Gentle Friends,
Do not be fooled by the fact there are only two photographs posted below. I have one more post to present before I conclude this series of photographs. If you have made it this far, you deserve a medal. ^&cool Actually, everyone who has made it this far deserves a medal except Damian. He deserves the bill.
Warmest personal regards,
Pat :wink2:
I will endeavor to settle that bill in some way.
Those are wonderful sets and very good photographs,
It is nice to get a picture of WM Hocker as well so I know what he looks like.
I must admit when I heard he was going to focus on American type themes I was a bit apprehensive that this would not fit in with his overall style and may even detract from his major focus on the British Empire. Seeing all those ACW and Western sets has dispelled this concern.
However when collecting WM Hocker one has to try and focus on a range otherwise one is in danger of becoming too thinly spread.
Those are all wonderful sets and Pat I am deeply end indebted to you for these pictures.
Hi Damian,
It was my pleasure to provide the photos. Taking the photos provided me with an excellent excuse to spend more time in Mr. Hocker's room. :wink2: However, spending time in his room had a very negative impact on my show budget.
You might be interested to know I mentioned your name to Mr. Hocker and he immediately recognized you. I guess Mr. Hocker and his wonderful figures have also had a negative impact on your hobby budget.He spoke of you with a satisfied smile on his face.
I am very glad you enjoyed the photos. I hope they provided you with some useful information.
Take care, my friend.
Warmest personal regards,
Pat :smile2:
Gentle Friends,
We have finally come to the end of my 2011 OTSN Hocker photos. Below you should find four photos of Mr. Hocker supervising his room. He is an especially kind and gentle soul to which anyone who knows him can testify. I am very, very fortunate to have been introduced to him. If you ever get the chance spend some time with him, you should do so. You will not regret it.
Finally, I should answer the question, "Did I purchase any Hocker sets and leave with them under under my arm?" The answer is, "YES!!!!" How could I not? They are beautiful figures and a few more of them now enhance my collection.
I hope you have enjoyed the photos. I know I enjoyed seeing the figures first hand and adding a few to my collection.
Warmest personal regards,
Pat :smile2:
Bill Hocker is indeed a very special person in our little toy soldier world. His toy soldiers are both charming and unique. I only have one Hocker set in my collection which is the War of 1812 U.S. Infantry Column. I hope to pick up the Mexican-American War U.S. Infantry Column from him at the next West Coaster.
Bill, however, has very strong political beliefs which are 180 degrees from mine, so I NEVER discuss politics with him. Interestingly, for several years at the Chicago Show, I had asked him why he stopped coming to the West Coaster after having been a fixture there for years. I found out from other sources that he had a falling out, after a political argument, with one of the West Coasters former founders who, as a former U.S. Marine Corps officer, had views diametrically opposed to Bill's. I pointed out to Bill that that that person was no longer associated with the West Coaster and that he had many fans who missed seeing him and his toy soldiers at the West Coaster. To make a long story short, whether I had anything to do with his return to the West Coaster or not, he has been back for several years and is doing well.
I will be inviting Bill to Bob Walker's open house in November. He has attended once in the past and I hope he can make it again this year. Bob, who was formerly the Chairman of the Republican Party in San Jose for many years, has many of Bill's toy soldiers in his collection, but never discusses politics with Bill either and that is the way it should be.