Comment Time 7

COMMENT TIME   MARCH 1989
 Back again. The word from the NY Toy Fair is disappointment. No new figures were on display there. Starlux had their usual line, and the word is that they are hoping to add more to their Medieval Line, next year. Britain’s prices are going up and the only addition to their existing line, is a motorized knight on a horse. The watch word of the day seems to be retrenchment.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
From time to time, people ask me various questions because of my expertise in plastic soldiers and Marx figures in general.
 What is the legendary auction that I have heard about?
 In 1978, Gene Scala and John Bowers, who had purchased the Marx warehouse, decided to terminate their partnership. The remaining items were transported to Lionville, PA where it was auctioned off by Ted Maurer. The auction was something to see. Literally hundreds of playsets and other toys were sold. The prices realized would make you weep. A 60 mm Robin Hood, a Boys Camp and a small Blue and Gray sold for 60 dollars for all three, mint in the box, sets. I now realize, that if a person had invested 10,000 at the auction, and had held onto the items,  the return on his investment would be astonishing.
 Why doesn’t Richard O’Brien include Airfix Plastic in his “Collecting Toy Soldiers”?
 At the time that Mr. O’Brien was writing the book, Airfix plastic was not considered to be “collectible.” When the revised edition is printed, that may change. The next edition will have an entire section on Britain’s plastic, including photos by your humble author. I am also sure that the Marx playsets section will have it’s prices revised upwards.
 Is the hobby growing?
 Yes, despite the high prices that are being asked for certain items, the hobby continues to expand. People on a fixed budget can have just as much fun as someone with more money to spend, on toys. What I believe to be unique to this hobby, is that collectors can move in two different directions.. One direction, is to recreate the Marx playset exactly as it was released. The second course, is to invent your own playsets. If you take an element of Marx and add to it with such companies as Timpo, Britains and others, you can explore a different avenue. I personally know of several collectors who have done this, especially with western themes. Additionally, this is a hobby that you can share with your children. Many of you are experiencing the magic, again. Creating legends and adventures that you can share with your children, is priceless and worth more than any “investment” that you may make.
 SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
 With deep regret we are going to have to begin charging for our lists. One year’s subscription will be $ 6.00 in the US and Canada. Foreign rates will be 12.00 per year. However, if you purchase $ 25.00 worth of goods, then the subscription charge will be waived.
 INTERESTING PRICES:
 Ideal Alamo Set…..Chapel facade, 2 walls, 2 cannons, a ladder, a fireplace, 2 Pioneers and 3 Mexicans. The Mexican Officer has a short sword. Partial set available for …….125.00
 MARX CENTENNIAL ACW SET…Partial set with VG box. Mansion has rust, portico is damaged. Dead horse has reins parted. Two different weapon sprues mint. Instruction sheet and bags. Bunker and bridge unpainted. 54 Union and 48 CSA figures. 2 mounted Union and 2 CSA with horses. Lee, Lincoln and Davis. Special Effects manual has the back page repaired .Exploding bunker complete with trigger. 7 pup tents and one command tent. $ pieces of fence, 2 rock piles, dead tree and a black mortar w/o firing pin.  7 Centennial poses in gray. No stretcher for the stretcher bearers, ………..$ 850.00
 WESTERN TOWN LITHO……Saloon side. No rust, with doors and all poles intact….185.00

Here are my comments:

For many years I would go to New York Toy Fair to see the new toys and look for plastic figures.  The toy fair was held in two major locations the Toy building now sold off and the Javits Center where the dealers that did not have a regular spot in the toy building would set up. The people would hope to be seen by Toys R US to be their ticket to success or get enough sales from other sources. Over the years I saw many games and other toys come and go.

I would go to Javits Center unless I had information there was something worthwhile at the Toy Building. The toy fair would be in the upper level  of the Javits Center and for many years the Merchandising show would in the lower level and I would do both. The Javits Center length is equal to the height of the Empire State Building.  I did a lot of walking in hope of finding anything.

Most years it was a disappointment, one exception was when the Marx reissue playsets pop up from Mexico. That is a story for another time.  That year Starlux showed up and they were items we had seen before from them.  Britains was over in the Toy building and either I went over or was told by a Britains dealer about the price increase.

I gave up on the Toy Fair due to closing the business. I do not know anyone who is going to the Toy Fair anymore.

In the frequently asked questions showed what I paid at the Marx warehouse auction for three Marx playsets. I have since sold off the three playsets that I got at the auction. I later talk to Gene Scala and he told me after he and Bowers got the warehouse they set up at Renningers Flea Market. They sold various playsets to people including a young boy.  The boy got a Tom Corbett playset which the boy opened and played with at the market.  Gene turned to John Bowers and said we will be looking for the boy to buy the playset back.

Airfix was in the “Collecting Foreign Made Toy Soldiers” that Richard O’Brien did. I will let you in on a secret on the Collecting Toy Soldiers.  You may have seen some of the photos have a credit to Wilbur Bittenbender and wondered who he was. The answer is Wilbur was my uncle. I did so many photographs for the book and decided that some of them should be credit to my uncle as little thanks for him helping me over the years of growing up. My Aunt Margret and Uncle Wilbur were like second parents.  I have not talked Richard O’Brien in years and it is very doubtful that the book will be ever updated.

The question on the hobby is it growing this is an ongoing question. Here is what I wrote recently to another collector.

The hobby is in a flux. On one side of the coin we are getting new product we only dream of. The other side is we are losing people and there does not seem to be any new blood coming in. Yet I am selling plastic up on Ebay to people I never heard. I just sold some 54mm Marx Indians to person in Hawaii. I have sold 60mm first version cowboys to a party in Spain.

For me I still have the excitement of the hobby. I enjoy going to toy shows and flea markets never knowing what I will turn up. Because of my wide interest in figures I get excited on maybe the littlest find. This past Sunday Laurie and I went out to pick up some items. We went through the dealer’s other wares and found some hard plastic fairy tale figures made in Hong Kong.  They are the size of Disneykins and were only $5.00. My only regret is they will go into a box as I do not have a spot to showcase them.  I will do a picture soon.

I talked to a friend this weekend and he was down. He has had a hard time finding things. It is tough out there yet he has found items. It is much different from when we were out ten twenty years ago.

As to the future of hobby it is what you make of it. Go to shows and enjoy it. I see old friends and we get to talk. Maybe I will meet someone new. There are still items to buy at fair prices, my chances of getting Johnny Ringo for $5.00 are very slim, but there are a lot of items I can get for $5.00 and enjoy.