Houstonians turning old things into cash at Vintage Toy Buying Show

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Dust off your old G.I. Joes and give Barbie's car a good cleaning because the Vintage Toy Buying Show is in Houston and ready to turn old playthings into cold hard cash.

Albert Sipes bought a World Trade Center set before the terror attacks of 9/11.

"This was not easy because you have the two towers that are very much alike," said Sipes.

Now, more than a decade later, Sipes is ready to part with the labor of love, for a price. The Houston Vintage Toy Buying Show is looking for memorabilia of all sorts.

"We want people to dig through their attacks and closets and basements and find all those old toys that have been sitting there for all those years and collecting dust," said Joel Magee.

The Professional Toy scout says the stranger the better.

"A person brought in his Star Wars collection and they were all mint unused, on the cards and on the boxes, he said he bought them for a child he was going to have but things did not work out so good," Magee said.

He adds collectors crave older toys for specific reasons. "People want to go back to a simpler time, not just a video screen, but to be able to see it and touch it and be able to play with it," Magee said.

For Sipes, it's the best way to turn an old memory into $200.

"I think I am going to let it go, I am going to sell," Sipes said.

The show runs through Friday, so you still have a chance to dig through your closets to find a vintage toy to turn into cash.

The Houston Vintage Toy Buying Show began its six-day run on Sept. 20 at the Marriott Residence Inn at 9965 Westheimer. The hours are 9:30am to 5 pm daily. Admission and parking are free.