What was your best find or deal? (1 Viewer)

[gk5717]

I would have to say last year after emailing ALL U.S. dealers trying to find retired sets, I was able to locate a dealer, Stan Clark,s Books, in Pa. who had 2 winter 88,s.
I notified my buddy Brian, Fullyautomatic, and we each got one at retail price.
During that same search I came up with both winter motorcycles, summer kubelwagon, YA03,and U.S. cargo truck, and one of the winter infantry sets I needed, again all at origional prices.
I believe Brian did evan better as he needed more of the older stuff than I did.
Second would be the winter sherman, after a dealer called and asked if I would be interested. At the time I did not know only 10 had been made.
I still believe that emailing all dealers in search of retired sets has been my best source.
I just completed my dress marine set by doing the above.
Gary

 

[jazzeum]

Not as good as that but on Friday Louis and I went to the Valley Forge show and he found the binoculared figure for $12 from WS 01 and the summer WS motorcyle with side car for a pittance which he then sold to me so thanks Louis because that was a hell of a find.

Secondarily, I bought a knocked out stug for $30 from Old Toy Soldier up near West Point. He had reduced the price to get rid of them. Now, that's incredible.

 

[Louis Badolato]

My best find in recent memory was at the March 13, 2005 New Jersey Show. My friend Lawrence Lo and I each purchased one of the original WWII wooden warbirds (I got the ME109G in the eastern front markings, Larry got the ME109E in green with the yellow nose), we paid $100 each. The WWII wood single engine fighter planes regularly sell for around $600 if you can find them. These particular planes originally sold in 1991 for $160, so you can imagine how thrilled we were to find them.

In the old days it was easy to get great deals (there were so few serious King & Country collectors then). To give you an idea, when I heard that K&C was no longer making the wood vehicles back in 1997, I called around the dealers (there were only 15 in the U.S. back then) and I got a hold of either Bob Fisher or Craig McLean at the Old Toy Soldier Home in San Diego (I don't remember whether Craig had bought the shop from Bob yet). They had five of the original wood vehicles in stock (a Tiger, a desert Quad Gun & Limber, the original wood Arnhem Para Jeep, a Cromwell, and a desert Hanomag) and they sold me all five for a total of $1000 (they retailed for between $250 and $380 each).

Another time, in 2000 or 2001, one of the old collectors or dealers sadly passed away (I think it might have been Arnie Greenberg from the Command Post in Foxboro, MA) and the widow sold his collection through the Hobby Bunker. Matt Murphy called me at my office, and offered me my pick from about 12 of the original wood and resin vehicles. I bought a Stug IV, a Tiger with green in the camo (one of my favorite pieces), a Hanomag in european camo, and a resin and metal 8 wheel armored car (one of the rarest vehicles, less than 12 made) for $250 each. That was how easy it used to be to get a good deal. Not anymore.