Why vintage toys are all the rage

Everything old is new again, or so the saying goes. If you’re susceptible to the nostalgia of vintage childhood toys, you're certainly not alone!

Today, the term "vintage" applies to almost everything. Vintage is more recent than an antique (which is defined as 100 years old or more). It basically means reviving something old-fashioned or nostalgic. Mostly vintage refers to clothes or goods from the 1960s to the 1980s.

For an object to be considered vintage, it must have cache and be unique and authentic enough to retain at least some of its original charm. Vintage is always authentic, and never a reproduction.

We buy vintage not only because it’s cool, but because it resonates: it speaks to our childhood nostalgia and that feels good.

We also buy vintage because we’re rebels. Vintage is a protest against modern mainstream culture. In an age of technology, buying vintage is a refuge from our fast-paced, high-tech world. We want our children to make the most of their creativity and know how to entertain themselves without electronic gadgets. Ironically, early video games are now considered vintage.

Finally, some people buy vintage because they collect rare and notable toys, while others use them for decoration.

Vintage toys are still around. Although some toys have sentimental value, others have high market value and are expensive to collect. Examples of some of the most sought-after vintage toys, by era:

The '60s

• Barbies;
• Hot Wheels cars;
• Etch-A-Sketch (the mechanical drawing slate that clears when you shake it);
• Fisher Price Chatter Telephone;
• View Master (a red stereoscope with slide wheel inserts).

The '70s

• Playmobil sets;
• Fisher-Price record player with multicoloured plastic records;
• Mastermind;
• Simon (an electronic memory game that has four large illuminated sound buttons).

The '80s

• Early gaming consoles like Atari 2600, Commodore 64 and Nintendo 64;
• Speak & Spell (an orange talking tablet with a keyboard and a green display screen used to help kids read and spell).
• Sony Walkmans;
• My Little Pony;
• G.I. Joe action figures.

You can sometimes find vintage toys at auctions and at local antique shops. Popular resale sites always have vintage toys for sale. You can also find them on websites of private toy collectors. In this case, the seller likely knows the ultimate value of the object therefore making it difficult to get a good deal.If old video games are more your thing, pawnshops are a good resource.

If you’re motivated (and feeling lucky),you can find deals on vintage toys by perusing charity shops, thrift stores, community centres, flea markets and garage sales. You never know what kind of treasures are hiding at the bottom of a miscellaneous box in someone’s basement, garage or attic.