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Toy collectors converge on Ponoka Legion during sale

Toys of all sizes, and prices, were on display at the Ponoka Legion April 7
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This metal Allied Van Lines truck, complete with trailer, was among the many toys on display April 7 at the Ponoka Legion. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

Toy collectors of all ages enjoyed the many items on display and sale at the Ponoka Legion.

Held April 7, the toy sale is a showcase for serious collectors of the varieties of car, truck, tractor and die cast metal toys. Organized by Karl Holben, the event is meant to give collectors a chance to show off their massive collections, tell stories fo the hunt, as well as sell to other collectors.

They accept any collectors of toys in the 1:64th size, or construction toys such as Caterpillar toys in 1:50th size.

Collector Frank Douglas, from Thorsby, was also there to show off a small piece of his large toy truck and trailer collection. He doesn’t sell any of his items, which he started collecting in 1988.

The 78-year-old collector is like a kid in a candy store when talking about his collection, which started with an HO train. “I had train set and I wanted a few tractors to put on there,” Douglas.

Some of those trucks ended up not fitting the train so they went on display on a shelf and it just picked up from there.

He’s got what he calls factory semi tractors (290 pieces), construction toys (200), farm tractors (300) in 1:64th, farm equipment (185) and there’s more. On top of the collection, he also makes his own toys like trailers or he’ll change the trucks.

What makes a good piece? “A piece I don’t have,” said Douglas.

“Sometimes it just amounts to a piece that just catches your eye,” added Holben.

He’s in his early 40s and he’s been collecting since he was five. He had a few pieces on the table that were for sale for the simple reason that they were duplicates.

What he enjoys the most is the hunt for some toys. How many has he amassed over the years? More than 8,200.

Holben has a room, 10 by 14 feet that is wall to wall with toys.

For Holben and the other collectors collecting is something that keeps them on the hunt for new or different toy cars, or tractors or whatever fits the mould of their collection.

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Toy seller and collector Darryl Minhinnet of Red Deer, shows off a special collector’s item Cat bulldozer at 1:50 scale. Here other collectors Ken Dubuc and George Ward consider the buying price. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye