The following pictures show the head now stripped and sanded down. I have also given you some shots of the inside of the head giving you a look at the mechanics and the Frank Marshall Card inside. As I stated before he has slot jaw, individual winkers, smoker and a spitter.
One of the unsung figure makers from across the pond is Walt Botley. Since I have been collecting ventriloquist figures this is only the second figure made by Botley that I have found which I could purchase for the Ventriloquist Central Collection.
This figure was made in the early 1970’s and is all original including his 1970’s clothing. This really is the way I like to find figures.
I received a very special package in the mail from a fan of Ventriloquist Central, Jesse Burden. I wanted to share this with everyone.
![DSCN2080[1]](https://ventriloquistcentralblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/dscn20801.jpg)
It is hard to believe but Ventriloquist Central is almost hit the 7 year mark and if you haven’t heard we are having a Birthday Bash to celebrate…. http://www.ventriloquistcentral.com/birthdaybash/
However, that isn’t the reason for this blog. This blog is to reflect on the collection of Ventriloquist Central.
Back seven years ago I was introduced to Steve Hurst, the webmaster and my partner on Ventriloquist Central, and he agreed to do up a web site to showcase the collection of figures I had put together at that time.
![DSCN2081[1]](https://ventriloquistcentralblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/dscn20811.jpg)
I had, if I am not mistaken, 37 antique ventriloquist figures at that time and of that amount I had 4 Frank Marshall Figures. Man I was proud to let everyone see the collection I had put together.
![DSCN2031[1]](https://ventriloquistcentralblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/dscn20311.jpg)
If you ever thought that restoring a figure was easy let me tell you it really isn’t. I have now spent many hours just in the process of stripping the old black minstrel paint off of lucky Charlie.
In the process it revealed the original pinkish color that Frank used when he was first painted. As tough as the black paint has been to remove the original paint is even tougher to get off. The old oil based paint from almost 100 years ago is as hard as a rock.
