Bit of dark humour and reality (1 Viewer)

[Peiper007]

By the way when next at a show take a few minutes to look around who is at the show and the demographic group. There are a lot of people of a 'certain' age and i think there will be a lot of big collections for sale over the next couple decade or so. Or as my nephew stated 'coffin dodgers' when he visited a show with me.


Only joking guys.

ON a serous note if like me you have no one with an interest in TS collecting then I suggest you take the appropreate action such as a TS buddy in case that bus has your name on it or a value/price list.

can you imagine how you would feel if your relatives sold your collection and got ripped off?

Plus I cannot be buried with my collection too big.

suggestions of what collectors have done concerning this I think would be of interest to many of us.

 

[Rob]

By the way when next at a show take a few minutes to look around who is at the show and the demographic group. There are a lot of people of a 'certain' age and i think there will be a lot of big collections for sale over the next couple decade or so. Or as my nephew stated 'coffin dodgers' when he visited a show with me.


Only joking guys.

ON a serous note if like me you have no one with an interest in TS collecting then I suggest you take the appropreate action such as a TS buddy in case that bus has your name on it or a value/price list.

can you imagine how you would feel if your relatives sold your collection and got ripped off?

Plus I cannot be buried with my collection too big.

suggestions of what collectors have done concerning this I think would be of interest to many of us.

Have got everything listed/pictured in a book for my better half, if I don't sell it all at some point it'll all go to her when I'm gone:smile2:

Rob

 

[Mitch]

All done and dusted. Will sorts it all out everything left to the wife and vice versa. Everyone should have a will regardless of age or say goodbye to your stuff intestate is not the way to go.

Have kept reciepts for stuff I have and the wife is aware of the hobby as I am including prices etc so, nobody would be able to get one over on her.

This all depends on how the hobby develops over the coming years and, what effect all of these large collections hitting the e-bay and auction sites have on prices that you mention.

I would think that when I get to a certain age it will probably all be sold off anyway but, should it not get to that stage someone will get a good bit of cash even at standard retail prices.

I think Rob was looking at this a few months back asking about prices for sets. Its the six P's kind of thing Interesting topic for a thread
Mitch

 

[Mike97]

"Coffin Dodgers"...I like that !
When my parents moved into a huge retirement community in Arizona, I used to call it "Gods waiting room"...

Funny you should bring this up (and in my mind estate planning is just smart business). My wife has no interest to learn about what I've collected with regards to toy soldiers (which is a bit ok if you know what I mean), so I've recently taken the time to explain to her that should I "check out" unexpectedly, I've done my level best to build an inventory list of my collection and that I have all the original boxes stored (except a few loose purchases) and that she should reach out to the TS sellers that I've done business with and identified for her to discuss how to deal with liquidating the collection. Needless to say, I've not advised her of the approximate value, just that it's in her financial interest to heed my advice.

Hell, I get sad just thinking about it....but it is necessary.

I also would welcome to hear how others have addressed this.
mike

 

[lancer]

I and my wife have wills with our possessions left to each other and then to the kids if it comes to that. I have a master list with retail prices (where possible) or what was paid for them. Other than that, there is no one within my sphere that knows anything about (or cares about), my TS collection. No one who could box them in the correct boxes, if necessary. I guess they will have to learn if they want to maximize a sale. I am planning on using my sons cell-phone to take pictures in a by the set structure to make things easier, but it hasn't happened yet. Actually, I may take a Tiger tank or two with me.:tongue: -- Al

 

[johnnybach]

So enjoy it while you can.

I take the view that after I'm gone - I have no control over what happens to any of my possesions. Whoever finishes up with my TS - well - I just hope he/she gives 'em a good home. If they don't - that's just tuff!

I have enjoyed them - my family will inherit them - and ( with my blessing) will sell them

As I have made (most of) them myself - and kept a record of what I paid for them - have photos of everything stored on photobucket - they have a fighting chance of making a small profit. If they don't - well nothing I can do about that - so STOP WORRYING! They're toys -

When you're gone - its over!

(BUT NOT YET!).

P.S Tell your nephew that we're ALL Coffin Dodgers - we just don't know yet when we can't dodge another one!! johnnybach.^&grin

 

[Guy]

Together with a friend I am negociating with the local authorities to start a WWII museum in miniature. Together we can put on display over 1.500 hand painted metal soldiers (1/35-1/32 and 1/30) and TS and more than 200 dios and as much vehicles and tanks. It could become a separate little museum or it could be part of an existing WWII museum of which there are enough in the area were we live. Negociations only started recently and nothing is certain yet . In any case it is the town that will provide the venue, because it could become an interesting extra tourist attraction for the town.Since there is no interest of our next of kin for our hobby, I think this would be a decent solution to safeguard both our collections;
guy:smile2:

 

[Napoleon1er]

If I die before I am "grown up", my American buildings should go to I kid I know who has started collecting AWI, my Coldstream, French light infantry, Nasseurs, 95th, lancers and cavalry, personalities, gloss Napoleonics, and French buildings should go to Nick for his hougoumont and Waterloo, my rare glossies, carriages, Indian fronteer, and Victoria sets should be given to those who have holes in their collections for a sum of their choice to be donated to charity. My remaining Waterloo, Sudan, and odds and ends (including the idiot and non Nap club glossies) should go to Pat J. D.. If I died, I don't think my relatives would have to worry about money, so my collection should go to those who have been kind to me and who could use it. However, if I die at a nice old age, I will turn my home NGO a meuseum, and also house in it my father's antique toy collection (trans and erector sets, etc) and my Militaria collection. This wil go to the French Government on the stipulation it must all be open to public viewing. If my son collects, it will go to him with the stipulation he can never sell it, only pass it on or donate it.
This is oddly something I have thought through many times!
-Sandor

 

[Mitch]

Guy...

Excellent idea and, nobody is going to top that one. Great stuff
Mitch

Together with a friend I am negociating with the local authorities to start a WWII museum in miniature. Together we can put on display over 1.500 hand painted metal soldiers (1/35-1/32 and 1/30) and TS and more than 200 dios and as much vehicles and tanks. It could become a separate little museum or it could be part of an existing WWII museum of which there are enough in the area were we live. Negociations only started recently and nothing is certain yet . In any case it is the town that will provide the venue, because it could become an interesting extra tourist attraction for the town.Since there is no interest of our next of kin for our hobby, I think this would be a decent solution to safeguard both our collections;
guy:smile2:

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

Mine are to be melted and molded into the container my coffin wil sit in. Would not want any of my goo leaking into the water table.

 

[Ruggles]

"Coffin Dodgers"...I like that !
When my parents moved into a huge retirement community in Arizona, I used to call it "Gods waiting room"...

Funny you should bring this up (and in my mind estate planning is just smart business). My wife has no interest to learn about what I've collected with regards to toy soldiers (which is a bit ok if you know what I mean), so I've recently taken the time to explain to her that should I "check out" unexpectedly, I've done my level best to build an inventory list of my collection and that I have all the original boxes stored (except a few loose purchases) and that she should reach out to the TS sellers that I've done business with and identified for her to discuss how to deal with liquidating the collection. Needless to say, I've not advised her of the approximate value, just that it's in her financial interest to heed my advice.

Hell, I get sad just thinking about it....but it is necessary.

I also would welcome to hear how others have addressed this.
mike

Funny post {sm4} Good advice as well.

 

[damian]

Together with a friend I am negociating with the local authorities to start a WWII museum in miniature. Together we can put on display over 1.500 hand painted metal soldiers (1/35-1/32 and 1/30) and TS and more than 200 dios and as much vehicles and tanks. It could become a separate little museum or it could be part of an existing WWII museum of which there are enough in the area were we live. Negociations only started recently and nothing is certain yet . In any case it is the town that will provide the venue, because it could become an interesting extra tourist attraction for the town.Since there is no interest of our next of kin for our hobby, I think this would be a decent solution to safeguard both our collections;
guy:smile2:

That is a good idea but not as good in practice. A friend left a model of Rorkes Drift to the Natal Museum in PMB. When we went to look for it a few years later it was in storage and pretty badly cared for. Museum curators have lots of interests not all of them military and the focus on many general museums now is people's history not so much Great Battles and the like. It also costs a museum a lot to maintain a collection. They may want you to provide som e sort of trust fund for this. I know a number of people with important non toy soldier collections who have been bitterly disspaointed by so called curators of national treasures.

 

[notascoldasbastogne]

I plan on mine being buried with me in a Tomb, and a electrical fence around the tomb to keep
the the old ex-wife out and away.

 

[ddchan]

I have been thinking this for quiet a long time. Nearly 10 years ago I talked to a local dealer that since the TS collectors were mostly in the middle age and after 20 years I would think there would be far less collectors out there. The new generation are most likely to play electronic games than actual toy soldiers, besides, less young people interest in history which is an impulse to collecting toy soldiers.

Anyway, 10 years has passed and we growing older and it is likely that in the next few years there would be lots of collection in the market. If my prediction is correct, 10 collectors out and 1 new comer to replace them the market may be getting smaller and smaller. Though the most sought after items may still be getting high price but the general prices may not be holding at high level. But hopefully this will never happen as I do not want to scare others or manufacturers.

So I am thinning my collections now and only keep those I like most to stick around myself. If anything happens to me, there will not be a big "burden" to my next kins to take care of.

 

[bromhead]

That is a good idea but not as good in practice. A friend left a model of Rorkes Drift to the Natal Museum in PMB. When we went to look for it a few years later it was in storage and pretty badly cared for. Museum curators have lots of interests not all of them military and the focus on many general museums now is people's history not so much Great Battles and the like. It also costs a museum a lot to maintain a collection. They may want you to provide som e sort of trust fund for this. I know a number of people with important non toy soldier collections who have been bitterly disspaointed by so called curators of national treasures.

Agreed ,I left a family collection of artifacts etc to a university "military preservation" project,,when I asked for the return i was treated rudely in spite of important personal reasons,,I doubt my items were treated anything but shelved.beware before donating any personal items,,,I recently gave my daughter my 1970 Mustang Shelb. replica I was the caretaker for 30 years,,she loves it more then I did and knowing where it will be etc is extremely satisfying,we are all care takers of our things important actually.

 

[Alex]

My wife and my daughter are going to inherit my collection when I'm gone.

If my daughter shows some interest later in life, she could keep someone.

If it's not the case, I have asked my wife to donate part of my collection to some members of this forum and of another and to sell the remaining here for retail price or less.

But hey, ain't gonna happen for at least the next 40 years !

Cheers

Alex

 

[Bottlesoldier]

So enjoy it while you can.

I take the view that after I'm gone - I have no control over what happens to any of my possesions. Whoever finishes up with my TS - well - I just hope he/she gives 'em a good home. If they don't - that's just tuff!

I have enjoyed them - my family will inherit them - and ( with my blessing) will sell them

As I have made (most of) them myself - and kept a record of what I paid for them - have photos of everything stored on photobucket - they have a fighting chance of making a small profit. If they don't - well nothing I can do about that - so STOP WORRYING! They're toys -

When you're gone - its over!

(BUT NOT YET!).

P.S Tell your nephew that we're ALL Coffin Dodgers - we just don't know yet when we can't dodge another one!! johnnybach.^&grin

I like ya thinking Johnnybach. I'm a Paramedic and the young blokes don't always finish this race last. "Sadly". It's funny how we all assume we'll live forever. A friend of mine died and his TS moulds and castings were left with family who didn't know what to do with it. So it went to ebay. At the funeral though the guests were given a soldier as they arrived. I thought that was nice. They weren't the expensive brands though. Cheers, Johno.

 

[lancer]

I like the idea of being able to pass the figures on to someone who cares about them, rather than just selling them. There might not be a choice involved if there is no one to pass them to, but still, it is a nice idea. It results in the new owner having a stepping stone to the existence of the former owner and thus triggers the memories of same. I have the 1930ish era Britains that belonged to my father and those figures remind me of him every time I look at them. The memories are intertwined. To pass them on to a son or daughter kind of keeps the generations alive with those memories. Sort of a temporary immortality through TS.:smile2: -- Al

 

[Davout71]

A little dark yes, but I do find that as I get older mortality does seem more apparent. My wife understands the value of them and I am sure she will keep the ones she likes. My daughter is young so I think she would like to take them all into the sandpit.
An actual fear I have is that I will our house will be burgled (it is not uncommon in our area). They will throw them all into a bag and they will end up in the hands of their kids.

 

[Vezzolf]

Why worry about any of this:rolleyes2: they are just toys (material possessions) and will be either sold consignment ,given away or boxed up in a dusty attic.....All very meaningless....Read Book of Ecclesiastes......better to worry about where you will be "spending eternity".:smile2: