Cash for clunker....toy soldiers...? (1 Viewer)

[Rutledge]

(Not meant to be a political thread. Merely to ponder the RELATIVE attractiveness of new vs old(er) toy soldiers.)

It seems newer made toy soldiers are "superior" in terms of painting and/or sculpting. Most would agree with this, I think.

And watching the news (in the US) there may be more govt sponsored "cash for clunker-like" programs in the works.

My question is, knowing it wont happen with toy soldiers, of course, but WOULD people trade in their "old" toy soldiers for new ones, if they could? (Note: Assuming one would get fair market value on both sides of the "trade" and ignoring "transaction costs" (time, packaging, shipping, etc)

So, do collectors prefer the newer models over the older ones - kind of like a car? Or do collectors see value in the "time component", perhaps more like a work of art?

Certainly there will be different opinions on this.

I prefer the newer ones. If the govt would assure me of a "good trade" Id probably have updated much of my collection. Without the govt, though, Im less inclined.

 

[thebritfarmer]

While I certainly do love my new TS, the old ones are still my favourite. It's the history, the dents, the dings. Handling each piece and wondering who held these, who played with them. Where were they purchased and who for and by whom. Imagining some small child waking up on Christmas morning and setting them all up (something which is almost non-existent today )

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

I believe there already is a "Cash for clunkers" program for toy soldiers. It's called eBay : Maybe a better name would be "Cash for treasures"

 

[jazzeum]

I still like the old ones, there's a history there. However, there are a few that are not my favorites and since completeness is beyond the scope of most mortal men, I've been selling off some here and there to help pay for new ones.

 

[skeeterbuck]

To me it would depend on how "old" your talking.

Using Britains for example...

I doubt if many would trade their original Britains (Pre-1967) for any of the newer or current items. Their almost like comparing apples to oranges.
When you have and old figure in your hands, you holding a piece of history, at least toy soldier history. You just not going to get that with the newer figures.

Using K&C for another example...

I can see someone having maybe the old Hitler Mercedes Staff car and trading it for the new version of the same item. Basically the same item just upgraded to a more accurate version.

I know as a prewar Elastolin composition collector, their's no way I would trade my items for the newer plastic figures that replaced them. I often wonder when I look at my German composition figures, how many surived in a country that for the most part was destroyed during the Second World War. Not to mention any of the political figures with the flashy red armbands!

 

[Njja]

I'm ready.......lets see:

1. My old toy soldiers were paid for.......now I owe $$$$$$ on all these new
"Green Ones"

2. I was cheated.....I didn't know what I was signing......I can't pay for these!

3. I want my old ones back......."What you destroyed them"?

4. Well I need HELP the rest of you will just have to
pay for all my new toy soldiers!

5. Remember I helped build America........ I don't know what the rest of you were doing.

My little injection of Humor on the "Hoopdees for Hybred Toy Soldier thread"

 

[Louis Badolato]

While I certainly do love my new TS, the old ones are still my favourite. It's the history, the dents, the dings. Handling each piece and wondering who held these, who played with them. Where were they purchased and who for and by whom. Imagining some small child waking up on Christmas morning and setting them all up (something which is almost non-existent today )

I'm with you, my friend. Plus, with older toy soldiers, there is the thrill of the hunt. Picking through ebay, shops, shows (especially room trading at Chicago) looking for the old out of production pieces you missed out on years ago for me is half the fun. I have virtually all of the old K&C (maybe a dozen figures to go), so now I am chasing down old Heco Tinplate items. The new stuff is great, and I buy it and enjoy it, but its ready availability makes it less interesting for me.

 

[thebritfarmer]

I'm with you, my friend. Plus, with older toy soldiers, there is the thrill of the hunt. Picking through ebay, shops, shows (especially room trading at Chicago) looking for the old out of production pieces you missed out on years ago for me is half the fun. I have virtually all of the old K&C (maybe a dozen figures to go), so now I am chasing down old Heco Tinplate items. The new stuff is great, and I buy it and enjoy it, but its ready availability makes it less interesting for me.

Excellent additions to my thread Louis. Some other greats points I had not thought about when collecting old toy soldiers.

 

[Rutledge]

Perhaps there should be a distinction?

There are truly "classic" toy soldiers, which are (many) decades old, or perhaps their manufacturer is no longer in business.

Then there are toy soldiers made in the last 10 years or so. These are not old enough to have much "collectible" value beyond the price of their original cost plus inflation and some limited appreciation for rareness.

It seems reasonable the truly rare item should maintain/grow its value for hard core "collectible collectors". The question is then will the "newer-old" models maintain a premium in an environment where "upgraded" models are being regularly introduced from some of the same manufacturers?

Of course, if one can afford to own them all, there is no debate. But for the rest of us mere (financial) mortals....

 

[marco55]

I have to say that I prefer the new style.I never had an interest in the glossy type.I really didn't care for the look of them and didn't like having to get 5 of the same pose in one set.I first got interested when I saw matte ACW action posed figures from Conte's Troiani series.
Mark