Toy show is like a bonus visit from Santa for collectors

By Tina Potterf
Seattle Times staff reporter

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For 17 years Ostlund has been at the helm of "Harvest of Toys," a twice-a-year show featuring antique and collectible toys, from action figures to automobiles, and everything in between. More than 200 toy collectors will open their "toy chests" from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Western Washington Fairgrounds in Puyallup.

"Harvest of Toys" began as a modest gathering for toy enthusiasts to come together, share their collections and network with like minds. Ostlund organized the first show in Oregon, and over the years it has evolved into something of a reunion, a place where collectors from throughout the Northwest come to talk toys and catch up with one another.

"It's almost like a family get-together ... (or) a social event," he said. "We get to see each other and talk about what we have acquired."

Event preview "Harvest of Toys," featuring antique and collectible toys, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Western Washington Fairgrounds, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup; $4, $10 for early admission at 8 a.m. (253-841-5045, www.thefair.com).

For Ostlund, who grew up on a farm in the Midwest, it's an occasion to share his massive collection of farm and construction toys he began collecting as a child. Ostlund estimates he has more than 1,000 pieces, mostly farm-related toys and bulldozers, cars and Tonka trucks.

Individuals and vendors from Washington, Oregon, California, Montana and Canada, among others, will display and sell throughout the show, including vintage pieces from All American Toy Company, Tonka and NASCAR. Representatives from All American, Smith Miller and John Deere will also be on hand.

And, in the vein of "Antiques Roadshow," patrons can bring in toys from home for an expert appraisal, Ostlund said.

Ostlund said he's amazed at the popularity of "Harvest of Toys," which attracts upward of 1,200 visitors each year. "I think our first show had 25 or 30 (vendors). The interest seems to be getting bigger" each year, Ostlund said, adding that he's seeing more young people collecting antique toys.

Ostlund preserves the integrity of his toys by carefully storing them or displaying them on shelves and in cases. For would-be collectors, he offers an important piece of advice: Never, ever, throw away a toy's original package or box.

"If you have the original boxes the toys came in, it definitely enhances the value of them," he said. He figures his most valuable toys are his Smith-Miller trucks, which typically sell for around $1,000 each.

For those looking to jump-start a hobby as a toy collector, there will be plenty of opportunities to glean tips from the pros and hobknob with toymakers.

"If they are interested in toys this is the place to meet people and make the connections and find out what's hot and what's not," Ostlund said.

Tina Potterf: 206-464-8214 or tpotterf@seattletimes.com

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