What was collected boxed & MOC before Star Wars?

[stormcab]

Just following on from the thread about what prompted people to not open huge numbers of Star Wars toys which are available today, what were the lines that people purposely didn't open before Star Wars?

Basically was it seen from previous TV shows, films, books, stories etc, that if the toys weren't open, they would be worth money, or is it simply instinct that of course something will become valuable one day if kept unopened and pristine?

 

[Bonsai_Tree_Ent]

There have long been luxury watches and jewellery pieces sold with their original packaging and paperwork. For toys in the UK at least it was Dinky toys, they had various swap meets and collector get togethers for Dinky (boxed carrying a premium) pre War and then more so post War (I think during the war years everyone had bigger things to worry about!).

 

[lejackal]

Train sets as well were collected and looked after, not sure if people would've kept them sealed though

 

[ODB]

Train sets as well were collected and looked after, not sure if people would've kept them sealed though

The older ones were never really sealed, they do keep them unrun and people pay a premium for an unrun one.

 

[x-pack]

Toy cars and robots are the toys I can think of. My uncle used to collect golly wog badges and those tea card books.

In the 80s I collected things that came free with cereal and other offers. I had a set of little pot monks that were a mailaway with crisps - Smiths I think.

People have always collected this or that.

 

[Grant_C]

Action Man was the big thing before star wars. Matchbox and Dinky before that.

 

[Hothrebel]

Mego and similar style action figures in the mid 70s Star Trek and super heroes.
Palitoy/Bradgate did 8" action figures planet of the apes,little big man etc in the same sort of style,these are still quite popular with collectors today.

 

[hellhippie]

vintage monster toys were always big also , something else I collect . my father is a huge lionel collector and has thousands still

 

[Lindo]

used to collect the nfl key ring shirts and Russell spinner yo yo's not moc's but I thought they were cool

 

[Palifan]

vintage monster toys were always big also , something else I collect . my father is a huge lionel collector and has thousands still

Had to look up what Lionel was, Trains!

Ian

 

[stormcab]

Ok so basically collecting boxed items before Star Wars can certainly explain some of why we have so many today. Not that there was just a load of unsold stock after ROTJ

 

[Cronker]

Off topic, yes, but there's a huge collector base for Kinder surprise toys, and I'm sure we all know about beanie bears.
People collect all kinds of junk.