MARX CONVENTION 2010
Getting to the Marx Convention started off interestingly. We had to take Sparky and Percy to the Veterinarian as we board them there. The trip over to the Vet is always a riot as Sparky is complaining every inch of the way. We final got to the Veterinarian and as we went to go in, the Vet was treating some woman who had slipped and fallen on her head. So we got in the back door, left the boys off and finished our preparations and headed to West Virginia.
Before we got on the road I decide this year to stop at a dinner we go regularly for lunch as the food on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is unexciting. From there we headed for Pennsylvania Turnpike. The ride was pleasant and we arrived 6 hours later. We checked into our hotel and then went out for dinner at Cheddars. This is a food chain we do not have in our area and we had a good experience last year. We celebrate a safe trip and a good show then went back to the hotel.
The next morning after dealing with high pressure sink in the room we headed to the show. As we got in the door, we were greeted by Alan Miller promoter of the show and given our badges. Once that was done we started looking around the show. The show is layout in several rooms in the basement and first floor. The people who are setting up we have seen their before and nothing. We started our search for items and found things right away. As I said to people what I buy today is different than what I bought 2 years ago due to the market on Ebay. Figures that were junk then I can now sell. Our first stop was to say hello to Alan Ford. Alan had a nice mix of loose figures and playsets. I picked up another set of Churchill, Napoleon and Moses for some friends.From him we went into one of the rooms in the basement. We walked around and said to old faces we had not seen in a while. We got a nice mix of items. Then on to the smaller rooms where we ran into Tom Stine who gave us a deal on Marx Fort Apache fort parts . I passed on a Battleground lot that Tom had. We continued to walk around and in the next room we stop at Joe Falce's table. Joe always has good buys and this year was no different. We found that Joe is going to get married. His best man is to be Calvin, who is usual late in setting up at the show and we wonder how he will be on time. We made some purchases and headed to the second floor.
On the second floor we found our friend John Reichl. He was by himself this year as Mike Russo of Stockade Miniatures had other commitments. We talked to him about how the flea markets in our areas how they have been off. We then turn to the other of the aisle and made purchases from John Boyd. We had got a wide mix of items from John last year and were please with the unusual items we found from him this year.. Downstairs we ran into an old friend of mine Chuck Rastelli. Chuck and I go back to the early days of the hobby and we talked about the people we knew. Chuck was glad to find some of the 40mm Western horses.
Paul And Chuck Rastelli
After talking with Chuck we did another circuit before taking a break. Laurie said to me my friend Bob Mulero was there. I gave a strange look like he could not be hear he does not drive and the trip to the show via bus or other means is crazy. Sure enough Bob showed up. and as we have mention before he took a 12 hour bus trip to get to the show. We talked and set up to take over to the Marx Museum which was having a 10th anniversary celebration. I went around the room and found more items for myself and we met Norm from Norm's finds. Norm goes to various thrift shops and finds some interesting items that he reports on in the Marx Group. Both Norm and I had fun going through a nickel tub where I found some interesting figures.
One stop before we left was Marxman as I need some TSSD Sioux Indians. Marxman also had the new Paragon figures which I was glad to add to the collection. We also check out Mark Hegeman and rick Eber's stands. Mark had four bags of the Marx 54mm figures such the WWII Germans. I remember when I was a child paying $.98 for these bags. Mark was able to get $125.00. Mark was able to sell some other items he had on his table. We heard that several tables changed hands.
This year we passed on the panels. One interesting panel was showing a clip from a Tonight show with John Carson with specially made Marx train cars. The party that showed the film had at the show the cars that were on the show. What a great find.
A Train layout that was just inside the door.
Looking from Alan Ford's tables to anothe room with more goodies
Some the items that Mark Hegeman had for sale notice the three Miller Alien Moon Men
A Close up of the Miller aliens Mercury is damaged.
Rick Eber had the Marx School House Playset for sale
Rick Eber
The hard to find Marx Post Exchange and two army trucks
I believe this is Dave Pittman who had some great buys
Don Mclean who I got some Marx Civil War fence for resale.
Norm with the famous nickel tub
Norm showing the tub's contents I heard he found a lot of great items for his collection.
For lunch we went back to Later Alligator downtown in Wheeling. The food was excellent as last year. After short rest we picked up Bob and went to the Marx Museum 10th anniversary. We will talk more about the anniversary in another article. From the meeting we took Bob and went to a place several people from Laurie's job recommended Quaker Steak and Lube. The nicest thing I can say is we will never go there again. The food was bland the waitress was rude and really did not like the layout. I did not like when the waitress tried to push the zucchini strips as an appetizer. Their chili is the worse I have every had. From there we went back to motel to rest.
The next morning we got up and headed back to the show for some final purchases. I found some items in Mark's quarter box including 2 Reisler band figures for the collection. Fred Bauer's wife told us how Fred looked forward to my lists. I wish that I could do them but the inter net changed that. We went upstairs and did some great purchases again from John Boyd including some Rin Tin Tin totem poles I had never seen before. We talked some more to John Reichl and other and head out. On the way back we stopped at a supermarket to buy some Heinz Pickles which we can not find in our area. We stopped at a Bob Evans to try their new barbecue menu and were surprised when the waitress brought big drinks for the road. We head home and can not wait for the next show.