TEXAS TOY MAN

11 Tips on Selling Your Collection

Our website – TexasAntiqueMall.com - gets a lot of emails from people want to sell their toys – sometimes single items, sometimes collections. Most of the time information is very limited. I’ve put together the following list to help you put information together if you are planning on trying to sell something either via email or directly to an individual. Having the answers to these questions will make the process easier for both you and the potential buyer.

Tips:

1. 1. Know name of manufacturer
2. 2. Have information on any maker’s marks or numbers
3. 3. Have the dimensions (width, length, depth, diameter, etc.)
4. 4. Take some good digital picture(s), preferably not to exceed 600×450 pixels in size
5. 5. Have a brief description including condition
6. 6. Say if the box available? If so, what is the condition.
7. 7. List all parts. If the item has working parts, are they working?
8. 8. Disclose if there are any parts missing?
9. 9. Include any other information that will help the buyer make a decision to purchase (provenance)
10. 10. Include the price you want – don’t expect people to make offers
11. 11. If you’re selling a collection, have a list and price in mind that you want for the whole collection

Following these ‘tips’ should make selling your collection or item much easier. 

“Snake” Hot Wheels vs “Mongoose” Hot Wheels (Ltd.Ed.) 10,000

In my last post – we talked about the Hot Wheels “Mongoose”. This week we’ll see how it’s counterpart – the “Snake” – compares in history and manufacturing detail.

The “Snake” Funny Car Dragster was driven by the professional driver Don “Snake” Prudhomme in the 1970′s. And, just like the “Mongoose”, Hot Wheels produced the original version of the “Snake” in 1970 thus offering both cars in their own way furthering the competition between the two real dragsters.

Mattel Inc. manufactured this Hot Wheel – which was a great re-issue of the original “Snake” Funny Car – during 1994 as a Limited Edition of  10,000 cars.   Mattel was very precise and all of the “Snake’s” details were followed . . . right down to the last smallest decal.

The “Snake” Dragster Hot Wheel shown in the picture above has the following details:

• Color in yellow
• Metal base
• Lift up body
• Clear windshield
• Basic Wheel, Red Line – BW (RL)
• Don “Snake” Prudhomme on both sides
• “Snake” logo on hood and sides
• Hot Wheel logo on sides
• Coke Cola logo on sides and on hood
• Pennzoil logo on rear fenders
• “CareFree” logo on both sides
• Vintage Hot Wheel logo embossed on base
• Mattel Inc., 1969 embossed on base
• China embossed on base

Please note that this Vintage Hot Wheel package produced in 1994 has a matching collector button included.

Little bit of history on the drivers:Don Prudhomme retired from racing in 1994; however, his famous rival – Tom McEwen – to this day, is still in the drag racing business as a track-side announcer.

If you’re interested in finding out more about these two drag racer drivers, you’ll be glad to know that on the back of each package is a brief history detailing their careers and the high points of their hey-day.

Barclay-Train Engine Number 335

Barclay was the largest manufacturer of lead-alloy vehicles in the 1930s and to the mid-1940s.

The Barclay name was derived from the street name “Barclay Street” which was in West Hoboken, New Jersey.

The first production of Barclay toys was thought to be in 1924, although some say 1923 is correct. The company that produced Barclay toys was founded by the partners – Leon Donze (1895-1950) and Michael Levy (1895-1964).

From it’s beginning over a short period of time, Michael Levy took control of the company and proceeded to develop it into a major toy manufacturer facility. In fact, he was so successful that at one time the company had 400 employees.

Unfortunately, during World War II they fell on tough times which resulted in their being forced to lay off the majority of their employees. They struggled to stay open by hiring sub-contractors, but they were never able to get back to the pre-war success they enjoyed and eventually closed shop in 1971 .

The Barclay Train Engine Number # 335 shown in the picture above (2 -1/2 inches) is a very good example of the type of toy’s that they produce,

Some of its features were:

• Molded metal
• Black plastic wheels
• Straight axles front and rear
• Made in USA
• Model number embossed inside of toy
• Hitch for additional cars to be attached
• Painted

Barclay made many different vehicles, including many sets of trains, cars, transporters, etc. In spite of this, it is very difficult to find any of these complete sets in mint condition with the original packaging today. However, you can still find single toys that because of their size make a wonderful display in a diorama or display case.

Typically values for individual toys range from $10-50 while some of the sets can go for $100′s of dollars.  For a more values, the identification and value guide by O’Brien –  ”Collecting Toy Cars & Trucks” -  is available through Amazon.com (see Amazon widget left sidebar, page 2)