PlaymoFriends

Getting Started => Welcome! => Topic started by: Juke on September 25, 2012, 19:39:10

Title: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Juke on September 25, 2012, 19:39:10
Hello Playmofriends!

I am a new member here and wanted to formally introduce myself! Around 30 years ago, I received my one and only Playmobil toy from a McDonalds “Happy Meal”. From what I remember there was some sort of controversy because the McDonalds toys were not properly labeled and contained small parts that could be considered a choking hazard.  From that day on, (in our household) Playmobil toys were banned and referred to as “the toys that kill kids”. My over-protective mother promptly confiscated my toy and locked it away never to be played with again. Ironically, because of her actions , my lone Playmobil figure was hid safely away and went on to survive as one of only a few original toys (from my childhood) that I still have today.

I went on to (re)discover the world of Playmobil when as an adult, I started collecting for my own children.  I have a 1 year old son so, right now in our house the Playmobil 123 series is where it is at! My wife and I also have another child on the way. This has given me reason to collect the “First Smile” toys as well.

However, my collecting has not been limited to the age appropriate toys. In the future, when both of our children are a few years older and wise enough to not kill themselves by choking on the small parts … they will go on to inherit a small collection that I have already begun amassing (and playing with). One of the many things that draws me to the Playmobil brand is the variety of themes and ways in which they might be intermixed for more imaginative play.  Our collection spans many genres and is not very limited to any one theme or time period. I would not consider myself a serious collector. I buy what I like... and there is a lot to like when it comes to Playmobil.
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: tonguello on September 25, 2012, 19:50:58
A very warm welcome from Buenos Aires, Argentina!

 :welcome: :welcome: :welcome:
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: DrDalek6 on September 25, 2012, 19:58:31
Warm welcome to you  :welcome: :wave: I feel sorry for you and your little Playmobil man finds themselves a new owner and then gets locked away because he's considered unsafe must be wondering what he's done to deserve such punishment  :'(  anyway hope you and yourfmaily all get loads of pleasur from you collection of Playmobil
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: basilsdad on September 25, 2012, 20:22:25
 :wave: Welcome from your neighbor to the north.  I know you will find it a great place, so many wonderful people, so many interests.  I am introduced to something new everyday!  Not the best thing for my wallet!   :lol: :lol:
Joe
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: tahra on September 25, 2012, 20:31:48
Welcome from Portugal!

My oldest playmobil will be 30 years old soon too, and they're fine :)
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Georgeag1972 on September 25, 2012, 20:32:25
Hello and welcome on board. I wish you a lot of fun here with us.

Friendly from Greece,
George. :)
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Rasputin on September 25, 2012, 20:38:35
Hello from North Western California  :wave:, I too started collecting for our sons when they were born. Our kids were never that interested in sticking small objects in their mouths so we went straight for standard playmo. It's been fun eversince  ;D
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: cowabounga on September 25, 2012, 20:59:48
Hello and welcome here from Paris, France. Once you're here, you're doomed! And so is your wallet!  ;D
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Jimbo on September 25, 2012, 21:12:18
Howdy, and warm welcome from sunny Arizona. :wave:
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: playmofire on September 25, 2012, 21:17:53
Hello and a very warm welcome from the UK!   :wave:  I'm glad you got over your bad start with Playmobil.  Fortunately, when I started collecting in 1997 at 53, I was past the small parts danger!  Right from the start, the world is full of small parts and though care is needed, an outright ban only increases the potential danger in some ways.  (I see that trampolines are the latest danger to kids according to some US paediatrics who quote statistics as to the number of accidents without, apparently, relating them to the number of kids using trampolines, so there goes another fun thing for kids to do!)
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: bonniebeth on September 25, 2012, 21:55:23
Hello and :welcome: from Louisiana, USA! You have a very interesting story! I guess your mother's actions had the opposite effect. Glad you are giving your kids plenty of playmobil that won't kill them for the moment, and I know you are quite eager for them to be old enough to enjoy it as much as you do.
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Jrodmobil on September 25, 2012, 22:06:37
 :welcome: from Washington. I hear ya on starting out collecting for your kids. That is where I am at. I didn't know of the "First Smile" stuff till last week when I saw a pic on this site with the lil' PM in a ball, needless to say later that day I located one and it should be here any time! This is a great site with many awesome and very helpful people. Enjoy your stay.

Jarred
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Ismene on September 25, 2012, 22:48:37
 :welcome: I'm sure you'll have fun here.  :)
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Justindo on September 26, 2012, 01:12:56
Welcome from Southern California! :wave:  I think that enjoying Playmobil as an adult is even more rewarding than enjoying it as a child. :)
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Tiermann on September 26, 2012, 02:33:43
Welcome from Oregon!
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Pynedor on September 26, 2012, 04:08:27
Welcome! :)
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Wolf Knight on September 26, 2012, 15:39:02
Hello and welcome from Greece!!!  :wave:
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: PlaymoZoo on September 26, 2012, 17:08:29
Welcome from Holland!  ;D
 :welcome: Hope you like it here!
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Juke on September 26, 2012, 19:05:12
:welcome: from Washington. I hear ya on starting out collecting for your kids. That is where I am at. I didn't know of the "First Smile" stuff till last week when I saw a pic on this site with the lil' PM in a ball, needless to say later that day I located one and it should be here any time! This is a great site with many awesome and very helpful people. Enjoy your stay.

Jarred

The First Smile stuff is great. We have the stacking toy, the ball, the teething ring, and the chain of figures which tethers onto your stroller. I have not yet come across the small figure in the boat or the ladybug that are depicted in the "Playmobil the Story of a Smile" book. I am not even sure how many toys were part of the First Smile line of products. I recently  got screwed over on ebay because I purchased a toy that was advertised as "First Smile". When I received it, I was disappointed to realize that it was simply a standard Playmobil 1.2.3. toy in an older color scheme that I not previously seen. Do you or anyone else here know of a good internet resource (here or elsewhere) for identifying all of the First Smile and/or 123 toys?
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: PlaymoMan on September 26, 2012, 21:32:26
Hello and :welcome: from Ontario, Canada!! Hope you enjoy it here! :wave:
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Tiermann on September 26, 2012, 23:21:09
There were not very many First Smile sets I think. Did any of yours come with the little catalog? I think I have a First Smile mini-catalog in my files. The First Smile blue dolphin mold was later used as the yellow dolphin and the orca in the 1-2-3 series.
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Sylvia on September 26, 2012, 23:30:17
Hello and welcome from the Scottish Highlands! :coo: :wave:
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: bonniebeth on September 27, 2012, 02:44:35
Do you or anyone else here know of a good internet resource (here or elsewhere) for identifying all of the First Smile and/or 123 toys?

Do you know about http://playmodb.org/? It's a really great resource for finding lists of all things playmobil. Heather who owns the site is a member here. I think the listings of first smile (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/sets.pl?theme=First+Smile&sortby=setnum&focus=all) and 1-2-3 (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/sets.pl?theme=1-2-3%2CFirst+Smile&sortby=setnum&focus=all&pics=on) sets is pretty complete.
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: conniefrere on September 27, 2012, 15:23:00
Hi, and welcome from the netherlands!
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Lynx on September 27, 2012, 19:49:47
and another welcome from the Netherlands... let's say: double dutch! ;) I'm sure you'll like it here! Liked your story about your first Klicky. I got my first one, a knight, from my grandfather. The second one I had to earn by not peeing in my bed for one week :shhhh: I was very young but it worked; I got a construction worker!
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Juke on September 27, 2012, 20:20:28
Do you know about http://playmodb.org/? It's a really great resource for finding lists of all things playmobil. Heather who owns the site is a member here. I think the listings of first smile (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/sets.pl?theme=First+Smile&sortby=setnum&focus=all) and 1-2-3 (http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/sets.pl?theme=1-2-3%2CFirst+Smile&sortby=setnum&focus=all&pics=on) sets is pretty complete.

Awesome. I was not familiar with this site. This is exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: flatcat on September 27, 2012, 20:25:11
Welcome from the UK,  Juke! :wave:

Damo :)
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Birdie on September 29, 2012, 06:38:00
Hellooo and welcome from Antwerp, Belgium  :wave:

Very touching story  :) Luckily I was able to save all my toys from when I was young and they are part of my collection now.
I don't know if I would let my kids play with that old stuff, I would be afraid they'd break it  :-[ I destroyed lots of my playmobil when I was little, albeit not on purpose  :lol:
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: Gyps on October 11, 2012, 16:40:52
Welcome to the board, Juke!  I'm glad you've rediscovered your lost playmobil figure and finally managed to free him (poor guy!) - a great story.  I'm sure your children will thank you for it too and you'll have lots of fun!
Title: Re: Hello from Maryland, USA
Post by: grangel on October 25, 2012, 21:25:47
A warm welcome to our company from Piraeus in Greece!! :wave: