Toy Shows Birmingham UK, Allentown More we are going to have short reviews on several of other shows that have happen recently. First up is Birmingham UK where our very good friend Markus Leckscheid attended. The I will talk about the Allentown Toy Show. We will go back to Markus who attended a comic book convention in Colgne Germany. He found some figures hidden amongs the thousands of comic books for sale. Finally we will talk about Bad Nauheim.
Toy Shows Birmingham UK, Allentown More Birmingham
Markus flew from Germany to Birmingham UK for their toy soldier show. This show was started by Dave McKenna. He has sold it to Britains UK. While the emphasis was metal there was a lot of plastic to be had.
This photo shows the over all layout of the show.
In the background you will see a Barzso Collectibles Playset. Markus said the dealer wanted 550 pounds or $682.00. He did not know if it sold or not.
A look one of the tables load with plastic.
This table had Timpo Vikings and Swoppet Civil War Notic
Notice the cardboard western buildings.
An interesting junk box do you see the MPC army truck.
Toy Shows Birmingham UK, Allentown More Allentown
The week after the East Coast Toy Show this year was the Allentown Toy Show. Usually they are on the same weekend. The Allentown Toy Show celebrated it 38th Anniversary. The show promotes antique toys. You will not see new merchandise.
I have been doing the show from the beginning. Over the years I have gotten some great items. One of the amazing items I got was at least ten Miller aliens for $50.00. Back then the crowd would go around the building.
Now the crowd is over in ten minutes. The show is two days the first day is for dealers and people paying early rights. Early rights are $50.00 a person! One person had to do it because he had tickets for a Penn State game the next day.
Toy Shows Birmingham UK, Allentown More Allentown Finds
I was there both days. I was in on Friday to help some friends out otherwise I would have waited until Saturday. The show is interesting as you see antique toys that you would only in museums. There are one many interesting items one dealer had toys from western television shows mint in box. For the plastic collector there were various dealers with plastic. One dealer had Marx Ben Hur Chariots loose. Another dealer had various plastic both American and foreign. From this dealer I got the Lido Japanese from this dealer.
I also found two Timmee Motorcycle drivers
I found some other plastic parts. Other people were finding items. I saw one person walking with a Marx Davy Crockett at the Alamo playset. Another person got a set of Marx 60mm Cavalry. So if you hunted you found items. The reports on sale were mix. Some did very well others did not. One bonus from this show is you have a great farmers market to taken food home.
Toy Shows Birmingham UK, Allentown More Colgne Germany
Markus Lecksheid went to a comic book convention in Colgne Germany. This was the first convention he went to in the 1980’s.
While Markus was there for the comic books he did see some plastic figures.
One dealer had wide range of Elastion, Merten and Heimo for sale
Another look at the tables You can see that Prince Valiant is popular in Germany
Markus spotted the Dinky Cinderella in the box. Markis best buy of the day in plastic figures was the following. Under a table was a box that had I found a bag with over 50 Matchbox US GI’S, 11 Atlantic Germans and 2 Airfix Aussies all in 32nd scale. The price for it was 15 euros of roughly $15.75. With the Atlantic Cyclops thrown in to boot.
Toy Shows Birmingham UK, Allentown More Bad Nauheim
Bad Nauheim is the premier show for composition. It is held in Bad Nauheim Germany. Beside dealers selling old figures there is new production as well.
Here you have various new production U.S. Cavalry figures. They are 70mm to go with the Elastolin.
There are some very interesting displays at the show Like this Viking ship.
One of the tables with various Elastolin items for sale. We would like to thank our very good friend Mathias for permission to share these photos.
Toy Shows Birmingham UK, Allentown More Final Thoughts
I will have three more shows for the year. The next one is York which is a great toy with two large rooms. There is one more toy show locally in Allentown. Finally I have a show in Maryland if the weather cooperates we will do.
It’s those tables loaded with plastic at the Birmingham Show that get me going.
Don
I tell people to go to a show in Europe once. It will be a fresh experience what I call a magical moment. You will be overwhelm with the plastic
I know it would be an overwhelming magical moment.
Unfortunately, I’m having enough trouble getting from my residence in Michigan to the Gettysburg Show (7 hours & 50 minutes), and then to the East Coast Show (9 hours & 31 minutes).
It’s bad enough for me to get to OTSN (5 hours & 23 minutes), but at least once I get to Schaumburg, I’ve got a 3-day experience in store, before I have to start the 5 hour trip back home.
But I know, Paul, you’ve had fun hopping the Atlantic over to Great Britain and to Germany a few times.
The flight time to London is only 8 hours. Let us know when you’re coming over and we’ll get the beers in!
Best wishes Brian Carrick
Knowing there’s an ample supply of beer waiting, Ed Borris will probably want to join me for the trip and come too.
Thank you for the invitation.
You will enjoy the beer as it is free of the chemicals. There are so many enjoyable pubs both for beer and food. Laurie and I enjoy the hard cider.
Brian have you figured when you will be doing the Plastic Warrior show as Laurie has see if she can get off.
My idea of a foreign show is going to Texas.
Beer? I like beer, my idea of fun would be to hit the English pubs, not the clubs, but the neighborhood type places. I’d like to hoist a pint with Ricky Hatton. Of course he’s in Manchester.
You will find a lot of family pubs. Plastic Warrior show has a pub next door.
Heck though, I can barely afford to go to Walgreens let alone England.