You should know by now that I love the toys, especially older ones. One of the greatest toys of the ages, back in the day before the incredible stuff we have now, was the old Electric Football games...you know, where you line up your offense against the opponents defense, put a little fuzzy ball in the hands of a runner or QB (for that impossible to complete pass), then you flip the switch and all the players vibrate. The goal is to get your guy untouched to the end zone. If you want to read up on the history of electric football, here's a great site...from Tudor, to Gotham, to Coleco and Miggle, all successful and competitive manufacturers of this legendary game: http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Gym/2922/history2.htm
I bought the circa 1970 Gotham Pressed Steel, Dick Butkus 2 Platoon football, model 890. The game used a masonite magnetic board, as opposed to the metal boards that followed. It has a Dick Butkus picture likeness at mid-field and the original game came with a free 8x10 autographed photo of Butkus. Of course, by the time I located this game, the photo was long gone. The gameboard itself is a little warped, but it works fine. It's missing 4 players and a goal post, but that's not why I bought it anyway.
Continuing with the theme of electric football, there are a few years where the players that were manufactured became quite collectible. Pictured below are two of the most famous sets made in the industry...the '67 Big Men (pictured in home blue) and the '69 Hog Legs in white, both made by Tudor.
The best way for me to describe these pieces would be to quote an Ebay review by a user named capanther. He states the following: The most sought after Tudor Electric football figures are : 1967 BIGMEN , made in HONG KONG these players have Hong Kong engraved on the bottom side of each player. They are a little larger than the other figures. They have black shoes and are a little over an inch high. BIGMEN still sell for as much as 50.00 to 3 or 400.00 per 11 man team. The next most sought after TUDOR figures are known as 1969 HOGLEGS . HOGLEG players are smaller than BIGMEN and only 4 players are marked Hong Kong on the bottom of their base. HOGLEGS sell anywhere from 10.00 to 150.00 per team. The next type of TUDOR players came out in 1970 . These were called CHICKENLEGS. CHICKEN LEGS were still NFL teams with black shoes, but none have the Hong Kong marking. CHICKENLEGS still sell for 10.00 to about 30.00 depending on the team. In the mid 70’s Tudor switched production to Haiti and the Haiti figures are identified by 2 little burs on each side of the bottom of their bases. Haiti figures and Hong Kong CHICKENLEGS still pull about the same amount value wise. After Haiti production. Figures went to white shoes and basically have a value of 3 to 7.00 per team.
People who don't know are always trying to sell custom made electric football players that are manufactured by Wilton in 1974. I just recently bought a Gale Sayers to go along with a Jack Concannon that I already own. THESE ARE NOT ELECTRIC FOOTBALL PLAYERS! They are cake toppers. LOL. The Wilton company makes cake supplies. It's still a great little collectible for me.
Bought me a 1972 Dick Butkus cylinder puzzle, too...open and used, but not missing any pieces.
There was a Chicago Bears uniform made for The Johnny Hero doll in the early 60's and was repackaged in 1968 as an Olympic Hero uniform. That doesn't make sense to me, but I guess the product sold better as it was an Olympic year. My doll uniform is still in it's original package and i have seen a value of $100.00 for it.
I added a 1970's plastic bobblehead with freckles on his face. I had never seen that one before. Also, a 4 inch and 5 1/2 inch dolls made by Dakin in 1989. I think they are what was referred to as "Bendies", but I can't find any other information on them. A super great find was a 1983 PVC Huddles mascot figurine. Even though it is only 2 inches tall, it is a highly sought out collectible. I have seen them go for $30.00. Mine is extremely rare, as it is NIP...New In Package.
A Russ Berrie 12 inch doll, a Russ Berrie vinyl squirt gun (squeeze the little bear's tummy and he spits on somebody) and a 2 inch, Russ Berrie plastic stamper...I can now stamp a Chicago Bears "C" on all of my important documents.
There are times when I really want to start collecting watches, and there are other times that I tell myself "NO!". There are way too many out there and many are pricey. Well, I couldn't resist at $1.99...here's a relic watch. I think they might have retailed at $19.99 initially, if it's the watch I think it is.
I bought the next 4 pieces for $25.00 from a stupid college kid who was selling off what Grandma and Grandpa had been giving him for years...probably for beer money...Danbury Mint figurines of Santa and Mrs. Claus (nice) and a die cast 1936 Delivery Van made by Ertl that was only available at the 1995 National Sports Collector's Convention, and finally an old style die cast mini helmet with the "white C".
and what's a collection without a few more Urlacher dolls...a "Gladiator" doll made by Upper Deck in 2007, and a 5 piece nesting doll set.
One can NEVER have enough collectibles from the greatest football player ever. I picked up a few rarities as well as a couple of oddities. The Art of Sport figurines, limited to 250, are some of the nicest figures ever made. The one I found was the autographed version without the autograph...If you look at the figure it has a history of breaking high on the ankle that rests on the base. I don't know if I broke it taking it out of the box, or it was already that way. I paid far less that the $300.00 and higher value, so I just glued it carefully and moved on. It displays nicely.
Check it out. The original Walter Payton Roos shoes/cleats....BRAND NEW and in MY size...the Payton facsimilie autograph on the heel, the 34s on the tongues and backs and the velcro/zipper pocket under the Roos logo. I will never wear them (Well, one can NEVER say never - certainly I must try them on - right?)!
