The East Coast Toy Soldier Show 2016 Report is the last major toy soldier show of the year for us. I have been doing the show since it first started in Schutzen Park. It is a great show that Bill Lango puts on each year. Laurie and I have enjoyed going to this show.
The East Coast Toy Soldier Show 2016 Report the Trip To the Show
We got up early to get to the show. This year the show was a week early. Also helping the show the weather. it was warm.. We ended up with tempatures in the 70’s. This was a big difference as the tempature was normally in the 50’s. Laurie and I left the house and stopped for gas in New Jersey. New Jersey gas has been lower than Pennyslvania by 30 cents or more. This will change November first when New Jersey adds 23 cents tax to the cosst of gas.
The ride up to the show is nice main highways. this year we saw less dead deer only five. (For our foreign readers we have an overpopulation of deer and many end up on our highways looking to cross for food. Sadly too many get killed)
The East Coast Toy Soldier Show 2016 Report at the Show
Stad and Erwin Sell. Paul has pouch with him which he carries to most shows to hold camera and goodies.
We arrived at the show about forty minutes after it opened. Waiting inside for us was our very good friend ErwinSell who was joining us this year. He informed us that our very good friend Gerry Watts was not there. Gerry’s van had broken down. Bill Lango put other dealers in his space. We started walking and in the first row. I found a Processed Plastic 2 1/2 truck without the top and Tara Toy woman. We walked around some more and saw Steve Savino of Toy Hunter.
Steve had done the Friday and Saturday before the show at Chiller which is monster convention with various movie and television stars. The stars sell their autographs to the fans. He confirmed that the show had been a little down due to losing one of their icons Zacherley. Zacherley had been a horror host in the 50’s on television stations in Philadelphia and New York. Steve and I talked about various shows outside the toy soldier field.
The East Coast Toy Soldier Show 2016 Report Bob Muelro
Bob Mulero with Laurie
While we were there another very good friend popped up Bob Muelro. Bob is a collector of Disneykins. He is also the source on news on Peter Fritz a dealer from the early days. Peter’s health has not been good these last few years. Peter is still with us, but his mobility is very limited and he has a motorized wheel chair. Bob mention Peter had been in the hospital and had given up drinking. Steve Savino was interested in hearing the news as he knew of Peter Fritz. He had heard various stories on Peter including the fights.
The East Coast Toy Soldier Show 2016 Report Bob Hornung
Before getting to Steve Savino, we ran into another old aquitance Bob Hornung. We had met Bob at the show many years ago. Bob makes metal figures. He made some small enough that they fit into a match box. One of the items he is know for is making toy soldier shops like the one in the picture.
These shops have tiny toy soldiers painted lining the walls and tables. We had gotten one years ago which smaller. We were at the show and we did the show as a dealers. Laurie saw the toy shop and asked the price. Bob replied $500.00. Laurie went to me about buying it. I told her if she put up half I would go for it. I figured she did not have the money, I was wrong. We brought it home in one of my bins which was loaded with bags of plastic figures to cushion it.
Bob told us he sells the one in the photo for $2000.00 and has a larger one for $4000.00.
The East Coast Toy Soldier Show 2016 Report Rick Eber
There are several dealers that you go to if you are into Marx. One is Rick Eber. Rick is the Playset man. He told me that he sold 30 playsets at Chicago Toy Soldier Show. Rick had a wide range of Marx items including figures accessories and tin litho buildings. The photo above showa western town and accessories.
This photo show the Foreign Legion building, Revolutionary Walls and accessories. In the foreground Marx army vehicles in tan.
A close up of tan vehicles. This version was in the Marx Desert Fox playset.Color variation carry a higher price than the originials.
Marx Arabs and Foreign Legion with six inch Germans in the background.
A one level western town with accessories
Various Marx covered wagon in different colors. People will pay silly prices for odd color wagons.
Marx Western Character figures
Marx 60mm Romans and Vikings in the foreground. More Marx western character figures.
Figure bags from Andygard and Beton among others
Another look at some figure bags
Marx Skyscaper Playset. This is the largest tin litho piece Marx made.
Marx Skyscraper Playset Figures and Accessories
Marx Untouchables and Ben Hur accessories. The red figures are not Marx but from a set that had a shooting gun.
The engine from Tales of Welles Fargo and Ben Hur character figures.
We will have more in Part Two
Do you think the collectors attending this show are also interested in newer plastic as well like TSSD, Paragon, and CTS?
I would say yes people were interested in new items. John StengelJR sold out of everything he had of his new figures except causalties figures. Hobby Bunker had the new CTS Chinese Communists.
The Lad Trojans chariot from two dealers were sold out by 1 pm . CTS new sets almost too .Wile in others were still as repeated and many had gone then. I did notice several around me asking x last sets release from CTS and others.
I also notice several Russian sets carry from MARS brands but a overpriced.
Interesting enough I barely saw any EXF sets, none new. But may be I miss it .
So I think many were looking for new release ,I observe many of those asking and buying were around 45 and up approx.
However I can said that several new sets brands were overpriced versus sales in web site and eBay including shipping.
Stengel prices were one of best in all, but he does not carry many new other release all time.
There is one observation.
All new sets are generally stock in boxes. Cases do not show any figures with exception of window boxes from AIP.
Would be a good recommendation that at show sellers show one set out of what box has, same way show a picture of figures in web site when selling. Many buyers will get more attracted if seen figures ,same way vintage figures are displayed.
My thoughts..
Best..
Backing up Erwin one dealer had Technolog from Russia at $12.00 a set. I can buy them from the Ukraine with postage under $8.00
We got the LOD chariots in stock. If anyone needs them.
We did Kane Country two weeks ago, no one was interested in the LOD chariots, but the new TSSD figures sold well. Of course selling well at Kane County is a relative term. Interesting enough was that the Marines sold better than the NVA and the buyers were getting multiple bags of the Marines. One buyer bought two bags of Marines and 14 loose Marines, I found that curious as he didn’t buy any NVA. We did did get inquiries regarding Ideal, MPC and Timmee figures of course we brought none of those. Even met a former salesman from GIANT. Kane County is always a trip.
Eber always has great stuff.
Looking at those bags of toy soldiers really took me back to the good ol’ days when we could go to the local dime stores and pick them up – if we had the money. I saw a thing on FB the other day with an old picture of kids carrying old soda bottles for the two cents deposit. Took me back – how many soda bottles did I turn in to save up the fifty cents (plus sales tax) for a bag of those soldiers now selling for who-knows-how-much?
Seeing those Andygard ACW figures reminded me of one of my favorite bargain department stores that were going when I was a kid – Grandpa’s – there were a couple of them in the Saint Louis area – the one we used to go to was outside Collinsville, IL , just down the road from the old Cahokia Mounds State Park. They always had the Andy Gard ACW and Cowboys and Indians. Boy, did I buy a bunch of the ACW to go with my Marx Blue and Gray – even though they towered over the Marx guys. Wish I’d been able to get more Andy Gard cowboys and Indians – those had to be some of the best realized but unrecognized Western figures of the time. Another great place was Sav-Mart, just off old 157 between Caseyville, IL and Collinsville. It’s gone now – burned down when I was in the 4th Grade. The kids at school were talking about how they had just thrown all the stuff out and you could go throw and take what you wanted. I begged my Mom to take me there, but never got to go. THAT was where I picked up all my MPC Germans, Japanese, and Russians (and probably where Mom got a LOT of my Christmas stuff as well) – they were like an early Walmart. I remember Mom let us kids peruse the Toy department while she grocery shopped (boy were those different times or what?).
I went back home on leave sometime in the 80s and managed to get away from the family long enough to see if Grandpa’s was still open. Imagine my surprise and joy to see it still running and looking not too differently than in my childhood. Sadly, the toys soldiers from my (our) childhood were gone – replaced with Transformers and other stuff. I know it was too much to hope for; but it was nice for awhile to relive one of my fondest childhood memories.
I’m rambling, sorry; but wonder if that is one of the joys of going to the shows? Even a brick and mortar shop has its charms that takes me back – but to see the old stuff one dreamed over as a child, often still in box – it’s hard to find that joy any more.
Thanks for sharing the pics, Paul – we know we can always count on you – and thanks for the brief trip down memory lane.
I got an unopened bag of Andy Gard Cowboys and Indians for sale.
Regarding Paragon.I saw some been sold ,but I was not checking every sale.One person was looking x loose poses.
I noticed. TSSD,PARAGON,LOD ,AUSTIN are hard to get loose in the east coast show.Many people look x it as add on and x conversion.
Stengels had Barzso loose of some old set x bargain price.They were selling quick.
I was looking x Barzso french canadians.Could not get it.
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
I have a tub of about 500 loose TSSD figures for sale, if you are looking for any thing specific let me know.
Barzso’s French Militia from Braddock’s defeat may be the worst set Barzso ever produced, the detail and dress is fine, the weapons are horrible.
Hi Guys: I just want to mention that Paul has been to just about every East Coast Toy Soldier Fall Show since our first show in North Bergen’s Schuetzen Park, thirty-four year’s ago. The way I look at life, that’s more than an achievement, it’s a friendship.
Thanks, Paul
Shuetzen park has many good memories except for the lighting. I remembered one show we did some trading out in the cars before going in. My mother was sitting in the car doing her puzzles. When we got to my car got upset and concern about the bouncing up and down of the trunk wondering what was going on until I told her.
Bill is one of the finest men in the hobby. A few years later I asked if I could place my mother inside before the show opened. At this time she was using a wheelchair for most of her walking and I did not wnat her to sit out in the cold. Bill allowed me to place her inside. Once I had her in I went out with my helpers and waited in line.
Unfortunately, living here in the Midwest I’ve never been able to attend the East Coast Show. But while subscribing to Bill’s excellent Toy Soldier magazine, I did end up meeting Bill Lango — when he was in attendance at OTSN.
Thanks for the feedback, gentlemen!
By the way, I just received an application form from Woody. It appears that the West Coast Toy Soldier Show has not gone the way of the dodo bird; that it will be up and running in January of 2017.
Hope to see you there!