vintage and antique-define them?

[teacher316]

I always thought vintage meant an item was older than 25 years. I looked up the definition though and I don't quite understand it. It does define antique as being older than 100 years. Can anyone clarify the term "vintage" for me?

[Eviecorn]

Vintage is anywhere from 20 to 99 years.  Antique is 100 or more.

[kaoskat]

I have no clue so I'm gonna just side with Evie.

[Sunshine]

Vintage is anywhere from 20 to 99 years.  Antique is 100 or more.

This is what I was taught as well...

It doesn't apply to vehicles though. Antique vehicles are 50years or older.

[Eviecorn]

Vintage is anywhere from 20 to 99 years.  Antique is 100 or more.

This is what I was taught as well...

It doesn't apply to vehicles though. Antique vehicles are 50years or older.

Vehicle licensing laws designate an antique vehicle by different terms from state to state in the US, but the national antique car association says it must be 45 years old at least.

[teacher316]

Sunshine and Eviecorn-did you read this somewhere? I had someone ask me today so I just wanted to refer to a site or something.

[NoPonySpecial]

I'm finding all kinds of definitions with Google. I was taught that an antique is something over fifty years old. I would refer to a ""vintage" product as being something that isn't produced anymore, or has been replaced with a different version of itself (example, Littlest Pet Shops aren't that old, but since there's a Gen 2 now, I'd call the 90's ones "vintage" just to differentiate between them.)

[BigHicks1977]

What I am about to say is my own terms and the years I use them in and I have a bunch of collector friends and they go by this as well 20-50 years old is vintage 50-99 we have always called classic and anything over 100 is antique but I have no idea if there is a list of official terms other than antique

[Sky_Rocket_Sammie]

Vintage=20-90-ish years old
Antique=100 years or older

And as others have said is correct regarding classic cars. 45 + for them.
For motor bikes the break down is a bit muddy.
Antique=At least 25 years of age. Restored to original manufacturer spec's.
Classic= Produced between the years 1925-1948 (with some over lap into the 50s).
Both of the above designations often vary by state and manufacture. With some states requiring bikes over a certain age be only for parade or display. Not street legal.

[rosierjay]

I'm finding all kinds of definitions with Google. I was taught that an antique is something over fifty years old. I would refer to a ""vintage" product as being something that isn't produced anymore, or has been replaced with a different version of itself (example, Littlest Pet Shops aren't that old, but since there's a Gen 2 now, I'd call the 90's ones "vintage" just to differentiate between them.)

as a personal definition i go with this.
on a grander scale.... well i just ignore the rules of the english language and make up my own definitions... so yeah. this.

[Sunshine]

I just... because of my mom and grandma, lol... they always had antique stuff and vintage stuff...

Technically now though, vintage seems to define anything from "the previous decade" so, things as young as 10 years are being "called vintage" - vintage clothing versus a vintage toy vs a vintage car...

(And are we splitting hairs much on the car thing? lol 5 years... sheesh. In the Motor City they only have to be 25 years to be registered as a "Historic" vehicle, which is also "Antique" in their terms...)

[andibgoode]

Most people will go with vintage being 20 years or older but the thought of things from 1993 being vintage is just weird to me. Haha. A lot of vintage (clothes) collectors will only consider anything from say the 20s-60s as vintage (before that is antique, I guess?). I would consider the 80s, at a stretch, vintage for clothes, but I wouldn't necessarily for other things.

I think it depends on the individual and on the items, as well. I collect a lot of vintage things (mainly clothes) but I don't collect anything antique.

[kiwimlp]

Vintage = old
Antique = older

[Sunshine]

Vintage = old
Antique = older

Best definition ever!

[Aquarel]

Around here if you want an oldtimer licence plate / together with the cheaper insurance, it's from 20 years on. A couple of more years and my gorgeous corolla would have fallen under that category.

I see the word vintage often used to describe old things :p Believe it or not but the years 1900 are already 13 years behind us.
Everything just goes so fast! A friend of mine is refurbishing an antique chest I got, the ladies grandmother used it to flee to the Netherlands during WWI, so I'd say that one counts as antique. Big oak chest and I love it, he's even making new hinges for it that really are replicas of the old ones.