The York Toy Show is the cap to a busy weekend for us. The show with 850 tables has a wide variety of toys to look at. Also we will see many of our friends so we can wish them happy holidays.
The weekend starts on Thanksgiving Thursday. Traditionally we watch the Macy Thanksgiving Parade on television then we go out to eat. We go out to eat as it is easier on Laurie. This year we went to the Clinton Station Diner. The Clinton Station Diner does their meal different than other places that have Thanksgiving dinner. Clinton Station Diner serves a whole turkey with the extras. The server carves the turkey for the people. Most other places have a buffet with other choices besides turkey. The turkey dinner costs $19.95 per person and is recommend for two to eight people. We took the other option of their limited menu and had prime rib, which was only dollar more than the turkey. The prime rib comes with soup or salad bar, potato and vegetable. We took the salad bar as it is one of the best in the area. We were more than satisfied.
I did something for the first time in 30 plus years shopping on black Thursday. I was tempted by Target had several DVDs I wanted. Since the Target was only a couple of miles from the house, I decided to go over. I got at the Target a couple of hours after the doors had opened, I got in and found the DVDs I want and found also the first two seasons of Da Vinci’s Demons. I had seen the show on a free weekend of Starz. I had wanted to get the show and had found the first two seasons on Ebay for $25.00 plus shipping. At Target I was able to get both for $16.00. After dealing with the serpentine line, I paid for DVDs and headed home.
On Sunday, Laurie and I went to the York Toy Show. This year we had to drive through rain at one point but when we got to the show, it was overcast. We arrived a half hour after the doors had opened. There was a small line of people still waiting to come go in. We paid our admissions and went into the show. The show has two big halls, we usually go to the left hall as it has less of our friends set up. The first stand in the hall has a lot of old Thomas Toys, I was looking to see if he had Thomas Toys mule with a cart. The dealer did not have any.
We started down the aisle and I found a few items, then the lights went out. For a minute it was completely dark. Then several lights came on, but half of the room was still dark. The customers and dealers pulled out their phones to look at items, it was fifteen minutes before the lights came on. (We found out later it had hit both halls.) We walked using the available lights checking out the tables. the lights came on after fifteen minutes of darkness.
We walked around the first hall and while there was wide diversity of items. I had only found a few items. One dealer had load of Marx items that he claimed he had gotten out of an attic, I opened the top box and found it mishmash of various Marx Playsets. I felt that it had been already passed over, so I passed. We saw Kerry and looked over his items, unfortunately he had nothing new since the last show we had seen him.
We went over to the other hall, the first person we saw was Harry Davis. Harry told us that he only does the York toy show anymore. I looked over his items but found nothing I could use.
We next went over a row and stopped at out very good friend Gerry Watts. Gerry Watts was by himself. Gerry had a wide range of items for sale ranging from plastic and metal figures to dolls and toys. I decided to wait going through his tables until I check the rest of the hall.
Down from Gerry were two dealers in plastic where I have found items before, but this time I came up with some knights. The dealer had a partial Robin Hood Castle. In another row we found Francis Turner with his friend George helping him. Francis was selling to a customer one of the different color Marx Wagon Train covered wagons. so I stopped back later to talk to him. I saw Francis had a wide range of items for sale including the Super Circus character figures in the bag for $15.00. I wish the load of gray hard plastic Indian tepee tops had been yellow as I hardly see the gray ones. I later stopped back and talked to Francis he mentioned that the Marx Captain Kidd Prototype card we spotlighted last month will be in an issue of Playset Magazine .
We headed down the row and saw over very good friends Rich Kozlowski and his wife Cathy. His brother Bill was not with him as Bill’s wife had injured her ankle. Rich did not have anything so we moved on. In another row we saw Tony and Jackie Greco. I know Tony for years and we talked about the high cost of airfare to Europe. At one time you could go to Europe for two hundred dollars round trip. Now it is $800 to $1000.00 plus paying for extras. The second hall did not turn up much in items for us so we headed back to Gerry Watt’s tables. I went through his stuff and found items despite having gone through his items three times this month. We talked to him and another good friend Chris Lamont before leaving.
We stopped at a Bob Evans restaurant on the way home as we do not have one in our area any more. We both had their country fired steak dinner. The rain had stopped and we had nice ride home.
The York Toy Show was a disappointment, the show had a wide diversity of items of for sale, but we found the items we were interested over price or not there. Also some of the dealers I had bought from in the past at this show were not there or I had seen them at previous shows and they had not restocked since that show. Another problem I am staying within certain areas of collectibles due to other areas not moving. One item I saw at the York Toy Show was a Planet of the Apes coloring book. I saw it for $17.00 and I have it for sale at $10.00. We will go back, but it is not show we have enjoyed in the past.
Paul, this is the kind of show report I enjoy —- room by room, dealer by dealer, table by table, item by item. Thanks.
Here in Michigan, a local antique toy show promoter for a big show every January in Royal Oak, decided to start a new one in early December. It was moderately successful. Rick Berry of Michigan Toy Soldier Company was there taking names, phone numbers and addresses of all the dealers in attendance for a possible new show he’s thinking of organizing in the Spring. It was Rick Berry who originated the well-regarded Michigan Toy Soldier Show each August, which always brought out the Stengels, Bill & Matt Murphy, Alan Ford, and Rick Eber. Now, of course, it’s a Joseph Saine production, with the big toy soldier auction the day before.
Unlike yours, my wife is content to stay home with the dog and the cats when I’m at the show, so I would feel guilty stopping to eat somewhere on the way back, without her being along. But it sounds like you make it a fun experience to add dining out at a local establishment in addition to the show.
Don
One of the many reasons I married Laurie was she enjoyed the hobby. She looks forward to most shows and is a good pair of eyes and sounding board on some purchases. I try to eat a good meal when out as I learned that from my father. He would go to races and bet. He told me they always respected a man who lost at the tracks but had enough money left over for a good meal. Also when my parents and I would take trips we would have one meal was at good restaurant. I follow that tradition by having a meal at nice restaurant.
admin; You are lucky have a great wife !!.Glad you continue nice tradition.
Your reports on shows are in my opinion the best and better done in forums so far ,also those who report here from shows too.
I had read in years some show reports in magazine and not very well done neither impress; most time they spend half writing in non show related and personal experience else not about who and what they saw overall at show.
I agree it’s great when your spouse at least tolerates your hobby – too many don’t (at least that’s what I gather from the forums). My wife has gone from being mildly amused to tolerant, to even supportive to the point of getting me the newest Barzso playset for Christmas. This year it will be figures.
I think one of the things that helped bring my wife along was going to the Texas Show. For us it was more than just the Toy Soldier Show. We went to the first one in 2007 and went there not only for the show but to enjoy San Antonio. We stayed several days after the show was over enjoying the River Walk, doing the Alamo (I have to go by at least daily when I’m in town – it’s like a magnet to me), touring the missions and doing everything else that’s there. San Antonio has become our special getaway and we’ve tried to make it at least every other year (though would love to go annually it just seems with family things and all it works out that way).
Once going to the show and meeting folks in the hobby (other than me) and realizing what great people they are made it seem less weird having grown men playing with toy soldiers – and then there’s meeting other wives who are almost as – if not just as – involved as their husbands. I know she looks forward to seeing “regulars.”
And then there are always a couple days to enjoy “our” places in San Antonio and to find new ones.
So I think it helps if we can get something that includes our spouses when we do these things. That’s what I see when you and Laurie go to shows and flea markets, you make a “thing” or date of it. Even if Laurie didn’t enjoy the shows that would be a reason for her to go and feel included.
And even more importantly, I think, you and Laurie are more than husband and wife – you are buddies. I think it’s important to be married to your best friend. Not always the case, I know that from experience (my first try) – when you are with your best buddy you can have a good time watching paint dry.
That comes through in your reports, Paul, and one of the things I enjoy in your reports.
Wayne
I also try to do other things than just toys with Laurie. On one day trips we usually can not get other events into the but I tried to find a nice place to eat. We will do other one day trips that is related to Laurie. In our European trips, we do sight seeing besides visiting friends. Sometimes I can take a back seat as Laurie does a sight inspection of a hotel as Laurie is in travel. These site inspection give Laurie more information for her clients.
That works.