Similar castings, different makers

[DrJeep]

I thought it would be fun to gather together some of the models where two different manufacturers made similar or nearly identical castings of the same vehicle. I'll start with a couple from Benbros and Matchbox.

Benbros and Matchbox Coca Cola Karriers

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These two are quite alike and it's easy to mistake the Benbros for the even-load Matchbox 37a, but there are also many differences.

Benbros and Matchbox also both made a Bedford CA milk float.

Benbros and Matchbox Bedfords

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Again, there are many similarities but some obvious differences, including the colour, the roof line and the size and shape of the windows.

Please add any others you think appropriate. I'll add some Morestone - Matchbox pairs when I find time.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

If no evidence can be found of a collaboration between the companies making these models (or toys!), do we see them as copies (of which we have a thriving thread here...viewtopic.php?f=5&t=338 ) or if we know of a collaboration, then what do we call them?

Ghosthunter.

[DrJeep]

If no evidence can be found of a collaboration between the companies making these models (or toys!), do we see them as copies (of which we have a thriving thread here...viewtopic.php?f=5&t=338 ) or if we know of a collaboration, then what do we call them?

Coincidence, competition? It's not surprising that different companies made models of the same vehicles, especially if they were common or glamorous. For example, Corgi Juniors and Matchbox made very different models of the Lotus Europa. Equally, it might make good business sense to make your own version of something that was obviously selling very well for a competitor, especially if you thought you could do it better.

It can be interesting to see how different companies addressed the same subject. I don't think we need to worry too much about definitions, and we don't need to stick to models made by Matchbox. I'll contribute a picture of the Benbros and Morestone versions of the Wolseley police car.

[Idris]

Many of the military Matchbox 1-75s mirror Dinky Toys. it has previously been suggested that this was simply Jack Odell showing off, thumbing his nose at Dinky and basically saying 'anything you can do, I can do better, and in a smaller scale'.

[MOKOSEX]

three benbros ,two lesney,easy to tell apart

[MOKOSEX]

benbros large cat,lesney cat

[Idris]

A very interesting link in another thread leads to the following text: "Malcolm [Ambridge] went onto tell me that there were a few toy diecasting companies in North London who would occasionally use one another’s resources. In fact he can remember an occasion that DCA cast toy wheels for DCMT when they needed extra foundry facilities." The same link discusses a dools house cooker where DCMT were responsible for the tooling whilst Crescent did the casting, the resultant product carrying the legend "DCMT Crescent".
As Ghosty has already reminded us, the horses for Lesney's large Coronation Coach were sub-contracted to Benbros (supposedly because Jack Odell didn't want any lead in the Lesney Works), so there seems to be a fair body of evidence for amicable relationships between the different companies. After all, no one was dominant and, since they were all small fish in a big pond, there was no harm in them helping one another. In fact the contrary was true - cooperation would help everybody's bottom line.
It therefore seems plausible to me that Jack Odell could have helped out with model-making and tooling for other companies. This might also explain the rumours of a Lesney link to the Festival of Britain/Coronation pencil sharpeners discussed previously.
What it doesn't do is offer any clues to the background to observed similarities between Dinky (Liverpool) or Corgi (Swansea) models and those of the London toy diecasters.

[DrJeep]

I'm sure there would also have been staff moving between these small companies, so lots of knowledge would have been shared that way.

Here are the Benbros and Morestone Wolseley 6/80 police cars. They're obviously different in scale but very similar in detail and design, and the earlier version of the Benbros had a similar loudspeaker arrangement. Morestone had trouble spelling the car maker's name, and went with Wolsley for most of the very long period this version was in production - 1956 to 1970. The Benbros is, I think, quite hard to find and this one is unusual in having gold rather than silver trim. It's also the only British saloon car that Benbros modelled in the 50 models they produced.

[DrJeep]

Here are two models where the body castings aren't very similar - more Bedford CAs from Morestone and Lesney.

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There's no real comparison here - the shape and detail on the Lesney are much better, especially from the rear - how did Morestone forget doors?

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But the big similarity is in the base. No other Morestone has a base like this with text that looks so much like it's a Matchbox.

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[DrJeep]

These two castings aren't very similar, though they're of the same vehicle. This time the Morestone came first, in 1956, followed four years later by the Matchbox. The Matchbox has a beautifully detailed engine and windows. The Morestone is a very plain casting but in some respects more detailed than the Matchbox, notably with neat door handles and trim strips on the side and bonnet. But the striking similarity is in the colour - why did both choose metallic pale blue?