Toy Collector Launches Advisory Board with Chang Yang Fa, Mark Bergin and Norman Joplin Chang Yang Fa, owner of Singapore’s successful MINT Toy Museum, Robot and tin toy expert Mark Bergin and William Britains authority Norman Joplin have become the first members of Toy Collector’s Inter
News-Antique.com - Nov 10,2009 - The board will consist of an international network of toy and model experts who have agreed to give Toy Collector and ToyPedia meaningful help on a regular basis in their specialist areas and advise on organization, taxonomy and site features. Board members are selected based on their complementary abilities, experience and knowledge and will play an active role in building, shaping and improving the site, as well as publicizing it locally.
Chang Yang Fa
An Engineering Consultant, Chang launched the MINT Museum in 2007 to showcase his own vast toy collection, although even with seven floors, the museum can only display some 5,000 items at a time, which is just five per cent of Chang’s 100,000 item collection. This includes the world’s largest collection of Dan Dare toys, one of the most significant Disneyana collections in the world and unique items including a tinplate model of Commissioner Gordon’s car from the Batman series and a female tumbling acrobat toy made in Germany in the 19th century. Almost all his toys are mint in their original boxes, providing the inspiration for the museum’s name – although this is in fact an acronym standing for “Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys.”
Norman Joplin
A lifelong Toy Soldier and Figure collector who has researched and written prolifically on the subject, Norman Joplin organizes the only specialist Old Toy Soldier and Figure show in Europe. Currently the Editor of Old Toy Soldier Magazine and a partner in Old Toy Soldier Auctions, Norman’s books include Hollow Cast Civilian Toy Figures, The Great Book of Hollow-Cast Figures, Britains Civilian Toy Figures, American Toy Soldiers and his latest Britains New Toy Soldiers.
Mark Bergin
Mark Bergin started his career in 1986, when he bought a Door Robot for just $5.00 at an Illinois auction. He has since gone on to become one of the world’s leading experts on antique toy robots and space toys. Producing his own sales list, with pictures, he built up a global customer base and is widely recognised as one of the top toy robot dealers in the business. He now sells through his site, www.bergintoys.com. In addition to dealing and collecting, Mark has also consulted on tinplate, vinyl and diecast space and superhero toy sales for auctioneers including Sotheby’s and Morphy Auctions.
