MELBOURNE, Australia saying G'day
Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:40 pm
I thought finding Stannard's catalogue with it's beautiful colour plates about 30 years back was heaven. A few years later I picked up "40 Years of Matchbox."
In Melbourne's outer East I discovered a collector shop that retailed 1-75 along with many other lines. Since, I have found a fabulous restorer.
Now, I have serendipitously come across this forum to feed my 1-75 interest.
What is it about these simple, post war, rough cast toys that suck me in? Simply, it takes me back to my boyhood. In my collection I have on display many I actually played with over half a century ago. Who can forget the excitement of a birthday or Christmas - the small gift wrapped package with the beautiful blue and yellow box and red script. What treasure lay hidden inside? Construction vehicle, commercial van - or my favourite - an English saloon?
Matchbox 1-75 (prior to Superfast) transport me back to a simpler time. Hours of fun with the RWs, making a highway or construction site in the back yard. Tonight I saw SAVING MR BANKS about the making of MARY POPPINS. Sixties London was full of Consuls, Vauxhalls and Moris Minors. Times seemed to be simpler. I was well satisfied with whatever came out of that small cardboard packet. The new resin models of classic cars out of China are fantastic in their detail - but don't hold a candle to the happy memories of a toy chest full of "Matchies."
I have spent the weekend reading most of this board. I only have about 70 or so in my display - because I only want those that I have a connection to. Guess I'm not a collector - I'm a displayer. Twenty or so of the models I have from the 50s and 60s have been resurrected by a friend who does restorations. My two brothers hand painted most of theses beaters in Dulux acrylic over forty years ago. Each one tells a story - whether a neighbour gave it to me in 1962 or my dad brought it home in 1958. I have also acquired other cars I desire - generally mint boxed. If I want a gap filled I'm just as happy now to display a nice restoration - maybe that's heresy here - but I'm a displayer and memory keeper - not a collector. I'm only interested investing in the recreation of the excitement I felt in looking through the shop display as a boy.
Some may disdain my acquisition of the odd restoration, however I will share this about my "collection." About 1969, well into the Superfast era, I was 14 years and should have been over model cars. My parents knew of my interest in old matchbox models. They must have come across some old stock in a newsagent or haberdashery store in Melbourne or country Victoria. That Christmas I received, almost as a stocking filler "joke" about 25 cars, mint boxed from 1955 - 1962. Guess in 1969 it was regarded as old stock. Think Harley Davidson, Blue Matchbox Kombi, Green Austin Freeway and about twenty more. Naturally I never played with these. They have been carefully stored and now displayed.
So my collection contains about a dozen or more models I played with as a kid in the outer Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Most of these are now restored. I have another twenty five from that priceless Christmas in 69. A further dozen or so mint boxed I have bought. And maybe another six or so restored models.
Anyway, had to spill it all out and share the passion. Thanks for the great reading on all your posts - and I'll get some photos up when I can. I'm sorry about the cricket (went on each day to MCG Test) and its 43 C in Melbourne today.
In Melbourne's outer East I discovered a collector shop that retailed 1-75 along with many other lines. Since, I have found a fabulous restorer.
Now, I have serendipitously come across this forum to feed my 1-75 interest.
What is it about these simple, post war, rough cast toys that suck me in? Simply, it takes me back to my boyhood. In my collection I have on display many I actually played with over half a century ago. Who can forget the excitement of a birthday or Christmas - the small gift wrapped package with the beautiful blue and yellow box and red script. What treasure lay hidden inside? Construction vehicle, commercial van - or my favourite - an English saloon?
Matchbox 1-75 (prior to Superfast) transport me back to a simpler time. Hours of fun with the RWs, making a highway or construction site in the back yard. Tonight I saw SAVING MR BANKS about the making of MARY POPPINS. Sixties London was full of Consuls, Vauxhalls and Moris Minors. Times seemed to be simpler. I was well satisfied with whatever came out of that small cardboard packet. The new resin models of classic cars out of China are fantastic in their detail - but don't hold a candle to the happy memories of a toy chest full of "Matchies."
I have spent the weekend reading most of this board. I only have about 70 or so in my display - because I only want those that I have a connection to. Guess I'm not a collector - I'm a displayer. Twenty or so of the models I have from the 50s and 60s have been resurrected by a friend who does restorations. My two brothers hand painted most of theses beaters in Dulux acrylic over forty years ago. Each one tells a story - whether a neighbour gave it to me in 1962 or my dad brought it home in 1958. I have also acquired other cars I desire - generally mint boxed. If I want a gap filled I'm just as happy now to display a nice restoration - maybe that's heresy here - but I'm a displayer and memory keeper - not a collector. I'm only interested investing in the recreation of the excitement I felt in looking through the shop display as a boy.
Some may disdain my acquisition of the odd restoration, however I will share this about my "collection." About 1969, well into the Superfast era, I was 14 years and should have been over model cars. My parents knew of my interest in old matchbox models. They must have come across some old stock in a newsagent or haberdashery store in Melbourne or country Victoria. That Christmas I received, almost as a stocking filler "joke" about 25 cars, mint boxed from 1955 - 1962. Guess in 1969 it was regarded as old stock. Think Harley Davidson, Blue Matchbox Kombi, Green Austin Freeway and about twenty more. Naturally I never played with these. They have been carefully stored and now displayed.
So my collection contains about a dozen or more models I played with as a kid in the outer Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Most of these are now restored. I have another twenty five from that priceless Christmas in 69. A further dozen or so mint boxed I have bought. And maybe another six or so restored models.
Anyway, had to spill it all out and share the passion. Thanks for the great reading on all your posts - and I'll get some photos up when I can. I'm sorry about the cricket (went on each day to MCG Test) and its 43 C in Melbourne today.
, as for the cricket we were in the UK at the time of the AUS tour last year, every time we went into a pub
