Maybe the poll should be re-taken to just include "pre-war"

I owned 1 pre-war card prior to 2009 and have collected pre-war almost exclusively since then. I answered 41-45.

However, I started collecting as a kid in 72, buying all the current stuff, but I did end up with several cards from the 50's and 60's. So I suppose I could've answered in the 5-15 category depending on the definitions of "collect" and "Vintage"

Almost a baby boomer
 

I polled under the 16+ category. I almost qualified for the 5-15 year old category, as I had just turned 16 when I picked up my first pre-WW2 cards, after years of collecting contemporary issues. And since then I have never stopped vintaging.

Brian

When did you start collecting pre-war/vintage?
 

I started when I was 19 in College, would save all the money I could during my summer job to buy Goudeys and T206 cards. Then when I got out and had my first real job, I would spend Friday afternoons going to the local Boston Shops buying more of the same (many not around anymore). I had to sell my first collection when I got married and bought my first house. I was real happy that the PSA 7s and 8s from the 1933 Goudey cards started getting real high prices, it really helped. I wish I had some of those cards back, but feel if I did not, I would not know as much as I do now- what to buy and sell!

Jimmy

I picked up this beauty at All-Star Cards in Reseda when I was around 12 or 13 years old in '79 or '80. It is still one of my favorite cards in my collection.
JimB

http://img709.imageshack.us/img709/4483/batpsa35.jpg

15 and under ?
 

Yes, I can see a small group of collectors into prewar in their early teens ( I know the story of long time dealer Rob " forgot last name" buying prewar as a young kid, or the other guy who I read in old BB card mags who spent big money ( Who's money ? LOL ) on a T206 Wagner.
But the average young kid..I never recall seeing a kid playing ball wanting to "lift his leg like Mel Ott", or somebody on my little league team asking for Ty Cobbs number on his shirt"..my point being....maybe some "older collectors " memory is a little fuzzy, or their love for ball cards is so strong that they want to make it seem that even back in the day...they said " no to the 1963 Topps wax pack..and went for those ugly 63 Bazooka cards picturing players that looked like someones Grandfather! LOL