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Hello all.
Thanks for the add to the forum. I have been lurking for awhile waiting for the admins to okay my login.
I recently opened a steamer trunk that I had been storing in the basement. It had not been opened since the mid 60's, but I knew what was stored in it. Having retired, I thought it might be time to do an inventory.
I was pleased to see most of the "toys" were still in their original boxes and showed little to no wear. These included Matchbox cars, trucks and buildings; Marklin HO electric train sets and a Meccano erector set. All of these were purchased in Europe during the 50's and 60's.
I started with the Matchboxes; taking photos and researching their history (who knew there are so many variations?) I was surprised and pleased to see the value of early models are on the rise.
I will have many questions about some of the variations, such as how to differentiate between SPW's and GPW's. I have some that could pass for either looking at the photos on this forum and the MCF Facebook site.
More to come later, but time to test a photo upload ...

Dwayne

Welcome to the forum, Dwayne. Differentiating between SPWs and GPWs should be easy if you have an example of each in-hand, and a little harder in a photo. Another member will be able to better explain it. The catalogs are very nice to have, especially if they're in good condition!

Welcome to the forum Dwayne.

Your test photo turned out very well. Well sized, well light, good color balance, and generally in focus. And most importantly, your pocket catalogs look great! Nice to see the early 60’s editions. Your basement must be very dry to have preserved these papers for so long.

We look forward to more photos of your treasures.

Enjoy!

Welcome Dwayne, please ask questions there are many learned members here who will be happy to give you advice. And don’t forget to post lots of pictures.

Thank you all for the welcomes.
Here are some photos ....

Quite a nice group of models, and they all look to be in good shape. I especially like the Volkswagen.

DGinBC wrote:Thank you all for the welcomes.
Here are some photos ....Has anyone seen this Foden Sugar Container without decals....

Welcome to the forum Dwayne,

The Foden is one of my most liked of the Lesney castings.
This one is interesting without the decals because it appears to have a different blue colour cap on the back.

Is there any chance you could take photos please of the back, other side and the base.

I wonder if this one was reserved for another promotional, the British Sugar Corporation, hence the lack of decals.

See more here

By the way these are all nice photos and of course the models are excellent.

Could you also please shed some more light on what the stamp is on the inside of the number 19 Aston Martin. The driver looks like he is worried about his low fuel gauge!! Perhaps a full photo of inside end flap if you would be so kind.

Great story by the way, I have a similar defence force trunk that is packed full of model railway, unbuilt kits and some diecast from 1973 and waiting to be set free when room permits.

Bert

yellowfoden wrote:This one is interesting without the decals...

One of my favourite models, I keen a keen eye on the 10c Fodens offered on Ebay, and whilst as-good-as mint examples without decals do turn up, they are by no means common. However, they crop up often enough for me to seriously wonder whether there might not have been an early batch released without decals (c.f. the 6b Euclid).

This one is interesting without the decals because it appears to have a different blue colour cap on the back.

Is there any chance you could take photos please of the back, other side and the base.

Hi Bert,
I think the color is the same on the back ... just an illusion.

Could you also please shed some more light on what the stamp is on the inside of the number 19 Aston Martin. The driver looks like he is worried about his low fuel gauge!! Perhaps a full photo of inside end flap if you would be so kind.

Yes Bert ... the stamp is from the original retailer, Muhlhauser in Vienna, Austria. I have several boxes that have the same stamp on the end flaps. A google search of the name and address indicates they are no longer in business. It was a wonderful store to visit.
The "leaning" driver is just going through a corner ...