What do you think of when you see this photo?

[x-pack]

This photo has been doing the rounds a bit. In another thread Bluedog asked what the value might be. An interesting question. But whenever I see this photo it makes me think all sorts of different things, memories and 'what ifs' mainly. This has to be the ultimate what if photo.

I imagine going into the shop with a grand and buying the lot. I bet my parents didn't have a thousand quid lying around at the time, let alone a 6 year old kid! A grand would probably do it though. That's the fantasy. But then what? The 6 year old me would have probably spent a day ripping them all open before assembling a huge Star Wars army. No doubt a few figures would have met a sticky ending.

But I love this image. It conjures up happy memories of standing in shops figuring out which one to spend my pocket money on. Never ever saw a selection as good as that though. It's full of the figures I wanted but never saw to buy them.

 

[Robstyley]

Yeah it is an incredible photo, blew me away when I saw it in the other thread. It makes me think of Peter Jones toyshop in Rayleigh, Essex where a lot of my figures got bought for me and where I used to stand ogling the massive wall of Star Wars toys whenever we went in there and badger my Mum for one

 

[theforceuk]

I don't know what to think when I see this, I get a sense of happiness and nostalgia.

Apart from that I struggle to see the wood for trees. :lol:

 

[sith-smith]

What do I think of....?

My bedroom! :lol:


It does immediately remind me of the toy shop I used to go into every day on the way home from school 8)

 

[Section 8]

I'm thinking I'll not be able to reach the Luke X Wing Pilot moc I want.

 

[Carl Waterworth]

What do I think of?

All them figure and they haven't got the one I came to buy!! :roll:

 

[SublevelStudios]

Firstly, that is an insane amount of diecasts to the left :shock:

Secondly, I'm transported back to 1982 and John Menzies in Newcastle-under-Lyme, the upstairs was the toy/record/video dept. in the day, they were one of the biggest toy retailers, long before Toys R Us were ever on the scene in the UK. Whilst there wasn't quite the amount there is here in the photo, it wasn't far off. I remember vividly searching for Dengar on the racks and finally finding one at the back - the pure joy of finding him. That's a feeling I think you carry through your collecting life.

Maybe it's one of the reasons we collect in the first place...

 

[SAVORY100]

The retailer in me keeps looking at the Lobot amidst the Diecast and is thinking, where is the sales assistant to tidy the damn thing back on the right peg! :lol:

Retail is Detail!

 

[plantman]

reminds me of being stood in woolworths staring....

 

[Grant]

What do I think of....?

My bedroom! :lol:


It does immediately remind me of the toy shop I used to go into every day on the way home from school 8)

Similar, reminds me of the early 80's John Menzies when I used to rush in and look for figures I needed.

 

[x-pack]

The retailer in me keeps looking at the Lobot amidst the Diecast and is thinking, where is the sales assistant to tidy the damn thing back on the right peg! :lol:

Retail is Detail!

Poor Lobot. He is about the least cool figure there. Some kid thought better of that purchase

 

[monkey_roo]

This might seem odd, but that image makes me a little sad.

I look at it and feel a blast of nostalgia, the recall of a child overwhelmed at the possible choices in front of him, the endless hour of play and enjoyment but also a sadness that I won't ever feel that way again, and even worse my kids never will.

Time to invent a time machine

 

[SAVORY100]

This might seem odd, but that image makes me a little sad.

I look at it and feel a blast of nostalgia, the recall of a child overwhelmed at the possible choices in front of him, the endless hour of play and enjoyment but also a sadness that I won't ever feel that way again, and even worse my kids never will.

Time to invent a time machine

There is definitely something in this comment that I can relate to; as a parent I often think the same about a distinct lack of excitement or anticipation of a trip to any shop with them. They're not spoilt (IMO) but we all live a far more consumerist society that has a level of exception of everything being available and even shopping for it holds no magic...