† Hello, and welcome to the official ToyMemories.com Blog! I'm somewhat new to this whole "blogging" thing, so please bear with me as I figure this new-fangled technology out... Here's a little of what ToyMemories is all about. My name is Mike, and I'll be your guide! (some people call me "that ToyMemories guy", or just plain "ToyMemories")
† ToyMemories is an archive (or archives) of historical toy "stuff", for want of a better word. It's been our mission and passion for over 30 years now to track down, seek out, hunt for and hopefully acquire (and preserve) what we feel to be important behind-the-scenes material from toy companies, toy designers and inventors, employees, and other toy-related sources.
† We have a variety of material from many toy companies, but we do not have everything! Some companies there may only be one or two items, where others there may be many thousands. "Behind-the-scenes" material includes: prototypes, models, and concepts; technical, design and concept drawings and blueprints; factory tools, mold masters and actual molds; an infinite variety of paperwork, such as memos, specification sheets, quality control and operations sheets, assembly layouts, index files, product proposals, photographs, catalogs and more; printing plates and ad mats; machinery manuals, schematics etc.; first-shots, test-shots, samples, color chips, and so much more! Each item a small part of the whole process which created so many of our fondest memories...
† Some of the companies we have material from are: the original Louis Marx Toys (hands-down favorite), Ideal Toys, Girard Toys, Charmore, A.C. Gilbert, Transogram, Multiple Toymakers (aka MPC), Aladdin, Atlas, Fisher-Price, Gabriel, Revell, Hasbro, Auburn Rubber, Rel, Andy Gard, Coleco, PlastiMarx, Western Publishing, Remco, Ferriot Bros., HMS Associates, Irwin, and many others.
† We do not intend to sell the material in the archives, though occasionally some items are sold to help purchase other items, or for the upkeep of the archives. We do intend to make prints of some things, as well as books. One recent book that we contributed to was the hardcover updated edition of Captain Action - The Original Super-Hero Action Figure by Mike Eury, which is a great book. Never before seen or published images of some of the original Ideal Toys design and concept drawings in our archives were shown, including the unproduced Captain Magic figure, unproduced talking Captain Action figure, Captain Action, Action Boy, and the Silver Streak vehicle. If you love action figures, I recommend this book.
† There are a lot of pictures of various items in the collections on the ToyMemories.com website, and more will be added as time goes on. Most people have an interest in the toys, and not behind-the-scenes stuff... I hope to change that! This material is what memories are made from.
† We do NOT do appraisals, give estimates, or any of that... that's not what ToyMemories is about!
† If you send an email or note, please include "ToyMemories" in the title or it may get deleted as spam. We may not be able to respond to everything, but we always appreciate those who take the time to write.
† Thank you once again to all of you who have donated, shared, sold or otherwise helped us here at ToyMemories... it means a lot to us! We're regular people, on a mission... it's not about money. It's about history... It's about numerous unnamed people (who should be recognized and thanked) who put their heart into making playthings... It's about priceless childhood memories... it's about toy memories. -Mike
