Catalog Overload or why I barely collect toys anymore

[cjefferys]

I know that this is going to sound stupid, but have you considering storing them all digitally? A lot of current printed things, such as academic journals, are being replaced with digital only versions. The hard copies are quite limited. I know that you've already been doing something along these lines at your site, but I guess I mean you could scan them or have them digitally replaced and store the hard copies somewhere more convenient.
Like I said, it's kind of already what you're doing, but there has to be a better way, there usually is.

Crap, how long would it take to scan all those thick catalogues? I guess it would be possible to just scan the sections featuring toys and crimes against fashion, but doing everything would be near impossible, time wise.

[toys2cool]

Those look like fun

[Meule]

You really do have a problem

[Sowth]

I'm so glad you posted that B, for I am similarly afflicted. I reckon I have about a small "Billy" bookcase full, bit of a guess though as they are mostly boxed up at the moment.

Luckily we didn't have the big telephone-book size cats in Oz, 95% of mine are magazine thickness. It started with Toltoys & Star Wars, now it can only be neatly filed under "everything".

You know you have a problem when you would prefer a high quality A3 flat bed scanner over a MIB WGSH. I am so there :-)

Ahhh A3 scanner...

Will

[Tothiro]

When I was a kid, I didn't understand there was a time limit for ordering stuff. I'd collect old comics and see something really neat I wanted in the back.

Of course, the offer expired about 15 years earlier.

You know I was always fascinated by the idea of this... I had a coupon a few years back for a cinnamon bun shop from the 80's and all it said was "50 cents off warm and sticky!" with an address. I wanted so badly to go to whatever was at that address now and demand they honor it in a Tom Green/Andy Kaufman kind of way. That would make for some fine youtube.

I was reading through King Size X-Men #1 the other day and noticed an ad for a mail-away Draftsmen college in Manhattan. I think I'm going to dig that back out and take the addy to Google Earth, maybe I can find out what the building looks like.

[Bill]

It's not the catalogs, it's that hideous Big Trapper sitting atop that beautiful collection. You should sent it to me, I'll dispose of it properly for you, free of charge. That's what friends do.

[4NDR01D]

When I was a kid, I didn't understand there was a time limit for ordering stuff. I'd collect old comics and see something really neat I wanted in the back.

Of course, the offer expired about 15 years earlier.

I thought exactly the same way when I was younger.
I'm sure those addresses were swamped with stamps for years to come from kids looking to get "wolfman masks" and "x-ray specs".

[rchatlin]

a) I have a problem
b) I have waaaaaay too many vintage catalogs

Brian,
you can never have too many catalogs [hint, hint]

It's the store catalogs that are the worst - the dealer catalog
are more manageable, and only weigh half a ton, as opposed to the 2-ton Xmas catalogs.

r
o
b

[mego73]

There's comedy gold in them there catalogs

[Hulk]

Convince Google to take your collection and digitize it!

[palitoy]

When I was a kid, I didn't understand there was a time limit for ordering stuff.

When I was 15, my friend assured me Sears would fill an order from the 1975 catalog so I went home and tried to order some apes. The woman on the other end started calling me "sweety" and carefully explained to me that I couldn't have the toys in the 10 year old catalog, it dawned on me that she was under the impression that I was mentally challenged.

And I love that old, musty smell, don't you?

Um yes and no, I don't mind it while reading but sitting next to 200 or so isn't my favorourite thing in the world, I use a lot of air fresheners.

I know that this is going to sound stupid, but have you considering storing them all digitally?

The guys at wishbook web do a great job of that, I'm entirely too lazy to take on such things.

It's not the catalogs, it's that hideous Big Trapper sitting atop that beautiful collection. You should sent it to me, I'll dispose of it properly for you, free of charge. That's what friends do.

I insist I pay shipping.