right one!

Back about 30 years ago, I was put in a situation where I failed an exam and had to leave the graduate program I was in at the time. I was 27 years old, not married yet, no house, no major commitments at the time. I had the opportunity to do something that few are fortunate enough to do--to really think about what I wanted in my future, and to do some long-range planning. On a smaller scale, it seems to me that we usually don't decide to collect something. Instead, we get one item, and we get another, and we drift in to collecting first this, then that, then … Sounds like you have a great opportunity, which is to think about and plan what comes next. Great place to be! Enjoy it, and whatever comes next is guaranteed to bring you a lot of happiness!

Oh, and wish me luck on bidding on some of those OI's you've beaten me to over the years … and most importantly, THANK YOU for sharing all your wisdom and knowledge on this site for years! I've learned a LOT from you!

Rand, it seems you are just refocusing, but you are still staying in the breweriana game. Many of us here have done this, whether they are are like you who sell everything and start over, or like myself that sold a significant section of our collection to concentrate on a specialization of certain brands or type of can, etc. We are still in this and still going to shows, hanging out, sharing knowledge and having a beer or two with friends. This is a good thing.

What really saddens me are those who just sell and walk away. Rarely to be seen or heard from again. I don't know how they can do it.

- Mike

Those are some really nice cans Rand, I am sure they are tough to part with. I have been coming around to just collect what I like rather than specializing as well. I cut back on my work schedule for the summer and since cans are on the front line when I need extra cash have had to give up a few that I really liked, but I have picked up a couple of nice high pros that I like as well. It's just nice getting new stuff even when I am selling for the most part. I don't have any OI's so think I will pick one of yours to make a run at. Good luck on whatever you collect next.

My two cents, if you're looking for a new angle to collecting, is to find something that catches your eye. "50s cans were a good suggestion, along iwth the ever-popular cans from your city and/or state. Something that can be fun and challenging to a degree (there is no fun if there is no grail to chase), but something else that just appeals to you. I'm glad to hear you kept a few of the OI's- I'm sure there are some of those cans that have stories or special memories attached to them that give them value far beyond money.

Best of luck with whatever you choose to pursue.

I'd say that if you're looking for something new to start collecting try to stay away from the specifics that everyone is suggesting. The issue with collecting something specific, like a state or a city or 50's, is that you will end up in the same exact situation in a few years that you are in now, painted into a corner with no prospect of getting new material or where new material comes at extreme cost. Collect in a way that is very open ended so that you will not run out of things to collect and be in this position again. Just my opinion, and we all know what opinions are like...

I always thought collecting by a decade by decade evolution of the beer can would be interesting. Meaning collect cans from each decade those cans which graphically or by name have
a strong connection to each respective decade in your opinion....Ex.Glory B, Nu Deal for
30’s....OD for 40’s....Set cans for 50’s....Playmate, 007, Astro
For 60’s...just a thought.

Good luck Rand on your new journey. Thanks so much for the "Rand" me downs!

a new collecting consideration...all the killer 30s and 40s flats that should have been o/I s ....clipper, log cabin, shamrock ,cab ,Coronado , chief ,brownie...fill those shelfs right back up at least four of those will be at Omaha....

shubmcs wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 12:25 am a new collecting consideration...all the killer 30s and 40s flats that should have been o/I s ....clipper, log cabin, shamrock ,cab ,Coronado , chief ,brownie...fill those shelfs right back up at least four of those will be at Omaha....

Falcon....Siesta....Glacier....SuperX.....GloryB....Lisco....Primo....NuGlobe.....Hollywood Ranch.....yea, the concept isn't lost on me. I've been drooling over them for a while, but I was true to my first love. Now that the divorce has happened, I need to get me one of those "swipe right" apps on my phone.

Rand :-)

Can't believe you forgot Niborg

Mmmm...Hollywood Ranch Market....(in my best Homer Simpson voice)

I too, felt painted into a corner a few years ago when you can't find anything in your niche.
My solution today is that my " collection " is actually a few different collections of a handful of specific focuses. Inevitably one "area" will hit a drought or become so red hot that prices are rediculously high. I just shift my emphasis to one of the other areas of my collection and it rekindles my enthusiasm also. The other advantage is I'm not so limited in focus when I'm at a show or online....it's like having several fishing lines going all the time. You never know when you'll get a bite.

cantankerous wrote: ↑Fri Jul 13, 2018 9:46 pm My solution today is that my " collection " is actually a few different collections of a handful of specific focuses. Inevitably one "area" will hit a drought or become so red hot that prices are rediculously high. I just shift my emphasis to one of the other areas of my collection and it rekindles my enthusiasm also. The other advantage is I'm not so limited in focus when I'm at a show or online....it's like having several fishing lines going all the time. You never know when you'll get a bite.

Ooooo.....I like that. Hummm......Dr Pepper, 30s non-OI, Log Cabin Syrup, and Set Cans.....yea....I think we're getting there! :-)

I am literally moving, so a little late to reply.

Rand,
You put together an amazing collection! I understand your reasoning for your breaking up the band. I have reinvented my collection numerous times. Having it is nice, but for me the thrill of the hunt is as much fun as the collection itself. I look forward to your next endeavor.
Cheer
Greg

good luck Rand on your new seek and conquer tour, hopefully some of your cans will be displayed on my shelf

Thanks Rand for getting me started on OI's. You were one of the guys that got me going as a young collector. I appreciate all the info you've given me and the cans I've been able to snag. Truly one of the best in the hobby.

Collect the cans of Pacific Can Co. A little bit of everything from the 30's to the 50's.

Or try to find your birthday Lucky Lager.