Hi,
When i first started collecting bits and pieces of electronic stuff, it was just a box of bits. Then later more boxes of bits would get added. Then later the boxes got arranged into rough groupings of components, boards, chassis type bits and small transformers.
I expect that people who go in for these sort of interests, the way that collections are organised and stored are very personal and the degree of conformity to a structure is probably only evident with resistors, and maybe capacitors. Those who have extensive collections of valves will often group them in types of their base fitting. Exceptions are those valves which are regarded seperately from the rest, and will often have their own place, which may or may not be amongst the majority of the collection.
Finding or looking for a particular valve is not a problem for me, unless its a 'B9A' type. That type is probably the most common type, i have too many of them to be sure of having or not having any particular type. The other types are in cardboard boxes, and fairly easy to look through.
I did go to quite a bit of trouble to sort out my components.
Sort of got the resistors sorted fairly easily.
Fixed(x hiwatts), Variable, Hi Wattage types(inc droppers), Specials.
FIXED types.
These are the most common types that i have. They are just small low wattage resistors divided up into six cardboard boxes, six value ranges.
Under 100 ohms.
Under 1 K ohms.
Under 10 K ohms.
Under 100 K ohms.
Under 1 M ohms.
Any higher values.
VARIABLES
These were subdivided, smaller little ones were put in with the appropriate resisistor boxes.
Ones big enough to have knobs fitted were given a box of their own.
Tandem and multiple types have been lumped together with anything odd in the variable resistor range.
These categories kind of overlap a bit too, but when looking for a given type it helps.
HI WATTAGE
Pretty self explanatory. I used to call this box 'Big resistors' cos most of them are big.
Droppers and such like resistors.
This category merits its own collection as resistors intended to handle higher wattages are a group apart.
My collection of these is not large, just a small boxfull. If i dont have the exact one i want, i will "make one up" from the ones i have, then i can purchase one to suit later if i want to.
SPECIALS.
This group includes my personal collection of "body-end-spot" types, which are "age-related" and reserved for appropriate equipment. Also any very old or weird types. Some home made ones out of very old stuff.
*****************
Sorting out the capacitors was far more involved. My capacitors are still only partly sorted out.
The variables group is not sorted out, they are still just 'tidied away'
The electrolytics group is now in boxes according to working voltage, but its a wide value range epecially in the lower voltages.
The paper types are still not sorted.
The AC working types are now grouped in their own box.
The very high voltage types now have their own box.
*****************
As for the rest of the stuff, i try to keep 'like with like' but thats as far as it goes.
*****************
I have a liking for older type meters, i have been photographing them, I've compiled about a third so far.
John