What's the age range of vintage collectors?

[stormcab]

I'm 37, born 1978, so I will have missed the Star Wars wave, and possibly the early ESB wave. Was just curious, are there many people born around 1985 onwards that still got into vintage collecting? Who is the youngest known vintage collector? I got into vintage from a nostalgia point of view; to relive that memory of walking into a toy shop and seeing everything Star Wars piled high.

While I'm asking questions, what year and where was the very last shop in the UK that still sold original Star Wars toys, not as vintage, but bought from the factory for retail? I have a vague memory of going into several shops in the late 80s asking if they still sold any Star Wars.

 

[db94]

My daughter is 18 (she doesn't actively post here though) and although she collects modern as well she was brought up on, and prefers vintage SW

I can vaguely remember toy shops selling off SW toys cheap but (damn damn f*ckin damn) by then I was too old and didn't buy any. Remember the figures for 50p and ships for a fiver, think it was 85 0r 86?

Oh I'm 43 and one of the few boys on here old enough to have collected at the right time, rest of you are young pretenders and should send me all your toys for free

 

[Fishtalk]

There was a strange little shop in my home town, it sold flowers and greetings cards and in 1988 was selling a bunch of Trilogo figures. I remember the year because I had just started a new job, and walked past this shop everyday. Those figures were there a long time, and still there in July '89 when I left the job. The shop closed down in the mid Nineties. I always thought it odd that what was essentially a florist suddenly started selling Star Wars figures.

The fact that I had a job in 1988 should tell you I'm getting on in years - 47 and counting.

 

[_Lee_]

Im 40 and luckily enough born at the right time. Star Wars ANH was the first film i ever saw at the flicks with Mum I also know that my first figure was a Palitoy SW Stormtrooper as mum still remembers She bought me it in the co-op after we saw the movie. She always jokes that Star Wars is the only thing that could shut me up

I think its great that youngsters like vintage, but its kind of different to actually being around as a kid for the original releases.

 

[Mr-shifter]

36 here. Born in 79 so I got to see the films on the television at Christmas. I remember Jedi and particularly trilogos. I remember wire baskets full of trilogos on special offer.

 

[chipsteak]

I'm 41. Pretty typical. I missed Star Wars but had an older brother hyping it to heck in my bedroom so by the time ESB came out I was pretty avid. I was a rabid Star Wars fan for two whole years having only seen the sequel. I eventually saw Star Wars as part of the 1982 double bill. It was shown on ITV later that year and friends with VCRs bridged the gap until ROTJ.

I consider myself lucky, SW timing wise. If I was a bit older I'd have enjoyed the original 77 release but I might have been too old send cynical for Jedi.

 

[theforceuk]

I'm 35 so missed Star Wars completely, but remember the toys in shops. Mostly Jedi and Trilogos Was brought a lot of vehicles and figures between 83 - 86. I think it was about 85/86 before I watched any of the films. Think it was about 88, we got a VHS player and always remember argueing with my sister at the video rental shop over which film to get. Got Star Wars once I think!

 

[sith-smith]

I'm 42, born in 1972, so was 5ish when it all kicked off and was very much into it from the very beginning 8)

 

[grinchy]

I'm 42 so was able to see star wars in the cinema with my dad, allways loved the figures growing up, i remember in maybe 85 or 86 getting a rancor at woolworths for 50p when they were clearancing the line, bags of figures for a pound, wish i had bought more stuff and kept it,

 

[stormcab]

I'm 42 so was able to see star wars in the cinema with my dad, allways loved the figures growing up, i remember in maybe 85 or 86 getting a rancor at woolworths for 50p when they were clearancing the line, bags of figures for a pound, wish i had bought more stuff and kept it,

The benefit of hindsight. The question is, if we could all see this coming and no one opened anything, would we all still be as interested in collecting vintage? Imagine most collecters having VCJs & POTF Yaks; they'd be worth as much as Ree Yees lol. The main draw of collecting is owning items very few others in the world have.

 

[db94]

That's why I kick myself though, I hit it just right - grew up playing with the toys, opened everything and have lots of magical memories but when everything got knocked down in price I wasn't interested in playing with them but damn I wish I'd just spent a couples of weeks pocket money buying the bargains grinchy mentioned and stuck them under my bed! The only thing I bought to keep and not play with was a Bespin Han for 49p because he was my favourite and my original had seen some action so wanted a mint example to "keep good" but I opened him and carefully placed him in with the others before putting the lot up into the loft :lol:

 

[ScruffyLookingNH]

I'm 39 (born just before the scorching Summer of '76). I asked my mum and it turns out I did go and see ANH with my parents. Apparently I slept most of the way through it

I only have brief memories of the toys on the shelves as I lived on Anglesey and the pickings were slim. Had to travel to Chester for a decent toy shop. Odd thing; I don't remember Star Wars in my local Woolies and neither (I asked the other day) does my mum. Only ever got figures from our Newsagents or Managrove (a small shop within Kwik Save). The only clearance I ever remember was the Special Buy 49p Speeder Bikes.

 

[MarkG]

I'm 41 too, so also missed out on SW as was just that little bit too young. All took off with ESB though. Think I finally got round to seeing SW when it aired on TV...cant be too sure though.

1985 was the best for me... helping myself to a case fresh box of the Trilogo L17. If only I knew then what I do now..

 

[Joe]

I'm 31.


TBH, I still don't know what I'm doing here :lol:

 

[spoons]

42 and I bought a carded Klaatu from a toy shop in Bradford in 1991 or 92 - a serious peg warmer :lol:

Can't have been many toy shops still selling vintage in the 90s

 

[Robstyley]

There was another thread similar to this? Judging by everyone on this one most of us seem to be between about 35 and 45 so born in the 70's basically. I think that's the most common age range of Vintage collectors. I suppose anyone born after about 1980 can't really have the childhood connection with the toys. I prob wouldn't collect if I didn't have some of my original toys.

 

[Hugoagogo]

I'm 40, I can't remember where I saw a new hope, I always thought it was at the cinema but that obviously wasn't the case. I do remember school trips to Fenwick's in Newcastle at Christmas time though, saving my pocket money in anticipation of the amount of figures they stocked. Can't class myself as a vintage collector yet as my collection consists of approximately zero.

 

[starshipriot]

I'm 25 and started my vintage collection in 1994 with a shoe box full of rotj vintage from a car boot my gran bought me. Wish I still had those original figures!

 

[stormcab]

I'm 25 and started my vintage collection in 1994 with a shoe box full of rotj vintage from a car boot my gran bought me. Wish I still had those original figures!

Bloody hell, 25! So you collect carded/boxed?

 

[Hooch]

I am 41 so do remember going into shops with my dad and seeing all the pegs full of figures. I was allowed just 1 if I was a good boy or I begged until my father got sick of hearing me
As I am from Australia I never got to see all the great Palitoy stuff or bins full of Trilogos. All we had was crap like Toltoys and Potf Yaks

 

[Stargeezer]

I am 33, so also one off the guys who missed the biggest part of SW in his childhood

 

[steve obi wan]

I am 42 , so remember visiting toy shops and looking at the ESB stuff , the 1st SW stuff especially 12 backs were a little too early for me . I also remember getting some bargain rotj stuff , speeder for 50p , a Jabba for £4

 

[x-pack]

39 and my first figures were Empire. I don't remember ANH cards at all and as such don't really identify with them.

It was actually my brother who started collecting first and he's 7 years younger than me. His collection was really just my old toys, donated around 1988. Things grew from there. He later lost the zeal for it and I became curator :wink:

 

[Sparky P]

I'm 40. Saw all of them at the cinema both on their own and as part of the double and triple bill.

Must have seen "Star Wars" on a re release as I have memories of the light sabre fight being on clapperboard. I must have been older than 2. My dad then asked me if I wanted to go and see the film and I said yes. Was then bought a Darth Vader from Asda and the rest is history. Whenever my father chastises me these days I remind him that it's his fault!

Countless memories of Hobby Toy and Zodiac Toys in Rochdale and Toy and Hobby and Toy Master in Oldham. Christmases, birthdays, achievements all dominated by Star Wars toys. Can remember SW line, ESB line and ROJ lines on toy shelves. Could never find a Death Star though. Gave me a wonderful childhood!

 

[inzaman]

I'm 42 and really only remember ROTJ. As much as i really like the other cardbacks (SW and ESB) i can't relate to them. I do remember my cousin having some ESB figures, and an ATAT but fo me it was all about ROTJ. I went to see ROTJ at the cinema and remember the 65 and 77 card backs being everywhere.
My Brother and myself did used to watch Star Wars on video every Sunday morning without fail for about a year, this must have been around 1981/2?
My parents told me that they spent hours trawling round various shop's at Christmas trying to find the specific figures i was after.
This is why i am currently collecting the 65 and 77 back ROTJ cards.

It's surprising to read the ages above as there are some younger than me the remember ESB figures etc. Thi shas me thinking what the heck was i doing during this stage of my life? I had a load of Matchbox cars and a binatone so maybe these are what occupied my time :?: :!: :!:

 

[Robstyley]

39 and my first figures were Empire. I don't remember ANH cards at all and as such don't really identify with them.

It was actually my brother who started collecting first and he's 7 years younger than me. His collection was really just my old toys, donated around 1988. Things grew from there. He later lost the zeal for it and I became curator :wink:

Exactly this for me, had Empire and Jedi cards/toys, don't remember SW packaging.

 

[jasdev999]

41 and still remember getting upset because C3P0 lost his arm and Jawa were dead and burning.

Collector only since 2012. Loving it.

 

[starshipriot]

I'm 25 and started my vintage collection in 1994 with a shoe box full of rotj vintage from a car boot my gran bought me. Wish I still had those original figures!

Bloody hell, 25! So you collect carded/boxed?

Haha I have a few boxed things, and recently tested the waters of carded and baggies, but so far just focusing on minty loose complete figures and vehicles, as carded is very pricey. I only have about ten last 17 to go now. Ive wondered a few times if I am the youngest person on this forum who collects only vintage.

 

[Twin30mm]

I'm 46, so I was lucky enough to catch the whole OT phenomenon.

Started collecting in 1978 with a Waddingtons puzzle and the infamous Topps cards.
By the time of Jedi, I was rapidly losing interest and gave away virtually everything. I think the Ewok embarrassment was the tipping point.

Remember browsing around Forbidden Plant in the late 80's and seeing a plastic dustbin full of discounted ROTJ figures.
My interest was piqued and I bought a couple, with the intention of returning the next day to buy the lot.

Of course, it never happened and I've regretted it ever since.
Oh, for a time machine.

 

[Daz B]

I am 45 and I remember going to see Star Wars on the first Saturday afternoon showing.
What I still remember to this day was the cinema being packed out and people sitting in the aisles and annoucement that it was a record attendance.
I also recall the 12 back figures in Asda with Luke and Ben being released with C3PO and Han Solo being the 2nd figures available.
I bought the 11 out of the first 12 deciding against buying Princes Leia has it was like having a doll.
My Jawa was a vinyl cape version and my mum said it was a waste of money. :roll: