The Marx Convention 2007
Looking at the various figures on the tables
Laurie and I left on Thursday for the Marx Convention in Wheeling West Virginia. We left in the early afternoon and got in Wheeling with no major delays around 8:00 PM. After having a good meal we went to bed and got ready for the next day.
Another look at the tables
We got up early and after having a free breakfast at the motel headed to the show which was only a few blocks away. We arrived shortly before 9:00AM and greeted a bunch of old friends in the parking lot. There was some wheeling and dealing in the parking lot. I purchased an Egyptian chess set pieces and then went into the show. As the dealers set up we walked around and bought a few items. I was able to dig through junk boxes ranging from a nickel to a dollar each. The dealers were set up on three floors with the main action being on the first floor. Laurie got for her collection two Miller jungle pieces a lioness and a baboon from our very good friend John who gotten a Miller collection. I did not figure on getting any foreign plastic, but I was able to find one dealer with some German and Spanish figures. Another dealer had several Linde figures which are not common outside of Austria and Germany. I still remember when I first saw these figures at Plastic Warrior show too many years ago. I purchase the two the set of six different figures: Indian maiden carrying water jug and cowboy kneeling at a campfire. Joe Falce bought the the others on the second day of the show.
A look at the table in the big hall
In Marx I was able to buy a number of interesting items including a steel blue Marx pioneer standing firing rifle. The steel blue pioneers were used in the playsets sold in Canada. I also got a Flint McCullough in light gray which may be a dump piece. There was not much dump items available. One dealer got a number of plastic bags filled with items from the dump and if you looked around you could find dump items mixed in the figure lots. In non-Marx I got a bag of Andygard figures.
Dave Pittman with another collector
There were playsets at the show, but not many were selling. An army training center set sold in the parking lot and several battle grounds traded hands. The rarest playset we saw was a Rifleman's Ranch for $675.00. Likewise there was not a lot of tin. One dealer had several western street fronts, but they did not sell. A couple of cabins and a farm or two was on the ground but they did not sell. One collector bought the Fort Apache building from one dealer and had to buy the plastic parts from another dealer. It was interesting what was not there at the show. I did not see a lot of civil war items. One dealer had some civil war caisson cannons and destroyed mansion. Likewise no one had heritage cavalry horses. You could get flat cavalry horses for $3.00.
Some more tables of goodies
One of the things I enjoy is seeing various people we know. As mention before we saw our very good friend John. He has been doing the show for several years. This year he was at the show with Mike Russo of Stockade Miniatures. This was the first year that Mike had attended. Mike mention that a number of the people he saw at the show were people he sees at the east coast shows. That is true as we saw Tom Stein and Pat Kirwin who had two tables of figures for sale. Another person we saw was Alan Ford who a nice array of playsets and loose items. He was by himself this year.
Pat Kirwin, Larry and Harry Davis
John Stengel and his son were set up in the food area. John had a wide array of old and new items. I was able to get off him the new TSSD Fire Support which I wanted for a review. I was also able to get the new Britains destroyed building. This building is one of three pieces Britains is doing in a rubber like material. The other two items that Britains is doing is a fence section and mound. John also had the Weston toy WWI tank which I liked but did not get because of my budget. The photo do not do it justice. On the back of the tank is mortar. I will have to get a chance I hope to read more on WWI tanks in the near future.
Larry Tomikel one of our old Stad's list readers
One other item I did purchase from John Stengel was a new piece from the Wild
Hunting series. The Wild Hunt series first appeared last year at Wal-Mart.
There were various sets of different hunters or fishermen with animals.
The series was quietly sold out the Wal-Mart and disappeared. I did not get all
of the series and was final able to complete the series when John had some
of the boxes at the Valley Forge show. John's son had a new set at the Marx show . It had
two different hunt sets I had seen before, the new item was a log cabin
hunting lodge. The cabin is a complete building that can be used in western or
colonial period. the roof is hinged at the back so you can lift it and place
items inside. John's son said that only a third of the line had been brought
into the country. New Ray also does a action figure line related to
hunting as well. 
Allan Ford taking a break from his sales and hunting
One nice thing is seeing old friends you have not seen in years. On the way down to the show I remark to Laurie about the Marx ducks and chickens I have been selling on Ebay. I gotten them in a deal with Chuck Rastelli years ago. I had not talked to Chuck in years and wonder how he was doing. At the show on Friday we were about to leave and I saw a name tag with word Razz. I knew immediately it was Chuck and called out his name. Chuck realized who was calling his name and we got a short time to talk. Chuck had retired after 34 years at his job at the steel. He is now going to college. Hopefully next year we will get more time.
Railroad display set up by one of the dealers.
After three hour of walking around Laurie and I did some sightseeing and then relaxed before going over to the Wheeling Island Casino. We wanted to see the casino as we have an interest in video poker and they suppose to have a good buffet. We found out the odds were terrible on the video poker so we did not play. We did not eat at the buffet as the line was too long. We did go to the dog races that are run at the casino. Many of the racetracks around the country were financial trouble and were saved with the addition of casinos. The casinos in West Virginia are having referendums to allow table games. The Wheeling casino seems confident of winning the referendums that they are anticipating 700 new jobs. Laurie won some money and we headed to eat.
A close up of the train dealer's table
We ended up at Perkins. I like to eat at local restaurant if I can, but this time I was unable to find local restaurant. I was surprised that each of the restaurants we ate at we were treated as old customers. The waitress at Perkins clued Laurie into a different salad dressing, which she liked. The people in Wheeling were very nice.
Don Mclean and Joseph Falce
We got up Saturday and after checking out. from our motel, we headed back to the Marx show. There were one or two new dealers from the previous days. Laurie and I went back to a table and bought a non Marx item for resale on Ebay. I also picked up two Comansi figures which had a header card David Crockett, but I have a feeling they may also used with the Karl May movies made in Europe in the 60's. I made some last minute purchases with Joe Falce and we got a chance to talk with Alan Miller who runs the show and the Kruger toy museum. We complement on a nice show.
At noon we headed home and arrive five and half hours. We are already looking forward to next year's show.
MORE PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW
A close up of Mark Hegeman's tables
Another look at Mark's tables
Mark pointing at some playsets he had for sale One of the items he had at the show was Sears MPC Planet of the Apes playset.
Circle X Ranch and their Johnny West Figure Line