In 1966, Mattel introduced their Man in Space to capitalize on the incredible interest in space exploration shared by all Americans, by all the world. They introduced us to Major Matt Mason, and subsequently Sergeant Storm, Lieutenants Doug Davis and Jeff Long, to Callisto, Captain Lazer and the mysterious Scorpio. They created lunar stations, vehicles, defensive weaponry systems and even gliders. And in 1971, it was over. They were no longer to be found, and while I cherished my figures, they were lost in a move during the Oil Embargo of 1973. I had moved on to G.I. Joe, and until recently I only had a few pictures of the toys that had given me the most entertainment as a child.
It was quite by accident that I stumbled on to eBay. One of my employees was looking at dresses and bidding on them. I asked her what she was doing, and she explained it to me. I have no idea why this 40 year old business man would suddenly, without any forethought, type in "Major Mat Mason" in the search page. By the end of the week, I'd managed to regain most of my collection. By the end of the month, I'd regained about 90% of it. I hope by the end of 2001, I'll have regained it all, and surpassed it even.
And unlike most collectors who remind me of Al McWhiggen, the toy collector from Toy Story 2, seeming to be more interested in the acquisition of as much as they can, only to resell it time and again, or to create supersets and resell those, my collection is for my kids. That's right. My kids actually are playing with the collection I've been building. "Heresy!" some have decried. "Lunacy!" shout others. Neither. My intention has been to allow my children to share and enjoy the very same things I cherished as a child. And they've responded in ways you would never believe.
And when they're done with them, they've agreed we'll put them up and store them for their children...and theirs, too.
A good toy lasts forever.