Hey everyone. Well, I have a few new characters.

One is a one-of Alan Semok figure.

The second is a 25 year old mint-condition one-of Ray Guyll girl figure.

Last but not least is a fully restored Jack Coats figure.

For "use" my favorite is the Semok. Some of the best mechanics I've ever felt. The leather winkers are lightning fast (which is impressive and fun to use) and sturdy. The mouth doesn't make a sound, and works well. The eyes have a slight "small" noise, but still work really well. He is easy to manipulate and comes to LIFE fairly easy. His controls are great. I'm a lefty --- but have acclimated quickly to his right handed controls (although my theory is that anyone can get used to any type of controls if they truly want to practice and work at it).

The COATS is fun to look at, but somewhat cumbersome to use. He was bigger than I suspected he would be. The levers are handcarved and aesthetically impressive - but unless you have huge hands they too are hard to use. Everything works fine though. The mouth is a bit stiff. The slots are incredibly close (which again - looks great), but this causes the mouth to slightly RUB. The COATS figures are definitely not small.

The Guyll is fantastic. Cute little cartoonish girl. If you've ever seen the Dave Miller cartoons that were done for all of the old Maher/Newsy Vent publications, this is what she was modelled after according to Ray. I called him after I received her. The paint is second to none (truly Ray's specialty) and the mechanics work perfectly fine (s/s eyes, moving mouth, and cryer).

I've been buying and trading figures here for a bit with the intention of building up a collection --- but now if I'm not inspired to use it - it may have to go. Looking at them sit in a display gets boring after a while.

I do have a Selberg figure due to me soon. It is THE NERD. I actually bought a NERD on the second hand market - but because I had a NERD due-in, I traded it off for the Guyll (which are incredibly rare). Knowing how great the NERD was, I look forward to the one I have due-in. There is so much comedic potential with that figure it is incredible.

Sorry for going on so long. Just wanted to share my new friends with you. Now the fun part - writing material!

Matt:

How about posting some pictures for us? Always love to see new figures.

bob

Hi Matt,
Like you I'm also awed with old figures by great master figure-makers. Somehow it feels different when we use them, probably because of the history behind them.

I am not a collector, basically, but a full-time vent performer. I have used figures made by Detweiler, Lovik, Selberg, and a few by modern figure-makers--but by far my favorite is my circa 1918 Mack-Marshall figure. It doesn't have the usual bells and whistles (the many animations) many vents want to have in the figures, but the mouth control and movement is, IMHO, second to none. It only has a right winker (old style rolling eyes), crying effect, and mouth movement.

Congratulations on your new characters and I hope you can send me pictures of them to my email address: lafflearn@hotmail.com.
Semok and Guyll figures, like your Coasts, will surely become classics in the years to come. Great choice!!!