What began as a legal dispute over cone design in the 1980s turned into one of the most unusual Guinness World Records ever and a lifelong passion for one UK man. David Morgan, originally collecting cones to support his case in a workplace design dispute, went on to amass the largest collection of unique traffic cones in the world, a title confirmed by Guinness World Records in 2000.
At the time of verification, Morgan’s collection included 137 different types of traffic cones, representing around two-thirds of all cone variations ever produced. Since then, reports suggest his collection has grown substantially with enthusiasts estimating hundreds more in his possession making it one of the most talked-about oddball record collections in the UK.
Morgan, who worked for a plastics company manufacturing cones, first began gathering them in 1986 while preparing evidence for a case against a rival firm over cone design. “It’s really interesting. There are so many different shapes, sizes and colours, and the models are always changing,” he once told local media, explaining how the hobby continued long after the dispute was settled.
Rather than simply grabbing cones from roadworks, Morgan has always approached his collection responsibly seeking permission from crews or arranging swaps with other cone types so that safety equipment stays in place. His passion has taken him far and wide, even to foreign locales where he’s picked up rare entries during travels, including while on holiday.
While many might find the idea of collecting traffic cones unusual, Morgan’s dedicated pursuit and record-breaking achievement highlight how curiosity and passion can turn the most ordinary objects into extraordinary personal legacies.
