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The Games People Play
Vintage toys have a kind of magic about them. Simply looking at them can bring back happy memories of carefree childhood days. Richard A. Drachtman, MD, has been under the spell of vintage toys since he himself was a boy. It was then that he first started collecting them and hasn't stopped since. The associate professor of pediatric hematology/oncology at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School says he has a particular penchant for toys he grew up with in the '60s, like secret agent games, toy monsters and toy soldiers. And it's not surprising that Drachtman's other favorites are medical games and toy doctors' kits. But any toy in good shape made before the mid- '70s era stands an excellent chance of making its way into his collection. Old comic books and "pulps"- kids' books that predated comic books and are named for the paper used to make them - are also among his treasures. The physician says he used to love going to antique shows and haggling with the dealers. Now he buys toys on the Internet, particularly through auctions like eBay. Drachtman's children, who are 9 and 7, have grown up knowing their limits when it comes to his toys. He allows them to play with some of his old metal cars, for example, but most everything else is off limits. The physician admits that he's been a pack rat all his life and is not likely to change. "I'm always ready and willing to clean out anyone's attic," he says. "They just have to say the word." |
