Hello Attic Folk!
This week we're going to look at something that I've had for quite a while. It's a 24 car hanging (or standing) Matchbox case! Now, as I have said many times, I don't collect Matchbox. However, when you collect Hot Wheels of the same vintage, a Matchbox item is bound to get snagged with the haul.
So let's take a look, shall we?
Here she is all loaded up with 24 of my best 1960s Matchbox cars! The case is made of that thin vacuformed plastic that was so popular with toy makers in the 1960s and 1970s. It gets brittle over the decades and there are a few small cracks in the shelves, but nothing concerning.
Even though all of these cars are from the 1960s, the case is actually from 1978. I found this out by doing a bare minimum of research, because you guys are worth it! I picked up the case for five dollars at an auction house that was closing down and selling off their odds and ends.
This is the back of the case. You can see there are two "nail holes" for hanging it on the wall, and a fold out table stand as well. From what I hear, the stand never held up well, and this one seems no different. It will work, but I wouldn't trust it for long!
Ah, there's the credit going to England. Very nice!
Now I took the picture of the case with it loaded with cars because it looked better that way. And, in another example of going the extra mile, I looked them all up! If you want to read about them just keep reading. If you don't, the just skip to the end!
I'm not as knowledable about Matchbox as I am Hot Wheels, so I looked up each car. Some were produced for two or three years with no changes, so I just put the first year they were produced on the description.
Here we go, starting from the top-left...
1. Rolls Royce Silver Cloud #44- 1964
2. Mercedes 230 SL #27- 1968
3. Lamborghini Miura #33- 1969
4. Volkswagen Camper #34- 1967
5. Ford Galaxie #55/59- 1967
6. Field Car #18- 1960
7. S&S Cadillac Ambulance #54- 1965
8. Dumper Truck #48- 1967
9. Coach #66- 1966
10. Ford Heavy Wreck Truck #71- 1968
11. 8 Wheel Crane #30- 1965
12. Land Rover Fire Truck #57- 1966
13. Horse Box #17- 1969
14. Refrigerator Truck #44- 1966
15. Cattle Truck #37- 1966
16. Same as above
17. Fodor Concrete Truck #21- 1968
18. Refuse Truck #7- 1966
19. Unimog #19- 1967
20. Grit Spreading Truck #70- 1966
21. Boat and Trailer #9- 1967
22. B.R.M. #52- 1965
23. Dodge Crane Truck #63- 1968
24. Dodge Wreck Truck #13- 1965
So there you have it! My accidental collection of stuff I don't collect, but I guess I kind of do...sort of...
Until next time, keep searching for treasure!
Stu, like you I never collected Matchbox, but my grandparents didn’t seem to know the difference between Matchbox and Hot Wheels. However, I never had 24 of them!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if you can put superglue on those cracks to prevent them from getting bigger? If you do it from the back, sprinkle baking soda on a line of superglue, and it turns to a rock-hard substance!
The only Matchbox cars I have that are any good are some VW vans in their original boxes, I can’t even remember where I got them. But they are sort of neat!
Hey Major!
DeleteYeah, it amazes me as to how many people can't tell the difference! Still, I guess their heart was in the right place! This is the first time that I have this many at once, lol! I've decided that the "standard wheel" cars are pretty cool. Those were before they were trying to compete with Hot Wheels, so I'm not being disloyal ;-)
That's a good idea for the cracks. I'll have to try it on something else first, of course . I don't think they're quite that bad yet, but it's good to have a plan!
I don't have a single box! (Which Matchbox collectors prize almost as much as the cars) Your VW vans sound cool, though! I pretty much like VW anything!
Stu, from your comments, am I understanding that Hot Wheels were more desirable to collect - then, and now?? Just wondering...
ReplyDeleteSue
Hi Sue!
DeleteNo, not really. They're just a different catagory. Hot Wheels do tend to be a little more expensive, but I think that's mainly because there are actually more Matchbox cars around (Matchbox got a several year head start on Hot wheels). I used to not look twice at Matchbox just because I didn't collect them. Now, I guess I'm looking twice, lol!