The winds of change in publishing are always blowing, whether it's a magazine changing formats, changing its angle of coverage of changing personnel. We've seen plenty changes at Toy Shop over its 20-year run, and I have another announcement to make.

My duties within F+W Publications, which is the proud parent company of Toy Shop, have changed. While I will still have some role with this magazine, the major portions of my dutues will have nothing to do with toys, as I will be moving to another division within the company. This move wasn't something I actively sought, though I am not dreadng the change. What I am hesitant about is leaving behind (again, not completely) something I have worked on for the better part of my professional career. I have learned a lot about toys, and even more about people in this job. The toy community is filled with excellent people, and I hope I find the same thing in my new surroundings, though it will be hard to match.

While I’m not sure just how involved I will be with Toy Shop in the days, months or years ahead, trust thatI  will guide anyone who follows to make sure the magazine is in good hands. Thanks for helping me learn so much about a great hobby over the years!

I’ve attended a few toy auctions since I took the helm of Toy Shop several years ago. One such instance was at the National Farm Toy Show in Dyersville, Iowa. I was always impressed with the speed and efficiency in which auctions are run. Organizers know what they are doing, and, more importantly, bidders have done their research, know what toys they are going after and what their spending limits will be. It’s a finely tuned machine that results in a lot of toy collectors going home very happy.

This brings me to the latest poll question I posted on the Toy Shop Web site — “Have you ever attended a live toy action?” The choices were yes, no and only on eBay. The live auction was meant as one in which you attend in person, but I had to see who never leaves their house, even in their quest for toys.

Personally, knowing the types of readers we have at Toy Shop, I expected a lot of “yes” answers, but the final tally was the following:

Yes: 50%
No: 29%
Only on eBay: 21%

I’m still working the numbers in my mind. Is it because toy shows are down that only half of Toy Shop readers have attended an auction. I’m sure as little as three years ago, this number would have been higher. Is it because it was an online poll question, and many of these collectors do their buying and selling online?

And what about the 29% “No” answers — are auctions too intimidating to new collectors? I have a lot of theories, but few solid answers. That’s where you come in. Click on the “comments” link below and help fill in the blanks for me.  
 

I’ve been getting a lot of press releases lately for toys to include in our holiday gift guide coming up in the December issue. (I know, thinking about the holidays in July?) And while I’d prefer to keep thoughts of singing elves and 4-foot snow drifts at bay at least until the leaves fall off the trees, I can still make some observations on what I’ve seen.

Now granted, half of the releases I receive have little to no place in Toy Shop, as they are meant for children or have no collectible bent to them whatsoever. But I get junk mail at home, so what not at work, too?

But what I have noticed about a lot of the toys that will be on store shelves this fall is that they really aren’t toys at all. Everything has to be related to the latest gadgets on the technology market. If it doesn’t hook up to an iPod, MP3 player or a DVD player, it’s not new. I saw this at Toy Fair, and I honestly hoped some of these wouldn’t come to pass. I don’t think a 5-year-old needs to be pumping videos through a pillow while taking a nap.

I wonder what the future holds for toys of these types. I hardly feel they will be collectible, and I’d imagine very few will be operable even 10 years down the road. How knows, I could be wrong. In the meantime, I’ll keep my recycling bin handy.  


Iola Old Car Show
On the grounds of Toy Shop, the Midwest’s largest car show and swap meets takes place every July. Currently, it looks like a circus outside with all of the tents raised. (Will they survive the predicted storms?)

Nestled among all the cars are a wide variety of toys — including some great vehicle toys. Yes, car collectors are also toy car collectors, which means I should have some interesting things to report after the weekend.

Until then, enjoy summer — after all, the holidays are just a short time away!

There is an interesting poll question on the Toy Shop Web site at the moment. The question is simple — “Have you ever attended an online toy auction?” The answers to choose form include yes, no and only on eBay.

Currently, the answers are fairly split. This leads me to a question I have been wondering for some time. I know the vast majority of subscribers to Toy Shop are die-hard toy fans who have attended a fair share of toy auctions in their many years of collecting. I also know that the majority of people using a computer are of a younger age and are more apt to bid online in you auctions.

eBay is bigger than ever these days, and even the old toy show stalwarts are looking to that medium to get their hands on toys. But are the Toy Shop subscribers who have been with the magazine since 1988 also going online to get their auction fix? I guess if I could add an addendum question to that poll, it would be “Do you only participate in auctions on eBay, or do you also attend live auctions?” Is there a clean split of people who have attended live auctions and those who participate online, or is there a crossing of traffic?

I’d guess with each passing day, more and more people are doing both. Some miss the personal interaction, while others feel things are more available online. I can see both ways.

And as for those who haven’t participated in a toy auction — give it a try. A successful bid is a very rewarding feeling.

I was munching on my Cheerios the other morning when the Today show announced a massive recall of wooden Thomas the Tank toys from RC2. It seems the factories in China used a little too much lead when painting the toys. The ending of the short piece, however, revealed that one has been affected at the time of the recall. (But I’m sure someone is trying to get money now.)

Now I realize that lead-tainted toys is not the best thing in the world, but it seems as if today’s ultra-protective social watchers go a tad overboard with some of the toys being produced. What happened before all of these restrictions took place? Were kids developing massive ailments left and right in the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s? Funny, my parents never mentioned anything of that sort. Heck, their homes and schools were supposedly death traps, too, but they seem to have survived.

I’m surprised that many of the plastic pieces found in play sets and as accessories for action figures haven’t had to be attached to large objects to alleviate swallowing concerns. And, boy, you sure can have any more toys featuring animals that “chew” their food.

I’m glad the world is a safer place, but sometimes I feel the powers that be are a little too controlling. In the meantime, I’ll keep playing with my blaze orange-tipped cap pistol so the neighbors don’t think I’m going hunting.     

From San Diego to Orlando to Boston, I’ve been to a fair number of toy shows — mostly centered in the Midwest. Some of these shows were quaint affairs held in community high schools. Others were more like a pop-culture mob with a few celebrities thrown in to add to the craziness.

I’ve been to shows that were more of an antiques show than anything resembling a toy show. And I’ve been to shows where I couldn’t possibly see everything and still fulfill my Toy Shop duties.

One of my favorite shows I’ve attended is the Toledo Toy Show. This wasn’t a huge affair, but it brought people from throughout the Midwest, and it was all older toys — no Tiffany lamps here. I met many collectors, along with some old acquaintances from shows past.

But one thing I remember from the show was speaking with the promoter and him telling me about all the changes I’ll see in this hobby, having been involved at a relatively young age. It’s a thought that has always stuck with me since, and I’ve tried to think about that idea at every show I’ve attended since.

I’ve seen a lot of amazing toys, but that show changed my perception a bit because it made me look at things differently. Now when I go to shows, I pay more attention to the types of people attending, what toys have come and gone and how people’s perception of the hobby has changed.

So this isn’t your typical show memory that stays with you for some time. It’s just my memory.

And I now I ask — what has been one of your favorite toy shows and why? Did you pick up the Holy Grail of your collection? Was it your first show that got you hooked? Perhaps it was the time you brought your son or daughter and showed them your childhood toys?      

This blog is going to straight to you, the reader — what's the most important factor in buying a toy? There are many reasons to buy a toy, but I'd like to know what the driving factors are in purchasing a toy.

First, let me clarify. I realize that nostalgia is a driving force in many toy purchases. I also realize that many collectors have a particular area of interest. If a toy fits that interest, they will probably pick it up. But I'm looking for something a little deeper.

Do you buy toys based on condition?  Do you buy toys based on the need to complete a series or fill a void in the overall collection? Or perhaps this is a dream toy you've been waiting your entire life to get your hands on? Maybe it’s just the attractiveness that puts you over the edge?

Since there are so many toys out there to choose from in any given category, I'm looking to get into the minds of our readers. I think it would be fun to get differing views from collectors on their habits. We're all crazy for toys — I just want to see if the diagnosis is the same.

For me, I pick out toys that I find unique and fun. Condition doesn't matter that much to me. Often, I'll read about some unique toy from a reader or columnist, and then I'll happen upon it at a sale somewhere and pick it up. Knowing the background on the piece's production and how kids enjoyed it when it was originally available is a real treat for me.  So while a nice example of a Popeye Rowboat would be nice, I'm just as happy with a worn-out version of the Odd Ogg.

I guess that’s what makes this hobby so unique.

As I type this, I'm putting to bed the August 2007 issue of Toy Shop. (Like the journalistic speak there?) There's a lot of great articles in the upcoming issue, but I'll allude to those in a future newsletter (did you sign up yet?) and on the Toy Shop Web site. One of the articles concentrates on Pirates of the Caribbean collectibles. And since it's Friday and I saw the movie last weekend (man, was that a crowded theater), let's discuss all things Pirates.

Everything was brought together in this last one, and perhaps it won't be the last one. I enjoyed the flick, though some of the scenes were almost laughable. The marriage proposal and Miss Swann rallying the troops made me chuckle. But then again, this is a Disney movie. But now I'm just waiting for collectibles of that darn monkey and the midget pirate. Actually, The Noble Collection has a letter opener featuring the monkey, but I'm sure more are on the way.

I also think someone will do prop replicas of all of the special pieces held by the pirates from around the world — something like the "eight pieces of nine?" These were hardly stately items, but they were important nonetheless. Perhaps a Keith Richards figure holding all of the pieces would do the trick.

And as much as I like the Black Pearl, I would sure like a replica of the Flying Dutchman. Zizzle does some pretty good ship reproductions, but these are not quite the high-end pieces I'm looking for. I think a 2-foot representation would look nice in my living room. And if anyone can make a bathroom toy to replication the swirling sea scene, I'm in.

Now, I'm off to see Shrek the Third, and I still have to see Spider-Man 3 before those other blockbusters come out. I'll have a toy wish list for those, too. And if you have any toy suggestions based on the summer movie lineup, add your comments below.

In the next issue of Toy Shop, we'll be looking at some of the top TV/movie toys of all time. As you might have guessed, the list of toys in this category is quite long, so I expect a little help in forming the list. Have you got any favorites? Let me know, and I'll add them to the list.

I thought I'd take a little time and discuss some of my personal favorites.  Being a kid of the 1980s, I was a fan of Masters of the Universe toys, but in this position, I've grown to love many great toys from the past. I love Western caps guns based on Have Gun Will Travel and the Lone Ranger shows. Nothing transformed you into a character better than gun and holster set. I still shoot toy guns in the office, much to the chagrin of my co-workers.

I also love spy movies, so an attache case, spy camera or trick pen is something I can always use. These characters always had some great gadgets, and I'm glad many companies decided to produce toys of these little wonders. I think some of these need to be added to the list, as well.

Of course, hardly a movie goes by today without a line of associated toys. Just imagine the secondary profits that will be made in the next few weeks with the release of Spider-Man 3, Shrek the Third and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End. It's mind-boggling. But will these toys someday make their mark as the best TV/movie toys of all time? Maybe, but I'll stick with a Creature of the Black Lagoon figure any time.

Don't forget to add your thoughts as to the best TV/movie toys of all time. I'm listening.

As Shop Talk columnist Mark Rich can attest to, we get our fair share of inquiries from readers asking for help in identifying toys, providing some historical background and even possibly giving the piece a ballpark value. It's no easy task, and Mark is one of the best in the business in helping readers out.

However, I, too, get some of these questions. And when I don't go running to Mark for an answer, I attempt to dig up the information myself. What I've found is that reference books contain a mountain of information — and there's something out there on nearly every toy category. But from time to time, these mystery toys will surface that don't seem to have left any evidence in books or online. And these are real fun ones to try and dig up information on.

I recently received a call from a woman who is seeking information on a tin toy saxophone that includes paper rolls. Now, nothing immediately jumps to mind with that description, and I will be asking for a photo to help me understand better what I'm looking for. A picture does a lot in conveying details.

I once received a call from another reader who had "an old Mickey Mouse" doll. Based on the caller's description, it did indeed sounded like an older doll — possibly one that was even worth a decent chunk of change. However, when I received a photo of said doll, I could immediately tell it was much newer than I suspected. But it sure was fun tracing the history of Mickey dolls in the meantime and seeing the different dolls that were produced.

Mark must have a pretty good reputation in identifying toys, because we get a fair number of referrals from the toy industry, toy museums and even manufacturers. They send the callers to us, and we're happy to at least try and get some answers.

So if you have any mystery toys in your collection, send us a letter, e-mail or call. We'll do the best we can. And if possible, send a photo along. This will help speed up the process on our end.

Happy toy collecting!

Having spent the past few weeks off and on at a place I'd rather avoid — hospitals — it dawned on me more than ever of the healing power of toys. And while, I was in the adult areas of the hospitals, the power of toys remained the same, from family to friends to the nursing staff. (The nursing staff loves cookies, too, but that's for another blog.)

In this particular instance, the toys were stuffed animals and a battery-operated plush item featuring monkeys who sang about "going home." These weren't anything special, but they brought a smile to everyone who witnessed them, including the patient who wasn't exactly a enamored by toys.

And I think this is how it all begins — collecting toys, that is. As children, we look for something to comfort us and we gradually move on to other toys that are found near these creature comforts. And it is those memories that drive us to collect our childhood toys as adults. While I don't think this patient is going to run out and try to find her toys from the 1940s and '50s (though I'd love to help!), it did bring to the forefront about how great the toy collecting hobby is and what a pleasure it is to "work" in this field.

This particular blog isn't full of any particular news item or earth-shattering auction results — just something that's been on the brain for the past few weeks.