Shite in Miniature II

[sierraman]

The blue one is a Rolamatics Fandango. 

[sierraman]

Going to venture to the ‘big’ Tesco later in search of some Matchbox. Am I right I’m saying they stock them now? 

[Split_Pin]

Yes but last time I checked there was only dross left. Catch them when they have just opened a box and you're in!

[sierraman]

Fingers crossed. I’ll report back later. 

[egg]

I didn't know until the other day that Lesney had a factory in Rochford, near Southend-on-Sea. They took on the factory from Ekco.

http://www.rochforddistricthistory.org.uk/page/page.aspx?id=258

http://www.rochforddistricthistory.org.uk/page/page.aspx?id=303

Looks like it operated from the late 60's until they went bust.

Some nice comments at the bottom of the links above:

Quote

I have fond memories of the Lesney factory. I worked there as as a young teenager around about 1980.  I started in the moulding shop packing the plastic mouldings as they came out of the machines.  As a beginner I struggled to keep up with one machine while most of the women easily managed 2!  I eventually moved into the foundry keeping the women supplied with new castings for them to sort and pack.  My boss used to take me down to the pub in Rochford at dinner time, which was great as I couldn't be late back lol.  Happy days!

 

[sierraman]

Rochford stayed open until they were taken over by Tyco, mainly making Superkings, Super GTs etc. If you look there’s loads of post ‘82 Matchbox that still say Made in England on the base. 

[Datsuncog]

7 hours ago, eddyramrod said:

Nice haul, DC!  I'm almost glad I didn't see these yesterday or I would have been forced to enquire about the Vauxhall PA, the Austin K8 van and the Standard Atlas.  I suspect I can't afford them so it doesn't really matter.

Never mind, my stall will be open at the car show tomorrow...

Aye, it sounds like my problem, somewhat... way too great an appetite for diecast than my pockets can manage!

Think there was £10 on the Cresta (pricey enough, with no outer box) and a fiver each for the Austin tow truck and the Standard camper...

Best of luck for tomorrow's sale!

4 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Here is the Alfa Zagato. It's very grubby from years of storage but it's actually very solid, with just a small repair to one pillar and a piece missing from the bumper.

I remember the friction motor used to whine loudly in reverse, just like a real car.

That's a stunner! Fantastic... you know I'm going to have to start looking for more info on these now.

2 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Ok so if the Alfa doesn't whet your whistle, here is that knock-off Datsun I have:

That's exactly the kind of thing I'd blow my holiday money on, in some beachfront tat shop in Cromer or Poole, then have no money left to buy a proper Matchbox car in a toy shop...

Ah, memories...

2 hours ago, sierraman said:

Going to venture to the ‘big’ Tesco later in search of some Matchbox. Am I right I’m saying they stock them now? 

I had a look in a Tesco Extra yesterday, but only a few emergency services type vehicles remained. Still, nice to see Matchbox packaging back again anyway. May angels of tiny shite sing you on your noble mission.

[DoctorRetro]

2 hours ago, egg said:

I didn't know until the other day that Lesney had a factory in Rochford, near Southend-on-Sea. They took on the factory from Ekco.

http://www.rochforddistricthistory.org.uk/page/page.aspx?id=258

http://www.rochforddistricthistory.org.uk/page/page.aspx?id=303

Looks like it operated from the late 60's until they went bust.

Some nice comments at the bottom of the links above:

 

I used to work for a company named Toymonster/ QATC, and they are an offshoot of that very Matchbox place, the father (retired) came from Matchbox and started his own business - still in Rochford... 

The do the customer service for a few big name companies, such as Feber, Leapfrog, VTec, Toys R Us (RIP) and others. 

[eddyramrod]

26 minutes ago, Datsuncog said:

Aye, it sounds like my problem, somewhat... way too great an appetite for diecast than my pockets can manage!

Think there was £10 on the Cresta (pricey enough, with no outer box) and a fiver each for the Austin tow truck and the Standard camper...

Best of luck

That's a stunner! Fantastic...

 

 

Towtruck would have been the wrong one, I meant the blue and white van in the plastic case.  But it doesn't matter, his prices are out of order for me anyway.  No worries...

[sierraman]

Well I went and I’m afraid only the shite was left. The dumper trucks and the boats etc. All the shit nobody wants. No W123 Mercedes. Sad times. 

[Split_Pin]

Just about to head to my local Tescos now. I hope it's other collectors or kids being enthusiastic about them. If it's those greedy bastard 'buyers' that take about 3 or more of the same item to then rip off other collectors in a trade heavily biased against them then I'll find where they live and write a strongly worded letter to each and every one of them beginning with "I must complain in the strongest possible terms...."

[Split_Pin]

Just dross again!

[Bren]

I bought the matchbox laser mercury in the sunmmer of 1987. One of my favourites - as a very young boy I recognised that the front end looked like my dad's mk III cortina.

[Datsuncog]

Bah!

(To quote The Beano)

I'd quite like a W123 Merc and all; but as with the Mk1 Escort flap a few years back, people seem to go nuts with prices for a bit before it all dies down... I'm sure I'll track one eventually! Playin' the long game here...

[AndyW201]

I 've visited my local big Tesco a few times but only fell lucky this week, managed to grab a Lotus Europa and Audi RS6. Only W123s were in the 9 packs but they're quite reasonable at 8 quid, and there's also the Caddy hearse in those.

[bunglebus]

19 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

 

And just zooming in a bit more to the background...

 

Cosmobiles in a variety of flavours. Pale green versions of it and the Planet Scout are indeed Adventure 2000; blue one might be one from the later Adventure 2000 range? Red one is a mainline.

 

 

I'll have the blue and green Cosmobile and the Planet Scout if they're there on your next visit please - and I don't want it, but that blue Beetle commands strong money online.

[bunglebus]

Been busy lately, so several deliveries of eBay job lots haven't made it on here - until now.

 

Maisto version of the MB VW camper

 

20190914_195446 by RS, on Flickr

 

Majorette R5 Turbo

 

20190914_195414 by RS, on Flickr

 

Siku Jeep in Tony the Tiger colours - anyone know why several different manufacturers made cars for this promotion?

 

20190914_195345 by RS, on Flickr

 

Majorette Landy - no rear door unfortunately

 

20190914_195319 by RS, on Flickr

 

Larger scale stuff;

 

Corgi R5

 

20190914_195229 by RS, on Flickr

20190914_195247 by RS, on Flickr

 

Corgi Polio

 

20190914_195100 by RS, on Flickr

20190914_195140 by RS, on Flickr

 

Another Mazda truck - might go in the "to be customised" box

 

20190914_195022 by RS, on Flickr

 

Chevy van - wanted the passion wagon version of this but hard to find - didn't realise the ambulance has odd rear doors

 

20190914_194907 by RS, on Flickr

20190914_194912 by RS, on Flickr

 

Lotus Elite

 

20190914_194545 by RS, on Flickr

 

ERTL A-Team van

 

20190914_194812 by RS, on Flickr

 

 

[bunglebus]

Had a wander into TK Maxx yesterday as occasionally they have 3 packs of Hot Wheels. Well. I came out many pennies lighter.

Here's what I didn't buy;

 

20190913_180126 by RS, on Flickr

20190913_180122 by RS, on Flickr

20190913_175752 by RS, on Flickr

20190913_175759 by RS, on Flickr

20190913_175741 by RS, on Flickr

20190913_175739 by RS, on Flickr

20190913_175701 by RS, on Flickr

20190913_175653 by RS, on Flickr

20190913_175613 by RS, on Flickr

20190913_175608 by RS, on Flickr

20190913_175551 by RS, on Flickr

20190913_175544 by RS, on Flickr

20190913_175527 by RS, on Flickr

20190913_175537 by RS, on Flickr

 

And here's what I did;

 

20190914_091114 by RS, on Flickr

20190914_091019 by RS, on Flickr

20190914_090945 by RS, on Flickr

20190914_090901 by RS, on Flickr

20190914_090823 by RS, on Flickr

20190914_090742 by RS, on Flickr

20190914_090651 by RS, on Flickr

20190914_090603 by RS, on Flickr

20190914_090456 by RS, on Flickr

20190914_090403 by RS, on Flickr

[Split_Pin]

Those are some pieces that I haven't seen before. They are nice but £2.50 is a bit steep for a 1/64, unless it's one I want terribly.

Of course I can say that sitting here in my chair, if I was there in person I would have at least bought the Duster and the Beetle with the caravan.

[sheffcortinacentre]

I want the MK1 zodiac, if still there next week I'll take the red/white rs200 with 7 on front from tat had as it looks in decent condition.

The green fantasy car was a corgi junior in yellow.

[bunglebus]

OK here's a brain teaser for the die cast experts among you - I had a plastic version of the MB Sand Digger, presumably a copy or made using the MB moulds. It was black with opaque black windows, and a hole in the back so it could be fired out of something like a Key Car. I've no idea what happened to mine, has anyone got a clue what is was and who it was made by?

Can't seem to find anything online about ex-matchbox castings (or any other companies moulds for that matter).

[Split_Pin]

Couldn't resist the tat boxes at the Dumfries car show today, 3 for a quid.

The 2 Whizzwheels are in OK nick, small crack on the glass and that's all.

I may repaint the Golf as it's remarkably intact for a Bburago.

[Frogchod]

Another addition to the reverse rake window collection.

I was at a car show today and noticed a porche 914:

Yep, that's a reverse rake, so I went and found a model at one of the traders there.

On the model it looks vertical but it'll do for me.

Also found an Oltcit:

And a model of a modern Hvan.

These are a thing, you can buy a polyester kit to transform your real Jumper/Boxter into an H van

 

 

[egg]

Great, who made the Oltcit?

[Bren]

4 hours ago, Split_Pin said:

Couldn't resist the tat boxes at the Dumfries car show today, 3 for a quid.

The 2 Whizzwheels are in OK nick, small crack on the glass and that's all.

I may repaint the Golf as it's remarkably intact for a Bburago.

I have the aston on it's first edition card. It's bloody expensive nowadays.

[sierraman]

Got the Aston myself as well but it’s a sort of blue chrome colour. 

[Frogchod]

49 minutes ago, egg said:

Great, who made the Oltcit?

No idea. It's only got "made in prc" on the base plate. 

It was in a plain blister pack so I suspect it could be a Hachette magazine jobbie.

Only 5 euro

 

[Datsuncog]

On ‎9‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 4:31 PM, eddyramrod said:

Towtruck would have been the wrong one, I meant the blue and white van in the plastic case.  But it doesn't matter, his prices are out of order for me anyway.  No worries...

Yeah, they're very much 'collector prices'. Sometimes something odd slips through the net for cheaps, but 90% of the stuff on the stall could be found elsewhere for the same or less.

Still, thrill of the chase and all!

On ‎9‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 9:02 PM, bunglebus said:

I'll have the blue and green Cosmobile and the Planet Scout if they're there on your next visit please - and I don't want it, but that blue Beetle commands strong money online.

I'll have a rummage on Friday - have had a few PMs from interested parties on a number of items, including the Cosmobiles, so I'll see what can be uncovered!

Cheers for the heads-up on the Beetle, too...

On ‎9‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 9:18 PM, bunglebus said:

Been busy lately, so several deliveries of eBay job lots haven't made it on here - until now.

Siku Jeep in Tony the Tiger colours - anyone know why several different manufacturers made cars for this promotion?

20190914_195345 by RS, on Flickr

Well bought! That's quite a haul, and the Jeep looks in decent nick.

 

Further to earlier discussions on cereal box promotion models, I understand the Frosties diecast were all produced at different times over the years, for different promotions - quite likely, Kelloggs just put out invitations for bids to supply promotional diecasts, and on certain occasions Matchbox, Corgi and Siku happened to win the contract...

The Matchbox Pontiac  was part of a 1985 promotion for the '3-in-1 Tony Supporter' pack - kids (or indeed adults, ahem) who sent off the appropriate number of coupons received a unique 'tiger stripe' version of the MB16 Pontiac T-Roof...

...together with a magazine/comic thing and a 'Tony's Supporter' holographic card.

(Remember when simply having something shaped like a credit card was a big thing? Now I've got far too many of the bloody objects....)

The promotion was apparently a runaway success, with disappointed kids having to wait months for their car to arrive, as demand totally outstripped the initial supply.

 

The next year, 1986, Kelloggs repeated the offer, this time billed as the 'Tony's Triple Treat' promotion, and now featuring the Siku Jeep.

Again, the model was packed with a comic and this time a poster too - all in exchange for eight tokens.

Siku was an unusual choice of supplier for the time, and it's likely that for many kids this was their first exposure to the brand. I'd never seen Siku toys until I found a few at an autojumble c.1991.

Because they were made in West Germany, it's possible that Siku offered Kelloggs more flexibility in meeting potential customer demand. I wonder whether Matchbox, who by 1986 were manufacturing exclusively in the Far East, couldn't provide guarantees to produce and deliver further supplies if demand was a strong as the previous year - and so Siku landed the contract?

 

The three Corgi Juniors were part of the 'Tiger Tracks' promotion in 1989:

Eight tokens bagged you a Porsche 911 and a comic; six got you either a Jaaaag XJS or a Ferrari Testarossa.

Have to say, Tony the Tiger comes across as a bit of a prick to his so-called mates in these comics... it's true what they say, never meet your heroes.

 

Of all these promos, I can only remember the Corgi one - I saved six tokens and received the XJS (which I already had in multiple iterations, but y'know... free).

Credit must go to cerealoffers.com for the info here!

http://cerealoffers.com/Kelloggs/Frosties/frosties.html

 

[Split_Pin]

I remember the Pontiac Trans am well, I had mine for years although its now long gone. The holographic card also kept turning up in various places every time I was looking for something else in my room, usually flat on the bottom of a drawer or in a book.

[Datsuncog]

Heh, I think I still have my old Sealink 'Commodore Club' laminated card, from a ferry trip in 1987... I'm sure that'll come in handy, someday...

I remember being given weird presents sometimes like a grey faux-leather wallet, and I'd diligently put the Commodore Club card in the appropriate card holder bit because I didn't have any other cards - I was only, like, eight!