Are toy shows still worth going to?

Bogey · March 09, 2009, 08:42:38 AM

I believe I bought a Kenner Alien doll in the box from Just Kids Nostalgia back in the day. I had a trade worked out for a Mego Penguin MIB, sent him my trade item and then he contacted me letting me know he no longer had that item. I just had him send back the item I had sent him.

What was the name of the guy in the toy shop that used to sell old serials on VHS for a mint? Max something.... I bought a Green Hornet postcard from him, but thought his prices on most things too high. He had cool looking adds though.

Jscareshock · March 09, 2009, 10:18:58 AM

Other than the dealers at monster shows, are there any toy shows anymore? PA used to have a lot of them until EBAY came along. I haven't seen one listed in ages.

dlhenderson · March 09, 2009, 10:33:02 AM

There was actually a "monster toy" show here in Atlanta two or three years ago. I went with high hopes. I walked away with a Frankenstein Soakie, but that was about it. I was very happy to get the Soakie; wish I had the complete set. I almost bought a set of those monster drinking glasses. The price wasn't bad but I'm such a butter-fingers, I figured I'd end up breaking one eventually. The various plastic inhabitants of my domain have taken numerous dives over the years, generally surviving the fall.

Gasport · March 09, 2009, 03:08:31 PM

Yeah, i really miss those Just Kids phone auctions. Always the perfect excuse for staying up til 3AM , or so watching old horror movies [On the VCR, of course] with one hand on the phone to check on the bidding every so often. As the night wore on i always got the impression the guy on the other end of the line wasn't having as much fun as i was!

Jscareshock · March 10, 2009, 10:33:19 AM

Yeah, I hated those phone auctions. They were the only thing available at the time though. It always bothered me that I never knew if I was actually bidding against another person or simply giving the auction place the amount they expected for the item. As much as Ebay is an annoyance I can at least fell a little better about bidding.

mondocollecto.com · March 16, 2009, 09:29:35 AM

I've never really gotten to attend any big toy-only shows, but I really enjoy going to AdventureCon, which is held a little over an hour from my house. It's dedicated to lots of different things, of course - comics, sci-fi, etc. - but I really enjoy it and invite all of you to attend this year's in June if you can.

My advice: take your children or nephews/nieces or any other kids you can! I would have thought I'd died & gone to Heaven if I could have gone to something like this at 10 or 12 years old.

Bogey · March 16, 2009, 09:44:51 AM

Quote from: Jscareshock on March 10, 2009, 10:33:19 AM
Yeah, I hated those phone auctions. They were the only thing available at the time though. It always bothered me that I never knew if I was actually bidding against another person or simply giving the auction place the amount they expected for the item. As much as Ebay is an annoyance I can at least fell a little better about bidding.

Probably better, but I would not put it past some dealers to have it set up with a friend to keep bidding on an item. That is why I set a limit and never go over before starting my bids. I have lost some that way, but there is plenty to be had.

packy120353 · April 05, 2009, 07:11:48 AM

In about an hour I'm heading out to the "Fat Albert Toy Show". I like to have paid my five bucks and be in line when the doors open. Worth going to? For me yes, just to look at stuff and talk to folks. I don't often get to be in a room full of toy collectors, they're really great people. Admittedly there aren't that many deals. What I look for is under the radar - I once found a Palmer Kong and Cyclops in a bag of jungle animals. Waddington and Pressman games with non-monster stuff and so on. Hopefully I'll have a "weekly find" to show! I'm also looking for some older plastic military vehicles and Marx dinos and ...? There is no end

Bogey · April 05, 2009, 08:14:46 AM

Quote from: packy120353 on April 05, 2009, 07:11:48 AM
In about an hour I'm heading out to the "Fat Albert Toy Show". I like to have paid my five bucks and be in line when the doors open. Worth going to? For me yes, just to look at stuff and talk to folks. I don't often get to be in a room full of toy collectors, they're really great people. Admittedly there aren't that many deals. What I look for is under the radar - I once found a Palmer Kong and Cyclops in a bag of jungle animals. Waddington and Pressman games with non-monster stuff and so on. Hopefully I'll have a "weekly find" to show! I'm also looking for some older plastic military vehicles and Marx dinos and ...? There is no end

Thread duty, Packy. A full report of your day is in order.

packy120353 · April 05, 2009, 04:47:07 PM

QuoteThread duty, Packy. A full report of your day is in order

Thread reporter Packy reporting on Fat Albert toy show - - - -
Swamp Thing Venus Fly Trap playset - never opened
Swamp Thing Color by number sets (3) - never opened
6" GI (no markings) probably made in Mexico
small lot of 50s-60s 55mm Tim Mee and Werner
small plastic (modern) Godzilla stepping on a building - not pictured
Pics are: new toy unpackaged, then assembled with captured Creature added, Coloring set box, some of the army men.

I'm not a giant SwampThing fan but i am a toy Venus Fly Trap fan, the guy just threw in the coloring sets. I like the artwork.
Was it worth going? Definitely. I spent exactly 20 bucks including 5 for admission. I got what I went there for, some armymen I didn't have to pay shipping on.

Bogey · April 05, 2009, 05:46:28 PM

The Marx 6" Marine is sweet, Packy!

joy and tom studios · April 05, 2009, 06:41:26 PM

The FX show in Orlando is coming up this month. There are a lot of dealers of toys in general that still attend this show. It is starting to move tword a clone of Chiller as they try and add more and more celebritys each year. Still lots of stuff to look at.

packy120353 · April 05, 2009, 07:01:55 PM

QuoteThe Marx 6" Marine is sweet, Packy!

Thanks Bogey - - - - It's not marked with Marx marks! Alot of knockoffs. But I agree, I like this guy alot, grenade in one hand and a tommy gun in the other, and it's in fine condition! I'm slowly building my "big guys" collection. Are you a fan?

pk

Bogey · April 05, 2009, 07:14:15 PM

Quote from: packy120353 on April 05, 2009, 07:01:55 PM

Thanks Bogey - - - - It's not marked with Marx marks! Alot of knockoffs. But I agree, I like this guy alot, grenade in one hand and a tommy gun in the other, and it's in fine condition! I'm slowly building my "big guys" collection. Are you a fan?

pk

Indeed. I sold mine (about 20-30) about two years ago (actually traded for some boxing cards from the 1950's) . However, I kept my astronaut set. Have flirted with recollecting, but "where to put" is always the first question I ask myself as the others were in a plastic bin for years. New rule for me and my wife is, "If it can't be displayed, don't buy." Kind of stinks, but has been good for the whole family.

Always liked their WWII line (especially the Russians....cool molds), the Viking set, and the Knights. Heck, I liked 'em all. Thanks for complying with the thread duty.

dlhenderson · April 06, 2009, 02:10:24 PM

I had a bunch of those "big guys" back in the day. The ones I remember having were Germans, one with a long ammo belt slung over his shoulder.
Another about to throw a grenade. They were both gray.

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Are toy shows still worth going to?