by Tim Wilkin

Are you looking for a new home for one or more old Erector Sets you no longer want? Here are some suggestions for donation of your Erector sets.

If the set contains parts that are in good shape and sufficient to make at least some of the basic models, I’ve found that local foster homes will often accept items like this for the kids to build and play with. I’ve given 13 sets to foster homes with good results. Also, if you have suitcases you no longer use, foster homes are frequently forced to send kids to a home with their belongings in a trash bag for lack of a better option, so you may also be able to help boost a kid’s self-esteem by providing a suitcase.

Another possible place to donate a set is to grandparents of an 8-12 year old boy. Grandpa may have had one as a kid and it gives the grandparent and grandchild a bonding opportunity. I’ve given 12 sets away to grandparents and grandkids in the past couple of years.

Finally, the A.C. Gilbert Heritage Society has national and regional conventions where models are showcased and the general public gets to enjoy a bit of toy history for a few hours. At several of the national conventions, members have donated sets or portions of sets for kids to build and take home a simple model. This past summer, the emphasis was on STEM training in schools, and parts to build an improved model of a walking giant were donated and the students challenged to engineer improvements to the original design. This worked well. If you decide on this option, I can reach out to this year’s sponsor for the national convention and get the two of you in touch. If you decide on this option, use our Contact Us form and I can connect you with this year’s sponsor for the ACGHS National Convention.