How long is a piece of string. (1 Viewer)

[Simpson & his donkey.]

How many toy soldiers can you have.Having trouble with the one who must be obeyed on this topic.I need help and good advice here as to the different ways you go about buying great collections.Don't get me wrong my wife is the best thing that has ever happened for me but she is a cents counter.I read and look on envey on other collectors and wonder if they struggle with the other half.I love this hobby but I am getting squeezed of funds to spend.Any ideas that can help?

 

[Capitolron]

How many toy soldiers can you have.Having trouble with the one who must be obeyed on this topic.I need help and good advice here as to the different ways you go about buying great collections.Don't get me wrong my wife is the best thing that has ever happened for me but she is a cents counter.I read and look on envey on other collectors and wonder if they struggle with the other half.I love this hobby but I am getting squeezed of funds to spend.Any ideas that can help?

Well you could always say to her that you need the money to support a Luthern Church in MN.

 

[Harrytheheid]

How many toy soldiers can you have.Having trouble with the one who must be obeyed on this topic.I need help and good advice here as to the different ways you go about buying great collections.Don't get me wrong my wife is the best thing that has ever happened for me but she is a cents counter.I read and look on envey on other collectors and wonder if they struggle with the other half.I love this hobby but I am getting squeezed of funds to spend.Any ideas that can help?

Yeah, I know.
I'm presently in Shenzhen with the intention of picking up 3 x TS orders on Monday that I made with various dealers in Feb/Mar.

Number 1. I'm already 8Kg overweight on my airline luggage allowance - and that's before I cram those 3 x Orders plus around 20 x DVD's into my suitcase........On top of what I bought at the K&C shop in HK earlier today.......

Number 2. The Missus knows (don't ask me how) that I pay an overweight luggage charge every time I come home.

Number 3. I still don't know how I can possibly sneak my latest K&C UK Crimean War order into the house when I finally get brave enough to have it sent to China.

Number 4. I'm still trying to figure out how I'll pay next year's rent on our Condo in Dalian China.....

Shall report on progress of my bleeding ears from Dalian Emergency Hospital Inpatients Ward on Wednesday - maybe....!!!!

Cheers
H

 

[aujj65]

Yeah, I know.
I'm presently in Shenzhen with the intention of picking up 3 x TS orders on Monday that I made with various dealers in Feb/Mar.

Number 1. I'm already 8Kg overweight on my airline luggage allowance - and that's before I cram those 3 x Orders plus around 20 x DVD's into my suitcase........On top of what I bought at the K&C shop in HK earlier today.......

Number 2. The Missus knows (don't ask me how) that I pay an overweight luggage charge every time I come home.

Number 3. I still don't know how I can possibly sneak my latest K&C UK Crimean War order into the house when I finally get brave enough to have it sent to China.

Number 4. I'm still trying to figure out how I'll pay next year's rent on our Condo in Dalian China.....

Shall report on progress of my bleeding ears from Dalian Emergency Hospital Inpatients Ward on Wednesday - maybe....!!!!

Cheers
H

Well to answer the question how long is a piece of string? I always say it’s twice it’s length from it’s middle to one end!

Harry, it was great to natter with you the other night, as I said you need to wear seven layers of clothing so both your suitcases can be crammed full of you know what! When you get back home just deny everything and say “It wasn’t me nobody saw me do it!”



Regards

Jeff

 

[Vezzolf]

Well you could always say to her that you need the money to support a Luthern Church in MN.

Thou shalt not lie.......especially to your wife...... besides you might get caught

 

[Louis Badolato]

It is hard guys. Everything is more expensive, gas for your car, home heating, electric, food, all the necessities. As a result, elective spending is drying up. For a long time I bought everything K&C produced except the LAH stuff. Then I limited myself to all WWII except the LAH stuff. Now I am getting all WWII vehicles along with those WWII figure sets I really like.

Also, I had intended to get one of each model of warbird that came out (not every version of every warbird). Now I am limiting myself to 5 planes a year. As far as what to tell your wife, good luck. She wants her jewelry, handbags and other luxuries, so you are both going to be fighting over the same shrinking elective funds.

 

[Sahara]

Beg and plead with her and let her know that collecting K&C products is the second best thing in life next to her Nothing says you still can't collect, maybe just not as much as you use to. Just ask for K&C products on your Bday, Fathers Day, etc... and save a little here and there so you can pick up the odd piece from time to time.

 

[OzDigger]

How many toy soldiers can you have.Having trouble with the one who must be obeyed on this topic.I need help and good advice here as to the different ways you go about buying great collections.Don't get me wrong my wife is the best thing that has ever happened for me but she is a cents counter.I read and look on envey on other collectors and wonder if they struggle with the other half.I love this hobby but I am getting squeezed of funds to spend.Any ideas that can help?

Hey Simmo, I suspect your wife doesn't understand just how much joy you get out of those models otherwise she may be a bit more supportive of your hobby. And as I have said to my wife at least with this hobby you can sell stuff if you want to. I don't take much notice of what the other guys here are buying as we all have different desires and resources so I only buy what appeals to ME.

 

[4th Hussar]

Avoid, at all costs, a joint checking account. It kills your private acquisition activies..............

 

[Harrytheheid]

Well to answer the question how long is a piece of string? I always say it’s twice it’s length from it’s middle to one end!

Harry, it was great to natter with you the other night, as I said you need to wear seven layers of clothing so both your suitcases can be crammed full of you know what! When you get back home just deny everything and say “It wasn’t me nobody saw me do it!”



Regards

Jeff

“It wasn’t me nobody saw me do it!”
“It wasn’t me nobody saw me do it!”
“It wasn’t me nobody saw me do it!”

Just practicing........

Cheers
H

 

[Louis Badolato]

“It wasn’t me nobody saw me do it!”
“It wasn’t me nobody saw me do it!”
“It wasn’t me nobody saw me do it!”

Just practicing........

Cheers
H

To quote the immortal Bart (Simpson):

"I didn't do it, nobody saw me do it, you can't prove anything!"

 

[fmethorst]

Hey Simmo, I suspect your wife doesn't understand just how much joy you get out of those models otherwise she may be a bit more supportive of your hobby. And as I have said to my wife at least with this hobby you can sell stuff if you want to. I don't take much notice of what the other guys here are buying as we all have different desires and resources so I only buy what appeals to ME.

I tried the "you can always sell stuff" angle with my numismatic (paper money) collection and the response was "great lets sell it" so I haven't gone down that road again.

I'm fortunate in that both my wife and I generate sufficient disposable income to afford certain luxuries. I have a number of hobbies, toy soldiers being the latest, which I must divide my funds between. That said I can still get the "Are you on crack?" look if I push the envelope sufficiently such as the connoisseur mounted samurai I purchased earlier in the year, "You're paying how much for that?" My response was "Ah yes, but this is essentially fine art (which it is) not unlike a painting/print".

I find it also helps to encourage her to spoil herself although in reality this probabaly just eases my own conscience.

 

[jazzeum]

One interesting observation about having a numismatic collection, which I don't, but I used to collect stamps and I'm assuming it's similar, is that unless you have reallly rare stuff it's really hard to sell them because stamp collecting doesn't have the infusion of any new blood. One dealer told me it's an old man's hobby that is dying. If there are no kids, no demand or high prices paid.

 

[Rob]

One interesting observation about having a numismatic collection, which I don't, but I used to collect stamps and I'm assuming it's similar, is that unless you have reallly rare stuff it's really hard to sell them because stamp collecting doesn't have the infusion of any new blood. One dealer told me it's an old man's hobby that is dying. If there are no kids, no demand or high prices paid.

Thats sad isn't it,another collecting tradition dying out.I suppose the kids have hi tech pastimes these days and old hobbies have lost their appeal.

Rob

 

[fmethorst]

One interesting observation about having a numismatic collection, which I don't, but I used to collect stamps and I'm assuming it's similar, is that unless you have reallly rare stuff it's really hard to sell them because stamp collecting doesn't have the infusion of any new blood. One dealer told me it's an old man's hobby that is dying. If there are no kids, no demand or high prices paid.

I collect Canadian banknotes (not so much recently) and for the most part what you say is true. While all bank notes in UNC (uncirculated) condition generally appreciate it's the rarer varieties that appreciate significantly over time. Rare doesn't necessarily mean old. I have a Birds of Canada series (post 1986) $5 replacement note in UNC condition that the book shows currently trading for $775. The signature combination can also make a banknote rare.

 

[jazzeum]

Thats sad isn't it,another collecting tradition dying out.I suppose the kids have hi tech pastimes these days and old hobbies have lost their appeal.

Rob

Rob,

That's the problem. My father and I used to collect US stamps together and over the years I developed a nice collection but my son is not interested in it at all and, to be honest, I've lost my interest. I went to try to see what it's worth and the above response is what I got. A shame. It's a good way to learn about history.

 

[wadepat]

One interesting observation about having a numismatic collection, which I don't, but I used to collect stamps and I'm assuming it's similar, is that unless you have reallly rare stuff it's really hard to sell them because stamp collecting doesn't have the infusion of any new blood. One dealer told me it's an old man's hobby that is dying. If there are no kids, no demand or high prices paid.

Hi Brad,

You make a very interesting observation concerning the hobby of stamp collecting. My son, who is an avid stamp collector, has made a similar observation about his hobby. What is more sad to me than the absence of demand and high values is the fact that as the hobby shrinks, so do the number of stamp dealers. As dealerships shrink, the sources from which one can find quality stamps decreases, thus further impacting the hobby in a negative way.

My brother collects vintage Lionel trains and related material. He, too, has made a similar observation concerning his hobby. According to my brother, the Lionel train collectors are a aging group with fewer and fewer young persons entering the hobby.

I do not know if the same fate lies ahead for toy soldier collecting, but I suspect our hobby is not immune to this trend. I do not expect any of these hobbies to completely disappear, but as the numbers of collectors are reduced, the sources of good items for our collections and the value of our collections will most surely be affected.

Whatever the future of our hobby may be, I encourage collectors to remember a hobby is founded on passion and intrinsic interest, not on future financial values. There should be ample satisfaction in simply collecting the items of our passion.

Warmest personal regards,

Pat

 

[Rob]

Rob,

That's the problem. My father and I used to collect US stamps together and over the years I developed a nice collection but my son is not interested in it at all and, to be honest, I've lost my interest. I went to try to see what it's worth and the above response is what I got. A shame. It's a good way to learn about history.

Brad,for many years i collected mint Royal Mail stamps and have several albums in the loft.But as you said i also lost interest and the value of my collection is probably not that high.As Pat said anyone starting a collection should do it for the passion and interest of it.This is what drives my Toy Soldier collection,its the fascination for the two world wars that keeps me interested and while i every respect for anyone who sells stuff on ebay when i buy something i keep it.

I only hope that traditional collections such as Cigarette cards,Model Trains,War comics,stamps etc don't die out altogether as that would be a real shame.

Rob

 

[fmethorst]

After going through the sports card boom and bust I really learned a lesson regarding collecting motiviations. As stated above collecting really needs to be about the enjoyment of the pieces being collected and not the financial return. There are far better investment vehicles with far less risk. This is not to say I am indifferent to the inherit value of the items I purchase. It simply means I don't expect a ROI on my toy soldier collection.

 

[damian]

Book collecting seems to retain its fans and its value. There is no sign that the price of Africana is coming down I am afraid. However there are certain authors who tend to rise and then decline.