For as long as human civilization has existed, there have been those that love to gather collections. The contents of these collections have ranged from valuable trinkets to sentimental belongings. As the years progressed, the nature of collecting changed with the rise of new hobbies and obsessions. As pop culture became a driving force, new […]
Wheeljack’s Lab – Vintage Toy Blog
Follow this blog for the new, the unusual, the rare and cool Generation 1 G1 Transformers toys. Reviews, news, toy resources, galleries, unboxing, opinions and personal reflections on vintage toys.
The Top Ten AFA-Graded Toys That Have Come Through Our Doors
Since we here at Wheeljack’s Lab have bought and sold toys for decades, we have seen many rare toys, like those that are AFA-Graded. It always excites us when we see one of these toys with professional grading pass through our doors. While finding a mint thirty-five-year-old toy is rare, these are even rarer. For, […]
How AFA-Grading Affects the Value of Old Toys
As collectors of Transformers Toys, we often consider how a service, like AFA-Grading, affects the value of our old and used toys. There are several reasons to consider having toys sent off for professional grading services, such as securing the value. When you have a sealed toy with an official grade, you know that it […]
Ten Most Expensive Transformers Toys
Throughout the 70s and early 80s, American and Japanese toy companies pushed forward universes filled with robots. While most robots were vehicles for humans to ride in during this era, some were presented as sentient beings. However, a world of form-changing robots that both functioned as vehicles and battle machines was on the horizon. The […]
Understanding the AFA/CGA Temporary Suspension of Loose Toy Grading
Many toy collectors love to see their favorite toys receive a high grade from services like the Action Figure Authority (AFA). While these grades have helped sellers and collectors easily tier the mint condition of packaged figures, not every vintage toy is in a box. Many, like the original Star Wars figures from the Early […]
What toys should not get graded by the AFA/CGA, CAS, etc?
For decades, services like the AFA (Action Figure Authority), which is a part of the CGA (Collectible Grading Authority), and the CAS (Collector’s Archives Services) have helped to preserve toys from the past. These services have set a standard metric that measures the mint state of toys and other collectibles. So, collectors no longer rely […]
Guide to Grading Toys in 2023
Have you been considering grading your toys in 2023? For many collectors, services like the CGA (Collectible Grading Authority), the parent company of the AFA (Action Figure Authority), and the CAS (Collector’s Archive Services) have provided an essential service. Beyond helping to preserve the conditions of vintage toys, these companies have standardized the metrics for […]
Grading Toys with the AFA: Worth It in 2021?
Have you been considering sending in your old and vintage toys for grading with the AFA in 2021? We here at Wheeljack’s Lab aim to honestly guide our customers. We understand that many are curious about the Action Figure Authority and the services they offer. For instance, many want to protect and ensure the price […]
How to sell your AFA-Graded Toys: Why You Should Not Do It Alone
When you have AFA-graded toys, you may feel tempted to sell them on your own at sites like eBay. However, many risks are involved with selling your toys that complicate the sales process. There are a fair number of risks involved in the sale of AFA graded toys, including shipping your toys to their new […]