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Here is a great shot of a female operator spinning down the base rivets of a Mini Traveller.


Ghosthunter.

A very cool photo!

And to think that they did the rivets one by one for many years ---------- hard to believe that they could sell models for about 1/2 a dollar back then and even today, the single models sell for LESS than a dollar in the USA. To me, that is pretty amazing!!
Thanks,
Bill

A great picture of "Matchbox" history Ghosty thank you.

George T.

durangokid wrote:hard to believe that they could sell models for about 1/2 a dollar back then

That was the retail cost, Lesney sold them for 25 cents USD.

The machine is a drill press that looks to be as made by the manufacturer. The tool rest (and probably the bit in the chuck) were very likely made in house.

Before this gets out of hand I must mention the picture was taken at Dinky (the clue might have been the Mini Traveller), so is not Lesney but the principal is the same.

Ghosthunter.

GHOSTHUNTER wrote:Before this gets out of hand I must mention the picture was taken at Dinky (the clue might have been the Mini Traveller), so is not Lesney but the principal is the same.

Ghosthunter.

Thank you Ghosthunter for putting my mind at ease!
I was starting to wonder which Lesney line made a Mini Traveler!
(SuperFast? But the wheels are wrong... A modern MOY? But the clothes don’t look modern....)

I never even looked at the model

Wonderful picture Ghosty, it’s nice to see pictures of how model were made.

Thanks for posting this great picture. Dinky Toys around this time changed their style of finishing the "rivets". The earlier style had a dimple in the middle, which changed to a fully domed version with no dimple. I don't recall seeing any detailed discussion of this subject, and it was only seeing the picture which made me think of it. I do remember that when I restored a few old toys many years ago, it was much easier drilling the dimpled rivets out, as there was no chance of the drill slipping (my tools were rather basic and ropey). There must have been a period when both styles were used, as for example my Capstan and Ovaltine vans have domed rivets, but Mark 1 Cortinas (including the facelifted versions) have dimpled rivets.

The #150 Silver Wraith made from 1959 to 1964 displays domed then dimpled rivets.

Ghosthunter.