Thoughts on Muggle artifacts...

"Mr Weasley's shed of Muggle artifacts contains, among other things, two Remington Noiseless Portable Typewriters and an HP Laserjet 4"   I found this while poking around on IMDB, and it made me think about all of the things that we all have that might be considered quirky artifacts.  And things that I used to use quite commonly, that now would be thought of as artifacts.   Example: I learned to type on an electric typewriter with a manual carriage return.  I then graduated to an IBM Selectric (which had a ball - very cool at the time).  The Selectric weighed a ton and took up tons of desk space.  And had no correct tape.   Lest you think I am ancient, please keep in mind this was when I was 15 (and both of these were hand-me-downs).  I'm no teen, but I'm under 40.  I don't have either of these objects any more, but I'm sure Mr. Weasley would love them. 


Other things I have used which would now be artifacts:  5 1/4 inch floppy disks.  DOS programs like WordStar.  2400-baud modems.  I was exposed to a lot of technology (which was cutting edge at the time) when I was a pre-teen, and technology has grown in leaps and bounds.  I remember when a tape Walkman was the coolest thing and really expensive (and I remember my cousin crying at Christmas because she didn't get one. I didn't either, but didn't see the need for tears).

Things I have and love that are artifacts:  antique glass ink bottles, antique bottles (my new favorite is an embalming fluid bottle from the 1930s), wood card catalogs (I use them to store jewelry and other small things) and an antique ice chest.  I, like Mr. Weasley, find some fascination in old objects such as tins, bottles, and antique spool cabinets.  I find comfort in using or re-purposing something that has had a long life, and like imagining who had it before me.  I don't collect as much as Mr. Weasley, but I think he and I might have a good time comparing collections.

So -- anything of your own you think Mr. Weasley would like?