10 simple ways to research vintage toys

by Rehg | Nov 26, 2013 | Blog

Look at eBay and see if you can find the toy or any general information. DO NOT TAKE INFORMATION AS THE RULE! I find about 85% of listing info is incorrect or evasive on eBay but it is a good start. Look for multiple listing of same item for clues.

Go old school and use reference books. My current favorite is O’Brien’s “Collecting Toys” 12th Edition

Look for old toy catalogs or catalogs from places like Sears.

Go to the internet here are some of my favorite sites for various toys:

Dolls – Ruby Lane
Toy Soldiers – Sierra Toy Solder Company
Puzzles – Puzzle Collectors on Facebook
Disney – “has a lot of info but you do need to be willing to wade thru ads and several links to get any real info
Plush The Needle
The Needle is a collaborative website where creators of quality plush can share their work.
Schoenhut – https://www.oldwoodtoys.com/

Wikipedia has become a fantastic source
ask.com and about.com are another source
Check with a trusted dealer such as artoftoys.com
Check with auction houses (this can now be done online) to see what they have sold
Antique shows and events usually have a good selection of knowledge people
Sotheby’s sells old toy auction catalogs on eBay that are a great reference source