TEXAS TOY MAN

Corgi Chipperfields – International Circus Crane Truck

 

 

Some of my favorite toys are the pieces included in the circus set manufactured by Corgi in the 1960′s.  The Chipperfields Circus  crane truck pictured here is only one  piece of the set and what I’ll cover today.  Other pieces (which I wish I had) include : 

1.  Circus animal cage with animals

2.  Platform trailer with elephant cage and elephant

3.   Bedford tractor unit (truck with cargo case), animal cage with lion

4.  Articulated truck and trailer with horse box and horses

5.   Scammell Highwayman crane truck

Our truck today is described as having a chassis-cab with the rear body resting on a base that extends off the bottom of the cab.  The rear body section contains a working crane with a yellow base.  The crane actually works by way of manual crank.

Other features of this truck are clear windows, silver grill, headlights, case wheels (rubber with light blue metal hubs), ‘silver’ sheet metal boom, raised lettering on either side (Chipperfields Circus).  The truck also came with a die cast hook attached to the cord on the crane, however, it is missing off this truck. 

The bottom of this toy is marked:  International, 6 x 6 Truck, Corgi Major Toys, Made in GT Britain.  According to my reference book – The Unauthorized Encyclopedia, Corgi Toys – this particular style of truck has the designation 1121 A1…. meaning the wheels are free on the axle. 

Overall length (including crane) is 8-1/2″; truck length is 5-1/2″.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matchbox Yesteryear # 1909 Thomas Flyabout-1956

The Lesney Matchbox ‘Models of Yesteryear’ Series was started in 1956.  These cars were produced as copies of vintage and antique cars.  They were built just slightly larger than Matchbox’s regular 1-75 series which were produced starting 1953…the regular series continues in production to today.

 

Although the Yesteryear cars were supposedly discontinued after a 36 year production run (1992), this was ‘not true’ totally since Matchbox continued to produce the Yesteryear cars but packaging them in other Matchbox assortments.  Therefore, in spite of the announcement of the discontinuance of Yesteryears, we still find Yesteryears appearing in different series introduced to the market by Matchbox today.

The posted picture of the Matchbox Thomas Flyabout ‘Models of Yesteryear’ Series produced in 1967 has the following features:

Bright blue in color

Tan colored plastic roof “smooth surface”

Gold colored spoke wheels

Dark red plastic seats

Dark red grill

Black plastic steering wheel

‘Made in England by Lesney’ embossed on chassis

‘1909 Thomas Flyabout’ embossed on chassis

‘By courtesy of Harrah Collection Reno, USA’ embossed on chassis

‘Matchbox No.Y12’ embossed on chassis

‘Models of Yesteryear’ embossed on chassis

Black rubber wheels

If you are looking to start a Matchbox collection of Yesteryears, the pricing should always include the car and its original box -  and both should be in perfect shape if you are looking to have your collection for investment purposes, not just for fun.

Matchbox Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow-1970

The No.MB24-A1 version of the Silver Shadow was produced in England by Lindsay in 1970. The Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow was designed with the traditional European right side driving. This particular variation of a Matchbox is not often seen in the US market. This diecast model Matchbox car was produced with the “Superfast” wheels. Matchbox cars with this series of wheels are popularly known as the category ‘Miniatures 1-75′. Having this particular wheel has no noticeable effect on the value, but is rather a personal preference as to which type of Matchbox cars to collect. The pictured Silver shadow had the following features:

• Four-door
• Trunk opens
• Right-side steering
• White interior and steering wheel
• Metal base
• Black wheels
• Clear windshield
• Grill in front bumper (or unpainted metal)
• Four headlights

 

Embossed on the bottom:

• Matchbox Series No. 24
• Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
• Made in England by Lesney
• Pat No. 1092412
• Superfast
• Pat App

The Matchbox Silver Shadow was a classic ‘real’ model that Matchbox could produce and was considered very collectible not only in the English but also in the US market.

To find more information on other Matchbox Cars in the ‘Miniature 1-75′ series as well as all the other cars produced by Matchbox, refer to the Encyclopedia of Matchbox Toys by Charlie Mack. For all the years I’ve been collecting, it is my opinion, that this book has good descriptions and excellent pictures of each series, and all the cars Matchbox produced up to their publishing date.