Uploaded July 2011 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
This video features eccentric Maurice Collins, owner of a weird and wonderful collection of off- beat antique gadgets-including the world's first ever Sat Nav. Maurice has recently been named bid TV's Best British Collector.
Former printer Maurice, 76, began gathering strange devices and inventions 35 years ago when he took his teenage son to a rubbish dump near their home to go 'bottle digging'.
Since then he has amassed close to 1,600 items ranging from a clockwork burglar alarm to an electric hair-restoring comb.
He is also the proud owner of two clockwork teasmaids, a finger stretcher and a mechanical envelope sealer.
Father-of-two Maurice Collins said: ''I don't think anyone else loves collecting 'thingy-me-bobs' from the past as much as I do.
''I started in around 1976 and since then it has become a bit of a hobby.''
After collecting the £2,000 prize from bid tv to celebrate the launch of their Collectibles Club, Maurice added: ''I am thrilled. I will give the money to the charity I set up, Kith & Kids.''
This video features eccentric Maurice Collins, owner of a weird and wonderful collection of off- beat antique gadgets-including the world's first ever Sat Nav. Maurice has recently been named bid TV's Best British Collector.
Former printer Maurice, 76, began gathering strange devices and inventions 35 years ago when he took his teenage son to a rubbish dump near their home to go 'bottle digging'.
Since then he has amassed close to 1,600 items ranging from a clockwork burglar alarm to an electric hair-restoring comb.
He is also the proud owner of two clockwork teasmaids, a finger stretcher and a mechanical envelope sealer.
Father-of-two Maurice Collins said: ''I don't think anyone else loves collecting 'thingy-me-bobs' from the past as much as I do.
''I started in around 1976 and since then it has become a bit of a hobby.''
After collecting the £2,000 prize from bid tv to celebrate the launch of their Collectibles Club, Maurice added: ''I am thrilled. I will give the money to the charity I set up, Kith & Kids.''
