Other U.K. Brands...

[GHOSTHUNTER]

I would like to take this opportunity to give Nick a very big Thank you for adjusting the heading for this section.

Members now have somewhere to post all their thoughts and images on Spot-On, Lone-Star, and Budgie etc, not forgetting the 'lesser' brands such as Robin Hood, Jolly Roger, and Shackleton etc.

This is the main place for any old, long forgotten British made toy diecasts.

Thank's for reading this, I hope you find something of interest among the different threads posted so far.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[motorman]

I am looking forward to seeing the postings under this heading. Its about time we spread our wings to include some other UK manufacturers.

[nickjones]

In the 4 years we were on lefora spot on hardly got a mention, I don't know if this is because there are so few spot on collectors or so few spot on ?.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Compared to the other British brands at the time, Spot-On were more expensive to buy, had less 'playable' working features like opening bonnets and steering etc, were physically bigger at 1/42nd scale and had a tough old time breaking into the same market areas as Corgi, Dinky and Matchbox, they never seemed to be sold in exactly the same shops as those other 'brands'.

From 1959, when they were first introduced onto the U.K. market, until 1967, the year production ceased, there were just over 200 subjects in the line up of specific vehicles including saloon cars, sports cars, light commercials, and a sprinkling of emergency and passenger carrying vehicles.

Today, there simply are not enough good to mint models around for all collectors and this keeps prices high for the good examples. In the early 1980's, I was given first refusal on a 'Royal occasion set', the 'Royal' Rolls-Royce, some Gaurds and a Theatre backdrop you made from the models own box, in virtually mint condition, the price...£110, If I was offered this for that today...you wouldn't see me for dust, I still don't have a 'Royal occasion set'.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[mcnair55]

Compared to the other British brands at the time, Spot-On were more expensive to buy, had less 'playable' working features like opening bonnets and steering etc, were physically bigger at 1/42nd scale and had a tough old time breaking into the same market areas as Corgi, Dinky and Matchbox, they never seemed to be sold in exactly the same shops as those other 'brands'.

From 1959, when they were first introduced onto the U.K. market, until 1967, the year production ceased, there were just over 200 subjects in the line up of specific vehicles including saloon cars, sports cars, light commercials, and a sprinkling of emergency and passenger carrying vehicles.

Today, there simply are not enough good to mint models around for all collectors and this keeps prices high for the good examples. In the early 1980's, I was given first refusal on a 'Royal occasion set', the 'Royal' Rolls-Royce, some Gaurds and a Theatre backdrop you made from the models own box, in virtually mint condition, the price...£110, If I was offered this for that today...you wouldn't see me for dust, I still don't have a 'Royal occasion set'.

GHOSTHUNTER.

When i was growing up i use to get 2/6 every Monday from my Aunt plus egg and chips for tea and a bag of crisps and sweets from the shop next door(big money in those days) as you were nearly there for a Corgi toy but alas as you say Spot On were expensive and sold in some odd places.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thanks mcnair55,

You paint a pretty picture, so accurate, it could me your describing!

I was very lucky, what toy cars I had as kid was played with, but I was very careful with them and always put them back in the boxes, because of this, my parents saw that I could look after my toys and decided I could have more cars. My Father took me to the local Co-op super store every Saturday and asked what did I want
this time!

Of coarse, I went straight to the better toys section, where all the Corgi, Dinky and Matchbox models were on display and I remember so clearly, that the Spot-On section was tiny by comparison, this would be the early sixties, because my fabulous Corgi Toys Bentley 'Continental' came from the Co-op and that was introduced in 1962.

Today, I only have Rolls-Royce and Bentley models from the Spot-On range, none of the others, but remember having the "Z-Cars" Zodiac, the Austin 1100, the earlier Ford saloon, (is it the Zephyr or Zodiac again) a Bentley 'Blower' and the Milkfloat.

Thanks again for reading my post,

Regards,
GHOSTHUNTER.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

If you look in the 'Link' below, you will see my dedicated site for all makes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley model cars. It is fairly new and is not found by 'Google' etc, so you will be some of the first collectors to create 'Traffic' on the site. Please do comment on anything you see and leave any comments or ideas for improving the site.

Please note...
The site was created at a time the host was upgrading their platform and two versions of the same site exist!!!
The 'Link' below should now take you to the second version of the site, much better, with specific sections on the models we like on our forum.
There may be something of interest to you, so go and have another look.

http://theghostclubuk.webs.com/

Regards,
GHOSTHUNTER.

[nickjones]

Hi Kevin.
It seems to be a nice and tidy site with plenty to build upon, I would however run the pages through a spell checker because there are quite a few mistakes,
Please feel free to use any of the photographs that appear here, the VBD auction site or the VBD site.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thank you very much, Nick, I seem to remember the text boxes do highlight spelling mistakes, much like this site does, but it is possible during the changeover, (that sounds familiar!) this function may have been turned off, when I get round to it, I'll check this.

Thanks for the pictures offer, any that may get used will be fully credited, I will also put a link back to the VBD Forum, if that's alright with you.

Regards,
GHOSTHUNTER.

[motorman]

Kev mate,

You have the makings of a very nice website.....looks like the place to be if you are a RR fanatic, and there are plenty out there!!!!!.