Ashtrays...

[crunchywasp]

Why the reluctance to sell these I wonder? I imagine the majority are manufactured in China and knocked out in abundance for pennies?

[matrigs]

someone explained a possible reason for this and told me that the people i asked might just have not grasped the reason someone would really want a 1$ blue ashtray with a few letters on it. like they would want to say - "mister, but this one is used. you definitely don't want this." if you think about it than this is in fact, kinda bizzare. try to imagine someone would ask at a macdonalds to obtain one of those hats the workers have on. or something similar - i guess that people wouldn't know what to do either.

about selling these - that's basically the same. taito has some shirts for share, different merch stuff. why would anyone ever want to buy a goddamn ashtray.

[crunchywasp]

Good point and great McDonalds hat analogy

[NASguy]

mad thieves in here

[gray117]

Ah but's what with nearly everything about this hobby/interest? ...

Not a smoker nor an ashtray owner; but I can see if not an active component, it's another kind of reference to the hobby/scene of arcades - people have thousands of pounds worth of games/posters/toys and an ashtray is another part of that.

I'm sure no one likes the fact they're appropriated, however as frequent as they may appear in hobbyist locales I really don't think there are mountains of them going missing too feed some ashtray market, especially compared to the mountains damaged/discarded through general use and wear...

[emphatic]

Stealing ashtrays is pretty common in the west. I'm sure Japan has kleptomaniacs as well. And as the staff at TAITO station get confused with people asking about buying them, has anyone just asked "can I have an ashtray, please?" then just take it and walk out through the exit with it clearly in hand? If you're not allowed to take them, just flash the Gaijin card and say "souvenir?" and just act surprised. Worst case we will find out if it's allowed or not, it's not like they would call the cops for a confused, Gaijin tourist?

[LoRez]

Apparently,if you can knock one out into it before you get spotted,you can keep it

[crunchywasp]

They've the same promotion on in the George department of our local Asda right now. I grabbed myself a cracking pair of slippers and a new tie

[rcaido]

If i ever go to Japan again, ill take those arcade stools...

[matrigs]

Stealing ashtrays is pretty common in the west. I'm sure Japan has kleptomaniacs as well. And as the staff at TAITO station get confused with people asking about buying them, has anyone just asked "can I have an ashtray, please?" then just take it and walk out through the exit with it clearly in hand? If you're not allowed to take them, just flash the Gaijin card and say "souvenir?" and just act surprised. Worst case we will find out if it's allowed or not, it's not like they would call the cops for a confused, Gaijin tourist?

given the politeness of these fellas this would probably even work. i guess you could also just take an ashtray still having a cigarette in your other hand just pretending to go out for a moment and have a smoke outside the venue, then just never return.

given the politeness of these fellas this might all work. i mean nobody would probably stop you. but i really didn't like the idea that the staff might get into trouble with their management for letting this one slip.

Ah but's what with nearly everything about this hobby/interest? ...

Not a smoker nor an ashtray owner; but I can see if not an active component, it's another kind of reference to the hobby/scene of arcades - people have thousands of pounds worth of games/posters/toys and an ashtray is another part of that.

I'm sure no one likes the fact they're appropriated, however as frequent as they may appear in hobbyist locales I really don't think there are mountains of them going missing too feed some ashtray market, especially compared to the mountains damaged/discarded through general use and wear...

you know you just would have to be there. these small ashtrays are like the most simple yet effective way of bringing you that real japanese arcade feel. and it's a great feel. i've been to dozens of arcades with different cabs, games, people, floors but every single place was connected by one thing - those round blue buggers. they are in your vision field when playing. they make you want them.

i mean like ray-ban wayfarers don't make you a hipster but boy are you close.

[NASguy]

Swiping an ashtray on holiday might not seem like a big deal, but you're only adding fuel to the already fragile tourist in Japan stereotype.

You just make life harder for some of us normal folks that don't justify stealing over videogames. Knowingly buying stolen goods is just as bad.

Why not start walking out with arcade stools/posters/Boss Coffee machine/anything that isn't bolted down.

It would all look just as good to recreate your authentic Japanese arcade experience at home.

[matrigs]

as i said i'm not particularly proud about it.

that's mostly my biggest concern that after a month really trying to be the model tourist with all the japanese savoir vivre aspects in mind i spoiled it so easily.

well the damage is done. no use in justifying.

[NASguy]

as i said i'm not particularly proud about it.

that's mostly my biggest concern that after a month really trying to be the model tourist with all the japanese savoir vivre aspects in mind i spoiled it so easily.

well the damage is done. no use in justifying.

Nah, not saying anyone is bad about taking one. They are probably .25 cent Chinese plastic, it's just not a great habit to encourage, which makes my view of the ashtrays in collections negative. People are basically showing off pictures of their stolen goods so proudly.

Can no one out there source similar trays and sell them screen printed? Shame is that would probably be illegal also.

[cools]

Can no one out there source similar trays and sell them screen printed? Shame is that would probably be illegal also.

Working on it. For the past couple of months.

The trays themselves aren't cheap, and getting someone that'll print a small run of them (they're tampo/pad printed) is fun.

"Similar" isn't good enough. It's possible to purchase cheap knockoffs in the UK in some nasty colourings, but the printing is the pain in the backside - it's not worth having a run of 500.

[Casey120]

I still have two that Daz made !

[NASguy]

Those look great, very authentic. Buy a pack of SevenStars and smoke up.

[Kaire]

You could just ask, like I did Got these in Osaka.

[monouchi]

If no ashtray, where should I put my 100yen coins.....?


...and **** rusty, dirty, smelly old cabs.
repainting cab #4 now.

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[Scaffa]

It's no different from people knicking the special pint glasses out a bar.

Looks stupid when they do it, the staff expect it (and groan) but in the comfort of your own home a Schofferhoffer in a Schofferhoffer glass is pretty damn good.

[jase]

Lets share the ashtray love.

Here is my current collection.


Ashtray collection by harrisonj38, on Flickr

I'm still on the lookout for the elusive Capcom tray.