Toy Soldier club in Pa?? (4 Viewers)

[Currahee Chris]

I have occasionally heard of some of our collector bretheren who host toy soldier club events. I have noticed that we have a lot of collector's here in the mighty state of Pennsylvania- especially kind of close to me here in Mechanicsburg.

Anyone interested in maybe meeting on a quarterly basis to talk toy soldiers? We could host at my house and/or rotate meeting venues for other members. We could invite a dealer to come over to the shows as well.

Well, let me know if there is any interest. I would be glad to get this thing up and running if we can shake up enough interest- heck- we could make it "Mid Atlantic" wide if we meet quarterly, that way we could possibly get more collectors as well.

If anyone out there has had some success with this type of idea, I would be happy to hear any suggestions you might have.

STANDS ALONE!!
CC

 

[maddadicus]

I believe the thing to do is find out how many are close.....Combat lives in Gettysburg, I live in Marietta.......Even a get together once in a while to oogle collections would be ok....Michael

 

[ucla1967]

In March 2006, I started a club, the Southern California Toy Soldiers Collectors Society. I used that name (society) since Toy Soldier & Model Figure magazine lists meeting notices as Society Meetings. I was able to contact a number of collectors I had met over the years who attend the West Coaster (including Ed Ruby, Neal Crowley, Bill Connolly, Bob Walker, etc.) and asked them to join. We meet on the last Saturday of every odd numbered month at members houses on a rotating basis. We also take "field trips" to the Old Toy Soldier Home in Vista, Calif. for their Annual Tent Sale and BBQ.

Although we have almost 30 members, some never or rarely attend meetings. The good news is that those who do attend are some of the more prominent toy soldier collectors in the hobby. For example, Ed Ruby had arguably the largest Britains collection in the world until he sold it for several million dollars some years ago.

Contact Stuart Hessney of TS & MF magazine and he will run meeting notices for you until you tell him to stop. That should help you get members beyond the collectors who are on this forum.

 

[Currahee Chris]

Mike- thank you for your viewpoints- I appreciate them!!

 

[Currahee Chris]

I believe the thing to do is find out how many are close.....Combat lives in Gettysburg, I live in Marietta.......Even a get together once in a while to oogle collections would be ok....Michael

Agreed- that is kind of why I was throwing this out as a feeler. Like Combat has said, there are 3 shops in Gettysburg and I know some dealers in other parts of the state as well. I am willing to guess that for every Pa collector here on the Frog, there are 10-20 more in the State that could be coerced into showing up. I have noticed that there are some folks from Easton and other parts of the state as well. If we hold this maybe quarterly or so, it might work.

One thought would be to hold it during the Wargaming shows each year- there are three hosted each year by the Historical Miniatures Gaming Society every year- 2 in Lancaster and 1 usually in Gettysburg. Perhaps we could do something in connection with that???

I dunno, I personally would like something a little smaller. We could possibly look at hosting the event at the War College in Carlisle.

Just some thoughts- let's hear it from our PA collectors!!

 

[maloyalo]

I can't travel far yet due injury, but can at least ID myself as a PA member. (Stroudsburg area, Poconos)

 

[Currahee Chris]

I can't travel far yet due injury, but can at least ID myself as a PA member. (Stroudsburg area, Poconos)

Welcome aboard!!! Actually, we may come to you and hold it at Mike's shop (Stockade Miniatures) I love Mike and Noreen.

 

[Louis Badolato]

I can't travel far yet due injury, but can at least ID myself as a PA member. (Stroudsburg area, Poconos)

Welcome aboard maloyalo. If you are not yet familiar with it, look up Jim Hillestad's Toy Soldier museum (a couple of miles from Stroudsburg). It is really something.

 

[maloyalo]

Welcome aboard!!! Actually, we may come to you and hold it at Mike's shop (Stockade Miniatures) I love Mike and Noreen.

Thanks! They really are great folks & I can always find nice items in their shop. I was able to get down there two weeks ago after 1 1/2 yr. absence.

 

[maloyalo]

Welcome aboard maloyalo. If you are not yet familiar with it, look up Jim Hillestad's Toy Soldier museum (a couple of miles from Stroudsburg). It is really something.

Thanks Louis, You know I have meant to, but never have made it to his museum. Crazy. I am like a couple of miles away.

 

[maddadicus]

That is something our "group" might think of doing.......mini road trips to places like the museum in Stroudsburg..We could meet at a convient 78 exit, park there and then head out together the rest of the way.....I do it all the time for toy train events......Michael

 

[Currahee Chris]

That is something our "group" might think of doing.......mini road trips to places like the museum in Stroudsburg..We could meet at a convient 78 exit, park there and then head out together the rest of the way.....I do it all the time for toy train events......Michael

I think that is a wonderful recommendation. I think we would want to do something like that before the snow falls again- I'd hate to be stranded out on 78 like all those people were this past winter.

 

[Capitolron]

I would host a meeting in Washington, DC !!

 

[The Lt.]

I'll be visiting my sister who lives just outside of Johnstown. Do you know of a shop close by.......The Lt.

 

[Currahee Chris]

I would host a meeting in Washington, DC !!

That would be very cool!!

 

[Currahee Chris]

I'll be visiting my sister who lives just outside of Johnstown. Do you know of a shop close by.......The Lt.

Sorry Lt- wish I had better news but I don't know of any in that area at all- most are either in the Gettysburg area and capitalize on the tourist foottraffic. The others I know of are in Philly or the pocono areas.

Yeah, Johnstown, from a historical perspective, many of the locals there would be all too happy to tell you about the Flood that happened lat in the 19th Century. As far as those folks are concerned, time stood still after that

 

[Currahee Chris]

You know, if we can actually get this thing going, it would be great payback to my wife for all those Pampered Chef parties she hosts at my hut. I have set up and rearranged the house to look like a Tikki bar, Cozy Christmas kitchen, etc for all of her past meetings.

I guess we could be the Pampered Generals of Pa

 

[maloyalo]

I was thinking about something to try one time, if we do meet eventually. All bring a wrapped/sealed shoebox full of extra soldiers, nothing valuable, but trying to make an interesting batch with greatest variety. We draw lots & get a random box & then maybe do some trading.

 

[Currahee Chris]

I was thinking about something to try one time, if we do meet eventually. All bring a wrapped/sealed shoebox full of extra soldiers, nothing valuable, but trying to make an interesting batch with greatest variety. We draw lots & get a random box & then maybe do some trading.

Sure, why not- that's a cool idea.

OK- Since I kind of threw this idea out here, I will contact some shop owners about interest- I know some of these guys pretty well- perhaps they will let us in there shops after hours (with their supervision of course ) and we can loiter, buy/ sell, etc.

Here is what I envision happening- I have thought it through a bit today:

1.) Have 3-4 meetings a year- perhaps 5 or 6 if there is enough interest.

2.) One meeting we have at a collector's house and they can show us their stash and we can talk, drink a beverage or two, etc. Then the next months gathering, we maybe take a fieldtrip- permission slips not required and go to a shop, historical sight, whatever, then the following meeting do another collectors hut, etc, etc.

3.) this is a very informal thing- no dues, officers, etc- just a bunch of men and women who enjoy the hobby and each others company.

So.....without further ado, I will take a look at a couple options and get back to everyone here via a post. No pressure, if the idea fizzles, it fizzles.

STANDS ALONE!!
CC

 

[Louis Badolato]

If you give out advanced notice, I would love to try to make one of your meetings, especially if you hold it in Gettysburg. I've never been.