PITTSBURGH - Ray Haradin's Old Toy Soldier Auctions operates in a world of miniature antiques, but prices on top lots were strictly big league in the company's May 1 auction featuring the collections of John Graham (part III), brothers Bill and Don Thompson, and other consignors.

"At $229,000 with 99 percent of the lots sold, it was, by far, our best sale to date," said Haradin. "I was thrilled with the result."

The 645-lot auction inventory featured an extraordinary toy soldier collection that was established in the 1940s by two brothers from Chicago, Don and (the late) Bill Thompson. When their family moved to California in 1947, the boys' carefully wrapped and boxed toys made the journey as well, but they would remain in quiet storage until 2009, when they were unwrapped and assessed for auction purposes.

PITTSBURGH - Collectors of toy soldiers and civilian figures know their marching orders - to report to their phone, fax machine or computer on or before May 1 for Old Toy Soldier Auctions' 655-lot sale of top-quality figures from revered and long-held collections. This major toy event is headlined by the Bill and Don Thompson collection and part III of the John Graham collection, with various other select properties from additional private consignors. LiveAuctioneers.com will facilitate the Internet live bidding and absentee online bidding for this sale.

Don Thompson and his late brother, Bill, hailed from Chicago and began collecting toy soldiers at a young age. In 1947, the Thompsons moved to California, and the expansive collection made the journey, as well. There on the West Coast, the cherished toys remained in storage until 2009, when they were unwrapped to be assessed for auction purposes.

"The figures had been exquisitely packed in cotton, and over half a century later, the condition is still just amazing," said Ray Haradin, owner of Old Toy Soldier Auctions. "While some of the sets may not be extraordinarily rare, they are the types of sets that were very popular with kids of their era, and the Thompson brothers took great care of them."

PITTSBURGH – Collectors of antique toy soldiers and figures have long known that good things come in small packages, and that ever-growing legion of enthusiasts helped push the total for Old Toy Soldier’s Nov. 21 auction to $193,000 – the company’s highest sale total to date. Leading the charge in the 644-lot sale was an army of figures from the German manufacturer Heyde (pronounced “High-dee”).  

“The Heyde lots really got the momentum going,” said Old Toy Soldier Auction USA’s owner, Ray Haradin. “There was a tremendous amount of interest in them, and in all the German-made figures, for that matter.”  

Haradin explained that collectors are attracted to Heyde figures because they are highly realistic and do not look mass produced. “Their sets are very fanciful. They tend to have 20 pieces in them, with all 20 being different, so they display very nicely. Also, Heyde made their figures in a larger scale than Britains did, so they tend to cross over more with toy and train collectors.” 

 PITTSBURGH - Ray Haradin's Old Toy Soldier Auctions will present a 640-lot selection of antique and vintage figures in an absentee, phone and Internet auction closing Nov. 21. The spotlight will focus on two important collections known to toy soldier enthusiasts worldwide: the late Dr. James "Doc" Wengert's collection of figures, vehicles and other scale-model toys related to military medicine; and the 30-year Britains collection of Deutschebank managing director Vincent C. Banker.

A third-generation physician, Doc Wengert was a U.S. Navy flight surgeon who served in Vietnam. Later in his career, Wengert changed his specialty to psychiatry and worked at V.A. hospitals in his native Nebraska. Throughout his life he harbored an interest in military medical figures - doctors, nurses, orderlies, stretcher bearers, wounded soldiers - and all the accoutrements a collector might desire in setting up a miniature M.A.S.H. unit, like operating tents, field kitchens, rescue dogs and emergency vehicles.

Doc Wengert was well respected among his fellow collectors. "He had a deep knowledge of the history of military medicine, and he never missed attending the Chicago Toy Soldier Show," said the event's co-promoter Steve Sommers. "He could spot a Red Cross on a made-in-Japan tin bus across a crowded flea market. No paint variation or casting difference in a figure was too subtle for Doc's eye."

LONDON – On Saturday, Sept. 12, 2009, promoter and toysoldier authority Norman Joplin will present his annual Old Toy Soldier andFigure Show at the Holiday Inn Bloomsbury, on Coram Street in London. Sponsoredby Old Toy Soldier magazine, the show isheld in the hotel’s combined Academy, Booker and Turner Rooms, and this yearwill feature 52 dealers selling antique and vintage toy soldiers and civilianfigures from 75 tables.

“There may be bigger toy soldier shows, but this event isthe only one that is a dateline show,” said Joplin. “The dealers sell onlyitems made during the 90-year period between the 1890s and 1980s, and that’swhat attracts buyers from all over the UK, Europe and even the United States.In all, there will be between fifty and seventy-five-thousand soldiers andfigures available for purchase.”

High-profile British dealers who will be taking part includeLynn Kenwood, Ged Haley, Bill Kingsman, and principals of The Toy Cupboard, abusiness known for its inventory of extremely rare civilian figures.Continental vendors include Francois Beaumont (France), Nils Fischer (Sweden)and Thomas Finck (Germany). American dealer, publisher and auction companypartner Ray Haradin will also be there, offering a fine selection of earlyproductions by Britains, Heyde and Mignot, as well as coveted “dime store”figures.

SHELTON, Conn. - From the black-on-black of a basic Ford Model T to the colorful regalia on hand-painted Britains soldiers, Lloyd Ralston Gallery's auction Sept. 12 covers the broad spectrum of the toy kingdom in more than 500 lots. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.
"The bulk of the vehicles are Fords, from Model T's to modern Mustangs," said Lloyd Ralston. "The seller delivered the collection himself all the way from California."

The auction will open at 10 a.m. Eastern with a tin windup Bing Ford Model T in its original box. Estimated at $300-$660, the 6 1/4-inch auto already has a handful of presale bids.

FINDLAY, Ohio – Old Barn Auction will conduct its annual toy auction Aug. 29 with a big selection of cast iron, including guns, banks and horse-drawn, pedal cars, pressed steel, Japanese tin toys, battery-operated, boxed plastic toys and Marx play sets. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

“There are several consignors, one with banks, another with guns and another with horse-drawn toys. We tried to make it diversified. There should be something for everybody, said Jan Sorgenfrei of Old Barn Auction.

Sorgenfrei named a scarce Keyser & Rex Organ Grinder and Dancing Bear bank and a J. & E. Stevens U.S. still bank as being the most desirable of the cast-iron banks.

PITTSBURGH – Ray Haradin’s Toys of Yesteryear has announced the availability of the new 76-page fixed-price sales catalog featuring Part II of the esteemed John Graham Collection of Britains and other antique and vintage miniature figures.

The full-color catalog features an extensive selection of 18th- and 19th-century military and civilian figures by the premier manufacturer W. Britain & Sons and several other companies whose miniature figures, toys and boxed sets are in great demand with today’s collectors. Spanish and French productions are included in the John Graham Collection, including a number of rarities by Mignot.

PITTSBURGH - Bidders were competitive to the end during Old Toy Soldier Auctions' May 16 absentee and Internet auction, spending a total of $169,900 and claiming 99.9 percent of the lots offered. All prices quoted include an 18 percent buyer's premium.