toys robots toy robot space tin toys robots toy robot space tin toys robots toy robot space ti
ROBOTS
Telephone: 717-484-0809
I'll
begin by quoting an email from Joe. It takes up where he and his late wife
Margo decided to move to Stoudtburg Village in Adamstown, PA, the
"Antiques Capital USA".
I came across an old Timex wristwatch display, the kind that automatically rotates and stands six feet tall. Now the 75 robot related timepieces will have a decent place to reside. There are an additional fifteen bookcases there with all kinds of 'bots and pigs for sale, plus related books and magazines.
Since everything will be behind glass, I wanted visitors to be able to hear what some of the robots sounded like. Radio Shack makes a two inch square photo frame/10 second digital recorder. Twelve of these will be mounted to the display case glass in front of those 'bots that talk or make sounds or play music (music boxes). So, instead of cranking the handle on Robert the Robot, just push the play button and listen to a digitized recording of: "I am Robert Robot, mechanical man. Drive me and steer me wherever you can. I am Robert Robot, mechanical man".
I want this museum to be more than just a "look at" display. I want the visitors to really become involved with the robots and try to experience the same joy they've given me these past fifteen years. There's a $3.00 admission to the museum itself. The gift shop is free to browse. The overwhelming majority of my collection is plastic: from the '50's to today. Lots of plastic/tin transitional pieces, and a few tin heads for good measure.



And finally, from Joe the Bard:
ODE TO THE HOBBY
Robert
the Robot: toy wonder
Sparky, The Drummer and Thunder
All of them, toys
That grown up boys
Covet like pirate's gold plunder
It's
tin, lithographed in Japan
That can make some of us a fan
Little else comes
Close to the sums
Spent on Atomic Robot Man
For
others, it's plastic to be
The choice of robot ecstasy
Remco, Ideal,
Tomy, they feel
Made toys of extreme quality
There
is a group of tin lovers
Highly suspicious of others
If it's not tin
A Mortal Sin!
Why can't we just all be brothers?
Some
plastic collectors have said
"No, no. Don't call me a 'Tin-Head'"
They rust away
We're here to stay
They forget: When you're dead, you're dead!
The
repro debate's never gone
"They're awful", "They're great", "It's a con",
"Yes, they're O.K.",
"No how, no way!"
Gentlemen, chill out. Let's move on...
Mint
in the box. Mint in the box
It's just like investing in stocks
Up they will go
Curse that repro!
I should have bought into ham hocks
Now
there are huts and museums
And multiple websites, it seems
Catering to
Those of us who
Live our lives dreaming tin toy dreams
They're
toys, meant for youngsters at play
But now they've somehow found their way
Into a case
Much out of place
Fond memories of yesterday
Collect
what you like. That's the key
It reflects who you are, not me
Plastic or tin
All 'bots are "in"
Take none of this seriously
And
keep the "big picture" in view
Have your health? And a loved one? Or two?
Put it all there
Time. Money. Care.
That's the best investing to do