Mini Botstock 2022 - Early Bird Robot Museum Check

[gernot]

Subtitle:  „An Unexpected Journey“
 

Well folks, lets call it „Mini Botstock Revival 2022“ or „Pre-Botstock gathering“.
 

Usually I am only posting pictures of our beloved Robots and Space toys and not about myself, but as meeting other Robot collectors anywhere in the world with the same crazyness is something special, I will make an exception here (still some special Robots are included).

I happened to meet two other fellow collectors over the last weekend (early February 2022), both more or less well known members of our Alphadrome community. That alone is worth opening this Topic, but there is more to tell here.

The main reason for this trip will be told later in another topic, so for now let‘s just enjoy the pictures of our meeting and some special toys that we could admire.

I was very happy to meet them both for the first time, even we knew each other for quite a while.

One of the two is my dear collector friend Jeremy („RoboDerby“) from Atlanta compared to us „Old board members“ he entered our community just a few years ago.
To me  he is especially known for his passion to collect the special toys of Comet Toys, Russian Astronauts, Monsters and Monkeys as well as special robots and space toys, off course. We share some of the same passion for certain items.  As I could get a direct flight to Atlanta, we were lucky to  join and decided to take this trip together.

The other member is Ozzie („Roboz“), who is in this hobby almost as long as me, at least he was one of the first active robot and space collectors on the Internet in the mid 90s with an own website and who was a strong competitor from the beginning in the early years of Ebay. He joined also Alphadrome as one of the earliest members, as far as I remember (maybe Brian has some records about that).
„Roboz“ has shown recently his spectacular and dreamlike additions to his collection and restauration projects and some of you might know of his eager plans to open his own new museum with his collection of Robots and Space Toys as well as rare Coin op machines and rides.
Beside the usual „Robot Talk“ this was also a main topic of our gathering

The meeting took place in Florida, South of Jacksonville where Ozzie resides and where the museum, „The Bilotta Collection“ will be opened hopefully during this year or next year.

Ozzie was a perfect host and very attentive and willingly showed us the plans and the current construction progress inside the museum building.
We were also lucky to see a few of his recently purchased rarities.
As you all know, some toys are nice to look at in books and on the screen of your computer, but seeing them in real "flesh" is sometimes a big difference. 

You can see the building where the museum will be located on one of the attached pictures. The floor plan is already done and during this year it is supposed to be all finished.

From what I have seen and have been told, the museum will be very special and will include all kind of toys, not only the rarest Robots and Space toys you can imagine, also extremely rare Japanese character toys, pre-war toys, Battery operated toys as well as many Space themed coin operated arcade machines and rides. Also some life size Robot figures will be included (well Gort will be a bit smaller....).

Roboderby and Roboz might join this topic and tell the story from their perspective as well and add some more insights.

We also talked about the possibility to host a future „Botstock“ here, after the Museum has been openend.  Even the activities to perform another Robot collector meeting have been frozen in the past years, it might be theoretically possible to activate a few members to come down to Florida, to meet again and to see that special collection in real.

For me, this past weekend was a bit unreal, travelling so far for such a short time. It was the first big trip for me since two years since that mess started worldwide. My last business trip to Japan finished in February 2020. But as live is short and some opportunities and possibilities happen only once in a lifetime – I didn't think long and heseized the opportunity – more to be told later on.
All in all, this trip remains unforgettable to me.

Now enjoy some of my own snapshots and some more professional pictures taken from Roboderby as well.  Hopefully some more pictures and comments will be added.

 

[robothut]

Wow, a special time for all that were able to be there for sure ! More pictures and more stories please.

[Dirk]

The true Robot Consultant does not send in packages; he comes personally with the suitcase! 

[roboz]

So when an opportunity presented itself for a small get together meeting old & new collector alike  I was very happy to take advantage of it 

Gernot & Jeremy couldn’t have been any nicer.

 

I’d be curious their thoughts on the museum space

I’m starting to describe it as stairway to heaven 

(hopefully 99% get the reference) starts off slow 

& build momentum in a deceiving manor. 
 

Plan to post a museum update soon & will add it to the thread.

 

Thanks to Gernot & Jeremy for making the trip 

especially Gernot willing to don the for 1/2 a day !! 

 

[Fineas J. Whoopie]

Looks like you guys had a great time! Haven't been to a botstock in about 10 years. I'm thinking I'd have to make any botstock that includes the Bilotta collection. That might be the carrot that gets me travelling again. 2023 sounds doable if I start saving now.  

[RoboDerby]

12 hours ago, roboz said:

especially Gernot willing to don the for 1/2 a day !! 

Wait a minute, I had to ride in a car with Gernot for 8 hours!! ….which of course was nothing but a pleasure. Also a pleasure and an impeccable host, along with his lovely family, was Oz.

 

I have been chatting online with Oz ever since purchasing John Rigg’s wonderful custom robot bus from him only months into my entrance into the hobby and Gernot and I have been pals nearly as long. I never would have guessed that I’d have the opportunity to meet these two both in the same weekend.
 

For starters, when I think of this trip, I envision Wayne and Garth (Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey) from Wayne’s World crying out in unison, “WE’RE NOT WORTHY!!” I am both Wayne and Garth here hanging out with Alice Cooper and well… Ozzy Osbourne? There is simply no arguing, Gernot and Oz both have been building their collections far longer than I have and both of their collections are undeniably impressive by any standard.
 

So, when Gernot mentioned that his plans to visit Oz would bring him through Atlanta, of course, I took a chance and asked if I might be included. I was thrilled when Gernot told me that he would ask Oz if I could join and I am grateful to each for allowing me to tag along. 

 

Highlights for me included:

 

the drive with Gernot, where I learned about his early days in the hobby buying and selling comics and toys at flea markets (also how he and all people in Germany are huge fans of Garth Brooks and contemporary American country music…kidding Gernot) ;

 

having coffee with Oz and Gernot on Saturday in Oz’s kitchen and hearing about a deal Oz had just made on a rare item that morning;

 

getting a small glimpse into how a guy like Oz goes about building a museum worthy collection;

 

listening to Oz and Gernot recount stories about special toys and notable characters and collections ;

 

learning from Oz and Gernot about Baranger displays, which I think are absolutely marvelous having now seen videos of some examples;

 

checking out Oz’s fortune teller machine and watching a video of another more contemporary machine he has yet to be delivered that is really about as cool as it gets. I can’t wait to see this baby in person. I’ll leave it to Oz to share more detail on that topic;

 

receiving from Oz a guided tour of the building that will house the Bilotta Collection museum and discussing with Oz his plans for the space including a gift shop, a room for his larger space rides and arcade games, a members only room, a possible screening room, and of course rooms dedicated to his stellar assortment of fabulous robots and space toys. Oh, and I can’t forget to mention the top notch posters and life size robots. But I won’t spoil any surprises with details myself;

 

being the guest of a wonderfully welcoming and friendly family in their beautiful home by the ocean;

 

meeting and giving occasional scritches to Lucy the dog;

 

and exchanging Christmas gifts with Gernot in person.

 

By far the biggest thrill of all was simply meeting and learning about two incredibly interesting people, discussing our shared passion for old junk, and learning from their collective decades of experience.

 

All in all, I feel enormously fortunate to have had the opportunity to join Gernot on his trip to Oz. While some of you have met in the past at Botstocks, toy fairs, auctions and the like, those types of personal interactions in the hobby seem, regrettably to be dwindling, if not near extinction in the post internet and masked world we find ourselves in today. So, again, I am grateful that I had this opportunity. I look forward to visiting Oz again, especially once the Bilotta Collection is on display and I hope Gernot will be there along with the rest of you.

 

Please reserve the fold out couch in the home gym for me for the grand opening Oz as that room also has the mini fridge and let me know when it is time to come down and help set up the displays.

Gernot, come back soon…or maybe we meet in Japan.

 

Heartfelt thanks to Gernot and Oz. 
 

For the record, it is pronounced Ger-not with a hard “t” sound. Not Ger-know.

You’re welcome Gernot.
 

Oh…and I guess I should mention that I got to see and photograph some truly awesome toys. This included the very first Gang of Five toy that I’ve seen in person. Not many can say their first was a Machine Man. Ozzie even fired it up for us! For me, I’ll take the little guys, the Robot 5 and the Television Robot. These were my favorites. Beautiful boxes too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RoboDerby]

1 hour ago, Fineas J. Whoopie said:

That might be the carrot that gets me travelling again.

C’mon Don!!! It would be awesome to see you there.

[Dirk]

Thank you for your great reports and the wonderful photos!

Almost as if we were there ourselves! Thank you Oz, Jeremy and Gernot! 

[Morbius]

FANTASTIC to hear of this, thanks Jeremy for the message, much appreciated.   Looks like a fun day for sure, can't get much better!

 

Thankyou for the great pics.

[Andyman]

Thanks for sharing, guys! Yes Jeremy, I too would be a mere mortal among giants. I would totally travel to Ozland for Botstock in 23!

 

Regarding Gernot...some know while some know not.

[Roboto]

Fantastic photos and conversations!

[Lunik]

Hey Gernot, Robocopy and Oz, what a refreshing event and reports, so enlightening during dull years in a dull season. Thank you so much. Great meeting, great pictures.

Can’t get enough. Now I’m curious to know, what has been carried away in the suitcases (re Dirk). Already guessing …

 

[DEEP SPACE-11]

What a great meet up!

You know there was a big toy and advertising show on Friday and Saturday not far from there in Eustis Florida?----I was supposed to set up with Barbara Moran but ended up having to go West instead for a photo shoot.

Looking forward to Oz' museum and will someday cross paths with Gernot!

[gernot]

Thank you all for the nice comments and additional information! 

However, we are no gods or special people, just as enthusiastic and passionate as many other here on the board, maybe a bit more crazy than others, well who knows.

Everybody is collecting in an own pace and existing possibilities, but a bit of luck and chances are also part of the game, not to forget a good portion of patience, perseverance and tenacity.

That said, I would be happy to meet sooner or later many more of you, maybe there is a good chance some of us will come together when the museum has been opened officially.

 

@Deep Space-11:
As the time during this weekend was extremely limited - we did not check any other events nearby.  Thanks for the hint, next time we have to consider to plan also a trip to any toy show or toy hunting when we come back. 
And yes, hopefully we will cross paths one day, too!

 

@all the others: lets keep 2023 in mind and start saving for another great Botstock event.

[Andyman]

Gernot, will you accept "experts"?