Bill Nevins has done another Comment Time for everyone to enjoy.
COMMENT TIME …..SEPT 1988
Marx Meet # 3 will be held on October 15, 1988 at the Erial Ambulance Squad
in Erial, N.J. Contact Greg Fields for information at (telephone number).
Chicago Toy Soldier show is September 24-25. It will be held at the Hyatt Regency in Woodfield, IL.
Back again, with another big list. In fact, Sandy has been listening to me use the word monster for it. We are making some changes effective with this list. As of this listing, you will not be able to order items from previous lists. This is due to the problems encountered by us.
Another change we are making is the addition of a MARX section.This section will contain Marx items that we have multiples of. In the past, we tended to forget to include them on every list. In the future this will not happen.
We are working on improving other areas. In he past months, we have attempted to make Stad’s more professional. My one major area that is weak is letter writing. At the end of a day, especially a Tuesday or Thursday I am drained because of my basic class. The last thing that I want to do then, is write letters. So, it is easier on all, if you just call me. It is the quickest way to receive a reply. I am hoping to have a part time secretary on line by the end of the year.
A few months back a collector sent me an interesting letter concerning his experience with toy soldiers many years ago. I will let him tell it. ED NOTE: Printed as written.
“I played with soldiers. For years and years even during my teen years. Secluded in my room with the blankets puffed up on the bed for mountains and caves.One day my best friend walked into my room unexpectedly in the midst of a Fort Apache battle. I was mortified, knowing that the next day on the school bus would be the worst. At the age of 16, this could be a rough road. My friend quickly closed the door and took the side of the Indians. I let him win.”
ED NOTE: Wheeew!!..that story could have gone so wrong, in so many ways. LOL LOL.
I am sure many of us have had similar experiences.
Lastly, I wish to advise you of a communication coming from Stad’s in the near future. No, it does not contain a chance for you to win 1,000,000. It will have information on a little surprise that I am working on for you. I am sure for many of you, it will bring Christmas to you a little bit sooner. What will the surprise be? Sorry, if I told you it would not be a surprise.
Take care and see you soon.
Stad
Interesting items from the price list:
Roy Rogers Western Town # 4828 Mint in the box set. Bags instructions and never assembled building…………$ 795.00
Roy Rogers Western Town # 4828 Put together set…………..$ 675.00
Top Cat Playset….Mint in the box……$ 125.00
Elliot Ness & Al Capone….Mint cream figures in original playset bag…25.00
Shell Gas Station Liberty Soldiers. In 1972 Shell Oil gave away 2 figures in a bag, every time you filled up with gas at a Shell station. These were swopett style figures made in Hong Kong.
Kneeling BlueCoat, standing Redcoat…..1.00
British Officer on horseback…………………1.00
Standing French, kneeling Hessian………1.00
G. Washington, Gen Cornwallis ………….1.50 each
Cannon……………………………………………..2.00
NOTE: Later on these came to be known as the MEN OF ’76.
Airfix 7 th Cavalry. Mint open box……………..25.00
Yogi Bear Jellystone Park…………Still sealed…….$ 500.00
Here is my comments on the above
I do not remember who send me the letter on his experience. I agree with Bill we had all had experiences like that. We had to keep it to ourselves in fear of being made fun of. Today it is different you can put the figures on display in your house and if you get a newbie who is looking down at you just you just tell that all the plastic figures he or his mother threw out are worth big bucks. I doubt you will have that problem anymore as so many people watch “Pawn Stars” and “Auction Hunters”.
I had another experience where mother was buying figures for her son as used them to build scenes in the yard. I wanted to send a letter with it but I was afraid it might be misconstrued. I hope he had great time with them.
As we all know I did not get a part time secretary. The budget would not allow it. I have not seen any of my staff in years except running into Elaine at a restaurant about a year ago. Sandy was the first employee. At the time I was doing these lists I was teaching at business school and had the business in a business incubator. We graduated from there and set up on 12th Street in Allentown.
The story on how I had so many Marx Untouchables was I had heard of an auction of Marx items. Gene Scala and John Bowers had bought the Marx warehouse, which they pulled I believe 3 tracker trailer loads of toys. The partnership broke up so they turn their items over to Ted Maurer’s auctions to be sold. I told my mother we would be there ten minutes or 4 hours. Four hours and two flat tires (on the way to the auction) later I spent $400.00 and had a car full of toys. One of the items was four boxes of figures. One of the boxes was full of Untouchable character figures. It was a great score; today if they held an auction like that the stuff would go for big bucks. Several years ago an auction was held in West Virginia where a woman who had worked at Marx had a number Marx playset and figures bags. Prices were sky high and the woman thanked the audience for the prices they got.