In the morning the boys have me down to a ritual. Percy will first get me up for walk number one, then they get their breakfast and then I have to do a second walk. When going to a show it puts me on a tight schedule, so I skipped breakfast for later to save some time. We got on the road about 7:15AM and headed off to the show. The roads were empty and clear, what a change from last year, when everyone was cleaning up from Super Storm Sandy. One enjoyment while going to the show, we had the radio on for a show called “Breakfast with the Beatles.” this version is hosted by Andre Gardner. This is one of several types of this show that play through out the country. We enjoyed the show until we got up near Route 80.
We arrived at the show ten minutes after it had opened. We saw our friend Bob Mulero. I asked what he had gotten the day before at the Allentown Toy Show. Bob told me he had gotten some Disney items and Marx Presidents in the bag. I mentioned to him again if Peter Fritz is up to a show next year he should do Hackensack as it will have more of the people he did business with in the old days.
We got into the show, said hello to Bill Lango, the show promoter and went into the main room. We headed toward the tables of our very good friend Gerry Watts. We left our coats with Gerry. Along with Gerry helping out was another very good friend Chris Lamont. We had not seen Chris in a few months. Gerry had a surprise, a Jescan bull fighting set for us. The set looks like a hat box on the outside. Inside the box is an arena and figures, these sets can very elaborate. I bought the item and after leaving our coats headed down the aisle.
Bill McMasters
Just about at the end the first aisle I found a Reamsa William Tell set. The figures had 50% paint gone and a couple were damaged. The price on the figures made it worthwhile. We headed toward the next aisle where we met an old friend Bill McMasters of BMC. Laurie left me to use the restrooms, so I decided to talk to Bill. Bill told me that his son had graduated from Muhlenberg College, a college not far from where we live and was doing graduate work in Austin, Texas. Bill’s latest project is to have his Appomattox Civil War figures painted on a blister card. The blister card sells for $20.00. I walked down the aisle passing a couple of tables that had good items, but their prices are usual at market so I passed on them. I did another aisle and found a dealer with loose Marx figures including a Jungle Jim figure. I also got some 60mm Marx Gas Mechanics, which are popular with collectors on EBay.
Mike and Noreen Russo of Stockade Miniatures
Laurie had not shown up so I started looking for her. I found her at the food stand and paid for her bagel. While she was eating her bagel, I talked to Mike and Noreen Russo of Stockade Miniatures. I noticed Rick Berry of Michigan Toy Soldier Company was next to them. Rick was selling for Joe Saine some of his books as Joe could not come to show due his need to be home as his sister had health issues.
We headed back out and stopped at Bob D’Angelo’s table. Bob had a nice range of Disney and comic characters and dinosaurs. Bob had some of the Miller dinosaurs and some beautiful dinosaurs. Next to Bob D’Angelo was another Bob Jones. Bob had nice range of plastic figures. Next to Bob was Rick Eber who had a range of Marx playsets and accessories. We kept walking and we saw Steve Falken and our friend John Reichl.
Art Rostel and Mark Harris
In the front row, we met Art Rostel and Mark Harris. Art told us that his wife had the same rare cancer that his identical twin brother had died from. Art is planning to take his wife to the Christmas markets in Germany. We wished him and his wife well. Mark Harris apologized to me about being upset with me getting Ben Hur items many years ago at a show. I told Mark that I did not remembered and he did not have to apologize, but Mark insisted. Mark said those days of obsessing over missing items was gone. Mark had on at the time a box of Marx Ben Hur chariots. He said you can never have enough chariots!
(Note: the only time I can remember someone getting upset I got an item was when I bought a Marx Troll Village. A person behind me start saying “Stadinger gets this. Stadinger gets that. Stadinger gets everything.” My response was “I do?”)
Laurie, William “Billy” Leroy and Me
In another row, we met William “Billy” Leroy from “Baggage Battles”. For my foreign friends, “Baggage Battles is a reality show where three groups of people go head to head bidding on items at various auctions around the country and outside the United States. Sometimes they are guessing on what the items are in the box or suitcase. Sometimes they find gold other times they find junk. On the show Billy is the villain, but he was very gracious to give us a few moments of his time. I asked him if he got on “Baggage Battles” due to his appearance on “American Pickers”. (“American Pickers” is another reality show of two pickers going around the country buying items such motorcycles and signs. In one episode on American Pickers, Mike and Frank, the stars bought some sideshow banners which Billy appraised for them.) Billy replied that he got “Baggage Battles” due to Pickers and was very appreciative to Mike Wolf of Pickers, who he had known for years. We asked permission to take a picture of him and he suggested that Laurie and I get in the picture with him as a friend offered to take the picture. I mentioned to Bill Lango that Billy was here and He said that Billy had been there years ago.
Laurie with Gerry Watts
Laurie was getting tired so she decided to head back to Gerry’s table and sit. I went back after doing some aisle where I met Mark Hageman. Mark had lost 57 pounds on of goal of 60 pounds. After walking a couple of aisle I took a break as well. While there at Gerry’s Table we helped him sell a few items. I spot an empty bag of circus items and Gerry showed me how someone had taken a Britains Swoppet mounted Indian firing a bow and replaced it with a Herald mounted Indian firing the bow. I mention this later to Bill Lango and said there had been other petty thievery at the show.
Some of Miller Dinosaurs that Bob had for sale
I decided to head out and take some photos for this article. I went to Bob D’Angelo’s stand and bought some Heimo western figures which are popular with collectors in Europe. I next took pictures of Bob Jones table and found some Marx pirates from Holland. I also got picture of Rick Eber and Francis Turner. Turner also has the Marx Museum in Moundsville, West Virginia.
Armies in Plastic
I went into the last row where I photographed Armies in Plastic and got four boxes including the new Taliban figures. Tony, the owner of the company told me that he had not decided what would be the next set. Earlier I got the Austin Miniatures new western figures, which I have wanted to get since I first saw them. I picked them up from John Stengel, who also had the Replicant new Robin Hood figures, which I forgot to ask the price and the Russian civil war figures at $35.00 which I passed on.
Gerardo Vazquez and Mike Westbay
After doing Armies in Plastic, I went down the aisle to Toy Soldier Depot where Gerardo Vazquez of Toy Soldier Depot and Mike Westbay were talking. Gerardo said that he had with him some old items besides his new merchandise. Normally he places the old items up on EBay. Mike was having a good time and had bought early from our friend Don Ducotte of Heritage Toy figures when I was there. I had helped out figuring the price for some figures that Mike was buying. Don had his Vikings and I was able to one of them for my collection. Don had some nice civilians for the early 19th century , which I will pick up in the future.
Gerry Watts and Chris Lamont
Heading back to Gerry’s tables, I sat down and relaxed before we left. One of the times I stopped at Gerry’s tables, Gerardo Vazquez from Toy Soldier Depot stopped by and Chris told him he should do York Toy Show. Gerardo asked if Chris if he had any information. I pulled out my pocket a flyer had been given by my friend rich Kozlowski the day before and gave it to Gerardo. Another time a gentleman asked if we knew if Joe Saine was there. I replied that I had talked to Joe yesterday at the Allentown Toy Show and he was not coming to Hackensack due to his sister having health issues. One person I got to talk to at Gerry’s tables was Paul Osiadacz. Paul and his wife drove out to the OTSN show in September and had a great time. He found many items for his collection and prices were reasonable. He was surprise how friendly the people were and he even got free stuff! One thing surprised him was that some of the people were drinking beer at 10AM in the morning! I told Paul, he had a magical moment. (a magical moment is when you go to a show for the first time and seems like you have walked into a treasure room. You are a few inches off the ground.)
After a few minutes we got our stuff and headed out the building saying our goodbyes to our friends as passed them. We stopped at one of our favorite diners, the Clinton diner. The food is excellent and with a salad bar included we usual get two meals out of our food. One interesting thing happen when we were at the cash register. The clerk was putting a slash on her sevens. I said, “I see you are doing the European style of doing sevens.” She replied “Yes that is correct as I am from Russia.”
From the reports I have seen most dealers had a very good day. Several dealers reported they were busy from the time the show open until 1:00PM. The crowd was over 1,000 people. while some dealers were missing the show, their spaces had been taken up by others as the show was sold out. ( Alan Ford did not set up, but was walking around. He was using a cane as he is getting hip replacement in the near future.)
Photo Gallery
Various Marx Figures on Bob Jones’ tables
Lido Aliens, Timmee Pirates and Marx Pirates
Some Marx figures
Bob Jones
Another Look at Armies in Plastic figures
Francis Turner & George Kroll who was helping Francis. George collects demonstrator playsets (these playset build up to show you how the playset looks.)
This was an open box of Western playset on Francis’ table. Francis also had a Marx Johnny Ringo playset for sale.
John Stengel of Marxmen
Another look Heritage Toy Figures
A Look at some of the items from Rick Eber’s tables
A loose box of Marx Figures where you can pick what you need.
Some of the Comic Character figures at Bob DAngelo’s table
Thanks for the interesting report, Paul. Good photos. Good stories. I almost felt like I had been there.
Don
That is what I try to do to make you part of the experience.