Toys, Trains, and Treasured Memories: Inside the November Issue of Kovels Antique Trader

Welcome to the Toy Issue of Kovels Antique Trader. This month, we’re diving into the world of nostalgic favorites, from creepy crawlers to space-age robots, classics from childhood to pieces that quietly turned into collector obsessions.

In “Of Bugs, Cars and Creepy Crawlers,” our editor takes you back to those afternoons when play included hot plates and goop, and the sound of Clackers resonating through the house sounded like the miniature maracas of mayhem they were. The toys we loved weren’t just fun; they were reflections of their time: bold colors, futuristic dreams, and little thought to the actual safety of the user.

In this issue, Kris Manty explores vintage Fisher-Price toys, Wayne Jordan ponders the age-old collector question of whether to open or not to open, and we revisit the joys—and dangers—of Mattel’s 1964 Thingmaker. You’ll also find toy collectibles in our sales reports, a review of All Aboard: Lights, Camera, Lionel Trains!, the story of Johnny Appleseed’s bible (is it or isn’t it), and more.

So, whether you’re revisiting your childhood shelf, hunting for that one elusive piece you missed all those years ago, or simply curious about how a plastic action figure became a six-figure auction lot, this issue has something for you. Grab a seat (and maybe keep one hand free, the Clackers may still be in motion somewhere).