Old Comment Times

Bill Nevins has asked if he can post some of my old Comment Times from the old Stad’s lists. I have given him permission to post them and may add additional commentary. We have to congratulate him of on the daunting task of correcting my grammar and spelling. I will be one of the first to say Stad you have bad  grammar and spelling. I blame part of it in a rush to get things out.  I have felt that I might some disablity to see the mistakes. For a period of time I could recognize I was spelling sliver wrong. I was spelling it silver!

One of these days I will start Legends of Stad, for now here is  Bill’s first posting of an Old Comment Time.

 
       
 COMMENT TIME # 1
  
I have reached an agreement with Paul Stadinger of STADS to reprint some of his old “COMMENT TIME” newsletters. For those of you that are later to the hobby, there was a time before computers, emails and cell phones that mimeographed sales lists where the main way that toy soldiers were sold to collectors.
Foremost among sellers, was Paul Stadinger. John Boyle is another name that comes to mind, but Stads was always on top of what was going on within the hobby. It was always a delight to find his list in the mailbox and his Comment Time was really the lifeblood for news and rumors about new product, reissues and discoveries of any kind. I will also print some interesting prices for way back when just so you can judge how things have changed. So without further ado here is COMMENT TIME dated July 25, 1988.
We have received some interesting information on the Marx 45 mm squatting Indian. The present owner of the mold discovered that there had been a design change. Originally the figure was to be used as an Indian with a paddle so that it could be used in a canoe. For some reason, it was sealed off and issued the way that we now know it. The owner is hoping to open it up and reissue it in the future.
A party is working on a book that will show you many of the figures that Marx produced. This will include HO to 6 inch figures. he will also include some prototypes and what I call vanity pieces. Prototypes are figures the were designed and never used.It could be a variation of a figure that was issued or something that never was. Vanity pieces are figures that were made by Marx but no one can find a reason why. Example of this is Anthony Eden of England. At the moment we have no idea where it was used. It may have been a party favor at a dinner for him in NYC. Then it could have been use elsewhere. Some vanity pieces were promo items. Louis Marx figures are an example of that. The author hopes to have his book out this winter and we hope to be able to carry it. When it becomes available we will inform you.
Our info system slipped up on us. A customer called and asked if Esci was going to do any 1/35 scale figures. I said no, due to the fact that nothing had been shown at the Toy Fair. Two calls later I am informed by another customer that he had a set of Germans. Well, we did some digging and found out that Esci has plans for six new sets. US Paratroopers, German Infantry, NATO Troops, Spetznatz, French Imperial Guard and English Highlanders. The first two sets are out and I have got samples of each. There are 14 figures in each box with 7 poses duplictaed.They are similar in style to Airfix I am going to let you decide. the Guards and Highlanders are released in the UK. A person who received samples said that they are slightly smaller than Airfix. We will keep you posted.
The Man From UNCLE figures (Napoleon Solo and Ilya Kuryakin) have been re-issued in the US. These are different from the Mexican re-issues which are black. US figures are in gray.
The 6 inch Movie Monsters have been re-issued also. They are made in Mexico in blue plastic and sell for 25.00 for a set of 6.
Speaking of re-issues, I have heard a number of rumors flying around of what will be available on the market soon. The one definite is the covered wagon which will be available in 30-90 days. As to other re-issues, we would like to tell you but our policy is to wait until the product is actually in our hands. We mention the wagon because the owner of the mold has already told several collectors and we are generating interest in it.
OK, thus concludes part ONE of COMMENT TIME. The second part deals with the second Marx Meet. If there is enough interest in this then I will continue to post it.
INTERESTING ITEMS FROM THE SALES LIST
Marvel Superheroes by Gulliver of Brazil
Group one- Spiderman, Iron Man, Hulk, Submariner, and Vison….15.00
Group two- Thor, Silver Surfer, Capt. America, Green Goblin and Falcon..15.00
MARX Lone Ranger Bag set with header card……80.00
Fort Apache Heritage Set never played with. Missing 4 firing figures….250.00
Ideal Combat battle set with box…………..400.00
Marvel Superheroes from Spain. Spider man, Spiderwoman, Hulk, She Hulk, Thor, Iron Man, Captain America and Dr, Doom…….80.00

Here are my additional comments

One correction I never used mimeographed. I used quick copy type places which was a battle in itself. One place now out of business if I did not get the list in at a certain time I would have to wait until the next week. I found Officemax which did printing 7 days a week. It  also cut my cost of printing.
The Indian with the paddle mold I saw when I visit Nick Argento of Glencoe Models. I did a show in Malden Mass and visit Nick where we found the change on the Marx mold. I also stopped at Excalibur Hobbies who had bought stuff from Ron Shockley who’s aunt had gotten large load of the Marx plastic that was being dumped into the ground.
On the superheroes figures the ones from Brazil are from Guliver. They go for $50.00 each or more depending on the seller. The Spanish figures sounds like the Comix of Spain. The company went out of business as they played fast and loose on their license by selling into other countries they did not have rights too.