Still a Great Show

Text: by Mike Kutnick. Photos:Mike Kutnick & Jim Clouse

The Kane Co. Toy and Doll Show has been around for a long time. Located on the Kane Co. Fairgrounds in St. Charles, IL, the April show (along with the Indy Toy Soldier Show) is the unofficial start of the Toy Show Season for many of us in the Midwest.

This year most of the dealers were inside the brand new show building, safe from our unpredictable weather. In the course of the day there was first rain and cold, followed by a clearing sky, followed by a downpour with a bit of thunder thrown in for good measure. It finally cleared and warmed up a bit with the afternoon sun, but by then the crowds had already started to thin out.

It seems that the shows run in cycles; a theme or a particular toy will suddenly pop up in abundance among dealers then just as quickly disappear for a few shows. This year was no different; a walk down the aisles revealed Davy Crockett toy and tie-ins all over the place. Davy Crockett wallets, badges, pins, plastic & metal guns seemed to be on every other vendor table. Davy Crockett and the River Pirates comic, carded merchandise and even a Davy Crockett dinner placemat ($24) were easily found (My wife was relieved that I didn't buy if for our kitchen - Jim).

Another item that appeared in plenty was the 2-Story Marx Western Town Front. I saw at least four. One nice example was found in the "Doll" barn, selling with much of the indoor and outdoor furniture for $175. Many other playsets and "tin litho" buildings were found, including: Sear Automotive Center ($375), Rick Keller's two partial, boxed playsets; Marx Blue & Gray ($200) and Davy Crockett at the Alamo ($260). Other playsets were MIB Barzso Mike Fink Keelboat ($150), Marx Prehistoric playset w/vacuum formed pool, dinos, cavement and palm trees, unboxed ($75), T. Cohn Fort Comanche ($200) and a Marx Project Mercury (contents and price unknown).

A very unusual item was a Marx header bagged WWII set. "Marx Mates Desert Patrol" had a set of WWII German in light gray and a building (to cut out) was printed on the reverse side of the card ($60). I didn't even know this item existed. By the graphics, logo, and plastic used - this set dates to the later years of the Marx company.

As always, smaller bargains could be found with a little digging around. Jim Clouse picked up four - 6" Marx Vikings ($10 for all four). The figures were quite dirty, but a good washing revealed them to be in mint condition. He also picked up several very nice 40mm Elastolin Normans for a reasonable price. Ed Borris picked up 10 Hamilton Invaders GIs for $10 ($1 each!) and a Marx 45mm Davy Crocket (w/name on bottom of base) in perfect condition for $10. Mike Kutnick picked up a "grab bag" containing in part, 11 Marx dinosaurs, 3 hard plastic 60mm Marx presidents (including a bagged George Washington), 3 Marx WOW pirates and 1WOW cowboy, all unbroken and a bunch of other figures - ALL for $30.

As we tried dodging raindrops on the way back to the car, we all agreed that a day of looking for toy soldiers even in bad weather is way better than a day in nice weather, at work, looking at ..... work..?? or something to that effect.

Kane Co. Spring 2009 Photo Gallery