Hey there...
Great forum. I have been collection tins, signs and bottles since I was 4 or 5. When I was about 12 I was up the derelict allotments charging through the brambles and nettles looking for them. I had a decent collection too... although my father was always trying to get me to ditch the damaged examples, saying "why would you want a sign saying BP Moto Spi?! etc!
From 15 to 17 all I ever thought about was bottle digging. Myself and a couple of mates would cycle to the next town from school with spade, shovel and swan necked hoe across the handle bars to dig a huge 20's tip... all gone now. I got in to Urban exploration at 17 and that has been my obsession ever since, however I am still an avid collector of signs, bottles and tins.
In the end my parents got sick of the house looking "like Steptoe's yard" so it was get rid or move out. Of course I picked move out but my collection is spread over the two houses at the min until I can buy my own gaff and build a huge shad :)
Really enjoyed looking at your collections, so here are a few of mine. The other half are at the rent's, I'll photograph them when I can. After seeing what you guys have got, I feel I might as well roof the shed with mine! But there they are all the same...
This is a huge enamel advertising Brandauer Circular Pointed pens. I am an avid collector of all things Steel Pen, and I have been told by the Bham pen museum this is the only example they know of. The other two sections spell "Brandauer Circular Pointed Pens" Although I only have 2 of the 3 sections :(
Another Brandauer... this was snapped into 6 pecies. I welded it onto a sheet steel back and filled the holes. It's not the best sign in the world, but again could well be unique. The "C" seems to be a play on words for Circular Pointed and "see", although I might never know if that was the whole sign or not.
