The Energon Pub

How old would you say the average G1 fan is? Mid-twenties? That's not so bad; we're still young enough to act like big kids noodling around with our Seekers and our Minibots. But how long will that last? Do you see yourself as a fifty year-old man rolling BB across the 'hills' on your lap? Or perhaps the current popularity of Transformers will gradually fade and disappear like it did in the nineties - and so will your interest in it. Would you finally accept the fact that perhaps you've outgrown your childhood obsessions? Or will you insist you be buried next to Devastator?

No. I'll insist on being buried with Hot Rod, Rodimus Prime, Wheelie and Beast Wars figures. That way, I'll know I'm doing some good even in death.

Well, consider the following:

There are a lot of 50 + yr olds who have vast antique toy collections.

I do not roll BB across my lap anyway, I'm not 5 yrs old anymore..

I most cerainly do not want to be buried with TF toys, that would just be wierd.

At 28, I am certainly not a kid by any stretch of the imagination.

Conclusion: Buying TFs and other memrobilia is most certainly something I will continue to do so as other people have continued collecting the toys of their youths. When I get bored of them, if such a day ever comes, I'll sell them and use the money to buy one heck of a nice car. If I die before then, my kids can sell them and get themselves a new car. However, I do hope they hold onto my G1 Megs and OP for posterity's sake.

I suppose i'm at the younger end of the G1 spectrum, at the tender age of 19 (lol i'm not a steak).

I don't see myself collecting forever, just until i got all the ones that i never got, but wanted when i was younger and get the ones that i think look cool.

I was at just the right age when G1 was introduced, 8 years old. Now at 34, I still think G1 is the coolest freakin thing since sliced bread. Mind you I have an equal appreciation for all of the other lines too! My twin 4 1/2 year old sons think Transfomrers and my collection of over 520 figures is the coolest thing ever. With my sons being Transformer fans there's absolutely no reason for me to stop. This is something special and fun that me and my sons will always have.

I don't actually play with my TFs now so I don't see myself at 50 playing with them either. But hopefully TF's will be something that I can enjoy with my grandkids as well. Although I highly doubt I'll be buried with mine.

I see myself collecting toys forever. It's just who I am. TFs are the best thing to collect anyways. They're just so cool. I see myself at least being buried w/Prime & Soundwave.

OK>>>>> Guess I'll jump right into this subject...I'm 44 yrs. old and still have the same passion and devotion for collecting transformers as I did when I first started 23 years ago! I was collecting transformers in 1984 when most of the younger collectors out there were NOT even thought of yet! I may be in my forties, but I'm still a young man at heart! I've built a vast collection that is housed in four glass cases and I am very proud of my collection!

I'm NOT old, just mature for my age! I will problably go on collecting transformers because I truely enjoy it and it a father/son hobby. I share my collection and passion for them with my 12 yr. son. He is the next generation of transformers fans and collectors! I look forward to sharing these great toys with my future grandkids someday! I'll be the "cool" grandpa!

I know there are other collectors out there that are close in my age! Speak up and stand proud!
















These are some rare figures I've finally acquired after 23 years!





Another group shot of Megatron G1 Guns I am very proud of!

SentinelPrime878 wrote:I'll be the "cool" grandpa!

If your grandchildren still see you playing with toy robots at that age, you're more likely to be the "crazy" grandpa.

But still, that's one hell of a collection you have there. Kinda makes me wonder how people are able to afford so many TF's when I'm barely making ends meet as it is.

Twenty-three years of slow and patience collecting and getting into debt! (lol) And a lot of good luck in making smart and good buys! (Most of the time!)

I'm 31 and will most likely slow down on buying TF's after I get all the G1's that I want.

I'm 33.

I am toying with the idea of getting all of the US released G1 figures, since I am about halfway there.

I started a few years ago by getting a few reissues. I thought I'd get Prime and Megatron and stop there. Then I started to add to my G1 Autobots. That required me to build my Decepticon ranks. I have been slowly acquiring more as time goes on. I have also developed appreciations for figures of which I previously held no interest. Currently I have been into the G1 Headmasters.

Eventually I will stop (when I have them all), but with the way Hasbro puts out new figures so often I will probably reach a point when my office is overflowing with TFs!

i'm 41 and YES i see myself Tansforming forever!! way to much fun!! hell even my kids help me collect them!!

I'll be buying em up until my blood-pump fails.

I probably will. Only when I get older and my finances improve will I be able to afford to buy my holy grail Tfs.

I see myself passing on my toys down to my children once they're old enough to appreciate them and not break them.. Hopefully...

schizophrenica wrote:I see myself passing on my toys down to my children once they're old enough to appreciate them and not break them.. Hopefully...

i kind of have that hopes too.

I'm 31, always been intrested(had very few as a kid) but for the past 12 years I've been die hard into this and see no reason why I'll ever stop, save completion.

But that'll never happen. And if it does, there are so many other intresting pieces out there similar to TFs, that I'll just start on those!

Glitcher wrote:

SentinelPrime878 wrote:I'll be the "cool" grandpa!

If your grandchildren still see you playing with toy robots at that age, you're more likely to be the "crazy" grandpa.

But still, that's one hell of a collection you have there. Kinda makes me wonder how people are able to afford so many TF's when I'm barely making ends meet as it is.

Agree, great collection Glitcher!

As for building up you're collection, buy, sell, collect, and trade, but most importantly SAVE your money for the better bots!

I have the same type of collection. I didn't sprout 2 rooms of bots overnight, it takes alot of hard work and determination, to not only build that, but grow it as well.

A good job helps too, focusing just as much on your profession makes it alot easier

Hi Bigdaddymcqueen!

Nice to hear there are other 40 yr. old collectors out there! Keep on truckin'! I'd love to see pics of your collection! Pm me them!

SentinelPrime878

In my mid30s (collection has grown significantly over the last 20 years not just for toys) but I'll probably stop in the next few years. Why? Well for myself I rather be traveling globally while I am in good health.

I enjoy my anime, comics, manga, toys, movies, gaming and the like as much as the next collector, but I also want to VISIT and EXPERIENCE places I've only dreamed of with my significant other and make some good memories while I am relatively young. I can always come back to TFs and collecting things later.

SentinelPrime878 wrote:OK>>>>> Guess I'll jump right into this subject...I'm 44 yrs. old and still have the same passion and devotion for collecting transformers as I did when I first started 23 years ago! I was collecting transformers in 1984 when most of the younger collectors out there were NOT even thought of yet! I may be in my forties, but I'm still a young man at heart! I've built a vast collection that is housed in four glass cases and I am very proud of my collection!

I'm NOT old, just mature for my age! I will problably go on collecting transformers because I truely enjoy it and it a father/son hobby. I share my collection and passion for them with my 12 yr. son. He is the next generation of transformers fans and collectors! I look forward to sharing these great toys with my future grandkids someday! I'll be the "cool" grandpa!

I know there are other collectors out there that are close in my age! Speak up and stand proud!
















These are some rare figures I've finally acquired after 23 years!





Another group shot of Megatron G1 Guns I am very proud of!

I was thinking about this last night.

Id on't know waht I'll do. I look at all the money i've spent in the past 9 months, and now i'm thinking what am i going to do if i lose interest?

well, i think about how much stuff i have, and really, all i have are comic books and transformers toys and some star wars stuff. not much to my name.

That quickly slaps myself in the face and reminds me that this is waht I like to collect and it's a big part of my thoughts, it's an investment and it will be something to do with the kids one day. Who knows, maybe my kid will want to be a robotics technician

I've collected various toys over time since "growing up". I was one time into wrestling figures, then it switched to Spawn, then Marvel Legends...

I would always buy the odd Transformer if I saw something cool, but it wasn't until a few years back that I got serious about collecting Transformers. Now most everything else is packed away and that's all I have room to display. Having pulled out the old ones and spending a fair bit on filling in gaps and buying new ones.

It got me wondering with how easily I discarded other figures, will the same thing happen here? I'm inclined to say no. I think this is the longest I've been continually collecting a single series and the series catches me differently than the others. They have the advantage of being characters I generally care about and know about, they are possable for the most part and they can transform.

Also, I never put lists together or invested any real time in my other collections, I just got things in a sort of random fashion.

I really just don't see myself collecting anything else in the future and I think this is really it. I think my collection may change in the future as one day I may prune off figures I don't really like to make room for others or just compact my collection to what I really care about. However, I think this is it for me...

In the end, though, only time will truly tell.

I will be 29 years old in 2 months. In terms of collecting TF, I probably will not do too much when I get a teaching job. Teachers do not make much money. On a monthly basis, they make about $2,000 to 3,000 USD.

i hope so...