Grail items that aren't grail items

[MegoNinja]

Does any one have any?

Im refering to those parts of your collection which are next to worthless, thing's that people smash to pieces and use for custom's and body lot's on eBay, however, they worth so much to you that you would grab them straight away if your house was burning down, even if you could replace them for mere dollars.

I brang this up because today I finally completed my vintage 3 3/4 inch Darth Vader. I have had this Vader since I can remember (honestly, getting him is one of my earliest memories), the entire time I have had him he has had a colored in toothpick for a light saber and a home made cloth cape which my mom made for me (I can't remember him ever having his real accessories I lost them so fast).

Finally putting his real cape and saber on him was such a great thing, it has been so long since he has been more than a bit of wood, cloth and plastic. I have shown a few relatives the now completed Vader and they really think I'm crazy that I care so much about a toy that is pretty darn common on eBay, but to me, he is priceless.

Any one else have these sort of stories, about worthless item's that are priceless to you? Maybe a beat up Spidey or a headless He-man figure.

[Chris DVM]

Hey,
Understant completely. Many old timers will remember my quest for one 12" Mego Joe Namath sock. Took me over 8 months.
Chris DVM

[mitchedwards]

My Aqua man with the wore out outfit The head and outfit are from my childhood.
My Mr Fantastic with the repro knee pin. Also from my childhood.

Above all things these would be what I grabbed to save after my family and pets were safe.

[toys2cool]

yeah I have a bunch of those,including old star wars and old Joes

[jds1911a1]

yeah I have a bunch of those,including old star wars and old Joes

i still have my last 12" inch Gi joe tlaking commander (lifelike Body) form my childhood. his hair is moslty gone I had to "restring him" and he talking mech is almost silent but in a fire (assumig my family was out) I would Have to save him. after him I still have my 82-84 3 inc joes and late 70's 12" Luke and han (not complete but I have had them 30 years)

[Hulk]

Custom figures have more "personal value" to me than original Megos. That doesn't mean I place a higher financial value, but there are almost always more original megos to be had, but the customs represent either my time and effort, or even more valuable to me, the time and effort of people who have become friends of mine.

[kingcarm]

Yeah....a pair of Zira boots. They are so common yet I can't find a pair to save my life.

[EllaJames]

Okay, this isn't Mego related. But I have all of my Mum's vintage barbies (I have some of my own that I've bought too). I would grab those, even though half of them (my Mum's) are missing arms and legs. There's even one that my Grandfather did "surgery" on, by bolting her legs back on and filing down the hex nuts. Her legs still work though.

[MegoNinja]

Okay, this isn't Mego related. But I have all of my Mum's vintage barbies (I have some of my own that I've bought too). I would grab those, even though half of them (my Mum's) are missing arms and legs. There's even one that my Grandfather did "surgery" on, by bolting her legs back on and filing down the hex nuts. Her legs still work though.

lol that's really funny, you should post some pic's of that barbie in the mego playhouse section.

It is nice to hear that people keep their childhood thing's, too bad we didn't know that is was all going to be worth more than your organ's when you grow up

[Vortigern99]

My Mom actually began customizing and repairing my T1 Megos for me in the mid-70s! I remember sitting at the foot of the couch while Mom and a neighbor-girl (whose name I've forgotten) sat and sifted through a box of Mego parts, re-stringing figures and repairing joints. The neoghbor girl would sometimes paint boots and gloves onto the bodysuits when the real accessories had gone missing.

Sadly I no longer have any of those figures or suits, but this memory more than anything else inspired me to collect 'wounded', dirty or incomplete figures and polish, repair and otherwise customize them to the point of displayability.

Great story about the Darth Vader fig, BTW. I've had shreds of cloth and various pieces of plastic standing in for capes and lightsabers in my SW collection since at least 1979.