"MATCHBOX" copies etc.

[Idris]

There's a really good explanation of the glass transition temperature and of plasticisers here.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thank's idris for the link, very interesting reading.

Ghosty.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

'JIMSON' No.170, Scenicruiser..JPG (31.27 KiB) Viewed 650 times

Here is a 'JIMSON' 30ish scale Scenicruiser, from Hong Kong and 'Friction Powered'. It bears a remarkable similarity to the "Matchbox" original, number 66, shown further down.

'JIMSON' were quite a prolific and fairly well known Hong Kong toy marketer, with many of their toy vehicles supplied by 'LUCKY'.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

'MATCHBOX' No.66, Scenicruiser..jpg (28.55 KiB) Viewed 650 times

...and here is the "Matchbox" original.

[nickjones]

The Jimson Scenicruiser is undoubtedly a copy of the Matchbox Greyhound, Lesney shortened the bus by removing one of the upper window bays, I guess to make it fit in the standard size box without it looking too long and skinny.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thank's Nick for confirming the 'JIMSON' ,(and it's associated other Hong Kong versions) as being a copy of a "Matchbox".

This is a good example of a toy proving to be a copy of a model, because of the way the model was designed, the shortening tweak mentioned by Nick and not just a coincidence, that two entirely different companies made a model of the same real vehicle, a point picked up earlier in this thread, by a forum member and a point often mentioned when the subject of 'Copies' crops up.

Thank's again Nick,

GHOSTHUNTER.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

In an earlier post, "Ritchie" posted some images of little plastic copies of the #44a, Silver Cloud and was not sue what the three models at the back were. I have posted his picture below, with the identity of those three models.

The very dark brown blob is in fact a 1907 Silver Ghost, the bright blue and silver-grey models are Silver Clouds and if they are based on the "Matchbox" original, will be Silver Cloud II cars. These three models are often attributed to...'Multiple Toymakers', (a later name change from...'MULTIPLE PRODUCTS CORPORATION'...'MPC') and have a little 'MPC' logo moulded on the underside of each model and usually the make of the car, moulded onto the surface of the boot lids, (on the Silver Ghost, it has '1907' inside, under the bonnet and Rolls Royce under the rear seat). The range of models can have USA or GREAT BRITAIN moulded on the underside surface and marketed towards the end of the 1960's.

I have not seen the other blue Silver Cloud, (next to the bright green car) but could be one of many similar models to those mentioned above, 'MP MEXICO' make one.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I picked this up at the recent Sandown Park toy fair in Esher, Surrey and at first glance looks like the 'CRAGSTAN' Silver Ghost from 1976 onwards, but has had a blanking plate put over the 'CRAGSTAN' name and logo, plus it has had little 'pips' added to the side of the body for fixing a hood,(much like the Lesney idea), so this could be a model from 'MORTOYS' but in the last 'CRAGSTAN' colour of silver-grey.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

A little peg on the rear door..jpg (39.4 KiB) Viewed 608 times

Note the little peg on the rear door, very Lesney! sadly the roof is missing.

[shockwavediecast]

Just got back from the Vectis General Sale. I could of spent thousands, but I behaved myself. Good day for buyers today.
Pulled these two out of a box I bought and thought they looked familiar.

To me, this is a cross between #19 lotus, and #34 Formula 1. It has no marks underneath.

The Ferrari is by Hotwheels around 2001/2 I think. I was going to do a side by side comparison, but i can't put my hand on a Matchbox one right now