Floyd’s Report from OTS 2011

Before going to the show, I printed up several photo lists of what I was looking for…they included, at the top of the list, the Marx 60mm Maid Marian and Robin Hood, from the Richard Greene Robin Hood set number 4721 or 4722, the Britain’s Lionel Gareth & Belvidere Knights of the Round Table set, the ‘Casualties of War’ Maid Marian, the new TSSD Barbarians, Bernard of Clairvaux by Blackhawk, a Marx wagon driver with whip, and a 54mm Merry Man with rock. My second list was a number of Marx figures from the Battleground set; I received in 1958 that I wanted to ‘Color-Match’.

I drove to the show, arriving on Wednesday and my wife flew into O’Hare, on Thursday September 22nd. Upon check-in, the first thing I did was get the room maps and dealer listing from the fourth floor lobby, and then I proceeded to check all the rooms that were open. One of the first things I saw was Rick Eber carrying a ‘Chocolate Brown’ Marx Captain Gallant; on a display board…it looked to be in great shape. I went to Rick Eber & Robert Jones room, and picked up a couple Marx figures and a number of “Scraggly Trees”. Mr. Eber was very helpful and patient with us throughout the show. I believe I got to every room that was open Wednesday evening & night, and Thursday until my wife arrived was spent trying to color-match my ‘GIs’ and Marines…I had some success with a lot of help. Larry Weindorf spent a lot of time helping me look for the Britain’s knights…no luck. Myszka Hall from Sierra Toy Soldier was a big help on the Britains also; she is going to check their stock back in California. Richard Walker dug through his Britains sets to look also. Ron Barzso’s Indian & Buffalo display was impressive, as their display always is…he and his wife were most gracious to my wife and I throughout the show…they are special people. One time I was talking to Ron, on Wednesday, I believe, someone came in and told him that his “Sitting Bull” figure had been taken from his display…sad.

On Wednesday evening, my wife called to convey a message from a dealer we had met last year, that if I still wanted the Marx Richard Greene set number 4722 that he had; he would bring it to the show on Thursday. I called him, and after ‘some’ discussion we thought we were within ‘negotiating range’ for the set, and he would bring it down. To make a long story short, he did not bring it…when he opened it to check the contents, the Richard Greene Robin Hood figure had a broken bow…he is sure it did not, the last time he saw it…a disappointment to us both.

Steve Weston’s room contained his new Calvary ‘Gatling Gun’ sets and Replicants ‘Long Branch’ Saloon. Steve sold out of both by Saturday. TSSD had a nice display of their Romans, and Barbarians. Their display included a Roman “Turtle” formation and some impressive elephants from a third-party. TSSD had an early Roman earthen stockade on display also that was very nice. John Stengel and his son had a lot of items in their two rooms, and I picked up some ‘missing’ Marx 54mm Merry Men. I also purchased a couple Kellogg’s figures from John. (Editor’s note: Kellogg’s figures are the Crescent Robin Hood character figures done as cereal figures for the English market. The difference is the cereal figures are unpainted, the Crescent figures are painted.) Alan Ford had a large number of Playsets, and some ‘Brown’ Merry Men that I was able to purchase. Alan is a class act and willing to help anyone who asks. Ted Deddens, with Ted Toy allowed me to peruse his stuff while he was setting up, and I purchased my Black Hawk Bernard of Clairvaux figure from him as his first sale. I purchased a few Marx 60mm Merry Men from Gary Linden, a few 54mm Merry Men from Francis Turner, along with some Western figures, I have wanted for a while. Francis indicated his Museum was a little slow this year. King and Country’s room had a very nice Afrika Corp display, and the people in the room were very accommodating, and took a lot of time with us. Kings X Toy Soldiers is another room I enjoyed very much. On Saturday, my wife and I were able to see a Timpo boxed set of mounted Ivanhoe figures…very special to me, as I have had that set (possibly purchased individually), since I was a child in the fifties. A number of people told me that Ron Eccles had replacement metal lances and shields for the Timpo Ivanhoe set, and we finally found Ron and purchased some, at the show, on Sunday. The Figarti room with its prototype Trojan horse and walls was most impressive. We spent some time with Phillip Prosner of Nostalgia Toy Box, and my wife purchased an Untouchables and Tarzan cup from him. Mr. Prosner had some interesting boxes that had been order prior to the show, including a ‘War Wagon’ box for Rusty Kern, for a set he is putting together with the help of P and P Products. We spent quite a bit of time looking at the Niena Knights (Crown Military Miniatures) and St. Petersburg knights and Romans…beautiful figures. Saturday evening, I was able to finally catch someone in Don Ducote’s room, he had sold out of his new Robin Hood figures, however I did purchase a couple of his knights.

On Friday we started our systematic tour of the fifth floor going from room to room in an organized manner, checking off each room as we went, it took us all day. On Saturday we did the fourth floor. The reception held by the show’s organizers was well attended. Don Pielin did his usual exceptional job on the show, and he works very hard to pull it off.

On Sunday we attended the show, going in early; at around 7:30 AM there were many more items on display including some wonderful dioramas and vignettes set up by the manufacturers and dealers. We purchased a few items. It is difficult to judge the number of people who attend, the line on Sunday morning was quite long however, and the show rooms were quite crowded until after 2:00 PM.

Observations:

This was the second time we have attended the show. Last year it was “overwhelming”, this year we got to enjoy ourselves a little more. We spent more money, but at least, at the show, you can see what you are buying…actually I saw several things that, over the years, I thought I would like…and seeing them in person convinced me that I did not want them. To see all the metal and plastic figures is well worth the trip and expense. Again the people are what make the show…the dealers and their families go through a lot of work for this show. It has got to be, one of the best places to interact with them and other collectors. My wife and I spent a lot of good time, talking the hobby with people who were more than willing to share their enjoyment.

Probably the neatest thing we saw was a long discussion between a father and son (of about ten years old), at the show on Sunday, discussing the purchase of a Conte, The War Lord, Village play set. Based upon where the set was in the hall, it appears to have been at Rich Egan’s table. The father spent a great deal of time, talking to his son, the son was standing there looking up at him…you could imagine the conversation; “Okay now…this is for your birthday, and Christmas”…”You have to take care of it”…”This isn’t a toy”…eventually they bought it…we were so happy for both of them. We do not know what they paid, but the seller had it priced at almost half of what one went for on Ebay recently.

I asked a lot of dealers how the show went for them. I only received one negative reply. Again this year we talked to a lot of wives, of both dealers and collectors, who support their spouses hobby…it is great seeing these people from year-to-year.

One thing we did notice and it obviously could have been a lack of knowledge on our part; however there appeared to be less new figures, both metal and plastic, than last year. Regarding old plastic, we saw a lot of Marx, play sets (probably more this year than last) and pieces, we were able to pick up a number of figures at fairly decent prices. I do not know if I was not paying attention to Captain Gallant figures last year, but I saw a lot more Marx Legionaries and Arabs this year.

My wife remarked that she saw a lot less British & Zulu figures, in metal this year.

We really enjoyed ourselves.  Once again I did not obtain the figures on the top of my list, but I guess, you need something to be looking for….

Again this year there was a good international attendance, there were, at least, two dealers from France, one with metal and one with plastics, like Starlux etc. I spent some time talking with a seller from East Germany (I am aware that they are combined now, however that is how the lady in the room answered my question on where she was from). England was very well represented, and the people we met were very fun to be around.

Once again we journeyed over to the Woodfield Mall…my wife was able to purchase a very nice swim suit, as the stores in our area of the world have put them away for the winter.

I have read the comments on theft, and that is sad…this is supposed to be a hobby…the only negative for us…excluding not obtaining a Marx Richard Greene set or figures, was flying experiences for my wife…she flew Delta…getting to Chicago, she was an hour later than scheduled, getting home, she was thirteen-and-a-half hours late.