#0006 Rubbers

The collector: Anon, Warwickshire (UK).  (This collector has asked us to withold his identity in order to preserve his livelihood).

The collection:  Rubbers, of the correcting pencil variety.

Tell us the story behind your collection...
It all started when I was very young and relatives would buy me a fun one.  On a Saturday we would go into town where there was a shop which was kept in business by small boys like me buying water pistols, magic tricks, multi-colour pens and of course erasers.  I then started to add rubbers from places we visited on school trips or holidays.

What is it you like about them?
Let me be absolutely clear about this.  I'm not actively collecting any more. I think I probably felt that the collection was complete when I reached the age of 11.  At about that time I first encountered girls and I'd like to rhink that I realised citing "rubber collection" as a hobby wasn't going to make me irresistable to them.  I have since dabbled with collecting cars but one of the girls eventually became a wife and prefers the rubbers to the V8s.

How long have you been collecting and how many do you have?
I collected between the ages of about 7 and 11 and have over 80.  I'm sure there were many more but those which are left were the ones I thought worth keeping.

Is your collection kept in a special place or displayed in a particular way?

Other rubber collectors, if indeed there are any, will shudder to hear that they are crammed into an old margarine container which is itself in a box of childhood treasures (battered old cars, bits of lego, soft toys with limbs missing, my cap and woggle from cubs et al) in the loft.  This is the first time that they have seen the light of day for many years.  I hope the webmaster knows how to treat these delicate objects..

Which is your favourite?
The red Ghetto blaster which is an image of the 80's.

Images © Helen Powell.