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Shite in Miniature II


Split_Pin

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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.

MatchboxLarge1_s.jpg

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!

 

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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...

1935348892_LMM919002.thumb.jpg.4503ab29406ea18bd00206fbd47043fd.jpg

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.

20190914_114436.jpg

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:

20190914_112750.thumb.jpg.da17f7edbadc4b864d0f05c0300b8be5.jpg

20190914_112649.thumb.jpg.1790e5fb34564776f453252dd1ef4e75.jpg

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.

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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.

MatchboxLarge1_s.jpg

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. 

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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...

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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...."

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19 hours ago, Datsuncog said:

 

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

20190913_090800.thumb.jpg.a9edc4bfacb6d1eabb94f508f141c2fd.jpg

 

20190913_093102.thumb.jpg.7e3ace5b90324d556afba07a8cde0c63.jpg

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.

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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

 

48733163532_dabeec02d9_k.jpg20190914_195446 by RS, on Flickr

 

Majorette R5 Turbo

 

48733138527_a2571d2d63_k.jpg20190914_195414 by RS, on Flickr

 

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

 

48733133237_79ce216fdd_k.jpg20190914_195345 by RS, on Flickr

 

Majorette Landy - no rear door unfortunately

 

48732619568_eb3b01842f_k.jpg20190914_195319 by RS, on Flickr

 

Larger scale stuff;

 

Corgi R5

 

48733122607_add80cf84d_k.jpg20190914_195229 by RS, on Flickr

48733125352_6072240b9d_k.jpg20190914_195247 by RS, on Flickr

 

Corgi Polio

 

48732932541_ab5cc6e8b4_k.jpg20190914_195100 by RS, on Flickr

48732936941_f821fae8ff_k.jpg20190914_195140 by RS, on Flickr

 

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

 

48732926491_d76c7ea9f8_k.jpg20190914_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

 

48733100247_ed8819fc67_k.jpg20190914_194907 by RS, on Flickr

48732921396_1d3c2f0b2c_k.jpg20190914_194912 by RS, on Flickr

 

Lotus Elite

 

48732577158_9701f4cfc1_k.jpg20190914_194545 by RS, on Flickr

 

ERTL A-Team van

 

48732913291_6822c891d2_k.jpg20190914_194812 by RS, on Flickr

 

 

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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;

 

48728362881_a886f98855_k.jpg20190913_180126 by RS, on Flickr

48728532622_2a692e11c4_k.jpg20190913_180122 by RS, on Flickr

48728031693_32c3476f10_k.jpg20190913_175752 by RS, on Flickr

48728358246_1d4fc91240_k.jpg20190913_175759 by RS, on Flickr

48728356116_f4e5e78945_k.jpg20190913_175741 by RS, on Flickr

48728527332_6d3943efb4_k.jpg20190913_175739 by RS, on Flickr

48728027673_d03e76203b_k.jpg20190913_175701 by RS, on Flickr

48728524687_19cf8bc756_k.jpg20190913_175653 by RS, on Flickr

48728023593_6437aff7bf_k.jpg20190913_175613 by RS, on Flickr

48727790676_587a214afc_k.jpg20190913_175608 by RS, on Flickr

48727790276_d98a8c7992_k.jpg20190913_175551 by RS, on Flickr

48727790256_723f83f4dd_k.jpg20190913_175544 by RS, on Flickr

48727946662_785e210179_k.jpg20190913_175527 by RS, on Flickr

48727442198_a08399f3df_k.jpg20190913_175537 by RS, on Flickr

 

And here's what I did;

 

48730796957_91bd3bb69e_z.jpg20190914_091114 by RS, on Flickr

48730615586_bbd369be40_z.jpg20190914_091019 by RS, on Flickr

48730613336_b8618a3c39_k.jpg20190914_090945 by RS, on Flickr

48730279013_8028d89ba9_k.jpg20190914_090901 by RS, on Flickr

48730787322_124169b9b4_k.jpg20190914_090823 by RS, on Flickr

48730784057_62cb407603_k.jpg20190914_090742 by RS, on Flickr

48730780302_fb679565cd_k.jpg20190914_090651 by RS, on Flickr

48730777297_cec0ec6178_k.jpg20190914_090603 by RS, on Flickr

48730263528_b6b8ef07d9_k.jpg20190914_090456 by RS, on Flickr

48730772492_3c54409ab9_k.jpg20190914_090403 by RS, on Flickr

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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.

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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).

matchbox-volkswagen-baja-bug-sand-digger-.jpg

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Another addition to the reverse rake window collection.

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

86046090_mc19(Large).thumb.jpg.f44b7a244fd02570056e43087b53c5a7.jpg

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

923391822_mc22(Large).thumb.jpg.7ecb370381fa25feb90ae097f9ddf6b3.jpg

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

Also found an Oltcit:

1737732770_mc23(Large).thumb.jpg.e3c079326048acb497eb756516b4898d.jpg

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 :)

23144260_mc24(Large).thumb.jpg.6ea62285025c28245e6a6dfa06cb5b80.jpg

 

 

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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.

20190915_135819.jpg

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

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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?

48733133237_79ce216fdd_k.jpg20190914_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...

Matchbox_MB16_Pontiac_T-Roof_Frosties_Promotion.thumb.png.5d3138ce34502bfdea3e8f366764d819.png

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

1985-Frosties-Tony-the-Tiger-Magazine--1-.thumb.jpg.a49a29cc0bfe3caae57adc602cfb11d8.jpg

(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.

Kelloggs_Frosties_Triple_Treat_Promo_1986_Siku.thumb.png.63ec4c421d8fce9322afb23f33800449.png

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

Kelloggs_Frosties_Triple_Treat_Promo_1986_Siku_Jeep.thumb.png.fb39fddb87086c5eecae10a07b42fb00.png

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:

Kelloggs_Frosties_Tiger_Tracks_Promo_1989_Corgi.png.f7956672d3385e7f4b2abd0217d63249.png

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

Kelloggs_Frosties_Tiger_Tracks_Promo_1989_Corgi_Cars_Ferrari_Porsche_Jaguar.thumb.png.4e224c33c851c4b90e8ed6b604dae3c0.png

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.

Kelloggs_Frosties_Tiger_Tracks_Promo_Comic_1989_Corgi.thumb.png.4f07f721ef0fb868b42fefee67fa766f.png

 

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

 

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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!

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