Collectively Speaking

HOLY COLLECTOR, BATMAN!

Along with many other children growing up in the 1960s, Alan Daniel fell in love with the original Batman television series starring Adam West.

And he wasn't the only kid (or adult!) that was crazy about the show. In fact, its popularity spawned an explosion of toys and merchandise, which Daniel then began to acquire, along with tens of thousands of other kids.

His favorite childhood toy was the Batman utility belt that he received for Christmas in 1966. Unfortunately, this was the kind of toy that was “so fun” that it got more than its fair share of use. It didn't end up lasting long he tells Playthings.

But, now, 36 years later, Daniel is again the proud owner of a Batman utility belt.

As a Batman memorabilia collector, he was able to replace the utility belt that he enjoyed so much as a child. “It was a really well-done toy, as were many of toys made by the former Ideal Toy Co. As a collector, this was my 'Holy Grail,' and I found it on eBay in 2002. It is in great condition, and still in the box,” he adds.

The belt is only one piece of Daniel's collection, which includes over 250 pieces of Batman memorabilia. He focuses on products made in the 1960s; specifically 1966, which was the year the Batman television show debuted.

Other pieces in his collection include tin Batmobiles, the Aladdin lunchbox, trading cards, Halloween costumes, Captain Action and other action figures, Marx bagatelles and shooting galleries, board games, buttons, flicker rings, original art, Aurora models and more.

And, of course, he also has the comic books!

Alan began collecting Batman products about 16 years ago and now picks up about four pieces a month, he says.

“Collecting from the 1960s is a fun frontier; there is always the possibility of a new and exciting item that you've never seen before. With the toys, there's the perpetual childish excitement of discovery – you never know what you can still find,” he says.

Currently, Daniel's collection is packed in a 14-foot-by-14-foot room, displayed in cabinets and cases.

“It has grown so much that I could actually use twice as many cabinets and a much larger room,” he tells Playthings. “The collection has really taken over. I'm always a little hesitant to see guests' reactions when they see the room, and see the extent of my obsession!” he quips.

One thing that has helped Alan build up his collection is having the ability to purchase hard-to-find collectibles on eBay.

Daniel says he discovered the Web site through a friend in 1999, and is now able to expand his collection by connecting with dealers from around the world.

“I have found items from around the world that were exclusively made and sold in countries such as England, Japan, Belgium, Holland and Argentina. I can't imagine having access to those toys without the assistance of eBay,” he says.

Daniel is especially fond of the Japanese Batman toys he has collected over the years. “The paper products, the metal, the plastic… they're all beautiful. They are definitely my favorites, at least from an aesthetic perspective.” He laughs:. “The Japanese manufacturers were rather liberal in their interpretation of characters and packaging – so the pieces are often unexpected and quite beautiful.”

Daniel remembers the old method of collecting, where collectors would scour toy comics and magazines for hours, to find ads for phone auctions. He is glad that he is now able to use Internet sites like eBay to find what he is looking for with the simple click of a button.

“I spend a lot less time looking for what's relevant and am able to spend more time actually building up my collection. There are now a lot more people actually putting things up for sale, and as a result, you can get a much stronger sense of what is truly rare. eBay has become the premier judge of fair market value.”

Are you an avid collector of toys and have a story to be told? Please e-mail Maria Weiskott at: mweiskott@reedbusiness.com.