looking to sell a sample case of matchboxes 1-55

[dolltoy13]

Hi folks-
hope i'm in the right category for this. We are preparing to sell what we have been told is a salesman's sample case of the first 55 matchboxes. The original owner past away after running a hardware store for decades. His older children remember their father ordering cars from matchbox using this display but 60 years makes memories a bit hazy so they are not 100% sure if they remember correctly or not.
At any rate-
The case is cardboard and folds in the middle. open it and all the toys are revealed in their pristine glory. This case has no room for boxes--just the cars--and these are retained by elastic. missing is toy A-1 "Gas pump and Esso sign" and vehicle 5 the double decker bus. the top of the display appears to have been torn off and the center has some damage and some storage crush. We are curious--we have seen displays that are somewhat similar but they have all 75 models. Could we get some info from you experts on what exactly we have here, what year this display or sample box might be from, etc.

the family wants to sell it and it will be available for sale at our semi annual toy auction to be held Monday June 25th, 5 pm EST. 21st Century Antiques (auctionzip ID number 1049).will have photos of the set up shortly for anyone interested.

[kerbside]

No Dolltoy13, this is not the right forum, it has to be posted in The Marketplace, at the bottom of the forums. This forum is only for the listing of the 1-75 models, and their variations.

George T.

[Idris]

No Dolltoy13, this is not the right forum, it has to be posted in The Marketplace, at the bottom of the forums. This forum is only for the listing of the 1-75 models, and their variations.

Moved.

[SMS88]

This display sounds like a variation I & most of the forum have never seen before - not clever to hide it in the marketplace if there will be pictures for all to enjoy We would like to see some photos of this rare item please! Its value depends in part upon whether or not you have any rare colour models in the 55 - a red enamel #53 Aston Martin will add maybe $3000 to the value of your display!

[ford_a_30]

Sounds like an early cardboard dealer, not salesman's, display.

[kwakers]

Hello Dolltoy13! The Display is a Fred Bronner one from the U.S.A. He was the East Coast Distributor for the Lesney line, and began this type store display in the mid 50s when there were perhaps only 20 models held in it. The one you describe is from 1957-8, so please ask the family to keep an eye out for the missing header that was ripped off the top which should show a toy dump truck exiting a Lesney 'Matchbox' container for it. The reason for this one only having spaces for 55 models in it is that by early 1958, that was the number of cars in the entire Lesney lineup. It was not until 1960 that Lesney had all 75 models in their line, so that explains the larger capacity of the similar displays you have seen. I can supply a picture of a similar complete display like yours from a Toy Catalog of that period with spaces for 60 toys if you should need one. As Mick SMS88 has said, the value is in the models if they are as nice as you say. Thank You for alerting us to the sale of it on our Forum, and for giving us a bit of it's history here.
This Post is still in the 1-75 RW area, and does not show up at all in 'The Marketplace' yet Idris. kwakers

[Idris]

This Post is still in the 1-75 RW area, and does not show up at all in 'The Marketplace' yet Idris. kwakers

I moved it to 'The Marketplace', then Mick moved it to the 1-75 RW area.

[SMS88]

Everyone here would like to see a photo of this display especially if it includes a red enamel 53a as per the Bronner advertised version of this display.the marketplace is only used by people looking to buy or sell so hiding this there means it would be missed by most here

[Tinman]

Could we get some info from you experts on what exactly we have here, what year this display or sample box might be from, etc.

the family wants to sell it and it will be available for sale at our semi annual toy auction to be held Monday June 25th, 5 pm EST. 21st Century Antiques (auctionzip ID number 1049).will have photos of the set up shortly for anyone interested.

You need to post a bunch of clear and close up photos in order for us to help.

[Tinman]

This Post is still in the 1-75 RW area, and does not show up at all in 'The Marketplace' yet Idris. kwakers

I moved it to 'The Marketplace', then Mick moved it to the 1-75 RW area.

Seems to be in the correct forum now as items are not being offered for sale here but at auction. Poster is asking for help with the collection (they just need to get on the ball with posting some good photos).