It's been talked about in other threads, but the topic deserves its own thread.
Who collects swimming memorabilia? What's in your collection? Pictures? Autographs? Ribbons? Medals? Here is the place to talk about objects and artifacts you have that relate to the history of the sport of swimming.
OK, I'll start. Since I seem to have a 'bad girl' thing going with a surprise Eleanor Holm autograph, I thought an autographed copy of FHM with Amanda Beard (World's Sexiest Athlete cover) would be an essential. I saw one today on eBay and bought it for $10.49. In my lifetime, it may achieve an auction value greater than that. :cane:
I may have to bring a copy of the Amanda issue of Playboy to the Olympic Trials (in a plain brown wrapper, of course) and hunt her down for an autograph. For lack of a better description, signed copies of FHM and Playboy would make a nice pair.
:kiss1:
Former Member
As a small boy growing up in Coral Gables, FL I used to attend Univ. of Miami swim meets at the Biltmore Hotel along with the old time water shows. I got both Duke Kahanamoku & Johnny Weissmuller's autograph there.
The coolest swimming memorabilia I ever saw was Graham Johnston's wood kick board he used as a young boy in South Africa. It is on display in the ISHOF in Fort Lauderdale. Priceless....
I've posted this before in a different thread but here it is again. Brian Goodell from a swim camp I went to in Bozeman, MT in 1982
forums.usms.org/attachment.php
When The Ohio State University built their new facility, the old one Larkins Hall was bulldozed to make room for a new Student Rec Center. Before the building was raised, OSU was selling everything from the Mike Peppe Aquatic Center in Larkins Hall. I ran into OSU Coach Bill Wadley and asked him what was left from the sale. He let me know that really all that was left were the blocks to lanes #2-6. I asked why anyone would want the slow lane of #1, and to put me down for block #3. Well, I purchased it and installed it on the deck of my backyard pool next to the diving board. So, it is the block that Barrowman, Dolan and any other Olympian from the Big Ten between the years of '88 and 2005 started off of. My son's use it everyday during the summer. Needless to say, their oldman trys to correct all mistakes between games of Catch. Being born and raised in Ohio, the Buckeyes were ingrained into me. Living in Columbus, it is like having a goal post of swimming in my backyard. My sons also have autographs of Klete Keller and Diana Munz.
I keep it covered during the summer unless we are using it and removed and bagged in my garage during the winter. It is a pretty hardy stainless steel block with nonslip material on top. I believe it was homemade by the Engineering Department of OSU. Larkins Hall was built in 1922 and had the high flat walls. So the block is short but pretty indestructable. I believe it was installed sometime in the mid 80's. We keep age group records in all events the home PC. Down and back is quite close to being equivalent to 25 meters. My 10 year old son holds all of the 10 and under records. I own all of the male 35-39 and 40-45 records. My wife holds all of the 35-39 age records. My next door neighbor's daughter holds all of the girls 10 and under records. We use a set of Harley Davidson flags we picked up at the local dealership. We have quite a swim meet while the parents are kicking back drinking margarita's. It becomes quite fun and usually finishes with a late night game of water volleyball.
So David, are you in the picture? If so, which one are you?
No, I was in a different part of the picture. It's a big picture with probably 70 people, mostly kids, and didn't want to post the whole thing (it would be huge).
We keep age group records in all events the home PC. Down and back is quite close to being equivalent to 25 meters. My 10 year old son holds all of the 10 and under records. I own all of the male 35-39 and 40-45 records. My wife holds all of the 35-39 age records...
May I come over to your house? I want to set all of the women's 45-49 records. It will probably be the only time in my life I ever hold records. :)
Anna Lea
