I was more of a Matchbox cars kid, and while many of them met a violent end--I would rig up a track to launch them out my 2nd story bedroom window-- quite a few lasted until not too long ago.
I sold a batch during deep COVID to a guy that (I think) was more happy to see another human being than round out his collection...Several left via eBay, and more recently the ones that were left--the baseball card equivalent of a "common,"--were batched and sold in lots.
At the end, my wife set them up on a card table and people could come and pick/choose the ones they wanted for $1 each. The interesting part of *that* story were stories people would tell me when they stopped by. One dad was going to use them in an RPG he designed with his kid. Another was back-filling stuff they themselves had sold and later regretted, etc. It was heartening to know they were going to good homes.
Incredible comment. Love hearing about other people's toys. Did you feel any melancholy at the end? Roll them around the house for old time's sake? Keep any?
Thanks! I’ve kept a select handful for now. There was a quick bit of remorse as I walked out of that first guy’s place but he seemed thrilled, so that helped. Ditto hearing the stories of people that came by the house to pick and choose their new cars.
For various reasons I only managed to keep one of my original Star Wars toys into adulthood. When I was approaching 40 I decided to start collecting again. 12 years later I have quite the collection of SW and other 80’s stuff, as well as He-Man toys and it hasn’t been cheap.
But it’s been worth it. Not only for the thrill of the hunt but the memories of playing with them as a kid, afternoons at my friends house, playing Star Wars.
I thought about starting GI Joe collection too but there’s so many of them. You never know though.
I went through a crazy Star Wars toy phase in the late 90s/early 2000s. Was celebrating the return of SW toys to shelves. I have a 12 inch Luke riding a Tauntaun. One of my favorites.
Yeah there were some good toys released in that era, particularly when it came to the creatures. In addition to nice tauntauns we got a really nice bantha out of it.
I was more of a Matchbox cars kid, and while many of them met a violent end--I would rig up a track to launch them out my 2nd story bedroom window-- quite a few lasted until not too long ago.
I sold a batch during deep COVID to a guy that (I think) was more happy to see another human being than round out his collection...Several left via eBay, and more recently the ones that were left--the baseball card equivalent of a "common,"--were batched and sold in lots.
At the end, my wife set them up on a card table and people could come and pick/choose the ones they wanted for $1 each. The interesting part of *that* story were stories people would tell me when they stopped by. One dad was going to use them in an RPG he designed with his kid. Another was back-filling stuff they themselves had sold and later regretted, etc. It was heartening to know they were going to good homes.
Incredible comment. Love hearing about other people's toys. Did you feel any melancholy at the end? Roll them around the house for old time's sake? Keep any?
Thanks! I’ve kept a select handful for now. There was a quick bit of remorse as I walked out of that first guy’s place but he seemed thrilled, so that helped. Ditto hearing the stories of people that came by the house to pick and choose their new cars.
For various reasons I only managed to keep one of my original Star Wars toys into adulthood. When I was approaching 40 I decided to start collecting again. 12 years later I have quite the collection of SW and other 80’s stuff, as well as He-Man toys and it hasn’t been cheap.
But it’s been worth it. Not only for the thrill of the hunt but the memories of playing with them as a kid, afternoons at my friends house, playing Star Wars.
I thought about starting GI Joe collection too but there’s so many of them. You never know though.
Okay now I'm jealous lol
What was the one Star Wars toy you hung onto?
My tauntaun is the only Star Wars toy I managed to keep from childhood.
An incredible toy. Too bad you didn't have Luke still stuffed inside. :)
Tauntauns are my favorite. I have quite a collection of them now. Can’t seem to pass them up when I see them ( assuming the price is reasonable ).
I went through a crazy Star Wars toy phase in the late 90s/early 2000s. Was celebrating the return of SW toys to shelves. I have a 12 inch Luke riding a Tauntaun. One of my favorites.
Yeah there were some good toys released in that era, particularly when it came to the creatures. In addition to nice tauntauns we got a really nice bantha out of it.
There were female interviewees for the Hello Kitty eppy! Sanrio was my Star Wars for sure. I also loved Speak & Spell and Magical Musical Thing 😁
Great piece!
Nice idea, but I noticed the recency bias. The toy industry existed prior to the 1980s.
I didn't play with toys that came out before I was born 🤣
You're part of the target audience, obviously.