Whatever happened to your card dealer of the past?

[darkhorse9]

When I was a kid...my collecting word opened up when I started getting sale sheets from Jim Elder of Odessa, Florida.

I've often wondered whatever happened to him. I'd like to thank him for opening up the world of 1955 Bowman's, Red Backs, PCL popcorn cards and other relics for me when I was a kid.

Anyone know what happened to Jim Elder?

Anyone else remember the dealers that opened their world and what happened to them?

[novakjr]

Of all the dealers from my childhood, most of them are out of business. Of the two that are still in business, one really doesn't deal with cards anymore, but still sells his old inventory while focusing on comics...The other one, deals more in magic cards and video games nowadays. Occasionally, he'll have a good deal, but overall I don't think he understands the hobby anymore, and can be somewhat difficult to deal with based on his assumptions..

One of my favorites in the area closed, but he still does a couple of shows a year. We keep in touch, and I always have a fun time picking through his inventory when our paths do cross..

[toppcat]

Marty Perry and Bob Sevchuk of Baseball Card & Collectors Exchange in Hicksville, NY were my first experience. Marty is still around I believe, possibly doing mail order or just shows. Sevchuk moved to Arizona a passed away a long time ago. That was a great store and home to the famous T206 Gretzky Wagner find, the 53 Uncut Topps find and tons of other cool stuff.

[CharleyBrown]

Can't remember the last name of my dealer, but first name was Dan... he eventually merged with Joe's card shop in Wappingers Falls, NY, and then I believe left the business. He drowned in the Wappingers Creek about 10-12 years ago.

[Volod]

Originally Posted by darkhorse9

When I was a kid...my collecting word opened up when I started getting sale sheets from Jim Elder of Odessa, Florida.

I've often wondered whatever happened to him. I'd like to thank him for opening up the world of 1955 Bowman's, Red Backs, PCL popcorn cards and other relics for me when I was a kid.

Anyone know what happened to Jim Elder?

Anyone else remember the dealers that opened their world and what happened to them?

Just wondering how long ago you were a kid because I went to school with a guy named Jim Elder in the 1950's,
- probably not an uncommon name - although have no knowledge of him since then.

[saltire]

When I re-entered the hobby in the early 1990s, I had to use mail order and pre-ebay auctions to boost my collection since I live overseas.

I remember picking up a lot of great stuff from Solomon Cramer, who ran terrific regular auctions. I think my best pickup from Solomon was a lot of about 35 autographed Tigers cards from 50s-early 70s for only about $20. The lot included several of the 1968 team (though not necessarily on a 1968 card) - Kaline, Horton, Lolich, Freehan, Brown, Hiller, Wert, Stanley, Tracewski, Dobson, Wilson, Lasher, Patterson, McAuliffe, Matchick, Price and best of all Joe Sparma and Mayo Smith.

Solomon seems to have dropped out of the hobby shortly after ebay established themselves.

[novakjr]

Oh, I completely forgot one. There is a third still in business in my area. He was always a sporting goods/card shop, and pretty much stays open because the local schools use him for letterman's jackets. His current card inventory pretty much consists of trying to sell his leftover early 90's wax at original value. Boxes upon boxes of '92 Donruss for $35/box...

Also forgot about a newer one that opened up in the past 10 years in Willoughby. It's a pretty solid shop, mostly newer stuff, but occasionally can find a deal on some vintage, and he's pretty good for 60's and 70's singles for set building... I think he's the lone solely sports-card shop in the area..

[Brianruns10]

What happened to the dealers of the past?

They got eaten up by the ones working now. Seriously, some of the guys I see making the rounds at these shows see look as if they're barely mobile...

[Rich Klein]

I talk to him on occasion through AOL Chat. He is now running his family buisness,

Regards
Rich

[Volod]

Originally Posted by Brianruns10

What happened to the dealers of the past?

They got eaten up by the ones working now. Seriously, some of the guys I see making the rounds at these shows see look as if they're barely mobile...

Which ones - the buyers or the dealers?

[Rich Klein]

Originally Posted by saltire

When I re-entered the hobby in the early 1990s, I had to use mail order and pre-ebay auctions to boost my collection since I live overseas.

I remember picking up a lot of great stuff from Solomon Cramer, who ran terrific regular auctions. I think my best pickup from Solomon was a lot of about 35 autographed Tigers cards from 50s-early 70s for only about $20. The lot included several of the 1968 team (though not necessarily on a 1968 card) - Kaline, Horton, Lolich, Freehan, Brown, Hiller, Wert, Stanley, Tracewski, Dobson, Wilson, Lasher, Patterson, McAuliffe, Matchick, Price and best of all Joe Sparma and Mayo Smith.

Solomon seems to have dropped out of the hobby shortly after ebay established themselves.

I talk to Solomon every once in a rare while (he even reads these board on occasion) and he is happily married (I forgot if any kids yet) and running his rental car business. I'll tell him you said hello

[KCRfan1]

My favorite was Jim Roy, of V&J Baseball Cards. The V and J were the first letters of his daughters first names. Jim was a barber, and ran a barber shop in Riverside MO. He had a small glass case with some cards in it that would sell from time to time. Slowly he transitioned more to cards and less on cutting hair, eventually moving to a busy corner in North Kansas City, Antioch and 72nd Street. He always had the basics, but Jim would come up with some of the coolest stuff around. I remember his display of a complete set of Transogram figures that he had spread out over a glass shelf in one of the cases. I heard he eventually sold his collection, but not sure what happened to him otherwise. I hope he is doing well.

[runbrett]

During the 1970s I had three great avenues for purchasing old cards in Chicago and through the mail.
1. A flea market at the drive-in near 74th and California. There was a guy who must have been at least 80 years old. He always had old cards including 1961 Topps in homemade cello packs. Almost every pack had Billy Williams or Wille Mays on top. He was there every week for years.

2. The famous Sports Collectors Store on Archer Avenue - also near California Ave. I remember when one of us asked for a 1963 Fleer Clemente, which we all ended up buying. They pulled out a box with at least 200 of them. Most of the guys involved in that store were seen regularly at shows throughout the years. They had everything and lots of it. I'd spend all of my money and walk/run home - seven miles.

3. Someone in the neighborhood got an address for a guy who used his typewriter to create a list of cards for sale. We regularly bought from Russell D. Walters from Michigan. I don't know why he used his middle initial. Getting those cards in the mail made for a great week. I have always wondered what happened to him.

[sox1903wschamp]

Originally Posted by KCRfan1

My favorite was Jim Roy, of V&J Baseball Cards. The V and J were the first letters of his daughters first names. Jim was a barber, and ran a barber shop in Riverside MO. He had a small glass case with some cards in it that would sell from time to time. Slowly he transitioned more to cards and less on cutting hair, eventually moving to a busy corner in North Kansas City, Antioch and 72nd Street. He always had the basics, but Jim would come up with some of the coolest stuff around. I remember his display of a complete set of Transogram figures that he had spread out over a glass shelf in one of the cases. I heard he eventually sold his collection, but not sure what happened to him otherwise. I hope he is doing well.

Can't believe someone remember's Jim Roy on this board. That's great. I would head to the Riverside barbershop to buy and sell with Jim. His wife was always around in the business. They really grew fast and moved up to 72nd and North Oak and ditched the haircuts. I know you said Antioch but pretty sure it was North Oak but Antioch is close. They had a location and moved a few doors down when they outgrew that. He was definitely a product of the card explosion of the 80's into the early 90's.