Expensive glasses

 

You may remember that I have this promotional completed US sample of the lovely Motel Chalet. It was missing the Motel sign and also had just one glass on the table.

I have always felt that there should be a bottle and two glasses on the table but you can appreciate just how fiendishly difficult it could be to find such minute items now. The Motel sign is a little bigger but still may look just like any old piece of white plastic. So the only way I could complete this kit was to buy another that was complete but, of course, these don't come along very often and, even if they do, they can have parts missing.

So I have just paid an absolute fortune to be able to describe my sample as 'complete' at last. But there is a bonus - the kit I've acquired has two bottles and four glasses!! That means I can add a bottle and glass to my sample and still feel happy selling the kit with sufficient components to display as I would expect it to. (I suppose that, if all the kits have two bottles and four glasses then this one will, technically, not be complete but I think it'll have sufficient to satisfy whoever decides to display it).

Looking at the illustration on the box I can only see one bottle and maybe only one glass but, with two chairs, two glasses seems right. We don't get a plate in the kit, either.

Looking at the illustration in the Corgi Toys Catalogue of 1965 (or 1966) the Jaguar's number plate reads COR 64. On the 611 Kit box I have it is COR 62!

This is a lovely kit and, whilst it doesn't have the original plastic bag containing all the pieces, I have counted everything and they're all there, as well as the instruction sheet and transfers.

It's all contained in an immaculate box.

Another difference is that none of the illustrations, or my made-up sample have the Motel sign attached, although there are places for this to be affixed.

I have often remarked that it's the little things that make collecting Corgi Toys so fascinating and enjoyable. In all respects, here's another example, indeed!

As I think I reported a while ago, someone in Japan did buy the sample last year but one piece of the very delicate railing at the top and the parasol pole were damaged en route and I took it back. My brilliant artist wife repaired these pieces and I cannot see where she has done so which means I have put that up for sale again and if it goes then I may be seriously tempted to make this set up for my own satisfaction. She can paint it very professionally in the correct colours and I'll be more than happy to keep it for displays. Maybe someone will like the box so I can get some return on all the expense.

Chalet repairs

 

This delightful 'Motel' is one that Corgi built for sales personnel to show to dealers to promote sales of the #611 Kit. (I understand that they also created all the other kits too for the same reason.) I was very fortunate to acquire this very same item, as you will see from my photo below of the box I have. 

It was sold by Vectis in their Ron Slyder Collection way back in 2007 and made £240 then, or more like £300 by the time fees and delivery would have been added.

Over time the Motel sign and a tiny bottle have gone missing, and maybe a second glass. (I need to check on that). Otherwise, however, it is complete and looks stunning.

In the illustrations of the model on the box there is a yellow Jaguar 2.4 so I have added one of mine here.

This was purchased a few days ago by a Japanese collector but, on its way to Heathrow to the agent who would transfer it on, it became damaged. Rough handling caused two of the railings at the top to come adrift and the drainpipe at one end to come off.

The was also a loose edge to one wall but the most awkward damage was to the parasol with the pole breaking. I could not see how it could be possible to re-join that very fine pole. The parasol itself comes off freely but still this would be the most delicate of repairs to undertake and beyond my ability.

This work was not beyond the amazing powers of Olga Savina-Hill, however, a remarkable artist in her own right and capable of quite extraordinarily detailed work that would normally require the patience of several saints. She kindly helped me with this task and today delivered the chalet looking like new. She even got the stairs working so that when you lift a panel on the roof the stairs drop down, which I had not attempted to test before.

I have, of course, refunded the man from Japan and will now re-list this. Maybe he will buy it again (at a big discount after all the trouble) or maybe it will stay available for a while. I am happy to keep this as it is a very attractive item to display. I don't really need this particular special one, though, and would be quite happy with another that someone has put together. They are really not easy to find, though, and I would be very surprised if I ever find the bottles and glasses - these are minute little pieces of clear plastic which will so easily get lost forever.

There are complete kits for sale from time to time and I had one for sale a year or so ago. Again, there aren't many, however, and, in any event, I do not want to open a pristine kit and attempt to make one myself. I might consider stealing the bottle and glass(es), though.

On the subject of kits, I would very much like to get all the items needed for the Silverstone Set. For that I need everything but for the Garage Set I have everything except the Batley garages. I have nice mats for both too. I also have the two phone boxes, beautifully painted by Olga too. If I do ever manage to get the items needed in ready made-up form then I can't imagine that I would ever sell them. These are things that any money I do make from the business will go towards and I look forward to being able to display them again another day.

So, if anyone out there has some buildings they don't want or even some little bottles or glasses, do get in touch. If they are inexpensive because they need repair then so much the better as I know someone who can do that!