So I was cleaning out my attic and stumbled upon a box of old airline ashtrays. Not sure how they ended up there, but they're kind of cool. There's one from Pan Am, another from TWA, and a couple from airlines I've never heard of. They're all glass with little logos on them. I know smoking on planes was a thing back in the day, so are these worth keeping or even valuable? Anyone else have a collection like this? I'd love to know if these are collectible or just nostalgic junk. Also, how do you guys store small items like this? They seem a bit fragile, and I'd hate to break them while figuring out what to do with them. Any advice or thoughts would be great!
Found a Set of Vintage Airline Ashtrays - Worth Keeping?
I'd definitely hang onto those ashtrays. Anything from Pan Am and TWA has a bit of nostalgia attached, and they could be worth something, especially to aviation collectors. Even the lesser-known airlines might pique someone's interest. I've seen similar items go for decent prices at auctions. For storage, maybe get a small display case, something like a shadow box? Keeps 'em safe and you can enjoy looking at them without handling them too much. Do you know if any of them have specific dates or unique designs? That might add to their value.
Definitely keep them! Airline memorabilia can be pretty collectible, and anything from Pan Am and TWA tends to have some fans. The lesser-known ones might interest niche collectors too. As for storing them, I'd suggest small display cases or even shadow boxes. Keeps them safe and you can show them off at the same time. I've seen some folks use old wooden cigar boxes with foam inside, too. Just be careful if you decide to sell-do a bit of research first!