It was reported over in the Marx Group by Rick Eber that he has been contacted by Peter Fritz. Peter Fritz was an interesting person, who was part of the early days of the hobby. Peter helped make people aware of the Marx playsets. He got some interesting prices for Marx playsets that seemed high at the time, which today are very reasonable. He was very controversial. I had some very interesting times with him.
According to Rick, Peter is no longer a dealer, but is collecting. As we get more information we will pass it along.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Peter Fritz, but I’ve read so much about him in PFPC, Playset Mag., & on-line, that I feel like I know him. He seems like such an interesting individual, the kind we’d all enjoy talking to at shows during room trading. I’ve always felt that way about Rick Eber and John Stangle. I wonder if Peter goes to OTSN or any of the other shows anymore. I think it would give him pleasure to see how his lonely voice in the wilderness regarding playsets eventually came to be adopted by so many others who grew up in the 50s and 60s, and how the hobby came to be somewhat formalized with shows and publications like PFPC and Playset Magazine. I wonder what his age is, and what part of the country he is from, or lives in today. If you hear information along these lines, I think we’d all enjoy hearing it. To me, it seems like he would merit some kind of recognition award at OTSN for his early years contribution to the hobby. It would be nice for him to receive it before he’s too elderly to appreciate it.
Don
Peter Fritz is a very complex person. Peter on hand help put playsets on the map. He had some great ideas such as Toy A Day Auction. On other hand Peter let his foibles toget the better of him to lose his business and miss out on what he started.
I had a number of run ins with him. Once he came up drunk as a skunk telling me if I got a Marx Untouchables playset it was his as he had a Beverly Hills doctor. I ignore him. One time at OTSN Laurie and I went out with him and a group collectors and dealers. I told Laurie eat good as I knew what Peter was going to do as I had seen him do it in Toledo Ohio. The bill came and he said we should divided it evenly and then excused himself to go to the bathroom. When he came back, Laurie remembered me making sure he put his part of bill.
From reports Peter is living in Conneticutt, he has not been to a show that we know of in years.
What you’re saying is similar to various stories I had heard before, possibly, if I’m not mistaken, run-ins he possibly had with Gephardt in the early days. Problems with various toy soldier business dealings. I wonder what Peter’s approximate age is — 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s? Or if he even goes to OTSN anymore? If you and Laurie were having dinner with him at OTSN, you undoubtedly know him well.
Don
Peter is in his 60’s at least. He has only resurface recently so we have very limited information. I will be talking to Rick Eber at the Marx Meeting for more information on his health etc. The last I know Peter had been working in the Post Office.
Yes he had a number of disagreements with various people. I ran him up at a couple of auctions. One of them I push him up on Marx Skycraper Playset and a person in the auction offered me mint set for the price which I resold.