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Toytime Memories Author: Arthur Ward
Synopsis: Blackmiddens' reveals some of his childhood memories and speaks of his favourite toys.
Last updated: Wednesday 04 March 2009 19:25:41Toytime Memories II Author: Arthur Ward
Synopsis: Collecting Friends member Mick Ackrill has sent in two super pictures and some recollections of a bygone childhood to add to our growing archive of Baby-Boomer tales.
Last updated: Wednesday 04 March 2009 19:24:46August's Barry Potter Toy Fair at Sandown Par… Author: Arthur Ward
Synopsis: Unusually for this summer, August 2nd dawned bright and sunny and mostly stayed that way. Well it did for the Collecting Friends team who spent the day at the fantastic Barry Potter Toy Fair at Surrey’s Sandown Park Racecourse.
Last updated: Thursday 14 August 2008 10:14:50An Airfix Assortment Author: Arthur Ward
Synopsis: Although Airfix is most famous for plastic construction kits, since its earliest days the company has produced a range of toys and games. In fact Airfix began life making everything but plastic kits. This article looks at an assortment of some of the Airfix toys and games that were an important part of the firm's output in the 1940s,50s and '60s.
Last updated: Saturday 12 July 2008 19:43:13Classic Toys - Two's Company Author: Arthur Ward
Synopsis: Classic Toys, the sequel to Arthur Ward's TV Toys and Ephemera is due to be published in June. Focusing on famous brands like Action Man, Corgi, Barbie, Spirograph, Hornby Dublo, Britains and Dinky, this new book considers many of the famous names so-called 'Baby Boomers' grew up with. The forward is by Frank Martin, MD of Hornby, the new owners of Airfix.
Last updated: Wednesday 09 July 2008 11:59:39Iconic Toy Classics II Author: Arthur Ward
Synopsis: The second in a series of articles looking at some famous toy brands, many of which are still as popular today as they were when they first appeared over half-a-century ago.
Last updated: Saturday 24 May 2008 09:59:37Action Man Old and New Author: Arthur Ward
Synopsis: Original Action Man items are extremely hard to come by. Authentic, mint rarities fetch high prices. This article looks at some vintage stuff and one or two fine commemorative items.
Last updated: Tuesday 26 February 2008 09:06:10Astra-Pharos collectables Author: Peter Hawkins
Synopsis: Collecting Friends member Peter Hawkins is a General Practitioner in a small town near (ish) to Sydney, Australia. He is also an avid fan of what he calls 'firing' toy artillery (Britains, Marklin, Johilco, Hausser, etc). His favourites are the Astra Pom Pom and 3/7" AA gun. He's keen to receive news about any, preferably mint or near mint Astra items.
Last updated: Friday 25 January 2008 18:45:29The 1930s aerial peril Author: Arthur Ward
Synopsis: From gas masks to toy aeroplanes children had a part to play in WWII
Last updated: Wednesday 09 January 2008 18:06:48ARP Collectables Author: Arthur Ward
Synopsis: Fear of 'death from the air' was a key part of the zeitgeist of the 1930s. Civilians assumed poison gas would be dropped from fleets of new monoplane bombers. An awful lot of ARP equipment was produced for government, military, civil defence and civilian use. Much of it is now very collectable....
Last updated: Wednesday 09 January 2008 12:57:46Remember These? Author: Arthur Ward
Synopsis: Classic Toys from the 1960s and 1970s - gone but not forgotten. This short article includes details of their designers and origination and may at least prove useful when you are next playing Trivial Pursuit and asked: 'Name the inventor of the Space Hopper'.
Last updated: Sunday 19 August 2007 15:52:48Ground Control to Major Mason Author: Arthur Ward
Synopsis: Mattel's Major Matt Mason toy was released in time for Christmas 1967 and only lasted until 1970. Wearing a space suit and equipped with accesories based on authentic NASA designs, this popular toy now commands the highest prices amongst collectors.
Last updated: Thursday 31 May 2007 19:27:56Star Wars Action Figures – out of this world … Author: Arthur Ward
Synopsis: Star Wars 3' Action Figures are amongst the most valued Film & TV collectables around. Kitbasher looks at those from 1983’s ‘Return of the Jedi’.
Last updated: Monday 19 February 2007 20:40:01A Dinky and Corgi Miscellany Author: Arthur Ward
Synopsis: The names Dinky Toys and Corgi are synonymous with the best of British die-cast toys and collectables ever made. This article considers their history and development and is illustrated with a variety of classic toys.
Last updated: Friday 24 November 2006 19:03:34
