Incredible shrinking gallery.

Two turntables and a microphone?

[quote]
My guess is a ballroom. Not the kind you dance in but a room filled with those multi-colored plastic balls you can dive into. :P[/quote]

I always thought those were called "ball pits".

/me puts on Sherlock cap

Just a hunch but I don't think E would trade all his cel goodness for a ball pit. Even a gigantic one with a slide. (*I*, however, might.)

I'm not entirely sure we'd be told if we're right. A "warmer" or "colder" would really help right now. If Rheytarian and Joe can use it... um... it's a physical object since they're all in California. It also has some mode of actual operation, unlike a cel or a sketch or something.

Rhey's a chicken sniffer and Joe works for ("Snatch" voice) "ze Geehrmans". That doesn't help. If anything, that implies an object with universal appeal. So, it's not an inflatable woman, an antique spinning wheel, a dialysis machine, or a "Battle of Endor" playset. But all of these are also well below the value of E's collection. (except the dialysis... but I doubt Rheytarian would have a need for that.)

So we have:

1) It's usable.
2) It simultaneously appeals to three people of very different backgrounds, whose only real common threads are that they live in California and they collect animation art.
3) It was expensive enough so that it cost E a good portion of his cel collection.
4) It's something that E -- a married, middle-class, Californian recently returning from a multi-year stay in Japan -- has wanted for a while.

For my first guess, I'd stick with motorcycle. A stupidly fast one. My second guess would be some kind of business-related expense. Like, starting your own shaved ice stand... but something less dorky.

My third guess is that it's an EMP device combination radio scrambler to thwart the Hicksville CHP.

Okay, how'd I do?

Hmmm, something functional, can be enjoyed by all, fairly expensive, in California... Going along with the transport theme it could be an [b]Ice Cream Van![/b]
Or maybe [b]Musical Instruments![/b] E, Rhey and Joe plan to form a Punk Rock band called the 'Sluggers?

Ok 3 hints Sherlock(s):

Here is the first, (I'll give another one later if no one gets it.)

Trivia clue:

#1.)Two towns share this name in the land of Longhorns and Sooners. (One with a population of 35!)

Thank you first to those that know, and didn't tell. this was a fun post for me to read =)

Okay, I'll spill the beans...

If you've seen recent news headlines, Japan has developed the most realistic looking robot thus far, a female looking one no less.

E has put an order in for one that looks like Gally from Battle Angel Alita.

E is just waiting for it to pass Customs.

So there.

Sorry, E, I had to let everyone know. I just couldn't sit on your secret for too long.

GB