BOSTON AREA TOY COLLECTORS CLUB
Commentary
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"TOY TIMESTM"
Commentary
- Club Members comment on toy collecting -
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Click on the name below to read the article:
Matchbox - Leave No Stone Unturned
Mattel - Random Thoughts on Justice League Unlimited at Target
Odds and Ends - BBC America "Top Gear" Figures
San Diego Comic-Con 2010 - A Report
Tonner Doll Co. - A Boy and His Tonner Dolls
Custom Comic Figures
Trip Through Paradise
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Or Bethlehem PA. Leigh-Heigh University more precise... I went with Peter Mansback and I arrived late & after short work thru the line, it was $10 admission. We walked thru the 1st row of pristine vntge toys !!! Alot of steel trucks & etc. Smith-Miller, Structo, Chad-Valley all MNT IN BOX averaging $1000+ ! Big- Time Dealers were on hand as well. The stuff our friends at Serious Toys had was EXCEPTIONAL ! Great-stuff...I realized quickly 2-things !! I was in over my head & I can't tread for long !! Only thing I had was my Knowledge of period toys & the Ability to BARTER , BARGAIN . BOTTOM-FEED. these are the three items I aquired.
1-M.I.B made in USA tin american parkway N.J.
2ND item was a TECHNOFIX alpineslide M.I.B !!
The last item I saw in all conditions & FINALLY bought from ORIGINAL LADY 4+ HRS later MNT though was the 1966 IDEAL Batman Hand-puppet M.I.P !!
GREATEST PIECE I SEEN .... 2FT LONG Battery-pwrd Wodden Battleship all wrapped In Tin GRAPHICS AMAZING !! Japanese with orignal wooden-crate. Price $3000.00 !!! INCREDIBLE!! This is what we call flea market High. Can't WAIT-tillI next year!! 1ST weeknd in April. Come-join the CLAN ( or VAN) the LIST is Growing .Pictures are coming!! TILL THEN THE JOYS OF TOYS
By Steve Silvia
These are some custom action figures I have made over the years, all of the I made before they were made in any toy line. In most cases I my customs by combing pieces taken from different action figures, so that the base figure was readily identifiable. the first one is Roxy Rocket from Batman Animated series, she was never made as character in any toy line. I also made her rocket accessory to go with her. I have forgotten which base figure I used on her. Her rocket is based on a hollow re-cast I made of the rocket in the Bettie Page in Orbit resin kit.
Roxy Rocket by Steve Silvia
The second one is Zatanna from the Batman the Animated series as well. She is composed of parts from female figures form Toy-Biz, "white Queen" arms, legs, and body, Xena II head, and a hand made epoxy putty hair style. I also made her top hat, which is not attached because she didn't were it for most of the episode she appeared in.
Zatanna by Steve Silvia Commissioner Gordon by Steve Silva
Another character I made from Batman the Animated series is Commissioner Gordon. He was made from a Toy Biz "DC Superheroes Lex Luther body, Kenner animated Bruce Wayne head with another epoxy putty hair wave fore lock. The trench coat is from a X-Men series Gambit. The Eyeglass frames are a epoxy recasts from "Super Powers Clark Kent.
The next one is a silver age Batwoman, this figure is a re worked Kenner "Total Justice Huntress mostly repaint and some minor touch up with epoxy and such. This one was my best figure that I have completed,
Silverage Batwoman by Steve Silvia
The X-Men: Inferno cover gal has a head from another figure called "Psylocke", the hair is from a Spider man series "Black Cat". The sexy bare tummy is from a recast section from a "Lady Demon" action figure that got grafted on to whatever body I used. The tattered cape was made by simply brushing liquid two part epoxy on to the dismantled "Legends of Batman" figure. After the epoxy dried I peeled it off and clipped it with pair of sharp scissors to get that tattered look. The golden amulet at the base of her neck is a recast piece from a Toy Biz "Dr Strange."
Psylocke by Steve Silvia
In all the case, unwanted molded in costume details on the original figure were trimmed or filed off then sanded smooth. the other areas where something needed to built up model kit putty or some other filler was used, and sanded. the costume details are added in various other ways either cut and shaped from sheet plastic and glued on. Some other things were sculpted onto the using epoxy putty. The recast pieces are made using a brush on latex mold making material you can buy in the hobby store. The latex mold simply peels off with out harming it and then generate pieces from the mold using liquid epoxy putty. My customized female figures all won prizes in ToyFare or Tomarts Action Figure Guide's annual contest. the Gordon figure was never submitted he just didn't look sexy enough to be a winner
A Report on the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con
By BATCC member Mark McPhee (Club Secretary & Master-at-arms) "You can't buy it unless you can carry it in your pocket!!" These were the words of a loved one (my wife Julie) to me before we started. So goes Comic-Con!!! I started at 2am Wednesday on my quest for the HOLY-GRAIL !! (The analogy is truly fitting). Estimates say that there were from 110 to125 thousand people a day in San Diego, a city smaller than Boston. Has the Comic-Con outgrown San Diego? It is quite possible. Still, it is a MASSIVE event. Distributors, dealers, and vendors are everywhere! Although there was a lot for sale, there were more people than there was product. The average wait in line was 1 to 2 hours!! Some items never got purchased. On Preview Night I made my way from toy vendor to toy vendor and picked up many treasures. It was a two-mile walk from the hotel to Comic-Con (Julie quits) !! On day 2, I caught a break and made it into the Mattel line. It took a lot of begging and pleading. My Boston Area Toy Collectors Club shirt helped too. I bought a ton of toys to sell later and help raise money for our club's National Collectible Toy event in September!! Thursday morning I decided to mail home 3 boxes of toys I had bought (not enough room in luggage). I had a problem at first because I didn't have any packaging to ship the toys home in. Thanks to some very helpful maintenace and kitchen workers, I soon had everything I needed. 3 boxes were on their way home!! On Friday, we took the day off and went to the zoo. It was relaxing and quiet. My wife started to speak to me again. Saturday. Day #3. I could spend ALL-DAY at Comic-Con!! I was CHARGED-UP!! Before going back to the Con, I first ship box #4 home. Now I just need couple more figures and then I'm done. AFX-TOYS passed out papers explaining a ticket/lottery for a chance to win a wristband so you could purchse a Batman, Green Lantern and Sinestro. I decide I will try for a couple hours and pray. After looking for an hour on the 2nd floor for this mob, I come across some roped-lines, a table and a guy and lady sitting. As I approach, they ask me if I am looking for AFX and the figures. I say yes and he gives me a wristband with a time of 12 noon. I am THRILLED!! I went down to find the distributer and they tell me I can't buy it "TILL NOON "!! Even though there is not one person in line, I had to wait a whole-hour! WHY?? Sunday was the last-day. WAHHHH! Still there's bargain SHOPPING and last day CLEARANCE!! And so we were back to the opening-day line (2 hrs)!! A sane person would have stopped, but I didn't. The end result was 2 boxes taped and sent as 2nd luggage. 1 box I carried-on. The rest of the loot was stuffed into our luggage!!! I don't know how I did it or if I will ever see my BOXES!! (Update: The boxes arrived safe and sound.) CLOSING THOUGHTS: I have been to comic and toy conventions before, but San Diego is THE CREAM OF THE CROP!! These were the most dedicated and enthusiastic collectors and fans I have ever or will ever meet!
(Photo courtesy of Mark McPhee)
The entrance to Comic-Con International (aka: the San Diego Comic-Con)
(Photos courtesy of Mark McPhee)
Mark the questing knight, approaches hallowed ground. The hallowed halls (and handicapped restroom).
(Photos courtesy of Mark McPhee)
110,000 people all try to cross the street at the same time.
Others (Hot Toys Guardian Predator figure) were SOLD-OUT online !! There were none avalible at event !!!
(Photo courtesy of SIDESHOW Collectibles) (Photo courtesy of Mark McPhee)
Hot Toys Guardian Predator figure. Mark confers with some fellow collectors.
(Photos courtesy of Mark McPhee)
Mark and his BATCC shirt pose with Bartman. Mark and his BATCC shirt discuss the finer points of superheroics with the Flash
and Green Lantern.
(Photos courtesy of Mark McPhee)
Some Ghostbusters pose with the Ecto-1. Mark and his BATCC shirt pose with Iron Man armor from Stan Winston Studios.
(Photos courtesy of Mark McPhee)
At the zoo (the OTHER collection of wildlife that San Diego is famous for). "Put a Hawaiian shirt on him and he'll fit right in at Comic-Con".
(Photos courtesy of Julie McPhee)
While Mark was chasing toys, his wife Julie took the camera for a while and took 5 nearly-identical pictures of Robert Downey Jr.
and 12 nearly-identical shots of Chris Hemsworth (the handsome young man who is playing Thor in the upcoming movie). Here is one of each.
(Photos courtesy of Mark McPhee)
A replica of the original Ralph McQuarrie design of Darth Vader's Helmet. I don't know what these statues are supposed to be, but they are beautiful.
By BATCC member Gregory Andrews Gregory Andrews has been a diecast collector, exclusively Matchbox®, since he was a child. He blames his parents for his over 40 year addiction to Matchbox®. He lives in
What do you think about when you hear the phrase “Leave No Stone Unturned”?
Are you thinking of the ancient Greek legend about a general who buried a large treasure inside his tent and then was defeated in battle? Those seeking the treasure consulted the Oracle of Delphi, who advised them to move every stone.
Are you thinking of the 1973 Rolling Stones album by the same name? Not one of their better albums with seven of the twelve songs coming from B-side singles.
Could it possibly be you’re thinking about using every possible source or every resource at your disposal to achieve your goal? To find your buried treasure?
We as toy collectors do not have the luxury to consult the Oracle of Delphi. But we, as members of the Boston Area Toy Collectors Club (BATCC), have something more powerful than an oracle……………membership.
Late one Sunday morning I was driving home from the BATCC monthly meeting. During the drive I was thinking of some information that was announced just before the meeting ended. A member announced that a fellow BATCC member had gone to an antique store and found some Matchbox® cars there.
After hearing that, another member stated, if that particular member had gone there and looked over all the Matchbox® cars then there must not be anything good left. I could not tell if they were joking or serious when they made the statement. Could it have been some inside joke I was not aware of or was it simply the truth. That if this member had been there and looked over all the Matchbox cars they had to offer then maybe there really was nothing left and nothing that I would be interested in.
I had never known anyone who had found Matchbox® cars in an antique store. I had read in magazines and on-line about collectors having success at antique stores but I never thought enough of it to add them to my Matchbox® Hunting List. It just never seemed to me to be a great outlet for Matchbox® cars. I stopped thinking about it but I never quite put it totally out of my mind.
Throughout the rest of the day at times I found myself thinking about the antique store. One of the reasons was because the store was not that far away from me and I knew the general area of where it was located. Also, I think it may have been the thrill of the hunt. I know we have all felt this before. The thought of finding our own proverbial Holy Grail. That single elusive toy, which by cost or scarcity we have been unable to acquire. The one piece we would just love to add to our collection. The one toy we would call the Crown Jewel of our entire collection. You know the one I am talking about.
So I kept going back and forth in mind, should I go or not, is he right and there is nothing left or is there a treasure trove of Matchbox® cars just waiting for me to stop by and give them a new home. Would I find my Crown Jewel there?
Well, it just so happened that I woke up the next morning with a terrible cold so I called in sick to work. No really I did have a cold. I slept through the morning and woke up just after noon felling a lot better. Once again my thoughts were brought back to the antique store and if it would be worth my while to actually go there. Even though I felt better I really didn’t feel like going anywhere.
After tossing it back and forth in my head I had finally decided to go and see for myself if this antique store had anything I would be willing to add to my collection. I also decided if I was going, this would be the perfect time for me to go. So, I tracked down the name and the exact location of the antique store that was mentioned in yesterdays BATCC meeting. With my MapQuest printout in hand I set out to pay that antique store a visit.
I got to the antique store, parked the car and walked inside. I slowly walked around moving from display case to display case, table to table, room to room, upstairs and downstairs. Searching for my Holy Grail of Matchbox® vehicles. Making sure there was not a place that a Matchbox® vehicle could hide that I had not checked. Just in case I had missed something I went through the store a second time. In the end I could not find a single Matchbox® vehicle in the entire place. It had been a bust. A total waste of my time.
I was feeling tired and dejected as I walked back to my car. I was so hoping that this would lead to something, but it didn’t. As I went to start the car up I noticed a sign that said there was another antique store downstairs below the one I had just been in. Since I was already there and it was open I went downstairs to see what they had.
They had rows of large display cabinets so I decided to walk the perimeter first. This store was more flea market like than the shop upstairs which was more antique like. I found one dusty box in the back corner that had a few of both Matchbox® and Hot Wheels ® cars in them. The Matchbox® all were fairly recent models and in poor condition or as some collectors like to say “they were well loved”.
After that find I walked up and down the isles. In one of the display cabinets I found a small tin box with about 6 or 8 Matchbox® cars in them. They were all dirty and dusty, paint chipping off some while others had labels partially removed. But in that box I saw a Matchbox® # 68 Mercedes Coach (1965) with a green body and white roof. I did remember an orange body variation but not a green one. I have the orange variation in my collection already but not the green one.
But like all the other vehicles it was covered in dirt and dust. It actually looked like someone had run the bus on its roof through some mud. I quickly put it back and wiped my fingers on my jeans.
I found a few more display cabinets that had very few Matchbox® cars or the vehicles they did have were from the `80’s or `90’s and already in my collection. Nothing that I was interested in. I continued to walk around and I found a large display of Matchbox® vehicles. I asked for the cabinet to be opened so I could take a look at them.
It just so happened the owner of the vehicles was working at the store at that time and opened the case for me. He told me the price and said if I wanted more than a few he could do better on the price.
So I started to go through them. Most of them were from the `60’s and some from the `70’s. The condition went from near mint to ones that were very well loved. I did find 10 that I was willing to buy. They were not in mint condition but I would classify them in excellent condition. And the price that he was asking for them seemed great for the condition. So I brought them up to the register and he gave me an additional 15% off. He also told me he had some more Matchbox® from the `50’s at home. If I wanted he would bring them in and give me first look at them. Of course I said “Yes”.
I went back three separate times and purchased a total of 54 Matchbox® vehicles to add to my collection. In those three visits to the antique store I learned a few things.
- Enjoy your collection. I get a lot of enjoyment out of my collection but I can enjoy my collection more by dropping my standards. I can enjoy a vehicle with a few paint chips just as well as I can enjoy a vehicle with no paint chips. Not everything has to be in mint condition.
- Leave no stone unturned. Check out every lead no matter what someone has said about it. Remember the old adage “one mans trash is another mans treasure.” Make your own decisions on what is right for your collection don’t leave it up to somebody else. You may just find your very own Crown Jewel.
- Membership has its privileges. I would not have known anything about this antique store if I had not been a member of the BATCC. So if you are in the area become a member of the BATCC or become a member of a toy collector club in your area. Also, be an active member and go to the meetings and events to support your club.
And for those of you wondering I did buy the green Mercedes Coach. It appears that all the dirt was on the surface and a good cleaning with mild soap was all that it needed. The paint was in perfect condition but the white plastic roof does have scratches in it. I still think someone ran it through the mud on it’s roof. But it now holds a place of honor in my collection. Just like all the other 5000 plus vehicles in my collection.
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By BATCC member Mark McPhee (Club Secretary & Master-at-arms)
I WILL HIDE NO MORE!! Thanks to the ideas of one Robert Tonner and his TONNER DOLL COMPANY, I can now proudly display my female action figures from
(Photo courtesy of Ron Krzywonos)
Superman and Batman by Tonner Doll Company as they were displayed at our 2007 National
Collectible Toy Event.
I quickly acquired Batman and Superman, but the best was yet to come! The Tonner Doll Company displayed again at our 2008 National Event. There, I was able to acquire a Joker doll.
(Photo courtesy of Nick Caci)
The Tonner Doll Company display at our 2008 Event. The Joker was hiding from Batman.
Then came our 2009 event!! Mr. Robert Tonner was our Featured Guest Speaker. His power and passion, when discussing his product, was even more evident than in the actual dolls. (IF THAT’S POSSIBLE)
(Photo courtesy of Nick Caci) (Photo courtesy of Ron Krzywonos)
Mr. Robert Tonner speaking at our 2009 Event. Poison Ivy, Batman, Supergirl, and Hawkgirl at our 2009 Event.
Through Tonner donations to our silent auctions, I was able to acquire the 2009 ComiCon piece, Circe (a Wonder Woman villain), as well as Hawkgirl and The Green Lantern!! What a night! To top it off, Mr. Tonner was gracious enough to sign his work!!! Need I say more!
(Photo courtesy of Nick Caci) (Photo courtesy of G. Sullivan)
Tonner Doll Company's 2009 San Diego ComiCon exclusive, Circe. Robert Tonner's signature.
Below her, The Green Lantern is featured on the cover of the Tonner Doll
2009 catalogue.
I just got back from Visiting the Tonner Doll Company booth at the 2010 ComiCon in
I can't wait for this year’s BATCC event with Tonner’s NEW & exciting DOLLS!!! KEEP UP THE GREAT-WORK Tonner Doll Company!! TONNER-DOLLS the BEST, then the rest!! * * * * *
Random thoughts on 'Justice League Unlimited' by Mattel at Target by BATCC member Moose Hannon The rumors were wrong... About six months ago, there were rumors that Target stores were not going to carry Mattel’s Justice League Unlimited Fan Collection action figure series into 2010. Target stores have the exclusive at retail to sell that Mattel style of figure. The talk was that the product was not meeting the sales goals for the chain, as evidence by the number of peg warmers hanging in stores. Chief culprits were the three packs of: · Green Lantern, Fire and Ice · Superman, Galatea and Huntress · The Question, Flash and Wonder Woman. For months over last summer, only those figure packs collected dust on the pegs while fans/collectors wondered in disgust where the new product was. In August, fans of JLU were temporarily satiated by the arrival of two new six packs: · Mutiny in the Ranks · A League United both of which included actual new figures like Mr. Terrific and Gentleman Ghost. Some lucky collectors even got these six pack sets for only $4.98 each due to a Target pricing error. But…collectors still weren’t happy… “Where’s old Bruce Wayne”, shouted the fan base. The three pack of Batman Beyond, old Bruce Wayne and Warhawk could not be found at Target, though it could definitely be bought from an EBay dealer in Some collectors were relieved of this burden when the Batman Beyond three pack started to appear in stores in limited quantity in September, 2009, along with Lex Luthor in prison orange, Cheetah and the Shade three pack. These new packs were inserted into cases along with older, less desirable packs like: · Green Lantern, Fire and Ice · Superman, Galatea and Huntress. At this time as well, prices increased from $12.99 for a three pack to $15.99. Fans felt the squeeze. When the two new three packs failed to arrive at Target in large quantities to appease demand of fans, the talk in September on fan blogs was that Target cancelled their orders, thereby forcing Mattel to halt production and close factories. The rumor was that since Chinese workers were no longer getting paid, all Bruce Wayne products were stolen and then shipped to Fans were agitated. Then in October, new product arrived. Target stores received shipments of the three new three packs that included: · Apache Chief, Samurai and Black Lightning, aka the Super Friends set · Amanda Waller, Gen. Eisling and Batman · Blackhawk, Superman, and Wonder Woman. For a month, these figures seemed to fly off the shelves. Around November, supply began to outweigh demand and –behold – they became the newest batch of JLU Target Peg Warmers along with the August six packs, which also had a price increase from $20 to $30. But still no old Bruce Wayne’s…Many JLU collectors were ticked. Come December of 2009, new six packs arrived. They were: · Justice League Eclipsed, with one totally new figure of Eclipso, · Attack from Thanagar, with three new Thanagarians or Hawkman types. These moved quickly, especially since they might have been accidentally priced at clearance, due to Targets clearance pricing of the August six packs. Also, in December/January, 2010, three more three packs appeared. They were: · Plastic Man, Cyborg, and Mr. Miracle, · Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang and the Flash · Metallo, Superman, Wonder Woman Those three packs have come and gone at Target in this area and are commanding premiums right now EBay. But still no Batman Beyond…there ain’t going to be any new things next year! When it seemed that collectors had lost hope about ever getting an old Bruce Wayne, Mattel released a statement in January on Facebook that the Bruce Wayne and Cheetah packs were going to appear at Big Lots, the closeout chain, since Target could not accept those cases with so many peg warmers. Fans cheered and sighed a bit of relief, which has now turned to apprehension since none of those Bruce Wayne’s have appeared in any Big Lots, at least the ones that I frequent. Big Lots has gotten some JLU figures; they were the last waves of JLU singles from 2008/2009, which Target clearanced back in February, 2009, that included Super Woman and Batman with Wonder Pig. If you did not get them then, now you could find those at Big Lots for $2.00 each. Bargain stores seemed to be becoming the new home for JLU. Until February 21st, 2010, that is. On that date most Target stores got their shipment of new JLU singles, priced at $8.99, which included: · Firestorm, first appearance ever in JLU animated style, · Deadshot, first time on single card, · Batman in Blue and Grey and batarang, · Batman in Black, like the Tim Burton/1989 version. · Green Lantern, which was the same exact figure that Big Lots had been selling for $2.00. While these items were not actually on the floor, most or all Target stores had them in inventory/back room. If you asked nicely on that day an associate would have gone into the back room and gotten you a set. On March 4th, another wave of JLU appeared at Target in these parts. They had already been in other areas before arriving here. Included in the cases were, · Aquaman, classic version, · Big Barda, first time as single · Star Sapphire, first time as single · Batman in Black and Grey, first time in these colors for JLU · Green Arrow, first time as single Then this past Wednesday, I found five new JLU singles. Though none of the figures are really new to the market, they do come with new cards and a new accessory. They include: · Superman with Bottle city of · Brainiac with gun · Plastic Man with squared version · THE ATOM with smaller version · Martian Manhunter with goggles So in a month there have been at least 13 new JLU figures/items by Mattel for sale at Target. WOW! So reports of the demise of JLU at Target has been an exaggeration. As to the whereabouts of old Bruce Wayne, nobody knows…
