Toy buyers swamped by local customers
Archie Davis didn’t have time for lunch Tuesday and signs didn’t look good for dinner, either, as the line of people waiting to see him stretched throughout the breakfast room and lobby of the Fairfield Inn in Uniontown. “We are overwhelmed with people,’ said Davis, a representative for the International Toy Collectors Association, which came to Uniontown looking to buy toys for the association’s network of more than 5,400 collectors.
“We had 20 people in line the first 30 minutes and handed 86 numbers out in three hours time,’ said Davis, taking a moment in the early afternoon to answer questions.
The show opened at 10 a.m. Tuesday and was set to remain open until 8 p.m. It will continue with the same hours today and Wednesday.
“I’ve seen a lot of trains. Tons of trains,’ said Davis. “And dolls. A woman brought in a set of Vogue dolls from the ’50s. I gave her $1,000.’
Several people received $100 to $200 for toys they sold to the association. The association bought trains, dolls and some space toys Tuesday.
A Midge doll – Barbie’s best friend from the ’50s and early ’60s – lay on a table in her box. Davis noted the woman who brought the doll in told him she liked Barbie but she didn’t like Midge.
Several people brought in newer items, but Davis stressed, “We are looking for pre-’70s toys.’
Toys are purchased with the collectors in mind. Davis noted that many of the network’s collectors are baby boomers, looking for toys they used to play with as children.
Begging off further questions to return to his work, Davis went back behind a black curtain set up in the hotel’s breakfast room where he meets with people. Associate Randee Harbert explained Davis spends anywhere from six to 10 minutes on each appraisal.
It’s Harbert’s job to greet people, have them fill out forms, give them a number and call out the numbers to keep the line moving.
“People are in very good spirits. Very anxious but patient,’ she said.
Harbert reported the association visits 150 cities a year, sending three crews out coast to coast. Asked if the association repeats a city, Harbert said, “Sometimes or we’ll return to the vicinity.’
Once the show is over, the toys that are purchased are taken to a warehouse in Champagne, Ill.
“I act like it’s all worth a million dollars when we’re packing them,’ said Harbert. “The tin toys can break easily – the little tabs on them. The composition on the dolls is very fragile.’
The people who turned out for the show Tuesday included those interested in selling and those simply curious about the value of their own collection. Bob and Dorothy Cook of Hopwood were among the curious.
“I brought in iron toys. I collect toys. My wife collects baby dolls,’ said Cook. “She probably has about 3,000 baby dolls.’
Cook brought in for appraisal about 10 iron toys, some of the more expensive parts of his collection.
“Here’s a Bell Telephone truck,’ he showed off his pieces. “This is cast iron Fageol company (an iron bus). This is a little tin wind-up motorcycle. And I probably have 80 Hot Wheels at home.’
Mrs. Cook opted not to bring any of her dolls to the show, but looked intriguingly at others’ pieces.
“I liked dolls when I was a kid, I enjoy them now,’ she said. “I like fixing them up. I like sewing for them.’
Carol Trimbath of Connellsville sat patiently in the hotel lobby. She’d been here three and a half hours.
“I brought the Barbie doll with the dark hair and the black-and-white bathing suit that they’re looking for. I don’t know if I’m going to sell her but I want to know what it’s appraised for,’ Trimbath said.
“This was my baby sister’s doll,’ she explained. “My parents gave it to her and she didn’t want it so they gave it to me. I’m a pack rat. I like things that are sentimental. I have maybe a dozen old things – a doll that’s 75 years old and one that was mine that’s 60 years old. They mean something to me.’
Doris and Ed McMaster of Connellsville brought a salesman’s sample of a Victrola record player. Some pieces were missing but the couple noted that salesmen’s samples usually bring high prices.
Although not a toy, the Victrola could be used as one. The McMasters don’t actually have toys to bring to the show.
“We’re furniture people,’ Mrs. McMaster noted.
Matt Denitti of Perryopolis showed off a Courier passenger train that he purchased 20 years ago as well as a boxful of metal cars, airplanes and tow trucks.
“I play with the trains. I have five of them set up at home,’ he said. “Me and the grandkids play. But if it’s the right price, I’ll sell it.’
Deborah Konechny of Farmington emerged from behind the black curtain after selling several Bisque dolls that were made in Germany as well as a Shirley Temple doll.
“They were my grandmother’s,’ Konechny explained. “She lived in Vermont and my grandfather was a plumber. If he saw a doll leg sticking out of a box in someone’s home, he’d ask if he could have the box because my grandmother collected dolls. Usually, people would just give it to him.’
Konechny kept the best of her grandmother’s dolls, parting Tuesday with dolls that were missing parts.
“These need restoring and dressed,’ she said, referring to the dolls she brought in. “Most of the ones I have at home are dressed, have hair and their eyeballs haven’t fallen out.’
Like many of the people who came to the show today, Konechny likes toys.
She smiled, “I never grew up.’
“I’m in my second childhood,’ said Cook. “I couldn’t afford them when I was little, but I can now.’