New Arrivals

[Ewan]

My latest lot arrived yesterday, raising a few questions as usual. Another part M9, this time with grey trailer and double wheels was really my main reason for bidding. The SF59 Galaxie Fire Chief is another favourite and appears to be the same shade as my (sadly beaconless) RW version. The Muira unfortunately has a bust screen but I don't have one so am happy for now. The Mercury and the Crane are for the etsy shop and the BMC may go on the auction as I think it's nursery pink (I'm not too good with shades) and it's not my favourite casting. The 44 Rolls was going into the etsy shop, but after checking out Nick's site I see he is looking for any later castings with 8x24 spw. I have no way to measure the wheels accurately, but they do look small to me - opinions please. It has bonnet and roof pips but no cross hatching. Again, the Rolls will go as (apologies to GHOSTY and the rest of the RR fans) I'm not into them at all.....

[GHOSTHUNTER]

OK Ewan, I'll let you off this time, you can let Nick have the Rolls, but this is the last time, I've warned you enough times about this.......................

Ghosty.

[Ewan]

It looks like the wheels on the 44 are 9x24. Never mind......

[nickjones]

Hi Ewan.
Here is the picture of the Rolls with 8x24 spw, They are quite distinctive and look too small for the car.
Also my finds from last nights Theydon Bois toyfair. A merryweather fire engine with cream base, a hot pink Marzal, Dinky Econoline van and Jeep and 3 hong kong made Marx toys, Oh yes, I nearly forgot, also theres a ford group 6 code 2 with plated base which I forgot to photograph.

[Ewan]

I like the pink on that Marzal. The only Matchbox I remember having that colour as a kid was the Vauxhall Guildsman but being the boy I was it didn't get played with too much and certainly never made it to school where mates could have seen it

[numi]

Thats only the 2nd Merryweather ive come across with white base.Nice find Mr Jones...Enjoy.
numi

[fixer]

Nick. Haven't been to Theydon for a long while is it any good still??
Nice cream based fire engine not seen one before

[nickjones]

Hi Numi.
I found the merryweather in a junk box and got it for 50p.
Hi Reg.
There was one dealer there that had a nice selection of rw / sf 1-75s but he goes to just about all of the Essex toyfairs and more so you will probably have seen all of his stock many times before, I can't remember his name but he has grey hair & moustach, very friendly and sensible prices. I think he was at Brentwood, apart from him there was one train dealer with a dozen nice but overpriced 1-75s and they were all fairly common models, probably a toyfair that is worth going to once in a blue moon.

[kwakers]

It is very hard to project what dealers may find nowadays between shows Nick. I seldom found very many regular wheel Lesneys at our twice a year Albany Toy Show, but 2 weeks ago a lot more have begun to be carried by some of the dealers. There were Bronner cases and odd tidbits scattered around the show as Vendors smiled at the daft collector holding his Stannards in one hand and his calipers in the other. My wife drove off with my work shirt full of Toy $$, leaving me with $22 for the day as my budget. I was able to borrow enough from a friend to pay for 10 interesting Lesneys found that day.
I believe that my shopping at that show for Lesneys has actually brought out a few other collectors, and has also influenced the dealers to bring a tray of stray Lesneys for us to look through. My Tomica friend Bob had a few scattered 'common' Lesneys and fresh Huskys he had packed, so I found a #1 Mercedes with opposite hash marks for a friend at the show to buy cheap. I then showed him a white sleeved, lug nutted dome front wheels 6C that he also bought.
I was able to later buy several error Lesneys that were never fitted with axles and tires that another vendor friend of mine had bought early in the show for their Mint boxes. They had to have been packed away years ago as 'returns' to go back to Bronner, and here they finally show up in 20013 at a local show!
After the show was over I got to peek inside a 48 car case that was also bought at the show, which contained a Mint early 35B Snow Track with decals that I had to point out was the new non axle brace first code we just discovered this year.
My point Nick is that just 4 years ago this interest in Lesneys had kind of died in our local show. By introducing two friends to your site to perk their interest, and with us being visible looking for Lesneys, vendors are now digging out, buying, and carrying more Lesneys for us to see.
If Numi is impressed by your cream based Merryweather Nick, I would say that model alone was worth having gone to Theydon. Your other finds are simply icing on the cake, and who knows what rarity might be there next time on that overpriced table, or in someone's junk box???? The overpriced tables are where I can frequently find a rarity that is worth much more in value than the dealer's 'book price' that he has carefully placed on it.......... kwakers