"Other items"

[Bonzothecat]

Thanks again! Most interesting! My daughter always says that you can find anything on the internet, but that's just not true. All these articles you all have on obscure toy-makers in North London or elsewhere, I would never have them myself (she is in her late twenties, though, maybe that has something to do with it!).
I must confess that I also like the shape of Tootsietoys. I think it´s the simplicity of the cars I like. It`s just as much a shape and a piece of art, as it is a toy. I think that's why I like the old RW better than the newer ones. So, can anyone please help me with these:
A yellow Jaguar(?) with "Made in England" under the hood. But who's done it?
Then there is a real mystery car (at least if you live in Sweden): A RHD Corvette, very similar to the Tootsietoys one. First I thought that it must have been made in Britain, but then I'm not too sure. Could it maybe be in India, Japan or Australia? Did Tootsietoys make toys in Britain, for the British market? It is just a tiny bit smaller than the American one. It has the same license plate, but is a bit cruder in the front (headlights, grill etc), but the exhaust-pipes are more distinct. And its RHD! The main difference is probably the wheels, though! Could it be made from a mould from an original Tootsietoys? No markings, but it´s nice!

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I think the yellow roadster is a Toby Toys Jaguar. These were made by the British Louis Marx Company and marketed by S. Guiterman & Co. Ltd, a big long established toy and novelty goods wholesaler.

I don't recognise the Corvette as the pictures you are currently posting are really too small. Can you post them as their original file size, thanks.

Ghosthunter.

[Bonzothecat]

Of course! I am not sure if the wheels ar original, but here they are:

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thanks for the larger pictures.

The wheels look like corgi toy items and looking at the area where the axles are held at the end of the pillars, they appear to have had some attention before the axles fitted snuggly.

Right Hand Drive is odd for an American car unless that car was intended for exporting to Countries that use it, such as the UK.

The details and overal design is so close to the Tootsietoy model it is hard to accept the model did NOT originate from tootsietoy's factory and all I can offer at the moment is the model was intended for the UK, possibly through Lone-Star, Louis Marx or Mettoy (parent company of the corgi brand).

Lone-Star and Louis Marx had direct production and business connections with Tootsietoy. Mettoy and Louis Marx were on the same industrial estate in Wales and while it is not common knowledge, Mettoy sourced toy cars from other companies for research and development for possible prototyping regards adding new models to their own range and the Corvette you show is a typical looking pre-pro model that Mettoy would produce for one of their diecast model car ranges.

The fact it is right hand drive, has no sign of any TOOTSIETOY branding and has wheel rims commonly used on many corgi toy models is very interesting, but I am not saying it has come from Mettoy/Corgi but stranger things have happened in this hobby, so I would keep that model very safe until such time more information can be found about it (Bill Manzke, are you reading this!).

Ghosthunter.

[Bonzothecat]

OK, thank you! I will certainly hold on to it! You don't think there's an Indian connection, then? The green one is about 2mm smaller, both In width and length.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

An Indian connection would suggest the model is a copy of the Tootsietoy cast and assembled in India in much the same way as models from Milton/Maxwell and Nicky Toys but if that were the case I would have expected the model to have a much cruder finish as they were made with minimal quality control. At the moment I see no eveidence to support an Indian connection.

Take a look at the model below.


See the similarity with your mystery model. (pictures kindly borrowed from QDT).

There are no model company logos or brand names cast, only the make of the car (Mercedes Benz 300 SL) and a MADE IN GT. BRITAIN.

This is one of a few models intended for retail within the Woolworths stores in the UK. It was designed and cast by one of the leading toy and model manufactures in 1959, Corgi Toys, but because these were to be exclusive Woolworth toys there was no need for Corgi to place their name or logo underneath. The point here is how close a design it is to the original Tootsietoy model, both aimed at the same sector of the retail market.

Ghosthunter.

[ogedei2]

Cant help, but have you tried Ricks corvette site http://smalldiecastcorvettes.com/.

Might not be his scale but he might be able to point you in the right direction.

[Bonzothecat]

I agree, they look quite alike. However the Mercedes seems to be a bit further along the road to the stores. as the Corvette doesn't have anything underneath (just the number "2"?). The Mercedes would have looked nice with the Corgi-wheels! And maybe RHD? But I agree, India is out.
Thanks, I will check out the Corvette-site as well.

[Idris]

It is just a tiny bit smaller than the American one. It has the same license plate, but is a bit cruder in the front (headlights, grill etc)...

Suggesting, perhaps, that it has been cast from a mould created from an American original, the size difference coming from metal shrinkage on cooling.

[Bonzothecat]

Yes, that was my thought too.