LOST TOY SHOPS

 These are in my foto archive. I must have saved them ages ago from somewhere online.

This old toy shop is Jeans in Lowestoft.

and this is an old Woolworths window display.

See anything you recognise?

THAT NIGHTMARE SCENARIO

There are a few things in a collector's life which can be classified as a nightmare. One is dithering about a car boot/ garage sale item and going back later only to find its gone. Another is forgetting to bid on Ebay for something you really want.

Perhaps, though, what happened to me today is THE nightmare for the collector.

A workmate said to me: "I'm clearing out the garage at the mo"

I said " Wow, are there any toys in there?"

Workmate "Yes, I found a load of old cars, some of them boxed"

Me "Really! Wow! Can you bring them in for me to look at?"

Workmate "No, I can't. I've thrown them all in the skip!"

Me " That's OK. Just get them out if you can. They might be worth something"

Workmate "Too late, sorry, the skip's been emptied!"

me "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh"

All I can think about now are the boxed die-casts that have gone to landfill. What were they? Oh My God!

Has this ever happened to you readers?

A DERELICT HOME FULL OF TOYS

I'm unsure what I think about urban explorers. I can certainly see the attraction of exploring abandoned buildings but at the same time I'm sheepish about the invasive nature of it all. 

Not too far from Moonbase is a well-visited and notorious derelict home known as the Doctor's House in Doncaster, which has attracted no end of curious invaders. I found at least 8 videos online on the place just looking now, its mixture of rusting cars and tragic backstory proving irresistible to explorers.

The collector in me needs to rummage. I understand that. I'm just not sure about going into abandoned homes. I'm not sure I would want to do it.

Having said that I have done it once. I'm pretty sure because of the position of the abandoned building thousands of tourists had as well. It was abandoned artist's house on a remote shore. It was exposed to the elements and salted gusts. That was in the early 1990's on the island of Mull.

Anyways, there are thousands of reports from modern urban explorers online and here's just one from Freaktography about a old residence full of old toys. No idea where it is. Quite sad to see really.

Tell us what you think readers.

https://www.atchuup.com/freaktography-abandoned-house/

THE FRANK BEECH TOY SHOP

I think I blogged something about this at the time in 2015 but I've just browsed the pictures again so here goes once more, the treasures of the Frank Beech abandoned toy shop.

This is Iain Duff's amazing report on his blog back in the day. Make sure you check out part 2 as well. The wealth of vintage toys in this derelict shop is simply eye-watering! It will all have been sold off by now.

https://iainduff.wordpress.com/2015/04/03/inside-an-abandoned-toy-shop-part-1/

Let us know what you would have liked from this Aladdin's Cave!

There's even some Aurora Prehistoric Scenes stuffed away and stacks of Kenner Star Wars carded figures! Couldn't see many space toys though. Maybe you can.

ABANDONED HOUSE RAIDING: WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT?

I'm not entirely sure what to make of abandoned house visits. 

It's probably an ancient human calling and has been going on for centuries I bet.

It seems like trespassing though.

I am nevertheless fascinated by it which is odd.

I've even reported on an abandoned home near Moonbase - the Doctor's House, but the backstory was really quite tragic, as no doubt many of these places are.

Here's a clip of some young people on You Tube walking through an abandoned house full of old books and board games. What do you make of this pastime readers?

MOON SCRAP

As we build up to July 20th and the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing UK TV and radio is positively bristling with lunar programmes.

With the moon so firmly on our minds I was fascinated by this list I came across on Wiki, the artificial objects to be found on the lunar surface. I was amazed how much there is!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_artificial_objects_on_the_Moon

For Tri-ang SpaceX fans there's a whole flotilla of Lunar Orbiters up there!

What do you think readers?

For me the most poignant object on the list and one new to me has to be the Fallen Astronaut, a small statuette left secretly by the Apollo 15's David Scott.

Its next to a commemorative plaque of the names of the fallen. 

The statuette is very simple and reminds me of a toy robot I had as a kid. For kids, stargazers, baby boomers and above all the fallen astronauts from the US and USSR it lies there in the dust staring at the sun waiting for Mankind's shadow to fall across it once more.

This is NASA's wonderful picture on Wiki.

Did you know about this statuette readers?

how long can tonka toys last?

Whenever I visit a junk shop there's always a Tonka truck.

Usually they are rusty but still very solid.

Often its the big tipper wagon for some reason.

The bulldozers and cranes seem to be languishing in sandpits.

Just how long can these toys last? A few hundred years?

Maybe one day they'll be the only toys left on the surface if they can survive a nuclear blast.

Postscript:

New Jersey reader Brian has supplied me with this atmospheric Tonka shot!

This one has been sitting in an abandoned lot since I moved in next door 15 years ago. These newer ones are only metal frame with plastic body.

Brian.

TONY K: PHOTOGRAPHS OF DERELICTION

Hi Woodsy

            Hope you're keeping well. I just read your article, Dreamland Dereliction. 

I'm sorry I don't have pix of abandoned amusement parks. Sadly there are none around here. 

 However, I do have snaps of urban dereliction and decay. I've always been captivated by old derelict buildings, often seeing an odd beauty amongst the rust and rubble. 

I've included some pix of my own. You're welcome to use any of them to illustrate your article if you wish. 

All the best, Tony K

ABANDONED TOYS: DISCARDED DREAMS

Holley High School, New York State, USA

Westminster, Texas, USA

Frank Beech Toy Shop, Holywell, North Wales, UK

[picture: Steve Wainwright]

To see the incredible story of what was found inside this abandoned toy store then read Iain Duff's incredible photo-story. Browsing the pictures I tried to find some Project SWORD and SpaceX - even the fabled Moon Base Set - but no joy. Maybe you'll have better luck! It is gobsmacking though! Tell us what you think!