KEY POINTS:
Beebopaloola! This man is a serious rock fan, trapped in the body of a sober corporate executive - and an ardent classic American comic devotee to boot.
Paul Zuckerman developed his love of rock 'n' roll growing up in the 1960s in one of its heartlands, New Jersey.
Jiving to the catchy tunes spinning out of his family vinyl records and bopping along in arcades to the songs pouring from jukeboxes left a deep impression on this American who moved his family to New Zealand this year.
Zuckerman, chief executive of Fletcher Building's steel division which makes $1.1 billion in annual sales, is a major collector of classic American memorabilia.
The chemical engineer has antique American comics, old records, Wurlitzer jukeboxes and pinball machines. Antique scuba-diving equipment and an extensive American coin collection are other eclectic items Zuckerman has amassed over the years.
"I wouldn't call myself a large collector. I have small collections of some high-impact things in a few areas. Those are things that I really enjoyed as a child and that enjoyment got me to look into the development of where these things came from and work backwards to appreciate the history of these items."
Zuckerman does not collect for sheer investment or monetary value.
"I'm not exactly sure what these things are selling for. They would have done well considering most of my comics were bought for less than US40c (52c) each.
"However, I don't keep anything for the money. For me the pleasure is in the memories of yesterday and the smile it brings to people's faces when they see each item."
His paperback comic collection is relatively small and specialised, including original Spider-Man comics from the 1960s, old Superman and Captain America comics.
In New Jersey, he bought two Wurlitzer jukeboxes built in 1955 and 1957. From California came two pinball machines built in 1965 and 1966.
But until the family (wife Nicole and children Jack, Natilie and Sarah) leaves rental accommodation in Ponsonby for a house they plan to buy, this fan can't show off his collections.
"The jukeboxes are in New Zealand in storage. The pinball machines are stored in the US," Zuckerman said wistfully.
"We'd certainly like to get the jukeboxes out when I buy a house. They need to be in a big-sized room or in the United States, typically in a basement."
Also locked in storage are hundreds of 33rpm and 45rpm vinyl records with original labels and artwork.
Zuckerman loves to see records play and says inserting a music tape or compact disc just doesn't hold the same magic.
"If I have a choice, I'll always play vinyl."
The coin collection centres on two specialist items: Indian-headed pennies and buffalo nickels.
"Hundreds of them, currency minted as far back as 1877," said Zuckerman. "Buffalo nickels were popular around the 1930s and they're very nice coins. Even my wife appreciates them!"
