Now, Why Haven't I Started Collecting These?

Let me take you back to the mid 70's. As a kid, I was obsessed with a few things. Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Star Wars, The Beatles were among the things that kept me busy. But then there was lunch boxes. Man, I loved them. All the different characters, colors shapes and sizes of these things kept me drooling over them. I would always look at my classmates lunch boxes and then look at my brown paper bag.

See, I never did own one. I had to obsess over everyone's lunch boxes and obsess I did. Whenever someone bought a new one I had to be the first to give it the once over. When my mom went shopping I would find a lunch box I liked and would beg her for it. But she never relented. She would always tell me I would lose it. To her, a brown bag was dispensable. To me, a cool looking lunch box was a status symbol. By the time my mom started to consider buying me one, I was already on my way to Junior High School and was perfectly OK with a brown paper bag.

So, now that I am an adult and have started some collections, yet I STILL have not picked up any vintage lunch boxes for my collections or started a lunch box collection. After watching a couple of lunch box collection videos on YouTube,  I started thinking about why I had not picked up any. I came to the conclusion that 2 factors, lack of room for displaying them and money has kept me from picking any up. Vintage lunch boxes have become a costly hobby, but if I do come across any that I can afford, I may start picking some up and finally start that lunch box collection I have been dreaming of since I was 5.

Which ones would I pick up? Well, let's start off with the obvious ones:

Superheroes:

I have been wanting that vintage Batman lunch box forever. It's a pretty expensive lunch box, so I probably wouldn't go after it as a starter for my collection and would probably put it with my Batman collection anyway. The Superman The Movie lunch box would probably be a better one to start off with, price wise. I love the Hulk lunch box, but I never understood why Spider-Man never got his own lunch box. I always see him with other Marvel heroes on a lunch box. As much of a Super Friends fan I am, the Super Friends lunch box is a no brainer for me. I have come lose a couple of time to acquiring one, but could never agree on a price.

The Beatles

These two Beatles lunch boxes will have to wait until I hit the lottery. These are pretty high end pieces.

TV Shows I liked as a kid:

I had fun watching all these shows as a kid and in some cases still do watch them. I would love to pick up these lunch boxes to remind myself why I loved lunch boxes as kid and why I want to start a collection of lunch boxes.

And of course the movies I love:

I have to have the Star Wars lunch boxes. I was and still am a huge fan of Star Wars, but if Luke Skywalker is on the lunch box, it would probably go with the rest of my Luke Skywalker collection. Too bad a Back To The Future Lunchbox was never made. With all the Back To The Future stuff being released, maybe they will make one.

And finally, 2 music acts that I would have to add to my future lunch box collection:

How did I get from Kiss to The Monkees? I love them both, that's how. Even though Kiss has really been annoying me as of late from lip syncing their performance at the Kings/Ducks game at Dodger Stadium to not performing at the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame induction. Still, the lunch box is something I've wanted for years and would jump at the chance to own one.

After looking through all the pictures and videos of all the lunch boxes that are out there any collection, no matter how big or small, would be a great one. My hope is that one day, maybe I will fulfill the dream of a 5 year old me and one day get that monkey off my back by picking up a few.  The fact is I have loved these things for far too long. For me not to own any vintage lunch boxes is a personal crime and hopefully, one I can make right for my inner kid.

League Of Extraordinary Bloggers: The Find

Man, I love flea markets.

I just felt the 25 year old Sexy Geek cringe. Back then, I was all about the conventions. I wouldn't have stepped foot into a flea market. I was convinced then that all you would find was other people's garbage, nothing worth buying. As you can see, I was not too bright back then.

That all changed when I attended my first flea market with my buddy, George. We hit a flea market up in Poughkepise, NY and that opened my eyes to just how awesome a flea market was. All the Star Wars, Super Hero, Sports stuff and comic books that could be had, for a better price than you would get at a convention too. I don't remember what I picked up that day, if anything, but from then on I was sold on flea markets.

Now, this week's topic for us extraordinary bloggers is what is our favorite pick ups from either a flea market or garage sale. To be honest, I have never been to a garage/yard sale. I would love to go to one one day, but let's just talk my favorite flea market finds.

It narrow it to just one would be pretty hard. I have yet to find that "Wow" factor (Storage Wars representing!) at a flea market. But I do have a couple of pieces that I really do like:

I used to have the 12 inch Spider-Man figure from the first movie. I had it displayed at my desk at work, proudly I might add (damn sales people and their funny looks). Then one day, a co-worker bought his kid to work and the kid fell in love with the Spidey and wanted to play with it. When it was time for him to go home, he looked so sad in returning the Spider-Man that I let him keep it, which I got a bunch of stunned looks from my co-workers as they all knew how much I loved that figure. As much as my Spider-Man fan boy was screaming Nooooooo, I can't say no to a child or see a child leave sad. It was worth it when, on Monday, his dad told me the kid slept with the Spidey.

Flash forward a few years later, I come across this ultra articulated, 12 inch figure at a flea market in Wayne, NJ. My eyes zeroed right in on it as soon as I passed the table. After picking it up and inspecting it, I knew I had to have it. $5.00 later, I found a worthy replacement for my long gone Spidey.

I like KISS. I used be huge into the band, but their latest album, putting Tommy Thayer into Ace's makeup along with Gene and Paul throwing KISS's name on everything (an arena football team? Really? Really?) has me soured on the band. I really don't go out of my way for their stuff anymore. I did manage to find this Gene figure from McFarlane's Creatures Of The Night line at a flea market in Brooklyn and snagged it for less than the sticker price. I really was hoping to find the Eric Carr figure, but no dice. I may put this up for trade one day as I really want the Alive set more.

Well, that's really about it. I haven't really been toy shopping at flea markets for long. But now that I know how cool they can be, I am always on the look out for them. When I go, I usually find something to take home with me. Who knows, I may actually find that "Wow" factor one day. But for now, the thrill of the chase continues for me.

Check out what these other League members found on their haunts:

http://jannghi.blogspot.com/2013/09/league-assignment-yard-sale-find.html

http://toyriffic.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-find-league-of-extraordinary.html

http://nerdoutwithmeblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-greatest-garage-sale-flea-market.html

Hey Buddy, Can You Spare Some Room?

I spent a better part of last weekend doing some much needed clearing up of my room. I did this for a few reasons. A-My room had gotten really cluttered. B-I wanted to swap out stuff I had in my closet for future blogs for stuff I had already shown. C-I wanted to see what I had. What should have taken a few hours had taken a couple of days and it was shocking and frustrating.

I had boxes and bags on my dresser, chair, desk and other places in my room, so I packed all of the stuff and opened my closet door to put all my stuff away. When I opened my closet, I realized I had a problem that you would think you could only find in cartoons or comedies. My closet was already filled with boxes upon boxes of sports cards, unopened and opened figures, as well as boxes for most of my bobbleheads. That is when I realized I was in big trouble.

I had just about run out of room and I was stuck holding the bag, literally.

What started out as collecting what I liked had turned into an episode of Hoarders, starring The Sexy Geek. It was an unplanned and most unwanted appearance. I had to figure out what had happened and how I could stop this slippery slope I was on before I was left blubbering over an intervention by friends and family because I was sneaking in a moldy issue of Amazing Spider-Man #500 and a Mego Robin with a broken leg...wait I have one already. Oh God, Help me! (drops to my knees, crying hysterical as I hold Robin in my arms, whispering to him that everything would be O.K)

Alright, seriously, I know how I got here and it's a pretty simple explanation. What started as my collecting stuff I actually loved grew into my picking up something of anything I remotely liked. I have my sports collection which consists of anything Yankees, Jets, Knicks, Islanders and Devils as well as a few player collections. In my sports collections, I have cards (a lot of cards), autographs, bobbleheads, figures, pins, yearbooks, programs and other stuff I can't remember. My pop culture collection consists of Batman, Spider-Man, The Beatles, The Monkees, Luke Skywalker/Star Wars and Back To The Future.

Now, the problem is not only do I have a large collection of stuff that I like, but I have managed to start side collections of stuff I that while I like, don't have the attachments that I have to my favorites. For instance, I love KISS, but did I really need to buy a huge Love Gun Mister? It's never even been out of the box. Granted, the box is wrecked, which is why I got it for half off at Spencer's, but I honestly didn't need it nor have I used it. Plus, I really don't go out of my way for KISS stuff anymore.  I have a side Iron Man collection. I was never a huge Iron Man fan when I read the comics. I fell in love with the character after I watched the movies and then started reading the books. I'm a huge WWE fan and I never even started a collection save for a few Roddy Piper and Steve Austin figures. Imagine how messed up I would be if I had?

Because I really cannot afford a storage room, I have some boxes and rubber maid bins that have toys, video tapes, autographs, books and other items. I also have my T.V., DVD's, Blu Ray's, clothes and other things. As you can imagine, room is very limited in my area. I'm lucky I have room to move around right now, but if I keep adding stuff I may not.

What I am going to have to do is step back and take a bit of a break from collecting. Reestablish my collecting goals and focus on that. Anything else, I may either put away, trade or sell. I would have to figure out just what I would be willing to part with. That will not be easy. I always did not want to be the collector you all saw on Collector Intervention that would have a hard time letting go of a piece, but the more I think about what I may or may not part with, I can now understand why they always had a problem with letting go. But I also realize I need to take control before the collection takes control of me.

If I decide to let anything go, I will throw it out to you guys to see if there would be anything anyone wanted. I would rather anything I have would go to a good home and a collector who would appreciate it before I give it to Goodwill or turn to eBay. It sucks that I let things get out of control, but at least I was able to catch the problem before it was too late and that is always a good thing.

League Of Extraordinary Bloggers-Wish List

So, this week, the League wants us to put together a wish list for Santa. Maybe, Santa will see this list and one or more of the items will make it's way under my geeky christmas tree. Would be pretty sweet for Santa to visit the House Of Swag and bring by some geeky goodness for ole Sexy Geek himself. After all, I have been a good Sexy Geek.

One of the things I have decided for 2013 is I wanted to collect more vintage items and less modern stuff, no matter how cool it is. I have been able to add some vintage pieces to my collection, but there are some more goodies I need. With this list, I also kept with what I collect. So Santa, I hope you have a pen and paper. Here is the list

1-1966 Batman Lunch Box

I am a huge lunch box fan. As a kid, I would look at other kids lunch boxes and always wish I wasn't brown bagging it to school. Here is a lunch box I would love to add to my Batman collection. Very cool graphics. I would love to put this on my Batman shelf when I put one up.

2-Mego Spidercar

This car really makes no sense. Even as a kid, I knew. Aside from that dune buggy he had for a bit in the 70's, Spidey's only mode of transportation was his webline and his ability climb walls. So, I gotta ask, What was Mego thinking with this toy. And an even bigger and more important question is where can I get one?

3-Monkees Hand Puppet

I am a huge fan of the Monkees. I was at their most recent show at NYC's Beacon Theater and loved it so I am kinda on a Monkees kick right now. I've been watching my Season 1 DVD set and listening to thier music. The one thing I haven't done is add to my very small Monkees collection. I would love this puppet. Mattell put this out in 1967 or 68, I think. It has a pull string where it would "talk" if the string was pulled. These days, most of the sound boxes are dead, but this puppet would look great displayed in a Monkees collection.

4-Star Wars X-Wing Fighter

 

 

This past year I have been adding to a Luke Skywalker collection that pretty much started this year. With so many thinks associated with Luke, I decieded on the one piece Luke does need. I have been wanting an X-Wing ever since I saw the commercial as a kid. Now, I am going to have to request that Skywalker flys and lands his ship on my Skyewalker collection

5-The Beatles Flip Your Wing Game

There are a lot of Beatles merchandise I would love to be able to pick up. From mini cake toppers to Soaky Bottles, All of which I would kill to have. But the Beatles Flip You Wig game is probably one of the most recognizable. I have looked for one, but a competed game is usually in upwards of 500.00. I will continue to bide my time until I can find on affordable.

 

6- Mego Kiss Figures

Now, I have to admit that I love KISS. I love the theatrics, the make up, the music. I go back to 1976 when I first discovered the band. My buddie had this seies and as we grew up, I have been liking these figures more and more. Another high end collectable, completed sets are virtually impossinble to find. But I will not give up the serch.

7-Hot Toys Michael Keaton Batman.

Ok, I know I said vintage toys and this is also a high end figure, going upwards of 250.00. But I want it, I want it, I want it.

So, Santa. Please note that most of the items I mentioned are pretty much out of your leauge and expensive. Also please note that I do not care and will think nothing of throwing myself to the ground, crying and making a specticle in public no less until I have all these items.

Also remember that this is not a full list. Please drop by for your playbook on what I want for christmas and don't fail me. I am holding Blitzzen hostage.

New League Topic: Holy Grails And White Whales

This week's topic is an intresting topic for me. Brian over at coolandcollected.com poses this question for the League:

We all collect something. What is a holy grail item you hope to find at a flea market, toy show, or comic convention? What else do you collect?

Let's start with what I collect. For those of you who read this blog on a regular basis, you will or have already noticed, that I have a few diffrent collections going. I collect New York Yankees, New York Jets, Spider-Man, Batman, bobblehead dolls, KISS, The Beatles, The Monkees, autographs, Back To The Future, Roddy Piper, Stone Cold Steve Austin and anything else I find intresting. I am pack rat and when I see something I like, I buy it. To me, picking just one white whale or holy grail was next to impossible since I want to add so many items to these growing collections. So, what I decided to do was pick the one item from each collection that I am working on that I would call my "holy grail" of that particular collection.

I also went with realistic white whales, meaning whales I can realisticly snag. Sure, I would love to add Spider-Man # 1 or a cowl used by Adam West during filming of the Batman tv show. But really, am I going to find a Mickey Mantle game used jersey at a flea market? No way. Will I be able to afford a 8 x10 signed by all four members of The Beatles? Not anytime soon. My plan to win the lotto will come to fruition soon, but until then, I will go cheap and choose the whales I can land without declaring bankruptcy.

This 1966 Batman puppet was made by Ideal during the height of Batmania, caused by the Live Action Batman tv show. These puppets were either sold in a box or a plastic bag. Ideal also made Robin and The Joker. Since I only collect Batman for the time being, I would consider this to be the holy grail for my Batman collection. I have either lost a bid on ebay or found it at flea markets/toy shows in less than desirable condition at outragous prices. This is one piece of Batman merchandise I know I can add to my collection without breaking the bank. I just need to be patient.

Another item I would love to own one day is a program from the very first game the New York Jets played at Shea Stadium. For the first 4 years, the Jets (known as the Titans at this point) played their home games at the old Polo Grounds in Manhattan. They played to very little fanfare as the Titans drew flies dispite fielding competitve teams. The team became the Jets in 1963, playing out it's last year in the Polo Grounds before moving to a brand spanking new Shea Stadium in 1964. On September 12th, the Jets played the Denver Broncos in their first game at Shea, beating Denver 30-6 before a crowd of 45,665 fans.

I have never seen a copy of the program in person, but have bid on a few on ebay usually losing in the 50-65.00 range. Always looking to score sweet swag on the cheap, I always try to win this in the 30 dollar range. I'm usually winning until the last half hour. I guess next time, I'll just have to bid the the 50.00 range. I know, I know. I'm a skinflint.

Ok. A-I love KISS B-I love Megos. When these two teamed up in the 70's, I cruelly learned a new word to add to my young vocabulary: Drool. Back in the 70's, KISS was everywhere. Lunchboxes, radios, tshirts, belt buckles. Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley never met a buck they didn't like and would sell their likeness to anything and anyone willing to pay. Fast forward to today and nothing's changed. Gene and Paul still sell out the Kiss name and likeness to make a buck and I still want these action figures.

Yes, they are made on bodies that the KISS members only dreamed they had. But that doesn't take away from how cool they look. The make up is pretty dead on as well as the costumes. The faces...wellllll. Gene is probably the best looking figure. Funny thing, the Ace figure looks like Tommy Thayer now. To own this set is pricey, but can be done.

Here's another pricey piece I'd love to own and it's a holy grail for both the Yankee and bobblehead collections. This bobblehead was made in 1961-1963. There were 2 versions of the Mantle: The square base pictured above and one that had a round base. Mantle was released with Roger Maris, Willie Mays and the very rare Roberto Clemente. There was also a mini version of this bobble that is very pricey. This bobble, I have seen on ebay for around 150-200.00. Pricey, yet affordable.

Here's something I have wanted for quite sometime. A Monkees puppet made by Mattel in 1966. The puppet has the heads of Davy Jones, Peter Tork, Mickey Dolenz and Mike Nesmith on four fingers and had a draw string that would "say" 10 diffrent recorded comedy bits voiced by the band. Finding a puppet that actually has a working voice box is the trick, because any auction I have seen or in person at a flea market, the puppet voice is silenced. Honestly, as much as I'd love to find one that works so I can sit on the floor, pull the draw string and giggle like a ten year, chances are slim. I would be happy to have a non working one to display with the rest of my Monkees collectables. I can usually find this anywhere between 60-80.00, but with the recent passing of Davy Jones, I'm betting the value went up a bit.

Yes, I know wrestling is fake, but I am still a huge fan. My all time favorite wrestler is "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. I was a huge fan back when he was causing havock in the old WWF, hosting the notorious "Piper's Pit". When LJN came out with these rubber wrestling figures in 1984, I got 2 for Christmas: Hulk Hogan and of course, Roddy Piper. First thing I did was take the WWF Title off Hogan and put it on Piper. I had that figure for years and forgot what happened to it. I've been looking for another for a while, but it has to have the kilt. I have seen way too many without it and, to me, no Piper figure is complete without it.

Last and not least, we have this 1970's Spider-Man bank which has driven me to the brink of insanity. Why? Because 3 times I have bought this bank and 3 times something bad has happened to it. The first time, it got crushed in boxes during a move. The second time, it got decapitated. Don't ask how. It just happened and it wasn't pretty. The third time crushed again. Those happened because I didn't have a place for it and tried to store it in places were it met fates worse than death. Now that I have my Spidey Shelves, this hunk of plastic would look awesome sticking out of the sea of Spidey toys. I just have to win one. I keep getting out bid on it. It's almost like a Spidey bank fairy is preventing me from winning one because of what happened to the others. Stop me? I don't think so. It will be mine. Oh yes, it will be mine.

There were 2 others I wanted to add, like the Beatles Flip Your Wig game or the 1970's Godzilla toy I used to have that had the firing fist I used to aim at my sister and conk her on the head. But even I had to have a limit. With all stuff I want, I better have a huge man cave to put it all in. Which I will because that fool proof plan to win the lottery will help pay for all this stuff and I will live an exsitance worthy of Comic Book Guy from the Simpsons. Except better looking. But just as geeky and damn proud of it.