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These cause problems…
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🎙️ Welcome to the Toy Federation Podcast Channel! 🎙️
Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of vintage toys on our weekly podcast series. At Toy Federation, we're not just a store; we're passionate collectors, historians, and enthusiasts of all things toys. In each episode, our knowledgeable staff members gather to discuss various topics ranging from the rarest finds to the most elusive toy lines in history.
In this week's episode, we're diving deep into the realm of collectibles to explore the hardest toys and toy lines to get your hands on. From limited edition releases to discontinued favorites, we'll explore the challenges collectors face when hunting down these prized possessions.
Our expert panel will share their insights, experiences, and tips for navigating the competitive world of toy collecting. Whether you're a seasoned collector or just starting your journey, you won't want to miss this episode packed with valuable information and entertaining anecdotes.
Tune in to discover:
🔍 Insider secrets on tracking down rare toys
🚀 Stories behind the creation and discontinuation of iconic toy lines
💡 Tips for identifying authentic collectibles and avoiding scams
🔥 The thrill of the hunt and the joy of adding a coveted piece to your collection
Plus, we'll be answering your burning questions and engaging with our audience throughout the episode. So, don't forget to leave your comments, share your own collecting experiences, and join the conversation!
Whether you're nostalgic for your favorite childhood toys or seeking to expand your collection, the Toy Federation Podcast is your ultimate destination for all things vintage toys. Subscribe now and hit the notification bell to stay updated on our latest episodes, interviews with special guests, and exclusive behind-the-scenes content.
Join us on this exciting journey through toy history, and let's explore the world of vintage toys together. Remember, at Toy Federation, every toy tells a story!
#ToyFederation #VintageToys #ToyCollecting #ToyHunting #Podcast #ToyHistory #Collectibles #Nostalgia

[@ToyFederationPodcastchannel]

What do you think the hardest toy to get is?

[@megatronxmatt]

Silverhawks. Most definitely

[@Grindhead_Jim]

The hardest toy to get is usually the one you want the most. 🤣

[@user-zd857]

It took me a little over a year but I have a complete loose 1988 TMNT 10 back including racks. It took a while to get a no strip April and those little ninja stars were a b*tch to find. lol Jordan

[@samwats5848]

after tongueasaurus, super powers cyborg & freeze, alien 1979, 9 of last 17..

[@George-de6hd]

89 Christmas was Batman Christmas got the movie on vhs , the batwing, the batcave the joker , Batman , bob the goon bat man mugs , shirts , matchbox cars , trading cards , the music soundtrack on tape cassette, just everything related to that movie and just Batman in general I got it that Christmas

[@MJDross]

I recommend you guys put a big screen tv in the background and bring up images or videos of some things you guys are talking about.

[@klazze990]

But then u take away some small talks and some thinking :)

[@RickRottman]

My parents put stuff under the tree as soon as they bought it. I would measure my presents and then measure toys at the store I wanted.

[@ExposedBen]

Lies.

[@joelorozco]

Hell yes! I did this with mask condor! Took my mom’s cloth tape measure to Sears during an outing and got my specs.

[@RickRottman]

@@joelorozco lol. That's what I did too. I took cloth measure tape out of the junk drawer and measured the toys I wanted at Gemco. I then measured the presents under the tree. I've told this story to friends and they ask why I didn't just peal the corner up on the wrapping and take a peek. First of all, my mother was an artist with gift wrap. If I did anything like that, she would notice. Secondly, that would be cheating. Measuring boxes didn't feel like cheating.

[@joelorozco]

@@RickRottman absolutely! Mom’s wrapping was masterful, I could never replicate without getting busted.

[@HoonAgain]

Genius. Mine had a hiding spot that only I knew about. They were usually already wrapped so my detective skills were always tested.

[@jara8184]

Another Toy Federation Podcast, another hour well spent.

[@BetoMSea]

I don't even collect vintage toys and I listen because you guys make this interesting. Good job guys

[@ToyFederationPodcastchannel]

That’s the best comment!

[@CarbonScoring]

I love y'all just sitting and remembering! The Christmas stories are great!

[@thomaswilburn6217]

Funny you mention Sears, mine was Storm Shadow V1 and the ONLY tine I had a chance to get it I was with my dad and I begged and begged him to get it, take it out of my allowance, take double my allowance anything. he would not get it for me. This is probably my biggest bad toy memory which in the grans scheme I have had a good life if this is the worst memory. I have it now, cost me $75 as opposed to the $3 it would have cost...Thanks a lot Dad :)

[@JM-jv6cb]

lol same memory with my mom for storm shadow. Look at the joes every time I went to the grocery store usually no big deal but there it was mint on card a perfect original storm shadow. I through the biggest embarrassment of a fit. And I got it lol you should have not given up on your dad lol

[@tmh1759]

Enjoying this so much! On a weekday night, getting my drink, feeling like I'm the fourth around the table reminiscing with friends. Good times.

[@joelsallee2046]

Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors is one of my obscure lines. ..... and StarCom

[@davidliskey3553]

I could never find Storm Shadow as a kid, Mom drove me everywhere. I decided to write Hasbro and asked if i could get him direct. They wrote me back and said he was $5. ($3 at the store then) they sent it to me 3 day mail, i was so happy

[@minimalchill]

I had one Christmas where I opened presents ahead of time. I was a teenager too 😂 🤦‍♂️ I knew I got 3 games and I was too excited to see what they were. Metal Gear Solid 2, WWF Smackdown Just Bring It, & Dave Mirra 2. It was an awesome Christmas.

[@S-T-E-V-E]

I knew this kid growing up his Dad was the Director of a power company and he had everything, every games console including the Neo Geo, every toy, every Football (Soccer) kit, he was known for being spoiled and a show off!

[@andyholt7038]

That OG 1984 or 1985 Storm Shadow was my grail and I had to ask for him for Christmas in some odd set of joes and cobra that my moms got thru a mail order Spiegel catalog. I kept looking for him for a long time after I got mine and still never saw him organically out in the wild.

[@brianrvd]

I secretly had my Snow Cat half built in the box before mom got it wrapped for Christmas.

[@megomatt7770]

Loved this episode! So many nostalgia boxes checked! Ryan and I basically lived the same childhood! Do they still make Trapper Keepers? The toy I wanted as a kid but never had was the Six Million Dollar Man. It's great to be an adult! I have the whole line boxed now!!

[@jeffjones9729]

I don’t collect, but I had all these toys as a kid. I’m 45 and perfectly aged for all the good toys. I love the channel and videos just for the nostalgia. Great job with the videos and podcast guys. Thanks for reminding me or things like Tigersharks and Silverhawks.

[@darthlobo1213]

My favorite Christmas was getting the TMNT Technodrome and the Blimp! And Thundercars lair!

[@TAKTAK_Toys]

It’s interesting to know Silverhawks is a rarer line to collect - I imagine Galaxy Rangers is probably another one - that was one I always wanted to see the action figures of

[@sullyway51]

I was a kid of the 60s. For me it was the Sears, J. C. Penneys, and Montgomery Wards Christmas catalogs.

[@Arkuz8248]

It took me over 10 years to find TF Pretenders Icepick's weapon...

[@Julusnc]

I remember the J. C. Penny's Christmas catalog!

[@jeremyjacobs4991]

I sold a great collection of Visionaries from my childhood recently. Just didn’t need to keep it with all of the other stuff I had. I had the whole collection mostly intact. All the holograms were intact. All the vehicles. Happy it went to someone who loved Visionaries. I would love you to share the history of Toy Federation and how you came to opening the store. Biggest learnings along the way.

[@hang10wannabe]

OMG! Knickerbocker Spiderman doll! I had one of those with velcro and his feet and hands eventually ripped off from playing with it too much... now I know what it is thanks to this podcast! Memory unlocked!

[@Amh10780]

Summer of 86 I went to visit my grandparents in Michigan and the kid next door had all the transformers, he had all the movie figures,everything star wars as well and everything was put back in the box after and he accounted for every weapon and piece. When the toys that made us came out on Netflix I reached out to him on Facebook and he said his mother sold everything at a garage sale while he was in college. Everything was still complete and in box

[@andystandys]

Classic story!

[@darthsmoker420]

I know there's at least one thundercats that's hard to get. I found the lunar lasher mum ra at a pawn shop for less than $10. I sold it for much more than that. I've never seen one for sell since. It's been about 2 years ago that I found it.

[@deakniles7759]

I got the Death Star playset for Christmas and a bunch of other star wars toys probably the best Christmas I ever had as a kid.

[@brettglenn9328]

My mom would wrap the gifts as she would get them, hide them in her closet. I was such a little sneaky sh!t I would use a razor blade to slice along the seam of the tape, see what figures I was getting, then I'd use another piece of tape and match it over perfectly to where it looked like it had never been opened. Then I would pretend to be surprised on Christmas morning. My mom was crushed when she found out that I knew it all years later when I told her what a devious little bastard I had been. I just had to know what I had gotten.....could not wait until Christmas morning.

[@spitt0110]

Battle Beasts... Yeah, I would love to see those again.

[@bryceday7437]

Excellent episode ! Such nostalgia. Born in 1980 my 1st Joe I remember getting was Viper v1. Always wanted firefly v1 as a kid, but didn't get one till 25ish years later.

[@cg6684]

So true! Proud of my near complete battle beast collection. The only thing I'm missing is a handful of weapons.

[@plasticmodelmojo]

Enjoyed the conversation about how the department store toy sections used to be. I have fond memories of chasing the original Star Wars line as a kid at K-mart, SupeRx Drugs, & Hills.

[@billstreet39]

Does anybody remember The Whites Toy Guide…..I use to be one of the contributors that ranked the top ten toys of the month…..The payment for that was a free subscription for years until they went out of business…

[@aarghmyoptics]

Where does Starcom come into this conversation? I've not watched EVERY one of you videos but I have watched a lot and I haven't seen it in the shop or heard mention if it once! Is it so rare over there (I'm un the UK) that you don't get any in? Id love to hear you guys talk about or pick over a tote of it. As for hardest toy to get? Well the Shadow Upriser springs to mind. Love the channel keep up the good work!

[@pixamite1]

Dudes I'm loving these discussions about cool toy's from our past. My early kid day's were in the early 60's into the 70's. I had so many super cool toys back then. Ironically most of the kind of stuff we played in that era would be politically uncorrect now Lol. So sad! Anyway, found your channel a couple days ago. Subbed today👍🏼

[@James_Wade]

If you guys recorded this podcast as a live stream, man that would be fire, people could interact, give discussion ideas, that would be epic. I’m actually watching right now wanting to add to your discussion. Good shit here boys!

[@DavidWalraven-kx1ly]

The Stan Solo Star Wars stuff is super cool. Why can’t big companies get it right nowadays?

[@ryanratcliff2548]

I’m 50 years old. In my lifetime I’ve had/owned/sold and/or purchased again every Transformers figure except Megatron. I’ve never owned a Megatron original or knock off in my life. Could never find one as a child and as an adult they are too expensive. Love your show

[@P1Gman]

I find the gen 2 Megatron (green tank version) pretty often. I try and snag everyone I see.

[@chexnfx7161]

How much is the Megatron? Several thousand now?

[@artwithmichael5547]

One Christmas, me and my twin brother came down to the millennium falcon, y wing, tie interceptor, slave 1 and a bunch of small ships. All second hand from a shop across the road. We knew exactly where they were from and exactly how much they cost and we couldn’t have been more happy.

[@waynewhitman4492]

This was so cool thanks guys!!!!

[@Teksetta]

Great episode all. For me, trying to find a mail away figure that came with a letter of authenticity is the hardest find and my current grail. Each figure had a numbered foot that matched the letter that came with. Wouldn't mind seeing Exo Squad brought back, but there are tons of other vendors who are coming up with great interpretations of the line like Acid Rain or Joy Toy.

[@Kael1413]

I never see Dinoriders anywhere.

[@flywheels]

Battle Beasts spiritual successor was a line called Beast Saga, made by Takara. They kept the similar theme, but a dice game was integrated into the figures in place of the old rub symbols.

[@chris2004mvp]

Being an 82 kid I thought I was old but hearing Ryan talking about being in the movies seeing a trailer for empire makes me feel better I’m not that old lol

[@jeffmcpeek2526]

Mail-away figures had the magic !

[@elcoyote9410]

Yup. I remember getting my invisible Predator figure in the mail in the 90s

[@fedsen]

My wallet would hate it, but I'd love to see Mask get a new release. I agree that would be at the top of my list too.

[@DECEPTICONUK]

Sg1, battlebeasts, battlestar and visionarys are all hard to complete over here in the uk. (Unless you are willing to pay ridiculous prices online). Great vid as always, keep up the good work.

[@tintruong7776]

Like everyone - I got all amped up for the 89 Batman movie. About six months before the movie came out - I bought a copy of 'Starlog' magazine that had Keaton Batman on the cover. On the back inside cover was a full-page ad with a clip-out mail-in order form for about 50 licensed Batman items (many tied to the movie). I was working all that summer saving for a car, but decided to put some of that good earned money into Batman. The order form had checkboxes for each item. I checked every box. Came out to be about $150 if I remember correctly. Had to give my sister the money so she could write me a check. Movie comes out - LOVED it. I come home one day and there's a big box waiting for me. With a Bat Logo on the side. OH, shit. I remember thinking: "They fit all of those things in this?". Turns out - about 1/3 of the items offered before the movie came out - never made it to production. Most of the DC Comics Batman licensed items were there. But almost all of the movie Batman items were cancelled. I was so disappointed because they offered a set of "Deluxe Format" movie Joke and Batman 1/6 figures. The picture looked amazing. Cancelled. The box contained a note of apology (for the cancelled items) - and a refund check. The thing that really sucks is that I discovered months later that the "cancelled" 1/6 figures DID get released. But you could only get it through the WB Store. That's why they were cancelled from my order. By the time I found out - they were sold out.

[@jessegarcia6909]

The one Christmas I distinctly remember is when my Dad got me Megatron, Soundwave and Bumblebee. Really would like to get those for the collection. I have reissues, but not original G1.

[@Maz08]

Kenner super powers tower of darkness was a piece that was depicted but never made and drove me nuts as a kid thinking I could find it. Cyborg as a low run, was impossible as well. And when kaybee toy store was still in business, seeing rows of steppenwolfs and desaads on the pegs on clearance for a dollar. This was in ‘86 and those two now, are so hard to find on eBay or elsewhere for sale. If I only knew back then. God!

[@Wezt334]

The toy I always wanted and took forever to get as a kid was the light up Eye of Thundera Sword of Omens. I saw it in the store one day, begged and pleaded, did every chore I could around the house and then about 4 months later my grandpa took me out to go fishing and on the way home bought me the sword. I took it everywhere I went

[@ToyFederationPodcastchannel]

What a great story!

[@gregmartinez6387]

The MASK Volcano Top clear window, cant find it !!

[@spitt0110]

after just watching the re-release of star wars episode 1, we were talking the toys and I remember going to walmart and seeing full long aisles full of star wars toys and several feet of figures. just packed full. even the aisle being gated off days before the street date wondering what was behind it and to see the figure for the first time.

[@brettsbuilds2064]

just found u guys and totaly enjoy ur chats keep upp the good work !

[@MikeRay1978]

Mom got us a used Sega Genesis for Christmas one year. My three brothers and I unwrapped and played that thing and rewrapped it for weeks lol.

[@ynaldomantilla4880]

We definitely need M.A.S.K back will for sure be a hit same scale to as the vintage good stuff guys 💯🔥🦾🦾

[@craigdvance]

first time watching. I found the existential questions about nostalgia and around it really fascinating. Thanks!

[@revandesigns]

I still have my 1994-1995 marvel cards, I will bring them in to show them off lol

[@hdaviddavis7213]

Bionic 6 was a favorite of mine - hard to get

[@billpaulk1058]

Yes, definitely the Death Star - got in 1979 for Christmas. I was beyond excited!

[@UberBman]

I’m sure one or more of you will remember the spider or octopus silicone toys that came in Frosted Flakes or one of those Kellogg brand of cereal. You’d throw them at a wall and because they were sticky they’d slink down the wall like they were alive. Over time they’d stop working because they’d get dirty and even with rinsing they’d wouldn’t work as well. Those I’d like to turn up in a shop someday.

[@michaelgambuto4693]

I love this podcast! The Flag was unobtainanium. The size, the price, and the level of poor parental financial decision making were too many factors working against me.

[@darrenhommell3414]

yall are love for real!!!!

[@TheWickedOne5150]

My brother was the open before Christmas guy. One year remote control cars. We open them Christmas morning and my mom knew there should have been batteries, but they were already installed in the car and remote. All she said was she guessed Santa installed them. of course since he was my brother we were both guilty but she never took it further. Never knew what to think about that one.

[@user-ns7sh6ln2x]

These are some great stories guy's..thanks

[@MikeJones-xd3qp]

Right now, the toy hardest for me to get is Breakdown (Legacy). Never once saw it on the shelf.

[@hunterdeardurff4386]

Your staff is getting more talkative 🤗 they are always shy in the videos.

[@paxo666]

My 2 best christmas's I got Superted and Dogtanian one year, then the year ninja turtles was mental in UK (5am cues at Toys'R'Us etc) i got Leonardo and Raphael never thought id get any, we even got bootleg Mike and Donny a couple of weeks later! Man i was a happy boy!

[@2hugebros241]

One of my coolest present my wife got me a few years back was a Evil Knevil stunt cycle from the 70s it was my childhood and to see it again in its original box sealed was like Christmas all over again as a 7yr old

[@ix8750]

That's a fun wife, cheers mate.

[@revandesigns]

The omega red is still my favorite to find in the wild and not buy online

[@J.dioramas]

Thanks bros for the show, here's my hardest figure to find anniversary Sgt slaughter

[@Seraphim2611]

Dino riders always my favourite. I always wanted the T rex but it never came to fruition.

[@jamespilon8440]

Check out creative beasts studios and their cyberzoiac line. I think it will bring back your child hood

[@ethompson9107]

Love the podcast! When you guys were talking about Christmas, it made me think of my favorite Christmas morning ever, and that was 1986. I woke up to getting the Night Raven and Cobra Terror Drome from "santa". I'll never forget that one. Still a Joe fan to this day. I only collect Classified now but still love seeing the old vintage collections and hearing the stories.

[@jamesbrooks5391]

For some reason I always had trouble finding TMNT Wave 1 April in stores, as well the Toy Biz Marvel Super Heroes Daredevil. I never saw either on the peg for some reason.

[@palexanderrice]

The magic of not knowing was so fantastic that I now make a crazy amazon list of just random things that I won’t buy for myself. So now for Christmas, I don’t know what I’m getting.

[@dmac619]

Last year in canada, Toys R us and Amazon actually released Christmas catalogues similar to the old Sears wish books. It was great as my daughter got to go through it and circle things she wanted, like I use to do back in the day

[@andystandys]

My personal Christmas morning story that I'll never forget: It was either 1980 or 1981, I wanted an X-Wing fighter. The full-sized, plastic version, with a Luke Skywalker action figure. This would be my "feature" gift from Santa, that year, in my mind. I was 6 or 7 years old. I didn't get it, and i was devastated. What I got, instead, was the smaller, die-cast *Y-Wing* fighter. The one that has the little red bomb that drops from the bottom. I still own that die-cast ship, to this day. I'll never know, for sure, why I got the smaller, cheaper toy. Either my mom couldn't find the full-sized X-Wing fighter when she went to go buy it, and had to settle, or - and I think this is more likely - she didn't know the difference, or know exactly what I *really* wanted, and just picked up the first thing that looked close to an "X-Wing Fighter" when she got to the store. I actually still have the newspaper clipping of the letter I wrote to Santa asking for the X-Wing. Our local newspaper used to print kids' letters to Santa every year, and mom saved it.

[@mikemulligan5731]

I asked for an X-Wing for Christmas around the same time and got a Mini's Hoth playset instead. They were sold out by the time my parents went shopping, I was told. Mom would want to put in our order for the wish-books earlier after that, which was both good and bad, because you couldn't change your mind after the order went in.

[@andystandys]

@@mikemulligan5731 Very interesting! I'm glad I wasn't totally alone on that disappointment! 😜

[@jamesdean9957]

The Tailspin Seaduck! I still can’t find one complete.

[@canutorodriquez4844]

This was such a good episode! It really made me reminisce playing He Man, X Men, Thundercats, GI Joe, Centurions, Visionaries, TMNT, Batman, and Transformers with my brother and my cousins. My brother passed almost 12 years ago so a lot of the stuff I try to collect now are toys/shoes/jerseys he used to have. I’d like to come to SC one day to look around y’all’s store.

[@planetwhalebone]

The Super Naturals playset is the Tomb of Doom

[@McLongSausage]

Did you know that the term Storm Troopers was originally used to describe Canadian Soldiers in WW1 (They were all simply, “Tommies.” That changed after the Battle of the Somme, when German troops, astonished by the bravery and the speed of the Canadians, started calling them Sturmtruppen (storm troopers).)

[@Draxxon_MK]

I needed 1 HTF California Raisin (A.C.) to complete my collection. I got it from Toy Federation. Thanx Guys!

[@waskerbasket9601]

I wanted a red and blue secret wars spider-man. Took me 40 years and bought two for 5 bucks.

[@netacid11]

I love spending an hour or so in my office messing with my shelf collections while listening to this.

[@luker5674]

I’m with Andy as well, the Mobile Command Centre was my best Christmas memory. I crept out of bed after my parents went to bed - then my older brother got home from the pub and caught me tampering with the Mobile Command Centre box 😂

[@mammyrammer4209]

I can absolutely relate to a lot of things you guys are talking about. I have to mention the Christmas that I got the Marx Iwo Jima mountain play set,it's an amazing set.I didn't get a lot of toys through out the year,but Christmas and birthdays were awesome.

[@catcherinthesky4106]

ASMR Podcast of the Year.

[@ericfromphoenix3566]

Another great discussion. Death Star play set was my favorite Christmas present ever. Not even close. We had so much fun playing with this toy. We had wood blocks and built additional sections of the Death Star. So much fun!

[@markgrant1302]

There is a toy line that did dukes of hazard, ATeam, DC, Marvel, ( yes DC and Marvel lines together, Planet of the Apes, Star Trek, Starsky and Hutch, Welcome back Kotter, Happy Days,Kiss... And it was Mego... Mego was the toy king of the world bar none before Star wars and Kenner changed everything.. I thought for sure you had talked about the playsets, maybe not...I know you've had the kiss dolls on this channel, understandably you were a little too young for the mego craze... But in the 70s they were the Titans of toys...

[@magaras]

My grandparents went to 4 states to find us our 89 batman.

[@dankjeenyus]

MOC Toxic Crusaders full set of 9 ❤

[@79NAGR]

Street frogs, karate cat, army ants, food fighters

[@adam_allday9470]

New episode!! Yuuussssss!!!!

[@ninobrown5110]

Good show

[@joetrenchfoot7101]

Thanks for another great episode ! I would like to hear Ryan discuss the saga of 21st Century Toys. They are still my favorite toymakers of all time

[@netacid11]

Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors for me. The show characters never got actual figures due to the fact that the toys came out before the show aired and died before wave 2 of toys could start introducing show stuff. I wish Super7 would do 1 to 2 waves of Ultimates with Jayce, Herc, and Saw Boss (humanoid) in wave 1 and Flora, Gillian, and KO Cruiser (humanoid) in wave 2. With a wave 3 of a classified sized Saw Boss and Armed Force with Un. I'd fund it if I could!

[@_ColeJackson_]

Dad passed way recently toys was one thing we connected on here I am at thirty and would give anything to work at a store like this man truly would

[@darthlobo1213]

My hardest set to find is Dino Riders in my budget! 😢

[@joewestcoast2565]

Loved the ahow. Keep them coming....YOOOOOO JOOOEEEE

[@jesusruelas7794]

Look at Andy!

[@jonlinn2129]

So cool to hear about the Millennium Falcon parts kit. My parents must have ordered it for me in 1978 or 79 and I still have the parts but not the box. I’ve never seen it referenced before and wondered how I got these parts. Thanks for the info!