Sandown Park - Saturday 15th November 2014

Sandown Park - Saturday 15th November 2014Who is going to be attending as a visitor or stall holder? I will be going for the first time in 9 years.

Just curious, for those of us far away......is this going to be a toy fair, with buyers and sellers? Sure wish we had some like that here in California! Regards, Terry

Hi Stfan, So you are back home from South America. Did you manage to bring back the girls as well. About Sandown, I think that there will be a DTCA stall with Michael Driver and some others. Terry, Sandown Park is a big toy fair in West London, one of the largest in England. These fairs are all over the place now in England, Holland, France. I think that if you do not have them in the States is because the density of collectors is too low. How many stalls would you have if you organised one in California ? The first one was run by Mike Richardson in a school in Windsor back around 35 years ago. I just happened to be around in London on business and this gave me the oportunity to meet Mike. The fair was modest with probably less than 50 stalls but it was the begining.

Hi Terry, I stayed in California for a time & I remember everything being so far away, I think Jacques point about collector density would be spot on (in regards to vintage toy collectors), though if you made a Hotwheels specific fair I am sure you would have attendance in the 1000s. Jacques, girls are still overseas, I am talking to my local MP on Friday to discuss if they think that the immigration laws are fair & reasonable.

Here is the information regarding the Toy Fairs run by Barry Potter: Barry is an auctioneer as well as the show organiser. As you can see they vary from small fairs to the really big ones. Items on sale are both new and old and cover trains, dolls, modern diecast, collectibles etc. The DTCA are represented at a number of fairs. Dave

Thanks for all the info on the wonderful toy fairs that you have. That is just amazing how many there are, and the size of them. I did not know that vintage toys were still that popular with the public in England, and also elsewhere in Europe.Many years ago, I do remember having some sort of monthly toy fair here in California, but it soon disappeared. I sure wish we had just one.....it would be fun to see stalls with various collectibles in them, and be able to buy on the spot.I am lucky that I have met another Dinky fan and collector about 1/2 hour from me, so at least we can get together once in awhile and share our hobby. Other than that, it has been a very lonely hobby all these years. Regards, Terry

I shall be at the Barry Potter fair at Doncaster this coming Sunday, I will see if I can get a couple of photos to give you an idea of what they are all about. The other advantage we have in the UK is that the country is smaller, all of these fairs are within 150 miles of my house. Dave

dinkyfan wrote: 'Thanks for all the info on the wonderful toy fairs that you have. That is just amazing how many there are, and the size of them. I did not know that vintage toys were still that popular with the public in England, and also elsewhere in Europe.Many years ago, I do remember having some sort of monthly toy fair here in California, but it soon disappeared. I sure wish we had just one.....it would be fun to see stalls with various collectibles in them, and be able to buy on the spot.I am lucky that I have met another Dinky fan and collector about 1/2 hour from me, so at least we can get together once in awhile and share our hobby. Other than that, it has been a very lonely hobby all these years. Regards, Terry' Terry I am surprised with your lack of contacts with Dinky Toys collectors in the United States. A number of years ago I was a member of the first DTCA. Not the Dinky Toys Collectors Association, but the Dinky Toys Club of America. I have a lot of their newsletters around here somewhere. I should see if I can find them and forward some names and phone numbers for you. Dave Nice list of the Barry Potters Fairs. Much more used to be listed in the Collectors Gazette, although I no longer subscribe to this newspaper which I think is now run by a large publishing company. Interesting that the Pocket Guide has the times and day but no dates! I once subscribed to CG but on retiring a few years back, I had to reduce our expenses! Everyone Here in Brisbane, Australia we have the Brisbane Die-cast Collectors Club that holds a swap meet six times in 2014. Sydney has a monthly swap meet. Both swap meets deal in all sorts of stuff, however the interest in Dinky Toys seems to have waned here in Brisbane in recent years. I no longer have a table as I became lazy - unpack my stock, sit around drinking coffee and packing up again with plenty of gossipers but no wallet-holders! Perhaps this Association, as a means to generate its own funds could act as 'agent' for those members wishing to sell their Dinky Toys on a small commission basis. I would prefer to buy and sell with another member as that would mean dealing with someone who is vitally interested in Dinky Toys and I would have the knowledge that my surplus models would be going to a caring home. I know that sounds too sentimental! :blush: Is the Dinky Toys Club of France still operating? Guy Girod used to provide me with a page on French Dinky Toys for my DINKY NEWS newsletter between 1998 and 2002, which was probably the first amateur 'publication' disseminating information on Dinky Toys in the absence of any other sources at that first computer and pre-Internet era. The newsletter was a means whereby subscribers could advertise their wants and sales for free. Bruce

Hi Bruce. I just showed the four pages of the pocket guide which contain the venues, the other eight pages contain the 54 dates. Dave

Thanks Dave. One of these days if we can afford it, I would very much like to return to England and sample one of these Collector Fairs. In 2005 I attended an auction conducted by Wallis and Wallis in Lewes, and what a memorable occasion that was too! Catching an early train from Bromley to Victoria and then Southern to Lewes and in the afternoon, returning with my winnings! (I think I posted a photo of these elsewhere.) The only sad memory of that time was the passing of my British brother-in-law two days later. Bruce

Doncaster is a great fair for buying, bought many gems over the years at that fair! Sadly this time I wont be attending.

Hi all, I've been trading at Toyfairs for years,and sadly I think the best days are over, though we are still very lucky here in the UK to have so many, I am now doing about 10 fairs a year, instead of one a week. These days I mainly sell model Railway stuff, as that's where the interest seems to be. The larger fairs offer the best for the buyer, but can be very expensive for traders, and it is easy to make a loss, or end up giving your stock away. The best thing I still have from all the years of dealing is a network of fellow traders who will turn up and say 'I've got something you are going to want Chris', and they're usually right!, Chris Warr.