This is my father Harry Gruber-
He was the first one in the family not to go into the family business . He got a scholarship to the Royal High School in Edinburgh, went onto Edinburgh University and became a solicitor. He died 1986.
Collected Jane’s Fighting Ships, bought me Military Modelling on his way home from work when it first came out, took me to museums , was fascinated by the Romans, drove me to Hadrian’s Wall where he got me Roman nails ( for a boyhood museum in a box) and guide books, encouraged my interest through Almark books and died a relatively young man.
After his death , when clearing out the attic l found his collection of Airfix vehicles and figures, collected and boxed into units, figures in envelopes marked and identified. Lots of the made Airfix post war missiles too. I heard that they were up there because my late mother felt it wasn’t a suitable hobby for one in the Law. Hence the project stalled and stopped completely.Later on when l had to down size l passed the collection on.
This blog wouldn’t be here today had l not been encouraged at an early age. Thank you Dad!
A nice tribute and insight into your hobby beginnings. Happy Father's Day.
ReplyDeleteStephen
I am reminded of the words of the immortal Lance in the Detectorists "Men have hobbies and women don't understand them, that's the way it's always been. I mean, how many female train spotters are there? How many women commit to an afternoon reorganising their vinyl in alphabetical order? You don't want to spend an evening with a beautiful woman just comparing comic book collections, do you? What you want is your partner to shake her head, roll her eyes and look at you and say "You and your hobbies! I'll never understand men."" :o)
ReplyDeleteLong time ago now but I have only ever met one such ‘mythical creature’, a female vinyl (and CD and video / DVD? ) collector who kept everything in alphabetical order ... very impressive and time saving.
DeleteHappy Father’s Day! It sounds like we were both fortunate to have had encouraging Dads. Like yours, mine took me to the odd museum (those in reach by public transport) and bought home Military Modelling each month, having read the History articles on the train.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt as a REME National Serviceman late 1950s (and as a wartime evacuee child) he also found the old equipment articles and the new and upgraded (George Forty?) articles on emerging vehicles and kit and weapons details interesting. He also must have realised how easily distracted or occupied for days I could be with making a new Airfix kit (despite the mess, well worth the money) and encouraged toy soldier games at floor or garden level. I have a picture of him on or near my modelling desk, so he is still part of the fun. He would still enjoy that I have spent time building up and repairing a lead toy soldier / animal collection for gaming. Good ‘play value’ as my Mum and Dad always said.
I’m sure Star Wars however was a mystery to him. I wonder if the D&D / 40K generation coming through will have such memories of fatherly input, as I confess myself nonplussed and puzzled by it all ...
My dad was a model railway man really, but he did make and paint for me several WW2 aircraft and battleships when I was at an impressionable age - and I remember he (and my mum) on a production line of painting Airfix Napoleonic highlanders for me - no doubt using Humbrol gloss enamel paint! A few years later, when I was 13 or 14, he took me and a couple of spotty, like-minded mates, down to Edinburgh one year and Glasgow another, to visit the only proper wargames shows I have ever attended. Not sure he would have really "got" the gaming side of things, but he would have appreciated the scenery and modelling aspects! As it happens, he was also a solicitor, and I don't think my mum was all that enamoured of toy trains OR toy soldiers, but at least she tolerated his hobby!
ReplyDeleteNice tribute. Too bad your mother didn't approve of his hobby.
ReplyDeleteI do know plenty of women who have hobbies, from crafts of various sorts to gaming and "even" painting miniatures. Personally, I like women who are just as nerdy as me. :D
Sadly, my father was the opposite of supportive.
I totally missed this one as Father’s Day fall on another date in Norway. I love your post Alan, and your dad must have been wonderful introducing you to military modelling and encouraging and inspiring you to develop your hobby into what it has become today. What a find to find some of his collections! -Too bad there are nothing left of my father's tin soldiers from his childhood.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was also the one introducing me for both (British) model railways (in 00) and military modelling. The very first set of toy soldiers I got was the Airfix 1/32 Americans. He was also bringing me around to a lot of (military) museums, which is something I enjoys doing today as well. -So today I’m into model railways, military modelling and I work at a museum!!
It seems that we should both be grateful for our Dads!
Thanks for sharing Alan!