Merchants Square Toy Show
Merchants Square Toy Show is held twice a year; March and December. The March last year for me was disappointing, the December show I had good buying session. I was wondering how the show would be as it starts my season.
I got at the show about ten minutes after it started. the show was packed and I started my hunt. There was plastic, but most of it was either common or expensive. there were very few playsets. Despite these drawbacks I was still able to find some items for resale. from Dick Jackson, I got a Marx Alamo cannon with the firing pin. Another dealer had two cream steers. Going through some bags of plastic figures, I found a bag of Starlux World War Germans and Warriors of the World World War II Germans (No boxes or cards). Finally from one dealer I purchased a large pretzel tin loaded with plastic figures in plastic bags. The tin can had two bags of Marx pioneers in different shades of blue. Also the pretzel tin had bags of MPC 45mm army and space men. This lot will be a fun project for me.
The show was missing dealers from the December show, but it had someone who had not been at the December show Steve Savino of Toy Hunter. Steve and I have had many pleasant conversations over the last few years. Steve had a wide range of items ranging from battery operated robots, character items and PVC figures. Steve related how comic con in New York City has become such a mass of people carrying backpacks. He said when they opened the doors it look the people from the Walking Dead they way the walk.
Steve mentioned that some of the people outside the United States are seeing episodes of Toy Hunter that were not aired here. One of the lost episodes was on the Naugahyde monsters
While I was talking to Steve another person asked me if I was Stad. I replied that I was. He replied that we had gone up on a bus to a show and talked about toys. We had met through a mutual friend and talked about a character nicknamed metal head. This dealer was around thirty years and drove a car without a hood. I had not seen this person in 30 years.
After finished talking with Steve, I talked to another friend and some other people before heading out. Merchants Square Toy Show was very good for me. I found items and had a good time talking to people. I will have a good idea how the season will be by the next few shows.
Starlux Germans are not easy find x every day!!.Neither MARX WOW Germans…
wonder how non damage are as both hard plastic. Nice find!!WOW!!.
I remember when I paid top $$ x then long ago, it was the hold setline but nice collection.
Is Merchant’s Square Toy Show in Pennsylvania? It sounds like a fun show.
Here in the Midwest (America’s Heartland!) we’re all getting ready for the newly reconstituted Indiana Toy Show, now renamed the Midwest Toy Soldier Show, relocated a few miles up the road in Lafayette, Indiana.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure I can be in attendance this year, but it looks like new show promoters Rick Keller, Steve Connell, and Rod Chapman (all replacing the much lamented Barry Carter) have managed to recruit a good number of the Indiana Show’s regulars: Rick Eber, John Stengel, Ron Barzso, Larry Lovely, Alan Ford, Toymeister Dan McClean, Dick Pielin, Ed Borris/Mike Kutnick, Joe Saine, Calvin Plowman, Cal Luckett, Gary Guile, Rick Lipp, and Francis Turner, among others. All familiar names from OTSN.
It looks like it should be a good show, in a good location, on April 10, with a weekend of room trading preceding the actual Sunday morning show. The show website can be found under “Midwest Toy Soldier Show”.
I think it’s important to support these shows with our attendance, and willingness to spend a little money.
I thought my new issue of Playset Magazine, which arrived yesterday, put it best:
“Toy shows are a terrific value, and they let you see and feel exactly what you might buy before it arrives. Better than that, you’ll meet friends you didn’t know you had, actually communicate, and just get out and enjoy life.”
Jim Clouse, Mike Handley, Eric Koopmeiner, and Norman Rodriguez are also all going to be there as dealers.
Don
The show was in Allentown on its south side. It is only ten miles away from my house. I like shows as you can never know what you will find. The bonus is seeing friends.
I’m looking forward to the show, it’s new it should be cool.
Ed
Give us a report
I will. Me Kutnick and Clouse are all traveling together. It should be interesting to say the least.