It is the favorite toys that we remember from our childhood. Sometimes, it is the toys that were lost or broken that we remember the most. Maybe it's because the newness and excitement of the toy didn’t have a chance to wear off. Maybe we never had a chance to get bored with it or to outgrow it and move onto another one because it was lost or broken at the peak of its importance to us.

When I was a child I had a pink donkey stuffed animal. It was “accidentally” sent in a donation box to the nursery in the bowling alley. When my mom would go bowling and leave me in the nursery I always searched for that toy. I never played with anything else or anyone else. The staff realized that this toy had belonged to me. My mothers best friend arranged to get the toy back and give it to me as a birthday present. I was thrilled, overjoyed - I cannot  begin to describe how happy I felt. A short time later the Pink Donkey disappeared again, this time never to be found. I have my “theories” on what happened to it. I certainly wouldn’t consider myself a 'Vintage Toy Collector' but if I ever see another one like it, even after all these years, I would buy it in a heart beat. Unfortunately, the chance of finding such a generic stuffed animal are slim.

Many people who have purchased vintage toys and dolls from me are not collectors. They are replacing a lost toy from their childhood. With the internet the quest for some became easier, especially if their toy had a brand name. The replacement of an Ideal Tammy complete with “mommy made” wardrobe was only a dream of replacing until the internet came along and made it possible. Unlike a collector the toy or doll doesn’t have to be perfect or new in the box. “Well Loved” toys find a home with people who appreciate that another child loved that toy as much as they did. Many toys I receive on consignment are in “played with” and “well loved” condition. To a die hard collector they might not hold much value but to the people who have lost that toy they are priceless. I often receive stories when someone purchases one of these toys or dolls from me. A lady told me she was the youngest of 6 and the only girl. One day she found her brothers playing football with her Chatty Cathy doll’s head. Another lady grew up in a military family. In one of the moves the box containing all of her toys was lost. On one occasion I sold a toy to the heir of the toy makers. His Aunts owned a toy company and had no children of their own. As a child he played with their toys. As an adult he collects them.

“Well Loved” toys and dolls do find a place back into the hearts and lives of people who cherish them as much as they did when they were
kids.

Cindy Danielski - Senior Moving Specialists
http://www.rubylane.com/shops/seniormovingspecialists