Vintage Collectibles Thread

[MANDO]

A few days ago I was lucky enough to join the ranks of the Blue Snags Brotherhood. A buddy of mine owns an antique store and long story short he acquired this guy in a lot of various Star Wars figures. Probably not a figure I would've ever actively sought out, but now that I have him I have to admit its cool owning a piece of Kenner/Star Wars history.

 

[galactiboy]

Congrats Mando

He's one of the trickier ones to track down; so always a great acquisition for a Kenner colletor.

 

[MadCow]

That Snags is amazing indeed. It reminds me of an incident about 20 years ago. I was at a flea market and one of the junk dealers had a random box of toys just thrown in. It was all a mess of broken toys. There at the bottom I found a Blue Snag. It was about the same condition as yours and my heart was beating through my chest. I had never seen one in person. Being in this crap box I thought it was the find of a lifetime. When I asked the dealer how much he mumbled "ooh that's a rare collectors item, $100." I was shocked. He quickly shouted "are you going to buy it kid, or what?" And I said no so he snatched it outta my hand and just threw it back in the junk box like it was nothing. I was devastated.

 

[Darth Waller]

What condition is this in? How about the stickers? Are the stairs and elevator there?

Congrats, Mando.

 

[MANDO]

Congrats Mando

He's one of the trickier ones to track down; so always a great acquisition for a Kenner colletor.

Congrats, Mando.

Thanks guys!

That Snags is amazing indeed. It reminds me of an incident about 20 years ago. I was at a flea market and one of the junk dealers had a random box of toys just thrown in. It was all a mess of broken toys. There at the bottom I found a Blue Snag. It was about the same condition as yours and my heart was beating through my chest. I had never seen one in person. Being in this crap box I thought it was the find of a lifetime. When I asked the dealer how much he mumbled "ooh that's a rare collectors item, $100." I was shocked. He quickly shouted "are you going to buy it kid, or what?" And I said no so he snatched it outta my hand and just threw it back in the junk box like it was nothing. I was devastated.

I hate those guys. People like that make you just want to grab the figure and run. But everytime I'd look at him all I could think is, "I stole that."

I have a similar story where I was at a flea market in FL and happened upon a few old GI Joe figures. They weren't hard to come by figures either, in fact the gem of the three was Rampart and I don't ven recall the other two. But I was stoked to find Joes in the wild so I asked the crusty old lady behind the counter how much and she responded "Seventy-Five." Seeing as I was at a Flea Market I pulled out three quarters thinking she meant cents. Boy was I wrong. She wanted $75 for three pretty forgettable Joes from 1991. What really bumbed me out was that was the best thing I found all day.

 

[choopie]

Defeats the whole purpose of a flea market concept doesn't it? I've come across that more often than not lately and really rubs me the wrong way. If you want to sell such things at exorbitant prices, buy a booth a toy show.

 

[MANDO]

I have to agree. There's a guy at my local dirt mall who is a real tool. One of those that has carded POTF2 figures for prices that would make a Hot Toys collector blush.
I did have some pretty good luck at the flea market some months back, but its so hit or miss I hate to even bother.

 

[CelticPredator]

What condition is this in? How about the stickers? Are the stairs and elevator there?

Condition is OK I suppose. i'll get more pics in a few here.

It's got the stickers, the elevator is there, not sure about the stairs. I've never had this toy, and when I found that little elevator i flipped due it having a little elevator.

 

[MadCow]

Defeats the whole purpose of a flea market concept doesn't it? I've come across that more often than not lately and really rubs me the wrong way. If you want to sell such things at exorbitant prices, buy a booth a toy show.

Garage sales are becoming the same way unfortunately. Funny thing is that I do set up a booth at toy shows and a.) I never charge rediculous prices and b.) I usually always end up buying stuff cheaper at a show then I would in "the wild".

 

[choopie]

Garage sales are becoming the same way unfortunately. Funny thing is that I do set up a booth at toy shows and a.) I never charge rediculous prices and b.) I usually always end up buying stuff cheaper at a show then I would in "the wild".

Well, I wish more dealers were like you. Unfortunately I rarely run into good deals at toy shows. There are very few shows around here to begin with. Pickings are slim and anything worthwhile I'd find is way too much money and dealers don't haggle much. I don't even go to thrift stores and garage sales anymore, as the findings are few for the effort put into it. It just must be the area. I had better luck with such things when I used to live in Ohio.

 

[MadCow]

Well, I wish more dealers were like you. Unfortunately I rarely run into good deals at toy shows. There are very few shows around here to begin with. Pickings are slim and anything worthwhile I'd find is way too much money and dealers don't haggle much. I don't even go to thrift stores and garage sales anymore, as the findings are few for the effort put into it. It just must be the area. I had better luck with such things when I used to live in Ohio.

My buddy (with whom I set up with) and I always talk about that. We've done the same several shows for the last 3 years now and there are guys that still have THE SAME STUFF EVERY SHOW. Stock that has been sitting there for years and the prices don't change. It's mind boggling. Me personally I sell stuff off because either I'm using the money to fund another purchase or I just want it out of my house. This is why I price things low. I might be making say 10-20% less than I could if I spent more time selling it on eBay or doing more shows but I just don't have time and I'd rather have to carry less home with me. My friend does the same thing and we both end up doing pretty well each time. I know as a buyer it's refreshing to see new stuff from dealers not the same thing over and over.

As for finding in the wild, I still hit the local thrift shop year round and do garage sales in the spring/summer. I've had some luck with odd vintage stuff at the shop but never at garage sales. I've learned what to look for with new stuff so that's where the garage sales come in handy since the area I live in is 70% new homes that are less that 20 years old.

 

[choopie]

I've been told that the garage sale scene in various parts of Jersey is pretty good. A friend's parents, who live along the Jersey coast, have come away with fantastic deals over the years, not just in vintage toys, but in other items as well.

My buddy (with whom I set up with) and I always talk about that. We've done the same several shows for the last 3 years now and there are guys that still have THE SAME STUFF EVERY SHOW. Stock that has been sitting there for years and the prices don't change. It's mind boggling. Me personally I sell stuff off because either I'm using the money to fund another purchase or I just want it out of my house. This is why I price things low. I might be making say 10-20% less than I could if I spent more time selling it on eBay or doing more shows but I just don't have time and I'd rather have to carry less home with me. My friend does the same thing and we both end up doing pretty well each time. I know as a buyer it's refreshing to see new stuff from dealers not the same thing over and over.

As for finding in the wild, I still hit the local thrift shop year round and do garage sales in the spring/summer. I've had some luck with odd vintage stuff at the shop but never at garage sales. I've learned what to look for with new stuff so that's where the garage sales come in handy since the area I live in is 70% new homes that are less that 20 years old.

 

[jimjimmyjones85]

I know it's not vintage but do you guys have any idea what this is ?

 

[MadCow]

That looks like one of those Tech Deck Dudes figures. There should be peg holes or magnets underneath the feet where it would attach to a mini skateboard.

 

[jimjimmyjones85]

That looks like one of those Tech Deck Dudes figures. There should be peg holes or magnets underneath the feet where it would attach to a mini skateboard.

Thanks brother !

 

[MadCow]

Thanks brother !

NP. They're cool little figures and usually mimic other pop culture characters. That one is obviously Dr Doom but they've done a ton others.

 

[MANDO]

I had a pretty groovy Batman look-a-like one for a while. Not sure where it went though.

 

[Tobros]

I have a Silverhawks Bluegrass figure with the guitar that turns into a robotic bird!!!

 

[MadCow]

Sliverhawks are awesome figures. I had a few but once the shiny paint wears off they can look really ratty so I traded them off. That line still has two of my favorite bad guy figures: Buzzsaw and Mon-star!

 

[MANDO]

Silverhawks was a pretty cool line, but man are they hard to find mint. The Steel Twins in particular have alluded me for years. Prsently I only have Quicksilver, Copper Kid, and Mon-Star... and the Batman figure that had the same action feature.