Corgi Toys @ 60: The Army's coming!

 

You would be forgiven for wondering whether the US Army had taken up residence in a big way in 1964 because January 1965 saw a massive set of models which Corgi might have thought ideal for the GI's kids. Actually, some were for the British too, but this was certainly quite a dramatic development. We had seen military machinery and wonderful missiles take centre stage from '58 to '60 but after that things rather went quiet with Agriculture and the Circus occupying the military pages in the catalogues.. Five years later and we're back getting the children to prepare for battle once again.

The first model is the lovely Commer ­¾ ton reworked as a Military Ambulance. It is essentially the #463 Ambulance from February 1963 with a khaki finish and red cross transfers.

Next is a similar Commer ¾ ton van - this time the #464 County Police Van in khaki and with a white star on the cab roof and Military Police transfers on the sides.

Although there are two versions of the original police van, only the first type was in production when these army versions were made and so it has the bulb that flashes when contact is broken and made by a cam on the front axle. The model does not stay in production long enough to get the second type.

It does, however, appear to get a clear bulb in place of the original blue one. This also matches the illustration on the box and is not just a matter of some owner having switched them over.

Next is another commercial vehicle brought out of retirement in the form of the VW Van. This is the December 1962 #434 Kombi with khaki paintwork and U.S. Personnel transfers

The fourth new model in January 1965 is another appearance of the Land Rover in khaki with a matching plastic canopy.

You can find this with either a lemon or red interior. To all intents and purposes this is #500 from December 1963 which was then a US Army Land Rover according to the box. Now it is described as a Land Rover Weapons Carrier. I have written before about these two models. #500 is very scarce and you really need a friend across the Pond to find one for you as that's where they all went. There are two key differences to tell them apart. The star of the #500 is a creamy colour. That on the #357 is much more white. If you're still in doubt then you need to look at the rear window. The #500 has a different type of window unit - the early type found on all 406S and first 438 models - which fits flush with the body at the back and creates a sort of frame effect when viewed from the rear.

Returning to the GI kids' toys, we have the Oldsmobile Super 88 Sheriff's car from June 1962 getting a khaki coat of paint, stars on the roof and doors and an H.Q. Staff transfer on the bonnet.

Completing the 350 series is #359, a US Army Field Kitchen. In March 1963 you could have bought some ice cream in the sunshine from a blue and cream Smiths Karrier 1 ton van just like this one. Indeed, I'm not completely sure that it would not have been the same guy inside! These are darker days, however, and the US Army need refreshment in the field and the ice cream van has been requisitioned, repainted and Arlo Guthrie would probably have told us that it was dissected, inspected, directed, injected with, objected to, rejected and then collected.

The last three are Corgi Majors. 

This is the US Army Truck #1118 which becomes #1133 Troop Carrier with some new transfers and a different tin canopy, now showing an indent where the star is placed. There are also usually stars on the doors and characters along the sides of the bonnet. These trucks can be quite confusing but I am pretty sure all the #1133 editions will be similar and have the 'closed' type of chassis and stars in the same places. There was a US issue of #1118 which had a star but no indent on the canopy, possibly a star on the bonnet but no characters on the sides of the bonnet.

Next, you'll recognise #1134 as the Mobilgas Tanker with a coat of khaki paint and new transfers. 

Despite the Bedford TK cab now being attached to many similar models, the tanker still retains the old Big Bedford variety with no suspension.

Strangely, however, the last of the January 1965 issues does get the newer cab. It's the #1131 Machinery Carrier from November 1963 with a coat of khaki paint over everything and transfers on the rear axle unit and a star on the cab roof. 

The #1135 can be found with either a red or lemon interior.

Production numbers are really quite small for all nine models but especially for these three Majors.

1133 56000

1134 43000

1135 28000

The lower numbers are similar to the sales of the Corporal Missile or Golden Guinea Gift Set. The higher are similar to the Whizzwheels Rover 2000TC and the Agricultural Set GS5 to give you an idea of how few there are of these that are likely to be still around.

This is an excellent collection to build and good examples always seem to sell for high prices - and the boxes for even more! You may think that there are different shades of khaki when you look at models for sale but this is the result of models being handled a lot. Originally they would have been (and some remain) matt in a lightish shade of khaki. A little oil from one's fingers, however, rapidly turns this to a darker shade and some even appear to be quite shiny too (although that may well be a restored version with the wrong type of paint!) Once darkened they'll not get light again but you will find several of the models available at more reasonable prices as a result.

Corgi Toys @ 60: The Corporal Missile Set

Just one release in November 1959; the Corporal Missile, Launching Ramp, Erector Vehicle with an International Troop Carrier Truck packed together in Gift Set 9.

Sales were low, only 14,000. With so many complex mechanical components to go wrong, finding one that has these both in top condition and also working as they should is not easy at all.

The poor sales led to the missile, ramp and vehicle being withdrawn in 1962. The Launching Ramp was sold on its own in a box a year later as catalogue number 1124 and is possibly the item with the lowest sales of all at just 4000. 

Corgi Toys @ 60: On the farm and the big International Truck

May 1959 brought a farm tractor and trailer to the toy shop shelves. The Tractor was a Massey Ferguson 65 model and first issues had metal wheels. You'll find the model with silver, cream or a scarcer red seat but all the examples I've encountered have had the same Massey Ferguson red bonnet and a slightly pinkish cream chassis. A driver was not included at this point. He comes later in gift sets or other versions.

The trailer has no manufacturer's brand but has the same Massey Ferguson red chassis and a bright yellow load section which lifts on a 'hydraulic' arm and has a hinged rear panel. Early editions had metal wheels. The trailer was around for a very many years and remained unchanged throughout that time apart from plastic wheels being fitted at some point.

These were the first of a good few models of agricultural implements which would be added to the range.

The military range was still being developed and May saw the introduction of the big International 6 wheeled truck, initially launched as an International 6 x 6 Army Truck.

A search of this blog will show you more detailed articles about this truck which still causes confusion with the different versions that exist in its chassis style, British and Dutch insignia, a US Army version and variations in where silver paint may or may not have been applied! As if that were not enough, 1133 is issued some time later as a US Army Troop Transporter!

The British and Dutch versions had the appropriate insignia on the front and rear and no stars. The US version of 1118 had a star on the bonnet and also on the flat roof of the metal canopy. (If the canopy has an indent for the star it is from a later 1133, which also had text along the bonnet and on the tailgate).

The difference in the two types of chassis can be seen when viewed from the side, one showing clear daylight above the chassis in places.

I don't know which came first or whether the US or Dutch versions were available this early and I think it is likely that the first editions would have been solely the British one.

None of these trucks had suspension - even later in life (although the Circus version with a crane did get suspension later). You could make an interesting collection just on the varieties of these trucks which confused me a great deal at the start - and even now I struggle for remember which US version is which sometimes, especially as many may have had canopies replaced or swapped over the years!

This International truck is a very heavy, solid model with massive wheels (and a loose spare behind the cabin which often goes missing). Look out for the tin hook at the back too which should be present. These didn't sell in vast numbers but many have survived as they could withstand being sat or trodden on pretty well!

Rocket Age

1108 Bloodhound missile and launch ramp

1117 Bloodhound missile loading trolley

353 Decca Airfield Control Radar 424 Scanner

Gift Set 3

352 Standard Vanguard III RAF Staff Car

1109 Karrier Gamecock Decca Mobile Airfield Radar Truck

Rocket Age Gift Set No.6

Some very nice models arrived recently from Corgi's 'Rocket Age'. Let's start with the ultra rare Gift Set No. 6. This comprises the models shown above and in the box illustrated below.

This came out in September 1959 but had a short life, being withdrawn in 1960 sometime. In the box were most of the military models out at the time. The Land Rover and Thunderbird missile had been the first released in May 1958, with the Bloodhound missile and associated pieces coming out later that year.

It also included the two radar equipment models - a Karrier adapted with a scanner and aerial and in remarkable orange stripes on a cream body. There are variations of the number of stripes - some have four, some have five. The second was a box scanner device that just sat there. You could turn a knob on both items to twirl the scanner very quickly. I am surprised the box unit, which really did just sit there and do little other than twirl, sold even as many as the modest 57000! 

The Rocket Age Set itself only sold 10000 we're told. That is really not very many at all and accounts for this being one of the most sought-after sets of all. At 57/6d (nearly £3) it was the third most expensive model in the Corgi range, being exceeded only by the Silverstone and Garage Layout Sets (and inflation driving later model prices up, of course).

This is the first that I've seen and whilst the models are not particularly hard to find, even in good condition, it is the box that no-one will have these days. You could find the models in top condition, after a bit of searching, for under £500 without boxes. Here in the original box, however, they become worth well over three times that. £1000+ for a box must seem a bit strange but it is the same across the range; add a box and the price will at least double.

What this particular set will sell for I really have no idea. I think that collectors who can afford the sort of sums this will involve simply decide that they need to fill that blank space, or investors see the potential for something to earn more than ½% interest by this time next year.

I will include a Rocket Age leaflet and some instructions too which will have to be reproductions as the owner was unable to find the originals.

Looking at the individual components again, three have slight faults. The scanner has a replacement aerial. The original is in the box too and a new owner may prefer to re-affix that. The Bloodhound Missile Loading Trolley needs a little assistance to move when the handles are turned. The Bloodhound Missile Launch Ramp is missing a support piece at the bottom but it does stay in an upright position. It may be that I have to swap these three for totally original and properly working items as part of a deal.

As well as The Rocket Age Set there are more lovely items. A Gift Set 3, fine models in a slightly tatty box but still an original box.

These were more popular and sold fairly well and are relatively easy to find these days.

The UK edition of 1118 has a better box with little signs of wear. It is, however, another quite popular model and not difficult to find. The next ones, though, are more interesting. These are the Corporal Missile items.

1112 is the Corporal Missile on a launch platform. The little platform just manages to hold erect the massive white missile. It is really well-engineered; the wheels come off so that the four stabilisers can be folded out and then turned to ensure the missile stands perpendicular. This comes with a pretty good original box. The box has signs of wear but the Missile and Launcher are as new. 

Only 26000 of these were reported as sold. That is a very low number and this is an item that should make a good sum. Whilst the box will add considerably to the price again, in this case the missile itself is quite rare in this condition. It has its original metal nose which would have taken exploding caps. That nose was available as an accessory and later sold fitted to these Corporal Missiles. The red rubber had deteriorated, however, so I have replaced that but Model Supplies only do the all-over nose cone. I have cut this one to fit better but it is not quite right.

The other item is the truly enormous Corporal Missile Erector Vehicle. This is 1113 and, at 36000, another low seller. This may have been expensive and beyond most parents' means at the time but it is a wonderful model and a great example of Corgi engineering.

I have included Emma Peel here just to demonstrate the size of the vehicle. It must have the biggest wheels of any Corgi model.

There are knobs to turn that will open and close the two grips around the missile. There is another knob that will raise part of the vehicle plus missile to a perpendicular angle. Then there is a third knob that can be turned to lower the missile on to the Launching Ramp if you have one.

The box for 1113 is another scarce item and this one is complete apart from one end of the lid which has been repaired and there are some signs of wear too.

All in all, though, these four boxed items are fascinating, an opportunity to see the models in almost 'as new' condition and, hopefully, someone will take them and keep them safe for another 60 years.

These were all by way of British militaria for a long time. It would be 1973 before we get the British Tank Transporter! The US Army, however, are well represented with several items appearing from 1963. But that's another story.

The items illustrated are for sale. Offers invited for the Rocket Age set.