A blast from the past
Sam Westlake with a small sample of his collection. Photo / Dan Hutchinson
Sam Westlake is in his element when we caught up with him recently.
By Dan Hutchinson
Surrounded by figurines, toys and other collectibles, it’s hard not to get caught up in the nostalgia of years gone by and the excitement of a new toy.
His display at the Community and Volunteer Expo earlier this month was just a taste of the goodies that will be on offer when collectors and sellers from all over the place converge on the same venue – the Great Lake Centre – this Saturday.
Sam has recently moved from Taranaki to Taupō, and that is a big bonus for the local collectors. He also runs the Taranaki Collectibles Event but saw Taupō had little in the way of toy shops so decided to run the Taupō Collectibles Event in his new town.
Moving town was no small feat for Sam.
“We had to do a few carloads to get it all back here to our new place.”
He brought a small selection along to give a taste of what will be on offer but a larger selection and the offerings of 50 other vendors will be on show this weekend, from 10am-3pm.
Some of those vendors have shops they will be shutting down for the day while others are private collectors and traders.
Sam, 37, has been collecting for about six years and has built up a large collection in that time.
“I’m originally from England and then moved quite a few times and then moved to New Zealand, obviously.
“All my childhood stuff's gone, so part of the reason I collect is that nostalgia and what I had as a kid and then also stuff that you didn't have as a kid that you wanted or couldn't afford kind of thing.”
His favourite collectibles are action figures from the 80’s and 90’s.
“I guess it's that nostalgia you go back to, you know, like what was around when you were a kid, or your favourite TV show or your favourite toy or whatever.
“Like these guys here, the Street Sharks, I bought those recently off Trade Me and they were real dirty, but I used a bit of baking soda, warm water and a bit of dishwashing liquid with a soft toothbrush, and they cleaned up real good.”
He sources his stuff from lots of different places – op shops, Trade Me, other events, Facebook Marketplace, and just networking with people.
“I've met a few people today that they've got stuff they might be interested to sell.”
He says every generation has its preference for toys, whether it’s Smurfs, Transformers, Master of the Universe, Pokemon or Ninja Turtles.
“There's a bit of a 30-year cycle I guess with toys too, or like the pop culture, it kind of goes through cycles, like the Power Rangers.”
It will all be on offer on Saturday; Action figurines, gaming, comics, vintage and retro items, toys, trading xards, funko, diecast, vinyl, TV and movie memorabilia, sports items, art and coins.
It’s a $5 entry fee and free for under-10’s but door sales will go to local charities. Saturday, June 28, Great Lake Centre, 10am-3pm.