VBD2 is closed. Please go to https://vbd3.co.uk instead.

Hi all,

as kwakers had already reported, during my stay in Canada I found an (at least for me) previously unknown Regular Wheels giftset in an antique shop.

At first sight it looked to me more just like a plastic carry case because of the two handles, but when I took it out of the shop's display case, it turned out to be made completely out of cardboard!
It has been made for Simpson Sears, the Canadian branch of Sears, and it was sold as "Fire Set" or "Collection Incendie" (Cat.No. 28037, Ret. No. 28355).
The set contains one King Size and six Regular Wheels models in their boxes, as well as a cardboard ramp and a couple of traffic signs (but I'm not sure if the traffic signs originally came with this set).
Judging from the models contained, the set must have been sold by the Company some time around 1967.

When you turn the giftset box upside down, it turns into a Matchbox Parking Garage - and you can stick the cardboard ramp into a slit, so there would be access to the upper deck for all the toy cars.

Obviously there must be some cardboard part(s) missing to keep the boxed models in place while shipping the set.

I wonder if the models shown are the original content of the set (but it makes sense), and I also wonder if there are any other sets like this (maybe a "Farm Set", or a "Construction Set")?

Has anyone seen or heard about this set before?

After all, this set is my find of the year (maybe even my find of the decade), and it deserves a special place in my collection!!!
Kay

Hello Kay, what an unusual set and considering the outer case is cardboard, it has survived surprisingly well. Looking at the main artwork I reckon there might have been a leisure set, a horse based set, maybe farming, a race car set and construction set and looking at the box, it looks like the 'FIRE SET' name is maybe a sticker, allowing for the other set stickers to be used, so the models shown on the main box lid constitutes the other sets available.

I have never seen this set, but I reckon it was produced in Canada for marketing in that state only, very nice and a good find for you, look after it, I think it will reward you one day.

Ghosty.

Very nice to see this local initiative. Any rare variations on the models?

SMS88 wrote:Very nice to see this local initiative. Any rare variations on the models?

No - just standard variations contained in the set!

Kay

Kay, the #41c featured on the box looks like it has different coloured hubs, red at the front, yellow at the back. Probably just a trick of the light in the image.

Hello Kay,
Thanks for showing this.
In all my years of collecting data on giftsets (maybe you remember my CD about giftsets made in 2004) and my search for special packaging I NEVER came accross this set which is in remarkable condition after all those years, considered it is made of cardboard.
Thanks for showing this here.
Sure find of the decade.

It is amazing that after all those years having internet, ebay, all kind of Matchbox forums we still can find unknown big items like this.
Absolutly stunning.

I think it is from 1966, not 1967.
Compare the box picture with the picture on page 18 in the 1966 catalogue and on the cover of my giftset CD.
The picture looks very familar.

http://www.mbxforum.com/11-Catalogs/00- ... &uCatalog=

marcel

never seen or heard of before,great find thankyou for sharing

The set is certainly pre-68 as none of the boxes have the 'R' Registration mark down by the X of "MATCHBOX".

Ghosty.

What a Find Kay! This Gift Set is certainly a very rare item that has been stored very well all these years. There are a lot of catalogs still around for the U.S. Sears stores, I am sure a period Canadian catalog may bring you some Great documentation on other Lesney sets that may have been available similar to this one. Having seen this in person at Macungie, I can still share the excitement of your having found this one in that shop quite unexpectedly. Unique finds like this are the highlights of our collecting lives, so Thank You Kay for sharing it on the Forum for others to enjoy as I have. I had not remembered the ramp before this, it is truly amazing that the colorful printing and the details like that have survived childhood play all these years. The Toys have survived very well stored in it all these years, but this has to be my vote for "My Favorite Lesney Box" Post which was started recently on the Forum. I had only seen it last week for the first time, but what an example of historic Lesney artwork this box represents......kwakers

that is a cool set...congrats on acquiring it Kay!