Of Getting Icky Stickers To Go And Little Van Goes

Little Van Goes, By Tomy Corp.

I grabbed this Little Van Goes kit (Tomy Corp., No. 2524, circa 1978) at a rummage sale this past summer. I needn’t tell you the price as the seller committed the horrible sin of placing the price sticker right on the box. *sigh*

I suppose I should consider the fact that a seller ignorant to such harm to a collectible is also the seller who places the value of such an item on a buck — but frankly, I see this done with fragile antique ephemera by dealers who should know better as well.

So, before we get into dishing on the discovery of such retro goodness, lets talk about how to get rid of such sticker sins.

Now, if the icky sticker, tape, or it’s residue is on a figurine or some-such, you can use liquid soap to remove it; but when it’s on paper, liquid anything isn’t an option.

Instead you use air — not, not the hot air of ranting about the seller’s stupidity, the air of a blow dryer.

There are two principals at work here: heat and humidity.

Using A Blow Dryer To Make Sticker Removal Easier

With newer stickers and/or glossier paper, a bit of heat usually moistens the adhesive, allowing you to peel it back gently. In some cases, it comes off in one nice slow peel; in others, it’s a bit by bit process, stopping and starting as the adhesive warms enough to slide. (You’ll be tempted to pick or prod it when it’s not ready — but don’t, that’s when the sticker will lift off and remove part of the paper with it.)

It can be helpful, especially in the later cases, to have one person hold the blow dryer while another attempts to peel.

With older stickers, older paper, and/or less glossy paper, the blowing air itself decreases humidity and the old sticker or tape is so arid it virtually pops off. However, the older the paper, the more you need to worry about heat actually scorching or discoloring the paper. Your hands are a generally good guide though; your hands are near 98.6 degrees while the paper is room temperature. So if your hands feel too warm, stop. It’s too hot for the old paper.

Unfortunately, there are no magic numbers here in terms of temperature, length of time, etc. It’s an individual process and the more often you do it, the better judge you’ll be at how ready the tape or sticker is to be peeled or lifted away. Remember, that’s “peeled or lifted away,” so don’t pick or scratch as that will remove paper too.

Original Little Van Goes Box Without Rummage Price Tag

In this case, neither the slick box cover nor the “newish” sticker made for the sticker to be so easily removed so you can see a few spots where the paper was lifted off. (Probably the worst job I’ve done in years, but that’s because I was showing you, right?) Anyway, it’s a heck of a lot better than the half or full circle with jagged tear I’d have gotten without the blow dryer.

OK, now that the sticker’s gone, I’ve got a decent original box for my retro Tomy toy.

This set is not complete. I’m missing one of the four middle section van plates and the plastic crayon holder. But that can’t stop this “van fan” from making “wild van creations.”

Retro Little Van Goes Set

Being a girl, I never had the pleasure of one of these Little Van Goes before — I was stuck with the Barbie Fashion Plates. Which are not nearly so much fun, I think. Of course, we’re talking about rockin’ 70’s vans, man. What could really compare? It’s basically a lost art form. Like album cover art.

So, no, it’s not for sale; you’ll have to look for your own Little Van Goes on eBay.

I Made This Little Van Go-es