Clow’s fascination with a seemingly simple antique household tool called Sad Iron—a heavy, compact metal clothing iron that includes a removable handle—lead him to the life of a collector.

Empty shotgun shell boxes, fishing lures, marbles, arrowheads, license plates and coins are all items neatly catalogued in clear plastic storage bins and cabinets in Clow’s basement. They are all things Clow once collected or continues to collect.

Clow sets himself apart from true collectors “In my short experience with collecting, I’ve noticed that most true collectors do not sell items from their collection,” he said. However, he knows of some exceptions. He himself has sold many of his personal collectables. “I have also seen some collectors sell items from their collection because of financial hardship,” he said.

Over five years of serious collecting, Clow gathered an extensive collection, but there is one specific group of items—his collection of more than 300 old fashioned quart-sized oil cans and other Mobil Oil memorabilia. The collection includes a full-sized antique gas pump in mint condition. A couple years ago, Clow's oil can collection swelled to more than 2,000 cans after he bought a collection in bulk. Since then, many have been sold or traded to other collectors.

The oil cans and Mobil items that adorn Clow’s Grand Forks, N.D., home are displayed on shelves in his basement and home office. The antique gas pump serves as a centerpiece for his office. The walls of the office are decorated with metal Mobil signs. There is a case displaying Mobil toys and a shelf with Mobil oil cans arranged neatly across it. Near the computer on his desk is a rack of old road maps produced by the Mobil company.

All but one or two items in this room are original items. Clow prides himself on knowing the difference between a reproduction and an original piece. “I think I am pretty good at spotting a reproduction of the items I am familiar with,” Clow said.

Clow’s collection traces back to his father, Willie, who worked as a fuel agent for Mobil for 40 years. His responsibilities included delivering gas, diesel and fuel oil to residences, businesses, farmers and contractors. “I was always intrigued by oil and gas items, so when I started collecting them, it only seemed right to collect Mobil items in memory of my father,” Clow said. He added that his Mobil collection holds the most sentimental value for him.

Clow’s Mobil collection grew over the years thanks to a few different inlets. “I found most of my items at flea markets, auction sales, eBay and trading with other collectors,” he said.

His friend and favorite trading partner, Jay, is another avid collector. “We would proceed to my basement and do some serious trading. We had such a blast building our little piles until we came to an agreement on a fair trade. My wife would be upstairs and hear us giggling like little school children, (and she knew) the trading was on,” Clow said.

Some unique qualities of Clow’s collection are the elaborate designs painted on each can. The art on the cans helps Clow recognize the impact his collection has on people. He also has other brands of oil cans, including Texaco and Dura Oil, which was a brand of oil once produced in North Dakota.

These types of metal cans are no longer produced, which allows the value of Clow’s collection to increase. The most valuable can in his collection is a 1940s Texaco aircraft can valued at $575. His favorite Mobil item in the collection is a 30-inch Lollipop curbside sign, an item for which he paid $1,100. “The most challenging thing is the fact that I cannot afford all the things I would like to buy,” Clow said.

Clow’s favorite Mobil items include those with his father’s name on it. These are items such as promotional key chains, pens, pitchers, thermometers and calendars. These are some items that he said he probably would never sell or trade.

No matter the type of collection, there is a common goal amongst collectors. Clow said it's their quest to acquire an item in mint condition or as close to perfect shape as possible.

Clow believes the indicator of serious collector is having his or her items displayed for people to see. “I will never understand why you would want to collect something you could not display for your enjoyment and for the enjoyment of others to look at,” he said. “People that collect items and stack them up in the closet are missing the point.”

Besides enjoying displaying his collection, Clow said the most fun part of being a collector is going to auctions and flea markets to experience the thrill of visiting with other collectors and hunting for collectables.

Although at times collecting is tedious, Clow never tires of it. “I will collect until they plant me,” Clow said.