Old toys
Childhood dreams come true
By Kelly Yip
Inside a dimly lit store in Wanchai, acouple dug up their childhood memories under an assortment of toys.
The couple, both aged over 25, are fond of collecting old-fashioned toys. They have assembled boxes of classic toys at home.
They collect what they feel are beautiful, classic models.
Most of their possessions, however, are tin toys they could not afford in childhood.
The husband insisted that he would keep buying even if a piece cost him $100.
"I want to get toys I couldn't afford before," said he.
Kong Wing Fai, owner of Kam Fai Toys, agreed with this attitude.
He said that his customers, varying in age from the 20s to the 50s, come to his shop for their dream toys.
"They've got the money now, so they recover what they 'lost'," said Mr. Kong.
In his opinion, people have started seeking old-fashioned toys since the media reported on the phenomenon 8 years ago.
"The media decide what people buy," Mr. Kong said.
Neco Lo Che Ying, who has been collecting toys for more than 20 years, said tin toys were the most popular.
Some customers agree with Mr. Lo because tin toys were always their dream toys. Compared with others, tin ones are smoother in shape and more colourful.
In Kam Fai Toys, reproduced tin toys like moving chickens, rabbits and motors were put in display boards as an attraction.
Mr. Lo said that it is difficult to find authentic tin toys.
Even though the couple in the shop wanted to buy trendy toys, they had no money when they were young. Their toys were hand-made ones.
The husband proudly said that he collected and painted used toothpicks to play pick-up sticks.
His wife turned used cans into cars and lamps with candles.
"My toys?" Mr. Kong laughed. "They were insects and stones.
"My playground was the whole district. Who could afford buying tin toys?"
Mr. Lo said the market has split into two. One focused on toy collectors, whereas the other one focused on consumers, like the couple who wanted to recover their childhood dreams.
Although there is a market for old-fashioned toys, Mr. Lo said that there are few real toy collectors in Hong Kong.
"Most are just collecting toys without insight," regretted Mr. Lo. "They collect in quantity but not quality."
Mr. Lo attributed this phenomenon to a lack of space in Hong Kong flats. He himself also does not keep a good collection because of this reason.
In spite of his knowledge of Hong Kong toys, Mr. Lo still denies being an expert. He sees experts as people who can write books with clear illustrations and pictures of classic toys.
He said that he was just collecting rare toys he liked. Just like the husband said, he collected toys for self-satisfaction.
The husband said, "I like old-fashioned toys more. The modern ones kill the children's creativity because they are too simple in design."
"Our child likes old-fashioned toys too." His wife smiled. "I will pass the collection to future generations."
