Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2024 i Collectors Gazette

Warwick & Warwick’s last sale, by all accounts, saw something of a bidding war amongst the diecast lots. A lot containing a collection featuring Cameo, Joal, LLedo, Majorette and Norev vehicles, plus a large unboxed range, sold for £900. Another mixed lot included Atlas, Brumm, Corgi, Eagle Copter (remote controlled), Lledo, Matchbox, Motor Cycles Harley Davidson (again remote controlled), Oxford Die Cast and Vitesse, along with Hot Wheels and Matchbox cases, together with some James Bond 007 magazines, raised £975. Moreover, an unboxed collection, including ranges from Brumm, Burago, Corgi, Dinky, Hot Wheels, Lledo, Matchbox and Solido also did well, selling for £875. One stand-out lot featured James Bond’s Aston Martin (reference No. 261) with an inner stand, bandit figure, secret instructions and Corgi Model Club slip. This went for…

British Toy auctions’ last sale threw up some lots of interest. From Masudaya Toys came a vintage battery operated tinplate car from circa 1970. The Champion Racer 38 Racing Car with Engine Sound was some 46cm long and exhibited some signs of use; in particular, it appeared to be missing its windscreen. The item came in a fair box and went under the hammer for £240 plus commission. A vintage Streamline Fire Engine Set No.164 from Taylor & Barrett contained six vehicles, figures and accessories. In play worn condition with various signs of damage to the contents, it nonetheless retained its box. The set realised £240. And for public service nostalgia fans, the striking Routemaster Bus in 1/12 scale built up from the Hachette Build Your Own Bus in weekly…

Along with model railways and diecast cars, plastic assembly kits are guaranteed to evoke nostalgia in those who were children in the sixties and seventies. The trouble is that, with the passage of time, people tend to view things through rose-tinted spectacles and forget the frustrations of the kit-building hobby – the parts that didn’t fit properly, the glue that got all over the fingers and the paint that took hours to dry! Too often the whole thing ended up being put back in the box, unfinished and covered with blobs of glue in the wrong places. The manufacturers knew very well that building their models to the standard of the airbrushed pictures on the box cover was virtually impossible so they came up with a solution: reduce the number…

To fully understand the history of Lott’s Bricks you have to turn back the pages of time to examine the history of the German firm of Richter. From the 1880s through to World War I Richter ‘Anchor’ stone blocks were imported into the UK from Germany in large quantities and were used to create all manner of miniature buildings. Richter never had a factory in the UK and only ever imported its products. F. Ad Richter died in 1910 but the ‘Anchor Brick Company’ continued its distribution in the UK until anti-German feeling from the British public slowed down the sale of German made toys. Until World War I Richter had virtually dominated the toy building brick market both in Germany and in the UK but things were about to…

We live in an age of superhero movies, comics, books, action figures and all the rest. It was not always so. Now starting to fade from memory the origins of our current popular culture started around one hundred years ago with the Pulps. These magazines were called “pulps” because they were made from cheap paper. They were designed to be read and thrown away. The only thing that mattered was the price and this became even more important during the time of the American Depression, when the cost really mattered. From this unfortunate start has developed the vibrant hero industry we all know and love today. There was cheaper reading matter from Victorian times, the most famous British character being the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s magical detective Sherlock Holmes, who…

Corgi Toys 252 Rover 2000 Saloon, metallic bronze body, red interior, silver trim, spun hubs and “Trans-O-Lite” Headlights. Model has been restored/repainted to a high standard with a good blue and yellow carded picture box. Sold for £80, Vectis Auctions, October. Dinky Toys Pre-War 28e (type 1) Delivery Van “ Ensign Cameras/Ensign Lukos Films”, orange body, blue washed wheels chrome radiator surround. Good to good plus (could better with some time spent in cleaning). Sold for £1,200, Vectis Auctions, October. Dinky Toys Pre-War 28a (Type 1) “Hornby Trains” Delivery Van, yellow body, chrome radiator surround, gold washed wheels. Fair to good still a bright example of a early issue. Sold for £2,600, Vectis Auctions, October. Dinky Toys Pre-War 28y (Type 2) “Exide/Drydex Batteries”, red body, silver grille, blue smooth hubs with white tyres.…

Scalextric has announced the release of the new C4497 John Wick Ford Mustang Boss 429 Slot Car. This is the first time Scalextric has released any of the vehicles from the legendary John Wick series of films. Straight from the legendary film series, this iconic muscle car combines American styling with modern performance for an adrenaline-fueled racing experience like no other. With its aggressive stance, throaty exhaust note and blistering acceleration, the BOSS 429 is ready to leave the competition in the dust. Whether you're tearing up the track or burning rubber on the drag strip, this powerhouse of performance is sure to get your heart racing. Scalextric John Wick Ford Mustang BOSS 429 will be on sale in early 2025.…

OXFORD DIECAST FORD FIESTA MK1 NEVADA Scale: 1/148 Price: £7.45 Ref: NFF002 The first of this month’s N Gauge models from Oxford Diecast. It might not be in a very appeal colour, but it is authentic taking your right back to 1976. ›› www.oxforddiecast.co.uk KESS MODELS 1947 BENTLEY MK VI FRANAY-BODIED D.H.C. Scale: 1/43 Price: £110 Ref: KE4304304 Very fine model with its flamboyant wing trim contrasting with the otherwise traditional restrained lines. Well detailed, down to the detail on the hood irons. ›› www.kessmodel.com More new releases reiewed at ccofgb.co.uk GT SPIRIT FERRARI F40 - LIMITED EDITION Scale: 1/18 Price: £85 Ref: GT914 Ferrari’s iconic F40! Crafted from high-quality resin, this meticulously detailed model is a faithful reproduction of the 1987 original. ›› www.solido.com BRITAINS LAND ROVER VET SET…

Aardman Christmas, together cheese and go like and crackers these days… and the team there have something truly special in store for fans of Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, and other beloved characters. Aardman, a globally acclaimed animation studio with over 50 years of award-winning creations, has made sustainability central to its mission. From eco-friendly production practices to eliminating single-use plastics, they lead by example. Through their beloved characters, the company encourages fans and collectors alike to embrace environmental awareness in their own lives. This year’s collection of products, crafted in partnership with top licensees, includes everything from toys and decor to mugs and even plant-able books. Wallace & Gromit lovers will enjoy an array of Build Your Own kits, like the iconic rocket (£29.99), and collectable “Techno Trousers”…

Work on what would become a huge landmark started this year in the UK: the Millennium Dome was destined to become a tourist attraction and featured in backdrops in many films after it was finished. Construction as a topic was in the news - Anthony Gormley’s landmark sculpture, the Angel of the North, was erected at Gateshead. This 20 metre tall artwork, weighing 208 tonnes, was a stunning piece which was visible for miles around. And this year saw deaths on building sites, a notorious sector for fatalities, drop by an encouraging 28 percent, to reach a 20 year low. Elsewhere in the UK, Peugeot launched its 206 supermini, which would be built at the Ryton plant near Coventry. The year also saw the closure of South Crofty, the last…

PART 1 This series of articles will cover Corgi models from their start in 1956 until 1970 from the angle of the figures who were in, on or close to them. I was greatly inspired by an article by Andrew Ralston, “Meet the people”, in the November 2008 issue of Diecast Collector in which he looks at the history of model figures with model cars. The history of figures goes further back than model cars of course, such as toy soldiers, but the figures with car models originated from Dinky as accessories to Hornby O gauge trains. Only later on did Dinky launch model cars under the name Dinky Toys. Andrew refers in his article to the Dinky Service Station Set (catalogue No.009) which came in a hard display box…

The VW Beetle has always been a great favourite among real car owners and model collectors alike. The distinctive shape and robust appearance has always caught the attention of the driving public. We begin our journey in 1956 and progress chronologically as far as possible into the 1960s. In 1956 Dinky Toys released the Volkswagen Saloon as model No.181. It not only appeared in numerous colours but was also released in a variety of box types during the 14 years that it was available until fours later in 1970. This early issue had no windows or interior but was produced with a tinplate base, fixed axles, diecast painted hubs and no suspension. Later models were to be released with spun hubs and even plastic hubs, which now carry a premium…

Now, I must be careful here as what I’m about to say may be construed as biting the hand that feeds me. I’ve always been fascinated by the British preoccupation with price guides, cross referencing and general pedantry involved in the collecting of vintage toys. Of course, pedantry predates toy collecting with its origins seen in the stamp and coin collecting boom of the 1960s and 70s. So, how did it come about? The story begins in the late 70s when various price guides start appearing for diecast models. As you would expect, the big players, Dinky, Corgi, Matchbox and Tri-ang Spot-On all got a look in. They were all small format books, perfect for using when one was out and about. Such was their impact they even attracted the…

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Perhaps the most surprising result from the recent Vectis sale was the Airfix D-DAY Playset dating from around 1964. Consisting of a Patton Tank, Centurion Tank, Infantry Combat Group Figures, two Emplacements and Tank Obstacles, it was unopened and factory sealed, being contained on an illustrated blister pack card. This, the first version of the Airfix playset range, is extremely rare, and was only the second example to be auctioned by Vectis: it made £1,715. While Star Wars collectables predictably drew the faithful (a sealed LEGO Star Wars Set 10123 - Cloud City in mint condition, and assumed complete, raised £4,655, while a sealed LEGO Star Wars Set 10179 - Millennium Falcon UCS sold for £1,041), Spot-on vehicles within presentation sets also fared well. Best of the bunch was the…

Milestone Auctions’ last sale netted some huge bids, with Charlene topping the bill. A prototype robot made by Marx, this 38 inch tall plastic robot was designed by Harry Evanhoff in 1963 as a “wife” for the legendary toy manufacturer’s male robot named Big Loo (yes, really). Like her spouse (?), Charlene was designed with a green plastic body and cone-shaped head, but her eye-catching colour scheme also included pink secondary and accented colours, red lips and a decidedly feminine lace and fishnet trim. With a blue Louis Marx & Co., Glendale, West Virginia, sample tag, this unique oddity sold for US$21,600 against an estimate of US$10,000-15,000. Following closely Charlene in the robot stakes was an ASC (Aoshin Shoten, of Japan) tinplate wind-up Tremendous Mike Robot, accompanied by his rare…

Apparently, “Is Liverpool famous for anything?” is a frequently asked question on the internet. Well friend, pull up a chair and I’ll tell you a thing or two you may not know about this charismatic city. It punches so far above its weight, it’s hard to decide where to start. Let’s get this out of the way first. Liverpool has two football clubs. One of them has played the most seasons of any club in the English top division, and is the finest football club in the world. The other was formed later and has had a recent run of success. Liverpool was home to the world’s first commercial wet dock, which led to one of the most advanced dock systems of its day. The city also got the world’s…

There’s little that people love more than a dog. In the UK, 28% of Brits are dog owners, housing more than 10.6 million waggy-tailed, cold-nosed, face-licking best friends. Spending more than £10 billion every year on food, toys and treatments to keep our furry companions happy and healthy, and across Europe there’s only the Germans who have more pet dogs than the Brits. And if we love a dog, we love a dog in need even more; is there really anyone out there who doesn’t tear up at those adverts where Sarah McLachlan sings mournfully over images of sad-eyed pooches, staring out from their cages and silently imploring us to rescue them? It’s hardly surprising, therefore, that one of the toy juggernauts of the 1980s tapped into this almost universal…

This month’s focus is upon the Hillman Imp. The Coventry-based Rootes Group produced the Hillman Imp, which was its contribution to the ever growing small car market. I remember thinking at the time that it was quite an unusual car, with the engine in the rear. They were popular and much loved by their owners – an ideal choice for Corgi to emulate as a toy. The Hillman Imp was manufactured in 1/43 scale and had a number of excellent features. The most obvious one was the opening rear window, followed by the item of luggage, which fitted snugly into the rear hatch space. As the interiors of all the Imps were produced in moulded plastic, it not only created a very detailed and realistic inside but it also provided…

Item: EDIL Toys Mercedes-Benz 250 SE Condition: nice example in good used condition for age Sold for: £759 (18 bids) Item: Meccano No.10 set Condition: parts range from very good to quite well play-worn, with several missing pieces Sold for: £475 (2 bids) Item: Disney Cars ‘Final Lap’ - Race Damaged Mood Springs Condition:brand new in sealed original package, no creases, tears or marks Sold for: £310 (27 bids) Item: Britains Farming 1979/1980 point of sale display card No.86 Condition: excellent, showing some age edge wear and creases Sold for: £256 (17 bids) Item: Dinky Toys Austin Mini Moke 106 The Prisoner Condition: original model in original box, with rare chrome screen surround Sold for: £329 (1 bid) Item: Tri-ang Minic Vauxhall Victor Condition: good but play-worn in original box…

Hi folks! Bargains are certainly still out there if you keep a close look out for them. I had a great little bargain a few weeks back in a local charity shop in the shape of a super sleek tinplate toy plane but identifying its origins and age are proving difficult so far. It is called AEREO-ESPACEA and there is some faded lettering suggesting that it might have been made in Argentina? Any help from Collectors Gazette readers with further information about this superb tinplate plane would be greatly appreciated. It looks something like a cross between the Space Shuttle and a Vulcan bomber? Sadly, it’s not fully complete as you can clearly see the six slots where there should have been a tail fin, which is no longer there.…