Do you have one of the best Thomas Collections?
No, not even close.
On the rare occasion I do think about it, I figure if there were a "Top 10" (and there's really no way to objectively create a criteria that fits all collections) I wouldn't even break the Top 10. I seriously doubt I'd break the Top 25. I'm pretty confident that I'd get into the Top 50 though.
This isn't false modesty. If you're truly able to be passionless, objective, and completely unbiased - you'll see that the "best" collections are those which contain the rarest of the rare, the most difficult. And that means one of two things: A) Money or B) Access.
The "best" collections will contain complete game-used and/or hand-signed everything. From helmets & caps right down to socks & pinetar cups - yes, even underwear. How many collections have a genuine Thomas gamer glove? How many own a Big Hurt Pinball Machine? How many have any of the numerous The City Of Chicago public service posters and banners that were placed in city offices, city buses, cabs, and the 'L' trains? How many have met Big Frank and had a meal or played a round of golf with the man? Not me. No, common sense says that a collector living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean will have, at best, a moderate/decent collection.
I don't think many of the eBay regulars can count themselves among the Top 10 either. If you're shopping on eBay - that means you (typically) don't have a connection to the best material as well. What ends up on eBay is ... well...not to put too fine a point on it: "hand-me-downs". It's a virtual certainty that material that ends up on eBay is not from a direct source; not unless you really believe that some guy just happened to ask Frank for his game-used glove and Big Frank obliging gave it to him. As huge a fan as I am - even I don't believe The Big Hurt would do that. No, the best collections are held by those closest to the man himself or who are so wealthy they don't have to 'hunt'. Arn Tellum is certainly one of those who has to be in the running for "No.1" given his relationship. Frank's brother Michael would also certainly be in the running. I suspect many of the very top collectors have never even been on eBay. Way too rich to waste their time hunting and clicking when they can just tell Al Rosen or Grey Flannel what they want - and it's taken care of with a phone call. Think Charlie Sheen here.
My collection is one based on perseverance, the continual pursuit on a moderate budget. I'm proud to have put together what I have. It took tons of hard work, focus, and a bit of luck. And the amount of sheer research I've put into it dwarfs many oft-quoted resource tools. But despite all that - I don't even break the Top 25. Maybe one day... <g>