American’s Toy Scout team makes stop in Rockford to buy vintage items

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) – Rockford-area residents were paid cold, hard cash this week to part with their vintage toys and collectibles as the renowned Toy Scout team made a stop in the Forest City.

“It’s always fun to see what everybody brings in,” said Jeff Schriefer, roadshow manager for Joel Magee, a collector known across the globe as “ America’s Toy Scout .”

Schriefer was in town from Sept. 25 to Sept. 27 at the Holiday Inn on the east side of Rockford and bought dozens of items they’ll soon resell.

“We have database of collectors that we have amassed over 30 years that [Joel has] been in business,” he said. “So, we pretty much have a buyer for everything that we get.”

The Toy Scout team found several treasures in Rockford, including some original G.I. Joe toys and a Daisy Red Ryder BB gun from the 1940s, like the one featured in the 1983 hit holiday film, “A Christmas Story.”

Rockford resident Joy Monroe fetched a dollars for some unique toys she was ready to part with.

“I’ve collected things over the years, and my mother was an antique collector,” Monroe said. “And like he said, in this day and age, you can’t keep everything. Other people need it. I don’t, except the space and the cash.”

Although they’ll take a look at anything that comes in, 1980s toys are what collectors are after these days.

“We got lots of fun stuff,” he said. “We got Star Wars, we got G.I. Joe, we got He-Man. We got Matchbox cars, Hot Wheels—the list goes on and on.”

Those who missed the Toy Scout team in person aren’t out of luck. Anyone wishing to sell their vintage toys can call the Toy Scout Hotline at 561-628-1990 or visit the website .

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