You are right...many collectibles are no longer used as they were
intended. They are put in a vault or on a shelf. And the collectibles
don't necessarily have to be expensive to just sit. The ice cream
scoop collectors don't pay a whole lot for most of those early kitchen
tools. I'm going to guess the evening dish of B&J Chubby Hubby get's
scooped with a modern aluminum ice cream scoop.

I think it is unfortunate that price keeps old collectibles from being
used. I guess that's why I prowl real auctions, estate sales and flea
markets. I've found a working Zenith TO for $10.00, a National HRO 500
for $35.00 that only needed a new power cord, a National Panasonic
RF-5000b for $50.00, etc. All of them were in great cosmetic shape and
were put to work as found.