Hi Guys,
I'm after your collected wisdom here. I love the universal Soakies, always wanted a set and keep seeing them come up on ebay (USA), never here in the UK. I want them so bad - I'm going to go after a set (getting ripped off by the UK customs on import duty be damned!) What in your opinions is a good price for a set? ( Mummy, Wolfman, Frankenstein and Creature). I'm not that concerned about great condition, and I know that this is a daft question, but I'm a man possessed now!
It depends on how you define "set" and what condition you are willing to accept. Scuffed up paint is one thing, but since the head is brittle old 60's hard plastic, and they're a little top heavy, cracks around the neck are common too. Many have chunks out of the neck, and the head falls off with a gust of wind if you don't glue it on. I've seen beat up Frankenstein's (the most common) for $20 or $30. Same with the Wolf Man (blue pants version). The Mummy and Creature usually go for more. The rarest is the Wolf Man with red pants. For minty condition, a Creature or Mummy might run you $150 each, and maybe $85 each for a Frankenstein and Wolf Man. So the high end of price range for a set of 4 would be about $450. The low end would be about $150. That's if you aren't looking for boxed ones. Or the red pants Wolf Man....
I bough a set of soakys over the past year or so. I paid about $40-70 each on eBay. They USED to go for about $100-125 but the price has come down quite a bit, it seems.
Also, note that the Wolfman with red pants is the hardest to find.
Good luck!
Many thanks guys,
The blue pants wolfman and a few scuffs and cracks are fine by me, I'm in the market for a bargain basement set.
Soakies are one of the Universal monster items that I never managed to pick up either...yet. Question: There are 2 versions of the Wolf Man (red & blue pants). Is the paint on the pants the only difference?
Rob
Quote from: monsterphile on August 27, 2008, 08:14:02 PM
Question: There are 2 versions of the Wolf Man (red & blue pants). Is the paint on the pants the only difference?
Rob
Yep!
I've been on the lookout for a Wolfman soakie (blue pants) for under $30. For some reason, they have been going for more lately.
BK
If my experiences are any indication, you also gotta ask your seller to very carefully inspect them too. I won a Frankenstein for $17 that was supposed to have just paint loss. There was a huge crack in the head. For $17, I just glued it back together and let it ride. Then I won a Wolf Man for $40 and that was fine. But my next, a Creature that the seller specifically said had no cracks, had a cracked neck and head and was sloppily repaired with some sort of brown ugly adhesive! That actually glued the head to the cap, too. >:( I sent that back and had to get another.Then I won a Mummy for about $25 that was supposed to only have some paint loss. There was a crack on the back in between the legs. Again, it was cheap enough that I just let it ride. Still displays well. But 3 out of 4 times I didn't get what was advertised. :( Anyone else had these problems or just me? Could be just me since I've been on a bad luck streak with my auction winnings..
I had to send a Mummy back once because it had a crack in the neck. So my track record is one problem out of five Soakie purchases. I've got a blue pants Wolf Man, Frank, Creature and Mummy.
Convinced the wife that no 60's themed monster bathroom would be complete without Soakies so;
(http://i252.photobucket.com/albums/hh10/zombiehorror01/3360759348_ea55e85a9c_o.jpg)
The seller just mailed them out Thursday and I wasn't expecting them so soon but was very happy to see that box on the counter when I returned from the Haunt Show (more on that later). This thread was really starting to scare me since first thing I usually do when getting a vintage item is check out what the experts here have to say. I started to get very nervous hearing about the fragility of these (and overlooked damage) but I'm happy to report the only flaws were those described by seller; some kind of stain on top of Creature's head and a 2" crack on the back of the Wolfman's head. I told Candie that these would probably go for $150 and left the bidding up to her she wasn't going to go that high and came in a penny over the 2nd highest bidder. Another expertly crafted birthday gift for myself, beats the mp3 player she was planning on getting me.
Congrats, I think I was watching that auction if it was on evilbay.
BK
Yep it was brought to us from Satan's Auction House...
Another thing I forgot to mention about these for whatever reason I did not realize how big these were. I just always envisioned them being the size of a typical soakie until I read a description on another website saying these were large size soakies (10"). I've no idea why I never noticed their size since they've appeared in several collection photos right here on this board and upon reviewing some I gave myself a big, DUH, after noticing their scale compared to other monster collectibles.
Quote from: monsterphile on August 27, 2008, 08:14:02 PM
Soakies are one of the Universal monster items that I never managed to pick up either...yet. Question: There are 2 versions of the Wolf Man (red & blue pants). Is the paint on the pants the only difference?
Rob
My experience with them is that the blood on the chin of the head of the red pants version is either a different red than the blue or applied in a slightly different pattern. Can't remember and just moved, so no access, but side by side, you can tell the difference between a head that goes w/ a red pants body and one that came on the blue.
We've talked about it before and I've heard a lot of speculation, but does anyone KNOW why the red pants version was made? Seems like ole' Wolfie gets more variations that others (OK, one other, the Vics wiggler).
I've had the opportunity to buy these pass through my hands several times through the years, but they never appealed to me. I was born in 1970, so they were prolly a memory by then. Maybe that's why. No childhood memory association?
When I was about 5, we made my only trip to Elberton, Georgia (granite/tombstone capitol of the world) to visit my great grandma, who was in her 90s. I still remember going to the grocery store in Elberton, and on the backside of the front display there was a large display of just monster soakies! It was quite memorable! I got a Frankenstein Soaky-that I loved alot. My grandfather (from Elberton) always reminded me of Boris Karloff, as he had Karloff's eyes/eyebrows. Oddly, that Soaky always reminded me of my grandfather, and still does when I look at one.
As added excellence, the teenage kid that lived next door to great grandma took a likin' to me, and brought me into his hideout in his garage to show me his Frankenstein toy- a Marx Frankenstein robot. The only one I ever saw in person until about 1980-ish. I was in utter amazement. :o
I was born in '75 and I love the soakies. In fact, most of what I collect either came out before I was born or I never saw it until I was an adult. Strangely, I don't collect any of the stuff I had as a kid. (GI Joe, He-Man, etc...)
$57.75 + $7.95?
"He has a 4" crack on the side of his head (as shown in photo 4) and a 2.75" crack (as shown in photo3) on his elbow."
I don't think repro packaging is worth all that....LOL!
Oops...forgot the link~http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190434452188&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
I paid different prices, frankenstein being in fair condition....at 30.00 dollars.
The Creature being in the best condition at, 70.oo dollars.
Quote from: monsterphile on August 27, 2008, 08:14:02 PM
Soakies are one of the Universal monster items that I never managed to pick up either...yet. Question: There are 2 versions of the Wolf Man (red & blue pants). Is the paint on the pants the only difference?
Rob
Actually, no. There is no dripping blood on the chest area of the red pants version.
JP
Quote from: Wolfman on December 22, 2016, 09:12:23 AM
Actually, no. There is no dripping blood on the chest area of the red pants version.
I don't see any dripping blood on either of these examples.
(http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/MGalleryItem.php?id=1051)
Quote from: Mike Scott on December 22, 2016, 09:49:44 AM
I don't see any dripping blood on either of these examples.
(http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/MGalleryItem.php?id=1051)
I do. Look closer at the blue one. On his hands also.
JP
There's one up on ebay now. Plenty of blood on chest/hands.
JP
Quote from: Wolfman on December 22, 2016, 10:11:09 AM
There's one up on ebay now. Plenty of blood on chest/hands.
Must have been "painter's choice" on those.
Quote from: Wolfman on December 22, 2016, 10:01:45 AM
I do. Look closer at the blue one. On his hands also.
I can't see it, but I'll take your word for it.
Quote from: Mike Scott on December 22, 2016, 10:34:24 AM
I can't see it, but I'll take your word for it.
You really can't see it? Expand the image, and it's pretty obvious.
JP
Quote from: Wolfman on December 22, 2016, 10:48:11 AM
You really can't see it? Expand the image, and it's pretty obvious.
It is expanded. It all looks brown to me.
I can see dripping blood on the red pant version on his chin and maybe a tiny bit on his knuckle. It is a lot harder to see than on the blue pant version but it is there.
Really love these Soakies and want to put a set together one day.
Ian
Quote from: Palifan on December 22, 2016, 02:16:25 PM
I can see dripping blood on the red pant version on his chin and maybe a tiny bit on his knuckle. It is a lot harder to see than on the blue pant version but it is there.
Really love these Soakies and want to put a set together one day.
Ian
There are clearly 4 separate spots of blood on his chest. I guess my vision is better than I realized.
JP
Just realized you mentioned the red pant version. Yes, I see the blood on the chin, but not the chest. Don't know why the blue version has it, and not the red one.
JP
This is clearly the new "What color is this dress?" phenomena. There is very visible blood spatter on the blue version of the Wolf Man. It is on the chest and fingers. You may need to adjust the brightness or contrast on your screen or on the image itself. It is very clear on my screen. The red version has blood, albeit harder to see, on the hands and chin. JP is not crazy, but Mike may be! haha
Quote from: aura of foreboding on December 22, 2016, 04:19:51 PM
JP is not crazy, but Mike may be!
I told you that in
confidence!! >:(
I'm pretty sure you told me that when we were on the Dr. Phil program, Mike.
Quote from: aura of foreboding on December 22, 2016, 04:33:50 PM
I'm pretty sure you told me that when we were on the Dr. Phil program, Mike.
I didn't know that was gonna be on TV! (I wondered what all those people were doing there.)
Quote from: aura of foreboding on December 22, 2016, 04:19:51 PM
This is clearly the new "What color is this dress?" phenomena. There is very visible blood spatter on the blue version of the Wolf Man. It is on the chest and fingers. You may need to adjust the brightness or contrast on your screen or on the image itself. It is very clear on my screen. The red version has blood, albeit harder to see, on the hands and chin. JP is not crazy, but Mike may be! haha
Please don't insult me by telling me I'm NOT crazy. Who wants to be normal, whatever the hell that is? LOL
JP
Quote from: Wolfman on December 22, 2016, 05:00:49 PM
Please don't insult me by telling me I'm NOT crazy. Who wants to be normal, whatever the hell that is? LOL
JP
JP is
less crazy. Happy? ;D
I bought my set of UniMon Soakies off eBay a few years ago. It was an auction and I believe I paid around $250 including shipping. The seller bought them new back in the '60s and used the soap and stored the containers all those years. The Mummy has some paint loss and a tiny crack on the neck, but the other three are very nice with no flaws. Prior to purchasing the set I only had a lesser condition Frankenstein with wear/paint loss which I bought at an antique mall in Fla. 15 years ago for $40. I sold the duplicate Frank on eBay last year. It brought a little over $50 at auction which I was pleased with considering the condition.
NM "Like New" condition examples seem to bring around the following:
Frankenstein and Wolfman: $80-$100 each
Mummy: $100-$130
Creature: $130-$150
Damaged ones with cracks and significant paint loss are common and can be had for cheap.