In the spring of 2000 I rediscovered playset toys. It was an accident. I was looking for other toys on eBay, and happened upon an auction for some Auburn farm animals. I thought that they were some of the best sculpts of farm animals I had ever seen, so I bid on them. I won, and everything changed. I had finally found an area of toy collecting which suited me perfectly. Why? Because it combines small discrete groups of items to collect (making it possible to actually have a complete group of something) with an almost endless list of different groups and variations. I decided to not put any limits on this collection. Instead, I buy whatever I like. Interestingly though, I have found that the collection has formed itself into some identifiable themes.
When I started to create this website I thought a lot about how to organize it. The two methods I like the best are by theme and by the company who made the items. Since I couldn't decide which to do, I decided to do both. One of the goals for this site is to create a resource for other collectors. I think that using both forms of organization should make it easier to find something I may have that you want to see. To keep myself from going totally crazy, I have decided to limit the website to U.S. manufacturers only. This site is in no way a comprehensive one. I have a small collection (for now), and only intend to show the items I actually have. Within that, however, you will find I have some strong areas. The greatest of which is in the area of animals. As a child I always played with animals the most, and my interest is as keen today as then.
You can click on the Figure Junkie banner to go to my categories page, which includes further links by both theme and maker. I hope you enjoy my site. Please feel free to email me with comments, questions, or suggestions.
Thanks for looking,
Tim Matteson
Springfield, Oregon, USA
October 15, 2000