Might sound corny, but I can cook on the same stove that my grandfather and dad did when I was a kid, the same smell of the white gas and hiss. They are both gone now, but I've got the stove that we all enjoyed. For me those were great times...it cooked my first Rainbow trout!
Along those lines, I built a storage box for the lantern that I bought in my 20's, from some leftover marine mohagany. didn't really think about how old it was till I looked at the original box...it's 32 years old now! I decided it needed a special storage box. I've also collected several older lanterns dating back to the 20's as well as a number of stoves, a few shown below. I will probably build boxes for several of these lanterns also. I just think that there is beauty and joy in breaking out an 80 year old lantern and using it when camping.
Don't let any of the family stuff go by the wayside, if you can, acquire it and take care of it....there's good memories and lots of life in that equipment and if not operable, is easy to repair. Pass it on to your kids and hopefully they will to theirs! Doug