"Traditional" Habits

OK, I felt I had to drag mine out......the little fob knife that is.....oh, the watch you say...

The story is : from my granddads brother who was a conductor on the Santa Fe between KC and Albq.( Began in Steam era).. Brother to Brother, to his son, to son....not soon to my nephew if I am lucky..

300Bucks
watch.jpg
 
Last edited:
Hats!

A couple years ago I moved to a new employer with a conservative business formal dress code. This has made me look at some things differently. Whereas before I was a ball cap or straw hat kinda guy now I find myself with a Panama, some flat caps, and 4 fedoras. I think a sharp hat compliments a suit nicely.

Of course that work dress code is rubbing off on my private time as well, as I now own more khakis than ever before and I don't own any jeans (that fit me :p).

Mike, I have a small collection of ballcaps.The best quality caps are at ebbets.com. I found them looking for a high quality fitted cap. The materials and construction are outstanding and they are most comfortable.Best of all they are made in Seattle.

300, I have a similar Utica. Your bolsters look like NS, whereas mine are stamped liners.It's the one with the ad.

P1010022-2.jpg
 
Last edited:
In addition to traditional knives, I like old fountain pens and of course guns.

I also keep an eye out for old axes and hatchets, and I like old bits and spurs and various kinds of old western tack. I wish I still had the old high back saddle I broke colts with when I was a kid...it would likely be more comfortable to my now aging back than my (mid 90's) trophy saddle. :)
 
When I want Bluegills for dinner I break out some "modern" cane poles for my daughters and myself and away we go.I keep bacon grease in the freezer for cooking Venison and we grow a garden,just like Dad and Grandpa did.
As far as collecting I like old knives,ammo & boxes,fishing gear/lures and Bell Aircraft/Aerospace.I like just about anything used by the greatest generation and back.
 
I dig old airplanes. I obviously cannot collect them but I really think melting down all those beautiful propeller planes after WWII was just a crying shame.

I also dig old tractors. I have one classic, a Ford 9N, 1948. Works great 62years on...ten years older than I am. I hope to get my hands on a International H and/or M model some day...the classic red tractor.
 
I love Scotch.
Scotchy, scotch, scotch. ;)
Seriously, most of those distilleries were established in the 18th and 19th century. The roots and traditions of whiskey run deep. I love collecting single malts.
Also, I'm not much of an antiques guy (OK except for slipjoints) but I have my grandfathers flyrod from the 1940's, and yes, I do use it.
 
Sometimes you just can't beat old style clothing.

I've tried the nylon and gortex stuff as well as the poly fleece stuff. I'm done. I went back to old fashined knitted sweaters and waxed cotton shells, and I was happy again in winter. Snug and warm.

When I was a kid I used to wonder at why the old guys wore those brimed hats, like fedoras, and those fishing bucket hats in summer. Us kids were always happy with a ball cap. Wasn't till I got to be one of those older guys, that I grew to apreatiate a hat with a brim that goes all the way around.

And I grew to love the hand tools. No power cord or battery pack to charge up. I recently had to replace the top rails on my bakc deck where a woodpecker made some holes. I cut both to size with my old hand saw, and totally enjoyed the zzzz, zzzz, zzzz, of the saw. Evey pull was a little cascade of sawdust, and after I felt like I had done a better job. Like it was a small victory over the wood with a hand saw. Not to mention quieter. If I just need to drill a few holes, I have a nice old brace and bit, or for small jobs, a Yankee drill. The kids and grandkids have never seen one used, and were amazed at making a hole with no power used. I told them the Amish can put up a whole barn in one day with hand tools. They think I'm kidding them, then I told them to go rent the Harrison Ford movie Witness.

Sometimes I think the Amish are smarter than us.
 
I still hold and open doors. (Even when doing so results in dirty looks)
Still say sir and mam.
Still try to drive so as to not cause others to hit their brakes or impede traffic flow. (Hey I have lived in Bastidville for over 35 years and still have not put a dent in a car so it must be working.)
My favorite pen is a "Vacumatic".
Still prefer a cane pole (unless I am fishing salt water :D).
I'll be eating my first two home grown tomatoes of the season for dinner tonight and can not wait.
If it is not made from cotton, I will not wear it. Hate that feeling of plastic against my skin.

Not that these habits are Native American in origin, but sometimes especially when I am in a remote area maybe camped out by a stream with good friends and good dogs, I start thinking that the Indians actually had it "right" in a lot of ways.
 
Sorry about the pics, but I couldn't get them to come out clear... :(
These were my grandads watches. Its been awhile since I had them out to look at them.
The one with the blue hands ( top pic )is an Elgin, the other just says Engineer on the face. The Engineer watch has an old train engraved on the back, but the pic was so blurry I didn't bother posting it.

DSC02134.jpg

DSC02133.jpg
 
Last edited:
Heres my newer Waltham. It seems to find itself on my wrist now and then. Antimagnetic from the 50's-60's
Bob Burns looks like he likes it.
P1010013-4.jpg
 
I carry a pocket watch everyday that my mother gave me some 35 years ago. It's a manual wind Hamilton that she bought from LL Bean. The last generation of USA-made manual-wind pocket watches. I check the time every morning when I wind it for the day. I sometimes go a week without having to adjust the time.

I have a penchant for big band jazz from the 30's and 40's.


100_3064.jpg
 
Not really a traditional habit, but I do use this on occasion. My Grandfather's Elgin pocket watch which he received when he retired from the Waialua sugarcane company here in Hawaii (There are no plantations left here on Oahu, or anywhere else in the state if IIRC). The chain and fob is what I added to this heirloom (it would have been a bit extravagant for a retired field worker during the depression I would think:eek:). I couldn't think of anything to post till I saw Blues' post...thanks Elliott:D
DSC01197.jpg

DSC01198.jpg
 
Lot of very beautiful old watches on show here:thumbup:

But, you do realise that even wrist watches are becoming Trad or Old School these days what with the carrying of mobile phones and other electronic items:eek:

My Trad habits, shaving with a brush and cream with a DE razor. Old gardening books or garden tools. Coins used to interest me a lot when young, I need to look into that neglected collection. I refuse to drink tea or coffee out of anything other than a cup, those horrible styrofoam fast food to go things degrade the taste and smell. Is listening to Miles a Trad habit? Not Trad Jazz of course...

Comoha's interest in Scotches reminded me of mine in vineyards and their produce:D Wine is thousands of years old,most traditional!
 
Last edited:
Heres my newer Waltham. It seems to find itself on my wrist now and then. Antimagnetic from the 50's-60's
Bob Burns looks like he likes it.
Hey Navihawk - Gimme back, gimme back my bullets!!! :thumbup: +1
 
Not really a traditional habit, but I do use this on occasion. My Grandfather's Elgin pocket watch which he received when he retired from the Waialua sugarcane company here in Hawaii (There are no plantations left here on Oahu, or anywhere else in the state if IIRC). The chain and fob is what I added to this heirloom (it would have been a bit extravagant for a retired field worker during the depression I would think:eek:). I couldn't think of anything to post till I saw Blues' post...thanks Elliott:D
DSC01197.jpg

DSC01198.jpg


Thats a sweet looking watch :thumbup:

Lot of very beautiful old watches on show here:thumbup:

But, you do realise that even wrist watches are becoming Trad or Old School these days what with the carrying of mobile phones and other electronic items:eek:

My Trad habits, shaving with a brush and cream with a DE razor. Old gardening books or garden tools. Coins used to interest me a lot when young, I need to look into that neglected collection. I refuse to drink tea or coffee out of anything other than a cup, those horrible styrofoam fast food to go things degrade the taste and smell. Is listening to Miles a Trad habit? Not Trad Jazz of course...

Comoha's interest in Scotches reminded me of mine in vineyards and their produce:D Wine is thousands of years old,most traditional!

Yep. I still wear a Timex that isn't digital :eek: I went through a period where I had some nice higher end watches. I liked them fine, but I always go back to the Timex.

Hey Navihawk - Gimme back, gimme back my bullets!!! :thumbup: +1


I caught that too. Boy they sure look young
 
Hey Navihawk - Gimme back, gimme back my bullets!!! :thumbup: +1

My brother in law had that cd in a bin to go to newbury to cash in. I grabbed it.Free Bird in its original recording sounds better than the released version in my opinion. A great cd.

A 70's vintage Seamaster.Not my favorite of the Seamasters but its nice.

P1010100.jpg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top