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General => Community Events => Topic started by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 07:16:22

Title: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 07:16:22
A collegue pointed out to me that there was a museum in Hoorn, the Netherlands that was temporarily dedicating an entire floor to Playmobil. It wouldn't be very large as it is a rather small museum - but still, it might be worth going.
I went with my lil' sis and her kids. She took some pictures which were unfortunately lost. So, we decided to go back a fortnight later and promised Tristan (my oldest son) and Rik (a neighbour's son - and most importantly: a great Playmobil fan) that they could come along.

My father managed to recover the pictures in the mean time ... but promises were made and were to be kept as well ...

Állthough I did make some pictures the second time around - I'll be using Saskia's pictures mostly as they are soooo much better ...
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 07:51:12
It took a hours drive and a lunch in a nearly deserted MacDonalds, but finally we were greated by a friendly face. Zoe (Saskia's daughter) was slightly forced by her mum to go  and stand next to it.
In the background the poster of the expo which was for sale for just a Euro. Now I only have to find a good place for it (were Wilma won't tear it of the wall) ...


Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 07:55:08
The first thing you saw when you entered the (third) floor: my hero.

The description said that this buste of Hans Beck was shown during the "Expo of ideas" in Germany in 2000.
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 07:58:11
Beside him, on the wall was a display I recognised from Speyer; but slightly altered to include the black and red Dragons. But allways good to see. The entire proces of designing the Dragons. From sketch to product.
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:00:59
Beside that were some cabinets filled with toys produced by Geobra before they started to produce Playmobil. It isn't Playmobil - but still very interesting ...
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:02:32
... and some more non-Playmobil toys by Geobra ...
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:05:27
... and some more ...

between the cabinets were plastified old catalogues. From the very early ones to the latest ones. In the last picture I'm going throug a catalogue of the seventies!
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:07:14
... as seen here ...

On the back a short version of the history of Playmobil.
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:15:38
Here the early klickies. According to the description these were the figures in 1974: construction, indians and knights ... (spot the error) ...

In the next room there was a nice display on pirates with a large number of sets included.

Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:17:29
Against the other wall there was a huge display on contruction and  firefighters.

Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:20:28
... and some more ...

Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:26:10
Some of the prices Geobra has won for Playmobil sets.
Below that the best Schooner they ever produced and one of the many large figures that were put up.
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:28:08
The had some more, great displays on Noah´s arc, the old zoo and ... the medieval knight sets of the eighties !!! The only one missing in that display was the small castle.
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:30:16
on the opposite side was a small cabinet dedicated to the knight´s sets.
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:32:14
There was also a large display on the western sets and the indians ...
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:35:17
One of the best items...

it all starts with a letter from a child - asking for something he really wants from Playmobil.
It then gets picked up by the design team who make sketches. After that some models get made which results in something that we all know ...
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:36:51
...
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:39:20
on the left over blank walls - some playmobil art ...
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:40:58
The last cabinets were dedicated to the vikings and the Victorian sets.
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:45:47
Some great bits to conclude.

There was some sort of movie being shown. Made somewhere around the early eighties fearuring some space men. I´ve heard rumours of a movie showing Klickies coming from Omega but that it was lost.
Apparently. It hasn´t and some asking around revealed it is still with Geobra. I still want to try and lay my hands on it - but that will have to wait ´till after my vacation.

And does anyone recognise this machine?

Indeed - we do have plenty of white mice for the moment  ;)
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 08:54:40
And here's the best bit!!!

There was a small shop in the museum selling Playmobil for reduced prices. The first time round, there wasn't anything particular that I wanted; allthough Saskia did pick up a 5810 Pirate ship that she didn't have yet.

But the second time around ... they were selling him (as a Special)!
Needles to say we both bought a fair number of them. I'm afraid I've only got one left now; as the others have already been passed on to others, who will cherish them, I'm sure of that ...

All in all - it was a small expo; but definitly worth the trip as it was a nice one to see.

Bogro
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Martin Milner on July 16, 2008, 11:50:49
Remind me again, this was a SMALL exhibition? LOL

Great pictures, it's really nice to see all that Playmo so carefully treaured and displayed, and great to see that kids' letters CAN result in new ideas being taken up - I need to get my crayons out.

I'd love to get my hands on one of those Egyptian Archers, he's a very handsome lad and would take pride of place on my desk at work. Shame you couldn't snap up a couple of dozen more, Mark!

There's a UK based eBay seller who gets stuff in from Germany, so I could get my hands on the Egyptian sets a year early, at a slight extra cost - though with inflation running riot, who's to say my money will be worth anything this time next year? 
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: LHAAP on July 16, 2008, 12:28:02
Thanks for all these pictures :wow: I really enjoyed them.

Congratulations with the new figure - he is VERY nice :love: I can't wait to get the sets :doh:

There's a UK based eBay seller who gets stuff in from Germany, so I could get my hands on the Egyptian sets a year early, at a slight extra cost - though with inflation running riot, who's to say my money will be worth anything this time next year? 

Nice for you in the UK that you are able get these sets. It must be like living in hell knowing that the sets are available in some countries, but not in your own :'(
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 12:35:52
Actually, it was a small expo. There isn't much that you haven't seen yet.

And as to your crayons - you'd better get a child to do it - otherwise you'll be caught out - much to good at it. And I've found you've actually have to be rather gifted to do a childs picture at our age (5+ that is  ;D)

And as to the archer - (actually, it isn't a archer; it's the Pharao himself! The blue thingy he's wearing is the blue crown: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_crown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_crown)) - there would always have been people that I would have had to disappoint  :'( ... sorry.

Bogro
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Rasputin on July 16, 2008, 14:19:11
These are the "small" displays i wish were around in the US  :'( . Thanks for the pictures .

The 1974 klickies have rotating hands , and i have no idea what that machine is .

Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 17:57:18
Indeed - they do have rotating hands (which they didn't have in '74.) - I hadn't even noticed that. I was thinking about the knights. The knights that are shown are from much later!

And as to the machine - I guess you weren't there in Speyer when the (really large) Expo on Playmobil was there. That was back in 2004. That machine was a demonstration model that's being used to show how playmobil is produced. The end product - a small white mouse - could be taken home as a momento. We definitly took our fair share of them home  ;D

Bogro
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Richard on July 16, 2008, 19:53:18


Mark, thank you very much for the GREAT photos. Saskia is an excellent photographer.

I wonder how successful a Playmobil museum would be in South Florida? ...  :hmm:

Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Rasputin on July 16, 2008, 20:46:59
That big of a machine to make a little mouse  ???
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 16, 2008, 21:05:51


... Saskia is an excellent photographer. ...

I wonder how successful a Playmobil museum would be in South Florida? ...  :hmm:

Trust me; Saskia's a wonderful photographer and a even better sister  :love:

It wasn't a entire museum - just a temporary expo in a museum. I wonder too how a entire Playmobil museum would be ... sounds great though!

That big of a machine to make a little mouse  ???

Yep - but a machine that shows rather well how it is produced as well. I must admit, I wasn't paying very much attention to that detail - I was more interested in the little white mice that came out of it  :-[

Bogro
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Richard on July 17, 2008, 00:59:17



It wasn't a entire museum - just a temporary expo in a museum.



Wow! That was a very large "temporary  expo" ... How long did they keep it set up?

Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Gustavo on July 17, 2008, 02:20:15

(MARK??!! :lol: )

Thanks, Count Bogro! I'll try to give a better look ... (In case you all didn't notice, I'm in the web everyday, now ... It's because we finally have intranet at home.

Although I have more access oportunity, I have very little time, because of other reasons. It's usually so, I believe you all know what I'm talking about.

But Thanks again, for the many pictures. The expo may have been small, but the expo's expo was pretty big, and we have yummy things to put our eyes on :yup:

& Nice to know your secret identity mr. Count, sir! :lol:

Gus
:blackhair:
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Martin Milner on July 17, 2008, 06:59:03
Nice for you in the UK that you are able get these sets. It must be like living in hell knowing that the sets are available in some countries, but not in your own :'(

Well, I can live with waiting a year, as long as I know that next year I'll be able to buy as much Egyptian Playmo as I like. If I buy it all this year, what will I have to look forward to?

What's much more annoying is knowing there are sets and figures, like the 4444 Pirate Sailboat and Bogro's Pharoah, which will apparently NEVER be available in the UK.

I know these special limited release sets and figures are supposed to make it more fun for those who can get them, but part of me thinks it makes it less fun for those who can't. I don't blame Bogro and others for getting them and showing us, it's nice to see them, but it's a shame Playmobil don't give all of us the opportunity to buy them through their websites.
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: LHAAP on July 17, 2008, 07:26:40
I know these special limited release sets and figures are supposed to make it more fun for those who can get them, but part of me thinks it makes it less fun for those who can't. I don't blame Bogro and others for getting them and showing us, it's nice to see them, but it's a shame Playmobil don't give all of us the opportunity to buy them through their websites.

It's because it's a special figure they only give out at the Toy Fair in Nürnberg in February. Each year PLAYMOBIL gives a new figure to the visitors at their stand.

Then the exhibiton, where Bogro was, has bought some and now sells to the visitors.


PS: You can't buy these Toy Fair figures through PLAYMOBIL'S websites.
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 17, 2008, 09:15:06
... Then the exhibiton, where Bogro was, has bought some and now sells to the visitors. ...

Actually, I don't know how the museum came by them. But since they borrowed quite some stuff from Geobra I do think they got the special figures from them.
But I doubt the museum knows what they were - otherwise they wouldn't have been intermingled with some "normal" specials. All said and done - it's just a fluke I managed to get some. Normally, it would have been totally impossible to got hold of them.

But I do know how you feel. Very often I see sets or special figures beeing shown that I really would like to have; but probably never will be able to  :'(

Bogro

(PS - I don't really have a secret identity; I'm more of a schizofrenic  ;D - They're both me)
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Martin Milner on July 17, 2008, 10:23:19
PS: You can't buy these Toy Fair figures through PLAYMOBIL'S websites.

Yes, that's what I was saying, and I think it's a shame.
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: playmofire on July 17, 2008, 10:23:43


I know these special limited release sets and figures are supposed to make it more fun for those who can get them, but part of me thinks it makes it less fun for those who can't.


The conundrum of the collector is always the same:  which is better, to be searching for that one missing item which completes your collection, or to have it and nothing more to search for?
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: LHAAP on July 17, 2008, 11:14:02
Yes, that's what I was saying, and I think it's a shame.

You might be right but if it was available through the websites then it wouldn't be exclusive :lens:
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 17, 2008, 11:44:47
... It gets me thinking about why I'm collecting Playmobil in the first place. ...

interesting question. Perhaps we should start a thread on it  ;)

Bogro
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: playmofire on July 17, 2008, 14:48:12
Many thanks for the tour of the exhibition, Mark.  If only someone would do something like that over here.
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Richard on July 17, 2008, 14:59:57



Many thanks for the tour of the exhibition, Mark.  If only someone would do something like that over here.
 


Hmmm ... That might be an interesting project for you to organise, Gordon ...  :klickywink:

I'm actually thinking about organizing one here in south Florida (about an hour and a half from the the Palm Beach FunStore/Park). However, I think if I set one up. I would be loathe to ever take it down.

Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Hadoque on July 17, 2008, 15:39:46
Very interesting exhibition, thanks for the all the pictures and report!  8-)
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: playmofire on July 17, 2008, 16:14:23


Hmmm ... That might be an interesting project for you to organise, Gordon ...  :klickywink:

I'm actually thinking about organizing one here in south Florida (about an hour and a half from the the Palm Beach FunStore/Park). However, I think if I set one up. I would be loathe to ever take it down.



All the best with your plan, Richard, with the nearness of the Palm Beach Funstore/Park you should have a good catchment area. 

In my post I originally said (but then removed before posting) something to the effect that if something of this sort was done in the UK it would probably be done in London, certainly the South, and if it were done somewhere else there would be lots of complaints from people in London/the South about the distance to travel to it.  This is exactly what happened, for example, when the magnificent Armouries museum opened in Leeds and when County Durham cricket team joined the County Cricket League.  In the former case, there were interviews with lots of Londoners who said almost without exception how far it was to travel to Leeds (in fact, the distance from London to Leeds is exactly the same as that from Leeds to London, it's no shorter travelling south), and in the latter all the southern cricket teams complained how far it was to travel to County Durham and how unfair this was as they'd be tired when they got there, completely failing to see that they had to travel 200-300 miles to County Durham once or twice a season but County Durham had to travel a similar distance for many/most of its matches.  So not much chance of success up here in the wilds North Yorkshire!

Playmobil UK did run a series of roadshows some years ago, one of them at the MetroCentre at Gateshead, but they cannot have been very successful as they have never been repeated.
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Martin Milner on July 17, 2008, 17:26:32
Over 7,000,000 people live in Greater London, compared to 700,000 in Leeds, 200,000 in Gateshead, and a 50,000 in Durham (from the 2001 Census). That's 140 people in London for every one in Durham, or 35 for every one in Gateshead, or 10 for every one in Leeds.

You see why a roadshow or exhibition would be more accessible to a greater audience in London.

Where museums of national interest are involved, isn't London the obvious choice?
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Richard on July 17, 2008, 17:47:30



All the best with your plan, Richard ...



It's only a "thought," Gordon ... I don't have a "plan" yet ...

Of course we really can't compare hardy Playmobil fans to wimpy, whiny sports fans, can we?

And, regarding the Playmobil UK display, I'd almost rather take a beating than go into London to see anything! (And, that's the truth, Martin!) ...  :P

Now North Yorkshire (http://www.escapeartist.com/efam/53/Living_in_Yorkshire.html), that's an entirely different matter.

North Yorkshire is almost centrally located between Edinburgh and London. And, it's beautiful. I'd take a train or drive out to see a Playmobil museum in North Yorkshire in a heartbeat. (Train fare is less than £200 return from either London or Edinburgh.)

The hotels located in North Yorkshire (http://www.aboutbritain.com/North-Yorkshire-Hotels.asp) seem delightful! No problems with accommodations! (Many are less than £100 per night.)

It would appear that North Yorkshire might actually be the perfect place for a Playmobil museum holiday in all of the UK, Gordon!

Fort Lauderdale on the other hand is in the southern part of the Florida peninsula. It is more than 1300 miles to New York City, more than 2700 miles to Los Angeles and more than 1000 miles to Washington, DC.

We have no train travel to speak of. Air travel (since 9/11) is a royal pain. Gasoline prices are going through the roof, which makes automobile travel very expensive. And, all the tourists stay out on the beach where rents for museum space would be prohibitive.

Finally, it will probably take at least ten years to really become an established tourist attraction. You're about eight years younger than me.

So, it appears, Gordon, old friend, that you're much better positioned than I am for opening a museum ...  :klickywink:

All the best,
Richard





Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Richard on July 17, 2008, 17:56:36


BTW, Martin ... It's NOT that I dislike London (actually London is a wonderful city), it's just that I dislike big cities in general!

Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: playmofire on July 17, 2008, 18:13:21
Over 7,000,000 people live in Greater London, compared to 700,000 in Leeds, 200,000 in Gateshead, and a 50,000 in Durham (from the 2001 Census). That's 140 people in London for every one in Durham, or 35 for every one in Gateshead, or 10 for every one in Leeds.

You see why a roadshow or exhibition would be more accessible to a greater audience in London.

But is it good that there is so much concentration on one city, and one that is expensive and overcrowded?  On an international basis, the "greater audience" approach would mean everything of international importance would be held in China!  And I'm sure that in other countries you don't have this concentration of Exhibitions on the capital.  It's not as if these exhibitions put on by the British Museum or the Tate or the Science Museum travel around the country.   Even where the London museums and galleries do have "outposts" they're not all that well sited.  There are four Tate galleries, two in London, one in St Ives (Cornwall), 420 miles away, and one in Liverpool.  St Ives has a population of 11,165!  The Liverpool gallery couldn't be less central for the north of England, why not Manchester?  There are "branches" of the National Portrait Gallery in Wales, Somerset and near York, but the accommodation for these is provided by other organisations, mainly the National Trust.


Where museums of national interest are involved, isn't London the obvious choice?

Only if you live in London, Martin.  And a museum of coal mining in London?  A museum of shipbuilding there?  I think not.

Civilisation doesn't stop at the Watford Gap (not when you're travelling north, anyway ;D), nor does culture and entertainment nor art.  And as for the countryside, well best keep it quiet or we'll be flooded out by visitors from London! :)
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: playmofire on July 17, 2008, 18:20:24

BTW, Martin ... It's NOT that I dislike London (actually London is a wonderful city), it's just that I dislike big cities in general!



Ditto to both, Richard.  London is OK in small quantities.  I worked there for a time and it was a strange place in some ways.  I was working for J Lyons & Co, at that time the largest food manufacturer and catering business in the country.  I remember my travel expenses were queried by my boss. WHY ARE YOUR TRAVEL CLAIMS SO LOW!  I said I used the Tube (Underground).  WHY?  Quick and cheap.  BUT HOW DO YOU GET TO THE STATION FROM THE OFFICE?  Walk. (About 10 minutes.)  AND AT THE OTHER END?  Walk or bus.  USE TAXIS IN FUTURE!

Next time I had to go to a meeting (with the boss of my boss) we used a taxi.  We were late, very late!

Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Martin Milner on July 17, 2008, 19:56:05
North Yorkshire is almost centrally located between Edinburgh and London. And, it's beautiful. I'd take a train or drive out to see a Playmobil museum in North Yorkshire in a heartbeat. (Train fare is less than £200 return from either London or Edinburgh.)

The hotels located in North Yorkshire seem delightful! No problems with accommodations! (Many are less than £100 per night.)

Unfortunately when you compare those train prices with £300 return flight to Miami, or £280 to New York, or around £200 to Houston, or £350 to Fort Lauderdale, and in all those locations I can get a double en-suite room for less than £40 a night, you can see how Yorkshire still seems remote to a Londoner.

I love England, and my wife and I visited York last year, sadly before I knew Gordon or I'd have suggested meeting up, but rail fares are still way too high. If two or more people are travelling, it's almost always cheaper and more convenient to rent a car, even with the ever rising gas prices.
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Martin Milner on July 17, 2008, 20:09:14

Quote from: Martin Milner on Today at 10:26:32
Where museums of national interest are involved, isn't London the obvious choice?

Only if you live in London, Martin.  And a museum of coal mining in London?  A museum of shipbuilding there?  I think not.

Civilisation doesn't stop at the Watford Gap (not when you're travelling north, anyway ;D), nor does culture and entertainment nor art.  And as for the countryside, well best keep it quiet or we'll be flooded out by visitors from London! :)

Of course I'm not suggesting a coal mining museum in London, the obvious choice would be Newcastle. Shipbuilding? Glasgow Docks, or Portsmouth if you're looking at wooden warships. I'm planning a trip to see HMS Victory later this year - I'm not suggesting it should be moved to London to suit me (we do have HMS Belfast which I visited last year). I feel you're putting words in my mouth, but I think you understand exactly what I'm trying to say. Maybe I should have said non-specific local, rather than national interest.

I agree the population concentration on London isn't a good thing, it drives house prices up, clogs the pavements, roads and tube network, but however you look at it, over 10% of the UK population live in Greater London, not counting the home counties. That's the way it is; I didn't personally make it that way.

If you were a Playmobil executive trying to reach the largest audience possible, would you choose London or North Yorkshire? Honestly?
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Sylvia on July 17, 2008, 22:05:39

Wonderful photos! :)9

Thank you for sharing them and explaining the individual displays. There certainly was a lot to see! :love:

Imagine the excitement of the child who asked for a container ship when he discovered his dream would come true. 8-)
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Gustavo on July 18, 2008, 01:40:07
But is it good that there is so much concentration on one city, and one that is expensive and overcrowded?  On an international basis, the "greater audience" approach would mean everything of international importance would be held in China!  And I'm sure that in other countries you don't have this concentration of Exhibitions on the capital.  It's not as if these exhibitions put on by the British Museum or the Tate or the Science Museum travel around the country.   Even where the London museums and galleries do have "outposts" they're not all that well sited.  There are four Tate galleries, two in London, one in St Ives (Cornwall), 420 miles away, and one in Liverpool.  St Ives has a population of 11,165!  The Liverpool gallery couldn't be less central for the north of England, why not Manchester?  There are "branches" of the National Portrait Gallery in Wales, Somerset and near York, but the accommodation for these is provided by other organisations, mainly the National Trust.


Only if you live in London, Martin.  And a museum of coal mining in London?  A museum of shipbuilding there?  I think not.

Civilisation doesn't stop at the Watford Gap (not when you're travelling north, anyway ;D), nor does culture and entertainment nor art.  And as for the countryside, well best keep it quiet or we'll be flooded out by visitors from London! :)


Brasil is a big country. When we think in expos, we think about main cities, specially (right in this order) Sampaulo, Rio and Belo Horizonte, and (in any order) Salvador and Recife (Northeast region), Brasilia (the DC, central region), Porto Alegre and Florianopolis (South of Brasil) ... Noone thinks about anything in Manaus (Amazonia), but that foreigners have been accused of being buying it and it to be against the law (...). In my view point, we (Portuguese American) didn't accomplish colonization. I don't consider Amazonia well colonized, because Brasilian people don't want to go there ... It's different with California, in the US. People at least say that it might be nice to see the Golden Gate ... But I'm straying completely ...

In Rio, one nice place to make an expo of Playmobil would be CCBB downtown. (Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil.) But it would/will (ever?) go to Sampaulo first, as most everything in Brasil. Sampaulo is very (economically) attractive, they offer good conditions for anything & (most) everything.

To think an expo in a little city would lead me to think about Petropolis, in Rio de Janeiro State mountains, which is an important town because, when the Portuguese king came to Brasil (because Napoleon had invaded Portugal), one of his homes was at Petropolis and, since then (1808, we're in cerimonies of the bicentenary ...) Petropolis became an important place.

There are other places ... But I'd stray too long in Brasilian History and Geography, and I believe it isn't the point here ...

G.
:blackhair:
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: playmofire on July 18, 2008, 13:20:44
Unfortunately when you compare those train prices with £300 return flight to Miami, or £280 to New York, or around £200 to Houston, or £350 to Fort Lauderdale, and in all those locations I can get a double en-suite room for less than £40 a night, you can see how Yorkshire still seems remote to a Londoner.

I love England, and my wife and I visited York last year, sadly before I knew Gordon or I'd have suggested meeting up, but rail fares are still way too high. If two or more people are travelling, it's almost always cheaper and more convenient to rent a car, even with the ever rising gas prices.
But you pay that train fare if you come to North Yorkshire for two or three weeks holiday.  In the other direction, someone up pays that same fare for a day's visit to, say, the Islamic art exhibition at the National Gallery.
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: playmofire on July 18, 2008, 13:43:39
Of course I'm not suggesting a coal mining museum in London, the obvious choice would be Newcastle. Shipbuilding? Glasgow Docks, or Portsmouth if you're looking at wooden warships. I'm planning a trip to see HMS Victory later this year - I'm not suggesting it should be moved to London to suit me (we do have HMS Belfast which I visited last year). I feel you're putting words in my mouth, but I think you understand exactly what I'm trying to say. Maybe I should have said non-specific local, rather than national interest.


If you were a Playmobil executive trying to reach the largest audience possible, would you choose London or North Yorkshire? Honestly?


Yes, it was a rather sweeping statement, Martin.  ;D   But even when you look at the London museums, often what they deal with is of national interest and even national origin.  Much in the Science museum relates to the Industrial Revolution which was very much a North East, Northern and Midlands thing, so why a museum in the south? 

I'm not suggesting that North Yorkshire is the place for an exhibition (although Harrogate is one of the largest conference centres in the UK) but rather that there are other places (maybe better places) than London for lots of things.  The population figures you quote do not give a true picture as they are not comparing like with like.  You're comparing the Greater London conurbation with individual cities.  If you compare Greater London with, say, the West Yorkshire conurbation, that has 1.5m population.  Less than 50 miles away is the Greater Manchester conurbation, 2.25m population, and the Sheffield area adds about 650,000, and about two hours drive away from Leeds you have the Tyne and Wear conurbation, 1.1m population.  So that gives 5.5m population, which surely makes an adequate catchment area for an exhibition?
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: CountBogro on July 19, 2008, 10:50:08
here's a great link to the museum. It's contains a small movie as well:

http://www.noordhollandsdagblad.nl/nieuws/stadstreek/enkhuizen-westfriesland/article3679003.ece/Playmobil_ware_publiekstrekker_in_Hoorn (http://www.noordhollandsdagblad.nl/nieuws/stadstreek/enkhuizen-westfriesland/article3679003.ece/Playmobil_ware_publiekstrekker_in_Hoorn)

The man that's being shown is the director of the Museum.

The newspaper article below that says:

"HOORN - the Museum of the twentieth century has created another block buster.The museum managed to attract loads of visitors in the past with other, childfriendly expo's, but this time they're receiving hundreds of families a day. Last tuesday more then a 1000 visitors came by. The last few days people had often wait a while before allowed entry. The bad weather clearly played it´s role as well.

It´s the first time a Dutch museum is allowed to have a expo by the German company that released the popular toy some 35 years ago. There have been some expo´s in German museums when Playmobil celebrated it´s 30th birthday. This expo will remain opened until the 26th of October."

Wilma saw it and proposed to visit it again in October; but this time with Brynn. We'll see ...

Bogro
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Richard on July 19, 2008, 12:53:39


Hello, Bogro ...  :wave:

Thank you very much for the link! ...  :wow:

I really enjoyed the video (I watched it several times).

I would love to be able to see ALL of that Pirate movie ...  :klickygrin:

Are all the children in the Netherlands that well behaved, have such good manners and that beautiful?

Thanks again, Mark ... it was almost like being there.

All the best,
Richard

BTW, have you noticed that Playmobil trains on display almost always use electrified tracks rather than RC with batteries?
(Makes me wonder why Playmobil doesn't offer both in their catalogue.)
 
see attachment


Edit: Left out a word (coloured red) ... :-[
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: LHAAP on July 19, 2008, 13:09:32
I would love to be able to see ALL of that Pirate movie ...  :klickygrin:

Hello Richard :wave:

There are two videos available with the new pirates. One of them is the news presentation for 2007 and it can be found HERE (http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Link-Page?id=NOVELTIES_SHOW_07), the other one is part of the (very nice :love:) game HERE (http://www.playmobil.de/on/demandware.store/Sites-DE-Site/de_DE/Link-Page?cid=GAME28).

Have fun! :)
Title: Re: Playmobil exhibition in Hoorn, Netherlands-
Post by: Richard on July 19, 2008, 14:44:39


Thank you very much, Lars ...  :wow:

The videos look like the work of Collectobart (Bart de Smet from Collectobil)!

I wish that there was a way to download and save these videos.
Unfortunately, wonderful videos like these seem to disappear when the sets are no longer being produced.

Thanks again, Lars! I really enjoyed the two great videos (and the game).

All the best,
Richard