Welcome to the sixth episode of our regular segment, where a vintage collector is given 10 short questions to answer. The same questions will be given to the next collector appearing on the segment.

My next victim is my friend Chris Bernst, who has being a big supporter of the blog from day one and for that I’m very grateful. Chris is 41 years old and lives in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada with his wife and their two girls but he spent most of his life in Victoria BC with a couple of three year stints in Vancouver and Toronto…He’s a bit of a jack of all trades and has worked as a cook, waiter, bartender, carpenter, horse and buggy tour guide, security guard, toy show vendor, fire investigator, and most recently a fibre-optic splicer….His newest venture includes his family as they prepare to bring life back into a vacant heritage building with a neighbourhood pub…

Chris is an avid Star Wars collector and runs two collector groups on Facebook ” Batteries not Included Collectors Group Inc.” and “Indiana Jones and Collectors Covenant”. I love the “Batteries not Included” group as it provides a meeting place for both modern and vintage collectors and the admin team encourages intelligent and respectful discussion. Bad seeds are very quickly weeded out.

Chris’ love for Star Wars came at the age of five when his older brother, who he always looked up to, introduced him to the world of Star Wars. Like most of us, he was hooked line and sinker. His parents built (bought!) his Star Wars universe….When he received a good school report card or scored a touchdown in a football game he would be rewarded (like lots of kids in the 1970s) with Star Wars figures. And he had them all…from the start It was on…..and he hasn’t stopped..

Here we go!

1. How long have you been collecting?

I’ve been collecting Star Wars literally since they were first released. I remember my brother getting the early bird certificate when we were kids,and when I first saw his figures I needed them too….the passion never really stopped for me. I mean it tapered in my mid to late teens when I discovered rock music and that girls had boobs…I moved around a lot so I kept my stuff packed up at my grandmas from the time I was 12 until I was about 24 (it remained untouched) with the resurgence of the POTF2 line. That’s where it started again for me in 1997.

2. What do you collect?

Well I collect a lot but my main focus is vintage. There is just something about these toys that meant so much to me growing up. I have a near complete vintage Kenner collection and I’m only missing seven items; which are readily available. Perhaps something inside me is holding back on finishing the complete set because then I’d have em all. Now what? I also collect modern figures. I have almost 800 MOC figures dating back to 1997 to present. I’m also into vintage Star Wars cards, comics, mags, ect….I do collect lots of other toys but for now let’s stick to Star Wars.

VSWC: Here are a few photos of Chris’ enormous collection! 

3. What’s your grail?

Well my grail is one that’s worthless and would end up on some Facebook group as a $2 beater. I mean I have pieces worth hundreds of dollars but my Big Head Han with his crazy glued head is my jewel. He’s been through everything with me, first day of school, doctor visits, dentist visits, funerals, hockey games, foot ball games, college –  this little guy has been through it all. He was even in my breast pocked when I married my beautiful wife. To me this figure is priceless.

4. What collectors inspire you?

Well immediately Sir Steve comes to mind. The guy is a wealth of Star Wars collectible knowledge. He literally wrote the book (s) on the subject. How can you not be inspired by that? Look at Bill McBride’s Vader collection….that’s unbelievable. There are so many collectors I meet who have these great collections, good people who are willing to help other collectors attain their goals….that in itself is inspiring.

5. What is your most embarrassing moment as a collector?

I’m not sure I’ve had enough embarrassing collecting moments that warrants a best…I do remember in 1997 I was living in Victoria, BC. One of my best friends and I were making pretty fantastic bootleg copies of “The Holiday Special” to sell in the line up at the theater opening night. He did the artwork for the cover while I duped the movies…we walked up and down the two block line-up trying to flog the tapes…..there was a comic book store / directly beside the theatre I went in thinking well shit this guy will want them. I was wrong he wanted no part of it of what I was offering. He literally chased me out of the store into a sea of Star Wars fans yelling ” Star Wars Bootlegger”. My friend and I did ok though lol….Later that night on the local news there was a guy attending the later showing of the film who actually brought his TV and VCR and was playing our tape in the line-up.

6. What is your favourite Star Wars film?

No question for me….Empire…I loved the snow scenes as a kid. Growing up in northern Ontario we get a lot of snow in the winter and I could really relate to seeing my childhood heroes in the snow…that and the toys from Empire kicked ass!! I was able to recreate so many scenes from Empire..

7. What would you change about the collecting community?

I’d like to see online FB transactions documented as best as they can be(at least the bad transactions) I’d like to think that I am doing my part with my Feedback list on “Batteries Not Included.” Our goal was to make the ‘Buy, Sell and Trade’ community a safer one and with the help of two great admins, Gary Haygood and Paul Galactic Armory, we have created and maintained a very useful feedback list. The list has over 400 users (and growing daily) with positive transactions. As well as a list of bad sellers and buyers. Star Wars is big business for some collectors and I hate hearing the stories of people getting ripped off…

8. Forums or Facebook groups?

I’m pretty partial to the FB community when it comes to Star Wars. I’ve met a lot of great collectors online that I now consider friends. It’s really quite amazing how this social networking site brings us who share the same passion for these movies and toys all together. I know there is a lot of drama sometimes and I’ve been caught in the middle on occasion but there is way more good than bad in these groups.

9. What Star Wars character do you most resemble?

The older I get the more I’m looking like Obi-Wan. I think I could pull off a sweet Jedi costume.

VSWC: What do you guys think? Chris is not that old is he????

10. Is there one thing that collectors may not know about you?

I’ve led an exciting and happy life. I’ve enjoyed rock climbing in the Rocky Mountains and I’ve surfed in the Pacific Ocean, worked in some extreme and exciting situations. I’ve been to over 300 concerts in so many awesome venues in North America. In my early 20s I spent three months in my 71′ VW van following Pink Floyd from venue to venue. I have multiple passions that I am fortunate to dabble in. I married my college sweetheart and I have two beautiful girls.

Well thanks Chris for joining us. It has been a treat learning more about you and your passion for this great hobby of ours really shines through. Keep doing what you are doing!