"Berang" (berang)
10/07/2020 at 22:21 • Filed to: die cast
4
5|
"Berang" (berang)
10/07/2020 at 22:21 • Filed to: die cast | 4
| 5 |
Recently acquired a couple of vintage diecast toy vehicles.
A Tootsietoy 1906 Cadillace coupe, and a Charbens Stephenson’s Rocket.
The Tootsietoy Caddy is a pretty common find. They were even given away as premiums for contests (Lipton’s Tea mailed a whole bunch out). The Charbens Rocket is a little bit more unusual. Charbens was a british company that was sort of like a B-grade Matchbox. Unfortunately, a lot of the Charbens toys have self destructed due to contaminated metal (zinc pest, cause by lead contamination.
Charbens had for decades made lead soldiers before switching to zinc castings). The same seller had a matching coal car for the Rocket, but it was already extensively cracked so I passed on that one.
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> Berang
10/07/2020 at 23:24 |
|
I was about to say that both those looked pretty good for their age given few toys of that era were as high quality as the more collectible matchbox. I don’t see many signs of metal fatigue or other imperfections in the casting. Even the paint is pretty good. Neat finds!
|
Berang
> Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
10/07/2020 at 23:39 |
|
There’s a whole collection of Charbens on ebay right now, but unfortunately most of them are suffering from zinc pest, worse still because they’re all boxed and the boxes are tough to find. The Rocket is one of the scarcer ones, and since it was in good shape, an easy buy for me (the blue box in the background is in good shape too).
|
Who is the Leader - 404 / Blog No Longer Available
> Berang
10/07/2020 at 23:52 |
|
Indeed. It seems uncommonly well preserved. Most companies didn't build their stuff to as high of a quality as Matchbox too so some of these things can decay even in optimal storage conditions.
Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
> Berang
10/08/2020 at 04:36 |
|
Nice finds! I didn’t know about the Cadillac before. It looks so silly, like a payphone on a palette with wheels. Looks
like you drive it standing up lol
|
Berang
> Otto-the-Croatian-'Whoops my Volvo is a sedan'
10/08/2020 at 05:29 |
|
Well you know, in 1906 you had to have space to wear your top hat!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/chinabob/15800111626