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Ask HN: What to get for my brother's 50th birthday?

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Ask HN: What to get for my brother's 50th birthday?

#1

Post by telesilla »

My brother, who works as hardware installation tech, is an absolute gem who loves communications hardware, radio and internet broadcast tech, cars, bikes, whiskey, camping. I've been looking for something magical, that he will find useful and unexpected.

Over the years I've bought him: expensive whiskey or bourbon, a metal detector, radio gear, antennas, camping gear.. I'm looking for something I wouldn't think of to surprise him. Even better, something he can do with the teenage kids.

Any ideas, of something you bought yourself or were gifted and love?

Re: Ask HN: What to get for my brother's 50th birthday?

#4

Post by telesilla »

groffee wrote: post #2

Was he into tech as a kid? Maybe something vintage that got him interested in tech as a kid that he can share with his own kids.

Yes he works in tech on the hardware side, he always regretted not being a programmer but I think he has more fun than me, given how stuffed full his office is of solder irons and boxes full of random connectors. Plus he gets to go outside and install equipment.

Re: Ask HN: What to get for my brother's 50th birthday?

#7

Post by christophilus »

A friend of mine bought me a fountain pen for my birthday. I expected to have it sit in my standard pile of pens, but no. I love that thing. I'd never have bought a fountain pen otherwise.

I've since purchased an inexpensive Muji pen. It comes with garbage ink, but I replaced that with a refillable cartridge and Parker ink. It's now my second favorite pen. (I say this simply to indicate that it doesn't have to be an expensive fountain pen.)

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