Smorgasboarder_16_March-2013

PEOPLE: COLLECTORS
“IF I FIND A NEW BOARD THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM…
OR I’LL MAKE ROOM.”
READY, SET …GO!
“I probably really started to get stuck into the
collecting side of surfing in my middle to late
30’s and I’d collect anything I could find to do
with surfing and skateboarding. I already had a
few artefacts, but around this time I consciously
decided I was going to go after stuff.
Then suddenly, everywhere I went, I would see
something that I’d want, so I decided to grab
everything I could: surfboards, skateboards,
video tapes, magazines, records, posters and
signs. Next thing you know I’m heavily involved
in collecting, dealing and selling.
“I really just started this for me personally and
the love of surfing. Now, I’m struggling to fi nd
the time to go look for these items but I’m still
just as keen to collect anything I can get my
hands on. Skateboards from the late ‘60s or ‘70s
would be the thing I’m most keen to get hold
of at the moment, but I think right now they
are the hardest things to fi nd. Or if I do fi nd
one, people are just asking too much money for
them. I’d also like to find more twin fi ns like the
Klemm-Bell I have here but they didn’t make
many twinnies and they’re really hard to find.”
TOTAL CONTROL?
“Well, it’s not ‘under control’ it’s just controlled
by how much the boards are to buy. If I see a
skateboard or a surfboard that’s not too expensive,
I will keep buying them. But, I’m not going
to the markets as much as I used to. School
fees cost a lot of money, so when that fi nishes
I can probably go and collect whatever I like.
But, if there was something I really wanted or
worth something, I’d find the money somehow.”
IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME
“There was a single fi n Piping Hot surfboard,
brand new, mint condition I’d come across
about two years ago. I found it at the tip in
a soft cover and paid only $5 bucks for it! It
must have been sitting in someone’s shed for
years, unused. I ended up selling it to another
collector who he gave me $250 for it. Oh, it
makes me feel sick! I’m kicking myself over letting
that one go, but I sold it and a few others
because I wanted... needed to get my Sandman
panelvan on the road.”
Cole shows off his pride and joy Klemm-Bell. Photos: Simon Kettle
MAKING ROOM
“If I fi nd a new board there’s always room…
or I’ll make room. I come out into the ‘Surf
Shack’ and look where I can move this board or
that board. All of the things I’ve collected are
out here or around the back of the house. My
wife doesn’t really want this all coming into
the house, which is fair enough. I do give her a
call if I fi nd something new or if we’re together
I can just talk to her but she’ll probably just
say, ‘oh, not another one!’ (Laughs) But she
understands that it’s a passion for me.”
TO THE GRAVE
“Well, it has to be the Klemm- Bell. When I
found that board - which was only a couple of
dollars from the tip too - I had an artist paint
the picture on it and it symbolized my mark. It
has a diamond tail, and I just love the thick rails
and the fi n on it. I had a couple of other Klemm-
Bell boards but I moved them on. This is the
last one I have, and I’ll never get rid of it.”
ADVICE TO THE INNOCENT
“If someone wants to start collecting today,
should they go for the old stuff or the new stuff
that might be collectible in 30 years’ time?
Mmmm… If they go with the old stuff, I’d say
it would be pretty hard to start something up
unless they’ve got a lot of money. Even finding
the little things, like old VHS tapes are so hard
to fi nd now. You could go to the tip for a whole
month and fi nd nothing. Even the tips know
what things are worth these days! There’s
probably more of a chance to get into the
modern stuff and wait to see what happens in
the future.”
94
SMORGASBOARDER | MAR/APR 2013