For...A Bunch of Old Junk

Who will preserve the treasures of the 20th century? Well, I’ll give it a go, I guess.

I’m an avid yard-sale and estate-sale junkie, emphasis on “junk”. My interest in graphic design, interest in modern historical oddities, and no small amount of nostalgia has driven me to collect packaging, ephemera, and household consumer products from the 20th century. Far from “collectables”, these are the “forgettables” that defined generations so pervasively and subtly that they get overlooked and then forgotten. I’m keeping the memory alive of when beer cans had removable pull-tabs, McDonald’s had ashtrays, pantyhose came in huge Easter eggs, and Saltine crackers came in tins.

I’m working on MOCIO, or The Museum of Crap I Own, a website to collect, catalog, and share all of this, but it’s not quite ready yet. In the meantime, here’s a curated sneak-peek of some of what I’ve collected.

Remember: It’s not hoarding if you’ve got a display case!