Man Collects 500+ Traffic Cones After Winning Legal Battle

David Morgan turned a courtroom victory into the world's most unusual hobby, and his passion for traffic cones has been making people smile for nearly four decades.

The West Oxfordshire sales director first started gathering traffic cones in 1986 when his plastics company faced a legal challenge. A competitor claimed they'd copied a cone design, so Morgan traveled across England collecting different models to prove the design existed before.

He won the case. But something unexpected happened next.

"I started collecting cones, and I haven't been able to stop," Morgan told the Oxford Mail. What began as evidence became a world record verified by Guinness World Records.

Morgan's collection has grown from 137 cones to over 500, each with its own story. His most prized possession is a 1956 Lynvale rubber cone from Scotland. He even snagged a rare 1980 Adapterform model at a Corsica airport during his 1988 honeymoon.

The collector follows strict ethical rules. He never takes cones from active work sites and only collects abandoned ones, sometimes left behind for 15 years after roadworks finish.

"I usually ask the foreman, but most of the cones I get have been stuck on their own for years," he explained. His favorite finds come from unexpected places like village halls and funeral homes, which often have unique models.

Sunny's Take

Morgan's enthusiasm is contagious. "There are so many different shapes, sizes and colors. And the models are always changing," he said.

His family has adapted to the quirky collection. Wife Breda admits "mowing the lawn is difficult when they're out in the garden," but keeps them stored in subdued lighting to preserve their condition. Daughter Poppy scouts new cones for her dad, though she won't bring them home herself.

Morgan still searches for his "Holy Grail": a rare five-sided cone from Manchester. "I hear about sightings, but by the time I get there, they've gone. It's like looking for Elvis."

What started as legal research became a joyful lifelong pursuit proving that inspiration can come from the most unexpected places.