Meet Anthony Toth: Inside the Collection

Air travel was amazing in the past. Don't believe us? Take your seat, buckle up and relax; this will be an easy flight!

Nov. 17, 2024

Anthony Toth fell in love with all things aviation as a little kid, and his passion for planes has soared higher over the years. Anthony has restored an actual Boeing 747, which is a bit of a Hollywood star. He has made it his lifelong mission to collect airline memorabilia and loves hunting for missing pieces. His collection includes items mostly from the '70s and '80s and everything from groovy uniforms to vintage airline seats plus more.

Anthony is driven to collect by his interest in completing things. With over 100,000 aviation items in his collection, his high-flying collection has one of the most valuable items we've seen yet on Collector's Call. Take a look!


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1. A fully restored Boeing 747 plane

This very real and completely restored 747 is a bit of a celebrity in Hollywood. This famous airplane was used in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) and Mad Men (2007).

What originally came rescued from a desert by Anthony became a fully restored airplane. It's complete with a first-class cabin, a coach cabin and an upper deck lounge.

This 747 showcases what flying was like in the '70s and '80s. How do you think he did? Book us a flight!

Today this item would be worth $2,000,000, which is one of the highest-flying prices we've ever seen on Collector's Call.

2. TWA meal setup

We hope this vintage meal tray doesn't make you too hungry! This is a typical meal setup that would have been served to airline passengers in the coach cabin from the '50s.

Anthony acquired every piece of this item individually. He found the pieces over 10 years, but the hunt is one of his favorite parts of collecting.

With this item completely assembled, it's worth $300.

3. Vintage Braniff airline uniform

Braniff was one of the most interesting and weirdest brands for marketing in the '80s. They even designed a famous space uniform at one point in time. This vintage uniform was designed by Emilio Pucci. He was known for designing six different uniforms; this is the second uniform he designed.

Pucci wanted it to be colorful, groovy and feel liberating. Despite Anthony missing the green gloves and boots that went along with this original uniform, it's still worth $3,500 today.

4. First class United Airlines vintage seats

These vintage United Airlines seats are one of Anthony's favorite designs from the past. This piece includes headphones for listening to music, pillows and meal trays. Traveling in style made easy.

Today this item would be worth $1,500.

5. United Airlines computer reservation system

This vintage United Airlines computer reservation system was located in Anthony's restored airport lobby, which was designed for what was typical in the '70s and '80s.

Anthony reproduces it for the production of TV and movies, specifically for scenes in an airport lobby or checking in at a ticket counter.

When the airline companies switched to a more modern system, about 99% of these vintage computer reservation systems were thrown away. To find one today is rare. 

Today this item is worth around $500.

6. The total value of Anthony Toth's collection:

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9 Comments

dmirarh 18 months ago
Lisa is so darn hott... Work it girl.
tootsieg 18 months ago
The BEST Collector’s Call episode. Amazing!!! Everything reminded me of when people got dressed up to fly, the meals were hot and delicious and flying somewhere was very special.
sagafrat69 18 months ago
Really fun episode to watch. I remember as a kid in the 70's flying on Continental Airlines. They had the staircase leading to the 2nd deck. There they had a little makeshift game room. PONG was one of the popular games to play. It was definitely a different flying experience back in those days. What an incredible collection!
Runeshaper 19 months ago
The fully restored Boeing 747 plane is EPIC!
bickwiz Runeshaper 18 months ago
The equipment is all Northwest Airlines, flatware, china, serving cart. Unfortunately this set up, made to mimic the upper deck lounge of a 747, never existed. The upper deck was first a lounge for First Class passengers with 4 separate chairs that swiveled and a curved settee along the left and aft left part of the cabin. Dinner was never served on the tables Mr. Toth depicts. Later the upper deck became Business Class seating with tray table for each seat, not shared dining tables. The dinnerware depicted is from a service that was called "Regal Imperial". That service ceased when Northwest launched "WorldClass" service in late 1989. Signed, Retired NW Purser/Flight Attendant.
Runeshaper bickwiz 18 months ago
Thank you so much for sharing all of that info and experience with us! Very insightful (-:
MrsPhilHarris 19 months ago
I remember those big 747s in the 80s. That was back when I enjoyed flying. Lots of room. Real China dishes. It was kind of fun. ✈️
madvincent 19 months ago
SELL IT ANTHONY....................
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